LIFE IS A BEAUTIFUL THING

On Monday, October 16, my Stamp-In Club ladies experienced a little bit of a challenge in making this card at the workshop. You see, it's a two-step card. Why do I refer to it as a two-step card? Because FIRST they had to create their own stamp. Only after having completed this first step, could they continue on to making the actual card.

The card also featured a couple of the gorgeous diecut leaves from the Seasonal Layers Thinlits on page 216. They were done in Peekboo Peach and Berry Burst cardstock.

We also used some of the beautiful new Designer Series Paper, Painted Autumn, which can be found on page 49 of the Holiday Catalog. This paper is truly exquisite, almost too pretty to cut and use.

The following two photos show the use of the handmade stamp the girls made in the leafy impressions stamped in Peekaboo Peach and Berry Burst.

I'd love to share with you the tutorial on how to make this card. Keep reading -- and have fun!

SUPPLIES FOR THE STAMP:

Big Shot

Seasonal Layers Thinlits

Fun Foam with adhesive backing

Black ink

A wood block

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE STAMP:

Using a small piece of adhesive-backed fun foam, run it through the Big Shot with the small maple leaf die from the Seasonal Layers Thinlits dies, cutting out a leaf shape.

If you desire, stamp in black ink an index image onto the wood block. You might want to cut a separate leaf to do this step. You'd hate to have black on your stamp when making your card. Mount your new stamp onto the wood block.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER WHEN USING YOUR NEW STAMP: 

Since the stamp is sooooo thin without any cushioning, it is somewhat difficult to ink it up without getting ink on the wood block. Remember that if you have wet ink on the block, it will transfer to your paper when stamping. It works easier if you use one of the new juicy ink pads, and then just gently tap the ink onto the stamp.

Use this stamp on the Life Is A Beautiful Thing card.

SUPPLIES FOR THE CARD:

Painted Autumn Designer Series Paper

Very Vanilla cardstok

Peekaboo Peach cardstock

Berry Burst cardstock

Colorful Seasons stamp set (page 147)

Handmade stamp

Berry Burst ink

Peekaboo Peach ink

Big Shot

Seasonal Layers Thinlits (page 216)

Paper Snips

Blue Cord

Stampin' Dimensionals

Scotch Tape

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CARD:

Fold an 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" piece of Very Vanilla cardstock in half, creasing it well with a bone folder.

Adhere a 4" x 5 1/4" piece of Peekaboo Peach cardstock to the card base.

Using the new stamp you just made, first of all, gently ink it up with Peekaboo Peach ink. STAMP IT OFF FIRST ON SCRATCH PAPER to lighten the image and stamp it randomly on a 2" x 5" strip of Peekaboo Peach cardstock. Repeat this step in several random spots. Then, carefully ink it up with the Berry Burst ink, AND STAMPING OFF FIRST, fill in blank spaces on this strip with the darker leaves. The leaves can overlap somewhat. PLEASE NOTE: I didn't always get a clear impression of the leaf, nor did I get the leaf stem every time. But it doesn't need to be perfect. It just has to have the effect of falling leaves.

When you are satisfied with the look of your strip, wrap blue cord three times around the strip and tape the ends on the back. Then add to the right side a 1 1/2" x 5" strip of the fall DSP so about an inch of the DSP extends beyond the edge. Center this piece onto the card front.

Cut two detailed leaves, one from Peekaboo Peach cardstock and one from Berry Burst cardstock, with the Big Shot and the appropriate die. Adhere the leaves to the stamped strip. I glued the darker leaf down first, then added a piece of Stampin' Dimensional to the large part of the lighter colored leaf, and popped it up overlapping the first leaf a bit.

On a scrap of Very Vanilla cardstock, in Berry Burst ink, stamp the sentiment. When the ink is completely dry, fussy cut, but not all that carefully, around the sentiment. Add a scrap of Peekaboo Peach cardstock to the back of the sentiment, and fussy cut this also, leaving a thin margin of peach showing.

Use a couple of Stampin' Dimensionals to adhere the sentiment to the lower portion of the DSP strip.

I should mention here that the Painted Autumn Designer Series Paper used in this card is on sale! Through October 31, there is a special promotion during which you can order three packs of DSP and get a fourth pack for free! Here is the flyer all about the promotion and the DSP packs that are included. Just click on the Shop Now button to go shopping!

Two-Step

Smiles.