“There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.”  Henry James –

Hello Bluebird friends!

What a wonderful June 2019 release we’ve had!  I’m back today to share another card from the Strawberry Jam stamp set.   Delicate, delicious, and decadent in color!  The desire to have strawberry jam, clotted cream, scones and a pot of tea calls my name, how about you?   The sweetness experienced when taking afternoon tea is repeated again with the charming illustrations of the Strawberry Jam stamp set.

To create my card I started with a A2 card base using Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110 lb card stock with a top fold.  I decided to pair the Gallery Frame #2 stand alone die with the stamp set because of the sweet stitched scalloped edge.   I’ve been crafting for a very long time and I have a huge stash of designer paper in just about every size imaginable.  I found a piece of small strawberry colored check that was perfect to place on the back of the stitched frame – after all our little friend is probably continuing the picnic feel we saw in all the lovely DT card samples from this set.

I decided to use a different medium than most have seen me use, and chose to watercolor using liquid dye and distress inks.   My focal point is the little mouse from the Strawberry Jam set stamped on Canson XL 140 lb cold press watercolor paper (2.5 x 3.5 panel) and cut using the companion Strawberry Jam dies.   I painted a little wash of Mermaid Lagoon distress ink and then stamped the sentiment in watermark ink and embossed in gold.  Something I like to do when my focal point is more of a clean and simple design is to edge the panel with a gold leaf pen – it’s a nice touch that draws the eye without much ado.   I added some dimensional tape adhesive to the back of the mouse and placed him over the sentiment.   The strawberry vines were watercolored with liquid dye inks and placed around the small inside frame with dimensional tape.   Some Gold Nuvo Dream Drops are all that embellishes this card.

Wouldn’t a set of summer cards featuring the Strawberry Jam stamp set tucked inside a basket holding a jar of jam, tea, and scones be a lovely surprise for a friend.   Tea for two and time spent with YOU!

I hope you’ll be inspired to create a card or project this summer with our new June 2019 release collections of stamps and dies.   Create something that makes your heart sing!  I’ll see you soon.

Susie ~