Jan 24 2009
Swan Song
I received this beautiful Swan Song set as a Christmas gift, and to be using it within a month of receiving it is to say how much I adore it. I’m one who keeps stamps almost forever and it can be months or even (gasp!) years before a stamp will see first ink. I am trying to correct this affliction of mine. I’ve made a list of the newer stamps I intend to use and I’m working my way through it, while at the same time, making a point of giving the old stamps a fresh coat of ink now and then, too.
For this 5 1/4″ square card I used something old along with the new — the flowers that drape the corner are from my beloved Toile Blossoms which Stampin’ Up! retired a while back. The images seem to be made for each other and I love the way it all came together. The paper is SU!’s retired Enchante. I’d forgotten how pretty this collection is and I’ve hardly used it. You can bet I’ll be designing with it again in the very near future!
The swan is from Firecracker Designs. I haven’t known about them long, but they have quite a few nice sets on their site. This is an unmounted, red rubber stamp set and, as you can imagine with an unmounted set, the price is right. There’s no built-in cling or cushion, and I’ve been hesitant to purchase this type of stamp in the past — but — I learned a new trick from my friend, Libby, who gifted me with this set: I used double sided repositionable tape (which I always have on hand) to mount the stamps on my acrylic blocks. They held very securely! Just as with clear stamps, I placed a craft foam cushion under my cardstock before stamping.
This is the poem that comes with the set. I love beautiful words almost as much as beautiful images, and these can smooth a furrowed brow, bring peace and calm to a troubled soul. Aren’t they instantly soothing? This swan’s song sings to me!
All the coloring was done with my Prismacolor markers. The velvet ric rac was run through my Xyron 150 (the little one that’s shaped like an X) to apply adhesive to one side.
I’ve also stepped up my Spellbinders collection with these Labels dies and another set from Stampers Dream. The graceful curve was perfect for the feel of these images. Flourishes’ Kaiser Pearls in Latte, and just the right shade of Offray organdy ribbon finished it off nicely.
Once in a while everything just feels right when I’m stamping and this was one of those times. I made this card a lot more quickly than many things I’ve created with much less detail. It even photographed easily. Ahhhhhhh, it’s going to be a good weekend… I hope it’s good for you, as well. Thank you for sharing a bit of your time. I’ll see you again soon.
- Stamps: Swan Song by Firecracker Designs, Toile Blossoms (retired SU!)
- Paper: Whisper White, Very Vanilla textured, SU! retired Enchante designer paper
- Ink: Palette Noir, Prismacolor markers
- Accessories: Offray ribbon, velvet ric rac, Kaiser flat-backed pearls, Spellbinders Labels 1 dies, Scotch brand foam mounting tape
Beautiful card!
I have a question for you though. You said “Just as with clear stamps, I placed a craft foam cushion under my cardstock before stamping.” Why do you put the foam under the cardstock? I have been playing with some acrylic stamps, and have always just stamped on the CS, which is on my desk - nothing between.
Thanks!
Absolutely gorgeous and perfect. Beautifully designed. I love Toile Blossoms as well. Actually I have so many retired sets that I must keep - one never knows when they will come in handy.
Gorgeous card Leslie and I am a big fan of FireCracker Design stamps also.
Beautiful!
What a beautiful card! I can’t imagine how it would feel to receive this card in the mail! It’s the first time I’ve heard of this line. Question: what kind of mat do you stamp on? i haven’t used anything under my cs with clear stamps, and wonder if I did, would my impression be better? Thanks, Leslie!
Gorgeous card. Love how the blossoms drape over the swan! tfs
Absolutely gorgeous!! THis would work for almost anything.
Oh Leslie, this is absolutely beautiful!! What a gorgeous job you did in every way. This one is worthy of framing for sure. Thanks for sharing such a lovely image, and thanks for sharing the hint about mounting these stamps. I actually did that the other day with my stamps from Alota Rubber Stamps. It worked great, and I even used it to mount them to acrylic to store in a clear plastic case. Works great.
this is really pretty
Hug
Norine
Leslie, this is just beautiful! Wonderful details, and I love the soft colors. It’s just gorgeous.
This card is just lovely-so many elements that make it one of the most elegant I’ve seen in a long time. Bravo!
A beautiful card and lovely set. Everything works beautifully together on this card and with your talent , you have created something wonderful! TFS
Absolutely stunning! I love your choice of patterned paper. It somehow reminds me of lily pads floating in the water and the rick rack mimics the water’s motion.
I can see why you love it, it’s just beautiful and I love the way you trimmed the leaves and flowers. Stunning!
Gorgeous!
Beautifully done!
Oh Leslie, I am stunned with the beauty of your artistic creation!!!!! My wish is to be able to see your card IRL……please! Your soft colors, dry EB framing, dimensional Toile image, beautiful swan and poem are so perfectly balanced. Thank you, thank you for sharing…….
Pretty image and beautiful card!!!
whoa! this is gorgeous!
~Kendra
Wow this is stunning Leslie!!
Beautiful, so soft and soothing!
Hi Leslie, This card is…in a word…BREATHTAKING!! Thanks for sharing - you are so very talented!
Absolutely beautiful, Leslie. Such a calming sentiment - perfect for these times! TFS. Kris, Wadsworth, OH
Your card is so beautiful, just perfect really. The colors and your artful way of displaying the image. Fabulous!
Stunning! I’m glad you didn’t put off using this any longer! What a beauty you’ve created…as serene as the swan and the poem.
So beautiful! Your subtle coloring is soooo pretty! Wow!
Wow, GORGEOUS card!! I love the sentiment…it fits perfectly with the swan and the colors and details you added. Wow.
This is so beautiful and elegant! I love how you cut out the flowers and shaded around the swan.
This is such an elegant, beautiful card - you did a fabulous job!
This card is outstanding! I love everything about it. I have that stamp set and like most, it has never been inked. I will have to get it out. Beautiful!
Wonderful card. Love the sentiment.
Hugs
Heather
Beautiful card! I also would recommend a foam stamping pad under the paper. I use it with all my stamps, even the wood mounted ones. It just seems to give a more uniform image.
Beautiful card.
Oh, Leslie! Your card is amazing! Your coloring is so beautiful! I don’t even have words too describe how I love your cards!
Thank you for sharing some tips about unmounted stamps!
And I also have some stamps that are waiting for being inked! I think we stampers are all like this!
Oh my gosh, Leslie, your card is breathtaking!!
Jen
Oh my goodness…this is so serene and beautiful, Leslie!! I love the way you’ve colored the swan, and your trimming is perfect!! Such soft and gorgeous colors too!! It’s breathtaking, my friend!
Oh Leslie, you sure did this set proud!! What a breathtakingly beautiful card!! You and this swan were made for each other, I think.
So very glad you enjoyed it!
Leslie, you card is breathtaking! Just so perfect like everything you do!
Holy cow, that is great work!! I love everything about this beauty!
Oh…what can I say for this one? Amazing? Beautiful? Gorgeous? You always have me captured with your talent Leslie…Thank you for your inspirations
Another beautiful card Leslie, I loved both the image and the sentiment on this.
I do admire the way you manage to achieve such an elegant look to your cards.
Leslie, this is absolutely breathtaking!! What a PERFECT use of this stamp set!
I should say you had your mojo with this one! Oh my Leslie, this is one of the most beautiful images and card layouts I have seen in a while! WOW!
How beautiful……I love the flowers and of course do not have that set.
WOWZER Leslie!! Just absolutley gorgeous!! THis elegant look is classic and so you!!
Leslie, this is absolutely breathtaking!
Oh-my-GOSH! This has to be one of the most beautiful cards EVER! Seriously, Leslie! The entire thing is just amazing!
This is absolutely stunning
Just stunning!
Leslie, this is absolutely breathtaking … I’m at a loss for words! How have you been, sweetie! Looks like you’ve been stamping up a storm! Hugs,
This creation is stunning! So lovely! tfs
Char in So Cal
Such a lovely, soft and soothing card. Swans are one of my very favorite things, and this set is gorgeous. I love how you combined it with the Enchante paper and Toile Blossoms, also one of my all time favorites. So nice to see it again. Yes, that sentiment is wonderful. Makes me long for the pleasure of an early Spring day in the garden. Soon. Linda
What a lovely card! Great job on the coloring!