The Golden Afternoon Stamp Set is one of those sets that I think can be easily overlooked. There’s no clever layering or coordinating products, just a couple of tree images, some flying birds and a selection of sentiments. But it’s the kind of set that I think can be really valuable in a papercrafter’s collection. The trees are delicately drawn and can work on a background as well as a focal point. Of course the birds would be the ideal addition to any number of ‘scenes’. Finally the sentiments are beautifully scripted, not too large and not too small. All in all simply perfect.
Since getting the Golden Afternoon Stamp Set I’ve been planning a series of projects showing different ways to use the trees. This is the second in my series.

SIMPLY PAINTED
I started my project with two layers of Whisper White Card and a Whisper White Medium Envelope. On one of the Whisper White Layers I stamped the large tree over on the left using StazOn Jet Black ink . On the other layer and the envelope I stamped the tree coming in from the right-hand edge.
I squeezed my closed ink pads to transfer ink to the inside of the lid and used that as a palette. Then using a damp Aqua Painter I began to paint the tree images.
First I painted the leaves lightly with Lemon Lime Twist ink. Then once they were all done I went back and added a little more to parts of each leaf, just to darken the colour a little. You can see the difference on the left and right side in the lower branches of the tree below.

Finally I finished off the leaves with a little Tranquil Tide ink just at the centre of some of the leaf clusters.
After that I painted the trunk and branches with Soft Suede ink, using the shading on the stamped image to show me exactly where to make the painting darker.
Then I went back to the Golden Afternoon Stamp Set.
On the layer with the complete tree I used Smoky Slate ink to stamp the birds image twice. Then on a separate piece of Whisper White Card I stamped the ‘Loving thoughts are with you’ sentiment.
A LITTLE BIG SHOT ACTION
I cut out the sentiment using my Big Shot and Magnetic Platform with the #C1 die from the Rectangle Stitched Framelits.
TIP – In the Rectangle Stitched Framelits there are three distinct groups of dies, one is almost square and I call that one A. Then there’s a group of 4 dies that nest together and these I call group B. Finally there’s a third set of 8 dies that nest together and these I’ve called group C. I always number my dies from the smallest up. So die #C1 is the smallest in group C.
Next I swapped my Magnetic Platform for the multipurpose platform and placed the Subtle Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder directly onto it. I put the Whisper White Layer with the birds inside the folder then added a cutting plate on top. Finally I ran the embossing folder forwards and backwards through the Big Shot. My card now had a really nice faux canvas effect.
All I needed to do now was assemble the project.

I began by using my Stampin’ Trimmer to cut and score a piece of Sahara Sand Card. Then I folded it along the scored line and sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder to create a card base.
Using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) I fixed the embossed layer to the front of the card base. Then I attached the other Whisper White layer to the inside.
Finally I added the sentiment to the front of the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals and I was done.
I really like this project. It’s simple, but with enough colour and texture to make it interesting without detracting from the sentiment. I hope you like it.
You’ll find first project I made using the Golden Afternoon Stamp Set in my blog post Golden Afternoon, I Wish.
PRODUCT LIST
BUNDLE BONUS – The Rectangle Stitched Framelits can be purchased by themselves, or in a bundle with the Amazing Life Stamp Set (not used today). Buying products in a bundle will save you 10% off the cost of buying them separately so I’ve included a link it in case you want to look at this in more detail.
Love your card Tracy. This is a beautiful stamp set, I agree. Looking forward to seeing more using it. TFS
Thank you Geraldine