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

Anything Winter - Sparkles Christmas Challenge #96, SUO Challenge #214

When I think of winter I think of short gray days, days with little sunshine, and days with snowstorms.

This is what I tried to depict in this card that I am submitting to  Sparkles Christmas Challenge #96  "Add Sparkle", as well as SUO Challenge #214 "Anything Winter"

The tree from "Sheltering Tree" was white embossed as well as the tree foliage and the ground below the tree.  Snow is falling.  The background is Smokey Slate

A bright spot of colour are the 2 cardinals, embossed with Cherry Cobbler embossing powder.  The birds are from "Thoughtful Branches"

On the ground, I apply shimmer embossing paste,  I also dab it on the tree branches, and while it is wet I add some glittering dazzling diamonds.

This art piece is matted with another piece of Smokey Slate.  The edges of both pieces are sponged with Basic Gray ink.

The card base is Smokey Slate card stock layered with Glimmer card stock.  A piece of 3/8" Basic Gray shimmer ribbon is added to the glimmer paper before it is added to the card front, and a double bow added at the side.

The sentiment, which is embossed with black embossing powder, is from "Petal Palette"

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Petal Palette, Thoughtful Branches, Sheltering Tree

Ink:  Versa Mark, Basic Gray

Papers:  Smokey Slate, Shimmer Glitter paper

Accessories:  3/8" shimmer Basic Gray ribbon, White embossing powder, Black embossing powder, Cherry Cobbler embossing powder, Shimmer Texture paste, Dazzling diamonds

Thanks a Bunch (of Spring Flowers) Hand Stamped Sentiments #288

I had a walk around my garden this morning just to see what I could see.  And I was amazed to see growth emerging from under ground.  Even though the spring has been very cold the perennials have decided that it is time for them to start growing.  I can hardly wait for them to bloom and bring some colour to my back yard.

Which brings me to the Inspiration Challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments .......and yes, a bright spring-like card.

There's more than one way to make a Wood grain background!  One can stamp using a background stamp, emboss with a wood grain embossing folder followed by sponging or brayering,  or one can just use Wood grain DSP. Finally, the method I chose,  one can add ink directly to a woodgrain embossing folder, insert a piece of card stock in it and put it through the Big Shot.

A window opening was die cut using the Window framelit placed sideways on this "barn" front.  I added an identical size of Crumb Cake cardstock behind this die cut layer so that I could reattach the die cut window frame (using foam tape) which now has some window sheet attached to its back. This has almost an "eclipse" effect.

Because the window was die cut sideways, the window sill was too small for the bottom of the window, so I die cut 2 of them and adhered them together to make one longer one and this formed the base for the spring floral bouquet.

Various flowers (and leaves)  were stamped and die cut using the Beautiful Bouquet, Tranquil Tulip and Petal Palette stamp sets and arranged on this extended window sill selecting the colors from the Inspiration picture above.  The flower -covered  sill was adhered to the bottom of the window with some foam tape - and a sentiment tucked into the flowers at the side.

To complete the picture, I added a  bird from the Petal Palette stamp set placing it on top of the yellow flower.

This card layer was added to a Pool Party card front.

I feel more spring-like already.

Supplied Used:

Stamps:  Beautiful Bouquet, Tranquil Tulip, Petal Palette

Inks:  Soft Suede, Daffodil Delight, Rich Razzelberry, Old Olive, Berry Burst

Papers:  Pool Party, Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Garden Green, Blushing Bride, Berry Burst

Accessories:  Wood grain embossing folder, Windows framelit, Eloquent Bunch framelits, Petals and more thinlet dies, Window sheet, foam tape, dimensionals. liquid pearls (for center of flowers)

From the Heart - Just Add Ink #406 & Fab Fri #136

I've been making a number of cards lately using the Just Add Color DSP, and this card is no different.  However,  I am entering this card into the sketch challenge at Just Add Ink, and the color challenge at Fab Friday

The tea pot image is from the "Just Add Color" DSP which I obtained as a free product during SAB.  The DSP has some wonderful images and I have made numerous cards from them.

The tea pot was colored with SU markers - Lemon Lime twist, Bermuda Bay and Basic Gray, at times blending the colors together and leaving some white spaces.

The pot was cut out and some 3d lacquer was applied giving it a metallic appearance.  When it was dry it was adhered to a delicate doillie using dimensionals.  This was added to the card front.

Adhering to the color scheme of the Fab Friday challenge, the card base of Bermuda Bay was matted with Basic Gray, and then a layer of the uncolored Just Add Color DSP.  A diagonal strip of Bermuda Bay cardstock was adhered from right to left across the card.

The art piece was adhered on this angled band and a sentiment, from the Petal Palette stamp set was added next to the spout, looking like it was pouring from the pot itself.

Some heart shaped Bermuda Bay metallic embellishments were added to he upper left of the card base, with one being placed on top of the word "heart".  A circular one was adhered to the center of the flower of the pot.

Supplies Used:

Stamp:  Petal Palette

Inks:  Bermuda Bay, SU Markers (Bermuda Bay, Basic Gray, and Lemon Lime Twist)

Papers:  Bermuda Bay, Basic Gray, Just Add Color DSP, Whisper White

Accessories:  Delicate Doillie, 3D Lacquer, Dimensionals, Bermuda Bay Enamel shapes