Social Stamping - #9 Animals

Animals - No! She's My Fur Family.

Hello. Welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea and to the 9th Social Stamping Blog Hop. I hope you have been enjoying seeing all the projects that have been inspired by this week's theme - 'Animals'.

  

When I first saw this weeks theme, my heart smiled. My thoughts immediately turned to my fur family, Gemma. I knew I would create something reminiscent of my dog. Yes, I am a dog tragic! 

The dog depicted in my card doesn't look like my Lhasa Also x, but it is from a current Stampin' Up! stamp set, Happy Tails - though this set is retiring in a couple of days (that is 2nd June 2020). One of Gemma's favourite activities is our regular walks. Most mornings we can be found walking along the Sturt River, Coromandel Valley. It is a lovely walk, whatever the season. Imagine twittering birds, babbling water running over rocks, a range of trees including some that change colours in Autumn plus places to sit, relax and contemplate. So beautiful. I hope my card communicates a sense of Gemma and my love of our walks along the river.

Using Peaceful Place (another retiring stamp set), the scene was coloured using Stampin Write Markers direct to the stamp. To gain a Watercolour effect, both the Shimmery White card-stock and the coloured stamp were lightly spritzed with water then, using a Stamparatus, the stamp was laid on the card-stock. The card-stock was left to dry in place in the positioning tool. Once dry, the stamp was coloured again in stages and re-stamped in the same position on the card-stock. This gives a clear image over the watercolour background. A lovely effect. The same process was used to colour the dog's image; the grass stamp came from Beautiful Moments (a gorgeous continuing stamp set).

To be able to super-impose the dog over the river scene I decided to create a Triple Panel Spanner fancy fold card, with the dog attached to the spanner panel. The scene is in the centre of the second panel and the area for writing the greeting is on the third panel.  Sentiments from both Silhouette Scenes and Beautiful Moments stamp sets were gold embossed on Old Olive Vellum. To finish the card a little Wink of Stella was added to the river to add a little shimmer and 3 tiny gold butterflies (die cut using the Butterfly Beauty dies) were added to the grassy field surrounding the dog.  

I am delighted that you called by. Please contact me if you want any further information about the card or I can help you in some way.

The next paper crafter is the lovely and talented Sandra Collett at Sanzstamps.  To go to her blog you can either click on her name or the "Next" graphic below.  Or if you would prefer to go to the full list of participants click here to be taken to Kelly Kent's blog where you will find individual links that take you to each person's blog.

With COVID-19 cases significantly declining in Australia, we still need to restrict our activities to ensure we and others stay safe and healthy. I do hope you are coping in these strange times. It is great to hear of restrictions being lessoned via a staged approach and to know that life will be expanding, at least within our country. Take care and look after yourself and your loved ones.

I look forward to blog hopping with you again next week.