CEP Hi There Bear!

Welcome back to my blog friends and crafters.  Do I have a treat for you!  I will be sharing cards with you as Guest Designer for Creative Escape Papercrafting (CEP), periodically focusing on products they are selling in the store, outside of the kits.  They have really expanded their store and they want me to help promote those products and boost overall awareness of them.  The online store has had a "make-over" and it's much nicer to shop as well!

So here is my card, showcasing Concord & 9th's cute as a button "Hi There Bear" stamp set. 

There are many options with this stamp set.  I just opted to use the textured bear stamp, the umbrella and fill-in panels, and the 2 stamp layering bouquet.  I also added the small flowering ground plant along the edge of the walkway and bank of flowers.

So this is how I made my card.  I first stamped the bear in a medium and dark brown dye ink at the same time (they were mini cubes).  I followed that up with my new Faber Castell Polychromos colored pencils, to really provide good contrast and shading (and yes, I love them!).  I stamped the umbrella using Gina K's new Amalgam Ink, then stamped the fill-in panels from the stamp set.  I added the 2 step bouquet using some Gina K inks as well.  I then added shading to the ground with my Copics.  My inspiration for this background is from a Sandy Allnock card that she did a video of as well.  I changed it by adding the gravel surface and sidewalks on the side. 

When I colored the background, I did switch to my Copic markers.  I first made the sidewalks and gravel surface.  I then grabbed 3 very light colors that I rather randomly colored around, simulating a soft flower background and greenery.  I did add some slightly darker tones to mimic the flowers, but then softened them out with the lighter shade again. 

I wasn't happy with the colored stamping on the umbrella, so I went back with my Polychromos and a white gel pen.  I also added yellow centers to the bouquet with a Copic marker.  To create the clouds in the sky, I airbrushed it with my Copic markers and a stencil I had in my stash from MFTs- Mini Cloud edges. I did mask the umbrella before airbrushing, the stencil covered up the rest.  It was my first time using the stencil it, and it is really easy to use and gives great results.  Next I stamped the small flowering plant from the stamp set along the sidewalk edge, just towards the front.  I colored them with my Copics.  Last, I stamped the sentiment from the stamp set in Gina K's Amalgam ink.  I must say, my first time using it and I like it a lot.  Very crisp/black.  I next mounted my card panel on some peach cardstock (top-folding A2 card base).  I had trimmed my card panel to a width of 4 inches so that the peach card base is seen on both sides.

I hope you enjoyed my card!  This is just one of many ways to use this stamp set.  You can stamp it, color it, and add multiple elements.  One funny thing happened as I was making my bear.  I didn't see the small bear stamp that is the eyes and nose, so I made my own.  So your bear face will look distinctly different than this one.  Oh well, silly me!!

Don't forget to check out the store and all it's new products, as well as their Facebook and Instagram pages for other great ideas from the other designers and updates from the store.  Feel free to add your card creations to the FB page, too.  I hear rumors that even more products are coming!!  The most comprehensive collection of my work can be found on Instagram, as jktaylor911.

As always, happy crafting and may you be blessed,

Jill ✂