Aug14
Window Dressing
Today’s card is from the stamp set, Window Dressing, page 22 of the new Fall/Winter 2008 Stampin’ Up! Idea Book and Catalog. Actually, it is a level 3 hostess benefit set that you could obtain absolutely free with a qualifying hostess party. I made this card today as part of my ongoing challenge for my 2008 New year goals to make everything that appears in the new catalog. You may have seen my first post, Live with Passion, showcasing the Inspired by Nature stamp set.
As my friend Shelley would say, "Anywhoo," I made this card last night and I loved this set immediately. I have something similiar from another company that makes gates, windows, barn doors, and has children’s front and back sides. This set is not as interactive as the one I just mentioned, but reminds me so much of it, and I’ve thought about chopping the cat’s head off and stamping it without it’s face on, and coloring it solid so it would look like the back of its head, and that it’s looking OUT the window instead. That’ll be another post, on a day I’m feeling like beheading someone! Nobody comes to mind at the moment, but all I can say is THANK GOODNESS the kids go back to school next week! 
But, I digress…
I used the Polka Dot background stampset with white craft ink on Baja Breeze (new in color) cardstock. I cut a mat from chocolate chip cardstock, and wet the top and right side, and rolled it with my fingers like making snakes with Play Doh. I stamped the main window dressing image with brown staz-on, but you could use black, onto confetti white cardstock. Just so you know, that’s why you see little blobs of colors or flecks on my card (it’s not ink), because the cardstock comes that way and it’s in the Naturals collection. I use confetti cardstock and this method specifically when I’m going to watercolor an image. I could also use our SU watercolor paper, however, it comes precut into a smaller size, and therefore, isn’t big enough for an image this size. The confetti cardstock is a little more fibrous and thicker and holds up well. So, the stazon keeps the image/ink from smearing when you apply the waterbrush and ink when you water color. I used creamy caramel for the cat, baja breeze for the cat, and a much more watered version for the window panes, and used chocolate chip for the frame. I finished with kiwi kiss (new in color), sahara sand in the window panes. I glued pink pirouette cardstock onto the chipboard heart from Onboard Essentials chipboard collection. Lastly, a slight variation on the ribbon since I haven’t received my latest order yet which has all the in-color striped ribbons in it, I used chocolate chip tafetta.
I really love watercoloring because it’s easier than it looks, you can add color dimension and shadows, and most of all it gives you permission to color outside the lines. It doesn’t have to be perfect and in fact, it looks better when it’s not!
The window dressing set comes with 10 stamp sets, which you can see below.
You can catch other watercolored projects via my posts like this, or attend one of my stamp camp classes, or you can host a party at your home or mine if you feel you don’t have the room! No worries, just add friends and waterbrushes and you have a party! And maybe, if you set your goals up front, you can also get your hands on this awesome 10 piece window dressing set and some other free products of your choice!
Enjoy!
