Nature's Beauty Thank You Slide and Lock Card

 Oh My!  I'm in love with the Blackberry Bliss DSP, and I'm wondering why it took me so long to order it.  After it arrived by UPS last week I have been waiting anxiously to free up time so I could make some cards.  So, today was that day!

When I showed this card to my son, he described it as "elegant" and he doesn't often use that word.

The card is a gate fold card, with a Slide and Lock mechanism.

The  4 by 5 1/4" Basic Black card base is scored at 2 1/8" at either end to form a gatefold card. At one of the ends I trimmed off a tiny sliver to allow room for the sliding mechanism.

On both front panels are adhered Blackberry Bliss DSP matted with Rich Razzelberry card stock.

Measurements on the left panel:  Cardstock 2 by 5 3/8"  DSP 1 7/8 by 5 1/8"

Measurements on the right panel: Cardstock 1 7/8 by 5 3/8"  DSP 1 5/8 by 5 1/8"

On the inside is added a piece of Rich Razzelberry card stock 4 by 5 3/8" layered with a 3 7/8 by 5 1/8" piece of Basic White card stock.

The Slide and Lock Mechanism is created using 3 Basic Black oval die cuts using the 3" Layering Oval die,  the top of which is decorated with embellishments and ribbon and an embossed image. Two of the three Basic Black oval die cuts are scored at the mid point on the long axis, folded and burnished well. The third is added to the back of the image piece.

On a separate piece of Basic White card stock, I applied Rich Razzelberry ink using a blender brush.  The silhouette of the Cone Flower from Nature's Harvest was embossed with Black embossing powder on this background.  This image was die cut with a 2 7/8" oval die, matted with a slightly larger Basic Black die cut and finally with a Gold Foil oval die. A sentiment from the same stamp set is added near the bottom, as well as a bow made with the 3/8" Berry Burst metallic ribbon (retired).  Brushed metallic dots applied randomly complete this image piece.

The remaining 2 folded die cuts are adhered to the back with the folded ends facing each other and adhesive only applied to one of the halves.  These folds open up like wings and become the sliding mechanism.

Supplies Used:

Stamp:  Nature's Beauty

Inks:  Rich Razzelberry, Blackberry Bliss, Versa Mark, Versa Mark

Papers:  Basic Black, Basic White, Rich Razzelberry, Gold Foil, Blackberry Beauty DSP

Accessories:  Layering Oval Dies, 3/8" metallic Berry Burst ribbon (Retired), Black embossing powder, Brushed metallic dots, Blender brush, dimensionals, glue dots

For You - a Fall Card - SUO Challenges #261

 Most of the leaves have fallen off the trees after a splendid showing in October.  Now they form a carpet on our roads and sidewalks.

The theme for the challenge at SUO is the beautiful Fall/ Autumn season - and there is so much to celebrate.

The colours of the leaves have been absolutely stunning this fall so for this challenge I decided to focus on trees/ leaves and some of their wonderful colours.

 

On a piece of shimmer White card stock, trees from "Nature's Beauty" were stamped with Early Espresso ink.  Fall colours were added to the trees with Stampin Blends ( Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Daffodil Delight, and Old Olive) dabbing them around the branches until each tree was full.  

At this time of year, the sky is a Robin Egg blue, quite a spectacular back drop against the colourful foliage,  Trying to imitate this some Balmy Blue inks was sponged around the trees When finished Balmy Blue ink was sponged in the sky around the trees.  

To create the focal point,  it was die cut in the shape of a  Maple Leaf   A second leaf was die cut using Terra Cotta Tile card stock and  this was adhered behind and slightly off set from the other leaf. The edges of both leaves were sponged with Early Espresso ink.

These leaves were added to a card front panel which was create using strips of  4 patterns of Autumn Splendor DSP adhered to a  piece of Terra Cotta card stock.  Behind this panel a piece of Early Espresso card stock was added slightly offset at an angle. Again, all edges were sponged with Early Espresso ink.    A strip of Early Espresso card stock with some 1/2" ribbon was added near the bottom of this panel.  A bow made of the same ribbon was added at the base of the leaves                          

 

Dimensionals were used to add the completed panel to the DSP on the Early Espresso card base.

A sentiment, from Itty Bitty Greetings , stamped with Early Espresso on Terra Cotta card stock, was die cut using the Ornate frame die, and added near the bow.

Gilded Gems added randomly complete the card front.

Supplies Used:

Stamp:  Nature's Beauty, Itty Bitty Greetings

Inks:  Early Espresso, Stampin Blends (Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Daffodil Delight)

Papers:  Early Espresso, Autumn Splendor DSP, Terra Cotta, Whisper White

Accessories:  1/2" crumb cake ribbon, Dimensionals, Ornate frame dies, Metallic gems

Nature's Beauty - The Deer and Bunny with a Sponged Background plus a bonus recipe for shimmer mist

 Sponging has become one of my favourite techniques especially since I discovered the long handled sponge brushes.

Sponging is the technique I used to create the background for this deer and the bunny rabbit from the Nature's Beauty stamp set.  Isn't that just a wonderful way to present these gorgeous creatures?

For the night sky I used the following colours on Shimmer Whisper White card stock -  sponging in circular motions from the lightest colour to the darkest taking care to leave the center with very little colour- Pool Party, Balmy Breeze, Coastal Cabana, Highland Heather, Pacific Point, and Night of Navy. 

Then, using Night of Navy ink, I stamped the image of the grass about 2" from the bottom. 

To create the snowy bottom, I cut two pieces of  Dazzling Diamond glimmer paper in a wavy pattern, sponged the edge with Night of Navy ink, and adhered these pieces to the bottom of the card front. 

The deer and bunny were stamped on a separate piece of whisper White card stock, coloured with Stampin' Blends, and then - yes - fussy cut. Before adhering them to the card front, I sponged the edges with Basic Gray ink.

The finished card front was matted with Night of Navy card stock and added to a Pool Party card base.

The sentiment is from "Itty Bitty Christmas"

I wanted to add some more glitter, some I made my own glimmer spray using Champagne glimmer paint and Alcohol (recipe below post). Oh my that does look shimmery!!!!!

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Nature's Beauty, Itty Bitty Christmas                                                            Inks:  Black Memento, Pool Party, Balmy Blue, Coastal Cabana, Highland Heather, Pacific Point, Night of Navy, Stampin' Blends (Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Smoky Slate), Fine tipped black pen. Basic Gray                                                       Papers:  Shimmer Whisper White, Whisper White, Night of Navy, Pool Party, Dazzling Diamond Glimmer paper                                                                              Accessories:  Long handles sponges (non SU), Glitter spray (homemade)

Make your own Shimmer Mist:

Supplies:  Shimmer Paint - Champagne or Frost White, Alcohol, spritzer

Method:  Add a few drops of either the Champagne or Frost White shimmer paint into a 2 oz spritzer (spray bottle) containing rubbing alcohol (I use 95% but 65% is okay as well).  I like alcohol because it dries faster than water. The more paint you add, the shimmery the spray will be.  Shake and spray holding the spritzer about 12" from your work if you want a fine mist, or closer if you want mist with water marks.

Label your spritzer.

Nature's Beauty

 It's such a dreary day - overcast, damp and cool.  After the rain of the last few days most of the colourful autumn leaves are on the ground, creating a curtain on sidewarlks and road ways, and clogging up storm drains  With each breeze more leaves rain down, movements that fascinate my 2 kittens watching through the back door.

You can just feel that winter is coming and in this part of the country that means snow. 

Which brings us to Christmas......

Today I pulled out "Nature's Beauty" stamp set focusing on the little bunny.  Sometimes I will do that ie. focus on one stamp and make as many different cards as I can with it. Today it was the bunny's turn.

For the first card I also pulled out the "Touch of Frost" DSP which has been carried over from last year.  One nice thing about this DSP is that there is plenty of open space in the bottom to stamp directly onto it. 

The bunny and the twigs of grass were stamped using Black Memento ink and then coloured with Watercolour pencils and a blender pen. The DSP was then added to a Seaside Spray card stock base.

To make the card look more 'wintery' I added some Dazzling Diamonds to the trees and to the shadows in the snow.

Sentiment is from Itty Bitty Christmas which is added to some Scallop Edged Purple Posy ribbon.

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Nature's Beauty, Itty Bitty Christmas

Inks:  Black Memento, Watercolor Pencils

Papers:  Seaside Spray, Whisper White, Touch of Frost DSP

Accessories:  Dazzling Diamonds, Blender Pen, 1/2" Scallop Purple Posy ribbon, dimensionals

 

Nature's Beauty Trifold Acorn Card

One of my team members brought me a card with a different and very unique fold.  She kindly wrote down the measurements for the card as well as instructions on how to put it together.  Thank you Marci.

Never one to back away from a challenge, I proceeded to make my own card.  But first I tracked down the original designer, Jan Brown.  She has made a video featuring this card fold, so between my friend's directions and this video made my own card.

Front of card.  Image die cut with Layering Oval dies.

Close up of focal image

Back of card showing 'grab' handle

Side view

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Nature's Beauty, Itty Bitty Birthday

Inks:  Black Memento, Watercolour pencils, Garden Green

Papers:  Garden Green, Whisper White, Toile Tidings DSP

Accessories:  Layering Oval dies, Blender pen.

Fox and a Feels Like Frost

This card was cased from a card made by Tina Zinck
It features the Fox from Nature's Beauty, and the lovely DSP "Feels Like Frost"

A Foxy Birthday

My nephew was born on Christmas Day.
My sister always had a difficult time finding a birthday card for him.  I used to hear the same story when I was doing craft shows.  Family members would come to my booth asking me in a resigned sort of way if I had any birthday cards for a family member sharing a birthday with Christmas.

This card is for all those special people who share a birthday with/or around Christmas

The base card of this card is Blueberry Bliss card stock.  Usually if I am using a dark blue I select Night of Navy, but for some reason I chose Blueberry Bliss instead.  And I'm happy I did because I like this brighter  blue better.'

Next I die cut a frame in Basic Black card stock,  using the second and fourth largest stitched rectangle dies.

Finally, I die cut the Whisper White art piece using the fourth largest of the Stitched Rectangle dies.

On this art piece, I first stamped the birch trees and then the Fox.  The Fox is from the "Nature's Beauty" stamp set.

I painted the birch trees with white acrylic paint and then used a Stampin' Smokey Slate marker to shade the left side.  The markings on the trees were highlighted with a fine tipped marker.

Colouring the fox was a bit  trickier, but after looking a few pictures I was able to figure it out. Using my watercolour pencils, I first coloured the fox with Crushed Curry, following by Cajun Craze, leaving the cheeks and chest area, as well as the tip of the tail, white.

The sky was coloured with various shades of blue - Balmy Blue followed by Blueberry Bliss and finally Pacific Point. All were blended together using a blender pen.  The snowflakes were painted with white acrylic paint on the end of a paint brush.

The sentiment is from "Itty Bitty Birthdays"

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Nature's Beauty, Itty Bitty Birthdays
Inks:  Black Memento, Crushed Cutty, Cajun Craze, Old Olive, Balmy Blue, Blueberry Bliss, Pacific Point water colour pencils,  and Smokey Slate, Basic Black Blends
Papers:  Blueberry Bliss, Basic Black, Whisper White
Accessories:  Stitched Rectangle Dies, White acrylic paint, Blender Pen