Sparkly Spring

Is it spring? It's supposed to be - but it doesn't feel like it here in Massachusetts! Well, someday... In the midst of my busy-ness I am planning for my March club this weekend. I wanted to share one of the cards we'll be making, which incorporates a technique I saw demonstrated as a workshop wow at last weekend's regional in Hartford. (Which was awesome - SU demos are so fortunate to get to learn from amazing people!) I'm also entering this card in the Pals Paper Arts embossing challenge.

The technique is handmade glitter card stock. You stamp your image first - I let mine dry for a while before going on to the next step, which is to mix a generous amount of Crystal Effects and Dazzling Diamonds glitter and brush it over the whole panel with a foam brush. Now, when I first saw the technique I thought, how can that be a workshop wow? Won't it take a long time to dry? But really, it's dry in just a few minutes. As usual, the photo doesn't really capture the sparkle - it's similar to the effect you get if you emboss the whole panel with Iridescent Ice EP, but it's more subtle. My image is from Easter Blossoms, stamped with Rich Razzleberry on vanilla card stock and colored with my Blushing Bride marker. Tip of the day: You will want to adhere the finished panel with a strong adhesive, like sticky strip, because it's going to warp a little after it's dry. Get the sticky strip right onto the edges and corners, all the way around, and it'll lay flat.

To finish the card I used the tulip frame embossing folder, three pearls, and a punched sentiment from the same stamp set. I also sponged just a little Rich Razzleberry onto everything but the glitter panel - I didn't think of the sponging until after that panel was already done, but I'm not sure I would have wanted to sponge it anyway... I'll have to try that another time!