A quarter of the year already gone and thankfully now, most of our remaining snow. Yesterday we spent time in the garden tidying up and thinking about the vegetables we want to plant this year. It was so nice to be able to sit on the deck with our coffee and not need a jumper. Looking out over the bay I was suddenly struck with an idea for this week’s What Will You Stamp? challenge #WWYS213 Artfully Aware.

It’s been far too long since I last created a sponged scene so I thought I’d video the bulk of the process for you.

SPONGED OCEAN SUNSET SCENE

So to recap, I started with a 2-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ piece of Very Vanilla Card.

The image from Artfully Aware was stamped onto the panel and onto a Full-Adhesive Post-It® Note using Tuxedo Black ink.

After masking off the image I added a mask for the horizon and then a 3/4″ circle mask for the sun.

I began sponging the sky with Mango Melody ink, then Pumpkin Pie, followed by Berry Burst and Blueberry Bushel. Then I went back to blend with Berry Burst, than Pumpkin Pie and finally Mango Melody.

I removed the circle mask and added a light touch of Mango Melod to the sun.

Next I moved the horizon mask to protect the sky and in the bottom section sponged Balmy Blue, then Bermuda Bay and lastly Blueberry Bushel.

Before removing the masks I added wave details using Blueberry Bushel ink and an image from the High Tide Stamp Set.

Once all the masks were removed I set to work colouring the people image from the Artfully Aware Stamp Set using Stampin’ Blends. I used light and dark combos in Daffodil Delight, Petal Pink, Flirty Flamingo, Highland Heather and Smoky Slate.

SIMPLE FINISHING TOUCHES

With the sponged panel complete, I set to work on the rest of the card.

Using my Stampin’ Trimmer I cut and scored some Thick Very Vanilla Card. Then I folded it along the scored line and sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder to create the card base.

Next, on a layer of Very Vanilla Card I used Tuxedo Black ink to stamp the people image in the bottom right corner. Then using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) I fixed the layer inside the card base.

I stamped the same image on the front of a Very Vanilla Medium Envelope to create a coordinated look to the project.

That just left the card front.

I chose the ‘I’m here for you’ sentiment from Artfully Aware and stamped it onto Very Vanilla Card with Tuxedo Black ink. Then with my Big Shot and Magnetic Platform I cut it out using the #2 oval die from the Stitched Shapes Framelits (counting from the smallest up).

As I was laying out the panel and sentiment on the card base I thought that although it was nice, it needed a little something extra. So I cut a piece of Very Vanilla 1/2″ Lace Trim, placed it onto some scrap paper and pressed a VersaMark ink pad all over the lace. Next I placed the ribbon on a clean piece of paper and sprinkled the lace with Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder. Then I shook off the excess powder and put the lace onto a Silicone Craft Sheet, holding it in place with my Take Your Pick Tool. Finally I melted all the embossing powder using my Heat Tool set on 2 (high).

So now I could finish off the project. I fixed my gold embossed lace to the edge of my sponged panel with Tear & Tape Adhesive. Then I attached that to the card front with liquid glue. I added the die-cut sentiment with Stampin’ Dimensionals and I was done.

#WWYS213 Artfully Aware

At the end of the challenge we’ll randomly choose one person to be our winner and they’ll get bragging rights and a winner’s badge for their social media. We’ll also invite them to be our Guest Designer two week’s later. It could even be you.

I really love the Artfully Aware Stamp Set and was immediately drawn to the images and sentiments. This set works really well with the Ribbon of Courage Stamp Set and also coordinates with the Support Ribbon Framelits Dies.

These sets are great for so many great causes but having lost my son almost two years ago due to complications arising from his Type 1 diabetes, I’d like to use the Artfully Aware Stamp Set to raise money for diabetes awareness. So if you buy this set through me I’ll donate $5 to diabetes research. In fact I’ll donate $5 to diabetes research for every Ribbon of Courage Stamp Set and Support Ribbon Framelits purchased through me as well.

STORAGE BY STAMPIN’ UP!

Today also marks the launch of the new Storage by Stampin’ Up! range. This is a modular system of free-standing shelves, boxes and trays all designed to perfectly organise your Stampin’ Up! new-style ink pads, Stampin’ Write Markers, Stampin’ Blends, ink refills and so much more. The pieces are made from white ABS plastic and are amazingly versatile so they can be configured to fit the space you have available. What’s more they can be taken apart and reconfigured so you can change things up and add more pieces as the need arises.

I’ve been wanting to rearrange my workspace for a while but the big wooden units many people have been using just wouldn’t work for me. You had to decide in advance how many ink pads etc you needed to store and I wasn’t sure how that would work for me. This new system is exactly what I have been looking for and I can’t wait to start collecting and using the Storage by Stampin’ Up! range.

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