Oh boy my fingers are cold! I’ve just spent fifteen minutes on the balcony watching four deer enjoying our back lawn. Since emigrating from the UK to rural Nova Scotia I’ve really come to appreciate country living. I admit, having to drive 40 minutes to town for shopping is a drag, but it’s a small price to pay to be able to watch all manner of wild critters wandering across our property. So I suppose it was inevitable that I’d be drawn to the free In The Country Stamp Set.

COUNTRY SCENE

The In The Country Stamp Set contains just two red rubber stamps. Once is a drawing of stone steps leading up to a doorway. The second image is this hillside scene that really does all the work on my project.

I began with a 3-5/8″ x 4-7/8″ piece of Basic White Card. Then with the stamp image for reference I used a Blending Brush to add a small area of Starry Sky ink. Changing brushes I added some ‘ground’ using Granny Apple Green ink. With that done I simply stamped the country scene over the top with Soft Suede ink.

Before putting away the image I decided to use it as my coordinating feature. So still using Soft Suede ink I stamped the right half of the scene in the bottom left corner on the front of a Basic White Medium Envelope. Then I did the same thing on a 4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of Basic White Card.

For my card base I used my Paper Trimmer to cut and score some Soft Suede Card. After folding it along the scored line I sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder. Then using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) I fixed the larger Basic White piece on the inside.

HAPPY PLACE

As the In The Country Stamp Set doesn’t have any sentiments I reached for the new Happy Labels Stamp Set which coincidentally doesn’t have any images. From the 12 sentiments in the set I chose “You are my happy place” and stamped it at the top of the coloured scene with Soft Suede ink. Then I cut a 3-3/4″ x 5″ piece of Granny Apple Green Card and mounted the scene on top.

And then I sort of stalled. I quite liked the simplicity of the design but still I thought it needed a touch more. In the end I wrapped some Linen Thread three times around the botttom of the assembled layers. It was better, if a little predictable. So I cut another piece of Linen Thread and wrapped it loosely around and along the three stands, securing it on the back with Tear & Tape Adhesive. That was the simple solution I needed.

With that done I used Stampin’ Dimensionals to attach the completed layers onto the front of my card base, and my project was complete.

I love how easily this card came together. Even the Linen Thread was a cinch with no struggling to tie a halfway decent bow. After all I wanted to reflect a calm and simple life away from the hustle and bustle of city living. I think I succeeded.

PRODUCT LIST

FREE STAMPS AND PAPER – Sadly the In The Country Stamp Set is not available to buy as it’s one of the exclusive products in the Sale-A-Bration promotion. But you can get it for free simply by choosing it when you place a minimum $60 order (before shipping and taxes). Sale-A-Bration ends on February 28th, however please bear in mind that all free Sale-A-Bration items are only available while stocks last.

BUNDLE BONUS – I bought the Happy Labels Stamp Set together with the coordinating Happy Labels Pick-A-Punch (not used today). This amazing punch can cut strips of card in three different widths along with your choice of two different end designs. Using the single “bundle” item number when I ordered meant I saved 10% off the cost of buying these two items separately. I’ve included a link to the bundle in case you want to explore this option.