It’s been a while since I’ve taken one stamp set and shown you how simple it can be to make an elegant card and then to easily step it up. Today, I’m going to use the same sketch, the same gorgeous DSP, Feels Like Frost in the mini-catalog, and make three gorgeous cards. I’m playing with the Rustic Retreat stamp set from the 2020-21 Annual Catalog. This set is super flexible with images and sentiments. In addition to the Christmas sentiment I’m using, there is a Happy Birthday and even a quote from A.A. Milne. How can you not love a pooh bear quote?
A Simple Stamping Card
For this simple stamping card, I used a base of Thick Whisper White. The thick card base give the project some substance and will just hold up better in the mailing process. Next, I cut a piece of Seaside Spray at 3-3/4″ x 5″. Then I cut one of the gorgeous sheets of Feels Like Frost—this paper is so pretty, you could just put it in a frame. But I #cutthepaper to 2-3/4″x5″, making sure I got a nice section of the paper for my card. Now it was time for stamping.
I used Night of Navy ink and the sentiment from Rustic Retreat. Because I was stamping directly on the DSP, I didn’t want any mistakes, so I pulled out my Stamparatus. I put the DSP on the tray and anchored it with the magnets. Then I positioned my stamp on the paper where I wanted it. I closed the acrylic tray to pick up the stamp – cling stamps attach to the acrylic plates with zero fuss. Then I gently inked my stamp and closed the acrylic plate again and pressed gently. Perfect image. It’s that easy. If the image had been splotchy, I could have reinked and restamped until I was happy because it lines up perfectly every time.
To finish the card, I adhered the stamped DSP to the Seaside Spray and then added a length of Metallic edged ribbon before adding the assembly to the card front. One gorgeous card, ready to mail.
A Step Up
This card is a stepped up version of the card above. I swapped the Thick Whisper White with a base of Seaside Spray. Then I cut a piece of Pretty Peacock to 2-3/4″ x 5″ and embossed it with the Evergreen Forest 3-D embossing folder. I layered it with a 1-1/4″x5″ piece of the Feels Like Frost paper on top of a 3-7/8″ x 5-1/8″ piece of the same DSP. You can just see the silver and white edge peeking out.
Again, a length of the Metallic edged ribbon to cover my seam before I put the assembly on the front of the card. Then I did my stamping using Pretty Peacock ink, stamps from the set, and the Everyday Label punch. I added that to the card with Dimensionals and finished off the project with a few Snowflake embellishments from the mini-catalog.
Another gorgeous card ready to send. But there’s more. If you like more.
Artful Rustic Retreat
The last card I have for you today uses the same layout, but adds a few elements from some other stamp sets and dies. If you have a growing collection of supplies, there is no reason you can’t mix and match your old with your new to create a truly unique design.
Starting with a base of Pretty Peacock, I used the same measurements to cut a strip of the Feels Like Frost DSP and a piece of Silver Foil paper which I embossed with the Evergreen Forest 3-D folder. I used the same ribbon. to mount this, I added all the layers to a piece of 3-3/4″x5″ piece of Whisper White just to make the process simple.
Next I stamped a tree from the Winter Woods stamp set in Pretty Peacock and die cut it with the matching In the Woods dies from the annual catalog. I also die cut the deer from a scrap of Kraft paper I had using the North Pole Wonder dies from the mini-catalog. I stamped the cabin in Memento Ink and colored it in with my Stampin’ Blends. The sentiment is from the Itty Bitty Christmas set in the annual catalog. It’s stamped in Pretty Peacock. I cut that out with the Layering Ovals dies, daubed some Cinnamon Cider ink around the edges, and added it and my deer to the card with Dimensionals.
One stamp set, three cards, crafting at whatever level makes you happy. Let me know which one you like best.
Happy crafting!