Sometimes it is sad to say good-by to our old friends. I always thought of the Autumn Traditions Designer Series Paper, which is being retired, as an old friend. It was my “go-to” paper for all of my fall cards and many of my masculine cards. In fact, I used it on this masculine card which was designed for my first Dirty Dozen gallery, “All Creatures Great and Small”. I entitled this card, “Coming Out of My Shell”, since it depicts the “Turtle” from Nature’s Nest doing exactly that! I had a great time watercoloring this little reptile, once again armed with my trusty Blender Pens and inks. I hope that you enjoy today’s card, and the subsequent revisiting of two cards made with this lovely Designer Series Paper, which is still available on The Last Chance List.
The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:
- Easy-peasy! Nothing is easier than watercoloring with Blender Pens and inks. I just load the tip of the Blender Pen with ink from the corner of my Classic Ink Pads. For this card, I used Basic Brown, Old Olive, Crushed Curry, and Always Artichoke inks. And for those little white highlights on the turtle’s shell, a White Signo Gel Pen did the trick. Tip: There are options for those inks which are retiring. I would use Early Espresso or Chocolate Chip in place of Basic Brown, and More Mustard for Crushed Curry.
- Customize your dies! Use only the section that you need. A few precise snips with my trusty Paper Snips converted the Lattice Bigz Die into the perfect embellishment that was needed for the right side of this card.
- Men deserve bling, too…albeit not so flashy! Simple Gold Brads add a touch of glitz without being too glam!
The classy “More Mustard Abstract” pattern used in today’s featured card was just one of my faves from the Autumn Traditions DSP. I also loved the “Always Artichoke Vines” and the colorful “Autumn Leaves”. They were stunning for autumn cards!
And the Winner is…
Everyone loves blog candy, especially when it involves a generous helping of retiring Stampin’ Up! products!
And the winner of this round of Stampin’ Schach Blog Candy is:
#17: Carol
Beautiful card! I really need to put some ink to that stamp.
That is some awesome blog candy!
Carol will have until Thursday, 3:00 PM CST to email me with her address! Congrats Carol!
Please let me know what you think about today’s masculine card by leaving me a comment. I do appreciate your comments and reading what you have to say. And of course, as always, if you ever have a comment about the cards that I create, or the techniques that I use, please do not hesitate to email me. Until next time…
Click Here to Order Stampin’ Up! 24/7
Stamp Set: Nature’s Nest (113826); Ink: Basic Brown (104315), Old Olive (102277), Crushed Curry (115659), Always Artichoke (105219); Paper: Chocolate Chip textured (108697—Earth Elements assorted), Chocolate Chip (102128), Olive Green textured (108697—Earth Elements assorted), Naturals Ivory (101849), Autumn Traditions Designer Series Paper (115668); Tools: Big Shot (113439), Stampin’ Up! Lattice Bigz Die (115958), Scallop Trim Border Punch (118402), Corner Rounder (109047), Paper Piercer (116631), Gold Brads (104337), Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430), Blender Pens (102845), Paper Snips (103579), Signo Gel Pen (105021)
I sooooooo love the turtle. What a great idea! You are so artistic and creative!
Just amazing! Those turtles are great. TFS
What a clever idea with the turtle and his shell! Love it! Gorgeous card, too.
LOVE the turtle card!!! Great site. I’m happy to be a follower 🙂
-Dion
DionsGlitterStudio.blogspot.com
Amazing! I love your work–this turtle card is perfect for a masculine card without being boring. I’m excited tojoin your followers! 🙂 Jessica redmonkeyscrapper.blogspot.com
Gorgeous cards Ann!! Just signed up to follow your blog from the SC post – love your projects!! *STAMPIN HUGS* Alex
Your turtle card is sooooo cute! It took me a minute to realize what you did. You are so inventive. You are inspiration. Thanks also for adding your name to follow my blog – I am truly honored. Thanks for blessing my day! 🙂
Beautiful! The turtles are awesome you did a great job! I need to take a coloring class love it!!
You drinkin my water? 😉 Pish Posh!!LOL I love this turtle card Ann!! So fun and SO creative
Ann, I love all of these cards! The colors are awesome! I love how you made the turtle come out of his shell! So cute! I just signed up to Follow You on your site. I can’t believe I didn’t do that until now! You have such great projects! TYFS! ~Chanda
Nice! Ditto everything everyone else said!! Color technique great Hot Tip! Turtle in slow motion very cool. I , especially like the little touches of the white gel pen on the shell. It makes the shell appear to be wet and shiny!
What a fun way to use this image!! SO cute & clever…very realistic, too!
Are you enjoying your summer so far?
Gorgeous card Ann. Great use of that stamp set and I love the editing you did to the impression and the die cut!
Mike
Leslie said … The turtle card reminds me of the Dr. Seuss story of Yurtle the Turtle. How inspiring! As always, your color always shines through in autumn creations. Kudos on some amazing cards!
Ann,
the coloring is amazing… I am just so in awe of your technique for the first card – and the autumn card. Just beautiful.
hugs
jaydee
Only a science teacher would come up with this idea – the stages of the emerging turtle. Way to think outside the shell…I mean box. Hee hee! I love the Autumn Traditions paper and have used it for masculine cards also. Great cards, thanks for sharing.
I just love your work, Ann! These cards are simply beautiful…and inspiring! Thanks!
The lattice tucked behind . . . genius. The perfect splash for your sea-loving friends. Nice flashback on the designer paper, too. Hugs, M
I too love what you did with that turtle! What a super clever idea! Stellar card!
OMGoodness! Those cards are beautiful! But my favorite is the turtle card! It looks so real to me! And the progression of her coming out of her shell! Awesome cards! Thanks for sharing your amazing talent with us!
Love the turtle!!!! amazing how you did the progression of her coming out of her shell! vwery unique!
Terrific card, Ann! I, too, am sorry to see Autumn Traditions go.
How stinkin’ cute is that turtle! I LOVE how you did the progression of the legs and head sticking out. VERY cleaver in deed.
I love all three of these cards. Probably the turtle best simply because I love turtles. But all are beautiful!
And the news that I won! Whoo hoo!
I have sent you an email with my address. Thank you very much!
Terrific cards, Ann. Did you weather the storm okay? It hit here too. My fav is that turtle, I just love it. Hugs,
Adorable turtle card.
Ann, I LOVE your cards! That turtle card is SO clever and the colouring on the pumpkin card is unreal.
Smiles,
Lesley
Beautiful cards. I especially love the turtle. Your coloring is amazing. That is a technique I have not tried, painting with blender pens. Hmmmm, I need to try…