BOTANICAL 6988

Here’s my latest mini slimline card! I’m actively creating, a student in the Altenew Educational Certification Program, and was inspired by Altenew’s 2022 Year In Review Challenge. I decided to combine April’s flowers and colors with a botanical specimen slide theme. It’s not your normal mini slimline card. It doesn’t open but flips over! For fun, I used Altenew’s Wavy Blooms SKU to number this mock up slide.

My focus? Clean and simple with a vintage look. I’m thrilled to be entering my Boutique Cards homework into Altenew’s 2022 Year In Review Challenge!

Creating the background was incredibly fun. I used a combination of Distress Inks and Spray Stains by Tim Holtz. I used Tea Dye, Old Paper, Walnut Stain, Ground Espresso, Antique Linen and Vintage Photo colors. I also used Distress Background Text and Numbers by Stampers Anonymous.

I cut the 8.5″x11″ background down to 8″x6″, folded it in half to create a mini slimline 4″x6″ card, and round the corners with a punch. A square frame die created two openings and a larger square frame die was used to cut 2 pieces of acetate. Altenew’s Obsidian Pigment Ink was perfect to stamp the Wavy Blooms flower on cardstock.

It’s amazing how much you see when you simplify everything. I kept the color palette minimal and complimentary so the flower would take center stage and be the star of the show. The Wavy Bloom is sporting Altenew’s Alcohol Ink Pens in Puffy Heart, Midnight Violet and Purple Wine. I flipped the die cut flower over, drew in flowery veins and edges with a Micron Pen, then brushed on those beautiful purples. Later I add a yellowed sentiment framed in copper for contrast.

Note: You can substitute acetate with vellum but the results will be different than what’s pictured. Double sided tape was perfect to keep the plastic in place. A drop of clear glue for the flower and more double sided tape sealed the card tight.

Little details are important to pull your card together for that finished look. I used Altenew’s “Keep Growing” sentiment from the Paint A Flower Iris Stamp Set. I used VersaMark on a triple stacked frame to cover it with Altenew’s Copper Embossing Powder. I’ve got to tell you, Altenew’s embossing powders are so incredibly fine they’ll give you amazing results every time. Nuvo Crystal Copper Drops in the corners gives the illusion of metal brads. Black lines on the back allow for a personal note. It was so fun creating this. I’m ready to create more! Watch for botanical “mock slides” in the future because I can’t get enough of these beautiful Altenew flowers!