SHOREBIRDS WITH SQUIGGLES

Here is a card, using the beautiful stamp set, Wetlands, that is lots of fun to make. Just be careful that you don't get entangled in the weeds!

See the weeds that I'm referring to? Aren't they cute and squiggly? I'm sure some of you already know how they are created. But, for those who don't, can you guess? 

Simple! You twist and turn rubbers bands onto a brayer roller, ink it up, and roll across your background. Instant weeds! 

I will divulge to you in the instructions to follow how to create your own faux brads as shown below:

If you'd like to try your hand at a card similar to this, here's how:

Supplies:

Wetlands stamp set

Hearts A Flutter stamp set

Naturals Ivory cardstock

Pool Party cardstock

Soft Suede cardstock

Early Espresso ink

Soft Suede ink

Pool Party ink

Brayer (I used the acrylic roller attachment. If you use the rubber attachment, remove the rubber bands as soon as you finish your background. Otherwise, you will have permanent dents. Yuk.)

Rubber Bands (EXPERIMENT WITH VARYING THICKNESSES FOR A COOL EFFECT.)

Stampin' Sponge

Heat Tool

Pewter Embossing Powder

Paper Punch

Stampin' Pierce Mat

Paper Piercing Tool

Essentials Paper Percing Pack

Big Shot

Hearts A Flutter Framelits

Ovals Collection Framelits

Apothecary Accents Framelits

Stampin' Dimensionals

Glue Dots

Large Oval Punch

Directions:

Fold a half sheet of Pool Party cardstock in half, creasing well with a bone folder.

Twist several rubber bands onto the roller of a brayer, spacing them haphazardly, but equally. (Do a few practice rolls on scrap paper to make sure you like the pattern your rubber band placement makes,) Run the rubber-banded brayer through the Pool Party ink several times and roll it up a 4" x 5 1/4" piece of Naturals Ivory cardstock. Continue this process until you are satisfied with your background. Sponge all edges of this piece with Soft Suede ink.

From Soft Suede cardstock, use the Apothecary Accents Framelits to cut the largest label in your Big Shot. Use the Piercing Tool on the Stampin' Pierce Mat and the Essentials Paper Piercing Pack to pierce the edges of this piece. 

On a scrap of Soft Suede cardstock, stamp the lined banner from the Hearts A Flutter stamp set. Cut this out with the Big Shot and the appropriate Hearts A Flutter Framelit. Adhere to the bottom of the large label, letting the two tail ends stick out.

On Pool Party cardstock, stamp the shorebirds in Early Espresso ink. Cut this piece out with the appropriately-sized Framelit from the Ovals Collection with the Big Shot. Sponge the lower portion of this piece with Soft Suede ink.

Cut the last frame from the Apothecary Accents from Pool Party cardstock. Sponge the edges with Soft Suede. Cut this piece in half, and adhere each half to the sides of the oval. Adhere this portion to the large brown label.

On a scrap of Pool Party cardstock, stamp the sentiment in Early Espresso ink. Punch this out with the Large Oval Punch. Sponge the edges with Soft Suede ink. Adhere this label to the larger oval with two pieces of Stampin' Dimensionals.

TO MAKE THE FAUX BRADS: Apply VersaMark Ink directly to a scrap of Soft Suede cardstock. Cover this with Pewter Embossing Powder. (I realize this embossing powder is retired [SOB!], but I'm hoping everyone stocked up on it while it was still available like I did.) Heat to emboss. Once this has cooled, use a paper punch to punch out five "brads". Attach to the upper right portion o the bird oval with Glue Dots.

NOTE: Keep this embossed piece so you can make further faux brads for other projects!

You do not have to add these brads. But, I have to admit that after I had "finished" this card, sans brads, I was truly disappointed with how empty it looked. So, after exploring several options, this is what I came up with, and with the addition of these faux brads, I consider the card quite finished and very satisfying. What is your opinion?

Squiggly

Smiles.