I wanted to create a very large, impressive card as a going away gift to my boss. She told me that she liked embossing so I started with an inherited flower stamp that was on a wood block. I removed it from the wood and used Grafix Cling Film to allow the stamp to be used with my Tonic Stamping platform by Tim Holtz.
This worked wonderfully as the platform allowed me to stamp the flowers multiple times. I like to use Distress Oxide Inks on my gelli plate.
For my flowers and stems I used Strathmore 400 Series Mixed Media Paper. I stamped with Ranger Archival Ink Jet Black and embossed with Ranger Clear Embossing powder on the flowers. I like this paper because it works like a cold press watercolor paper - it has a smooth surface. That makes it take the colors of the distress ink better when dragging the paper across the geli plate. I just cut strips of paper for the stems and dragged them through the ink on the plate. I used Peeled Paint and Fossilized Amber for the stems, leaves and the border of the card. For the flowers I used Worn lipstick and fossilized amber. I wanted coral flowers with a little pink. Stamp the gelli plate, spritz with water and drag the cut out flowers through the ink
The base card was 600lb watercolor paper that I had from an art store going out of business sale. I wanted a very large card (12 x 10) a) I didn't need to make an envelope b) I knew that lots of people would sign the card and wanted to give them plenty of room.
The background paper was something from a pack that I had at home. I choose paper that worked with the flower colors. I used foam dots to get the flowers to stand out.
