Are you loving the 2017–2018 Stampin’ Up! annual catalog as much as I am? I have been asked to choose my top five picks time and again, and to be honest, it changes every time as I discover new things I didn’t notice the first time around!

I decided to focus on two items that perhaps YOU may have missed when skipping through the catalog in your excitement! All three of my projects feature the same technique, texture and ombre, and the same stamp set, You’re Priceless (143760)—along with the coordinating Eclectic Layers Thinlits Dies (143774)—but I have changed them all slightly for different looks.

I can’t say enough about Sponge Brayers (141714). They make adding color to projects so quick and easy and they’re a lot more forgiving than a rubber brayer. They can also be cleaned just by rinsing under cold water. I urge you to try these great color applicators! I have also used two of the new 3D Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folders on these cards. These new embossing folders create deep impressions on your card giving a more dimensional look than traditional embossing folders.

Using original Whisper White Cardstock (100730) and the Sponge Brayer, I sponged color on my card across the diagonal in Peekaboo Peach (141398), Powder Pink (144084) and Berry Burst (144083) ink. (Tip: Always start with your lightest color first. I only needed to use one sponge roller by moving from light to dark.)

I then ran this through my Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (143263) using the Ruffled Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (143699) to add those gorgeous pleats over the card. Before I adhered this to my card, I spritzed the card with Clear Wink of Stella Glitter  (141897) and rubbing alcohol, which I mixed together in a Stampin Spritzer (126185). This made the whole card front so sparkly!

I then used the Heat Tool (129053) to heat emboss a sentiment using VersaMark ink (102283) and White Stampin’ Emboss Powder (109132) on Vellum Cardstock (101856). Die cut three diamond shapes from Whisper White Cardstock and adhere them to the card front –with some Iridescent Sequin Assortment (144212) sequins—using a Fine-Tip Glue Pen (138309).

I made my second card much the same way except for a few minor changes. The ink colors I used were Lemon Lime Twist (144086), Pool Party (126982), Bermuda Bay (131171), and Island Indigo (126986). I brayered these starting at the bottom of my card with the lightest ink and transitioning to darker inks as I moved toward the top. This time I ran my card through the Big Shot using the Hexagons Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (143231) and die cut the diamond shapes from Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper (135315), adding even more sparkle.

My last card was inspired by a gemstone called hematite, which is normally grey/black in color. I brayered along the length of the card front in Smoky Slate (131179), Basic Gray (140932), and Basic Black Archival (140931) ink. Instead of using die cuts on my card front, I stamped gem images from the You’re Priceless Stamp Set, first in Whisper White Craft ink (145406) on the dark side of the card and then in Smoky Slate ink on the white side of the card. I then ran this through my Big Shot again using the Hexagons Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder. I finished this card with the Metallics Sequin Assortment (144214) and a little Fine-Tip Glue.

I wish you could see the sparkle of these cards in person; it was tough to capture this in a photograph!

Paula Dobson
Artisan Design Team 2017