Heartfelt Inkspiration

I suppose some people are not appreciating winter weather here this week, but count me as one who is glad to have really cold temps — and a fireplace (or two)! This was one of two of my cards from the Stamp Review Crew blog hop earlier this week. I couldn’t resist beginning with a frosty white snowflake, but I have to tell you how impressed and inspired I was by the other bloggers’ color combinations. Seriously, click on the link above and check out their work!

I used my Stamparatus when stamping the snowflakes because I didn’t want to catch an edge by using too much pressure or smear the image by accidentally sliding the giant block. I stamped the larger image, then heat embossed it. Now that I could see the first image, I positioned the panel on the Stamparatus so that I could stamp the image in the upper right corner. After heat embossing the second image, I trimmed the panel and added shading to the center of each snowflake by applying Boho Blue ink with a Blending Brush.

Don’t forget that if you’re applying shading this way, you’ll need to “scrub” off the ink that remains on the embossing. It will not dry, and you run the risk of smearing it on your work. I do this with a tissue or cotton ball. You’ll be amazed at how much brighter the image is!

I love blue and white, and I hoped to give this birthday card the feeling of snow against the sky. This would be fun as a seasonal throw pillow in our family room, and perhaps someday I’ll find something like this. (Of course, that would mean time and running around and actually going in stores, so I doubt it.) Meanwhile, we painted our tiny powder room in this blue, perfectly accented by beadboard wainscoting in bright white.

Note that the Perennial Postage stamp set used for the front sentiment (inside, too) is not included in the supply list below, as it will not be available until the 2024 January-April Mini Catalog debuts on Thursday, January 4.

Click the images below to add current products for this card to your cart in my Stampin’ Up! online store. Disclosure: I get a commission for purchases made through these links, at no additional charge to you. Thank you!

Snow Crystal Cling Stamp Set [159821]

Uninked Stampin’ Craft Pad & Whisper White Refill [147277]

Boho Blue Classic Stampin' Pad [161650]

Misty Moonlight Classic Stampin' Pad [153118]

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [159229]

Misty Moonlight 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [153081]

Boho Blue 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [161724]

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276]

Basics Embossing Powders [155554]

Heat Tool (Us And Canada) [129053]

Blending Brushes [153611]