Jaded Blossom: I Hope Your Birtthday Is Pandariffic + Tutorial

Happy Monday everyone! I'm back today sharing a Panda Birthday Card along with a tutorial on how I created the background using die-cut and Distress Ink. This adorable panda from Jaded Blossom is part of the Pandas Are Awesome Stamp Set. I colored this cutie with Copics.

Copics:

Panda: C0, C1, C3, Colorless Blender

Eyes: B000, B95, B97

Pink: R81, R83, R85

Bamboo: YG23, YG67, E42 

The background behind the panda was creating using die cuts and Distress Ink. You are going to be amazed at how easy it is! For the grass area, I used the grass die from the Mushroom Die Set and cut the grass border from paper. You will need to keep both sides of the cut-out. I used a cloud border die-cut to create the clouds and a circle die to cut the frame. If you use a die-cut that has a stitched border, you will want to cover the backside with tape so the ink doesn't go through the little holes. I forgot to do that step and you will see what happens later, haha!

  

STEP 1: 

My total card size is 4.25 x 5.5. I originally started with that size of white cardstock, but (later after creating the scene) I trimmed it smaller so I could mat it with black paper). I cut a piece of tan cardstock 4.25 x 5.5 and then cut a circle from it. I didn't cut it exactly in the middle. I raised it towards the top so I would have room to stamp a sentiment. I used the grass die from the Mushroom Die Set and cut the green polka dot paper (I used pattern paper so it's easier to tell the difference in the pictures). You will need to keep both sides of the paper.

STEP 2: 

Tape the 4.25 x 5.5 tan cardstock with the hole in the middle to your white cardstock with washi tape so it doesn't move around.

STEP 3: 

Lay the "scrap" grass cut-away towards the bottom of the circle cut-out. I used a makeup toothbrush foundation blender brush to spread the Mowed Lawn Distress Ink using a circular motion. To get a smooth blend, ink up your blending brush and start the circular motion on the tan cardstock and move towards the white paper. Do multiple light layers to build up the color.

 This is what the grass will look like when you pull the green paper away.

 

STEP 4:

Take the other grass die-cut and cover up the stitched lines on the back with scotch tape. Line it up to the area that was colored in green. You will now start blending Broken China Oxide Ink along the grass border die-cut.

This is what it looks like after you have layered the Broken China Distess Ink several times along the grass border. You can see in this photo that I forgot to cover the stitched lines on the back side of the grass die-cut so the blue ink seeped through the stitched holes and made marks on my green paper.

STEP 5:

I cut some white cardstock using a cloud border die and used it as my template for the cloudy sky. I line up the scallops in different arrangements and using the makeup brush I go along the top of the cloud border edge. When I get closer to the grass, I turn the cloud border upside down and ink it the other way so it "closes" off the the clouds.

STEP 6:

After you pull off the tan cardstock, you now have your inky scene! To try and fix the blue stitched lines on the grass. I took a wet paintbrush and went across the dots to lighten the blue. Then I went over the area with more green Distress Ink. It did leave a line, but once I added the Panda it looked more like a shadow underneath him so I didn't go back and start over.

 STEP 7:

I stamped the sentiment below the scene. I decided I wanted to add a black mat behind this panel so I trimmed it down. Then I added a black mat before placing it on the card base. The panda is raised on foam dots for extra dimension.

 

See you back here tomorrow with another card! Be sure to check out the Jaded Blossom Store for all your stamps and gift giving supplies. They have various Cutting Dies to make party favors along with Favor Bags and Boxes. 

Hugs,

Rosemary