Let’s challenge each other to be encouraging as I welcome you to a new Festive Friday Challenge. This one has as its focus the National Day of Encouragement, which is on 12th September. It is so important that we value and encourage each other, so what a great theme to inspire our card making.

You only have to read The Inspo list for this challenge and you will be smiling. It is all about bright, pretty sparkly things. As always with these challenges, you need to choose at least 3 items from the list to create a card. You card doesn’t have to fit the theme of Encouragement, but it seems a great theme to me.

My Project

I chose more than three items from the list: Bright colours; Flowers; Foil paper; Uplifting Sentiment; Sparkle; Rhinestones.

Flowers

When I thought bright colours and flowers, my hand instantly went to the “Timeless Tropical” stamp set. These bold flowers deserve to be coloured in bright, bold colours. I used Daffodil Delight and Melon Mambo for the smaller flowers and Magenta Madness and Mango Melody for the 2 larger flowers. Having stamped them in Stazon on Shimmery White cardstock, I used my water painters and ink from my ink pads, to colour the blooms. I added extra shading and highlights with watercolour pencils. Our shimmery white cardstock is perfect for projects like this. Not only does it handle the addition of water without the surface breaking up, but it also adds a touch of shimmer to the project.

Leaves

For the leaves, I painted in the outlines with Bermuda Bay ink and then coloured the whole leaf in Granny Apple green, blending in the colour form the outline. Again I added more shading and definition with a watercolour pencil.

I was able to die cut the flowers using the coordinating “In the Tropics” die set, plus I also die cut some smaller leaves from the set in Gold foil.

Background

The background deserved to be equally vibrant, so I cut a mat form this bright Ombre design found in the bright and bold “Artistry Blooms” Designer Series paper pack. To give it sparkle I spritzed it with Champagne Shimmer paint that was diluted in Rubbing Alcohol.

This fabulous greeting was taken from the “Strong & Beautiful” stamp set. A collection of sentiments that oozes encouragement.

All that was left was to arrange all the flowers on the paper; add in some black mats to the paper and sentiment and adhere it all to a side opening Magenta Madness card base. For a final touch of bling – some rhinestones in the smaller flower centres.

Check out the Rest of the Design Team

I would love you to go and see what the rest of the Design Team have created for this Festive Friday Challenge.

For more inspiration, be sure to visit the rest of the  Festive Friday Challenge Design team:

Ann Schach  

Beth McCullough

Sharon Hashimoto Burkert

Melanie Hungerford

Stephanie Lanzalotto

Melva Peters

Judy Rozema

Join the Challenge.

Let’s challenge each other to be encouraging, by taking part in the challenge ourselves and visiting other entries and commenting on them. It makes everyone feel valued.

Once you have created your project head over the the Festive Friday Challenge to add your link.

Supplies

Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you have enjoyed my project.

Have fun with your own encouraging projects and we look forward to seeing them.

Stay safe , stay well.

Helen xx

If you live in the UK, I would love you to choose me as your demonstrator. If you would like to purchase any of the items I have used in these projects you can shop here or click on the images listed below. Don’t hesitate to email me if I can be of any assistance. Make sure you use the current host code so I can thank you for your order. Anyone purchasing from me will receive this month’s Creative Tutorial Bundle as a Thank You.

Product List

151497 £21.00	151495 £33.00
148732 £23.00	152495 £10.75
147044 £7.50	126185 £2.75
144220 £4.75	151298 £11.25
147051 £7.00	147094 £7.00
147093 £7.00	153117 £7.00
147095 £7.00	147096 £7.00
141709 £15.00	149014 £11.75
153085 £8.25	121688 £8.25
121717 £9.25