This is my second Softly Sophisticated card for the Stamp Review Blog Hop earlier this week. If yesterday’s card was simple, this birthday card was much more involved.
I knew I wanted to create a custom background with this pretty two-step image, but I didn’t want to stamp a random pattern. So I took a more measured approach — literally! — making sure the repeat was pleasing to the eye. I used my Stamparatus and the “hinge-step” technique to stamp the leaf image and then the flower image three times. Then I moved the panel over for the next three sets. You better know I practiced on some scratch paper so I was sure it would work out on the size panel I was using. (Although Stampin’ Up! no longer carries the Stamparatus, this SU! video demonstrates the hinge-step technique.)
I was surprised and pleased with the results (and my husband made quite a fuss over it). My mistake? Only making one of these backgrounds before I cleaned and removed the stamps from the Stamparatus plates. The stamping inside the cards was done “by hand,” the old-fashioned way.
I cut the numbers from a piece of retired Rainbow Glimmer paper, after applying an Adhesive Sheet to the back. Adhering the die cuts to the Vellum panel was a cinch; I used my Glass Mat to make sure the numbers were straight and centered, easily repositioning them as needed. Once I was happy with them, I burnished the back of the Vellum to make sure they wouldn’t move in the mail.
Happy 105th birthday, Florence!
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