Dec 29 2007
Not a Baby Card
I probably didn’t need to mention that this isn’t a baby card. I’ll bet you guessed that all on your own. I wanted to use my new Montana Tree Bark Backgrounder from Cornish Heritage Farms. I’m particularly excited about several of CHF’s new Backgrounders because they were designed by our own Lisa Strahl (SCS user and Dirty Dozen Alumni, Mona Lisa). I knew Lisa was a talented stamper but I had no idea she had things like this up her sleeve. Nice work, Lisa!
I’m afraid by the time I’d finished my layout I’d covered up much of the background, but it still lends character that would be missing otherwise. I’ll admit I was at a loss as to how to stamp this background, exactly. My first inclination was to stamp it in a shade of brown. Don’t we usually think of tree foliage as green and tree trunks as brown? But when I looked out my window I saw that all the tree trunks were actually varying shades of gray, sprinkled with pale lichen and green moss. Well, maybe I’ll go to more trouble next time but this time I just stamped it in Basic Gray on Sahara Sand.
Pretty much everything else on this card is a result of rummaging through my scraps. The squirrels were already stamped and tucked away in my tablet of watercolor paper. I just had to watercolor them, which I did with SU! classic inks. The Mellow Moss Canvas was in my scrap drawer, already cut to size, as was the Rough Texture piece that borders the card fold. It was wheeled in Mellow Moss on Sahara Sand — how convenient. I not only lightened the load in my scrap drawer, but the scraps helped determine the layout, too. I love that scrap drawer! I found some other pieces in there I’d love to work with right away, but I’ve got more baby cards to do first.
This card will be set aside for an upcoming birthday. I hope you enjoyed it a little bit even though it’s not girly. I love outdoorsy-themed cards and it seems like most of my early stamp purchases were along these lines. I had fun working with these images and colors for a change. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and I’ll see you again soon!
Stamps: Forest Friends, Canvas, Rough Texture Jumbo Wheel, That’s Nice, Lovely As A Tree (evergreen sprig & cone) — all Stampin’ Up and all retired except Canvas and Lovely As A Tree; Montana Tree Bark Backgrounder — Cornish Heritage Farms
Paper: Always Artichoke, Sahara Sand, Mellow Moss, watercolor, Naturals Ivory
Ink: Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Basic Brown, Basic Gray, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Linen thread, mat pack & piercer for thread holes, aged copper brads, distressing tool, Scotch brand dimensional mounting tape
Ohhh, this so nice and rustic-y! Perfect man’s card, or for someone who likes squirrels (my grandma’s always looking for squirrel stamps for me so I can make her cards! lol!) All the torn and distressed edges look perfect against the backgrounds and the twine is a finishing touch! Don’t you just love to find those perfect scraps in the scrap drawer?
Aaah the things you can do just by pulling out your SCRAPS! Leslie I swear I wish I just had the talent in your pinky finger - it would take me far! I love how rustic and outdoorsy this is - all the rough edges, and your use of linen thread. Just gorgeous!
Never would I think a squirrel could be so elegant! LOL!
This is lovely, Leslie!!! Your distressing is perfect!!! Love the bit of linen thread and the hardware. It’s perfect!
Every Saturday I go thru all my likes of the week and this week, yours was the one I loved the most. I am adding you to my queen’s dance card club list on my blog!
This is such a work of art! Awesome card! Deb
This is absolutely gorgeous Leslie! All of the stamp images work perfectly together along with all that fabulous texture! I’ll never want to stop looking at your “nature inspired” cards!
Linda
P.S.- I’m betting that the new Pretty Peony (SU) set is on your list (it’s going to be one of the first stamps that I order). Can’t wait to see what you wind up doing with it (gee do I sound sure of myself or what?)!
This is fabulously awesome. I really love those huge stitches and the fact that you pulled most of it from your scrap drawer. I need a better system for my scraps - one where I could actually find them.
What a gorgeous card Leslie! I love the colors you’ve stamped it in and think those are just perfect for the winter months! I always love what ever you do!!
Oh Wow this is Awesome, would make a Great Masculine card and those are always hard to do. Great image and coloring and Love the stitches, neat bg stamp too, really sets off the image nicely!
Wow! Your muse was definitely with you on this one. It’s so absolutely gorgeous!!!! And, your coloring is fabulous!
Can I rummage thru your scrap drawer? Wow, what a fantastic distressed card and great bark BG. TFS your talents and Lisa’s
You must have quite the scrap drawer, my dear friend!!! Gee, nothing like that in my house!!! This is FABULOUS!!! I love your new background from CHF — so very masculine and it goes so well with your gorgeous little squirrel!!! Also love the texture you created behind the tree bark and LOVE all your distressed layers!!! FABULOUS, as always!!!
I love that card! It’s nice to see something so very different. Very inspiring!
Great watercoloring too.
Oh…I love your outdoorsy card with just the right amount of distressing. The colors look perfect with that backgrounder and the squirrels. Wonderful!
I was wondering what distressing tool you use. I am having a hard time finding one. I have looked around and cant find one.. Angie
If any one has a good one let me know the brand and where you got it..
Thanks
Angie
arcarlough@msn.com
Oooh–I just love squirrels! This stamp and the card made with it are delightful–great job!
WOW! I really must start playing with my scraps more! LOL! What an incredible card, Leslie. Simply gorgeous.
Ahhh you have just inspired me to go back to my scraps for layouts. That’s how I always used to do it…why did I stop? eh….who knows, LOL! But I do know that this is a very lovely distressed card!
Here’s the Leslie I love to see — distressing at it’s best! Fabulous card!
I love the distressing on this card! The layout is wonderful. Your coloring is amazing!
Dee
You really excel with these rustic beauties, Leslie! Your distressing is pronounced but never messy looking to me - just wonderful textures. Love the touch of linen thread and the two-toned sentiment. Nice work with that CHF background, and it’s wonderful to see those squirrels again! Linda