I just love learning new techniques. Today’s card will show how to use the sponge dauber for coloring. There are many ways to use sponge daubers. This is just one way. Experiment with the sponge daubers yourself to learn different coloring techniques.

I used the Stampin’ UP! products in the new Ornate Garden Suite for this card.

Measurements: Calypso Coral Card stock (CS): 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches scored at 4 1/4 inches; Old Olive CS: 5 3/8 x 4 1/8 inches; Whisper White CS: 5 1/4 x 4 inches and 5 x 1 1/8 inches; Gold Foil Sheet: 5 1/8 x 3 7/8 inches; Ornate Garden Specialty Designer Series Paper (DSP); 5 x 3 3/4 inches.

Stamp the ‘Thank You” sentiment from the Ornate Thanks stamp set in Calypso Coral ink onto the 5 x 1 1/8 inch piece of Whisper White CS. Stamp in the upper left hand corner.
Now we are going to use the “you made my day!” sentiment which is very skinny. Tip: In order to get the sentiment on straight, lay it on the paper and put the block over it to stick it to the block.
Use Soft Suede ink to stamp the sentiment “you made my day!” just under the “Thank You”. Trim the paper to 3 3/4 inches.
Now for the fun part! Lay the Ornate Garden Specialty DSP on a scrap sheet of paper. Apply Calypso Coral ink to the sponge dauber by gently tapping it onto the ink pad.
Rub in a small circle onto the scrap paper first. With light pressure, rub in small circles onto the Ornate Garden Specialty DSP. Tip: Start light and then add more to make the ink dark.

Continue to color the flowers. Make some darker than others. I know it doesn’t really look that great right now. Kind of just a smudgy mess!
Daub on the Old Olive ink where there are leaves. The card front looks a little better now.

Fold the 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 inch Calypso Coral CS in half at the 4 1/4 inch score mark. Use the Bone Folder to make the fold crisp. This is the card base.
Use the filigree to stamp the corners of the inside of the card in Soft Suede ink. Adhere the card piece to the inside of the Calypso Coral CS card base. The filigree makes the inside a little more fancy.
I must admit that I kind of cheat with the Gold Foil Sheets. I have a Big Shot and some rectangular dies and I cut out the center of the card piece to save the Gold Foil sheet. If you don’t have a Big Shot or other cutting machine, just use the Paper Snips to cut out the center. Adhere the Gold Foil card piece to the Old Olive card piece.
Adhere the Ornate Garden Specialty DSP to the Gold Foil layer, then adhere the whole piece to the card front. Tip: Using multiple layers makes the card more interesting.

Adhere the sentiment piece to the card front on the lower third of the front.
Now for some Bling! There are Gilded Gems in the Garden Suite! Tip: The best way to transfer the gems to the card front is with the Take Your Pick Tool. Slide the pick under the adhesive on the gem.
Place the gem on the card and use light pressure to push the gem onto the card. Continue to apply the gems until you like how the card front looks. Use as many as you like. Keep in mind that an odd number is more pleasing to the eye.

Viola! You now have a beautiful thank you card to send to someone. Remember that an attitude of gratitude helps you be more healthy both psychologically and physically along with spreading some positivity to someone else.
Thank you so much for joining me today. The Garden Suite will go on sale on April 1, 2020. Enjoy your day!
Stampin’ UP! supplies used include: Stamp set: Ornate Thanks #149471; Paper: Calypso Coral CS #122925, Old Olive CS #100702, Whisper White CS #100730, Gold Foil Sheets #132622 and the Ornate Garden Specialty DSP #152488; Ink: Calypso Coral #147101 and Soft Suede #147115; Clear Blocks: C #118486, D #118485 and H #118490; Bone Folder #102300; Take Your Pick tool #144107; Adhesives: Tombow Multipurpose Liquid Glue #110755; and Embellishments: Gilded Gems #152478.