Crafting Memories with Molly: Card Swap for Stampin Retreat Weekend

I was so excited to be heading off to our first ever Stampin' Up! team retreat this past weekend. My upline, Susan Levasseur is an incredibly talented woman. And so generous!

She hosted our teams together this past weekend at a beautiful retreat house in Lafayette, LA for 2 1/2 days of crafting and sharing. I can't wait to share with you all what we create together.

Each team member was allowed to invite one guest, so that doubled the fun! As a demonstrator, we were also asked to create a card kit for all the attendees to complete. For my kit, I chose to use the "Rooted in Nature" bundle #148353.

I "CASED" (copy and share everything) a card from Pinterest that showcased the set and a fun technique using Sponge Brayers and masking tape. The card I was inspired by was created and shared by DOstampinwithDawn. And it is lovely. I used that technique and added a bit of embellishments, die cuts and a bit of "corrugated" crumb cake to finish it off.

Here's the video of how I made this card:

Project Recipe:

Card base: Cajun Craze Cardstock, cut to 5 1/2" by 8 1/2". Then scored at 4 1/4" on longest side and folded in half to create a side fold card
Whisper White Cardstock: cut 2 pieces to 4" x 5 1/4". One is for the outside and one for inside card.
Card front: place masking tape on one piece of the Whisper White cardstock to leave an exposed white strip, approx. 1 1/2" wide. To do this, place one piece of masking tape to cover the first 1" from top to bottom on the left side of card. Then place another piece of masking tape at 2 12", from top to botton. This will leave 1 1/2" of white exposed. I used 2" wide blue painters tape and lined my card front on a sheet of Stampin' UP! grid paper to make this task simple.
Using sponge brayers, pick up your lightest color and roll onto the card front starting at the bottom and ending up about 2 1/4" from bottom. Then using a different brayer pick up your next lightest color, and blend at the top of that and end about 4" from bottom of card. Next, use a different sponge brayer and pick up darkest shade and sponge to top of card. You can go back over the colors to get the exact blend you like. I used: Pineapple Punch, Mango Melody and Cajun Craze on this card. But you could use other color families. Just use at least three colors to create your background. Note: to get an all over blending gently roll your brayer from different directions, not just side to side. Remember to not create too dark of a blending where the tree will be stampled.
Large Tree Silhouettte from the Rooted in Nature bundle: Remove the masking tape from the card front and stamp large tree image with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on the left side of masked strip, with tree half on white and half on colored strip. Image should start approx. 1" from top of card front.
Corrugated Crumb Cake pennant: cut a piece of Crumb Cake cardstock to 1" by 3 1/2" wide. Emboss with the new "corrugated" 3D embossing folder. Cut left end to a slight diagonal to create your pennant. You will next prepare your other embellishments to place behind this strip.
Emboss and die cut 1 large leaf from Cherry Cobbler cardstock and one triple leaf from Pumpkin Pie cardstock.

Punch one triple leaf branch from gold foil paper, using the Leaf Punch.

Stamp and die cut out one small leaf with Whisper White Cardstock, using Black Berry Bliss ink.

Cut a piece of Gold Thread, approx. 24" long.
Corrugated Strip: Now put double sided tape on the back of the embossed Crumb Cake Strip and adhere the to leaves, cut from solid cardstock, as seen in picture to the back of this strip. Make a circle of the Gold Thread, approx 2 3/4" in diameter and adhere behind these leaves, to corrugated strip. Then adhere this embellishment to card front, on right edge, approx. 3/4" from bottom.
Using a small strip of Whisper White cardstock, approx. 3 1/4" wide by 1 /2" tall, stamp the "Word are never enough" sentiment in Memento Tuxedo Black ink. Then cut the left end to a diagonal and adhere the Gold Foil punched leaves to the back of this and attach to top of corrugated strip.
Stamp and die cut the small skeleton leaf image, using Blackberry Bliss ink and tuck under the Pumpkin Pie leaves, as seen in picture.
Inside Card: Stamp the "to thank you for all you do" sentiment on Whisper White piece for inside card. Adhere to inside and you are through.

Hope you enjoyed making this card and create new versions using other color combinations!