F for #letteroftheweek

It’s been a few months since I’ve posted - I’m back at it - thanks for stopping by. 

 I’ve been following Anne Kenlon, Junk Journal artist, cardmaker, quilter, grandma and more. 

Anne has been choosing a random letter of the week for inspiration each Sunday. 

Find my #letteroftheweek projects on Instagram at card.connoisseur or Facebook, Card Connoisseur Susan Boback. 

F is for Flowers or Floral. Since it’s August, my garden Flowers are in Full bloom.   

Are you a gardener?   Did you know you can plant tulip bulbs in the fall in a pot you keep indoors in a cool dark spot; and in the spring, like Feb or March, indoors, you can do what's called "forcing".  You take them out of the spot you've wintered them in, and place them in the sun. Water lightly and watch the tulip awaken to a "spring-like" growth.   This is especially enjoyable if you are stuck indoors for a long cold winter.  But we won't think about that just now!

 

Lily

                                                           Globe Thistle with a bee

                                                                           Peas

                                                                              Hostas

So when you see the beautiful shades of color in your garden Flowers you want to create paper versions to keep your memories around for awhile after the bloom is gone, right?

This Sunflower 3D Embossing Folder, is one of the most versatile I’ve seen. What makes it "3D" is its deep embossed texture. 

I've used Night of Navy ink on Very Vanilla Cardstock with the Sunflower 3D Embossing Folder, layered on a Night of Navy card base for today's project. (An Embossing Machine is needed to use the embossing folders.) 

You can easily create a design that really makes the sunflowers pop. 

Drag the ink pad over both sides of the inside of the EF (embossing folder) to dispense the ink. Place your paper on and close the EF. 

Run it through your embossing machine then open the folder to see the results!

Since you’ve placed ink on both sides, you’ll have one print that shows embossed such as this; and the other side that shows debossed design where the background is elevated (not shown).

Trim the print to 4 x 5 1/4” for a front layer. 

Other techniques include: 

*    embossing alone on white, vanilla or a color cardstock - no ink added in the embossing process

*    ink techniques: emboss on white, vanilla or color cardstock, then adding ink with a sponge dauber or a Stampin' Write! water based marker, or a Stampin' Blends alchohol based maker, or a water color pencil then using a Water Painter on top to give it a watercolor look.   You can also flick ink drops at random around the embossed area

*    add gold or silver rub-ons 

*    Heat emboss to highlight the images - with heat embossing you could add the Versa Mark clear watermark Ink to the folder before embossing the texture with the folder; then sprinkle with embossing powder and heat; or you could add the Versa Mark to the images after you run it through the embossing machine.  

Practice these techniques to see which you like - there's always more to learn!

And there's always more to learn!

Find current products by clicking on the links or from the Annual Catalog, Online Exclusives, new kits or Last Chance sale items here at my Stampin' Up! website.  Did you know that there are new kits every month?

In September 2025, the new Fall Catalog will be available - beautiful new fall and harvest papers and stamps.   There's so much to see - can't wait to show you how easy it is to make beautiful cards with simply coordinated products for everyone you want to connect with!

 

Visit here for all the products I've referenced today www.stampup.net 

If you don’t have a favorite demonstrator I’d love to be yours - I’m Susan Boback. 

Thanks for stopping by and be blessed!