Dandelion Wishes

My friend Jackie has used the Dandelion Wishes stamp set from Stampin’ Up!® for several cards. They have all been lovely, so I had to get it. I’m so glad I yielded to the “buy one more stamp set” temptation!

I thought about saving this card for an upcoming challenge, but I couldn’t wait to share it. We’re making it for September classes, and it’s really very simple.

I used Pineapple Punch, Mango Melody, and Pumpkin Pie Stampin’ Write Markers to create the “faux watercolor wash” background. Simple scribble the markers on an acrylic block, then spritz with water. I turned the block over onto the Shimmery White Cardstock, but I think it works better to place the cardstock on the wet block. That way you don’t get random drips of ink.

Let the paper dry completely if you want a clear image. Sometimes, if I want a faux watercolor look, I’ll stamp on damp cardstock so the ink will run a bit. But this time, I wanted the image to be sharp, so I waited (surprise, surprise!!) until it was dry, then stamped the dandelion in Smoky Slate Classic Ink.

I used the Stamparatus, because I wanted to emboss the dandelion. I wanted it to be sparkly, but didn’t want it too shiny. What to do, what to do? I left the stamp and cardstock in place in the Stamparatus, cleaned the Smoky Slate ink off the stamp, then stamped it again in VersaMark ink. I had mixed a little Clear Stampin’ Emboss Powder with Dazzling Diamonds Glitter. It worked perfectly. The embossing powder holds the glitter in place, and there’s just a hint of glitter. Between the Dazzling Diamonds Glitter and the shimmer in the cardstock, it’s magical. (Note: Lots of stampers emboss in color by inking their stamp in Versamark, then in classic ink, then stamping. The stamp holds enough Versamark under the classic ink to work with embossing powder. I’ve done that as well, but I don’t like to do it often, because I don’t want Versamark in my ink pads. People have said, “It’s fine! It won’t hurt anything,” but I don’t like to take the chance. I ruined a Stampin’ Write Marker by doing this. The Versamark totally clogged up the marker. Besides, with the Stamparatus, it’s simple to stamp two times in the exact same spot.)

The sentiment is from the Fairy Celebration Stamp Set. It worked perfectly with the blowing dandelion seeds. I added a few Share What You Love Artisan Pearls to the card as well.

This image reminds me of an incident when the boys were young. Wes was about five years old, I think. Our yard was full of dandelions. I’d like to say it was because we wanted to save the bees, because that sounds so noble. The truth, though, is that if we simply got the yard mowed we were happy. We didn’t have time to keep weeds down as well.

Our next door neighbor had an immaculate lawn. He spent time on it every day, and it was perfect. One day, I caught Wesley standing on the “border” blowing dandelion seeds into the neighbor’s yard. I pretended he wanted to share our “flowers,” but I think he was just being mischievous. “Mischievous” sounds so much better than “naughty,” don’t you think?

Thanks for stopping by Stamping with Buffy. Have a lovely day!

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