Stampin’ Up! Bloom with Hope Sympathy Card for Dixie’s family

The hostess Bloom with Hope Stamp Set was the perfect choice for my handmade sympathy card for Dixie’s family.  First, because Dixie loved flowers – stamped and in her garden.  The second reason the stamp set includes beautiful “With Sympathy” greeting and sentiment stamps.

Some of my Stamping Smiles fans on Facebook gave suggestions of what kind of flower this was.  Many thought it looked like a poppy.  A couple said wild rose.  One anemone or cosmos.  A search revealed every suggestion was a definite possibility.  I posted picture of each flower.  You can see each on the Facebook status post.

Looking at pictures of the flower suggestions, it looked like I could pick about any color and be close to a realistic color.  That doesn’t mean you can’t take artistic license and make a blue flower (I’ve done that too).  There are simply times you are going for a particular look.  For someone who enjoyed her flowerbeds, realistic was desired.

Watercoloring is my favorite technique.  Or, it may have been my favorite.  The ability to shade was always why.  Now we have the Stampin’ Up! Blendabilities alcohol markers.  Shading has never been easier!  Look at the depth of color.  My colors are Calypso Coral and Daffodil Delight.  I start by coloring in with the lightest color and then shade with the medium color.  Then the darkest color.  You then can go back with the light of medium to add more shading. 

In the 2014-2015 Stampin’ Up! Catalog, instructions are provided.  They show you to start with the darkest color.  My thoughts are you can always add color.  It’s not easy, if even possible, to remove it.  Like cutting your hair.  You can always cut more off.  You can’t glue it back on. 🙂

A demonstrator friend prefers the method of starting with the darkest color.  Try both and find out which method most easily gives you the desired results.

Notice the black accents?  These were done in honor of Dixie.  If I hadn’t been mindful to do use Basic Black, my oval matting would have either been Old Olive or Calypso Coral.  The same with the scallop border.  Do you agree Basic Black was the right choice? 

If placing an $150 order to get the Bloom with Hope Stamp Set for free with your Stampin’/Host Rewards is out-of-the question, let’s talk about setting up a book party for you.  With the Hostess Code, you can apply stamping friends’ orders, near or far, to your book party with you earning the hostess benefits so you can get the Bloom with Hope Stamp Set!  Send an email today to shelly@stampingsmiles.com to set up your online book party.

Bloom with Hope Sympathy Card Supplies

Stamping Smiles,

Make beautiful sympathy cards with the Stampin’ Up! Bloom with Hope Stamp Set!