Two Rich!!!

Yes, "Two!" One "rich" is the Rich Razzleberry card stock and the other "rich" is the Certainly Celery card stock with the Always Artichoke ink donning it! The more I worked on this card the more I liked how "rich" it was looking.

To make this card I started out with a half sheet of Basic Black card stock folded in half. Then I cut a piece of Certainly Celery card stock 4" x 5-1/4". I stamped the "En Francais" background stamp on it. I used Always Artichoke ink and I stamped the image off once before it went on the card stock. Then I used the larger stamp from the "Baroque Motifs" set over the background image. I used Always Artichoke ink and did not stamp off. Then I sponged the edges using the Always Artichoke ink.

For the flower oval I used watercolor paper. I sprayed it lightly just to put a bit of moisture on the paper. You want the paper wet but not shiny wet. You'll understand what that means once you spray the paper. You'll see where it's got too much water on it. If you have too much water on the paper just take a paper towel and remove it. It will cause your image to bleed too much. If that is the look you are going for then leave the water on the paper!! I chose to just have the paper wet but no water visible. I stamped the leafy image from the Stampin' Up! "Kind & Caring Thoughts" set. I used Always Artichoke ink and stamped off once. I reinked the image, stamped off and stamped it again on the watercolor paper but this time I turned the stamp in a different direction than the last image. You do want to work a little quicker here as the paper is starting to dry and you won't get that soft bleeding look. I set the paper aside to dry. In the mean time I got out the flower image and colored it with markers. Once again I was SO thrilled that Stampin' Up! came out with markers in the new "in colors!" It made coloring the image a lot easier. Though it can be done without the marker. Just stamp the flower part of the image. Take a blender pen and remove that color from the stem. Then take the Always Artichoke marker and color in the stem. Huff on the image and stamp it on the watercolor paper.

I had gotten oval Nestabilities from hubby for Christmas and it's been within the last month or so that I've finally been using them. I won't even tell you what else I got for Christmas that I haven't even touched yet!!! So much to do, so little time!!! After cutting out the oval on the flower I sponged the edges using Always Artichoke. I taped the oval layers together and then taped that to the front of the card. I did my ribbon tying trick here! I cut a piece of ribbon 6" long. I taped it in place on the back of the card before I taped it on top of the main part of the card. After I taped the ribbon to the back then I taped the piece to the front of the card. Then I tied the ribbon on. And it was almost ready to use!!! With a black card you can write on the inside with the white gel pen or as I usually do, add a piece of white card stock. I don't add it right away, I usually write on it first and then tape it in place. It's pretty much guaranteed that if I tape it in place and then write on it I will screw it up and have to try to get it off without ripping the main card. But if I don't tape it in place and I make a mistake I can just cut another one and start over!!! But usually I don't make mistakes on them when they are not taped in!!! LOL Isn't that called "Murphy's Law?"

And isn't it just a rich looking card? I LOVE those two colors together!!! It can be used for SO many occasions too! Oh and once again this was a very simple card to make. It doesn't look simple but trust me, it really is!!

Thank you ever SO much for visiting today,
Wanda