Hello Fellow Stampers ~
Fall Is Calling . . . can you hear it? . . .
As promised, I'm back today to kick off our Fall and Holiday season. With being away the past 10 days, I've just been chomping at the bit to get settled back into my Studio and start playing and creating again.
During August, as I would drive to work every day, I pass this home that has the most wonderful Sunflower garden lined up along the one side of their house facing the main road. Every morning those sunshiny happy flowers face the morning sun, and nod and wink at me as I drive by. They make me so happy.
How sad I was then, upon returning to my normal schedule this week, to see as I drove to work Tuesday morning, that their "season" had passed. Those flowers are now drooped, their heads nodding toward the earth, as the wonderful seeds in their centers began drying to be harvested and enjoyed. I love the sunflowers of August, and so in a "nod" to these wonderful flowers and the season that has already raced by us - let's enjoy one of my favorite stamp sets today, carried forward from the 2017 Holiday Occasions Catalog.
And as we play today, I'm going to introduce a "new" product from our 2018 Holiday Occasions Catalog.
I say "new" in quotes because . . .
Imagine my utter surprise upon seeing these "oldies but goodies" in our new catalog.
These shimmer paints were one of our most loved products; but they were retired some years ago already. At the time, there was a mad scramble to stock up on our favorite colors before they were gone, and I still have those "hoarded" precious bottles in my drawer - our favorites? Champagne Mist and Frost White!!
So I was totally caught off guard to see these wonderful paints making a return in this year's catalog - not only did we get Champagne Mist and Whisper White back - but we also got Vegas Gold, and a new color - Bright Copper
There are so many wonderful ways to use this medium in our card and paper crafting, and we will be exploring that all this season. So stick around for the fun!
We'll start today!!
I've created two versions of today's card design using the Painted Harvest stamp set - and slipping in a sentiment on the second card from a brand new stamp set (but we'll talk about that in a minute).
This card base is cut from Cajun Craze - 4-1/4" x 11", scored 5-1/2"
Then I pulled in Mossy Meadow and the Wood Textures DSP as background layering
Mossy Meadow - 4" x 5-1/4"
Wood Texture DSP (piece of your choice) - 3-7/8" x 5-1/8"
The stamped front focal piece is cut from Whisper White cardstock - 3-7/8" x 2-1/2"
Then I played with an "old" color and a brand new color to create today's sunflowers - and ohhhhh, I'm just loving how these two colors blend and play with each other so well!!
Mango Melody and Crushed Curry - these sunflowers just dance off the page and look like the real thing!!
The centers are Soft Suede, and the leaves are done in Mossy Meadow and Old Olive.
Notice I added the cute little acorns from the stamp set? I think we forget about this adorable image - done in Soft Suede and Crumb Cake!
Next, I started playing with the Shimmer Paints - today I used Champagne Mist and Frost White (of course - LOL)
Today's technique uses a sponge dauber to add shimmer directly onto the paper after you've stamped.
I added Frost White around the flowers in the "white" space; and I added Champagne Mist to the centers of the flowers.
Technique Tip: Drop just a couple of drops onto a clear block or a craft mat that can be easily wiped/washed off. Add a couple of drops of 70% Rubbing Alcohol to your sponge dauber before "daubing" up the paint, and use the block/mat to spread and thin the paint out. You will find the Rubbing Alcohol makes it easier to use and spread the paint on your projects.
The "shimmer" on your project is just an incredible "wow" factor - it's like Wink of Stella x100 - LOL
Last, I used my Soft Suede stampin' write marker to "spritz" speckles across the project, and sponged the edges of the cardstock to give it a softened distressed look before attaching it to the front of the card.
The sentiment was stamped in Old Olive and cut with a Stitched Shape Oval framelit.
And I used the Leaf Punch to create some leaves for extra layering.
The "sprays" of thread you see are from our brand new Braided Linen Trim - so easy to separate and spread out like this. I love the effect - you HAVE to try it!! You're gonna love this new trim.
I finished it all off with some Faceted Dots.
No card is complete without finishing the inside to coordinate to the card front.
Use the same technique here as on the front - with your shimmer paints.
This card uses the same techniques with a slight switch up of some of the colors.
This card base is cut from Early Espresso - 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", scored at 4-1/4"
I pulled in Mango Melody cardstock for the background mat on this card which blends so nice with those sunflowers !! 😉
I changed up the leaf image on this card, and used Old Olive and Pear Pizzazz this time on the leaves. Everything else is the same.
This time I wrapped the two layers in Linen Thread before adhering it to the card front.
This wonderful sentiment is from the brand new Country Home stamp set.
I cut it with the label in the Petals & More Thinlits set, and backed it with another set of leaves punched with the Leaf Punch.
It is finished off to one side with several embellishments from the Tropical Elements collection.
And again, you gotta finish off the inside!!! 😉
I did an interesting "technique" here in that I created a "wash" with my sponge dauber and some of the shimmer paint across the background.
I think it will be fun to write my message over that. I think you can just sort of see it in the picture.
I hope you've enjoyed today's "late August" inspiration. I have loved this stamp set since it was introduced a year ago, and am not sure I'll ever get enough of it!! I hope you have this set, and will pull it out and play. We'll talk about more fun with shimmer paints in the days ahead.
Until Next Time . . . Puppy Hugs!
