FM 50 & SUO 41: Mother of Pearl Blossoms

I was intruiged by The Friday Mashup's challenge this week, because it involved the Mother of Pearl technique and I have never done it before. It sounds daunting but it's not. It's a pretty neat technique because it shimmers/shines depending upon how you hold it under the light. Plus, I was in the mood for something spring, and thrilled to see that SUO's challenge this week was to make a project celebrating spring!

Under bright direct light...

Yet it's barely noticeable under softer diffused lighting...

Stamps: Easter Blossoms

Ink: Crumb Cake, Pirouette Pink

Paper: Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Pink Pirouette cardstock, and First Edition dsp

Tools: Framed Tulips Textured Embossing folder, Beautiful Wings Embossilits, white coloured pencil, scrunched up piece of plastic film

Extras: Mini Vintage tags, 1/2" Chantilly Lace Crochet trim, Pretty in Pink taffeta ribbbon, Frost Shimmer paint

I layered the Pretty in Pink taffeta ribbon underneath the lace trim for a subtle pink effect. I dug out my mini vintage tags, they seemed to have gotten more vintage all on their own. Yes, I have had them for awhile, and I do use them sparingly...so that extra vintage bit of rust on my tag is for real.

My greeting on the inside... 

Here's the card in another light, where the "pearlescent" part is more subtle, yet still shows up. I coloured over my blossoms with a white coloured pencil because I wanted them to be white with a hint of pink, and so they would pop a bit against the white. 

As far as I can tell, the technique really only involves sponging some crumpled plastic film into some paint. I poured a tiny bit of Frost Shimmer onto a paper plate and then crumpled up the film and sponged it in the paint. Then I'd sponge it off a bit before putting it on the card. 

I thought this technique would look nice on a mostly white or vanilla card. As I mentioned before, I don't do the "ethereal" look easily but I really put my mind to it, and with the help of this technique in the back of my mind, I think I managed to make it work. 

Happy First Day of Spring! Yaaaaaay!