Sometimes inspiration strikes at the perfect moment. I had the beautiful Prairie Grass stamp set sitting on my shelf, brand new and just waiting for the right spark of creativity.
When I saw the gorgeous color combo for this week’s Sunday Stamps #366 challenge, it all clicked—and I immediately knew what I wanted to make. This card starts with a rich blend of Summer Splash, Fresh Freesia, Crushed Curry, Timid Tiger, and Pumpkin Pie inks.
I used Blending Brushes to sweep the colors upward on a panel of Basic White cardstock, building a soft but vibrant gradient that instantly reminded me of a summer prairie sky glowing at golden hour.
Once the background was blended, I brought in the star of the show—the large prairie grass image, inked up in Memento Tuxedo Black and stamped off-center to the left. The bold black silhouette against the dreamy colors creates such striking contrast, and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.
Layering is everything on a card like this. The inked panel is backed with Basic Black, then a layer of Crushed Curry, and finally popped up on a Basic Black card base for a frame-within-a-frame look that pulls it all together.
The sentiment is quick and easy thanks to the Greetings for All Mix & Match Ephemera—I picked the “Thank You” in white lettering on a black background to tie in with the stamped image. A few Crushed Curry Starburst Sequins give just the right touch of sparkle without taking away from the natural vibe of the design.
Inside the card, I echoed the layers using Basic White, Crushed Curry, and a bit of Timid Tiger for a coordinated finish. It’s a simple touch that gives the card a polished feel and makes it just as lovely when opened.
I filmed a video to walk you through the full process from start to finish:
I’ve also created a free downloadable PDF with all the cutting measurements, ink colors, and finishing details if you’d like to recreate this design or make it your own.
I hope this project inspires you to pull out some ink and get crafty. This card may have started with a challenge, but it ended with me falling in love with the Prairie Grass stamp set. Happy stamping!
Supplies used (also listed in the tutorial):
Wonderful ink blending of the colors. That stamp looks awesome on that inky background too! Thanks for playing over at Sunday Stamps.
Thank you, Laurie! I appreciate your kind comments.
Gorgeous ink blending!! I keep eyeing this set!! Thanks for playing along with our “Summer Petals” color palette challenge!! We are glad you joined us at Sunday Stamps!! Deb Horst, DT #SSC366
Ink blending with those brushes is just so awesome!!! Thanks for all the inspiration at Sunday Stamps!