Great Big HUG

Rainbows are a worldwide, cross-cultural symbol of hope. One of the "Hope You Can Cling To" challenges is to use a rainbow, or rainbow colors, on a card. This is my offering.

I wanted a design where the greeting made a statement. So I chose the "Great Big Hug" stamp by Stampabilities. I taped my panel of Strathmore Mixed Media paper to my cutting board, masking off a 1/8" border on all sides. I then heat embossed the greeting with Recollections Clear Detail embossing powder in the center of the paper. After filling in the "hug" with masking fluid, so I could create a resist, I let that dry.

Once the masking fluid had dried, I did my inking. I used Distress inks in Wilted Violet, Salty Ocean, Twisted Citron, Squeezed Lemonade, Spiced Marmalade, and Festive Berries. I applied the violet in the center of my panel with a round ink blending tool, and worked my way out from there using sponge daubers. Finally, I sprayed the panel with my homemade Perfect Pearls mist, to give the colors some shimmer, and help them to blend even more. Then I set that aside to air dry thoroughly.

After a few hours, I removed the masking fluid, and took the tape off my panel. I ironed off the embossing, by sandwiching my panel between sheets of copy paper and pressing with a hot, dry iron. This gives it a "how'd she do that?" look, with the totally matte lettering. All that was left then was to mount the panel to a white A2 card base. The colors remind me of a postcard I got at Yellowstone National Park, showing an overhead view of the Grand Prismatic Spring there. Love it! :)