Stampin’ Pretty Peonies

Yesterday was like Christmas for me.  My Stampin' Up! order arrived with my new stamps and supplies and I simply couldn't wait to start playing (didn't call it quits until 1:30 a.m., hoot, hoot). 

I have been eyeballing the Pretty Peony set since the new Spring- Summer 2008 Collection catalog arrived.  Peonies are a combination of art, beauty and  grace and this set celebrates them in a marvelous way. 

Pretty Peony is a two step stamp set.  You layer a more linear stamp over a solid stamp to create a multi-colored image.  Color combinations are endless, from very subtle differences between the two stamps/colors (more of a watercolor look) to something more "expressive," as I have chosen (and the colors I needed to use to allow me in the "ring" of the latest Splitcoast Stampers Color Challenge CC149).

The set contains 12 stamps including several sizes of peonies and leaves.  I chose the largest bloom and stamped the more solid image first, in Apricot Appeal (on vanilla card stock).  I then used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to line up the second large peony layer, the more linear image, in Rose Red.  For anyone unfamiliar with the Stamp-a-ma-jig, it's a handy little character you use as a guide to line up and stamp images, first on a transparency.  You then line up the stamped transparency over the first first image, in this case the Apricot peony is the "first" image.  Remove the transparency without moving the guide and  place the second image perfectly (the Rose Red peony) over the first.  I highlighted some of the Rose Red areas with a touch of  shine, offered in a snap by a Sakura Clear Gel Pen.  I then cut out the flower.

Next came some pretty leaves that I stamped using Sage Shadow ink on Sage Shadow paper and, again, snipped them out.  The card base is Very Vanilla with Sage Shadow and Rose Red card stock layered on top.  The Rose Red layer was stamped with the Polka Dot Background in Versamark and heat embossed in clear.  I then added a piece of Sage Shadow which I gave a scalloped haircut to using a Corner Rounder Punch.  A couple strips of Apricot Appeal give some stripey pizzazz to a slightly "naked" zone.  My trusty Cuttlebug and the "Swirl" embossing folder are responsible for the lovely texture of the next Apricot layer.

The  sentiment is from All Holidays and is stamped on Very Vanilla layered on Apricot Appeal.  Both are punched with the small and large ovals, respectively.  I stuck a dimensional in between for a little pop.  The bottom Rose Red Scalloped Rectangle is created courtesy of my Marvy Scalloped Rectangle Super Jumbo Punch.  The final step was attaching the peony with dimensionals and tucking the leaves in underneath. 

Hugs and Pretties . . . . M

Stamp Set:  Pretty Peony (111119), All Holidays (109397), Polka Dot Background (109276)
Paper:  Very Vanilla (101650), Sage Shadow (101563), Rose Red ((102544), Apricot Appeal (105124)
Ink:  Sage Shadow (102532), Rose Red (101778), Apricot Appeal (105218), Versamark (102283)
Cool Tools:  Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049), Heat Tool (100005), Small (107304) and Large (107305) Oval Punches, 3/16 Corner Rounder Punch (109047) Marvy Super Jumbo Scalloped Rectangle Punch, Cuttlebug
Perfect Touches:  Clear Embossing Powder (109130), Sakura Clear Gel Pen, Cuttlebug Swirl Embossing Folder

P.S. This adorable poem is from a happy customer (Poet Extraordinaire, Melissa Young) and made my day recently.  So cool.  Thanks, Melissa.

    Thanks so much!
    I can't wait to punch!
    You make the stampin' fun,
    Image by image, one by one.
    I think of you and your extra mile
    And what you have done makes me smile!