Just when I thought I had a handle on the 2021/2021 Annual Catalogue another box of new goodies arrived! Most of these are from the new Stampin’ Up! August to December Mini Catalogue which goes live on August 4th. While it’s still 23 weeks to Christmas I know that time will fly by, but the new Mini Catalogue isn’t just about Christmas. There’s autumn, and Thanksgiving and Halloween all coming before then and that will keep me busy. Of course I don’t keep the new products separate from the existing ones, where’s the fun in that? No, I look forward to mixing and matching and getting the most out of my limited purchases. So it’s back into the craft studio for me, I may not have my feet up, but I’m relaxing all the same.

SIMPLE GREEN BACKGROUND

It’s seems ages since I last made a get well card and that was my plan for today. Looking through some of my older but still available stamp sets I settled on Back On You Feet. I’ve made cards with this set before but I haven’t used the tortoise image, so that’s where I started.

In my head I saw a green background, not exactly grass, but something that would suggest the outdoors. There are some green patterns in the Whale Of A Time 6″ x 6″ Designer Series Paper (DSP) pack, but none that inspired me today. Instead I chose a striking striped pattern from the Forever Greenery 12″ x 12″ DSP pack.

For my card base I used my Paper Trimmer to cut and score some Thick Very Vanilla Card. Then I folded it along the scored line and sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder.

Next, taking my chosen DSP I cut three pieces. The first piece was 2-1/4″ x 6″ and I fixed that to the flap of a Very Vanilla Medium Envelope with Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow). Then using Paper Snips I cut the paper to shape using the edge of the flap as a guide.

I cut the second piece 3″ x 5-1/2″ to fit on the front of the card base. Once again using liquid glue, I fixed this piece up against the fold line. Then I added a 1/4″ strip of Shaded Spruce Card along the edge of the DSP.

I just needed one last piece of patterned paper and this was cut 3/4″ x 5-1/4″. Using liquid glue I attached this along the bottom edge of a 4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of Very Vanilla Card. To coordinate with the front of the card I added a narrow strip of Shaded Spruce Card along the edge of the DSP. Then I fixed the layer inside the card base. At last I was ready to begin stamping.

BACK ON YOUR FEET

I’d already decided to use the tortoise image and today I fancied doing a little watercolouring. To help me get a good image on the Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper I used my Stamparatus to stamp the tortoise in Soft Sea Foam ink. Then I stamped the “Hope you’re back on you feet soon” sentiment on another piece of Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper using Shaded Spruce ink.

To colour the tortoise I used a damp Water Painter and started with Pear Pizzazz ink for the whole shell. Then I added some Old Olive ink for the shell markings, with a little Crumb Cake ink for interest.

For his legs and head I started with a light layer of Crumb Cake ink and then added some darker areas to the back of his head, legs and soles of his feet. Finally I painted a light wash of Crumb Cake ink on the ‘ground’.

Once the painted tortoise was complete dry I was ready to start putting everything together.

Using liquid glue I mounted the sentiment and tortoise onto some Shaded Spruce Card. Then I glued the tortoise directly onto the card base. Once I’d added the sentiment with Stampin’ Dimensionals my get well card was finished.

The layout on this card is really simple and I love how the tortoise turned out. The Back On Your Feet Stamp Set also features a giraffe and a sloth and I’ve made projects using them too. You’ll find these in my earlier blog posts:

• Spending time with a sloth
• And now for a giraffe project

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