Jul 11 2008
Pond Life MZ Style – Tutorial
I use stamps from all different companies these days. My piece today uses Papertreyink.com stamps “Pond Life”.
I use to be stickily a Stampin’ Up girl, but too many fabulous companies have popped up that need my money, lol. Really, I just can’t resist a great stamp set when I see it. This is one set I just had to have. So we are going on a little trip to the pond today with this tutorial. Grab a cup of your favorite coffee, tea or soda and follow along.
Let’s get started. 
Supplies:
| Stamps: Paper Trey Ink “Pond Life” , Stampin’ Up Canvas BG |
| Paper: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Blush Blossom and Cool Caribbean |
| Ink: Stampin’ Up More Mustard, Adirondack Terra Cotta, Peach Bellini, Salmon, Aqua, Lettuce, Ginger, Stream |
| Accessories: Stampin’ Up Markers Blush Blossom, Going Gray, Barely Banana, More Mustard, Faber Castell Black fine tip marker, White Gel pen, Sponges, Versamark pad and marker, Clear embossing powder, heat gun, Copper Brads |
Stamped Water lily with Salmon ink on a 3.75″ x 3.75″ piece of Whisper White Card stock.
Add some Blush Blossom marker to the bottom of the images.
Added Barely Banana marker to the center tip of the images.
Colored over the images with a Versamark Marker.
Heat embossed the images with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.
This set has these great stems in them. Since these stamps are unmounted you can take this stem and bend it when you stick it on the mount. Nice to make different shaped stems and grasses. It looks funny to have straight grasses.
Stamped stems by first loading stamp with Versamark and then More Mustard ink before stamping.
Heat embossed stems with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.
Stamped lily pads, by first loading the stamp with Versamark, then Lettuce ink and then added some More Mustard marker to the edges of the stamp before stamping.
Heat embossed with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.
Sponged on Peach Bellini ink.
Sponged on Aqua Ink.
Sponged on Terra Cotta ink.
Sponged on Stream ink.
Added some more lily pads with Lettuce ink, but stamped off once on my scrap paper before stamping on the card stock (also known as a second generation stamping).
Added some more stems with Lettuce ink.
Stamp the Cat tail head stamp with Ginger ink.
Added a shadow under some of the lily pads and lilies with a Going Grey marker.
Added a fine line of black marker under the lilies to really give them dimension.
Added Ginger ink to the bottom left corner of the card stock.
Stamp some more lily pads with Lettuce ink.
Added some hand drawn grasses with a black marker and put a fine line of black marker down the right side of the cattails.
Added White Gel pen highlights to a few of the grasses, tops of the lilies and tops of the cattails.
Stamped Canvas background stamp on a 5 1/8″ x 5 1/8″ piece of Cool Caribbean card stock with Aqua ink.
Stamped Canvas background stamp on a 4.75″ x 2″ piece of Blush Blossom card stock with Salmon ink.
Sponged Stream ink on the top right corner of the Cool Caribbean card stock panel.
Sponged Ginger ink on the bottom left corner of the Blush Blossom panel.
Assembled card and added Copper Brads.
Here it is finished measuring 5.25″ x 5.25″.
Hope your day if filled with the wonderful sounds of lapping water and frogs croaking.
Until my next post. . . . . . .
Michelle
45 responses so far
Oh, Michelle I love this card!! the only problem with the card is that I have no pond stamps…well, I’m off to shop LOL
Michelle,
Gorgeous card, as usual. I honestly thought the water lilies and lily pads were paper pieced when I first looked at the card. Thank you so much for your wonderful tutorials and amazing inspiration.
Randa
I just LOVE IT…so much depth and beauty!!!!
Love the card and tutorial, Thanks Michelle. Yesterday I scanned on my stamps on paper, now I know what I have, and what I need in my inventory. lol
I thought the lily pads were paper pieced also. This is an awesome card as usual .
Beautiful as usual! I hadn’t given this set a 2nd look before today. Thanks for helping me see it in a new light and for your constant inspiration!
Okay Michelle, this one blew my slippers off this morning. When I first looked at it, I thought you had stamped the lilly pads and flowers and cut them out before applying them. Your techniques continue to blow me away! TFS
Awesome! Just awesome! I love this scene and the colours and the canvas background and the shadows to add depth….everything. Wow. You rock girlfriend.
Trish
This card is great! And I hear you loud and clear about the stamp issue. I was strictly SU, I love their products. Every so often I think I need to thin out my collection but when I start to go through them I just can’t part with any of my old SU buddies. But lately it seems more and more great set are popping up. Everywhere you look (like take for example your blog today) there is another stamp or stamp set that I lust for. At first I thought it was because of the delay in the new SU catalog that I started to wander, looking elsewhere for stamps. But there are just so many choices out there, so much temtation – what is a girl to do?!? Don’t get me wrong I can’t wait to see the new SU catalog – I just hope it gets here before I run out of money.
WOW! As soon as I opened your blog, I knew I would comment on this BEAUTIFUL card! I love it! You make the scene just pop out. I also have this stamp set and have been unable to get a good 3-d look with it. Thanks for the inspiration…I will get into my stamp room and try some more!
Thanks again for all your great tutorials & have a great day!
Heather B.
Michelle, I love this pond scene it is gorgeous. Girl you are going to force me to get a night job, just too support my habit. HA HA . After your wonderful tutorials I think all of us want all the stamps you have, Oh woe is me… Just kidding but it is a Big temptation. Have a great day!!!!!
Ks.stamper
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Evelynn
Michelle -
I LOVE your blog!!!!! I have feeblly attempting many of your tutorials .. I’m getting better with each attempt!
Love today’s post!!!!
Hope you don’t mind, but I posted this on PTI forum:
http://forum.papertreyink.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=2183
Thanks for your inspiration,
Kimberly
Wow this is outstanding!! It really looks so 3D. You rock as usual.
Oh man o man……….I am absolutely in awe! What techniques you use! I agree with your comments that there are too many stamp companies out there to limit yourself to just one! Later on today, I’m going to incorporate these techniques into a card but I’ll be using another company’s stamps since I don’t have the set you used (although I really like it). You know I’ll post it as soon as I’m done. Thanks again for taking the time to do the tutorials. I feel like I’m in art school as I go through your steps. Great job, great creations.
I can’t believe the dimesion you get on your cards, the artist in you always comes through no matter what medium you use. Awesome
You such an enabler! Didn’t we all juat confess our addiction? Now, here you are making me “need” more stamps and more ink pads too! LOL
Wonderful card. It is spectacular!
Sorry about the typos. It is so hard to type with a cat between me and the keyboard. But he loves computer time.
Hi Michelle, as usual, a great tutorial. They always want me to jump up and go out to buy supplies.
Eveline.
Loved the trip to the pond. Thank you!
Your work is gorgeous. You are a very talented artist. I love how you emboss multiple items on the same card that are different images and colors. It seems so simple yet I been stamping for 10 years and never tried it.
Gorgeous card and very informative tutorial as usual, Michelle. TFS
Ohhhh – breathtaking.
Since it’s Friday, can I have a beer?
Absolutely breathtaking Michelle! I found your blog 2 days ago and I spent the entire day yesterday following several of your tutorials. Beautiful artwork and easy to follow directions. Thank you so much for sharing your work.
Rachelle
Absolutely gorgeous. I could have sworn that you had paper pieced this. You just blow me away!
Just one question, though. Many times when I’m making a card, I’ll try something and it just “doesn’t work” and I wish I had not done that step. Nothing on any of your cards ever looks like it “doesn’t work”. Does this ever happen to you and we just don’t know it? But then, I can’t imagine you coming up with a bad idea so I guess I just answered my own question.
Keep up the wonderful work and the great tutorials.
Lovely pond scene Michelle! Your work amazes me every post you make.
Beautiful pond scene Michelle! I want to try this but don’t think I have anything to use as lily pads, ummmm I wonder if I can improvise! I am so glad I discovered your blog several months ago, it makes my summer vacation more fun as I do your tutorials (I’m a teacher). Even my husband is impressed, so you even have a “guy” fan! Here’s is my take on yesterday’s toile blossom scene if anyone is interested in what I did. I really need the Lovely as a Tree set ! I am in desperate need of a new Versamarker, it’s making everything look blue, even though it says clear. I read on one of your tutorials to do the white areas first which was a good tip!
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/978200?cat=500&ppuser=136950
Sandy in Montana
Oh my, talk about 3-D effect! I too thought the lilies etc were paper-pieced! Stunning as usual! Thanks for sharing with us.
Wow…even that word does not aptly describe your work! Thank you for another wonderful tutorial! I just wish that my attempts could look half as good as yours!!
You continue to amaze me. I would love it if you could somehow send me just a wee bit of your talent. Also, thank you so much for answering my questions the other day. I also started out staunchly SU but have started to stray.
The highlight of my stamping day is visiting your blog. What a joy to see your artwork!
oh my word! What a beautiful card! I also have no pond stamps and Can not say I wanted any until now! My wish list is growing and it’s your fault Michelle…LOL! I knew I was in trouble the first time I came across your site! I love it and I love your artwork!
Beth in Des Moines
Michelle, I love all your cards but I think this is my favorite so far! Just stunning!
Hi Michelle, Love your blog and love this card. I’ve submitted this tutorial to StumbleUpon. Thanks for your inspiration.
Oh my I have been trying to resist this set, but after seeing this it will just jump right in my cart! I am always amazed but never surprised by your creativity and talent. Thank you so much for sharing with us- it’s like a big present, every time I look at your blog!
Michelle, I feel like a broken record, but I never tire of looking at your work. It just amazes me that you place two (seemingly) random lilies on a white piece of paper and several steps later it is the end result. I just don’t understand how you create from step one to finished. It is way beyond my creativity caliber! I just love your work. Okay enough gushing until next time!
What a beautiful card. I love the way you demonstrate how to make highlights and shadows to add dimension to the images.
i have been a subscriber to your blog for about a month now and i just wanted to let you know that i LOVE your style!! your work is fabulous and i appreciate that you share not only your artwork, but how to make it also!!!!! thank you so much for your time and sharing your knowledge and love of stamping/inking!!!!!
~lisa
I love it! Great tut today, Michelle! It’s never occured to me to add a little marker to the edge of my stamp like you did on the lilypad…That’s so GREAT!!!! Looks really terrific! Have a good weekend!
Gosh I would love to be inside your head as you see these cards come to life.
Just amazeing how you bring everything to life.
LOVE IT.
Happy Saturday
Wow ! It´s the first time I have seen your blog.
And what I´ve seen is really great!
Greetings from Austria
What a beautiful card. You really did that stamp set justice. All the colors used are so great together.
I had computer problems when your two Pond Life cards came out. I was anxious to see the new cards, and just loved them when I did. I love them both, but the first is my favorite. It has my aqua and blue colors. Just about anything with aqua and blue will attract me–I guess because I’m an ocean/water lover. This Pond Life just looks so serene, and the way you did the layers and coloring is just gorgeous. I really like the strip of canvas BG and the sponging you did on it, as well as the way you carried the blue to outer background layer. As always, another great one!
I luv, luv, luv your stamping style…probably because I LUV color and nature. Your card stamping really is art. Thank-you for sharing so many fabulous tips and techniques and gorgeous cards… I was thrilled to hear that you’re coming out to California, practically my back yard, for workshops, but, sadly, I will be out of town so can’t come and see the magic happen. Hopefully, our paths will cross another time…Just curious–Did you do some work for the USPS? There are some stamps in the international postage rate section that look exactly like your work. They’re beautiful like all of your cards, so I bought some hoping to be able to use them with a gorgeous card emulating your style. Anyway, I absolutely adore this card and will likely be looking for those stamps soon. Enjoy your stay in the Bay Area.
This is a must to do card It reminds me so much of my goldfish pond I had at home with the lily pads.Thanks for showing me how to do it. I look forward every day for your techniques on how to do the cards.I was very impressed with this one It sure looks real .
Thanks Vivian
A man may lead a horse to the water, but he cannot make it drink.