T
his is a fun fold inspired by Lyssa Griffin Zwolanek combined with a technique for blending brush backgrounds and a vignette type of image inspired by France Martin. Thank you, ladies!
There's nothing a bear likes better than a fish and this card has both!
We talk about "stepping up" a card, but you could step this one down if you wished. You could skip the blending brushes background, or the fun fold. Make it your own!
Techniques: masking, blending brushes, fun fold, vignette
Level: Advanced
Project Recipe
Find a scrap piece of vellum for your mask. Cut a circle in it. I cut a 2" circle because that is what I like, but you can choose the size. I chose vellum because it is thinner than cardstock and will allow your bear image and blended background to get closer to the mask and not have such a wide margin.
Cut your papers. The base for the card is a ` 1/4" x 5 1/2" piece of pebbled path cardstock. The DSP is cut to 5 1/4" x 6 and scored at 4". A second piece of pebbled path carstock is also 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" and gets scored in the middle at 2 3/4" to make the "mini-card" on the front. The inside and cover piece are Very Vanilla cardstock measuring 2 1/2" x 4" each.
Let's stamp our bear first. I used a stamparatus, but you could also use a stampinmajig. The idea is you want to be able to restamp your bear which means nothing should move. Be sure your mask is secured. I recommend placing the mask over your paper first. This is another reason I chose vellum - you can see through it for alignment! Then I placed the uninked bear in position before I closed the stamparatus to attach it. Ink the stamp in pebbled path. If your image is light, don't worry. We will go over it again.
Break out the blending brushes! I used one for Pebbled Path, one for Mossy Meadow, and one for Boho Blue. You could also just use Pebbled Path and keep it monotone.
Take a scrap of paper and tear it with your fingers in a line (ish) to make the mask for your trees and mountains and sky. One piece of paper works for all of these.
Place the jagged side of the paper down with most of it covering your circle. Starting with the mossy meadow and off the paper, move the brush in small circles to rub ink on the paper. Be sure to hold the torn piece of paper still to mask the rest of the circle. When you are happy, lift it up and voila - trees.
Repeat with pebbled path and then move the paper to repeat with boho blue for the sky. Try not to blend into the bear, but if you do a little it is OK, don't worrry.
Now, re-ink your bear stamp. Remove the torn paper so just your mask remains and stamp the bear one more time. If you have a large "margin" press a bit harder.
Remove the mask and stamp your sentiment, if desired.
Begin assembly. Fold your "mini-card" of pebbled path cardstock. Adhere the bear stamped very vanilla piece to the front of your mini-card.
Stamp any desired image or sentiment for the inside of the card on the remaining piece of very vanilla. Adhere to the inside of the "mini-card."
Complete assembly. Place the 4" side of the DSP on the Pebble Path base. Fold on the score. Open the card and adhere the mini-card. You can choose to center it, or go off center on purpose!
Embellish as desired and stamp the envelope as desired!