Jun 22 2008
Botanical Dreams II - Tutorial
I was thinking today (watch out!) about all the different ways that a leaf can be used. I use to only think about using leaf images during the fall and always colored them in fall colors. Well this week I am going to try to think out of that fall box and use leaf images in other ways. The leaf image itself is very powerful and can often be used alone. This image is by Asela Hopkins from her new “Botanical Dreams” set is stunning. This set can be found at Gina K. Designs, http://www.ginakdesigns.com/.
Ready to start this tutorial? Let’s go. 
Supplies:
| Stamps: Asela Hopkins “Botanical Dreams” |
| Paper: SU Whisper White, Old Olive, Soft Sky & Old Olive |
| Ink: SU Soft Sky, Not Quite Navy, Blue Bayou, Night of Navy, Black |
| Accessories: SU Markers Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Gable Green, Swirl Cuttlebug folder, Versamark pad and marker, clear embossing powder, heat gun, photo corner punch, brad, sponges |
Stamp leaf image with black ink on Whisper White Card stock.
Color image with a Gable Green Marker.
Color Inside of the leaves with an Old Olive marker.
Colored inside the Old Olive with a Always Artichoke marker.
Colored over entire leaf image with the Gable Green marker to blend and soften edges.
Colored over leaf image with a Versamark marker and heat embossed using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.
You can’t see it in the photos, but I dotted the card stock all over with the Versamark marker and then heat embossed the dots with clear embossing powder and a heat gun. You will be able to see it in later steps.
Sponged on Soft Sky ink in a circular motion all over the card stock.
After the Soft Sky ink dried entirely, I sponged a bit of Versamark on the card stock to create a speckled background. I covered the sponged versamark with clear embossing powder, but it seemed to be to thick so I took a sponged and sponged some of the embossing powder off before heating it with a heat gun. Note: this you will also see better in later steps.
Sponged on Blue Bayou ink.
Use the swirl Cuttle bug folder to emboss the card stock.
Sponged on some more Blue Bayou ink on the swirls around the leaf image to define them.
Sponged on Not Quite Navy ink leaving some light spots on the card stock showing.
Getting darker yet, sponged on Night of Navy ink.
Even getting darker on the left side and on the top right corner, sponged Black ink.
Assembled card and added Photo corner punches.
Added a brad to the photo corner punches and here the card is finished, measuring 5″ x 6.5″.
Well I had a wonderful day yesterday stamping with Mary Brown, Connie Babbert and Karen Barber. Here is a picture of us together at a teahouse we went to for lunch.
From left to right, Me, Karen Barber, Mary Brown and Connie Babbert.
We had the most fantastic time stamping together. Here is a glimps of the projects we made, less mine, you seen mine on my post yesterday. They are so very talent!
They wip out 3D projects like they are nothing. I struggle with 3D, that’s for sure!!! Anyway, if you ever get the opportunity to stamp with any of these ladies, do it! You won’t regret it.
Well that’s it for today! Hope your Sunday is sensational!
Until my next post. . . . . . .
Michelle
You make the leaf sound so intriguing. They are great in the summer - wonderful shade. In the fall they really show their talent, all that wonderful color. Then they turn on you. All those magnificent leaves turn brown and collapse at your feet and just lay there. Waiting for you to rake them, pile them haul them. (we have a lot of tall mighty leafy Oak trees).
Sounds like you had a great day with three stamping friends! Turned out all those excellent projects. A lot of people are “Gable Green” with envy!
As always, another fantastic card!!! I can’t wait to see what other ways you use the “leaf” I’m glad you had a nice time yesterday all of the projects look wonderful.
Wow your card is so beautiful. I just love the details you add to each of your cards. Looks like you and your stamper buddies had a great time and made some very creative and inspiring items.
Very pretty! Really love all of the shading and little dots that you added to the background. You brought so much interest to a single stamped image. Leaves are beautiful, and you did such a great job of making this pretty little leaf pop. Thanks for sharing your pics from your get together yesterday. Looks like you had fun and made some great projects!
What a great card. I am so excited to get this stamp set so I can try these. Thanks and have a great day.
Very beautiful leaf card. I will try this one for sure!
Another fabulous card!!! I love how bold you are (meant in the very nicest way)! If I spent the time to create such a gorgeous card, I’m not sure I would be brave enough to Cuttle it. You are such an inspiration!! TFS
Lordy, girl…how are you ever going to top such a great weekend?! Fantastic cards as usual, and a stamping day like that! Color me envious…..(kidding, just kidding!)
Another great card ! This one is so cheery looking, and it makes me feel cool. Just what I need when it’s 114′ outside !
Thanks for the perfect card on a hot day !
Glad you had such a good time stamping with your friends. It’s always more fun with someone else.
Wow Michelle, I know you know this - but you have an amazing way of making color just pop off a card. You continually amaze me with you sponging and brayering!!!
Awesome leaf card. I don’t have one exactly like that but pretty close. I’ll give it a try a little later on this week and let you see it. I appreciate your very gracious & supportive comments when I case your beautiful art. And thanks for letting us have a look at the projects ya’ll worked on. Very pretty indeed. Hope your Sunday is scattered with leaves and sunshine too!
Seriously???? Karen Barber???? She’s one of my uplines!!! COOL! And you’re right…..she CAN whip out 3-D projects like magic!
Beautiful card!!
I love how this card came to life as I scrolled down Michelle!
This is another beautiful and creative card, you rock.
Fantastic card and tutorial. I really like it when everything is spelled out for me…..thanks!
Love it! Thanks for a great tutorial!
What a gorgeous card…I love the colors.
Even more awesome than usual. Love it!
Your leaf card is fabulous. I really like the bright green against the darker blues.
Your leaf card is stunning. I love how you experiment with color, and your results are so inspiring. Does it take you very long to make your cards? I also liked how you used the Cuttlebug die with coloring. It really enhanced the colors you put on the paper. Thanks for all your great ideas. Can’t wait for the next one.
Happy Summer.
Shirley L.
Very dramatic card using a leaf. How clever you are.
Wow, I didnt realize you could emboss with the cuttlebug folders after heat embossing on the cardstock. Very cool look, love how the colors blend together, but really love the bug embossing on top. Thanks for sharing
Hi Michelle, thanks for another great tutorial. I am almost getting my nerve up to give this technique a try. I keep thinking about it!
Another great card. I love how you used the CB folder. You really make it look so simple!
Oh my GOSH!! This is just beautiful, Michelle! It has a kind of magical look about it. Incredible!!
Looks like the four of you were having one fabulous day — what fun!
Thanks for another gorgeous piece!
I love the leaf card!! As usual you are so talented and I am in awe of how you make a simple leaf look so stunning. Thanks for sharing.
As usual, great card.
I’M WITH YOU, MOSTLY TINKING ABOUT LEAVES IN THE FALL. WHAT A NICE WAY TO BE ABLE TO USE THEM YEAR ROUND!
Awesome as usual!!! I just LOVE all of your ideas … and your tutorials are the best on the web!!! I’ll send you a PM, I believe you are somewhere in Ohio and if it’s anywhere close to me I would love to meet you in person some day! Keep up the great work … we are all inspired by it!!!
Michelle, I’ve just got to tell you how much I enjoy your tutorials. I scan a lot of blogs but when I get to yours, I stop and read every word. I have learned so much from you. Thank you and please keep it up.
Glad you had a great time with your friends! Love the dry embossing you did on this, very cool effect….I too only think of leaves as being fall, it will be a challenge to do them green!
I just love your tutorials. This one is especially pretty. I have a question for you. What type of sponge do you use. It always looks so even when you do it. Thanks for sharing your creativity.
Marcie asked ” What type of sponge do you use”?
Marcie, here is a link to a post I did on the sponges:
http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/2008/04/23/tool-time-sponges/
I don’t comment often on blogs (except, of course, to win blog candy!)(my bad, huh?). However, I am loving your blog, and your tutorials–so original, fun, challenging, and different! Keep up the great work, and know you have a huge fan! Rae C.
Wow! I love this! So rich and beautiful! TYFS!
Oohhhh pick me, pick me (picture hand sticking straight up in the air, waving frantically as if I were either having a seizure or doing the potty dance in my chair!!!!). I would sooo love to have one of your original creations!!! You are crazy talented, and I just “discovered” you about a month ago. I signed up for the link right then and there and get the daily creations sent right to my inbox!!! So, I see what you are up to every day. Keep it up…you Rock. Hisses, Rockin Robin (staminsavage@yahoo.com) PS…thank for doing the tute. I have been practicing lately. Not near as good as yours though.
Some of your cards just keep calling me back to them. This is one of those cards. Here is a link to mine http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/969745?cat=500&ppuser=10233
I love this card! It looks like a leaf floating in water with raindrops falling all around it. Wonderful tutorial! Thank you.