~ Nature and the Color Wheel ~

I adore this DoveArt's Giraffe stamp from Whimsy Stamps new release!  Giraffes are one of my most favorite animals; they have such gentle spirits!  When I started designing this card I had a vision that the giraffe should be pink, but as I started coloring it it just didn't speak to me so I started experimenting with different colors and there in front of me ended up being the most beautiful giraffe and I knew I had the perfect quote and stencil to go with it.  I am so happy with how this card turned out and I hope it puts a smile on your face, too!

Creative Directions:

1.  Start with white cardstock cutting 5 1/2 x 11, 5 1/4 x 5 1/4, 4 x 4, and 2 strips 5 1/2 x 1 1/2.

2.  Score card base at 5 1/2 and set aside.

3.  Using my eBosser machine I cut and embossed my Spellbinders Label One Die in the 5 1/4 x 5 1/4 piece of cardstock.  To secure the die to the cardstock I used a piece of washi tape so it would not shift when going through the machine.  Next I cut and embossed the 4 x 4 piece of cardstock with the next smallest size Labels One Die.

4.  Taking the 5 1/4 x 5 1/4 piece of cardstock I just made a frame with, I put the die back in and secured it with pieces of washi tape to a non-stick mat and put my DCWV stencil on top and secured it to the mat with blue painters tape.  Next I applied Dreamweavers Glossy White Stencil Paste with a palette knife.  Gently remove stencil by lifting from the bottom to the top and pull away from the cardstock.  Gently remove washi tape from die and remove from cardstock.  Set cardstock aside to dry.  Wash stencil and die right away so paste does not dry on them.

5.  Stamp words in Versamark Ink on diecut piece of cardstock and emboss in gold. {I used a Stamp-a-ma-jig to help me stamp the words so they were not crooked.}  Lay circle stencil over words and using a stencil pouncer, sponge Mustard Seed Distress Ink.  Set aside.

6.  Taking the 2 strips of 5 1/2 x 1 1/2 pieces of cardstock, punch 2 strips of grass using the Martha Stewart Grass Punch. Set aside.

7.  Stamp giraffe in Versamark Ink and emboss in gold.  Apply Distress Inks to a watercolor palette   and using a waterbrush color giraffe layering colors.  I also used some Tombow Markers, where needed, to add in color. Trim around giraffe with sharp scissors.

8.  When embossing paste is dry, assemble card using mounting foam.  I used a single layer of foam on the cardstock with the words and the first layer of grass; a double layer on the frame and giraffe; and a triple layer on the top layer of grass to give it all the proper amount of dimension.

Stamps Used:

Whimsy Stamps ~ Giraffe
Impression Obsession ~ Art of God {C5055}

Supplies Used:

Dreamweaver ~ Palette Knife and Glossy White Embossing Paste; Tombow Markers ~ 025, 296, 555, 636; Ranger Distress Inks ~ Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Scattered Straw, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain, Dried Marigold, Spiced Marmalade, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge, Ripe Persimmon, Barn Door, Fired Brick, Bundled Sage, Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Evergreen Bough, Peacock Feathers, Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean, Faded Jeans, Milled Lavender, Shaded Lilac, Dusty Concord; Art Impressions Watercolor Palette; Kurtake Waterbrush; DCWV pattern stencil; Spellbinders Label One Die; Craftwell eBosser Machine; Small Stencil Pouncer; Stamp-a-ma-jig; Versamark Ink; Circle Stencil; Gold Embossing Powder

Happy Stamping!

~ Nicolette Marie ~