when you're missing a friend....

Card Base: 4.25 x 11, scored and folded at 5.5

Black layer: 4.25 x 5.5

Card Face: 3.75 x 5.5

Narrow strips (x2) 1/8" x 5.5

note: my card bases are typically white or cream. When I want a different coloured base as I did here I'll simply apply a layer in the appropriate colour, but will often cut a rectangle from the center or use a piece that has already had something cut out of it. I find both of these steps are a more economical way to make cards.

Card Face:

• I stamped a leafy branch twice on the right of the page in black Memento ink, and then coloured it with alcohol markers in various shades of green. I used a mixture of yellow greens as well as blue greens that I normally wouldn't put together on a project, but they all worked together to create the leaflets. I used a deliberately "blotchy" approach to colour on the leaves: I'm a work in progress when it comes to using alcohol markers, but I feel that it works with the style of the stamp.

• I ran this through a 3D embossing folder, and thenhighlighted the raised areas outside the leafs with a metallic silver ink pad.

• A bit of spatter created with a silvery green metallic watercolour paint provided a nice shimmer and just enough detail to finish the card face off.

Note on technique: You can highlight areas that have been embossed by very gently kissing the raised areas with a blending brush or even your ink pad. If you are using an ink pad an especially light hand is required.

Assembly:

• I glued the black cardstock to the card base, and then centered and glued the card face . At this point I realized that I wanted "a little something more". I decided on narrow strips of card stock on either side of the card face. To tie these into the design I mixed up some additional metallic watercolour paint, and painted a piece of card stock that was 5.5 " long and wide enough to cut the two 1/8" strips from. I had to let it thoroughly dry before cutting it down as wet paper will tear rather than cut.

• With that done, I glued them in place using a fine line of glue running down each side of the card face.

• I selected a sentiment and a die: once I had stamped and cut that out I put a piece of dimensional tape on the back and put it in place on the card front. I had allowed space on the die cut for embellishment, so I placed 3 small metallic beads and the card was done.

Final Thoughts: This stamp comes from Remarkable You (retired, Stampin' Up) - I love the style of the art work and I stamped and coloured several pieces from this set during a recent session with alcohol markers. I love the artisanal fstyle of this set, and I feel that it works well with this specific embossing folder. I had originally envisioned both branches beginning off of the page, but the placement of the leaves on the page meant that both are clearly stamped onto the card face. The upper one is covered by the sentiment, but the end of the lower branch is visible on the page. It's ok, but it still bothers my eye. If I'm being honest I have to admit that I would never even consider this on someone elses work!

Supplies:

Stamps: I used a retired set, but any leafy branch will work here, arranged on the page in a way that makes your eyes happy

Memento Ink: Stampin' Up

Alcohol Markers: Stampin' Blends, Stampin' Up

Embossing Folder: Painted Texture, Stampin' Up

Metallic Watercolour Paint: Amazon

Metallic Pigment Ink, Delicata, Amazon (I purchased mine from Stampin Up, but they no longer carry it. You can get it from Amazon)

Metallic Beads: Brushed Metallic Beads, Stampin' Up

Adhesive: Tombo Aqua, Amazon

Dimensional Tape: Dollarama

Card Base: Accent 100 lb, Amazon

Black Layer: black card stock, Stampin Up

Card Face: Accent 80 lb, Amazon

Thanks for popping by!

Thoughts? Questions?