Hi Everyone, I hope you don't mind that I'm on the "using retired stamps kick"! LOL
It just erks me to have all these beautiful stamps and not use them. So that's why you see a mixture of current and retired stamps. I just love inking them all up, can't let the oldies feel lonesome! heeeeee!
For this A2 standard size card I started out my card base with Chocolate Chip card stock. Incidently, all products used on this are from Stampin Up! I just love their products!!
My next layer is Old Olive c/s. Then I cut my next layer from Almost Ivory c/s. I sponged the top half of it very, very, very lightly with Close to Cocoa ink. Just so I could see it, ever so lightly. I inked up my Brayer with Old Olive ink and I just brayered a quarter of the layer at the bottom of it. (I'm trying to give you all my steps here, so bear with me).
Next, I took 2 post-a-notes...I arranged them on my newly brayered part, so that the only thing I could see between the post-a-notes was a 1/4 wide line of the Old Olive ink. (still with me here? oh good, stick with me!) then I lightly sponged Creamy Caramel. Then I lifted my P-A-N and I had a perfectly straight line of darker green!! (phew!!) I put about an inch layer of Old Olive designer series patterns paper and adhered it.
Next, I took a sanding block and starting with the 1/4" line of Old Olive I lightly sanded the lower part of that layer. The only way I could get it to make lines the way I wanted it to was to hold it straight and kinda tap or bounce it in intervals to give a very lightly distressed look. I hope you know what I mean.
Take a deep breath, in and out...ok, now for my next step.... I stamped the large swirl from Baroque Motifs in Chocolate Chip. I added Chocolate Chip 1/4" Grosgrain
Ribbon. If you look closely you can see at the top, two lines of piercing. I added 3 black brads as well.
Now, on to the tag... I started out with a Chocolate Chip c/s base, with a layer of Mellow Moss, which I sponged really, really lightly with Close to Cocoa..again, just enough to show.
Yay, now we are at the very last layer! (I promise!!!) I stamped the flower from Artfully Asian in retired In-Color, Purely Pomagranite). My sentiment is in Chocolate Chip. I used direct-to-paper method with Creamy Caramel, and sponged around the edges. I had a black picture hanger hook which I attached with a black brad and embellished it with a small piece of Chocolate Chip ribbon. I attached the tag and I was done, done, DONE!!!!
As you can see after reading this, it wasn't hard, but it was a little time consuming!! If you stuck with me to the end and didn't stop reading, I thank you!!!
It was long, but I had people ask me for directions and I wanted to deliver them as clearly as I could. PHEWY!!!!!!! If I didn't make it clear enough though, just shoot me an email and I'll help you.
Thanks for stopping by, I really appreciate it!!Have a great Saturday!! I hope you get to do some stamping. Take care!
Stampin hugs,
