Terrific Trees!

I started making some cards for masculine birthdays, but who doesn't love trees? These lovely stamped images are perfect for anyone:) I really love how the thinlits have the embossing capability, those leaves in the background add just the right touch.

I wanted to create some variations of color in the big tree, so after stamping in Old Olive, I sponged some Mossy Meadow in a few places. Of course I also sponged the trunk with Early Espresso because you just can't have a green tree trunk. On the  tree ring card, I also wanted some depth of color, so after stamping in crumb cake, I sponged the edges with soft suede, then sponged the thinnest outside edge with early espresso.

Big Tree

Tree Ring

Materials used for the "Big Tree":

tams# 25491

Product List

Rooted In Nature Clear-Mount Bundle

[148353]

$72.75

Itty Bitty Greetings Clear-Mount Stamp Set

[146667]

$36.00

Crumb Cake 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[120953]

$8.50

Sahara Sand 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[121043]

$8.50

Fresh Fig 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[144242]

$8.50

Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[101650]

$9.75

Wood Textures Designer Series Paper Stack

[144177]

$11.00

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$4.00

Linen Thread

[104199]

$4.50

Mossy Meadow Classic Stampin' Pad

[147111]

$7.50

Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad

[147090]

$7.50

Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad

[147114]

$7.50

Fresh Fig Classic Stampin' Pad

[147144]

$7.50

Sponge Daubers

[133773]

$5.00

Fresh Fig 1/8" Sheer Ribbon

[144174]

$6.00

Classic Label Punch

[141491]

$18.00

Materials used for the "Tree Ring":

tams# 25492

Product List

Rooted In Nature Clear-Mount Bundle

[148353]

$72.75

Itty Bitty Greetings Clear-Mount Stamp Set

[146667]

$36.00

Classic Label Punch

[141491]

$18.00

Linen Thread

[104199]

$4.50

Pear Pizzazz 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[131201]

$8.50

Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[101650]

$9.75

Early Espresso 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[119686]

$8.50

Sahara Sand 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[121043]

$8.50

Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad

[147090]

$7.50

Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad

[147090]

$7.50

Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad

[147116]

$7.50

Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad

[147115]

$7.50

Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad

[147114]

$7.50

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$4.00

Someone always has her eyes on the ball. We have an outdoor seating area under a beautiful Japanese Maple where some of Tesla's balls are kept suspended in the tree. Why are they kept in the tree you ask? Because Tesla would drag them all over creation and we'd never have one when we need to play. We once put a ball in the elastic band holding the umbrella closed on the deck. We thought she surely couldn't get up there and retrieve that ball. HA the joke was on us when we spotted our precious pooch up on the table, standing on her hind legs to get her ball out of the umbrella. Then she stood at the door and barked, when we came out she was all happy, "Look I found my ball, wanna play?"

Holiday Catalog Sneak Peek

I ADORE this product suite! The stamp set is called Country Home, the coordinating designer series paper is called Country Lane, and the embossing folder is Tin Tile. There is also a Chicken Wire Element to bring the whole country Lane theme together. Oh! Almost forgot Galvanized Metallic Paper - when used with the embossing folder it REALLY does look like those old tin tile ceilings!! It. Is. To. Die. For!!!!!

Bokeh Revisited

I wrote a tutorial on how to do the Bokeh technique a while back and you can find it here. Some people do a wash with watercolors and some with Stampin' Up! inks. As mentioned in the tutorial, you can use watercolor paper or Shimmery White cardstock.  In these samples I used SU inks, Aqua Painter. The differences are mainly how the stamped image was done. The first one is silver embossed, which in real life looks gorgeous. I can't get it to scan well to show you the true effect. The second one is just stamped with Memento Tuxedo Back. The last one is again done with silver embos powder, with one other difference. I didn't do a wash.  I wanted to see how the Bokeh technique would look with the background simply sponged with daubers. It's not bad, and definitely worth it if you are in a hurry. It doesn't have that ethereal effect though, which is what makes Bokeh so lovely. The stamped image is Dandelion Wishes.

Dandelion Wishes

Who doesn't love dandelions? I know they are a technically a weed, but those little yellow blossoms are just so happy looking. Then there's the seed head, with its tuft of white feathery stuff peeking out. It's just so ethereal swaying and blowing in the wind.  This stamp set is so fun and versatile!

masked off center, then applied colors with sponge daubers in Poppy Parade and Mango Melody. Stamped in black and added some glitter dots for a bit of pizzaz

Background down with Brushos: wet Shimmery White cardstock, then drop on colors. When dry, stamp and heat emboss with white. Glitter dots again and the greeting is done on a framelit. Granny Apple Green and Night of Navy

Apply ink from pad to block, stamp on watercolor paper and spritz with water. image heat embossed with Copper. Glitter dots, Balmy Blue and Blueberry Bushel.

Holiday Catalog Sneak Peek

Oh my gosh y'all! I really dis squeal for joy when I first saw this product suite in the new Holiday catalog! What's not to love? Beautiful rustic design, and TIN CEILING TILES!! Be still my heart!! There is even a new foil paper to use with this embossing folder, it's called Galvanized Metallic. The coordinating designer series paper is such a beautiful complement. You will be able to order these gorgeous things on August 1. Be sure to order what is on your mind this month though, as you get bonus bucks to spend next month when the Holiday catalog goes live!!

Trees, Wonderful Trees!

I had the most fun creating with the Rooted in Nature Bundle. There is a whole product suite, but so much more! I kept thinking, oh, and I have this and that... It would be impossible to list all the tree related products and stamp sets containing leaves and branches that Stampin' Up! offers. However I did make a nice list.

tams# 25086

Product List

Rooted In Nature Clear-Mount Bundle

[148353]

$72.75

Lovely As A Tree Clear-Mount Stamp Set

[127793]

$20.00

Leaf Ribbon

[146905]

$8.00

Peaceful Place Clear-Mount Stamp Set

[146689]

$22.00

Painted Harvest Photopolymer Stamp Set

[144783]

$21.00

Leaf Punch

[144667]

$16.00

Sheltering Tree Photopolymer Stamp Set

[137163]

$25.00

Leaves Trinkets

[146343]

$8.00

Nature's Poem Designer Series Paper

[146338]

$11.00

Colorful Seasons Photopolymer Stamp Set

[143726]

$27.00

Seasonal Layers Thinlits Dies

[143751]

$33.00

Hardwood Clear-Mount Stamp Set

[133035]

$15.00

Tree Rings Clear-Mount Stamp Set

[143964]

$15.00

Wood Textures Designer Series Paper Stack

[144177]

$11.00

Layered Leaves Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

[143704]

$9.00

Woodland Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

[139673]

$8.50

Pinewood Planks Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

[143708]

$10.00