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Saturday, May 25, 2013

OWH Memorial Day Bloghop Card: Faux Verdigris


Here is my Operation Write Home Memorial Day Bloghop card featuring a faux verdigris technique and OWH sketch #68.  Get more details about the faux verdigris technique and sketch.

After many comments about the Memorial Day Poppy, I wanted to share some history.  During World War I, a battle zone was described by an American pilot as a “brown belt, a strip of murdered Nature.”  In April and May of 1815, poppies began to appear in clusters around these battered fields. Their bright, vivid color was a sign of life in an otherwise barren area. 

In 1918, an American woman, Moina Belle Michael, vowed that the poppy would become an emblem for “keeping the faith with all who died.”  

While I remember getting Memorial Day cards with red poppies as a child, I didn’t fully understand the meaning of the red poppies.  The many comments about the flower on my card inspired me to share this story about Memorial Day Poppies. 

Creatively yours,

Sharon Cheng
Richland Hills, TX
My Online Store

Friday, May 24, 2013

Faux Verdigris Tutorial


Here is the tutorial for my Operation Write Home Memorial Day Bloghop card featuring a faux verdigris technique and OWH sketch #68.


This is the sketch I used from Operation Write Home's sketches.  Whenever I have lost my creative mojo, I find that looking through sketches will often get my creativity going again.

The faux verdigris technique was inspired by a tutorial on Splitcoaststampers.  I modified the technique by changing the colors.


After using Stampin' Up!'s new Modern Mosaic embossing folder (129984  $7.95) on Very Vanilla card stock, I sponged Tempting Turquoise classic ink randomly across the card stock.  Be sure to leave some white areas and create some areas that are darker.  You can see this step on the left side of the picture.  Then sponge Always Artichoke across the entire piece of card stock as shown on the right side of the picture.  There should be some areas with only Tempting Turquoise, some only Always Artichoke and others with a blending of the two colors.


Add Calypso Coral in a few places.  Then darken the edges and some random areas with Soft Suede.  You can always go back and add more Tempting Turquoise, Always Artichoke, Calypso Coral or Soft Suede to fit your artist's eye.  I loved how the edges of the Modern Mosaic pattern really showed up with the sponging.  The last optional step is to lightly tap Versamark ink on the entire piece and add gold embossing powder.

The flower is made using Stampin' Up!'s This and That Epic Day Designer Series Paper (130814  $10.95).   I used the following punches:  Blossom (125603  $16.95), 1 1/4" Scallop Circle (127811  $15.95), 7/8" Scallop Circle (129404  $12.95).  The center of the flower is one of the Antique Brads (117273  $5.95).  This is my favorite collection of brads!


The sentiment comes from Stampin' Up!'s Lacy and Lovely stamp set (122887  $17.95).  This is a versatile stamp set that I have used for many different projects including this Live in the Sunshine card.

Visit my online store to get Stampin' Up! products and your supplies for this project.  Remember that when you purchase $25 or more in product, you are eligible for my Rewards Program.

Creatively yours,

Sharon Cheng
Richland Hills, TX
My Online Store