Flowers with Tim Holtz Sizzix

Welcome friends. Today I am playing along with 3 challenges: The Flower Challenge #55:

NBUS: 

This is the first time using this die set from Sizzix, Brushstrokes Flowers #1 by Tim Holtz:

And the 3rd challenge is Happy Little Stampers, Anything Goes with Dies:

Sometimes you just fall in love with a card when it is finished and I did with this one. My plan was just to die cut all the pieces to try it out and see how it worked. First time out with a new set isn't always my favorite, but not in this case!

To begin, I die cut all the pieces out of Bristol Smooth card stock with my Big Shot because I knew I want to ink blend the colors and I have the most success with Bristol Smooth. I used various Ranger Distress Ink Colors (not the Oxides) because I love their vibrancy: Cracked Pistachio, Bundled Sage, Crushed Olive, Tumbled Glass, Chipped Sapphire, Dusty Concord and Rusty Hinge.

I popped the die cut pieces back into the negative slot and used Scrapbook.com's Foam Blending Tools, even in the small areas to ink blend. If you use the edges of the foam tool you can get into corners, etc. I do have smaller tools, but when I am working in front of the TV with hubby, most times I do not want to run upstairs for a tool.

Ranger has just come out the domed replacement foam heads. They were out of stock for a while, but are back in stock and I just received mine. Anxious to try them out.

I used Studio Katia Square Brick Stencil with Cracked Pistachio Distress Ink onto a panel of Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80 lb. cardstock:

I turned the Square Brick Stencil on its side and lightly ink blended so that it faded out towards the edges. Of course, I always use Wendy Vecchi's Make Art-Staytion to hold the stencils! So much easier than spray adhesive.

Next, I almost always like to use a frame die to give the edges a little interest. This is my go to from SugarPea Designs - CF Element Builder II. I just love the tiny little dots all around the edges.

To put the card together, I created the floral images exactly as the packaging shows using some foam squares and some liquid adhesive. I positioned it on the card without adhering, so I could get a sense of what sentiment I wanted to use. I choose the Hero Arts/Gina K Designs collaboration set called Friendship Blooms:

I've used this set many many times and particularly love the font on the sentiments. I stamped with a nice crisp black ink, Altenew's Obsidian Black so that it stood out from the background.

Then I simply adhered the floral bundle to the front. I debated about some bling, but decided to leave it all pastel and matte in tone.

I can't wait to try more colors for this die set and maybe watercolor, too! Thank you for joining me today and thank you to the challenge sponsors.

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