“Trompe-l’œil is an art technique that uses realistic imagery to create the optical illusion that the depicted objects exist in three dimensions.” – Wikipedia. OK… my card is not that sophisticated, but I was going for that effect!

I used to think using design paper on hand made cards was “cheating”, and so I put away all my beautiful paper, to be pulled out when I finally have the time to consecrate to scrapbooking. When the kids are gone and we are living in a considerably smaller place, cause we have to pay for the kids education in MIT or/and Harvard… (yes I can dream), so there will be almost no housework to do. No interruptions during the 4-6h I need to create one scrap booking page, to pick up the kids from school or make them meals, or clean their clothes/rooms/dishes/hair… unless of course, horrors, we live close to where they’re studying! If that happened, I think I will never be able to start scrapbooking again!

Anyway… what was  saying? Oh yes, using designer paper. I have been seeing a few of my favourite card makers use beautiful watercolour like design paper as backgrounds to their card, but adding a die cut or stamp which blends in or increase the beauty of the design paper. I was always fooled into thinking that the design paper was their own artwork, it was so beautiful yet artistic at the same time.

So I decided to make one too. Unfortunately I can’t tell you where the gorgeous designer paper comes from as I only have 2 different loose sheets, which have been lying around on my craft table for a year at least! The beautiful flower, which I stamped in Versamark before heat embossing it with white Wow embossing powder comes from Stamplorations and its called “Marigold”. I absolutely love this stamp! I sprinkled Cambodge brushos powder on it and sprayed it with water before using my water pen to move the paint around.  I then fussy cut it and adhered it onto the designer paper.

I brushed the centre of both flowers with clear Spectrum Noir sparkle pen and they twinkle in the light! The beautiful sentiment from So Suzy stamps was simply stamped in Versafine black ink.

I do love this card even though I used designer paper. Unfortunately it was made for my Auntie who has just lost her husband and I hope this will help a little.

Thanks for stopping by and let me know what you thought of my card!

I’m playing along at:

 Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge – Use pattern paper. I’m not quite sure if they meant there has to be a pattern on the paper or just use designer paper…

 Stamplorations Theme and Sketch challenge – the theme is stamp and family.

 Happy Little Stampers – Anything Goes with Dies challenge

 Addicted to Stamps and More – Its their 5th birthday!

 Allsorts Challenge – Flower Power!

 Stamplorations Always anything Goes if you use Stamplorations products