Hello my friends! Popping in today to share a super simple single layer card featuring the Free as a Bird stamp set from Stampin' Up!®. You can watch the video HERE.
I rarely create single layer cards, but this card was super fun, mostly because the birds on a branch image is SO GORGEOUS. There's a lot going on with the birds, leaves and flowers but it's surprisingly quick to color in and it really adds some substance to the card front, so much so, that I thought it was perfect as the focal point. The only other color I wanted to add was that So Saffron strip of card stock with the sentiment.
Stampin' Up! has added a new product to their line-up with the introduction of the 2019 Holiday catalog which goes live on September 4th. It's called Shimmery Crystal Effects. This is actually a liquid glue product, but it can be used to add dimension to stamped images by filling the image outline with the liquid and letting it dry. It hardens and create a glossy finish with a bit of shimmer, that adds shape and dimension to the element. It also doubles as adhesive, so it's great to apply a line of it along a snowbank or pine bough die (for example) and then dust it with glitter. The glitter will stick where ever you applied the line of Shimmery Crystal Effects.
So for this card, I started with a top-folding base card that measures 11 x 4, folded in half. I normally would have cut a base card to measure 11 x 4-1/4" but I wanted the sentiment strip to hang off the front slightly and needed room to accommodate this design element, while still being able to put the card in the envelope. I stamped the birds on a branch using my Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad. I colored the image using my Stampin' Blends markers in Light Old Olive for the leaves, Light and Dark Daffodil Delight for the birds, Light Crumb Cake for the branch, and Dark Mint Macaron for the flowers. I then stamped the sentiment on a 3/4 x 2-3/4" strip of So Saffron card stock, trimmed out some pennant ends, popped it up with some dimensional adhesive and added a Basic Jewel Rhinestone. The last step was to add the Shimmery Crystal Effects to the bodies of the birds. I gently squeezed the bottled so a little blob of product came out onto the bird body and then spread it around with the applicator tip to cover the whole area, staying inside the lines. After all the birds were filled, I gently tapped the card base on my work surface to try to remove any bubbles in the product. This can help the product dry more smoothly, too.
SPECIAL NOTE #1: I always add the Shimmery Crystal Effects LAST. It's very easy to get a finger or a knuckle in the product while it's drying and you're trying to add a sentiment or embellishment, so save this for last and plan to leave the project for several hours (or overnight) to dry completely. You'll be much happier with the result!
SPECIAL NOTE #2: Shimmery Crystal Effects will harden like a rock if left open. When I finish using mine, I bang the bottom of the container a few times on my work surface to move the product down own of the applicator, I then take a dress pin and try to clear it, as well. Finally, I add on the cap. I keep the dress pin handy incase I still need to clear the applicator next time I use the product. This product is wonderful and totally worth the effort to keep the applicator working properly.
As I mentioned the Shimmery Crystal Effects will be available to order starting 9/4/19 with the launch of the Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalog. You can find it on page 41, #150892 and it will retail for $5. I think everyone should plan to add this to their shopping list!! It'll be fun to use year-round.
I hope you enjoyed the card for today. Thanks so much for checking in!! I so appreciate your support and interest.
You can shop with me HERE. Also, look me up on Facebook at Queen City Stamp Art. I'd be happy to add you to our closed group so you don't miss out on any Stampin' Up! news or offerings. I'm hosting an ONLINE Holiday Catalog Launch Party on 9/5 at 8pm from my Facebook group page and I'd love for you to join us!
Commentaires