Welcome back everyone! Whether you're a longtime reader or coming here for the first time from the marvelous Marie, I'm excited to see you!
It's time once again for my favorite challenge: The Squirrelz Stash Bash! As a reminder, this is our hop where we make a project using a theme and technique or supply that we've randomly chosen. The challenge is fun, but the best part is getting to use some of those supplies we've had squirreled away for who knows how long!
I have to admit that I started out stymied. I was very excited about the theme (leaves!). The technique we chose is masking, one I don't have much experience with. My few attempts at it made me label it as "fiddly", to put it mildly. And I felt the time crunch of a busy event schedule, making the idea of complicated masks even more stressful! But inspiration finally came calling!
Actually, inspiration came calling three times! I'm not complaining!
I started with the "Thanks" card. This was my easy answer.
Using temporary adhesive, I put a rectangle of cardstock in the center of a white piece of card. I then grabbed the Textured Leaves set by Hero Arts, picked a corner and inked in Stampin' Up Mango Melody. I turned the cardstock 180 and stamped it again. I proceeded to choose two more leaves and continue the process of creating a frame (choose a location, stamp, turn the cardstock 180 and stamp again) until the center rectangle was surrounded! For the other two colors, I used Hero Arts Pumpkin Pie and Hero Arts Crimson. Once I pulled up the center mask, I noticed that the thickness of the cardstock had made the edges a bit uneven. I found I really liked the organic quality though! But the center white was just too harsh in comparison. I decided to take a blending brush and just use the inks from the leaves to brush into the center for a vignette of sorts. The ink was still wet enough to give me just enough color! As Karen said about one of her cards last month: it's a detail people wouldn't notice, but they would notice if you didn't do it! After that, I just used more of the crimson to stamp the sentiment (from a Hampton Arts stamp set that doesn't seem to actually have a name) in the center! I also used the crimson to darken the red cardstock I used for the main body of the card. I glued the front piece down and was quite pleased with myself!
Here's the thing though: this isn't the leaf set I'd been planning on using. And I REALLY wanted to use the set I'd been thinking of: Forever Fern by Stampin' Up. This was one of those "don't-buy-it-be-strong-it's-everywhere-don't-do-it-whoops-I-own-it-now" purchases. Seriously. I saw it EVERYWHERE and LOVED IT EVERYWHERE!
And finally caved.
And, in a tale as old as time, proceeded to not use it. I decided it was time!
This time, I wanted to do a simple washi mask. Channeling the same process, I started off by putting two strips of washi on the card, leaving enough space for the speckle stamp that is part of the set. Grabbing primary colors, I started at one end and stamped in red, turned the card 180, and stamped again. I continued the length of the card using Roy G. Biv as a guide (purple in the center). I pulled the washi tape away and fell in love with the results! It's such a cheerful border!
Next, I snagged the same purple and stamped "Hello" (a sentiment that is part of the set), then finally chose a leaf from the set to frame either side of the word. I was really happy with it, but I thought the blank space needed to be filled just a bit more, so added a colorful assortment of pearls in a wave across the front. Less might be more to some people, but I am clearly not those people!
Satisfied, I went along my merry way. Except then I kept thinking that part of the purpose of these hops is to try new techniques and get better at ones we've done before. Admittedly, neither of these had actually stretched my skills. So, like a cool Ocean's Eleven criminal, I had to pull one last job! Cue the explosions!
Ok, it wasn't that dramatic. No explosions, leather, or George Clooney. But I still had fun! I started by using the Concord and 9th Thankful Leaves die and cut out the main leaf shape. I used this as a stencil that I ink blended through (using a soft touch on Hero Arts Crimson, Tangerine, and Gina K Grass Green). Then, leaving the stencil in place, I stamped the main floral from the Concord and 9th Grateful For Everything set into the center. This took a bit of work because the cardstock was again thick enough that as the design got close to the edges it didn't want to transfer. I ultimately had to call it as being good enough. When I took a closer look, though, I realized it had shifted a little and in some places I had double lines. I debated redoing it. It didn't pop from the page enough, it wasn't fully stamped, the double lines.... But I also thought I would maybe just try to salvage it just to see what would happen. I used a gray colored pencil to add some shadows to the petals and leaves of the design. Now, this might not seem like a big deal to y'all, but for some reason this is one of those things I never think to do or I think it's "wrong" somehow. I decided to try it anyway and I am quite pleased! It seems to resolve all my issues! Ok, maybe not on a close-up stare. But when you're looking at is as the recipient, it's probably cool!
Channeling the "Thanks" card from this challenge, I used a blending brush and a touch of brown ink to vignette the center leaf. Next I stamped and embossed the sentiment "change is beautiful" from the 2019 Stamptember collaboration between Simon Says and Honey Bee, but I felt it needed a little more. Using the same rose gold paper I used to mat the main design, I cut out two leaves with the Sizzix Tim Holtz Skeleton Leaves. I glued those down and attached a piece of green ribbon over that. And in final magpie fashion, I added three accent pearls!
I'm so excited I didn't let unease about this technique catch up with me! So what's more exciting? Seeing how the Squirrel Squad interpreted this theme! You're going to love it too, so be sure to keep hopping! The Squirrel Squad is a small group so the hop won't take you long, but will leave you feeling totally inspired! Next up: the Amazing Anna!! If you love what we're doing, please leave a comment! We love it even more when you subscribe!