Blogger Challenge: Week 14

This week's challenge was to use a spectrum pad in your creation. So, when I had some time last weekend, I created this card for the challenge. I used the Pumpkin Patch spectrum pad and a brayer to create the background for the main image panel on this card.

The sun was created by masking--basically sticking a circle-shaped post it note to the cardstock before brayering the ink over the glossy cardstock. Once I had brayered the paper, I filled in the white space left by the post-it note with yellow ink using a sponge dauber to add the sun to the scene. After letting the ink dry, I stamped the tree and leaves from Trees Three in Basic Brown ink.

To balance out the glossy look of the main image panel, I added texture in other ways. The Close to Cocoa cardstock is stamped with the Weathered background stamp. The pattern kind of reminds me of the texture of a tree trunk. I also used some textured cardstock on the card front and wrapped some fun shimmery ribbon around the image panel. The copper brads were definitely an afterthought--and I think I liked the card better before I added them!

I thought I was done with the challenge--until I got home tonight and found my Stampin' Up! order at my doorstep. I just couldn't resist trying out some of my brand new stuff.

This card uses the Autumn Fest stamp set with the Joseph's Coat technique. I modified the technique slightly--instead of using black ink to brayer over the spectrum pad and heat embossed layer, I used brown ink to keep with a more fall-like color scheme. You can find a tutorial for this technique here.

The book plate is a piece of copper cardstock, cut with a Sizzix die that I found on clearance this week at AC Moore for just $4.

Be sure to check out what the other bloggers in the group have done with spectrum pads (see sidebar to the right for a list of their blogs). With such a creative group of stampers, I'm sure I'll find lots of new things to try after looking at everyone's blog!

Materials Used (Tree Card):
Trees Three, Wonderful Words II, and Weathered background stamp sets, Summer Sun and Basic Brown Classic ink, Pumpkin Pie Spectrum Pad, So Saffron, Summer Sun, Close to Cocoa, and Glossy White cardstock, 1 3/8" circle punch , sponge dauber(Stampin' Up!); textured cardstock (DCWV stack); shimmery ribbon (May Arts); copper brads (Making Memories); Post-It note

Materials Used (Leaf Card):
Autumn Fest, So Many Sayings, and Sanded background stamp sets, Ruby Red, Close to Cocoa, and Basic Brown Classic inks, Pumpkin Pie Spectrum Pad, Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, Brushed Copper, Glossy White, and Very Vanilla cardstock, Crystal Clear embossing powder, chocolate grosgrain, dimensionals (Stampin' Up!); copper brads (Making Memories); bookplate die (Sizzix)