Nature's Day

For this card, I decided to mix things up and create a bit of a collage.

I think this new stamp from Penny Black’s Touch of Whimsy catalog is beautiful.  It is called “Nature’s Day” and reminds me of when the birds return north and the spring blossoms start to appear. 

I added a couple special embellishments one of which was tissue paper overlays to the flowers.

I thought I would share a couple of different views of the card first and toward the bottom of the post share my step-by-step instructions. 



Tissue paper overlays with pearl white interference paint.



Paisley Outline stamped in gold ink adds a rich background design.



Watermarks created by spritzed water over Distress inks.



Instructions:

• Create 3 ¾ x 4 ¾-inch top-fold card from dark olive cardstock.  Ink the edges with Walnut Stain and set aside.
• Randomly ink a 2 7/8 x 3 7/8-inch piece of white cardstock with Broken China, Scattered Straw and Old Paper.  Stamp Paisley Outline in gold over the distress inks.  Mat with black cardstock.
• Die-cut and emboss a Curved Rectangle (#5) Nestability from a piece of watercolor paper and trim ¾-inch from the top.  Ink the edges in gold. 
• Layer the matted distressed cardstock on top of the die-cut and wrap twine around the two pieces and secure on the back.  Attach to the front of the prepared card with dimensional foam.
• Stamp Nature’s Day on water color paper with black ink and heat emboss with clear powder.  Water color and trim the entire image.  (I cut down the back of the bird so I could slip the tissue paper flowers underneath and elevate the bird higher than the flowers.) 
• Stamp Nature’s Day on white tissue paper with black ink and heat emboss with clear powder.  Add a hint of pink watercolors to the flowers then paint with Pearl White Pigmented Watercolors.  Carefully heat the tissue with a heat tool to dry the paint.  Trim the flower images, crinkle and then adhere to the main image by securing them with a dot of Glossy Accents at the centers.  This will allow the petals to have more dimension and depth. Accent the centers with white seed beads that have been colored with a coordinating Copic marker.  Set aside.
• Stamp small letter on white cardstock with black ink and heat emboss with clear powder.  Add Scattered Straw, Aged Mahogany, Walnut Stain and Peeled Paint inks.  Spritz with water to create watermarks.
• Using the bird artwork as a guide, trace the curve of the branch on the distressed letter and trim away the excess.  Glue the two pieces together.
• Attach the artwork to the front of the card with dimensional foam.  I used two layers beneath the bird to create another visual level.
• Stamp sentiment on white cardstock with black ink and distress with Worn Lipstick and Peeled Paint.  Trim in the shape of a banner and tuck behind the flowers.

Thank you to all my friends, followers and fellow artists for your daily visits, continuous support and heart-warming comments!  They are greatly appreciated.

A special hug for Bonnie at Bonnidee for inviting me to teach at her store in Montreal this past weekend.  I had a wonderful time and met an amazing group of talented women!!

Enjoy the wonder of spring –

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps:  Nature’s Day 4157K, Paisley Outline 40-048, Flowers & Wishes 30-047, Garden Friends 30-021

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock:  Storm 01-001, 01-003; Olive Grove 04-003

USArtQuest:  Jewelz Watercolor Palette (Pearl White)

Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Gold Metallic StazOn

Tombow: Dual Brush Pens

Copic: RV23

Ranger: Broken China, Scattered Straw, Peeled Paint, Worn Lipstick, Aged Mahogany, Old Paper, Walnut Stain; Detail Clear Embossing Powder

3M Scotch: Dimensional Foam Tape

Other: White Tissue Paper, White Seed Beads, Twine