Hi Everyone. Happy Thursday. So glad tomorrow is Friday! 🙂
One of the sets retiring this year is French Foliage. Many of my regular blog readers will know that this set is a particular favorite of mine. It's also one that will continue to remain in my crafting cupboard and will make an appearance here from time to time.
I paired it with a sentiment from MFT. It's a sentiment that really spoke to my heart.
Here's my card
You might be wondering about the layout? Well, it is actually the same layout that I used for this card.
I know it might not look like it at first glance, but let me show you the card before I added the sentiment.
I used a post it note to create four distinct patterns across the card to match the sketch. I used different colors and different leaves to create the areas. However, the blending between all areas is so subtle that it's hard to tell where one starts and one stops. I created that effect by first stamping the Woodgrain background stamp onto Very Vanilla card stock. That ties all of the areas together. It's really hard to tell where one stops and another one begins… so lets look at the top left corner in closer detail:
TIP: You can see where the maple leaf stops and is immediately butted up against the pin oak leaf. It takes a little planning to get such a smooth transition, but the key to doing that is to move the post-it note (or masking paper) over into the area that you have just stamped …. just a fraction over. That will stop you getting the "clean areas" – that line that you generally get between one area and another. Try it out… I think you will see how easy it is.
Don't you love the base card color? It's Baked Brown Sugar – a brand new color for SU this month. I must admit, when I first saw it in the catalog, it kinda looked like something young babies produce, so I didn't think I would like it much. However, when I saw it in person, and paired it with Very Vanilla, I realized it does look like the color of sugar on apple crumble with some wonderful vanilla ice cream!
I decided to use it for the sentiment layer, too. This helped to tie the base of the card and the focal point together. All that was required, was a little pearl and bling to finish off the card! So, even though I said that LeAnne's sketch had originally scared me a little.. you can see that I totally embraced the sketch and ended up loving it!
On a personal note:
For those of you wondering about the furry little thing in the bottom of last night's Turkey photo. Sadly, it was not a little turk-let (wouldn't it be cool if they were called that!!!?) It's actually the tail of a grey squirrel. So, sorry ladies. No sightings of "turk-lets" yet.
However, we did catch sight of this handsome guy:
I can hear y'all saying… yeah. yeah. yeah. we've seen a photo of your Orioles before. BUT… look closer… what's different about him? he's the color of really rust! he is in fact, an Orchard Oriole. Never seen one of those before and he only stuck around a couple of days. It was hard to see him at first because he was just another Oriole using the feeder, it was only when we really looked at him that we noticed he wasn't orange, he really was rust!
Kate.… isn't it the case…. we so rarely spend time enjoying what is in our own garden/space! We really should and it's Rach that reminds me of that so often. She's great at sharing photos of her garden and her local area. If any of my other blog friends share photos of their garden, please leave a message with a link to your blog and I'd be happy to share it with everyone. Because, when "you stop and look around, this life is pretty amazing".
Warm hugs and prayers for those of you who need a little lift tonight. Have a fabulous Friday.
Hugs
Jaydee
Card recipe – all ingredients Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted:
- Card stock: Baked Brown Sugar, Very Vanilla
- Stamps: French Foliage. Sentiment Vertical Greetings (MFT)
- Inks: Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Summer Starfruit
- Die: Papertrey Ink
7 Responses
Love the card, but the ORIOLE!!!!! LOVE him. We don’t get Orchard Orioles here, so he’s a treasure!
Love this card Jaydee! I just really enjoy the softness of the colors and dreamy feel it has. This is my favorite set from Stampin Up and it will never leave my stash! What a wonderful sentiment and lovely message.
Your oriole is beautiful! I’ve never seen one in person, so this is such a treat tonight. The other night in my back neighbor’s yard was a red winged black bird. Not fancy I know, but I’ve never had one so close to our home. With our windows open, I enjoyed the pretty songs and calls and the stress of the day just melted away. Isn’t that the joy of birds in our lives, to admire their songs and striking pretty colors? I think so.
Great looking card and really like the softness look of this. Thanks for explaining your technique.
The oriole is gorgeous.
I’m enjoying the purple martins flying around here. We have 2 martin houses up so it’s always a pleasure when the males start arriving (usually in April) and before long the females arrive. They also have sweet sounds and so interesting to watch when flying.
Once you put up a martin house and once they find it you can never take the houses down.
Have a wonderful weekend Jaydee and once again, thanks for sharing a bit more of nature.
ColleenB.
That sentiment is my motto, you know. I didn’t know it was until you posted it here, but it MUST be. :o)
LOVE the card! Pairing the wood grain with French Foliage was brilliant! And, I have to tell you, I have yet to embrace Summer Starfruit, but yet, here, I really like it. :o)
That oriole!! OMStars!!! We have neither variety here, so I’ll enjoy yours. ;o) And, I’m a bit bummed that wasn’t a turkey-let, but you know, squirrels can be fun. ;o)
You’re sweet to mention my gardens. You should see the tomatoes and peas now! Oh, and the flowers are really coming along! And, don’t forget that sweet baby over in CW. There’s so much to see out there if we just stop for a moment look for it. :o)
Hugs!
P.S. Hi Lou!
Such a lovely card, Jaydee. I will have to attempt this for my fall cards! I’m enjoying your wildlife photos. As you say, we so often overlook what is in our own backyards. I’m currently enjoying watching a pair of sandhill cranes raise their baby in our neighborhood. They make mulitple trips a day through our backyard. I love watching the beautiful birds we have in Florida, nature never ceases to amaze me.
This card is pretty amazing! Love the photo too! You have so many great ideas and I am sorry for so seldom commenting. I do appreciate all your hard work.
It’s so sad that they retired French Foliage. I’m not through using it yet either. Love the woodgrain with it and the subtle colors really make the Brownsugar pop! Wonderful sentiment. What a wonderful picture of the Oriole! I would love to see one at my feeder but I don’t think they come around here.