I've been looking forward to getting back into my inks again.  Today while Jack was napping I gathered together some supplies and had fun creating.

I used my SaleABration set - Botanical Blooms.  (Get this set free during Jan/Feb when you spend $100.)  A StampAMaJig is VERY handy for making use of this set.  Read on for some step by step instructions for how to colour your flowers.

The Recipe

Colours: Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Sage Shadow and Very Vanilla.

For the greeting I've used a scrap of Wintergreen patterned paper that was mainly Sage Shadow in colour and coordinated well with the stamped panel.

Stamp Set: Botanical Blooms 

Accessories: Pretties Kit, Silver Hodgepodge and my new Designer Label punch.

Colouring Flowers

White flowers and Vanilla cardstock - no that just won't do.  Do you have some of the white flowers in the Pretties Kit?  You can colour them to match your inks and cardstock.  Here is one way to do this:

I'm using a couple of sponge daubers (pg150) and my ink pads to add some colour to these two flowers.

Just dab your sponge dauber onto your ink pad then onto your flower. 

Keep building up the colour until you're happy with the look.

Now - believe me this is the most important step.  ( I think I should write it in BIG LETTERS and stick it to my notice board.)

Leave it to dry.

No really - leave it to dry.  (Perhaps I should staple it to my forehead!)

No taking short cuts with this step.  (Yes I am talking to myself here, am a bit inclined to rush!)

See that lovely Pale Plum small flower there above. 

Now look at my completed card!  Yes I will 'fess up - I decided to layer it 5 minutes after I'd finished sponging it and some of the darker ink speckled the lighter flower, so I had to make it a little darker. 

Next time I will LEAVE IT TO DRY.  Hee hee.

The flowers look great with a rhinestone brad or a pearl in the centre.

There are other ways to colour your flowers - use a brush or aquapainter, or markers, or ink from an ink refill bottle. 

Cheers, Sue

If you'd like to get some flowers, pearls, hatpins and beads to create with - grab a Pretties Kit for $55.95.  (Pg 144.)  Or check this page for how to get 1/5 of a kit for $12.50 incl postage.