Another Nature Walk

As we head into the last month of the 2011 Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue which ends 31 July 2011, I would like to share yet another card I made from the botanical beauty of the Nature Walk stamp of this catalogue. I cased this design from Mary Fish who produces absolutely fantastic creations.

project recipe
stamps: Nature Walk (WM 123559, CM 121997)

ink: Not Quite Navy (103008)

card stock: Not Quite Navy (121685), Whisper White (106549), Very Vanilla (106550)
dsp: Elegant Soiree (117163)

fab tools:  Big Shot (113439), Floral Fusion Sizzlit Die (115969), Finial Press Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (115963), Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (119976),

fab factor: Gold Brads (104337), 1/4" Whisper White Grograin Ribbon (109025)

 cardessence tips

• run the Floral Fusion die through the Big Shot for your die cuts before running through the Square Lattice embossing folder to give the flowers some texture;
• I used 3 different circle size punches from my cache of tools to punch out the flower centres in WW;
• emboss the VV card stock with the Finial Press embossing folder;
• use dimensionals to adhere the WW layer to the NQN mat so that you can lace the grosgrain ribbon in between these layers instead of underneath the NQN mat. TTFN

Please remember that all items from this mini catalogue may or may not return in the new 2011 - 2012 Idea Book & Catalogue. If you haven't bought this set yet, July is your last chance to get it or to fill your wish list from this mini catalogue.

Have a fun day

Nature Walk

Well, who doesn't like colouring in?  I for one love using my Stampin' Markers and Blender Pen.

Here's a card I demonstrated as a Make & Take at my 2011 Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue party. This botanical card was stamped with the very lovely Nature Walk set and I absolutely love it. I chose to use vivid colours but one could mute it down easily with neutral colours or not colour in at all.

project recipe
stamps: Nature Walk (WM 123559), Well Scripted (retired)

ink: Classic Stampin' Pad - Not Quite Navy (103008), Night of Navy (102977), Old Olive (102277), Pear Pizzazz (119784); Stampin' Write Marker - Cherry Cobbler (119681), So Saffron (10006), Jet Black StazOn Ink Pad (101406

card stock: Crumb Cake (121685), Cherry Cobbler (12168), Very Vanilla (106550), Watercolour Paper (105019)

tools: Scallop Border Punch (11988), Blender Pen (2102845), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

 cardessence tips

• there are 2 ways to achieve the 2 colours on the plant stamp - you can either use only markers or you can first ink up the whole plant in Old Olive or Pear Pizzaz and remove the ink where the flowers are with a cotton bud before inking them with the Cherry Cobbler marker.
• ink up the bird and butterfly with the StazOn Jet Black and stamp on the Watercolour Paper
• Bird: start with So Saffron marker first, colour around the eyes, a large area under the wing, beak and legs; use the blender pen and pick up Cherry Cobbler ink from the ink pad and apply a light "wash" on the bottom of the bird, blending into the SS colour; add a thin bold CC marker swatch at the base/upper legs before switching to the blender pen to pull and blend the darker colour into the SS part (this technique will give you the desired shading effect); pick up Not Quite Navy ink from pad with the blender pen and colour in the top half of the bird, blending into the SS around the eyes; add shading with Night of Navy.

• Butterfly: again start with SS marker; with the blender pen, pick up NQN and fill in the rest of the butterfly - blending into the SS areas; use NON to add a darker shading at the wing joints.
• always begin colouring with a light colour and progress to the darkest.
• to avoid a harsh line where the colour transitions into another, use feathery strokes.
• the Watercolour paper is 100% cotton, cold-pressed paper and is able to withstand 9 passes of colour; a worthwhile investment if you want to achieve proper colour saturation and vividness.

 TTFN