Welcome back everyone! Whether you're a longtime reader or coming here for the first time from Crafty Karen, I'm excited to see you! Thanks for checking out 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!
This month, we wanted to whip out those animal/insect/all creatures great and small stamps that we've been squirreling away and pair them with texture and glitter pastes!
I saw my chance to use a layering stamp that has somehow been in my collection for quite a while yet the star of the show (the moth) had never seen ink! WHAAAAAT?! Time to fix that!
I almost feel like this card needs a glamorous artist's statement because in my mind, there is a whole backstory of an antique mounting of this moth that is discovered in an attic. But enough of my flights of fancy (and terrible puns).
I started by stamping the Hero Arts Color Layering Moth stamp in 4 different colors: light purple, soft pool, pool, and deep ocean. Next I used the Stampin' Up oval Heirloom embossing folder (also never used) to create my frame. I trimmed out the outer edges of the oval. Now things did start to go a bit sideways here for a moment. I'd wanted to use some green texture paste for my background. I thought it would look like a lush velvet. Turns out my green texture paste was all dired up. Turns out all but one of my glitter and texture pastes were all dried up. I pivoted and colored the center of the oval with a green colored pencil, doing my darndest to give it a soft texture. The only glitter paste that wasn't dried up with a rich dark blue. Using my index finger (but channeling the energy fo my middle finger since I was quite frustrated at that moment), I gently glided the blue paste over the embossed bits of the frame.
Next, I die cut the moth and glued it to the center of the oval. At this point, I was really feeling the idea of a discovered antiquity, so decided to rely on my Tim Holtz crackle paste. I painted a thick layer over the center to give it a crackled finish and "age" the piece more. After letting that dry, I decided I really wanted to give it a plaque like a mounted specimen might have. I was delighted to find this sentiment in antiqued bronzy gold in a paper pack. I trimmed it way down and glued it onto the frame. I then mounted the whole piece onto a piece of cadet blue cardstock and finally onto a piece of black cardstock folded into A2 sizing.
I always love this hop and the ways I am challenged by it! But you know what I love even more? 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 lovely Lounon!! If you love what we're doing, please leave a comment! We love it even more when you subscribe!