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Monday, August 2, 2010

Believe in Perfectly Elegant Plum: PPA {53}

I am not usually a fan of purple and, in fact, have previously tried to use Perfect Plum with little success. Maybe I just needed to give it the starring role to reveal it's true perfection. Leave it to the fine design team at Pals Paper Arts to show us how great a monochromatic color scheme can be. This week it was purple...I literally groaned when I read it (!)...but the need arose for a card to give to a dear friend who likes purple and lo and behold this one was born. I actually like it, alot. There are so many fun new things here that I just love. First the Elegant Lines impressions folder makes such a statement for just $7.95. Second, the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch is so pretty and subtle. Kind of the best of both the scallop edge and eyelet border punches. Third...adhesive PEARLS...say no more! And lastly, adore the Just Believe stamp set. Proving it's versatility here on a sympathy card.

I tried a new-to-me technique that worked very well. I wanted to emboss the flower silhouette image but I didn't want my embossed image the same color as my paper. Usually to emboss in a color, you would use Craft Ink in the desired color + clear embossing powder but I don't have any Perfect Plum craft ink so I fudged a little. I used regular Classic ink in Perfect Plum + Versamark + clear embossing powder. Here's how I did it:
  1. Ink the image in Perfect Plum and stamp on colored cardstock (here I used lovely lilac-retired) using my trusty Stamp-a-ma-jig. Clean stamp.
  2. Next, ink the same image in Versamark and using the same Stamp-a-ma-jig, stamp directly over the Perfect Plum. If you use the Stamp-a-ma-jig carefully, it will line up just right.
  3. Sprinkle with clear embossing powder and heat set.
  4. The end result is an embossed Perfect Plum image without Perfect Plum craft ink! I was thrilled to discover how easy it was.
Just a little bit more to show you...here is the inside. Love how beautifully the frame stamp from Just Believe surrounds so many phrases...big and small as seen here with Teeny Tiny Wishes. The sentiment is inked in Rich Razzleberry which coordinates with the 1/4" grosgrain ribbon and sentiment on the front. So I managed to use 3 different colors of purple...not bad for being out of my own little color chart!

Another strip of Dotted Scallop "Ribbon" adds just an extra special something.
And, doesn't the inside of the embossing folder look just as pretty as the outside?

OK, that's it for today...thanks so much for stopping by. I would love to know what you think of my purple creation...cheers!

supplies:
stamps: just believe; teeny tiny wishes
ink: perfect plum, rich razzleberry; versamark
paper: perfect plum, very vanilla, lovely lilac (retired) cardstock
xtras: dotted scallop border & 1 3/4" circle punches; stamp-a-ma-jig; adhesive pearls; clear embossing powder; elegant lines textured impressions EF; rich razzleberry 1/4" grosgrain ribbon.

7 comments:

jaydee said...

Nance, this is a perfect sympathy card. In England, we often use purple for sympathy, and the mixture of purple and plum works so well.
Gorgeous card.
thanks for inspiring us
hugs
jaydee

Lesley said...

This is truly beautiful Nance, I love the way you have used the purples and the embossing is perfect.
Smiles,
Lesley :)

Ann Schach said...

Absolutely gorgeous! I love the embossing and the pearls! Thanks for playing @ PPA!

Diane - oliver.mdiane@comcast.net said...

Nance. BEAUTIFUL! What a great job. I struggle doing monochromatic cards, but your card is so elegant. I also used the Elegant Lines with purple and added the pearls [Love those] right to the embossing in a few of the swirls. So cool. However, My PC is still down. I'm waiting for a modem over a week now, so I can't post any of my stuff yet. Bummer.

Christina said...

Beautiful job with a difficult color, Nance! I don't use much purple myself, but you've done a lovely job with it, inside and out!

MaryE said...

As a purple lover...(ask to see my bedroom some time)...I think it is perfect in every way!

Linda Callahan said...

That embossing folder is elegant for sure! Your purples are lovely - so glad you play at PPA :) And that bit of Razzleberry ribbon....perfect!