April Showers...

This one has been humming in my head for a few days. On Monday (11 April) the theme of the Simon Says Stamp Challenge was posted as "April Showers Bring May Flowers". I had just gotten delivery of my first Stampin' Up order with Wildflowers stamps and I still had rain on the mind and shaker cards. Hmm.. says I. Then I noticed on another blog, another challenge requiring a House Mouse stamp. Oh, thinks I, those are stinking cute. I was also thinking about my Lawn Fawn hills and the grass die I have, too, and KKS, of course, and, and, and...

Supplies

Stamps:

Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps - You Are My Sunshine: http://goo.gl/sZ8XUq (umbrella and duckie)
Stampendous House Mouse - Hoppy Moments: https://goo.gl/ngJ06E (bunny with kite)
Stampin' Up - Flowering Fields: Sale-a-bration Spring 2016 (flowers)

Dies and Embossing:
Lawn Fawn - Stitched Hillside Borders: https://goo.gl/uQl7vP
Impression Obsession - Grass border: http://goo.gl/QEN2mF
Elizabeth Craft Designs - Stitched Rectangles: https://goo.gl/0y88Ik
Darice - Clouds embossing folder: http://goo.gl/6V4hoR

Papers:
Bazzill Basics - Limeade grasscloth: Michaels
Bazzil Basics - Tropical grasscloth: http://goo.gl/FYUPBB
Stampin' Up - Natural Linen - discontinued
Stampin' Up - Confetti Cream - discontinued
Recollections - white 65# cardstock: Michaels
Recollections - Card base square: Michaels
Recollections -  lightweight Vellum: Michaels

Inks & Embossing:
Chameleon pens: http://www.chameleonpens.com/

Colorbox black pigment ink: https://goo.gl/4k5QTQ

Tim Holtz Distress ink mini bundle #1, #2, #3: http://goo.gl/zSS2re

Sakura white opaque glaze gel pen: https://goo.gl/PulKHv

Versamark embossing ink: https://goo.gl/trlHx5

Recollections olive embossing powder: Michaels
Ranger Enamel Accents: https://goo.gl/8P8M2s

Colorbox cocoa pigment ink: http://goo.gl/FbRiwQ

Adhesive:

Tombow adhesive: http://goo.gl/XMLQG6

Scotch double-sided foam tape: https://goo.gl/cgYD4W

Ranger Multi-media Matte: http://goo.gl/Twfcs3

Other:

French vintage seed beads: Shipwreck Beads

Acetate: recycled packaging

Steps

This is how I put it all together. My methods might not be the best or most efficient, but they seem to be working for me. At least I like the results I am getting.

Hillsides and grass:

 I didn't want a stark flat colour so I used Distress Ink and blenders to add my own colour to the limeade Bazzill paper. I love the texture of the grasscloth, it made the mottling of the inks really great. I used mowed lawn, mustard seed, and antique linen.

Sky: 

I used the Darice Clouds embssing folder with Tropical Bazzill grasscloth cardstock and then coloured it with Distress Inks, salty ocean, peacock feathers, black soot, antique linen. 

After staring at clouds while I was driving (well, not -staring- at them) and from my window at work, I thought about white highlight and added the gel pen highlighting. It adds so much character.

Flowers: 

I stamped with Versamark on Stampin' Up natural linen cardstock and added green embossing powder. Since I planned to cut them out, it didn't matter which way I faced them. It tried using Distress in on one at first, but it did not have the effect I wanted.

I then coloured the flowers with Chameleon pens and fussy cut them. I left border on them so I wouldn't go mad trying to cut all the tiny leaves.

Bunny, Duckie, Umbrella: 

I stamped these on Recollections white paper and coloured with Chameleon pens. I wanted the bunny to be fairly bright and contrasty since I planned to put him under vellum. I decided to echo the colour of the kite in the umbrella to tie them together. I used white gel pen to add dots to the umbrella. I had thought about making the umbrella red and yellow but thought that would compete too much with the yellow duckling. I am getting better with the Chameleon pens. I am really glad I got them.

I fussy cut the duckling, umbrella, and bunny. I did not leave a margin on these ones. I had originally planned to have 2 ducklings in the umbrella but between the layout looking too busy and the enamel accent a little wonkey, I decided to leave the other duck off. I also cut off the duck feet since I wanted them to look like they were swimming in the umbrella.

Dry Layout: 

I began laying the items out to see if my vision was going to work. I realised I would need the frame before I could really see it take shape.

I did some trimming and cut a frame to fit it together again. I don't have a square stitched die yet, so I used a rectangle die. I cut 2 which were missing 1 side so I could 'stitch' them together to make my square. The join spot is under flowers. After I cut the frame, I realise I had mis-measureed by a nudge and the sky would be a little smaller than the inside of the frame, so I added a dark blue-ish grey behind the sky which barely shows on the sides (you hopefully didn't even notice until I pointed it out). Yes, this was going to work.

Sticking the world together: Putting it together is an assembly in layers.

 I attached the sky to the grey backing and then added the back hill. 

And then the bunny flying his kite in the storm. If he looking for electricity?

I covered this background with light vellum both to make it more muted and distant and also to make a smother surface for the shaker.

I added foam tape all around to make the shaker area. I also inset the front hills so they would sit below the acetate and look further back than the grass. 

Originally I was planning to use 15/0 blue vintage beads but they were too bright.

I went with a periwinkle 11/0 instead. 

Here is where you can see the stitched rectangle frame with no bottom. I added in some of the flowers and the grass with the lower frame off them put the lower frame on and added the elements to go over the frame and cover the join as well as the scene breaking out of the frame.

Inside I added the boots from the You Are My Sunshine set. I left it otherwise blank. I had added an extra bit of cardstock on that side to balance the front of the card which is a bit heavy.

Finished card again. This one is definitely not CAS *laugh*

Challenges

Kraftin; Kimmie Saturday 16 April 'Anything Goes'

Simon Says Stamp Monday 11 April 'April Showers Bring May Flowers'

House Mouse and Friends 11 April 'In the Garden'