APPLE BUILDER PUNCH + HARVEST HELLOS

 

I haven't had a lot of time lately for stamping, but I treated myself to a card-making session last night.  It was so enjoyable!  I actually made this card three times before I got it the way I wanted, but any stamper knows that sometimes that's the case.

For my card, I used Stampin' Up!'s Apple Builder punch:

and Harvest Hellos stamp set:

I've had these products for a couple of months, but this was the first time that I've used them.  The apple punch is a keeper, and I love the size of the apple!  Of course, being able to use the same punch to create a pumpkin and jack-o-lantern is a bonus!  I kept my card clean and simple and was quite pleased with it:

Product details for this card:

Stamp Set:  Harvest Hellos

Cardstock/Paper:  White, Real Red, Granny Apple Green, Watercolor Paper, Berry Delightful

Ink:  Granny Apple Green, Real Red, So Saffron, Early Espresso, Sahara Sand, Soft Suede, Black

Punch/Dies:  Apple Builder, Tasteful Labels

Embossing Folder:  Brick & Mortar

Accessories:  Blender Pen, Sponge Dauber, White Baker's Twine, Wink of Stella

The apple and leaf images were stamped on Granny Apple Green cardstock using Granny Apple Green ink and then the apple image was stamped again onto Real Red cardstock using Real Red ink.  The apple stem image was stamped with Early Espresso ink onto the same color cardstock, and then the punch was used to cut those images.  Wink of Stella was used on the highlight lines on the apples.  The front of the card was embossed, and then I adhered the designer paper to the bottom half of the card front.  After stamping the sentiment on a scrap of Real Red cardstock, it was die-cut and adhered to the top left of the card.  It was a circle shape, but I trimmed the part of the circle that extended beyond the top of the card.  I assembled the apple pieces and decided on the placement of them.  Before adhering them into place, I used Soft Suede ink to stamp the twisted sprig image.  I know that image is more appropriate for pumpkins, but I couldn't resist using it.  

Coloring the apple slice was a bit tricky.  Leaving it white with a red peel added nothing to the card!  After playing around with how to color the image and which colors to use, I found that I had the most control of color with the Blender Pen and ink.  I used Real Red for the peel, So Saffron for the white area, and the core portion was a mix of Sahara Sand and So Saffron--with an Early Espresso colored seed.  It's amazing how coloring the image really brought it to life.

I don't know how this stamp set and punch didn't turn my head before, but I thoroughly enjoyed working with the two.  I hadn't planned to use a sentiment from the stamp set because I didn't pay much attention to them but, after taking another look, I discovered that I love that they appear to have been typed on an old typewriter.  [squeal]

So there you have it.  A fun and cheery card that's perfect for any time!