While I love bright colours, as some of my recent projects have demonstrated, I also like creating more muted projects. This is especially useful when you have to make a card in a hurry. My recent 24 cards in 24 hours marathon for World Card Making Day was just such an occasion. With the Nature’s Harvest Stamp Set in my hand I needed something interesting but quick to put together. This was the result…

NATURE’S HARVEST CONEFLOWER

There’s something about the coneflower in the Nature’s Harvest Stamp Set that keeps drawing me in. It’s quite a detailed image that works well coloured and uncoloured. This time I was going to add just a touch of colour, but first I had to stamp it using Early Espresso ink.

I began with two pieces of Very Vanilla Card, one 3″ x 4-1/4″ and the other 4″ x 5-1/4″. On the smaller piece I stamped the whole coneflower image but over towards the left side. On the larger piece I stamped about half of the image coming in from the left. Then I stamped a half image coming in from the left on the front of a Very Vanilla Medium Envelope.

Colouring the images was quick and easy, and to keep things muted I chose the Crushed Curry pencil from the Watercolour Pencils Assortment 2. Although it’s a watercolour pencil I opted to use it dry like a standard coloured pencil. Once the petals on all three images were done I set the envelope and the larger piece aside.

On the smaller piece I now needed to add my sentiment. For this I chose “thank you” from the Nature’s Harvest Stamp Set. I had just enough room to place it below leaves on the right of the coneflower image.

With that done I wrapped some Linen Thread four times around the bottom of the layer then tied it in a simple bow.

Finally, keeping with the minimal colour palette, I cut a 3-1/4″ x 4-1/2″ piece of Early Espresso Card. Then using Stampin’ Dimensionals I mounted the twine wrapped piece on top.

FINAL STEPS

It was time to start thinking about putting the card together. So using my Paper 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. On the inside of the card base I fixed the larger of the two stamped Very Vanilla pieces using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow).

That just left the front of the card to do.

At this point I decided I wanted to add a bit of texture using the Knit Together (background) Stamp.

I cut a 3-3/4″ x 5″ piece of Very Vanilla Card and set it on my Stamparatus platform at a slight angle. Using Early Espresso ink I stamped the Knit Together image so it was deliberately angled over the card. Then I mounted the sentiment piece onto this background layer using liquid glue.

TIP – If you struggle to hold really large stamps, use a stamp positioning platform like the Stamparatus to help you. I know it’s made using background stamps so much easier for me.

Finally, with Stampin’ Dimensionals over the back I attached the completed layers to the card front and my project was finished.

There’s lots to look at on this card but even so, it was really quick and easy to put together. I’d love to know what you think of it, so please leave a comment below.

For some more projects using the Nature’s Harvest Stamp Set see these earlier blog posts:

• Lavender from Nature’s Harvest Dies
• Nature’s Harvest Coneflowers again
• Harvest Dies and a faux wood box

PRODUCT LIST

BUNDLE BONUS – I bought the Nature’s Harvest Stamp Set in a bundle with the coordinating Harvest Dies (not used today). Ordering using the single “bundle” item number saved me 10% off the cost of buying the two items separately. I’ve included a link to the discounted bundle in case you want to explore that option.