AWHT Colour Creations #29 Merry Merlot

Merry Merlot with Sweet Candy Canes 

Hello. Welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea and the Art with Heart Colour Creations Blog Hop. We are working though the Stampin' Up! colours in alphabetical order featuring one colour each week. 

This week’s Blog Hop is focussing on a deep red that has a touch of purple called Merry Merlot. Merry Merlot is part of the Neutrals Colour Family and is a rich muted colour. This colour is lovely when used for flowers, at Christmas time and so much more. 

Merry Merlot is produced in Stampin' Up!'s card-stock, both A4 & 12"x12"; Classic Stampin' inks (ink pads & re-inkers); Stampin' Write Markers; Neutrals Designer Series Paper as well as Awash in Beauty & Rustic Harvest DSPs.

Here is the card I created using Merry Merlot card-stock, Classic Stampin' Ink & a Stampin' Write Marker plus other bits and pieces: 

I started with a piece of Shimmery White card-stock and added a Merry Merlot Classic Stampin' ink water-colour wash. It is interesting to try water-colouring with darker colours as it often gives a sense of the colours that make the colour - it can be surprising. Once the panel dried I added die cut stripes that had been created using the Candy Cane background die. Something different with this die cut was that it had been used as a mask on a different background where Shimmer Embossing Paste had been applied. The camera hasn't picked up the shimmer that can be seen in real life.

The background water-coloured panel was mounted to a slightly larger piece of Merry Merlot card-stock, which in turn was mounted onto a Thick Basic White card base. Candy canes from the Sweet Candy Cane stamps were stamped on Basic White card-stock, one stamped in Merry Merlot ink and the other coloured with Merry Merlot and Blushing Bride Stampin' Write Markers. They were die cut with the coordinating dies from the Candy Canes dies. 

Some pine branches were cut from Basic White card-stock using the largest detailed die from the Decorated Pine dies. Using the detailed dies from the Christmas Banner dies, smaller pine branches were cut from Basic White card-stock, sprigs of leaves were cut from Soft Succulent card-stock, rounded leaf twigs were cut from Brushed Gold foil and little twigs were cut from Crumb Cake card-stock. An oval label, left over from a previous project featuring the Florets Frames dies, was added to the background with Dimensionals. A little splatter using a Merry Merlot Stampin' Write Marker had been added.

The candy canes were also added with Dimensionals. A touch of added colour was partially added to die cuts and then all the die cut pieces were arranged around/under the candy canes. A triple bow was tied with Linen Thread and it was tucked under a sentiment strip that had been white heat embossed using Merry Merlot card-stock, Versamark ink, White Emboss powder and a Heat Tool. Some Iridescent Rhinestone Basic Jewels were scattered around.

The Basic White card inner was stamped with a Merry Merlot sentiment (sentiment from the Sweet Candy Cane stamp set). A strip of Merry Merlot card-stock was adhered at the base and a Blushing Bride stamped candy cane and a left over pine branch were adhered to the left side. A C6 Basic White envelope was stamped with candy canes in Merry Merlot ink.

Thank you for spending time with me on my blog. I hope you find some inspiration while Blog Hopping this week. 

There is more Merry Merlot creativity. To continue with the blog hop, click the  "onto the next" graphic below and be taken to the blog of the lovely Christine Blain. I always look forward to checking out Christine's creations. I do love seeing everyones' projects - there is always so much inspiration.

I hope to see you next week when we will be featuring Mint Macaron as we continue the weekly 2022-2023 Colour Creations Blog Hops.  Also, don't forget that many of us are joining the Heart of Christmas Blog Hop on Monday evenings to share delightful Christmas projects to give you some ideas to help with your Christmas preparations. There are only two Heart of Christmas Blog Hops to go for this year.

Stay well, stay safe and be kind to yourself and others. 

Andrea 💕🐾

If you find a broken link or have come to this blog hop from a different entry point, you can view the full list of participants on Catherine Proctor’s blog @ What Cathy Made. Cathy is our  Art With Heart Team Colour Creations Coordinator.  She is an wonderful lady. Check out her gorgeous creation while you are there.

If you live in Australia, don't already have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and would like your own copy of Stampin' Up's 2022-2023 Annual Catalogue and or the July - December 2022 Mini Catalogue then let me know and I will be delighted to send them to you.  Please don't hesitate to make contact with any other queries about this project or Stampin' Up!. 

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