November 29, 2012

I BELIEVE IN SNOWFLAKES

Snowflakes, snowflakes, snowflakes! Aren't they beautiful? Especially those fluffy perfectly-formed snowflake-looking snowflakes we get a few times a winter here in Wisconsin! I love it when those delicate little masterpieces land softly on my black winter coat. I always take the
time to examine and admire them. Smile. Feel somehow warm inside. And then walk on in appreciation. What a mysterious gift!

For winter cards, I tend to gravitate toward snowflakes. As snowflakes gravitate toward the Earth.

Another person, Wilson Bentley (1865-1931) also gravitated toward snowflakes. He came up with a way to  capture snowflakes on black velvet to photograph them in all their intricacy before they melted and disappeared forever. His photographs are incredible in their perfection. I am always fascinated with his work, and even own a book about him and his frosty friends.

If you are interested in more detail on Bentley and his snowflakes:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilson_Bentley Here is a copy of one of his photos, in all its icy wonder.


Anyway, Stampin' Up! introduced to its adoring public a new stamp set, Snowflake Soiree 
(page 5 of the Holiday Catalog), which I immediately fell in love with. This stamp set called 
to me to use it with emboss resist. And I responded with this card:


We created it at my November workshop. Instead of the traditional way of doing an emboss 
resist by sponging with ink, this one uses reinker instead. It's a little messy, a little less predictable, and I think, a lot of beautiful. 


I know they're not as beautiful as Bentley's snowflakes, mostly because these snowflakes 
are merely (wo)man-made. And not the real thing. You can see how the inks run and flow 
into each other to form marvelous marblized areas of mystery, evoking a wintry sky. 

To create your own Believe snowflake card:

Supplies:
Snowflake Soiree stamp set

Tempting Turquoise card stock
Whisper White card stock
Glossy White card stock

Reinkers in various light blues and purples (I used three retired Stampin' Up! inks)
Tempting Turquoise ink
VersaMark ink

White Embossing Powder
Heat Tool
Aqua Painter
Water Spritzer

Directions:
Fold a 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" piece of Tempting Turquoise card stock in half, and crease it well 
with a bone folder.

Stamp the various snowflakes randomly across the Glossy White card stock with VersaMark 
ink. (I did not use the largest of the snowflake stamps.)

Cover the stamped snowflakes with White Embossing Powder, tapping the excess back 
into 
the container. Heat to emboss. Make sure ALL the snowflakes are shiny!

Drop a single drop of each of the three reinkers on a scrap of glossy card stock. Spritz 
the embossed piece with water. With an Aqua Painter, pick up a bit of one of the colors 
and randomly drop it here and there among the wet snowflakes. Continue doing this with 
each of the colors until your background is covered with blended inks. Use the Heat Tool 
to move the colors around and to dry the piece. Isn't that pretty?

Wrap a length of Tempting Turquoise Grosgrain Ribbon around the snowflake piece, securing 
it on the back. Adhere this piece to the card front.

On a 1" x 3 1/2" piece of Whisper White card stock, stamp "Believe" in Tempting Turquoise. 
Use a square punch to create the flagged end. Attach this over the ribbon with Stampin' Dimensionals. Tie a bow in a piece of Tempting Turquoise ribbon, and attach it to the card 
with a Mini Glue Dot.

Now, enjoy those real snowflakes when they make their appearance!

Smiles.




26 comments:

  1. What a great craft, thank you for sharing!

    I'm visiting from the Thursday's Favorite Things hop. :)

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  2. What a great technique. I'm thinking of a lot of different images this would work with.

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  3. What a gorgeous stamp! It looks like it is made of lace...

    hugs x
    Crystelle
    http://www.crystelleboutique.com

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  4. Absolutely beautifully created card ~ great post ~ (A Creative Harbor ^_^)

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    Replies
    1. Why, thank you ArtMuseDog and Carol! You are so kind! :>)

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  5. Your snowflake card with the white EP is GORGEOUS! such pretty touches of blue and aqua to shade the background. Just lovely!

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  6. Great project !

    I would love you to come and share it at my Craft, Create & Inspire Linky party

    http://polkadotpretties.com/2012/12/craft-create-inspire-linky-party-6/

    Hope to see you there:)

    Claire@ Polkadot pretties x

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    Replies
    1. Why, thank you so much, Claire. And I did link up at your party. Thank you! :>)

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  7. Linda, that is just gorgeous! The embossing is exactly the right method to make those snowflakes look wet and glossy and icy and cold!!! Such beautiful detail too..thanks for the original photo of a snowflake!! I haven't seen one up close and personal before!!!
    LOVELY!!!
    Thanks so much for joining my party with your beautiful card.
    Blessings,
    Doni

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Doni! You described just exactly what I was trying to achieve with this card. And don't you just love the photos of real snowflakes?? :>)

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  8. What beautiful cards! I would love to invite you to share them on Fall Into the Holidays (open Saturday through Thursday)-

    http://redcrowgreencrow.wordpress.com/tag/fall-into-the-holidays/

    Katie @ Horrific Knits

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  9. Beautiful! Love snowflakes too! :)
    http://dixie-n-dottie.blogspot.com/

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  10. This one is beautiful, I love the color variance.
    Steph
    swtboutique.blogspot.com

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Stephanie. I was pleased with the way the colors came out also. :>)

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  11. beautiful!
    Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
    Hope you have a fabulous week!
    Jill @ Creating my way to Success
    http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Jill! And thanks for letting me link up! :>)

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  12. GORGEOUS! This is my favorite! Thanks for linking up at my Pin Me Linky Party. I hope you come visit & link again. The party starts tomorrow at 8am CST.

    Diana

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Diana! And I appreciate you allowing me to link up to your party! :>)

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