Sunday 4 February 2024

We Love Stamping February Challenge

Today is the first Sunday of the month so time for a new challenge over at We Love Stamping
This year the design team will all be selecting a monthly option to reflect their own individual style of crafting or favourite themes. On the remaining months we will continue as before with a general theme along with an anything goes option, as previously.

It is my turn this month and I have chosen:

** Romance/Anything Goes **

First let's welcome our guest designer this month Helen.

To be honest I couldn't think of anything and chose romance because it is February and people will be making Valentines' Day cards. I have to admit that I am not a great one for romantic cards so when I was trying to come up with ideas for my DT cards I did wonder what possessed me to chose that theme. Of course it was too late to do anything about it so I had to come up with something.


I think this card is unusual for me for a number of reasons:
1. It is square. I have quite a collection of square card blanks and I have decided that I must try to use them.
2. It is large. Six and a half inches to be precise, which is really big for me. I had to use 2 quite large mats to fill the space. Normally if I mat something it will much narrower than this.


My stamp is quite an old Spellbinders rubber stamp set called Floral Love. I am pretty sure it is an old set but it is new to me. Found it very cheap somewhere and I can't resist a bargain. Anyway, it was time for it to be used so I stamped it with CP Uptown ink onto Strathmore Vellum paper and coloured with Polychromos pencils. I used the vellum paper because it has more tooth and I wanted the textured look, which you can see on the picture below.


The stamp set consists of the heart and 2 smaller flowers, which I stamped, coloured and fussy cut. I added them to the heart to give some more dimension, The panel was cut with Spellbinders hemstitch circle dies and backed with some mat red metallic card.  I then embossed another piece of the vellum card and matted it twice. The card base was white but I inked it with CP Uptown to match the stamping. I finished it with some tiny green gems and a foiled sentiment.

Don't forget there is always a prize to be won and this month there are 3 prizes from AALL and Create. An 5 stamp set, DL stamp and stencil and A6 stamp. Why don't you head over to the challenge blog to check it out? The prize winner is selected randomly and in addition the DT will choose a top three for special mention. From now on any seasoned stampers (not digital) interested in being considered for a Guest Designer spot should add GD against their name when entering the challenge. We will select a guest designer form those names and the DT will still select their top 3.

I hope I have inspired you to join us this month, all you have to do is ensure stamping (including digi) is seen somewhere on your card front, it no longer needs to be the main focus. It would be great if you could join in with our theme, but anythings goes is always an option if you are out of ideas. The challenge will close at noon (UK time) on Wednesday 28th February

I am looking forward to seeing you in the gallery.


Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog today, I really appreciate it. 

28 comments:

brenda said...

Well I think "what you came up with" is lovely Hilary as is the theme, I imagine it will be a popular one. As you rightly say it can be good to step outside our comfort zones.

B x

Liz said...

Beautiful card Hilary, the floral heart is so pretty.
Liz xx

GerJanne said...

Oh yes, now you mentioned it, square cards are an exeption for you...but I think you succeeded well. The stamp is wonderful and perfect for a theme like Romance!

Linby said...

A beautiful stamp and you've coloured it with such pretty colours. Great framing too.

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Well done for being gone out from your usual habits, this card came out so well! Love the textured look of the floral heart, I have never thought to colour on vellum with pencils. The textured look is so pretty as well your paper piecing.. I think I will give a try to this, even if I haven't good pencils. Love the big size (I always prefer to do big cards, so I can add a lot of bits and bobs LOL :D ) and the elegant geometric EF!
Hugs!

coldwaters2 said...

Lol, oh Hilary you made me smile I think you chose well but I know what you mean about not being into romantic cards, I love the flowers the colours and shape are gorgeous
hugs
lolo x

KraftyKoolKat said...

This is gorgeous Hilary, going out of my comfort zone would be the opposite, mine would be to make a small one. It is a good job we are not all the same.

Hugs
Cathy
xxxx

crafty-stamper said...

Beautiful card Hilary and I love the beautiful layered floral heart and the embossed background.
Carol x

Cat Craig said...

I love that you made a square card. I think your elements all work together superbly!

Linda W. (ScrappinBari) said...

Beautiful floral heart, Hilary, and I love how you've layered one of the flowers!!

I Card Everyone said...

Of course, I love the pretty heart-full of flowers, Hilary, and your awesome pencil coloring but it's that cool embossed panel that really catches my eye today! A heart, inside a circle, placed upon a square-cut panel embossed with spiraling squares! Incredible!
=]

Leslie Miller said...

So very gorgeous, Hilary! I think you pulled off your chosen theme beautifully. The flowers are colored and layered to create a good deal of depth. I actually thought you used metallic paints at first. I love the embossed background, too. I don't do well with large cards, but you took advantage of it to create some framing and plenty of white space. It looks wonderful!

nancy littrell said...

Gorgeous colored Floral Heart, Hilary:-) I love how you added all the pretty textured textured layers for your large square "Love You More" card designs. TFS my friend. Love and Hugs..Nancy

Bonnie said...

Lots of texture and interest with this gorgeous floral heart, Hilary! Great choice for a February theme!

Christine Alexander said...

such pretty flowers for your valentine card. I don't make valentines cards either :)

Ashwini Rao said...

It's come out so gorgeous! I love the matt shine o=in the background. Of course, your coloring on the image is just amazing - the little details on the flowers are so skillfully executed. Amazing, Hilary!

papierelle said...

The floral heart looks so awesome and your coloring is perfect!!

Jules said...

Tee hee Hilary

Sounds like we are very similar .. .. .. I struggle with big cards too. For me the smaller the better. Anything much over five and a half inches square starts to freak me out LOL!!

I am the opposite to you though in the fact that I have an excess of rectangular cards and am on a mission to use those up at the moment .. .. hence all the rectangular sketches making an appearance.

Love your card and all the gorgeous layers on the heart. Fantastic colouring/shading.

Hope you had a good weekend.

Love Jules xx

Mervi said...

Fabulous and lovely card;-))m

Greta said...

Wow--for not knowing what to make, you came up with a fabulous card! That bargain stamp was definitely a good buy!

Rainey's Craft Room said...

Sorry for the delay in visiting but life has been rather hectic, also for some reason your comments always go in my spam folder on Blogger and so I don't get to see them unless I search them out.
I have missed several fabulous projects from you too, this one being a beautiful creation. The embossing really focuses the eye on that gorgeous image.
Lorraine

Helen said...

Beautiful image and the embossing makes your card look so elegant.

Thanks for having me as a guest designer this month.

Helen x

aussie aNNie said...

Gorgeous and creative card lovely colors and design. ♥

Maria said...

Oh, such a lovely card with the floral heart! Love all the beautiful color and design, so pretty!

Mia said...

The most beautiful romantic card. Great heart, Hilary, and I love your coloring. Kisses, my friend.

sandie said...

Wonderful card. I love the texture, and the layering of the flowers work perfectly. Wow to the colouring. Thank you for visiting my blog and sending your wishes-sending hugs-Sandie x

Loll said...

I somehow missed this card on the reader list, so happy I went back to check it out. :) Your flower-filled heart is gorgeous. Love the pencil colouring and agree, it adds a lot of texture to the image. Great with the additional dimension from the layered flower. Beautiful card Hilary!! xx

Julia Aston said...

I saw your most recent heart before this one Hilary - and they look like two very different stamps! Both Beautiful! This one is so pretty with the darker colors, the depth of extra petals layered on and your beautiful die cut circle and embossed background! Julia xx