Yesterday I created a vintage effect bookmark using a set of Stampin’ Blends alcohol markers I was rediscovering. Today’s project is somewhat similar and again uses just one pair of Stampin’ Blends markers, this time Pecan Pie. One of the great things about Stampin’ Up! is that they make sure that their card, inks, markers etc all coordinate. They also list the colours used on their Designer Series Paper (DSP) thus taking out the guesswork. Then all I had to do for this card was cut and layer the pieces.

PECAN PIE PLAID

I started my project with the plaid pattern from the Let’s Go Fishing 12″ x 12″ DSP pack. First I cut a 6″ x 6″ piece that would be enough for the card front, as well as decorating the inside and envelope. From there I cut a 2-1/4″ x 6″ piece off the square of DSP. Using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) I attached the strip to the flap of a Very Vanilla Medium Envelope. Then I trimmed off the excess paper with Paper Snips using the edge of the flap as a guide.

Picking up what was left of my DSP I trimmed it down to 3-3/4″ x 5″. Then I glued that piece in the centre of a 4″ x 5-1/4″ layer of Very Vanilla Card.

From my original 6″ x 6″ piece of DSP only a 1″ x 3-3/4″ scrap remained, and I going to waste it. Instead I cut the scrap down the middle to give me two 1/2″ x 3-3/4″ strips. Then I glued these two pieces onto a second 4″ x 5-1/4″ layer of Very Vanilla Card, one 1/8″ from the top, and the other 1/8″ from the bottom.

All I needed now was an A2 card base and for that I used my Paper Trimmer to cut and score some Pecan Pie Card. After folding it along the scored line I sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder. Then still using liquid glue I attached the main layered DSP piece to the card front, before adding the one with two strips of DSP to the inside.

PIECES OF PECAN PIE

To decorate the card I decided to use a couple of different stamp sets and their coordinating tools.

First I chose the triple flower image from the Petal Park Stamp Set and stamped it twice onto scraps of Very Vanilla Card using Pecan Pie ink. Then using the light Pecan Pie Stampin’ Blends I coloured in the largest flower of each trio, before colouring the other flowers with the dark marker. Finally I punched out the two sets of flowers using the coordinating Petal Park Builder Punch and set them aside.

For my leaves and buds I turned to the Bough Punch. I punched the larger leaf shape from Pecan Pie Card three times, while punching the smaller bud shape from Very Vanilla Card four times. Then to tone down the buds a little I added a light touch of Pecan Pie ink over the surface using a Blending Brush.

All I needed now was a sentiment and for that I turned to the Timeless Arrangements Stamp Set. Using Pecan Pie ink I stamped “your kindness means everything to me” onto some Very Vanilla Card. Then I cut it out using one of the rectangle dies in the coordinating Timeless Arrangements Dies set.

At last I was ready to mount the prepeared pieces onto my card front.

However, as I arranged the punched pieces and sentiment I wasn’t entirely happy. It all seemed just a bit too busy and confusing, that’s when I had a brilliant idea. I found a 3″ x 3-3/4″ scrap of Vellum cardstock which would soften the plaid design just enough. So using liquid glue I attached the sentiment to the centre of the vellum layer 1/2″ from the top edge.

LOTS OF LAYERS

From there it all came together really quickly layering the leaves and buds first in the bottom left and top right corners of the vellum with liquid glue. I wanted the top arrangement to be slightly smaller than the bottom one so there I cut one of the Pecan Pie leaves in two before gluing the pieces in place.

Next, using a Stampin’ Dimensional I attached one of the largest flowers in each of the two corners. Then with more liquid glue I tucked one medium flower under the large one in the top arrangement. For the bottom arrangement I glued one each of the medium and small flowers under the larger one.

With the floral arragements in place I was ready to flip the vellum over. Now I could add liquid glue to the back, but only where I could see it would be hidden behind the sentiment and flowers. Then I simply pressed the assembled layer into place on the card front and my monochrome project was complete.

There’s something very elegant about projects that have a very simple colour palette. It’s definitely a concept I’ll use again. Have you tried something similar? Please leave a comment below and let me know your favourite colour for a monochrome project like this.

PRODUCT LIST

LAST DAY FOR DSP SALE – The Let’s Go Fishing DSP is one of 13 packs included in the Designer Series Paper sale this month. Sadly this opportunity to save 15% off selected paper packs ends today.

BUNDLE BONUS – I bought the Timeless Arrangements Stamp Set and coordinating dies as the ‘Timeless Arrangements Bundle’. Using this single item number meant I saved 10% off the cost of buying the two products separately. I’ve included both options below so you can explore them further if you wish.