A Thoughtful Journey!

(starting to play with the Thoughtful Journey Designer Series Paper)

Hello!  Today I am sharing a few projects I worked on this week using the Stampin' Up! Thoughtful Journey 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper (item 163303) that is featured in the May 2024-April 2025 Annual Catalogue as part of the Thoughtful Journey Suite Collection (item 163320).  This Designer Series Paper has many very pretty watercolour designs - including scenes - and is perfect for using in a wide variety of projects!  I follow many watercolour artists on Instagram and am fascinated with the wide variety of watercolour painting techniques and, of course, am always amazed with the artists' finished results! While it is certainly fun to experiment with any of the wide variety of watercolour painting techniques sometimes you may just want to have a finished result that you can use in a project and for that this Designer Series Paper certainly fits the bill!  With the project photos I have also included a full sheet photo of the specific sheet(s) of the Designer Series Paper I used in the project - by no means did I use all the designs in this DSP collection!

Just a brief summary of the basic tools and supplies I used to complete my projects this week:

• Paper Trimmer (item 152392) - for trimming paper and cardstock - can also be used for scoring;
• stylus and scoreboard (Simply Scored Scoring Tool - item 122334) - for scoring fold lines.  To ensure crisp folds I also burnish all folded scored lines using my Bone Folder (item 102300).  I also used the Bone Folder to help curl petals, leaves, and the wings of the butterflies;
• Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (item 149653) - for all die cutting and embossing; 
• Paper Snips Scissors (item 103579) - these small sharp scissors are very handy for trimming die cuts (i.e. snipping off a few leaves etc.) and for snipping off the tiny attachment points on the Paper Butterfly Accents (item 162612);
• Take Your Pick Tool (item 144107) - the paper piercer, mini spatula, and tacky putty tips are a great help for picking up and placing small die cuts and embellishments; and
• for the main adhesive, Multipurpose Liquid Glue (item 110755).  

To apply ink to add some shading to die cuts, and to the Paper Butterfly Accents, I used Small Blending Brushes (item 160518).  To stamp sentiments I used Stazon Jet Black Ink (item 101406). The sentiments used are from the following stamp sets:

• "Home Sweet Home" - From Our Home (item 163680);

• "sending love" - Country Flowers (item 163405); and

• "hello friend" - Country Birdhouse (item 163395).

For all card bases I used Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229).

On with the projects!

For the first project I began with a dollar store woodgrain 10 1/4" square frame with an 8 7/8" square opening and the glass removed.  For the background panel I trimmed a piece of Blueberry Bushel patterned paper from Winter Meadow 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 162133) and glued it to the frame's 9 1/4" square MDF backing panel.  I glued a full 6" x 6" sheet of the Thoughtful Journey DSP to a 6 1/4" square piece of Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229), the edges of which I scraped with the blade of my craft knife.  After gluing the matted DSP panel centered on the background panel I glued on the additional elements:

• foliage die cut from Lemon Lime Twist cardstock (item 144245), Old Olive Cardstock (item 100702), and Mossy Meadow cardstock (item 133676) using the Encircled In Nature dies (item 163628), Country Flowers dies (item 163410), Simply Zinnia dies (item 163479), and Delicate Forest dies (item 162679) - shaded using Old Olive ink (item 147090) and Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111);

Encircled In Nature dies - 163628

Country Flowers dies - 163410

Simply Zinnia dies - 163479

Delicate Forest dies - 162679

• large flower die cut from Peach Pie cardstock (item 163799) - two layers - and Pumpkin Pie cardstock (item 105117) using the Simply Zinnia dies, and shaded with Pumpkin Pie ink (item 147086).  The star circle center (and additional individual stars) and oval center also cut using the Simply Zinnia dies from, respectively, Daffodil Delight cardstock (item 119683) [shaded with Daffodil Delight ink (item 147094)], and Pecan Pie cardstock (item 161717) [shaded with Pecan Pie ink (item 161665)];
• one flower bud cut from each of Lemon Lolly cardstock (item 161720) and Daffodil Delight cardstock using the Simply Zinnia dies, and shaded with Daffodil Delight ink;
• two double small flowers (each made using one small and one larger flower of the same design) cut from Peach Pie cardstock using the Country Birdhouse dies (item 163400), and shaded with Pumpkin Pie ink.  The flower center circles, cut from Pecan Pie cardstock, are the center "holes" from the large circle die from the Country Birdhouse dies;

Country Birdhouse dies - 163400

• three of the Paper Butterfly Accents (item 162612) - shaded using Pumpkin Pie ink, Old Olive ink, Misty Moonlight ink (item 153118), and Basic Gray ink (item 149165).  I lightly spritzed the inked butterflies with water (Stampin' Spritzers - item 126185), "painted" them with my Wink of Stella Clear Glitter Brush (item 141897), and then added splatters using my Azure Afternoon Stampin' Write Marker (Brights Marker Assortment - item 161696) by flicking the brush tip against the marker lid.  To adhere the butterflies I just dotted glue down the back center of the bodies; and
• for additional embellishments:  five of the Azure Afternoon dots from Rainbow Adhesive-Backed Dots (item 162758) - three small and two large. 

For the second project I began with a 7 5/8" square dollar store easel frame with a 6 5/8" opening, and the glass removed.  I used a fine grit sandpaper to slightly distress the frame edges.  I again used a full 6" x 6" piece of Thoughtful Journey DSP, matting it with a 6 1/8" square piece of Basic Black cardstock (item 121045), a 6 1/4" square piece of Mossy Meadow cardstock (item 133676), and a 7" square Basic Black cardstock backing panel.  I scraped the edges of the Basic Black and Mossy Meadow cardstock matting panels with the blade of my craft knife.  To complete the project I used the following additional supplies:

• watercolour paper from which I die cut the main body, roof sections, and support pole for the birdhouse using the Country Birdhouse dies (item 163400).  I used my craft knife to make vertical scratches down the trimmed main body section of the birdhouse before shading it using Crumb Cake ink (item 147116) and Early Espresso ink (item 147114).  I used Basic Gray ink (item 149165) to colour the top and decorative trim roof sections, and the support pole, repeating a process of ink blending and spritzing lightly with water (Stampin' Spritzers - item 126185) and blotting dry with paper towel.  I used the same process but with Pecan Pie ink (item 161665) for the middle roof section;
• watercolour paper for the two foliage "clumps" cut using the Country Flowers dies (item 163410) - these were shaded with Old Olive ink (item 147090) and Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111);  
• watercolour paper for the sentiment - before the sentiment ink was completely dry I rubbed over it with a paper towel to slightly blur the ink, and then added more shading using Crumb Cake ink - the trimmed sentiment panel was glued behind the die cut hole in the main body of the birdhouse;
• for the die cut circle for the bird perch a small piece of Very Vanilla cardstock (item 101650) that had been embossed using the Timber 3D Embossing Folder (item 156406), one inside panel of which I had inked with Basic Gray ink (dragging the ink pad across the raised design surface) - I shaded the die cut circle with additional Basic Gray ink; 
• Lemon Lime Twist cardstock (item 144245) for the two curving leafy sprigs cut using the Encircled In Nature dies (item 163628) - these were shaded with Old Olive and Mossy Meadow inks;
• Petunia Pop cardstock (item 163801) for the two flowers die cut using the Country Birdhouse dies - one small and one larger flower of the same design;
• Pecan Pie cardstock (item 161717) and Early Espresso cardstock (item 119686) for the flower center circles - the largest circle cut using the perch circle die from the Country Birdhouse dies; the medium circle is the center "hole" from the large circle die from the Country Birdhouse dies (this is the die used to cut the hole in the main body of the birdhouse); and the smallest circle is the "hole" from the small rectangular die from the Mini Pocket Envelope dies (item 159167);

Mini Pocket Envelope dies - 159167

• Old Olive cardstock for the spiky "grass" die cut using the Simply Zinnia dies (item 163479) - shaded with Mossy Meadow ink; 
• Stampin' Dimensionals (item 104430) to attach the birdhouse (with base and roof foliage and flowers attached) to the DSP panel - the spiky "grass" and bottom curving leafy sprig were glued directly to the DSP panel; and
• one of the Paper Butterfly Accents (item 162612) - shaded using Berry Burst ink (item 147143) and Lost Lagoon ink (item 161678), lightly spritzed with water (Stampin' Spritzers), and "painted" with my Wink of Stella Clear Glitter Brush (item 141897).

For the third project I began with a black plastic arched easel frame from Dollar Tree with the glass removed - outside dimensions are 7 3/8" tall x 5 3/8" wide; and the inside opening 5 1/2" x 3 1/2".  I trimmed a piece of Mossy Meadow cardstock (item 133676) to the size of the frame's cardboard insert (5 3/4" x 3 3/4") and then used the arched frame die from the Garden Meadow dies (item 162740) to cut the cardstock frame - I shaded the edges of the cardstock frame with Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111). 

Garden Meadow dies - 162740

I used the two ground dies from the Delicate Forest dies (item 162679) to cut two  base layers from Old Olive cardstock (item 100702) - I shaded both pieces with Mossy Meadow ink, lightly spritzed with water (Stampin' Spritzers - item 126185), and to attach to the back of the Mossy Meadow cardstock frame, just applied glue to the sides - leaving the bottom edges open for tucking in the die cut deer and flower.  The trimmed sheet of Thoughtful Journey DSP was glued to the plastic frame's cardboard insert - after doing a test run to make sure the DSP panel lined up inside the cardstock frame as I wanted.  The cardstock frame was then glued over the DSP panel.  To complete the project I used the following additional supplies:

• watercolour paper for the two deer, which were die cut using the Grove dies (item 157844) and shaded using Crumb Cake ink (item 147116), Pecan Pie ink (item 161665), and Early Espresso ink (item 147114) - for the fawn I dabbed on clear water using a paint brush, blotting dry with a paper towel for a mottled effect;

Grove dies - 157844

• Old Olive cardstock for four curving leafy sprigs, die cut using the Encircled In Nature dies (item 163628), and shaded using Mossy Meadow ink;
• Berry Burst cardstock (item 144243) for two small flowers and Petunia Pop cardstock (item 163801) for five small flowers all cut using the Country Birdhouse dies (item 163400); and
• Early Espresso cardstock (item 119686) and Pecan Pie cardstock (item 161717) for the flower centers - cut using the Country Birdhouse dies and Mini Pocket Envelope dies (item 159167) respectively.

I also had fun making a few cards:

In addition to the 3 7/8" x 4 7/8" panel and torn sentiment strip from the Thoughtful Journey DSP (and Basic White Thick cardstock for the card base) I used the following supplies to complete this 4" x 5" top-fold card:

• a 2 7/8" x 2" panel of watercolour paper that had been colour-washed with Daffodil Delight ink (item 147094), and splattered with Highland Heather Ink Refill (item 147167) mixed with water (I flicked the paint brush I used to mix the Ink Refill with water);
• Basic White Thick cardstock for the 3" x 2 1/8" matting panel for the watercolour paper panel;
• Old Olive cardstock (item 100702) for the foliage cut using the Delicate Forest dies (item 162679), and the Around The Bend dies (item 160649) - shaded with Old Olive ink (item 147090) and Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111);

Around The Bend dies - 160649

• Petunia Pop cardstock (item 163801) and Berry Burst cardstock (item 144243) for the small layered flower (one small and one larger flower of the same design) cut using the Country Birdhouse dies (item 163400);
• Daffodil Delight cardstock (item 119683) for the small layered flower center cut using the Country Birdhouse dies;
• Petunia Pop cardstock (two layers) and Berry Burst cardstock for the large flower cut using the Simply Zinnia dies (item 163479).  The Simply Zinnia dies were also used to cut the starry circle and individual stars for the flower center from Daffodil Delight cardstock (shaded with Daffodil Delight ink - item 147094), and the oval center from Pecan Pie cardstock (item 161717) - shaded with Pecan Pie ink - item 161665; and
• one of the Stampin' Dimensionals (item 104430) used to attach the torn sentiment strip - the "love" is from the "sending love" sentiment from the Country Flowers stamp set - item 163405.

In addition to the Thoughtful Journey DSP trimmed for the 5" square panel and sentiment panel, and the Basic White Thick cardstock used for the card base, I used the following supplies to complete this 5 1/4" square top-fold card:

• Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the 5 1/8" square matting panel, and the sentiment panel backing banner cut using the Stylish Shapes dies (item 159183);

Stylish Shapes dies - 159183

• small rounded corner rectangle die from Nested Essentials dies (item 161597) to cut sentiment panel;

Nested Essentials dies - 161597

• Lost Lagoon ink (item 161678) to add splatters to card front (I flicked the paint brush used to mix the ink with water);
• Stampin' Dimensionals (item 104430) to attach sentiment panel and backing banner to card front; and
• six of the Night of Navy shaded dots (four small and two large) from Ombre Matte Decorative Dots (item 161448) as additional embellishments.

In addition to the 3 1/2" x 4 3/4" panel of Thoughtful Journey DSP, and the Basic White Thick cardstock used for the card base, I used the following supplies to complete this 4 1/4" x 5 5/8" top-fold card:

• Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the 3 5/8" x 4 7/8" matting panel; and
• three of the Petal Pink dots (two small and one large) from Rainbow Adhesive-Backed Dots (item 162758) as additional embellishments.

For a quick 4" x 2 3/4" Basic White Thick cardstock top-fold gift card I used the following supplies:

• Lost Lagoon Stampin' Write Marker (Subtles Marker Assortment - item 161698) to add splatters to the card front by flicking the brush tip against the marker lid;
• a 3 3/4" x 1 7/8" panel of Thoughtful Journey DSP, with a 3 7/8" x 2" Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) matting panel;
• a torn at both ends 2 3/4" x 1/2" strip of Thoughtful Journey DSP (glued under the matted panel); and
• three of the Lemon Lolly dots (two small and one large) from Rainbow Adhesive-Backed Dots (item 162758) as additional embellishments.

And finally . . . 

On a recent trip to my local dollar store I picked up a package of three dragonfly acrylic foil embellishments - and the colours of one of the dragonflies matched perfectly with the Blackberry Bliss and Pretty Peacock tones of two sheets of the Thoughtful Journey DSP - so I had the perfect combination for a little gift card!  I used the square dies from the Stylish Shapes dies (item 159183) to cut three DSP squares and one Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) square, centering the stacked die cuts on the front of the 4" square top-fold Basic White Thick cardstock card.  Before adding the dragonfly I added a little more glimmer to the card front with my Wink of Stella Clear Glitter Brush (item 141897) - making the splatters fly by whacking the Wink of Stella Clear Glitter Brush against my Bone Folder!

Thank you for visiting my blog!  I had a lot of fun starting to play with the Thoughtful Journey Designer Series Paper!

If you are interested in purchasing any of the available Stampin' Up! products I have used in my projects, and you live in Canada and do not have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, please do not hesitate to visit my online store found on my website https://archiesatelier.stampinup.net/ at your convenience, or simply click under the "Shop With Me" tab on the right sidebar of my blog, which will take you directly to my website and online store.  I very much appreciate your business, and if you need any assistance please do not hesitate to contact me (lmccoyarchie@gmail.com) - I would be very pleased to be your demonstrator!  The digital version of the May 2024-April 2025 Annual Catalogue is available for you to access at your convenience on my website (https://archiesatelier.stampinup.net/).  When visiting my online store don't forget to check out all the products now available as Online Exclusives, as well as some great deals on the Clearance Rack - items on the Clearance Rack are available only while supplies last!  

Just a reminder that today - Friday May 31, 2024 - is the last day of the Stampin' Up! In Colour Starter Kit Promotion!  

The good news is that there is another great promotion coming up for June!  

From June 5 through to June 30, 2024, Stampin' Up! is offering an additional 10% off all stamp and co-ordinating die Bundles (for a total 20% off savings) as well as 10% off the Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (item 149653), the Mini Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (item 150673), and the Boho Blue Limited Edition Mini Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (item 161104)!

The Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine has a 6" wide platform and includes the following:

• 1 Base Plate;
• 1 Die Plate;
• 2 Cutting Plates; and
• 1 Specialty Plate (for use with 3D Embossing Folders).

The Mini Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (including the Boho Blue Limited Edition) has a 3 1/2" platform and its compact size makes it ideal for crafting on the go or when crafting space is limited and includes the following:

• 1 Mini Base Plate;
• 2 Mini Cutting Plates;
• 1 Mini Embossing Plate; and
• 1 Mini 3D Embossing Plate.

The June Promotion will offer an excellent opportunity to add some of the stamp and die Bundles from your wish list to your collection, and maybe add a new tool to your crafting tool arsenal!

Have fun creating!

Laurel

*It has come to my attention that quite often email correspondence from me is delivered to the recipient's spam or junk mail folder - if you have corresponded with me I have replied so be sure to check your spam or junk mail folder!  Thank you!! 

Doing hard time for theft of salty snacks!