The Spot Sketch Challenge #121 using Tasteful Touches Stamp Set by Stampin' Up!

Today I'm playing along for the first time over at The Spot with sketch challenge #121 

Can you believe I have been working on this card for around a week? 

I kept picking it up and then putting it down, day after day. That's what I do when I'm not happy with the outcome of what I'm creating. 

I put the elements I've created into a plastic pocket and put it aside for another day and hope the inspiration comes along.

I knew what I wanted to feature on my card:

• An ombre effect using the polka dot mask and a sponge brayer
• The flower and leaves from the Tasteful Touches stamp set
• The colour Seaside Spray

BUT I just couldn't get the layout right. 

THEN I saw this sketch by The Spot and I knew exactly what to do! (thanks guys!)

The diagonal stripe is really cool so I changed my background to follow this pattern. What do you think? 

To create this look, I used my ruler to create a diagonal stripe and then masked off the area with my trusty post it notes.

I positioned my mask over the exposed area (so the direction of the dots followed the same direction as the diagonal stripe) and stuck it to my grid paper with some washi tape. 

I took my sponge brayer and inked it up with Seaside Spray. I rolled the brayer from the bottom right hand corner up towards the top left hand corner. 

To create the ombre look, I added more pressure at the bottom, applied a bit less at the middle and then kept it very light at the top left hand corner. 

I then applied Misty Moonlight ink to the same brayer and rolled it upwards from the bottom right hand corner but stopped before I reached the middle. 

I stamped the flowers in Memento black ink and lightly coloured them in with my Seaside Spray Dark and Light Blends and then cut them out using my paper snips.

I then stamped the leaves twice in Night of Navy ink and fussy cut them out, leaving a thin border of white.

I also die cut elements from the Forever Flourishing dies in Silver Foil and Vellum. The Silver Foil elements are all from one die cut (the largest die in the set) - I used my paper snips to cut it down into smaller pieces and positioned it around the flowers.

I was thinking about adding a sentiment stamped onto cardstock, in the same position as the sketch -  however it distracted too much from the polka dot stripe. Instead I simply stamped the sentiment in Night of Navy ink in the same position.

To finish the card, I added some clear Elegant Faceted Gems - I absolutely adore these! 

I hope you like the card I've created - please do leave a comment as I'd love to hear from you! 

If you are visiting for the first time, don't forget to subscribe to receive my blog posts by email!