Paper Trey Ink Botanical Blocks: Sunflowers

Happy Saturday!! I hope you had a fabulous week.

As you know, I saw Wicked this week. What a fabulous play! To be honest, I had no idea what it was even about. I thought it would be dark like the book but it was quite funny. The leads were fantastic and a rumor that I heard at the theater was for some of the leads, the next stop was Broadway. How cool is that after traveling with the show and then be able to do it on Broadway?

I went with two of my dear friends and it was just such a treat to spend time with them during the week. Things get so hectic that it is so hard to find the time to get together like we used to. To be young, single and carefree again!! Sometimes I miss that.

This week I have been working on a few things for a friend's birthday. It has become a tradition that I make a set of cards for her. Last year I created a cute card set using a Lawn Fawn set. I would link you to the cards but I just realized that I never blogged about them. The horrors!! This year, I chose to use Paper Trey Ink's Botanical Blocks and Botanical Blocks II stamp sets to create the cards.

To start with, here is the birthday card I created. My friend Jil LOVES sunflowers so this was the perfect way to start the process.

I kept it pretty simple, as I did all the cards. When you are making nine cards, simple is the way to go. To start the process, I stamped two of all but the sunflower blocks, which I stamped three. I then trimmed out each block and colored them using Copic markers. In this way, all the blocks were done and I just had to design each card base.

For the birthday card I sent,  I embossed and die cut a piece of chocolate card stock, and then inked over the embossing with Vintage Cream ink. Next, I adhered this to the mustard card base. I then adhered the sunflower block. I wrapped a piece of chocolate twine around the card front three times and tied it into a bow, inserting a button in between the button wrapped twine and the bow. In this photo, it is a bit loose but I fixed it before I sent it. My last step was to stamp the sentiment in brown ink.

I have to admit, this is not my favorite card but I know my friend will like it just for the sunflower. She knows that I made it from the heart, too.

The next two cards I created using the sunflower block are for the card set.

This card was a bit more fun. I stamped the polka dots using Classic Kraft ink on a Classic Kraft card base. I then inked Walnut Stain around the edge. This used to be my favorite technique on cards. I don't use it as much but I still do like the look.

If you notice, I cut the frame off of this sunflower bock and matted it with summer sunrise card stock, which I distressed using a distress tool. I tied my last bit of natural twine around the layers three times and added a sentiment block. I also added some Wink of Stella glitter pen but it is hard to see in this photo.

The last sunflower card was the easiest to create.

I die cut and embossed a piece of summer sunrise card stock and layered over the same color card base. I then stamped white polka dots on a piece of chocolate card stock and layered it over the yellow.

The sunflower block was adhered over all three. The last step was to add a frame using diamond Stickles.

These two cards are only the first two in the set. I will share the next six cards on my blog all this week. Thank you for taking the time to stop by. I always enjoy your visits.

Supplies:

Paper: Paper Trey Ink (white, Summer Sunrise, Classic Kraft), Stampin Up! (Chocolate, Mustard)

Stamps: Paper Trey Ink (Botanical Blocks, Polka Dot Basics)

Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black and Paper Trey Ink (Fresh Snow, Vintage Cream and Classic Kraft), Ranger Ink (Walnut Stain)

Dies: Paper Trey Ink, My Favorite Things

Other: Big Shot Machine, Diamond Stickles, Brown twine, natural twine, Tim Holtz Embossing Folder, Copic Markers