Hand-Penned Graffiti

Welcome back, Stamping Friends! I was inspired by Shannon West from Stampin’ Up!® to create graffiti inspired cards. We have a local restaurant that has a beautiful mural painted on the side, and I was trying to mimic that idea. I made one card that I loved, but the first three people I showed it to had to have it explained.  I decided that cards are like jokes – if you have to explain them, they don’t work like you planned. Everyone loved the card, but didn’t see the graffiti. I finally tried this idea, and it was chosen as the favorite.  Ok, Amelia and I were the only ones who voted, but we both loved it the best.

I’m still not sure it looks like graffiti, but I do love this card! First, I stamped the flowers from the Hand-Penned Petals Stamp Set (one of my favorites from the Stampin’ Up!® Annual Catalog!) using Tuxedo Black Memento Ink on Basic White Cardstock. Then I colored the flowers with Fresh Freesia, Granny Apple Green, Polished Pink, and Bermuda Bay Stampin’ Blends.

The next step was fun. You know how when someone paints bricks, the paint chips off over time and leaves a mottled look on the bricks? I was going for this (and it’s more obvious in person). I used the Brick & Mortar 3D Embossing Folder to emboss the Basic White layer. But first, I took a Crumb Cake Classic Stampin’ Pad and pulled it over the side of the folder with the Stampin’ Up!® logo. You can’t see it so well in the photo, because I wanted it to be subtle so I didn’t use a lot of ink. But in person, it really looks like an old building.

After I ran it through the embossing folder, I die-cut the you are amazing sentiment using the Amazing Thanks Dies from the Stampin’ Up!® January-June Mini Catalog. Oh, my gosh, my friends – I almost missed these! Because I attended the virtual event in November, we received the Amazing Silhouettes Stamp Set free. So when I looked at the catalog and saw this set, I kept going, because I had it already. It wasn’t until I saw posts from my friends Shannon and Susan that I realized I had totally missed the dies that go with that set. And they are amazing! Each word has a coordinating “shadow” that goes behind it. Well, of course, these were on my next order!

I used Basic Black and Bermuda Bay Cardstock for my die-cuts. And here’s a tip. Since I used Basic Black for my “in between” layer, I die-cut the shadow/silhouettes from that layer. No one will know (unless they read my blog) and it saved a bit of card stock!

Of course, this card needs some rhinestones or other embellishments that I didn’t have with me when I made it. I’ll keep working on the graffiti idea. Lisa (our office administrator) suggested a butterfly – and, of course, I have the Butterfly Brilliance Stamp Set. Maybe I can put a stamped someone over it so it looks like they have wings. Stay tuned to see how this idea evolves!

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

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