Yesterday I began my sneak peek series featuring new products from the Stampin’ Up! January to April Mini Catalogue. My first project used Beside Me, a new stamp set that has no other products specifically designed to coordinate with it. Today’s project uses another new stamp set, but this time there are coordinating dies. The unusual part of this coordination is that the dies have been available since July 2022. So using the new Friendly Gnomes Stamp Set and the carried over Gnomes Dies I created this sweet birthday card.

DIORAMA LAYERS

I began my card with an idea to create stacked layers using the Layering Diorama Dies. From the set of 7 dies I chose #3 and #4 (counting up from the smallest). For the layers I cut two 3-3/4″ x 5″ pieces, one from Mossy Meadow Card and the other from Old Olive Card.

In order to make sure the layers lined up properly I first cut a hole in the Mossy Meadow piece using the larger of my chosen Layering Diorama Dies. Then I lined up the Mossy Meadow ‘frame’ on top of the Old Olive layer and placed the smaller of my Layering Diorama Dies inside the hole. Using some old washi tape I held the die in place before carefully lifting off the Mossy Meadow layer. Now when I ran the Old Olive piece through my Cut & Emboss Machine the hole was cut in exactly the right place.

Next I needed to create the background piece for the die-cut layers to be attached to. For this I cut a 4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of Very Vanilla Card and laid the Old Olive layer on top.

Then from the Friendly Gnomes Stamp Set I chose my sentiment “Wishing you the most magical of birthdays”. Using Basic Gray ink I stamped the sentiment through the ‘hole’ onto the Very Vanilla layer below. Then from the Friendly Gnomes Stamp Set I chose the pretty flower stem and stamped that below the right-hand end of the sentiment.

To give the project a coordinated feel I decided to also stamp the flowers on the front of a Very Vanilla Medium Envelope. Then I stamped the flowers in the bottom right corner on another 4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of Very Vanilla Card. This piece would be used to line the inside of my card.

FRIENDLY GNOME

With that done I was almost ready to begin colouring but first I needed to stamp the gnome with the braids onto a scrap of Thick Very Vanilla Card. Then I set to work with a small selection of Stampin’ Blends alcohol markers.

For the hat I used light Polished Pink, followed by dark polished pink on her dress and leaving her collar, cuffs and apron uncoloured. Next I used the Bronze marker on her shoes, with the other marker in that set, Ivory, on her hands, face and feet. For her braids I used a little dark Daffodil Delight and then filled in the rest with the light Daffodil Delight.

That just left the flower on her hat as well as the ones on the Very Vanilla layers and the envelope. Here I used dark Daffodil Delight for the petals and added Ivory centres. I finished off the colouring by using a light Old Olive Stampin’ Blends on all the leaves.

Now I needed the Gnomes Dies that are being carried over from the July to December 2022 Mini Catalogue. After finding the die that coordinated with my stamped image I ran it through my machine to cut it out.

For my card base I used my Paper Trimmer to cut and score some Polished Pink Card. Then I folded it along the scored line and sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder. On the inside of the card base I used Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) to attach the Very Vanilla liner.

That just left the front of the card and I began by using liquid glue to attach the sentiment layer followed by the Old Olive layer. To add depth I used Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals to add the Mossy Meadow layer and finally my die-cut gnome.

Then with a few self-adhesive Melon Mambo embellishments from the Glossy Dots Assortment scattered around, my second sneak peek project was complete.

The Friendly Gnomes Stamp Set is really fun and I think it’s going to be another popular one. Here’s the full stamp set. What do you think?

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