Hi BPM Fans. Betty here today. I don't have a green thumb, so I have a couple of succulents in my house. One is a jade plant, but I'm not sure what the other one is. I've tried a small cactus in a pot years ago, but I wasn't very successful in keeping it alive. It sure didn't look like these gorgeous cacti on my card. I love this stamp from Blank Page Muse, called Southwest Cactus Succulents Potted Cluster designed by artist Pam Bray. I used this stamp to make a card, but I think it would make a great picture to hang on the wall or put on your desk.
This is the perfect stamp to use to enter the BPM monthly challenge and win a prize!
The theme for April is "nature."
Here is the link to the challenge: CHALLENGE. Supplies:
- Blank Page Muse Southwest Cactus Succulents Potted Cluster stamp
- White cardstock for stamp: 4"W x 4-1/2"H. After stamping and coloring, trim to 3-1/2"W x 4"H
- Black ink pad
- Your favorite coloring medium. I used Copic markers.
- Black cardstock to mat the stamped image: 3-3/4"W x 4-1/8"H
- A6 card base: 9"W x 6-1/4"H; scored at 4-1/2"; fold in half
- Black cardstock mat: 4-3/8"W x 6-1/8"H
- Distress oxide in Tumbled Glass (or any light blue ink)
- Ink blending brush
- Your favorite adhesive
- Supplies for inked background
- Yupo paper: 4-1/4"W x 6"H
- Rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle
- Additional rubbing alcohol in a small cup
- Alcohol inks in brown, yellow, and orange (I used Jacquard Pinata brand)
- Eye dropper
- Hand air blower or straw
- Q-tip or sponge tip (optional)
- Optional: Sentiment for the card. I used a pre-made sticker sentiments from Tim Holtz and matted it with black cardstock.
- Optional: Enamel dots
Stamp Instructions:
- Stamp and color your image. I used the following Copic marker colors:
- Dark green cactus & succulents: G85, G99, G24, G21
- Light green cactus & succulents: G99, YG25, YG13, YG11
- Red flowers: R37, R24, R22
- Orange flowers: YR09, YR04, YR02
- Terracotta planters: E29, E19, E13, E11
- Aqua planters: BG09, BG07, BG02
- Ground: E35, E33, E31
- After coloring the image, trim the paper to 3-1/2"W x 4"H.
- Using a blender brush and oxide ink, ink around the edges of the card, leaving a white halo around the stamped image. Set aside.
Yupo background instructions - work in a well ventilated area:
- Prepare a work surface by using a small clipboard so that it will be easy to pick up the Yupo paper when ink is applied. Line the clipboard with cellophane wrap or shelf liner for easy clean up. Clip on the Yupo paper's edge to the clipboard.
- Line your work surface with a Teflon mat and paper towel and gather supplies.
- Spray rubbing alcohol all over the Yupo paper.
- Add several drops of each color ink to the paper. Pour a little bit of rubbing alcohol into the small cup and using the eye dropper, add drops of rubbing alcohol to the ink. Add as little or a much as you like. Swirl the paper so the ink spreads. Use the air tool, Q-tip, or blow air through a straw to move the alcohol until the entire paper is covered.
- Lastly, using the eye dropper, add small drops of rubbing alcohol so that the ink looks like bubbles. Make sure the alcohol/inks are completely dry before moving onto the next step. Depending on how much ink and rubbing alcohol are used, drying time will vary. It is best not to use a heat gun since the Yupo paper is made of plastic.
Assembling the card:
- Gather all the cardstock as stated in the supplies list.
- Adhere the black cardstock mat onto the card base using your favorite adhesive.
- Adhere the Yupo inked background onto the black cardstock mat.
- Adhere the black cardstock mat for the stamped image at an angle.
- Adhere the stamped image.
- Adhere the sentiment.
- Add the enamel dots or any embellishments you'd like.
The card is finished!
Thank you for visiting and I hope you give this card a try. It's a great all-occasion card for all your female and male friends. Try using different alcohol inks for different colored backgrounds and then change the colors of the pots to match! Have a creative week! ~Betty~
