Envelope Card for Love in the Air

The new Love is in the Air stamp of approval collection is due to release tomorrow and I am back with more ideas and samples using this collection.  First up are some envelop ideas.

Recently I've been watching youtube videos on making pretty envelopes.  This new SOA collection was just what I needed to try it out for myself.  I used my SU envelope punch board to make my own envelope out of watercolor paper, so I could watercolor in the background.  First I stamped my balloon images and then masked them to help prevent getting them wet. 

 Catherine Pooler inks are dye inks and react with water, so I didn't want the images to get wet.   That is exactly what I wanted for the background though, so I carefully watercolored around the rest of the card, purposefullly leaving some white space to give the illusions of clouds.

It's very subtle, but after the ink was dry I stamped the cloud images in water and then used a paper towel to pick up some of that blue ink.  Lastly I added a few more stamps and the sentiment.  

Stamps: Bon Voyage, Love is in the Air (SOA - CPD)

Ink: It's A Boy, Mint to Be, Sweet Sixteen, Black Jack, Midnight, It's A Girl (Catherine Pooler Designs)
Paper: Watercolor (Canson)
Accessories: #8 Round Brush (Silver) Envelope Punch Board (Stampin' UP)

This next envelope could be stamped on any envelope you have, or even on the back of your card.

Stamps: Happiness Enclosed (SOA)

Ink: Midnight, Party Dress (CPD)

Accessories: Clear Sparkle Pen (Spectrum Noir)

After stamping the heart in the center, I picked up some of the same ink with my paint brush and lightly painted in the center.  Then, I used my Spectrum Noir clear sparkle pen to add some shimmer to that heart. It doesn't show in the picture, but the recipient will see it.

How about a card to go with these envelopes?  Of course you could use the cards I made yesterday for the blog hop.  Have you commented yet for your chance to win?

I love the little heart inside the starburst thingy.  Yes, I have a thing for hearts.  Someone asked me yesterday if I made Valentines cards and who did I send them to.  I'm more likely to make a love card than a Valentine's card because it can be given all year long to family and close friends.

As you can see I stamped most of the heart bursts in the same blue ink as my top envelope.  I chose one in the top left corner to stamp in Party Dress ink.  For the love die I first did the direct to paper technique, again with party dress and then quickly poured Wanderlust embossing powder over it to give it a sparkle and shine.  It needed an extra POP on the card, so I layered it over a another die cut out of black cardstock.   The strip you see is direct to paper using It's A Girl ink.  

To get the ombre look for the heart arrow I stamped the lighter pink in the center and darker pink on the hearts, then used a sponge dauber to blend where the 2 colors meet.  I felt the card needed a little something for the visual triangle, so I added sequins, putting the blue iridescent on in the top right corner.

Stamps: Bon Voyage, Love is in the the Air (SOA)

Ink: It's A Girl, It's A Boy, Party Dress, Midnight (Catherine Pooler Designs)

Paper: Bright White, Midnight (CPD)

Accessories: Love Die (SOA) Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh) Wanderlust Embossing Powder (WOW)

Are you joining in the StampNation PJ party tonight?  I have a meeting tonight, but I am hoping to catch part of it.  If you are a member be sure to go to StampNation for all the deets!