Be(e) Amazing

It's Tuesday, my day to share a project created for Topflight Stamps. This week is an "Anything Goes" week on the TFS blog, so I decided to make a summery encouragement card with the Zen Bumblebee Clear Stamp Set by Melina Dahl for That's Crafty and a sentiment combining words from the Lots of Words Clear Stamp Set, also by That's Crafty 

Here's my card!

Topflight Stamps Products Used:

Zen Bumblebee Clear Stamp Set by Melina Dahl

Lots of Words Clear Stamp Set by That's Crafty

Sundance, Russet Orange, and Paprika Elements Inks by Lavinia Stamps

Summertime and Nocturne VersaFine Clair Inks by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Sparkle Glitter Brush Pens Clear Overlay by Spectrum Noir

Other Products Used:
Solar White Classic Crest Cardstock by Neenah Paper

Avalanche Cardstock by Bazzill Basics

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Copic Markers:
Y000,Y00, Y11,  Y13, Y21, Y23, YR15, YR16, YR18, YR21, YR23, YR27, RV52, TV55, RV63, RV95, BV000, BV00, BV01, BV02, BV04, BV31, BV34. BG10

91% Isopropyl Alcohol

Stamping Platform

Instructions:

1. Cut, score, and fold Avalanche white textured white cardstock to create an A2 card. 
2. Sponge or brush Summertime VersaFine Clair Ink around the outside .5" of the card to color the cardstock. then heat set. *
3. Use Tuxedo Black Memento ink to stamp the large floral butterfly from the Zen Bumblebee Clear Stamp Set by Melina Dahl  onto white cardstock. 
4. Fussy-cut the butterfly, color it with Copic markers, edge it with a black marker.
5. Add a coat of shimmer to the butterfly's wings with Sparkle Glitter Brush Pen Clear Overlay. Set the butterfly aside.
6. Brush or sponge Sundance, Russet Orange, and Paprika Elements Inks  onto a panel of white cardstock until you're happy with the coverage and the blending.
7. Spray the  panel with 91% Isopropyl Alcohol until the paper is saturated, which will further blend the ink in the paper while leaving wet ink atop the paper.
8. Turn a heat gun onto the wet paper to move the alcohol-infused ink a bit whilst drying the cardstock.*
9. Lightly mist the background panel with water to add some splotches and splatter. Heat set.
10. Trim the background panel to 5.25" x 4".
11. Place the background panel onto the stamping platform so that the 4" edge is flush with the base of the platform. Secure it with magnets.
12. Place the honeycomb stamp from the Zen Bumblebee Clear Stamp Set facedown on the background panel so that it's hanging a bit over the right edge of the panel.
13. Press the lid of the platform onto the back of the stamp and lift.
14. Ink the stamp with Summertime VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp.
15. Keep the stamp in place and lift the lid.
16. Move the panel approximately 7/8" to the right being sure to keep the panel flush against the bottom of the stamping platform.
17. Ink the stamp with Summertime VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp.
18. Repeat Steps #14-17 until the border is complete on one side of the background panel.
19. Keep the honeycomb stamp in place on the platform's lid.
20. Flip the background panel 180° and repeat Steps #14 - 19 until the second border is complete.
21. Remove the stamp from the platform's lid.
22. Remove the panel from the platform (if necessary) and heat set the background panel.*
23. Place the background panel back into the base of the stamping platform and secure with magnets.
24. Place the word "Be" from the Lots of Words Clear Stamp Set facedown on the background panel.*
25. Press the lid onto the back of the word stamp, lift the lid, ink the stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink and stamp.
26. Remove the word "Be" from the lid of the platform. 
27. Position the word "Amazing" from the Lots of Words Clear Stamp Set facedown on the background panel.
28. Press the lid onto the back of the word stamp, lift the lid, ink the stamp with Summertime VersaFine Clair Ink, and stamp.
29. Heat set the background panel.
30. Use a black Multi-liner pen to draw antenna onto the background panel.
31. Adhere the colored, fussy-cut bee to the background panel as shown.
32. Adhere the background panel to the reserved card.

Notes:

1.  VersaFine Clair Inks are sufficiently juicy and pigmented to color white textured or plain cardstock so that your layers match perfectly.
2. Isopropyl Alcohol will blend dye inks and most pigment inks without pilling cardstock.
3. If the cardstock is well saturated with alcohol so that you can see it pooling on the surface, it can be blown around with a heat gun whilst drying, which creates additional visual interest.
4. If you're using a Misty Stamping Platform, you HAVE to remove the cardstock panel before heat setting or you WILL warp the mat. Not so if you're using a Tonic Platform. 
5. I couldn't bee-lieve that I didn't have the word "BEE" in my stamp collection. 

Safety Warning: Isopropyl Alcohol is a solvent. Be sure to use in a well ventilated area to avoid inhaling the fumes.

Thanks for visiting today!