Organic Grace Duo

Today is both my step dad's and my niece's birthday. With them in mind I created this pair of birthday cards using the new Level 1 Hostess set - Organic Grace. Both cards use the same layout and stamp set, but as you can see both cards are entirely different.

For the masculine version I used a technique I haven't done in a while - Polished Stone. That created the marbled looking background on the fern panels. I had originally planned to then stamp the fern image using Black Stazon, but it didn't show up enough against my polished stone background so I then decided to emboss. The detail on these stamps is so fine that it lost a bit of the detail in the leaves when embossing, otherwise, I like the results.

If you've never tried polished stone, you should give it a shot, it's a fun way to create some amazing looking background paper.

You will need:

• Glossy card stock
• Re-inkers - including a metallic one. In this case I used Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point, Always Artichoke & Encore Metallic Gold
• Alcohol (rubbing alcohol not the kind you drink...but that could come in handy too ;-)
• Cotton balls

Follow these steps:

• Saturate the cotton ball with your rubbing alcohol - but don't make it dripping wet.
• Add 2-3 drops of each color of re-inker randomly onto the cotton ball
• Dab the cotton ball onto the glossy card stock until you get the color/pattern you like
• Allow to dry well before stamping...especially if you plan to emboss.

If you do want to emboss, then I recommend heat setting the paper first. Another good hint is when picking your colors, pick colors that are of the same tone, or be careful to not over mix them onto your card stock or it will end up muddy or brown looking. Even though I used Kiwi Kiss & Pacific Point re-inkers, when I was done with my polished stone background, I felt it looked better with Old Olive & Not Quite Navy card stock, because of the way the colors mixed together.

Stamps: Organic Grace & Every Day Flexible Phrases
Card stock: Old Olive, Not Quite Navy, Basic Black & Glossy
Ink: Old Olive, Versa Mark, Black Stazon & Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point, Always Artichoke & Encore Metallic Gold re-inkers
Accessories: Antique Brass HPH, mat pack, paper crimper

For the feminine version I used one of my favorite color combos: Perfect Plum, Pale Plum & Mellow Moss. I water colored each image and added a bit of Stardust glitter pen to the wings of the dragon fly and to the tops of the flowers. Too bad the photo doesn't capture that shimmer. For the panel behind the 3 images, I did the same as the card above - stamped random images from this set with coordinating ink.

Stamps: Organic Grace, Sanded Background
Card stock: Very Vanilla, Perfect Plum, Pale Plum & Mellow Moss
Ink: Black Stazon, Pale Plum & Mellow Moss
Accessories: Vintage brads, Large & Small oval punches, mat pack and pink polka dotted organdy ribbon

I'll be busy the rest of the day getting ready for a big "Mexican Fiesta" dinner tonight prepared for my Step Dad. Made a big batch of black bean & corn salsa last night with fresh herbs and veggies from the garden...yum! Have a great day!