Better Together – A Diwali-Inspired Card for Stamp Around UK

This blog post is bringing you a Diwali inspired card.

Stamp Around UK Video Hop

On the 1st of each month a Video Hop launces over on You Tube featuring a selection of UK Demonstrators. I am delighted to be a part of this talented team.

This month the theme is Festivals

You can see a full list of the products I have used at the end of the post, including links to my online shop.

A Festival of Lights, a celebration of colour and a little creative thinking!

Now, with Christmas rapidly approaching, it would have been very easy to reach for my Christmas stamps and create something festive. But I fancied doing something a little different!

Living in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, I’ve always been surrounded by a wonderfully diverse community. I’ve lived here all my life, and that diversity is something I’ve always valued and enjoyed.

So, when I started thinking about festivals, my thoughts turned to Diwali, the Festival of Lights.

Although Diwali is primarily associated with Hindu traditions, it is also celebrated by Jains and Sikhs, with different meanings and traditions within those communities. It is a beautiful celebration, full of light, colour and symbolism.

I wasn’t setting out to make a traditional Diwali greeting card, but rather to take inspiration from the wonderful colours and decorative elements associated with the festival.

And what fabulous inspiration it turned out to be!

A Celebration of Colour

I found a beautiful Diwali image featuring rich pinks, purples, glowing golds and oranges, together with decorative lanterns and intricate circular designs.

It immediately got my creative brain buzzing!

For my card, I chose a selection of Stampin’ Up! colours:

• Blackberry Bliss
• Berry Burst
• Melon Mambo
• Golden Glow
• Timid Tiger

These rich, vibrant colours work so beautifully together, particularly when you start blending them.

And there wasn’t a pastel shade in sight!

Creating That Beautiful Background

I began with a piece of Basic White cardstock measuring 13.9 cm × 9.5 cm.

Using my blending brushes, I started with Golden Glow in the centre, gradually introducing Melon Mambo, Berry Burst and finally Blackberry Bliss around the outer edges.

The idea was to create that wonderful feeling of warmth and light radiating outwards, surrounded by deep jewel colours.

I love using my glass mat for ink blending because the ink stays on the surface, allowing me to pick it up again with my blending brush.

One of my biggest tips for ink blending is to start gently and gradually build up the colour. You can always add more ink, but taking it away is rather more difficult!

I mounted my completed background onto a Berry Burst layer measuring 14.4 cm × 10 cm, ready to add to a Blackberry Bliss card base.

Making My Own Decorative Lantern

Now came the fun part!

I didn’t have a lantern stamp or die that would recreate the lanterns in my inspiration image, so I decided to make one myself using simple pieces of cardstock.

After all, that’s part of the fun of papercrafting, isn’t it? Looking at what you’ve got and finding a way to make it work!

I used Golden Glow cardstock to create the main lantern shape, cutting two diamond shapes and blending Timid Tiger ink over them to give that lovely warm, glowing effect.

I added little details with a white gel pen, then made the decorative hanging strips using narrow pieces of cardstock.

A few small pieces of gold foil helped create the hanging attachment at the top.

To frame my lantern, I used the Spotlight on Nature Dies to cut decorative circles. Their lovely patterned edges provided just the right suggestion of the ornate medallions in my inspiration image.

I blended a little Timid Tiger ink around the Golden Glow circle to tie everything together.

And I have to say, I was rather pleased with how my handmade lantern turned out!

Better Together

As I was thinking about a sentiment for the finished card, I wanted something that reflected the inspiration behind the project.

I came across the words “Better Together”, and they seemed absolutely perfect.

In a world that can sometimes feel rather divided, I think it’s important to celebrate the things that bring us together rather than those that separate us.

Different cultures, traditions, experiences and perspectives all contribute to the wonderful communities in which we live.

And that is something worth celebrating.

I stamped the sentiment in Versamark, heat embossed it in gold and die-cut it into a small decorative circle.

A little more ink blending brought the colours together, and some iridescent pearls added the finishing touches.

Video

You can watch me creating this card on this video and don’t forget to hop around and see all the other videos.

How Can I Help?

One of the things I particularly enjoyed about this project was creating something without relying on a specific stamp or die set.

Sometimes we can become so focused on using particular products that we forget just how much we can achieve with cardstock, ink and a little imagination.

So here’s a challenge for you:

Find a picture that inspires you, choose a few colours from it and see what you can create using the supplies you already have.

You might surprise yourself!

And if you’d like to recreate something similar, you can shop for your Stampin’ Up! supplies through my website.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch if I can help with your purchases, or if you have a crafty question.

Meanwhile stay safe and stay well

Helen xx

Product List