“And so the spring buds burst, and so I gaze,
And so the blossoms fall, and so my days”
…Uejima Onitsura
Hello again
Cherry Blossoms really do herald the start of Spring. Usually they burst into life around Easter time and my sister’s birthday. They remind us of lighter evenings and brighter days ahead. What a joy it was for me to create with the new Edgecutz stamps and dies from Lisa Horton Crafts. Here are my Cherry Blossom cards in all their springtime glory….
White Embossed
I began by heat embossing the beautiful focal stamp and cutting out the complete image. To colour – I laid down a pale pink base using Koh-i-Noor Polycolour Pencils and blending the colour out. Then I added Zig Waterbrush Pinks to my Mixed Media Mat and applied to the centre of the blooms with a waterbrush pen. Finally I added a pale grey shadow to one side of the branch and laid the finished piece onto a light grey stencilled background.
Pink Smudges of Ink
This time I used pink embossing powder to heat emboss the image. Then I used brown and green pencils to define the branches and the leaves. I found it easier to work this way round.
To colour the blossoms I used a small finger dauber and gently added a circle of Kitsch Flamingo Oxide Ink directly to the centre. The blooms were laid onto an In the Garden 3D Embossed piece of pink cardstock.
Here is where the Edgecutz die comes into it.
Not only can you cut around the entire Cherry blossom branch you can use one of the edges to cut away an outline or use to layer up the card. The pale pink background has been created using the Alstroemeria 3D Embossing Folder.
This time I coloured the blossoms with two shades of pink Zig watercolour inks. They were a bit too strong so I toned down the colour with a white gel pen before defining the stamens with Yellow Tonic Nuvo Drops.
Blue
Cherry Blossoms can take on another look when you use other colours. I defined the branches and the leaves as above. Then added colour using a weak solution of oxide ink and water with my brush. When the blooms had completely dried I added another layer of colour with the Koh-i-Noor Polycolour pencils. Each branch was laid upon a Honeycombe Slimline Frame over an embossed In the Garden card which had also been coloured.
Just one blossom
Along with the main stamp and die there is a single blossom and die. To make a clean and simple card. Stamp and die three blooms in black ink. Then colour the centre with a wisp of apricot. Then layer up onto a plain circular frame.
Did you notice that several of these cards had more than my traditional three sequins? I felt the pretty designs warranted it. This pretty set launches on Create and Craft on Friday 23rd April at 9am and 3.45pm. After two weeks exclusivity you will be able to buy it directly from Lisa Horton Crafts at That Craft Place.
PLEASE NOTE – Many of Lisa Horton’s products prove to be very popular and stock sells out quickly. If you sign up for stock emails on the products you will be notified automatically when they come into stock. **
EDGECUTZ FLORAL STAMP AND DIE COMPLETE COLLECTION – https://tidd.ly/3tMYd4b
EDGER STAMPS AND CUTTING DIES – CHERRY BLOSSOM – https://tidd.ly/3nqf3nb
EDGER STAMPS AND CUTTING DIES – DAHLIA – https://tidd.ly/3sOXaPM
EDGER STAMPS AND CUTTING DIES – ALSTROEMERIA – SIGN UP FOR EMAIL **
EDGER STAMPS AND CUTTING DIES – PAEONIA – SIGN UP FOR EMAIL **
LISA HORTON CRAFTS BANNER SENTIMENT STAMPS AND CUTTING DIES https://tidd.ly/2QkZfpt
KOH-I-NOOR POLYCOLOUR PENCILS https://tidd.ly/3tNdMZt
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Until next time
Elisabeth
Elisabeth Hogarth Designs 