Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Just Sayin' Hay and Happy Birthday

Hello again! Seems like I'm just working a craft assembly line over here, as it takes my mind off of my Arthurs pain. But, my brain is not attending to its assigned duties well -- I woke up today and realized I have a nephew's birthday coming up on Saturday and had nothing to mail him so I had to just grab and create. 
Several months back, I purchased 7 Creative Expressions slimline scene stamps and had not used any of them yet. I had a vague idea of creating a summer scene and knowing that my nephew grew up spending summers on his grandparents' farm in central Texas, I thought he might like this scene. Down here, hay is mowed and baled all summer long and into the fall. This scene is a common sight out in the fields along all our highways and farm-to-market roads.

So, I got out my Tim stamping platform and put it on top of my trusty 1/2"-thick Oct. 2013 Marie Claire magazine that I stamp on (it really helps!). I recently found some sticky grid paper that I added to my platform - it holds my card beautifully so I'm no longer wrestling with it pulling up with my stamp even secured with magnets. I inked the stamp up with Versafine Clair Morning Mist grey ink and got a very nice print, which I clear-heat-embossed and cut with one of my Tutti Designs stitched slimline dies. I next colored the grass and hay with Promarkers and ink blended a sky with Distress inks and a blending brush.
I used this SplitCoastStampers Sketch SC825, which I've used once before sideways as a tall card, but this time I used it as shown. The 3 column front is there, behind my focal image scene layer. 

Without even knowing what papers I would use, I picked my colors for the sky and decided to just brush-drag each color across. But luck was with me, because the finished sky instantly reminded me of some striped papers in my Cosmo Cricket's Summer Love 8x8 collection:
These papers have come in handy so many times and I still have lots of sheets left. The striped papers complement my sky perfectly, so I got a scrap of thin card and adhered the stripes on each side and a diagonal center stripe in the middle. Then I cut it with a larger Tutti's slimline die in the same set. I actually think the diagonal stripe tricks the eye into seeing a bit of sky cloud movement (or else I need to see my optometrist, lol).

A close-up to show the heat-embossing on the stamped image. To stamp the sentiments on the card front I used some regular VersaFine in Majestic Blue (haven't touched the regular inks since I got the Clair inks a couple of years ago and yet it inked right up, juicy as ever. Gotta love that). Elizabeth Craft hay sentiment on an MFT die cut and MFT sentiments on a scrap card strip.

Inside my card I stamped Verve and Stamplorations sentiments on another piece of Cosmo Cricket paper cut with a Tutti die. I just grabbed all of these sentiments without thinking any of them through because of time. I know I could possibly have created more clever sentiments in PSE, but as I mentioned, my brain has not been focusing well. So was happy to find these.

The back has only a stamped Lawn Fawn siggie. I used Recollections 110# heavyweight card for this base and I'm glad because it holds unevenly-distributed paper-layer weight very well. Usually I would have to add to the back what I have to the front, but not with this card stock! It's way too thick to go through my printer so I use it for bases: cards, decos, tags.

So there are 3 paper layers of card stock on the front plus the sentiments, and yet it mailed nice and flat because I did not have to "dress" the back. That also saved me precious time, because about 15 minutes after I finished, took pics, addressed the envie and walked it out to the mailbox, the mail lady came. I cut that one close! And then I took a long nap, as all the excitement of the deadline stressed me out. Thank goodness I'm retired! haha 

Thanks for your visit and I hope your week is going well. Stay well and until next time, Craft On! xoxo

MY CHALLENGES PLAYLIST:
2.   Stamping Sensations June: "I Love ___" -- #2/3 I love stamping scenes, especially when they are all on one stamp! Probably due to me having been self-isolating since 3/1/20, but anything outdoors looks like fun to me lately.
3.   Die Cut Divas: Bugaboo June Birthdays -- #2/4 Die cuts used card front: mat layer/focal image stitched slimline dies, vertical fishtail sentiment banner 
9.   A Place To Start June 2021 Challenge #6: Create Your Own Challenge -- #3/8 I chose Card / Birthday / Embossing  

28 comments:

Donna Ellis said...

So glad you made a close up of the heat embossing, Aimes! There's something so magical about EP - really makes a card so pretty! The designer paper matting and beautifully put together sunrise remind me of when Jack would roll out the hay for the cows, and the egrets would come out to play. It's a fabulous card! hugs, de

ahlers5 said...

I love it! That sky is gorgeous. The paper does go great with the sky. I cheated this month because I'm not feeling too well and mailed all my June birthday cards the first week of June. Fortunately, I don't need to make them first. I have done so many design teams over the years I have probably more than 100 birthday cards still stashed away.

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

What a fabulous scene Aimeslee, I love the colours and the stamp, a perfect card for your nephew, as for the post - whew! that was a close call.
I love seeing the rolls in the fields, they've started cutting here, they cut grass to make silage (fermented grass for the Winter), they do this throughout the Summer. Then in September/October it's Harvest with more bales in the fields. Love it.

I hope your Arthur stops playing up soon. A nap sounds good after all that stress ;D
Keep well
Faith x

craftytrog said...

Gorgeous card Aimeslee!
Thanks for your advice re my teeth. It seems to be healing nicely now thanks to the hydrogen peroxide.
Hugs,
Alison xx

Lozzy said...

Love what you have created and your nephew will to...hugs Lozzy xx

Arlene said...

I love the summer farm scene and wonderful sky. I love what you did with the matting too. So glad you joined us at Die Cut Divas for our Birthday challenge

Darlene said...

Oh Aimeslee this is such a cool slimline card! NOT summer time FUN but certainly a summertime event! LOL Bailed many a hay field in my youth! LOL Thanks so much for joining in the fun at our Double D ‘Signs of Summer’ challenge! Good Luck and we hope you’ll come back often.
Darlene
DOUBLE D Challenge Blog
DAR’S CRAFTY CREATIONS
Please stop in for a visit!

Alyson Mayo said...

What a terrific scene you created - the details are stunning! Those hay bales... that is as close to perfection as it gets!

Linda W. (ScrappinBari) said...

Such a fun birthday card for a guy, Aimeslee!! Just love how you used the sketch too! So glad you joined us at Die Cut Divas this month!!

Becca Sadler said...

Aimslee: Terrific birthday card! And thanks for including the close-up photos to see the embossing details!! Thanks, too, for tackling the twist option at APTS to create your own challenge from the sample list! We appreciate your support! --Becca/DT member of APTS challenge blog

brenda said...

Love your hay making scene, could be right outside my window right now, many thanks for joining in with our June theme at Stamping Sensations challenge.

B x

Pat said...

A beautiful card Aimeslee and love the colours in the sky and the wonderful effect of the heat embossing and the patchwork of papers look great in the background. Tractors making hay are something we see a lot of round here too. I'm sure your nephew will love it! x

Diane said...

Super summertime card and my hubby can relate to this, something he loves to day is bale hay! Thank you for joining our challenge at Double D!
Diane DD DT {Nellies Nest}

Monica C. said...

This is beautiful Aimeslee! I love that sky that you inked there. The heat embossing is beautiful and what a great match of papers.
That was whew! on timing there. That sort of thing really can get our hearts racing... lol
Hugs Monica

Crafting Queen said...

Beautiful card and love the outdoor scene. Thank you for joining Stamping Sensations challenge. Anesha

My name is Erika. said...

I love this scene on your card Aimeslee. It's a beauty! Thanks for sharing with us at Try It on Tuesday. hugs-Erika

Creaine said...

This looks beautiful!! Thanks for joining us at Pearly Sparkles Challenge. Hope to see you again next time.
DT Ine http://creaine-cards.blogspot.nl/

Kuni said...

Your card is wonderful.
Thank you for joining us at the Sweet Stampers and i hope to see you again.
Hugs
Kuni

Lisa Bird said...

Wow I love your sky colours, fantastic card. Thank you for joining us at Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog
Best Wishes Lisa xx
craftycard-designs.co.uk

Chana Malkah said...

Fabulous card, Aimeslee! You used a lot of great techniques to create an awesome scene. Thanks for sharing it with us at A Place To Start!
Hugz,
Chana Malkah

creationsnz said...

What a fabulous sky you have created for your rural scene. Thanks for sharing in our SlimlineorShaped challenge at Incy Wincy, come again soon. CarolG

Chana Malkah said...

Beautifully done, Aimeslee! Thanks so much for your wonderful response to our challenge at A Place To Start!
Hugz,
Chana Malkah,
A Place To Start, Owner
613 Avenue Create, Owner
Redora Lee Designs , My Blog
The Color of Cards, Owner

Chana Malkah said...

Congratulations! You were selected as a Week 3 Rising Star at A Place To Start! Thanks for your wonderful submission and for supporting our challenge!

THE RESIDENT DESIGN TEAM

Meggymay said...

That is a fabulous summer scene stamped image you used on the card Aimeslee. Thank you for linking it with us over at Try it on Tuesdays
Yvonne xx

Beth Norman-Roberts said...

Love love love!

This stamp is perfect for friends of mine. I'll have to order the stamp. Your sunset looks so pretty. Rock on!

Mia said...

Beautiful! Thank you so much for entering our challenge at Try it on Tuesday with this lovely creation. Looking forward to see you again next challenge.
Regards,
Mia
Designer for Try it on Tuesday
craftartista.blogspot.com {My Blog}

Amelia Breytenbach said...

This is absolutely gorgeous! Wonderful slimline design. Thanks for sharing with us at Double "D" Challenge.
Amelia (DT Double "D" Challenges)

Suze said...

Beautiful scene Aimeslee which I'm sure will bring back some wonderful memories for your nephew. Thank you for entering the slimline or shaped card Challenge at Incy Wincy Designs.