Autumn Maple Tree

Busy day ... out and about this morning picking up the final groceries for tomorrow's High Tea with my friends, baking, baking and more baking ... and a little housework - whew!  Still, I somehow managed to find time to play in my art studio :)

Here's my card for this week's sketch challenge (I'm a couple of days behind).  I had done the tree a few weeks back for another card (using Watercolor Spritz Technique) ... but it just didn't work with what I was making.  I never throw anything out ... I stashed it away and it just jumped out at me today so I used it.  Everything on this card is SU!  Hope you like.

SCS Sketch Challenge 354:

"Autumn Maple Tree"

Stamps:  Lovely as a Tree (SU!)

Paper:  Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Autumn Traditions DP (retired), watercolor paper (SU!)

Ink:  Old Olive, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  water mister, sponges, Aqua Painter (or substitute small paint brush and water), Big Shot, Sizzix "Square Lattice" embossing folder, adhesives and dimensionals

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I inked the oak tree stamp using Stampin' Write markers:  Early Espresso for the trunk and branches; random patches of Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie and Cajun Craze for the leaves.  I lightly misted the stamp with water and stamped onto watercolor paper. (I find if you hold it on the paper for about 20-30 seconds, the ink and water absorb into the paper better.)  Once it was dry, I colored in the tree trunk with Crumb Cake and also sponged Old Olive for grass below the tree.  I took my Aqua Painter (but a small paint brush and water will work just as well) and added water to the "grass" to blend it into the watercolor paper.  I let everything dry before continuing.

I cut the acorn paper (from the Autumn Traditions DP) to size and added a frame of Early Espresso cardstock  I cut a piece of Soft Suede and ran it through my Big Shot with the embossing folder.  I cut it to size and added a frame of Early Espresso cardstock.  I also added a frame of Early Espresso cardstock to my main image.

I mounted all the pieces as shown in the picture above, popping up the main image with dimensionals to add depth.