Hello there!

Some of you may have seen this card already, I shared it on social media about three weeks ago and because this was such a special card to me (I made it for my husband’s birthday), I really wanted to blog about it. Besides, I always struggle a bit to make masculine cards and this stamp set is a great alternative, its neutral theme can be used for boys or girls and for a plethora of occasions.

This time I won't go in depth regarding the techniques I applied, but I’ll describe the steps and give you details of the  materials I used. This is the Citrus Trimmings stamps set from Studio Katia, which comes with two trimmings and a few messages. I stamped one of the trimmings right on the main panel on Bristol smooth paper. I basically used the same three green Zig markers for the actual fruit 045, 041, 047 and the 040 to add some depth and two more from a different family of green 046, 043 for the leaves. I created highlights and shadows by building up the colour in certain areas once the first layer of coloring was dried. 

For the background, I applied Altenew Crisp Dye ink in on Sweet Leaf, on a piece of white smooth cardstock, and then again but using the Flowers stencil from Picket Fence Studio.

I stamped the sentiment from the same stamp set on black cardstock and heat embossed it on white, and cut it with a banner die. Then, I wrapped a couple of strings of red burlap around the main panel and placed the sentiment on top. Finally, a few clear drops for extra dimension and texture. 

I was very pleased with the result and my husband loved it. He was also surprised because it's nothing like I had done for him before, so it was quite unexpected. 

Please let me know if you'd like more details, I'd love to share my ideas with you.

“Humanity in every age, and even today, looks to works of art to shed light upon its path and its destiny”_ St. John Paul II