The Beauty of Flowers

Hi everyone, I was fortunate enough to win a recent challenge on the Country View Crafts FB page, and with part of the prize voucher I decided to treat myself to a new circular gel press. Up to now I have only had a 6” square gel press, based on the premise that I could die cut shapes such as circles from my large square prints. Although this is true I have hankered after being able to print a circle straight to card and then do my stamping, plus I’ve never really got on with my first gel press. 

 Today I would like to share my first card using the new gel press and some of my favourite Tracy Evans stamps. This card is based on a tutorial by Tracy, though I have changed the colours and done a few other adjustments to the design to incorporate a bird and a different sentiment. 

I applied 3 colours of Distress Oxide ink to my gel press with a brayer, spattered watered down DOX on top and took a print .. I had only one wasted attempt before I got a print I was happy with so this is real progress!! I masked outside the circle and blended some more DOX round the inner edges to give a bit more depth, then stamped the flower three times, masking the centre flower. I removed the masks then stamped the bird, drew a partial circle with a black fineliner to extend the floral design, then stamped the bird in the corner in Nocturne, and the background wording in Morning Mist Versafine Clair. I coloured the centre flower with Zig watercolour brush pens (Tracy coloured hers with Inktense pencils, but I only have 12 of them so can’t easily create subtle shading), then added some shading around the flowers and to ground the bird, which I blended out with water.

I added sparkle to all 3 flowers with Wink of Stella, and white Posca pen highlights. I stamped the sentiment onto separate card and cut out, positioned on the card and then stamped the hearts to hang down from it. I matted the panel onto black linen card stock and a 7” card blank, then replaced the circle outer mask before applying white Posca spatters across the circle, and finally attached the sentiment and some small pieces of ripped washi tape.

Here's an angled picture which tries to capture the sparkle, though not very successfully (it is actually very sparkly!!)

Stamps: Tracy Evans Boutique Designs TE4 New Beginnings, TE6 Branched Heart; AALL & Create #831 Sent With Love;

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks (Kitsch Flamingo, Spiced Marmalade, Picked Raspberry); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Morning Mist, Charming Pink); Kuretake Zig Clean Colour watercolour brush pens;  Wink of Stella; Posca pen (white);

Tools: Lavinia Roland gel press;

Other: AALL & Create washi tape #33 Be a Rebel.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Allsorts #769 - Things That Fly (3rd entry)

As You Like It - Favourite Feminine or Masculine (and why)

(My favourite is feminine cards as I love flowers, butterflies, and feminine colours)

Beautiful Blossoms #14 - Anything Floral Goes with Optional Mood Board

(5th entry)

(I have followed the general pink/peach colour scheme)

My Time To Craft #528 - Create Your Own Background (2nd entry)

Simon Says (Monday) - Fur or Feathers (2nd entry)

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Beautiful Blooms (2nd entry)

Tracy Evans FB Challenge (February) - Heartfelt (4th entry)

Try it On Tuesday - Spotlight It

Word Art Wednesday #637/638 - Anything Goes

Worldwide Crafters and Colourists #14 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

I was always quite nervous about playing with my previous gel press, but I’m hopeful I’m going to get on a lot better with this one, so watch this space!!

Take care and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,