Treasured Kindness Card

Blessings to you this Sunday!  Hope you're enjoying a day of rest.  My sister, Connie, and I have been busy stamping and creating this past week and today we're taking a day of rest.  Since I'm resting from the creating process today, I figured I needed to get something posted.  About time, right?!  Connie brought one of her sets that I don't own for us to play with.  That's right, I don't own everything.  It's the interesting Treasured Kindness set on page 89 in the Annual Catalog.  It's one of those sets that I've looked at and like but haven't gotten around to ordering.  Let's see what I got to make with it and then I have a card that Connie made to share also. 

Here's the card I came up with for my first attempt.  I think it turned out pretty nice, and I like how all the different elements came together in this card.  It starts with a card base of So Saffron cardstock that's cut to measure 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored at 4 1/4" and folded in half to make a top fold card.  The green layer is Old Olive that measures 5" x 3 3/4".  To stick with the tree theme, the Old Olive layer was run through the Cut & Emboss Machine using the Stitched Greenery Die that adds all that lovely leaf stitching to it.    It was then attached to the card base using Multi Purpose Liquid Glue.

For the main focal image, I die-cut two pieces of a new die that will be available to you November 1st.  More on that later.  The die cuts a frame and the center at the same time.  I cut one from Very Vanilla and one from Crumb Cake cardstock.  The two extra pieces are set aside for a future project.

On the Very Vanilla oval, the "land" was stamped first with Crumb Cake ink.  Above this was stamped the tree using Early Espresso ink.  So Saffron is the sun that's stamped behind the tree.  The two layers of tree leaves are stamped in Pear Pizzazz ink with Old Olive over that for the details.  Isn't it cool how the trees look so dimensional with just a few stamps?  I love that look!

The sentiment is one of six that are part of the Treasured Kindness set.  They're all really great general sentiments to have on hand.  I stamped it on a 1/2" strip of Very Vanilla cardstock using Early Espresso ink.  After stamping, the strip was trimmed down a bit.  Then the Banners Pick a Punch was used on the left edge.  After playing around with placement for awhile, I decided to add a skinny bit of Crushed Curry cardstock behind the sentiment and peeking out the left side.  This used the other side of the Banners Pick a Punch that I usually don't use, but it worked well here.  The two layers were attached to the right edge of the card using Dimensionals.

Here is where I sort of went off the rails.  I wanted the Crumb Cake frame to look sort of antique with some burnished off gold highlights.  I have some of the Stampin' Up! Champagne and the Gold Shimmer Paints left over from a year or two (probably more??)  that I thought would work.  I first tried adding the Champagne color with my fingertips, but it didn't show up enough.  Then I went right over it with the Gold Shimmer Paint.  Voila!  I wish you could see it in person - it's just the look I was going for.  The finished frame was placed around the stamped oval, and both were attached to the card front using Dimensionals.  I decided not to add any bling to this card.  I was happy with it as is.  Now for the bonus...

Here's what Connie was making as I was making my card.  I love how her card turned out.  She used a Very Vanilla card base and added a strip of printed green DSP to the center.  Not sure where the DSP came from other than it's a retired SU! color.

We did the stamping in the same colors, no difference there.

Connie used the Very Vanilla frame but used Blending Brushes and Crumb Cake ink to color it.  Then added a bit of Soft Suede to darken it even more.

She stamped the same sentiment, but directly onto the center bottom of her card using Early Espresso ink.   To finish, she placed the focal image above this with the oval on Dimensionals and the frame flat with adhesive snuggled around it.  She says she would have liked it better changing those two bits around by putting the frame up on Dimensionals and leaving the oval flat.  Of course, you could try making it both ways and then letting us know what you think.  😉

I mentioned earlier in the post that I was using a new die.  Stampin'Up! is bringing out one of the new bundles that will be available in the next mini catalog - but you can get it early!  Starting on November 1, you may order any or all of the new Fitting Florets Collection.  Part of the Collection will only be available while supplies last, and you know how quickly some things are snapped up and gone right away.  The stamp and die bundle will be in the next mini catalog though.

This is the Bundle that will be available on November 1st.  So pretty!  Hopefully you can pop this to a larger font and read the fine print.  If you have questions, just call, text, or email me your questions and I'll get back to you ASAP.

Here is the entire collection.  Three of the items are available only until they are sold out - the Framed & Festive stamp set that's filled with Christmas sentiments, the Gold Adhesive-Backed Swirls, and the Fitting Florets 12" x 12" DSP.  These all make up the awesome Fitting Florets Collection.  Check them out!

If you're planning on placing an order before the end of the month, please use the Host Code shown at the top right of my blog.  Thank you!  You are so appreciated!

Happy stamping and creating,

Sharon

(and Connie too)