by: Marie Gamber, Artistic Guide

Finished Card:  4.25 in. x 5.5 in.

Hello everyone! Marie here and I want to share my card with you today.  The theme is "Passionate Purple."  I have always loved purple but I must confess that it is a color that I have sadly ignored.  After creating this tutorial, I realized how much I really love this color and will make an effort in the future  to not  neglect the gorgeous purple color group!  I hope your enjoy this tutorial I created for you.

Supplies:
Stamps:
Bud's & Vases  (Gina K Designs [GKD])
Paper:
Cryogen (Curious Metallic)
Pure Luxury White card stock (GKD)
Pure Luxury Vibrant Violet (GKD)
Pure Luxury Vibrant Violet (GKD)
Pure Luxury Wild Lilac (GKD)
Ink:
Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
Copic alcohol markers (.too, Inc)
Copic Opaque White Ink
Other:
Paper Trimmer
Cutterbee scissors with fine tip (EK Success)
Advance Tape Glide Adhesive (Scotch)
Acrylic stamping block
Nestabilities Petite Large/Small Ovals (Spellbinders)
Vagabond Embossing/Die Cutter (Sizzix)
Adhesive Rhinestones (Recollections)
Calligraphy quill pen 

Directions:

Card size 4.25in. X  5.5 in.
Cut 11 in x 8.5 in. paper in landscape orientation at 5.5 in.   This will make two cards.
Score and fold with a bone folder at 4.25 in.  This will fit a standard A2 envelope. Tip:  Place a piece of paper over the top of your project before running a bone folder over the fold. This will help prevent unwanted marks on your project.
Base layer 5.25 in. x 4 in
Top layer 5 in. X 3.75 in.

1. Copics will blend the best when worked wet-on-wet.  In order to achieve this, working on small areas will be the best.  Avoid coloring all the petals with one color and then trying to blend with the next blending buddy.  Work on a single petal at a time.   The finished product will be worth the effort.  Some people prefer to saturate the petal with the lightest color first then add the dark shadow and work from dark to light. The shadow area was colored with V09.  The medium shades  V06 and then V04 were added.  The blending is added by using small flicking motions toward the highlight area.  Avoid extending into the area that will be the highlight.  Add V01 using the same flicking motion to create the highlight.  Look at the image from a distance.  Does it need to have more contrast?  Begin with the darkest color and repeat the entire process.   Remember  that the image can always go darker but not lighter - so don't overdo the shading.  Work the rest of the petals until completed.
2. The dew drop was created by applying a circle of my darkest shadow color to a petal.  A small circle in the center was made with a colorless blender.  I further defined the edges of the drop with the darkest color on the shadow side of the dew drop.  The dew drop was lightly colored with the color used for a highlight.  In this case it was the V01.
3. The flower centers were created using Y15 and dots of YR15.
4. The green leaves and stamps were colored with G46, G43 and G40.   Look at the image and determine what areas will be in shade.  Repeat the process described above.
5. Ground the image.  It isn't good to have an image without having it in some spacial orientation.  Lightly flick BG0000 away from the image.  This will allow the image to "pop" and make it look like there is sky around it.  People may choose to stop at this point.   I am into a little fun and whimsy and like to provide a faux watercolor effect to my images by taking similar light colors and apply in a dotting method and then flicking over the top of the dots with the BG0000. This will blur the dots and provide a faux watercolor effect.  I added fun, whimsical  scrolls with Copic white opaque ink and a quill pen. 
6. I created a frame for the image.  The mat was created and the oval was cut  where the image would be positioned.  The  process was repeated with the smaller mat by positioning it under the top layer and positioning the nesting (smaller) die in the center of the opening.  The focal image can be placed and adhered within the opening  Adhere to the back of the mats.  
7. This is a larger view of how it looks when the layers are adhered.  
8. The card was embellished with adhesive Rhinestone flourishes. 

This is a card that can be used for many occasions.  I think this will be a "go-to" image I will use frequently.   I hope you liked this tutorial and have a wonderful day!

Hugs,

Marie