OLW Inspired by Nature challenge
Posted: September 22, 2010 Filed under: Branch Out, CAS, Stamped Landscapes 25 Comments
Susan’s One Layer Wednesday challenge is to make a card inspired by nature. She has combined OLW with her Inspiration Week, where she is chatting about what inspires her in her cardmaking and giving away some treats as well.
It seems like all my cards are “Inspired by Nature” at present. If it isn’t trees, it’s leaves and if it isn’t leaves it’s flowers. So I was only too happy to participate again in the OLW challenge. The card I have created is the latest in my masked and sponged scenes. I have done so many lately I went back and made sure they were labeled Stamped Landscapes which makes it easier to scan through them. I have created a scene similar to this one before, but I will always be inspired by snow covered trees.
I placed post-it masks at the top and bottom and then used a stamp-a-ma-jig to stamp the tree once in versamark. I shifted the stamp-a-ma-jig ever so slightly down and stamped the tree in black before embossing in clear. This created my snow laden tree which showed up once I sponged the sky in. The hill shaped mask was just cut out of paper and I used it for the sky and for the little snow indents. To create the tree’s shadow I sponged directly on the stamp and stamped upside down.
I haven’t added a sentiment yet as I’m not quite sure what to use it for. I’ll add something when the need arises. Make sure you check out the other beautiful cards in the challenge which were ” inspired by nature”.
Supplies:
Stamps: Branch Out
Inks: Versamark, Basic Black, Bashful Blue, Brocade Blue, Pretty in Pink
Cardstock: Flourishes Classic White
Also: Clear e.p.
Autumn Reflections
Posted: September 17, 2010 Filed under: Lovely as a Tree, Stamped Landscapes 20 Comments
A few weeks back I made a one-layer card with a masked and sponged tree scene. Well the next step, in my mind anyway, was to try and create a scene with trees reflecting in water. I had a few issues with this card and want to try again, but I’m still happy with my first attempt.
I didn’t set out to make a square card. I pulled a piece of ivory cardstock out of the box, saw that it was already scored and set to work. First I positioned my post-it note masks at the edges of the coloured sponged area, then I positioned another post-it mask half way down to mark the water’s edge. I then sponged in blue, orange and yellow, with some brown right near the water. Then I repositioned my middle mask and sponged the reflection side. The trees were stamped next in both black and orange, after which I had to create my reflection. This little trick I learnt from Michelle Zindorf, who stamps incredible scenes. I inked the trees in black and stamped them onto the plastic sheet from the Stamp-a-ma-jig, which I then pressed onto the card. After that it was just a matter of fiddling around with a marker to try and make the water’s edge a little more realistic.
After I was happy with all the sponging and stamping I removed the post-it notes to find that the cardbase I had stamped on was an inch shorter at the front than the back! I can’t believe I didn’t notice at the beginning. I didn’t want to matte it and stick it on another cardbase so it became a square card.
Thanks for dropping by.
Supplies:
Stamps: Lovely as a Tree, Teensy Tiny Wishes
Inks: Chocolate Chip, Summer Sun, Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue, Real Rust, Basic Black
Cardstock: Flourishes Classic Ivory
CAS 83 Sketch challenge
Posted: September 9, 2010 Filed under: CAS, Lovely as a Tree, Stamped Landscapes 6 Comments
This week’s CAS challenge at Splitcoast is to make a card using this sketch. I decided to make a one layer card sponging my design through a mask. I realize I am in a bit of a rut as far as sponging and masking is concerned but I keep on thinking of different approaches to it.
I made my window mask by punching squares out of post it notes and lining them up to give me a window. My sky and the hills were sponged in using a torn paper mask and the background trees were stamped while the lower mask was still in place. That is all there is to it.
Supplies:
Stamps: Lovely as a Tree, Thoughts and Prayers
Inks: Brocade Blue, Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Really Rust, Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Flourishes Classic Ivory
Also: Post-it notes
Year round friendship
Posted: September 2, 2010 Filed under: Lovely as a Tree, Stamped Landscapes 20 Comments
This is my card for Speedy the Cat’s Friend’s challenge#18 which is to make a “friendship” themed card. Susan Raihala’s One Layer Wednesday challenge is to make a tree card this week so this card is also perfect for that. Trees are easily my favourite image to stamp and my favourite stamps to buy, so thanks Susan for this weeks challenge.
I designed this card in my head while swimming laps, I often do this, it makes the time pass more quickly! Of course designing something in your head is no guarantee that it will work but I’m happy to say this one did. As you can see below I created a four season scene across the inside of the card. I masked off the area I was going to use and sponged the sky. I then roughly divided it in quarters, sponged in the three season colours and left winter white, just adding a few smudges of blue. I stamped the trees from Lovely as a Tree twice across the bottom as the card is 7 ¾” long. The colours on the trees are done with markers plus a little sponging with the end of a Q-tip. The final step was the hardest: punching the squares in the right place. I did a rough try on paper and then did a bunch of calculations to get it exact, which it isn’t , but I decided the error was not worth worrying about.
To finish it off I added the sentiment and balanced it out with the black twine. I had to scan rather than photograph as you can’t really get the effect of the scene through the punched squares if the card is sitting open.
Thanks for dropping by today.
Supplies:
Stamps: Lovely as a Tree, Season of Friendship
Inks: Basic Black, Certainly Celery, Garden Green, Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie
Cardstock: Flourishes Classic White
Also: Markers
Signs of Autumn
Posted: August 27, 2010 Filed under: Branch Out, Stamped Landscapes 10 Comments
Although we are still in summer, there are definitely signs of autumn already. So, I think this card for a friend having a birthday today will still be appropriate. The nights are cooler and the colours are beginning to change. This one is another for the Friends of Speedy the Cat’s Fall/Harvest Challenge. Do you like my new watermark? I carefully followed the tutorial on Vicki Dutcher’s blog and there it is. My husband did show me how to do it a few years ago but as I didn’t go over it straight away I did not remember the process.
This card was another one inspired by the art magazine I picked up. The artist is Michel LeRoux and his woodland scenes are beautiful, especially those with some fall colours. As he creates movement, light and darkness with dabs of paint I thought the leaves stamp from Branch Out might do a similar thing. I started by colouring directly onto the tree stamp but only inking parts of it so that the branches would peep out through the leaves. I repeated this several times and then started inking the leaves stamp for repeated impressions. After there was a lot of colour on the card I used the choc chip marker to lengthen some of the branches and create a few extras.
Thanks for dropping in, have a great weekend.
Supplies:
Stamps: Branch Out, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Inks: Chocolate Chip,Summer Sun, Pumpkin Pie, Really Rust, Almost Amethyst, Old Olive, Apricot Appeal, So Saffron
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Flourishes Classic Ivory
OLW 16 Stamp a Scene
Posted: August 18, 2010 Filed under: CAS, Lovely as a Tree, Stamped Landscapes 44 Comments
Susan’s One Layer Wednesday challenge this week is to Stamp a Scene. You can use a stamp of a scene or make your own.
I have made my own, using a technique I often turn to. I create a background with sponging and then start stamping the far off elements in lighter colours, the middle ground elements in slightly darker colours and foreground larger elements in black. To make this scene I masked off a panel on the card first using post it notes and then began sponging. After sponging three colours one under the other I stamped the trees in Mellow Moss and then Always Artichoke before removing the post it notes. I finished by stamping the trees in black and adding a sentiment.
I think I might try another one using this technique, perhaps with autumn colours. (I have made a new one with autumn leaves here.) Thanks for dropping in today.
Supplies:
Stamps: Lovely as a Tree, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Inks: Basic Black, Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss, Bashful Blue
Cardstock: Flourishes Classic White
Snowscape thank you cards
Posted: January 2, 2010 Filed under: Branch Out, CAS, Lovely as a Tree, Stamped Landscapes 15 Comments
It isn’t a new year resolution but I have been thinking for a while that this cardmaker should send a few more cards! Last night I sat down and chose a few thank you cards out of my stash to write to the very kind and hospitable friends whose homes we were welcomed into over Christmas.
During the day I had been sorting through drawers and shelves of school and craft supplies trying to make some room. I found some old Christmas cards which inspired me straight away to get creating again. I would like to give credit to the artist who inspired the card above but the Hallmark card doesn’t give any information.
To make both cards I masked off the picture area with post it notes and then inked up my tree with versamark and added a bit of black to the base of the tree. After placing another mask where the base of the tree would be I stamped the main tree and the smaller trees, then embossed in clear. To create the sky I positioned a hill mask and sponged in the blues and red (listed below). Creating the shadows was trial and error. For the top card I sponged the shadow between two ripped pieces of post it note. For the shadow below I drew it with marker for the large tree and stamped it for the small trees. I also used a marker to add more black to the tree below. Finally I removed the hill mask and did a little sponging to give the snow definition.
The sentiment is written in my own handwriting because I wanted something small and delicate but didn’t have a ‘thank you” in that style. I particularly wanted to make these one layer cards so was pleased that I managed to get to the end without smudging any of the white area. The photo once again is not great, I’m not quite sure what the problem is, probably the photographer not the camera!
Supplies:
Stamps: Lovely as a Tree, Branch Out, two little tree stamps I was given
Inks: Versamark, Basic Black, Night of Navy, Bashful Blue, Brocade Blue, Rose Red
Cardstock: Flourishes Classic White
Also: Clear e.p.
Stamped Brindabellas
Posted: October 17, 2009 Filed under: Branch Out, Lovely as a Tree, Stamped Landscapes 9 Comments
Hi again, it has been a while between cards hasn’t it? Life has been very busy here with one thing and another. Sadly there has been no time for stamping and no time even for posting cards already completed.
I made this one quite a few weeks ago. The inspiration was a card from my parents which was sitting on the cabinet next to my stamping table. It sits there because it has such a beautiful moonrise on it. The photo was taken by my father and made into a card for me. When my dad saw it there he suggested I try creating a similar stamped image. This is my attempt at stamping a scene from the Brindabellas, an Australian mountain range.
It has been so long since I stamped it I hope I can remember the process I used. I know I threw away the first attempt. To begin I stamped the moon, a little circle stamp from a flower set and then embossed it in clear. Then I worked on the coloured sky. I sponged in Bordering Blue, Going Grey, Apricot Appeal, Pretty in Pink, Pale Plum, Perfect Plum and Almost Amethyst to create the sunset. The silhouette of the hill was sponged in over a torn paper masking sheet. The trees are from Branch Out and Lovely as a Tree. I inked parts of the Branch Out tree so I could create a little variety on the horizon and mimic the trees in the original photo somewhat. The moon was meant to be in the space between two trees but I missed so I reheated the moon slightly to heat set the black branch on the embossed moon.
The original photo taken by my dad is below. The trees are blackened and bare because of horrendous bushfires which destroyed forest in the area.
Thanks for dropping in, it shouldn’t be so long between posts next time as I have a Christmas card workshop next weekend so some stamping must happen this weekend! I hope to have designed four cards by tomorrow evening.
Supplies:
Stamps: Branch Out, Lovely as a Tree
Inks: Basic Black, Bordering Blue, Going Grey, Apricot Appeal, Pretty in Pink, Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Almost Amethyst
Cardstock: Whisper white, Basic Black, Buckaroo Blue
Sunlit Woods
Posted: June 24, 2009 Filed under: Branch Out, Lovely as a Tree, Nature Silhouettes, Stamped Landscapes 15 Comments
In case you hadn’t noticed I like creating scenes with trees! I have combined three different tree stamps from three different sets to make this sunlit woodland scene.
I started by stamping the tree from Branching Out in Basic Black ink. I then stamped the row of trees from Lovely as a Tree in the background using Always Artichoke and Mellow Moss. I actually stamped them several times without reinking to give the appearance of trees in the distance. When I did this I masked with a post it note so I didn’t get the bases of the trees.
It is hard to see in the picture but I added leaves to the foreground trees in Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Basic Black and Summer Sun. (You can click on the photo for a larger image) I then began sponging in the same greens and yellow to create the sunlight. To create the grass in the foreground I used the tree stamp from Nature Silhouettes and a post it note to mask the tree out.
Thanks for dropping in, school should finish tomorrow, so I might be posting a bit more. Hope to see you soon.
Supplies:
Stamps: Branch Out, Lovely as a Tree, Nature Silhouettes
Inks: Basic Black, Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss, Summer Sun
Cardstock: Whisper white, Basic Black, Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss
Inspired by the beach
Posted: June 7, 2009 Filed under: Inspired by Nature, Stamped Landscapes 8 Comments
When I got the big “Inspired by Nature” stamps I knew I would be making “landscape” cards with them. I love making scenes like this but they do take a little more time and sometimes do not work at all! This scene reminds me of walking from the parking lot to the beach as a child. The sand was darker or dirtier near the parking lot and often we couldn’t even see the beach. We would cart our surf mats and towels through the gap in the sand dunes and there would be the surf! I showed my Canadian born son a picture of some sand dunes yesterday on an Australian calendar and he asked,” What are sand dunes?” I see there is a whole section of his education being neglected!!
I started with the grass for this card. I inked the stamp with versamark and Old Olive and then added some Always Artichoke with a marker to create two-tone grass. I then embossed in clear. Next I tore a hillside edge into a piece of paper to create a mask which I used to sponge in the sandy hill. I sponged So Saffron first and then Certainly Celery and Old Olive. I used the brayer at the base with Really Rust on it. To do the sky I sponged in both Tempting Turquoise and Brocade Blue. The picture is matted in Marigold Morning and mounted on textured Old Olive with an Old Olive ribbon strip and antique brass buckle.
Thanks for dropping by today.
Supplies:
Stamps: Inspired by Nature
Inks: Versamark, Always Artichoke, So Saffron, Old Olive, Certainly Celery, Really Rust
Cardstock: Whisper White, Old Olive textured, Marigold Morning
Also: Old Olive grosgrain ribbon, Clear e.p., Antique Brass hodgepodge hardware
Heather Telford 