Amazing paper Grace Garden Gate Mixed Media Card

Hello, Friends!  It’s time to share this Amazing Paper Grace  Garden Gate Mixed Media card!  The May 2021 APG Die of the Month is another dimensional vignette creation.  You can learn more about it and see lots of pretty samples HERE and on Becca’s Blog.   When you pair this charming set of dies up with the Spellbinders May 2021 Clear Stamp of the Month you’ve got a dynamic duo on your hands! 

Welcome to My Garden!

Welcome to my garden, friends!  Step through the chipped paint on this vintage fence and enjoy a glass of cool lemonade under the shade of the arbor with me.  How does that sound?  The minute I took this die out of the packaging, I knew I was going to travel in a mixed media direction.  Here’s how I did it:

• First, die cut  two each of the fence (With the insert panels) and the arbor. Use a sturdy (85# or more) cream cardstock for this step.
• Next, rub the flat side of a Spellbinders Bricks and Bark embossing folder with Weathered Wood Distress Ink.  (Use the bark side.)
• Now spritz the ink with water until little beads form.
• Then place the die cut fence pieces face down over the inky panel and run through your  machine following your manufacturer’s directions. The ink will sink into the debossed areas of the fence giving it a lovely patina finish.
• Dry the gate with a heat tool, or let set overnight. Then very lightly dry brush the surface with ivory chalk paint.
• Now adhere the two gate and arbor layers together with 1/8″ foam tape strips.
• Finally, sponge the raised areas of the gate and arbor with a little Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink to create a vintage, chipped paint finish.
• Die cut several scraps using the grass die.  Color with inks, then layer on the bottom of the card with foam tape.  Simulate flowers by attaching Prills to dots of Dries Clear Adhesive.

Creating the Arbor

To create the arbor that goes over the garden gate, follow these steps:

• Die cut a whole bunch of leaves, flowers and berries from cream cardstock.
• Spray the leaves with Kiwi Glimmer Mist or other spray. Set aside to dry.
• Place 1 drop of Chipped Sapphire Distress Re-Inker in a disposable plastic container.  Spray some water to create about 1 Tablespoon of stain. Then drop the flower layers in to the puddle to stain them.  When you are happy with the depth of color, pour them out onto folded paper towels or an old grocery bag.
• Repeat this process with the “berries” using Mustard Seed Distress Re-Inker.
• Press the center of each flower with a small ball stylus to raise the petals.  Place a drop of Art Institute Dries Clear Adhesive in the center of  half the flowers.  Add another layer on top.
• Fill the “cup” of each flower with a drop of glue, then sprinkle with “Go Man Go” Prills.

The fun part is arranging the leaves, flowers and berries on the arbor.  Top the berries with a dot of Glossy Accents to give them a domed top.  While the GA is still wet, sprinkle with Lion’s Mane Flower Soft.  Now you just need to add bows, buttons and a vintage metal gate latch to the card front. (Paint a small metal drawer pull with chalk paint.  Let it dry a bit, then rub away a little bit with a paper towel to slightly expose the metal.)

Sentiment Tag

This little sentiment tag comes together in a jiffy!

• Stamp the sentiment and posies from the May Clear Stamp of the Month onto a scrap of gold cardstock.
• Trim around the sentiment to form a small rectangle.
• Round the bottom corners with a punch.
• Shape the top corners with a scalloped punch.
• Repeat this process with a slightly larger scrap of navy cardstock.
• Add a hole to the top and string with Journey Twine.
• Tie on some glass leaf beads and adhere a few flat back pearls to finish the tag.

A Peek Inside

There’s a tea party beneath the arbor waiting inside this box pocket style card.

Turn the flap page on top to find a gift card pocket on the side.  You can add a note or a photo to the sentiment panel.

The box pocket has everything you need to throw a tea party for one.  Even a vintage silver plate demitasse spoon!

TIP: Dress up a Ghiradelli chocolate and a Biscoff cookie pack with scraps of designer paper.

Create a little note card/tea wallet with ephemera bits and scraps of designer paper.

This is the perfect spot to tuck in a tea bag to complete the tea party ensemble.

I hope I shared some tips, tricks and ideas that you can use with the May 2021 Amazing Paper Grace Die.  If so, I’d love to hear from you in the comment section.  Simply click on the “Replies” button found under the title at the top of this page to do so.

You’ll find a linked supply list below this post.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

SUPPLY LIST

• Spellbinders Amazing Paper Grace Vignette Garden Gate Die
• Clear Stamp of the Month Spellbinders May 2021
• Brick and Bark embossing folder from Spellbinders (retired)
• My Mind’s Eye Gingham Foundry Collection
  • 6×8 paper pad
  • Mixed Bag Ephemera
  • Journal Cards
  • Stickers
• Slate Blue Wrinkled Ribbon