Blended Background Prairie Grass

Hello Friends!  Today I'm going to step away from that fabulous Sunflowers 3D Embossing Folder and do a little creating with the new Prairie Grass stamp set I just received.  This is a little stand-alone stamp set that is a real treasure as far as I'm concerned.  There are three silhouette images and five sentiments to use.  You'll only find it in the Online Exclusives section in the online store.

The first time I saw this stamp set, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it.  I love doing blended backgrounds and this would be the perfect setting for this large stamp.  The large stamp in the set almost covers a whole card front.  But it's still so delicate looking and the background shines through very nicely.  Let me walk you through the steps to make this lovely card.

The first decision was the color of the cardstock for the design layer.  I chose Basic White because I wanted the sun to be a bright white area instead of a vanilla shade.  The Basic White cardstock was cut to measure 3 3/4" x 5".  Then the large grass stamp was stamped onto this using Memento Tuxedo Black ink.  The image was positioned near the left side and the top of the grass was about 1/4" from the top of the cardstock.  This leaves a small bit of the stamp that is off the bottom of the cardstock.

The next step was die-cutting a 'mask' for the sun area.  I used one of the Stylish Shapes Dies to cut a circle from Masking Paper.  This is something I don't use often, but it really comes in handy to mask off an area when needed.  It can be re-used more than once if you're careful putting it on and off, so it's great when making multiples of the same card.

The mask is positioned tucked into the stamped design to make it look like the grasses were partially in front of the sun.

The first color that is blended onto the design is Daffodil Delight ink.  The ink is added heavier near the edge of the sun and blended out at least an inch.  Next some Coastal Cabana ink was very lightly added.  Then Balmy Blue ink was added to the edges in the sky area.

Next up is working in the ground portion of the picture.   First, I tried adding Granny Apple Green, but it didn't have enough depth to ground the card.  Then Old Olive ink was blended onto the design.  Perfect.

Carefully peel off the mask to use again if desired.  

The sentiment used here and inside the card is from the Hope You Know stamp set.  Lots of lovely sentiments in this set.  The hello was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink inside the sun area.

I wanted some birds flying in the background.  The bird stamp in the Sunrise Sailing stamp set was stamped 3 times to fill the design a little.  Memento Tuxedo Black ink was used for these too.

It was time to get the card put together.  This layer was attached to a Basic Black layer that measures 4" x 5 1/4".  They are attached with adhesive.  After adhering together, Linen Thread was wrapped around the bottom of this three times then tied into a knot.  The ends of the thread were frayed.

This was all attached to a folded Old Olive cardstock base.  Dimensionals were used for this.

The inside of the card has a Basic White layer for the sentiment that measures 4" x 5 1/4".  This sentiment coordinates with the sentiment on the front and is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.

To coordinate with the front, I stamped part of the large image along the left bottom corner of this layer.

The edges all around this layer also have a small amount of Balmy Blue (top 2/3) and Old Olive (bottom 1/3) blended on.  I liked just a little bit of the extra color added here.  I also added a 1/4" strip of Basic Black cardstock to the bottom edge with adhesive.

This layer was added to the inside of the card with adhesive.

One last look at the final design.  Oops, I forgot to mention that two of the Adhesive-backed Dragonflies & Birds were added to the design.  I thought they coordinated well with the stamped birds and added just a small touch of bling.

Just a reminder that the 2025-2027 In Color Sale is going on through the end of the month of August.  There are actually three pages of products that are on sale for 15% off.  You don't want to miss this sale.

Thank you for stopping by today to see what I've been working on lately.  Hope you give this idea a try and then come back for another idea boost.  Should I add another card idea or two using the Sunflower 3D Embossing Folder?  I still have more ideas, but I don't want to totally bore you with them all.  Just because I'm nuts about this embossing folder doesn't mean everybody else is.  So, what do you think??  Whatever you prefer, make sure you keep creating and then sharing your "art with heart" with your family and friends.  It's sure to put a smile on someone's face!

Happy stamping and creating,

Sharon

sharoncarr50@gmail.com

It's Friendship Friday Again

Hello stamping friends!  Yes, it's another Friendship Friday today.  That means we've been getting a good number of cards via snail mail.  With my hubby's surgery and then his birthday too, we've got an abundance of lovely cards sitting out on the counter that we are enjoying.  I thought you'd like to see them too.  What a wide array of card styles and creativity is shown with these cards from you wonderful ladies.  You've thoroughly blessed us through the month of July.

These cards are shown in no particular order, except the birthday cards are at the end.

created by Sue Fabris

This is so bright and cheery, just what we needed.

created by Diane Wallace

Another one of Diane's fabric masterpieces.  Love those little fishes.

created by Connie Juengel

Such a pretty and cheerful fun fold card.

 

I thought you'd like to see how this fun fold card is put together.  Very lovely.

created by Barb Eisenman

Love the striking layout of this card.  Very serene and calming, but still interesting.

created by Sue Fabris

Love the Sunrise Sailing boat along with the DSP background.  Great contrast.

created by Shirley Krone

I keep forgetting to use this Good Shepherd stamp for a get-well card.  What a great reminder.

created by Connie Juengel

Love crafting with paper strips.  Looks just like a quilt square.

created by Kathy Hintz

I miss the Copper Clay color!  It's one of my favorites, and it looks so pretty with the copper foil paper.

Well, that's it for the card parade for today.  I hope you enjoyed all these great ideas.  Thank you, ladies, for making these wonderful cards and sending them to us to brighten our lives.  They really made a difference.

Happy stamping and creating,

Sharon

More Sunflowers!

Hello my friends!  Hope this finds you all doing well and having fun creating.  I wasn't ready to put away my Sunflowers 3D Embossing Folder just yet.  It's been fun creating with this embossing folder and the ideas keep popping.  Some of the cards have already made it into the mail to cheer someone or let them know they are thought of often.  But I have a few still sitting here that I thought it would be fun to share.

Today's cards are featuring the "embossed" or raised side of the paper that is used after embossing.  Aren't these pretty with the varying tones of color in the design?  I just love them!

All that gorgeous color is all from this one piece of Meandering Meadow 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper.  Amazing, right?

To make these cards, the first step is finding a DSP design that you love.  Find one with multiple colors in a random pattern.  This one has a nice mix of purples, plummy/pink, orange and vanilla.  It gives me so much leeway in how to play with it.

Since the Sunflowers 3D Embossing Folder is so large, I was able to emboss the entire 6" x 6" piece at once.

The first step would be running the edge of a Gorgeous Grape ink pad very lightly across the embossed design.  This was kept very light!  I didn't want an excess of purple overpowering the lovely colors.

Since I knew I only wanted to use 5" of the piece, 1" was cut from the bottom edge.  Of course this was saved for future reference.  I just wasn't sure where or how it would be used yet.  That would come later.

Next came ripping the DSP into useable pieces.  Figuring out where the 4" mark would be from the left side, I ripped along the length of the piece just a little short of 4" wide.  I want to mention that ripping this embossed piece was very different from ripping cardstock or plain paper.  The ripping wanted to follow the embossing in areas, so I had to be careful and rip slowly to stay in control of the rip.  Since this piece was just under 4" wide, that left another piece about 2 - 2 1/4" wide for another card design.

When embossing the DSP, I found the paper becomes rather fragile.  First thing for this piece was to adhere it to a piece of Basic White measuring 5 1/4" x 4".  Tombow Liquid Glue (green glue) was used for this job.

The layers were attached to a folded Gorgeous Grape card base that measured 11" x 4 1/4" and scored at 5 1/2".  I used "green glue" to attach.

The sentiment was chosen from the Thankful Garden stamp set.  Dies from the coordinating set were used to cut one Basic White oval and three Gorgeous Grape ovals.  The center of the white oval is stamped with Gorgeous Grape ink.  The three outer oval frames were layered one on top of the other to create a dimensional frame for the sentiment.

Before attaching the sentiment, I wanted to add a ribbon embellishment to the design.  After trying both purple and Petunia Pop ribbons, I thought they looked too heavy for the design and decided to use this old standby sheer white ribbon with a silver edge.  It's just looped on the card front and attached with a small bit of Tear & Tape which would be covered by the sentiment.  Next the sentiment was layered over the ribbon.

The inside of the card has a layer of Basic White cardstock that is 5 1/4" x 4".  The sentiment from the Thankful Garden stamp set is stamped with Gorgeous Grape ink.

That 1" strip of embossed DSP that was cut from the bottom edge at the very beginning was trimmed on each end to measure 4".  Pieces were cut off each side to get the optimum design to add to the card.  "Green glue" was used to attach to the Basic White layer and then attach inside the card.

Three of the Gorgeous Grape Glossy Dots were used to enhance the card design.  Yes, I think they're retired, but they really worked the best of all my embellishments.

Now on to the second half piece of that embossed DSP we made.

The plan for this card started with the idea of adding the DSP to a layer of Gorgeous Grape cardstock to compliment the DSP.  The purple cardstock was too plain by itself.  I embossed the left side of the cardstock with the Glass & Garden Embossing Folder.  The geometric design seemed to be a good contrast to the bold Sunflower embossed design.  

"Green glue" was used to attach the DSP to the right side of the cardstock.  Then used again to attach the layers to a Petunia Pop card base.  Sorry the picture doesn't show the Petunia Pop cardstock in all its glory.  It just didn't want to play nice.

The sentiment this time is from the Unbounded Love stamp set.  It is stamped onto a label die-cut from Basic White cardstock using one of the Unbounded Love dies.  Gorgeous Grape ink was used for this.  

To make the sentiment label stand out, a 1" strip of Petunia Pop cardstock was cut about 3 3/4" long and then one end was trimmed with Paper Snips to flag it.  This was attached from right to left about 3/4 of the way down the card.

The sentiment still needed a little more definition.  Two different open-work leaf dies from the Unbounded Love set cut some leaves from Gorgeous Grape cardstock.  There was a sprig already cut from Highland Heather cardstock using one of the Painted Lavender dies sitting on my table.  This seemed to be just what the card needed.  The small die-cuts were all attached with "green glue" and the sentiment label was attached over them using Dimensionals.

Three of the Purple Fine Simmer Gems were added for a pretty touch of bling.

Since I had none of the left-over embossed DSP left, I added some strips of Gorgeous Grape cardstock to embellish the inside of the card.

I hope you enjoyed this look at the Sunflower 3D Embossing Folder used with some pretty DSP.  Just keep playing around with your ideas and have fun.  With each little tweak you make whether to the DSP print or cardstock colors or ink color, you can come up with something new and unique to you.

I hope you've been paying attention to the 2025-2027 In Color Sale going on right now through the end of August.  You can save 15% off each item.  

Plus, you can actually buy Sale-a-bration items found in the Last Chance area of the SU! store right now.  It's on a first come, first served basis, so please don't wait too long if you want something.

That's it for today.  Thanks for stopping in to see what's new.

Happy stamping and creating,

Sharon