Bucket of Blooms & Birthday Smiles by Simone Carr

 

Hello crafty friends! Wishing a very happy Father's Day to all the amazing dads and father figures out there. 

For today’s card, I created a sweet garden scene featuring the Mini Mice and Squirrel Set.

I started by inking the large stones with Tombow 565 + 969, leaving the top area uninked. I stamped the image off two to three times before stamping onto Canson Watercolor Paper for a softer impression.

Next, I stamped the bucket using my stamp positioner. I used the same 565 + 969 combination, applying the color to an acrylic plate and stamping off twice. I positioned the acrylic plate where I wanted the bucket, and once I was happy with the placement, I removed the acrylic plate and stamped the bucket.

For the smaller stones, I followed the same process, inking only half of the stamp with 565 + 969 and stamping off before placing them around the scene.

I then stamped the squirrel using Tombow 969. Using a damp #4 brush, I pulled color from the stamped lines and added additional shading to both the squirrel and the rocks. I also added more color to the bucket for extra depth.

Once the main elements were complete, I began building the scene by stamping in the grass and flowers. I used Post-it Tape to mask the rocks and squirrel before stamping the flowers. I added a light wash of 526 to the background before stamping the flowers and foliage inside the bucket. Using my damp #4 brush, I softened the stamped images for a watercolor look.

After everything was dry, I used Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White to add extra flowers throughout the bucket arrangement and the grassy areas.

The finished panel was cut using the 4th largest Nested Rectangle Die. I then layered it onto patterned paper from the Encouragement PP collection using the 1st and 2nd largest Double Stitched Rectangle Dies to create a dimensional frame.

Materials Used

Stamps & Dies

• 5599 – Mini Mice and Squirrel Set
• 5415 – Rock Set
• 5416 – Vintage Car Set (Bucket)
• 5073 – Bible Foliage Set
• 5007 – Foliage Set 3
• 4052 – Flower Set 1
• 4868 – Flower Set 2
• 5008 – Flower Set 3
• 5826 – Large Tree Set 2 (Grass)
• 5724 – Nested Rectangle Die (4th Largest)
• 5063 – Double Stitched Rectangle Die (1st & 2nd Largest)

Paper

• 5955 – Encouragement Patterned Paper
• Canson Watercolor Paper

Inks & Mediums

• Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White
• Post-it Tape
• TwinTone Marker – Brown

Tombow Markers

• 565 + 969 – Stamped Stones & Bucket
• 947 – Squirrel
• 856, 636, 985 – Flowers in Bucket
• 452 – Bucket
• 685 – Flowers Outside the Bucket
• 177 – Grass & Flower Stems
• 526 – Sky
• N49 – Bucket

For my second project, I created a set of birthday tags using the Baby Critters Set.

I started by using a die from the Portfolio Template Die Set (5952) to cut the tags from Canson Watercolor Paper. Next, I used a Crop-a-Dile to punch the oval opening so I could determine how much space I had for stamping the images.

I placed each tag into my stamping platform, which made it easy to restamp the images if needed. I stamped the critters using Tombow N95, then added the "Happy Birthday" sentiment with Versafine Clair Nocturne.

Next, I stamped the stars and balloons using N95 as well. Once all the images were in place, I began coloring. All of the colors used are listed below.

After coloring, I added Wink of Stella to the stars for a little sparkle. On the giraffe tag, I used Nuvo Crystal Drops for added dimension and interest. One thing I discovered is that the glaze softened the lines I had drawn on the balloon, causing some of the details to fade. It's a good reminder that dimensional products can sometimes alter watercolor details, so keep that in mind when adding finishing touches.

Once everything was completely dry, I added the eyelets and finished the tags with ribbon.

I hope you enjoyed this weekend’s projects and found a little inspiration along the way. Thanks for stopping by, and I hope to see you next time!

Materials Used

Stamps & Dies

• 5400 – Baby Critters Set
• 5952 – Portfolio Template Die Set

Tools & Embellishments

• Crop-a-Dile Oval Punch
• Wink of Stella
• Nuvo Crystal Drops

Paper

• Canson Watercolor Paper

Inks & Mediums

• Versafine Clair Nocturne
• TwinTone Marker – Brown
• TwinTone Marker – Grey

Tombow Markers

• N95 – Stamped Images
• 565 – Shadows

Giraffe: 991, 947, 969, 195, 493, 942, 703, 912

Hippo: N60, 947, 910, 703, 296, 985, 856, 969, 912