Spring Time Diorama

I was challenged to make another Diorama card by a Facebook friend. In February I made my first Diorama card featuring the Big Catch stamp and it was very well  received.  The link to that post is here.

This time my card has a Spring theme. Like many, I am snow weary and yearn for warmer weather .

 I used the following stamp sets:  Abstract Impressions, Enjoy Life, and Petal Palettes.

Although this is a bulky card, it folds flat for mailing (see below).  However, an envelope will have to made using the Envelope punch board to accommodate the different envelope size.  I would recommend using a bubble envelope to mail this card.

The impetus for this card, and the colour scheme used, was a background technique I demonstrated in class on Wednesday.  This technique involved randomly applying the following colours on a piece of Whisper White card stock:  Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Highland heather, and Granny Apple Green, then spritzing the colours with water to blend them.  

I found this finished background piece lying on my desk this morning, and recalling the challenge I was given, I started making this card.

This card is by no means a 'quick' card and it did take me most of the morning to make.

The dimensions for the 3 layers to this card are as follows:

• Front:  Very Vanilla 10 1/2 by 5" scored at 2 and 8 1/2"
• Middle: Gorgeous Grape 8 1/2 by 5" scored at 1 and 7 1/2"
• Back (scene) 10 1/2 by 5" scored at 2 and 8 1/2"

Layering circle framelits were used to die cut circular apertures in the front and middle layers - a larger one in the front, and a smaller one in the middle.

Scene:

On the finished background piece, and using the stamparatus, the leaves and flowers from the Abstract Impressions stamp set were stamped across the bottom - the leaves in Pear Pizzazz and Old Olive, and the flowers in Highland Heather and Gorgeous Grape.

Then some butterflies from "Enjoy Life" were stamped randomly above the flowers using Gorgeous Grape ink.

This was added to the back layer.

Middle Layer:  Around the circular aperture yellow flowers from Petal Palette were adhered - a total of 4 stamped, coloured and die cut images.  You can see the flowers around the middle circle in the picture above. At the bottom of the circle was added the silhouette of the individual raising his hands up as well as a cyclist going by.  Both of these are from "Enjoy Life"

Front of Card:

Prior to die cutting the circle, some Garden Impressions DSP was adhered to the front. Flowers stamped, coloured and die cut using the Petal Palette stamp and die set were arranged around the circle.  Two birds were also added.

A butterfly left over from another project was added to the left side.

To finish the card, rhinestones were added to the tiny butterflies in the scene, and in the centers of the flowers and butterfly on the front.

Close up of left front

Close up of right front

Some Whisper White card stock decorated with a strip of DSP was added to the back of the card. Also added were some extra flowers that were not used to decorate the card.

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Abstract Impressions, Enjoy Life, Petal Palette

Inks:  Black Memento, Gorgeous Grape, Highland Heather, Old Olive, Pear Pizzazz, Various colours of Stampin' Blends

Papers:  Very Vanilla, Gorgeous Grape, Whisper White, Garden Impressions DSP

Accessories:  Layering Circles Framelits, Springtime Garden Thinlets, Petals & More Framelits, Rhinestones, Stamparatus

Floral Wreath - Circle Stamping with Stamparatus

Pinterest is full of examples of wreath and/or circle stamping using a template with the Stamparatus.  It took a few practice attempts, but I finally managed to make a wreath.
But first I had to make the template.
Again, there are many examples of how to make templates, and once I figured out the principles I was able to make my own. Making a template will be part of a separate post

This is a 5 by 5" square card with an Elegant Eggplant base.

The wreath was built on a 4 by 4" piece of Whisper White card stock, using the following stamps: Abstract Impressions, Enjoy Life, Varied Vases, and Love What You Do. Smaller stamps seem to work best.

The larger flowers were double stamped with Flirty Flamingo and Highland Heather from the Abstract Impressions stamp set.

The smaller flower is stamped in Highland Heather and is from Varied Vases; the butterflies from "Enjoy Life"; and the leaf stamped in Granny Apple Green from the stamp set "Love What You Do"

Small rhinestones were placed in the center of the larger flowers.

The sentiment in the center is from "Enjoy Life", stamped in Black Memento, punched with a 2" circle punch which is matted with a 2 1/4" circle punched in Highland Heather. On top of the sentiment I placed a black bird stamped and fussy cut from the Enjoy Life stamp set.

A bow make with white organza ribbon is attached to the lower right. of the wreath.

The 4 by 4" focal piece is matted with Highland Heather card stock, and adhered to a Whisper White layer with dimensionals.  This is added to an Elegant Eggplant base.

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Enjoy Life, Love What You Do, Abstract Impressions, Varied Vases

Inks:  Flirty Flamingo, Highland Heather, Granny Apple Green, Black Memento

Papers:  Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White, Highland Heather

Accessories:  Stamparatus, Template, 2" circle punch, 2 1/2" circle punch, rhinestones, 1/4" white organza ribbon, dimensionals

Country Birthday

What first attracted me to the Country Ride Stamp set was the horse vane - then the wagon wheels.
The card I finally ended up making incorporated these wheels as well as several elements from other stamp set to create the country scene below

To make the fence I stamped the Hardwood background stamp with Soft Suede onto Crumb Cake card stock and cut it into 5/8" strips.  The upper and lower strip are 4 7/8" long; the 3 posts 2 1/8" long.  After sponging the edges the fence was constructed as shown and a black marker was used to make the nail marks.  It was set aside while the background was stamped.

The Waterfront stamp set  was used to stamp the mount mountains, sun and sky; Rooted in Nature to stamp the trees; the branches from Country Road; the grass from High Tide; and the black birds from Enjoy Life.

The fence was now added to the art piece, and two wheels, stamped on Crumb Cake and punch with a  1 3/4" circle punch, were slanted against it.  The two black birds were added to the top of the fence, and the sentiment on the lower strip. Two framelit elements were added above the sentiment.

The art piece was matted with Basic Black card stock, then Whisper White and finally onto a Mossy Meadow card front.

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Country Road, Waterfront, High Tide, Enjoy Life, Hardwood

Inks: Soft Suede, Daffodil Delight, Mossy Meadow, Balmy Blue, Black Memento, Basic Black marker

Papers:  Mossy Meadow, Whisper White, Basic Black

Accessories:  Dimensionals, 1 3/4" circle punch, Framelit Elements