Oh my goodness I just cannot get myself into gear today!  Hubby and I had PCR tests done yesterday which confirmed the positive COVID results from the rapid tests on Monday.  We’re both doing OK, lots of nose blowing mostly, although I have a sore throat that comes and goes.  Self-isolation consists of watching the TV, reading, and a bit of crafting for me (although I’m easily distracted).  Still, I did manage to design this “Hugs Prayers Love” card using the Positive Thoughts Stamp Set and coordinating Nature’s Thoughts Dies.

POSITIVE THOUGHTS

I began this project with the Positive Thoughts Stamp Set. I’d noticed this set while looking for something else yesterday and was determined to use it today. With the war in Ukraine still very much top of mind I decided that this would be another blue and yellow card. So I pulled out the Misty Moonlight and Bumblebee ink pads and set to work.

From the Positive Thoughts Stamp Set I chose the leafy image and the large flower. My Misty Moonlight ink pad is quite juicy, so after inking up the leafy image I ‘stamped-off’ onto some scrap paper. Then I stamped the lighter image onto some Basic White Card. I re-inked the stamp and stamped-off again before stamping a second leafy image. Picking up the flower stamp I stamped that just once onto the Basic White Card using Bumblebee ink.

For my sentiment I chose “Hugs Prayers Love”. Using Misty Moonlight ink I stamped it straight onto a separate 1-7/8″ x 2-3/4″ piece of Basic White Card.

With that done I took the stamped images over to my Mini Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine. There I found the two dies in the Nature’s Thoughts Dies that coordinated with the leaves and flower and cut them out.

Also in the Nature’s Thoughts Dies is a good-sized rectangular die that also adds an interesting pierced pattern around the edge. This was perfect for what I had in mind so I used it to cut out some Night of Navy Card.

Z-FOLD CARD

Just to change things up I decided to create a Z-Fold card base for this project. So using my Paper Trimmer I cut a 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ piece of Misty Moonlight Card. Then with the long side at the top I scored it at 2-1/8″ and 4-1/4″. Finally I folded the card into a Z shape and sharpened the creases with a Bone Folder.

With the dark card base I first needed to add a liner to give an area to write on. So I cut a 4-1/8″ x 5-3/8″ piece of Basic White Card and using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) fixed it onto the inside back section of the card base.

Next I cut a 2″ x 5-3/8″ strip of Basic White Card and glued that to the first narrow section on the front of the card base.

For my background I chose a plaid design in Misty Moonlight from the 2020/2022 In Color 6″ x 6″ Designer Series Paper. I cut two pieces, each 1-7/8″ x 5-1/4″ and using liquid glue mounted one onto the narrow Basic White Strip. The second piece was attached to the inside of the card leaving a matching narrow border at the top, bottom and right-hand side. This meant that when the card was closed the two sections would look alike.

PANEL ASSEMBLY

All I had left to do was put together the floating panel starting with the Night of Navy die-cut piece. I put Stampin’ Dimensionals under just the left half of the panel then used them to fix it onto the folded back part of the Z-fold card base.

Next I cut a 2″ x 2-7/8″ piece of Bumblebee Card and glued the sentiment onto it. Then with more liquid glue I added the layered sentiment to the Night of Navy panel leaving an even border at the top and sides.

Picking up the stamped images I used liquid glue again to attach the two leafy pieces to the bottom left corner of the panel. Finally using Stampin’ Dimensionals I added the die-cut flower and my project was complete.

I have to admit I’m really pleased with how this turned out especially since I rarely use anything other than green for leaf images. This made a nice change. Sadly I have a feeling that this stamp set and dies are likely to be on the retiring list in a couple of weeks. If so I’ll definitely miss them.

For some more projects using the Positive Thoughts Stamp Set and Natures Thoughts Dies see these earlier blog posts:

• Positive Thoughts for another simple Sunday
• Positive thoughts will get me through the day
• Playing with a block stamped background
• Positive thoughts for a simple Sunday

So that’s all from me for today. I’m off for a spot of lunch and a few more chapters of my book. Hopefully tomorrow I’ll be a bit more ‘with it’ and will get my blog post done a bit nearer to my usual morning schedule …

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