Trees Feed

November 09, 2017

Ten Year Blog Anniversary Celebration and Blog Candy

Good Thursday morning.  Today I am celebrating a “Ten Year Blog Anniversary” milestone.  My Very First Blog Post ever was published ten  years ago on November 9 2007.  It is amazing to look back on my original post and to browse through the years to see all the twists and turns my paper crafting style has taken.  This will be my 2206th post and I am honored to have had 7,406,868 page views to date.  I thought it would be fun to celebrate my anniversary by giving a blog candy gift for each year as a thank you to you for following my blog.  You can see more details about the blog candy below.

KC Impression Obsession Evergreen Trees 1 right

I love making snowy winter scenes for holiday cards. Today’s project was made using the Impression Obsession Fir Tree, Small Fir Tree, Evergreen Trees and Sun and Moon. The frame was using the My Favorite Things Pierced Square Frames.  I secured the stamps and cardstock in my MISTI and stamped using Peeled Paint ink.  I stamped three trees on the card base and then stamped several random trees.  I placed my dies over the stamped random trees and die cut them.  I wanted the die cut trees to have the same pattern as the background trees.  In the end it didn’t matter much because I covered them so much with white embossing paste and glitter.

KC Impression Obsession Evergreen Trees 1 center

Once the background trees were stamped I heat set them and then applied Tumbled Glass ink to the sky area using an ink blending tool.  I applied white embossing paste to the stamped and die cut trees by lightly tapping it on with my finger and then sprinkled with the clear glitter.  I also applied the paste to the ground area on the tree background and sprinkled with glitter. 

I attached the tree background to the back of the frame using thin strips of mounting tape.  I attached the green layer behind the framed scene with ATG adhesive and then attached to the white card base using ATG adhesive.  I secured the die cut trees in place using strips of mounting tape.  I used a tiny tipped brush to apply white dots of white paint to the sky area to create falling snow and then finished by adding one star in the sky.  This is really so much prettier in person than it shows in the photos.  That seems to happen so often. 

KC Impression Obsession Evergreen Trees 1 left

Here a the projects from my first post.

KC Lovely as a Tree 24

Stampin” Up! Lovely as a Tree.   Lovely as a Tree is one of my favorite SU sets and I will never let it go.

KC Punch Pals

Stampin’ Up! Punch Pals

All you need to do to qualify for one of my ten blog candy gifts is leave a comment telling me how your paper crafting style has changed over time.  You will have until Tuesday, Nov 14th at 5:00  pm to comment and the winners will be announced on my Wednesday blog post. Here are photos of the ten gifts.  Some are brand new and some have been gently used.  The winners will be selected  by Random.org and the gifts will be awarded in the same order.  Good luck!

Art Impressions Trifolds 

Chameleon

Elizabeth Assorted Dies

Memory Box Frames

Memory Box Loose Dies

MFT Assorted Dies

MFT Stencils

Spellbinders 1

Spellbinders 2

Tonic Assorted Dies

Thank you so much for coming by and for ten years of following my blog.  I appreciate it more than you know.

Card size:  5.50” x 4.25”

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Nov 9, 2017 9:11:24 AM | Christmas, Die Cut, Impression Obsession, Snow, Trees, Winter

August 20, 2017

Fall Pumpkins

Good Sunday morning.  I have another fun fall project to share with you today made using the Impression Obsession Pumpkin Set, Tree Frame, Large Fence, Squirrel Set, Oak Leaves and Rake, Leaves and Stems and Small Grass Border.  I thought I would share a few step by step photos of how I colored the pumpkins and the leaves.

KC Impression Obsession Pumpkin Set 5 right

I start by die cutting the pumpkins using orange cardstock and apply Spiced Marmalade ink using a mini applicator.

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Next I lightly apply Vintage Photo around the edges of the pumpkin to add depth of color.

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This final picture doesn’t show that I apply a darker layer of brown ink on the stem of the pumpkin.

4

I color the tiny leaves with three colors. I apply Spiced Marmalade, Peeled Paint and Fired Brick on each leaf.  I don’t apply the colors on the exact same spot for each leaf but move it around so the leaves don’t all look exactly alike.

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After all three colors are applied I finish each leaf by lightly swiping the mini applicator with Spiced Marmalade ink over the entire leaf.  I do not add more ink to the applicator because I’m not trying to color over the three colors.  This step just blends all three colors together for a more natural looking leaf.  There is only a little space for each color on the leaves but changing up where each color is applied makes a difference in the completed project. This may seem like a tedious job but it goes really fast.

I started the tree by cutting the Tree Frame out using white cardstock.  I misted the whole image quite heavily with water and then swiped my Vintage Photo ink pad directly over the cardstock to apply color.  Once I was happy with the color I heat dried with my heat gun.  Next I cut the frame and a couple larger branches off of the tree.  I cut the branches apart and began rearranging them to create a full tree and attached with glossy accents.  I didn’t think to take pictures of how I did this because I wasn’t even sure it would work but I really like how it turned out.  Once the tree was complete I attached leaves over the branches with glossy accents.  The leaves covered up the spots where the branches were attached so you would never guess the tree had been modified. After the leaves were all attached I gently bent them with my fingers so they would look more natural and not so flat.

The squirrels were colored using Antique Linen and Vintage Photo and mini applicators.

KC Impression Obsession Pumpkin Set 5 center

Once all the parts of the scene were finished I began assembling the scene.  The fence was attached to the card base section with thin strips of mounting tape.  Next the grass border was attached to the bottom of the fence with thin strips of mounting tape.  I attached thin strips of mounting tape and rolled glue dots to the back of the tree and then attached it to the card base.  I attached foliage from the Leaves and Stems set to the pumpkins using glossy accents and then tucked them in behind the grass border and attached with mounting tape. I added a few additional stems of foliage around the pumpkins and then attached the squirrels for the finishing touch. 

KC Impression Obsession Pumpkin Set 5 left

I really love how this turned out.  We don’t have a season with fall colors in Florida and it is something I have missed all forty years that I have lived here.  I hope you have found my step by step pictures helpful.  Thanks for coming by and I hope you have a wonderful Sunday. 

Card size:  5.50” x 4.25”

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Aug 20, 2017 8:45:47 AM | Die Cut, Fall, Impression Obsession, Trees

April 05, 2017

Watercolor Pencil Tree in the CLASSroom

I would like to invite you to join me in the CLASSroom for my “scribble” Watercolor Pencil Tree project and step by step tutorial.

KC Watercolor Pencil Tree 1

Ellen Hutson is holding a great 15% sale on colored pencils.  It’s a great time to start or add to your pencil collection.

Ellen Pencil

Thanks for coming by and I hope you have a great day.

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Apr 5, 2017 3:00:00 AM | Ellen Hutson, Trees, Watercolor

March 11, 2017

Watercolor Notecard and Envelope

Good Saturday morning.  It’s Watercolor Weekend at Ellen Hutson and featuring Sandy Allnock and some of her favorite things for watercoloring.  I decided to try my hand at painting a little tree scene using some of the Daniel Smith watercolors that I have collected.  First let me say without a doubt I am no Sandy Allnock.  I only wish I could watercolor like her.  I am not exactly thrilled with how my tree scene and pitiful matching envelope turned out but I  thought  I would blog it in hopes that it may give other’s the courage to try.  And since I am sharing my feeble attempt with you I hope none of you will let Sandy know how far off my tree is compared to the ones she is sharing in her video tutorial in the CLASSroom today.  Deal!!

KC Daniel Smith Watercolor 1 left

I signed up to take Sandy’s Exploring Watercolor class a while back and have all the lessons saved but haven’t been able to start them yet.  I think it’s about time that I do. I treated myself to a special Exploring Watercolor with Sandy Allnock Bundle being offered at Ellen Hutson.  It is a great savings compared to purchasing the items separately and you can get an additional 10% off this weekend.  If you have been thinking of trying to play with watercolors this is a great way to get started. 

Contents of the bundle:

  • DANIEL SMITH Extra Fine Watercolors, Essentials 5ml Set of 6
  • Canson Arches French Bound Cold Press Watercolor Paper Pad 9x12
  • Black Velvet Watercolor Brushes, Short Round 8
  • Black Velvet Watercolor Brushes, Short Round 12
  • Black Velvet Watercolor Brushes, Short Wide Wash Blender 1 in

I used  the Daniel Smith Extra Fine Primatek Set of Six and a Fabriano note card that I have had in my stash for years.  I started by applying a light wash of water to the corner of the card where I wanted to paint my scene.  I painted the trunk of the tree first, allowed it to dry some and then applied the green to the ground area and tree top.  Next I painted in the green sprigs and tiny pink flowers.  I didn’t have the courage to watercolor a blue sky around the scene so I lightly sponged Tumbled Glass distress ink with an ink blending tool and then lightly brushed it with my brush.  I have a problem getting too heavy handed with my paints and get the images too dark. I hope with practice I can get over that.  I wish that a tiny bit of Sandy’s talent would come my way.

KC Daniel Smith Watercolor 1 right

Sandy Favorite

Thanks for coming and I hope you have a great weekend.

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Mar 11, 2017 12:23:35 PM | Daniel Smith Watercolor, Trees, Watercolor

March 05, 2017

Lawn Fawn Hillside Pop-Ups and Lawn Fawn Sale

Good Sunday morning.  I ordered several of the new Lawn Fawn dies from Ellen Hutson earlier this week and couldn’t wait to play with them.   I love making little scene projects and the new coordinating pop-up dies create so many different opportunities.   My project today was made using the Stitched Hillside Pop-up, Flower Hillside Pop-up,  Grassy Hillside Pop-up, Leafy Tree Backdrop Portrait and I added the Impression Obsession Bunny Set and Butterfly Set to finish my scene.   All of these coordinating pop-up dies have tabs built right into the die and made to use inside the card to create fun dimensional projects.  I couldn’t resist using on the front of my card and it was easy to remove the tabs.  I love that they can be used inside or out. 

KC Lawn Fawn Flower Hillside Pop-Up 1 right

I have loved using the Tiny Check designer paper for my backgrounds lately.  It seems to add a happy feeling to the project.  I cut the paper to fit on the front of my A2 sized card base and attached it with ATG adhesive. The leafy tree was cut using Kraft cardstock and I removed the outer frame so I could let it be standing free in the scene.  I misted it with water until it quite damp and applied the brown ink by swiping the ink pad directly over the cardstock and dried with my heat gun.  I attached the leaves to the branches with glossy accents.  I cut tiny thin strips of mounting tape and attached to the tips of the tree limbs and upper back of the tree trunk and attached it to the card base.  I attached the lower part of the trunk flat to the card base so it wouldn’t get in the way of my hillside sections.  I cut the stitched hillside layer and grassy hillside layer in green and the flower hillside in white.  I colored the flower stems and flowers using Memento markers.  The flower hillside set comes with extra flowers and I cut several, formed them with my stylus and molding pad and attached them to the flower heads using glossy accents. I left the tulip flowers as a single layer.

KC Lawn Fawn Flower Hillside Pop-Up 1 center

I attached the grassy hillside layer flat to the back of the flower hillside layer using ATG adhesive.  I attached mounting tape to the back of those two sections and attached them to the card base. I applied mounting tape to the back of the hillside layer and attached it to the flower layer.  I I colored the bunny using a mini applicator and antique linen and vintage photo inks and added a couple tiny leaves and a flower to his neck and attached him in the scene with mounting tape. I added the butterflies in the scene for the finishing touch.  I applied clear Wink of Stella to all the flowers and butterflies but it doesn’t really show up well in the pictures. 

 KC Lawn Fawn Flower Hillside Pop-Up 1 left

If you have any of the new Lawn Fawn products on your wish list you will want to hop over to Ellen’s to take advantage of the 10% off on all in stock Lawn Fawn products.  The sale ends tonight.  Thanks for coming by today.  I hope you have a great Sunday.

lawn fawn sale

Card size: 5.50" x 4.25"

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Mar 5, 2017 8:05:03 AM | Die Cut, Impression Obsession, Lawn Fawn, Scene, Spring, Summer, Trees
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Kittie Caracciolo

Paper creation artist.

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