Just Saying: welcome to your new home

I was asked by a friend to create a card so she could give one to a friend who had just purchased her first home. One request was to have dragonflies.

I wanted to challenge myself - using a suite that I didn't love when I received it.

I'll expand on that for a second. I recently attended Stampin Up's OnStage@Home. Typically that would have been an in person convention, but Covid-19. For the registration and pre-order of OnStage, we could purchase an unknown bundle. I took the chance since it was my first convention and wanted the full experience. We received Dragonfly Garden stamp set, Dandy Gardens DSP, a dual dragonfly punch, and so much more. Being honest, I didn't like the DSP. It's weeds and bees and I just wasn't happy. During OnStage we had many examples and "make and takes" where we participated in creating cards. My mind was changed. I'd had a better look at the paper and was able to see how I could use it.

So let's use what we have, it's new, it's dragonflies, it's a challenge.

I drew up my layout and got to work on figuring out my colours. Blackberry Bliss, Calypso Coral, Mossy Meadow and Whisper White. Pulling the colours from the Designer Series Paper.

I had been asked to have a pretty specific sentiment. Welcome to your new home. I used Make a Difference which has teeny tiny letters to create a handwritten font.

Side note - There are also stamps which help us to stay compliant with the Angel Policy, handy.

I had stamped out the sentiment and wanted to add some variety. I looked at my other options for words that could be die cut. Welcome to the Well Said stamp set and its coordinating dies which includes the word Welcome.

I used that rough copy to figure out what size frame I'd need to have it be an image.

I used a die from Tasteful Touches.

Here's how I kept myself straight while stamping the letters. Have a peek.

I used a pencil line and ruler. Absolute must do is let the ink, completely, dry before erasing the pencil.

Let's talk about that wee little welcome die. I've used it before and forgot to use the adhesive sheet, I remembered this time - which was such a time saver!

There are so many components to this card.

The large dragonfly was stamped in Calypso Coral then I use an aqua painter to blend out the ink a bit. Added a Wink of Stella for sparkle and little dabs of Mossy Meadow (see the tail and body). Set it aside to completely dry (use a heat tool if needed). I used the small punch to get a little dragonfly from a scrap of dsp, then trimmed it a bit between the body and the wings.

I was ready for the assembly of the card but I needed embellishments. Braided Twine, Gold thread, mini pearls... And dimensionals. That's the outside covered.

I have been working on decorating the inside of cards lately. This is no exception. BUT I didn't get photos. Using Whisper White (4" x 5 1/4") I stamped the tall floral image on the right and a strip of DSP cut at 1/2" x 5 1/4" along the bottom.

Ok, you've read a lot, thank you. Here's the rest of the card in photo form.