Bonsai Easel Lori

Hi, crafty friends! Today, I used the gorgeous Carolyn's Bonsai Elegant Stamp to create a fun and colorful easel card. I used masking to create the background. I even brushed off my Caran D'ache colored pencils to color the delicate image.

I started by stamping my image onto a piece of Neenah Classic Crest Cover Solar White 80lb cardstock with black ink.

I then stamped the identical image onto masking paper. Masking paper allows you to mask an image. By doing so, you will keep it in the foreground when stamping, watercoloring, or inkblending. 

This is the image halfway cut out. When fussy cutting, it's important to use sharp scissors, preferably with a fine point on the end. While cutting, move the paper instead of tge scissors. 

This is my masked image. I used Scattered Straw Distress Ink and Fossilized Amber Distress Oxide for the background. I ink blended with the ink and stamped the Dahlia Flower Blossom Stamp with the oxide. Oxides have pigment properties, so they are easier to stamp with.

Panel with masking paper removed. As you can see, the tree is in the foreground and ready to be colored. The masking paper is reusable and quite sturdy. I saved it for the next time I need it.

Colored bonsai. I use Copics about 99% of the time. However, with this delicate stamp, I didn't want to risk the marker ink bleeding out of those thin lines. I have a large set of colored pencils, so it took me a while to pick out the right color combinations.

Beginning of the easel card. I took a 4 1/4 x 11" piece of amber yellow cardstock, folded it in half at 5 1/2" to make a top folding card base. I then scored the front panel in half. This becomes our easel base.

I had cut out the panel with the tree out with an oval die, but forgot to take a picture of it by itself. This is a white oval one size larger. I used one of the same green pencils to color around the edges. I'm going to layer this under the first oval. The greens will match perfectly. If you can't find a cardstock close enough to what you want when layering panels, this is a simple trick. 

I adhered the ovals together. Also, I glued the bottom half only to the bottom of the scored front panel of the card base. Finished front of card.

When making an easel card, you need something glued inside to let the front panel rest while popped up. I die cut two small white ovals a one yellow oval, then stacked them. I die cut a smaller white oval and stamped 'Hugs' from Special Day stamp set, on it.

Finished card. As you see, I adhered the sentiment stack about 1/3 of the way up a final large, white oval glued inside the card. This is the card in the popped up position. I hope you like my card. I had a lot of fun making it!