Greetings!
I'm back! 😄
I've spent a lot of time with my mom these past couple weeks and just didn't have the time and energy to get any cards made and posted. My mom is doing well and will be heading to Texas this next week to spend the winter with my sister and her family, so I am looking forward to getting back into the swing of regularly posting. I am so blessed that I've had the flexibility and freedom to be with my mom during this time in her life, and it's been great to get to help her with getting her home fixed up and decluttered so she can feel comfortable with living in it. It really is a different time in our lives when we have to take a good hard look at our aging parents and help them adjust to the next phase of their life. You never can really understand what it's all about until you're there.
Now, onto the joy of creating and sharing!
Last month I had the opportunity to see this technique for creating an Ombre' effect as a simple background, and I just had to share it with you! It can be done in any color you want. I chose to use the neutrals of Sahara Sand, Crumb Cake and Soft Suede for my card, and I absolutely love the rich look of it. It's done with Blending Brushes and I can tell you right now that I'll be doing this again for my cards - I am thinking I'll play with it for a Christmas Card idea, as it would be lovely with some of the gorgeous greens for the background. Okay, I'm sure the suspense is killing you, so here's what I'm talking about:
Isn't it beautiful! It looks like it's glowing. The addition of a couple of simple stamped images along one edge, a little bee flying around, and a lovely message gives this card such an elegant look. Embellishing it with Brushed Metallic Gold Dots and a little piece of Gold 1/4" Shimmer Ribbon adds a beautiful richness to it.
I have shown each step below so it's very easy to see how this beautiful background is made.
Gather Your Supplies:
- Splendid Thoughts stamp set
- Soft Suede cardstock
- card base 4-1/4 x 11 scored & folded at 5-1/2 OR 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 scored & folded at 4-1/4
- Crumb Cake cardstock
- Basic White cardstock
- Sahara Sand Classic Stampin' Pad
- Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad
- Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad
- Gold Brushed Metallic Dots
- Gold 1/4" Shimmer Ribbon - 4"
- Blending Brushes
- 3" or larger sticky notes
=============================================================
Product List =============================================================
Here's How It's Made:
To mask off the area for the Ombre' technique, begin by placing sticky notes* about 1-1/2" up from bottom edge of Basic White panel across entire width (4"), and extending over either side so they help to hold the cardstock in place on the grid paper. Place a second row of sticky notes 1" up from top of first sticky notes, creating a 1" opening on the Basic White Panel.
NOTE: When working with Blending Brushes, always begin off the edge of the cardstock, then work your way onto the cardstock using circular motions to avoid noticeable start and stop points.
*I tried using the Masking Paper for my first try at this, and even with rubbing the sticky part on my pants a couple times to lessen the adhesion, it still tore my cardstock when I very carefully tried to remove it, so I switched to the sticky notes.
Begin with lightest color (Sahara Sand), and using Blending Brush, brush color onto one half of opening, as shown:
Next, using Crumb Cake and Blending Brush, brush color onto the other half of the opening, overlapping color in the middle, as shown:
Carefully remove both rows of sticky notes. You should have a 1" strip that is inked to look like this:
Now re-attach bottom two sticky notes right at the top edge of the inked portion, so they cover the inked portion, again overlapping and having extending beyond sides. Measure 1" up and attach second row of sticky notes, so you have a 1" Basic White opening, which will begin directly where the current inked portion ends.
Ink Blending Brush with Crumb Cake and brush onto one half of the Basic White cardstock, as shown:
Finally, ink Blending Brush with Soft Suede and brush onto other half of the Basic White cardstock:
Remove the sticky notes, and you should have a section on your Basic White cardstock that looks like this:
Ink the large outline leaf stamp with Sahara Sand and stamp onto lower left portion so part of the image is stamped off the cardstock. Re-ink stamp, and stamp upper left portion with leaves facing down, again with part of the image stamped off. Ink bee with Sahara Sand and stamp near center just above inked portion of background.
Ink message and stamp near right side of lower inked portion of background.
Adhere Basic White panel onto Crumb Cake panel, and adhere to Soft Suede card front.
Embellish. I loved this look so much that I did another card using the same colors and images. I used the Gold adhesive-backed sequins from the Adhesive-Backed Seasonal Sequins on this one.
I hope you've enjoyed this fun technique, and give it a try. It will work with many different stamps. This background would also work great with stamps from the Nature's Prints stamp set, Botanical Layers stamp set, Hand-Penned Petals stamp set, Wildflower Path stamp set, just to name a few.
Have fun! And I would love to have you share a comment when you try it and which colors and set you used.
=============================================================
Essential Tools:
These are the tools I recommend for a positive experience with all of your paper crafting projects. Having the right tools makes every project go more smoothly from start to finish.
=============================================================
The holidays are approaching quickly and what better gift than a gorgeous kit with wonderful illustrated instructions so anyone can make these gorgeous cards. No stamping is involved! Everything needed is in this kit, including a beautiful insulated lunch bag! Check it out! Available through January 4, 2023.
Make sure and order one for yourself too! These cards are gorgeous and they all have a beautiful embossed card front - a different pattern on each of the three designs. You'll love them all!
NOURISH & FLOURISH KIT DETAILS
The Nourish & Flourish Kit is made of your spring picnic dreams. With a deliciously bright color palette you’ll love creating the springtime cards while knowing your crafting is making a difference!
- Kit includes 9 embossed card bases—3 each in 3 designs—and 9 coordinating envelopes
- Includes sticker sheets, die cuts, and die-cut labels
- Includes an insulated 9" x 6-1/2" x 6-1/4" (22.9 x 16.5 x 15.9 cm) lunch bag
- Finished card size: 5-1/2" x 4-1/4" (14 x 10.8 cm)
- Coordinating colors: Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Petal Pink, Pool Party, Shaded Spruce
- =============================================================
- These sequins are so awesome, I decided to extend this as the FREE gift with your order of $65 or more for the month of November as well :).
November Host Code: JQ4ESW32
- Place an online order of $65 or more (before tax/shipping) and earn a FREE Gift (FREE Gift sent by December 15th)
- For orders of $150 or more in my store (before tax/shipping), do not apply the Host Code. Use the Stampin' Rewards you will earn. You will receive the Host code gift from me.
- One Host code gift per customer, per month.
=============================================================
Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope you're inspired to gather your supplies and get creative!
Have a beautiful day! 😊
Beverly J
No comments:
Post a Comment