I have been in a bad crafting cycle lately. So many of my favorite companies are releasing amazing products, and I've been buying faster than I can create. As a result, my supplies get buried in my closet; sad, alone and unused. I finally told myself "No More!" and started shopping my stash. I challenged myself to make 4 unique cards using one stamp set, and products that weren't in my trusty go-to section.
It pushed me, but I loved the end result, and I will definitely be doing this more often!
For this first challenge, I reached for one of my favorite companies, Kindred Stamps. Their pop culture sets give me life! I've been sitting on this stamp set since it came out. It was an exclusive box item, and honestly, the collector in me was afraid to break the seal. (I blame Ariel, and her hoarder influence at such an impressionable time of my life.)
The Toy Box set features several toy characters, as well as a number of sentiments for all occasions. Perfect for a challenge like this!
Right away, I did something I never do. I colored my images first. Usually, I have an idea for a background, and I only color up images I know I'll use. But since this was a challenge to use things I've never used before, I decided to flip my order. I colored every image in the stamp set, and a few of the digitals that came with it, using my alcohol markers. (I'll be sure to list my color combos below if you're interested.) I added white gel pen accents to some, and then used a gold pen to add detail to the cowboy's badge and belt buckle. I fussy cut them out and went around the edges with a black pen. I wasn't sure where they were all going to end up, so I set my images aside and started my backgrounds.
For my first project, I decided to use my new Lawn Fawn Slimline dies. I love a good slimline card, and my initial thought was that a longer card would give me more space for multiple images. (I changed my mind at the end, like many a crafter with a plan.)
I searched my stamp data base for any sets with clouds, and landed on Lawn Fawn's Smooth Sailing. I grabbed the die for the smallest cloud in the set, and cut multiple clouds from full-stick Post-its, double stacking them to save me some time.
I also cut a background panel out of Bristol smooth paper, a thin strip of Lawn Fawn wood grain cardstock, and an even thinner strip of regular white cardstock.
Once all of my pieces were cut, I laid my cloud masks on the background piece in a random pattern, being careful not to overcrowd. I used my blending brushes to lightly ink the background using Tumbled Glass Distress Ink.
I then used Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink to add color to the wood grain strip.
Once dry, I removed the masks and adhered all the background pieces together: iconic wall paper, baseboard, and wood floor.
Next, I used Lawn Fawn's Oliver's Stitched ABCs to cut the letters for my sentiment out of both Blue Jay and Sunflower cardstock. I wanted to mimic the lettering used for this theme. For the "O" I recreated the ball logo by cutting 3 small circles from white card stock and drawing the design with my markers. I die cut a small star from another Lawn Fawn set (Happy Howloween) in Chili Pepper card stock, and layered all the pieces together for strength and dimension. I added the sentiment right along the baseboard.
I adhered my characters to the card base with strong liquid adhesive, and searched my paper stash for coordinating options. I made my own envelope for this because the slimline card ends up being 3 1/2 x 8 1/2.
That was it for this first project!
For the second card, I repeated the wallpaper background, but this time I left off the floor. I used the new Lawn Fawn Small Slimline dies, which include this awesome lift-the-flap die, to die cut three windows in the center of the panel. I made sure to repeat the cloud pattern on the actual card base, since my characters were going to be adhered there.
I made 2 balls repeating the same technique as before, and stamped my sentiment on the middle flap using my Misti. (You can totally stamp without the use of a positioning tool, but I don't trust myself to do so. I've had too many dropped stamp blocks and ruined projects!)
I used a strong, double-sided tape to attach the flap panel to the card base, making sure that I would have wiggle room to tuck my characters in place.
I grabbed the dinosaur, the shepherd, and the toy dog from my pile, and tucked them behind the flaps, using a liquid adhesive to give me some leeway.
Quick and simple! I made a coordinating envelope, and that was that.
For the third card, I adapted my signature style by using the patterned paper in the box instead of a stencil. I cut a star using one of my stackable sets and used it as a mask. I used my blending brushes again, but this time I switched to my Distress Oxides for a more intense effect. I used a combination of Mustard Seed, Fossilized Amber, and Squeezed Lemonade to ink the background around my mask. I then smooshed my Fossilized Amber onto my glass mat, added water, and speckled the background for added texture. For some extra shine, I also added speckles of a gold metallic watercolor. I dried the background with my heat gun, and stamped a sentiment from the set in Memento Black Tuxedo ink.
I cut a strip of patterned paper 1 inch wide, and glued that in place along the left side.
Last, I added my cowgirl with some thin foam squares for added dimension, and mounted the panel onto a Blue Jay card base.
Since this card is a standard A2 size, I had pre-made envelopes on hand, but I did add an additional sentiment and some icons from the set to give it a personalized touch.
And voila!
For my last card, I decided to get inky. I quickly sketched out an area to resemble a beam of light. I masked off the inner area, and used a combination of Faded Jeans, Chipped Sapphire, and Black Soot Distress Oxides to ink the area on both sides. I tried to focus the darker areas along the sides of the background. I then moved my masks to protect the outside of the beam, and used Squeezed Lemonade, Scattered Straw, and Fossilized Amber Distress Oxides, keeping the darker shades towards the top.
I used the darkest of the colors, along with some gold metallic watercolors, to add speckles to each area, and then dried everything with my heat tool.
I stamped my sentiment, and added my outer space guy with thin foam squares.
I added part of the sentiment on the coordinating envelope, and this card was done!
I really loved challenging myself this way, and encourage you to shop your stash as well!
Copic Combos:
Cowboy: Hair- E17, E39, E59
Boots- E23, E25, E57
Bandana- R27, R29
Shirt- Y08, Y35
Tongue- R81
Jeans- B93, B95
Belt/Star- Y26
Skin- E30, E000, E0000
Astronaut: Cap- V12, V15, V17
Belt- C1, C2, C5, C7
YG03, YG05,
Helmet glass- BG10, BG70
Wings/ Buttons- R27, R29
Suit- N0, N2
Skin- E30, E000, E0000
Cowgirl: Hair- R17, R24, R27
Hat- R27, E17
Shirt- Y08, Y35
Cow spots-C7
Jeans- B93, B95
Boots/ Belt- E23, E25, E57
Shepherd: Hair- Y11, Y02, Y06, Y08
Dress- R81, R83, R43, E000, E00
Staff/ Bodice- B00, B000
Shoes- C7
Skin- E00, E000, E0000, R81
Dog: Snout- E40, E41
Darker combo: E17, E39, E59
Lighter combo: E23, E25, E57
Collar: G07, G09
Mouth: R81, R83
Nose: C5, C7
Alien: Skin- YG03, YG05, YG06
Clothes- B00, B02
Shoes/ Belt- B66, B18
C5
Dinosaur: E40, E41
G07, G14, G28, YG06