Imagine a cozy A-frame cabin nestled among pine trees, with majestic mountains rising in the background and a peaceful lake reflecting the scenery below. Listen to the crackling firepit in the foreground, It adds warmth and charm, creating the perfect setting for a relaxing getaway. Whether the newly retired or birthday recipient loves camping, cabin retreats, or simply spending time in nature, this card captures the spirit of adventure, a new beginning and the comfort of gathering around the fire with friends and family. It's a little escape to the wilderness wrapped up in a heartfelt greeting. Simply switch out the "retirement" for a "birthday" sentiment and you've got your greeting card needs covered!
My 5" X 7" card features the following Honey Bee Stamps products:
Lovely Layers: Firepit Honey Cuts dies
At the Lake Set of 6 Layering Stencils
Pine Trees Honey Cuts dies (retiring set, on sale now)
Nailed It stamp set and coordinating Nailed It Honey Cuts dies
For the basics... my Honey Bee Stamps featured project below is made from Neenah 80lb Solar White cardstock for the card base and card front panel. All of the black ink stamping was done using Honey Bee’s Bee Creative Intense Black Ink. I use Honey Bee Stamps Bee Creative Precision Glue and for when I want more dimension, Bee Creative Foam Dots With Tab for adhering my elements together. My blender brushes (large and small) are a must for ink blending color on the background, too. For white highlights, I use my white acrylic pen. My card is 5" X 7" in size.
Check out my reel here to watch me make this card, step-by-step! It's on my Instagram page here.
To make the 5" X 7" card, I started by cutting all the elements to make the firepit, fire, campfire wood, s'mores, and toasted marshmallows on sticks using the Lovely Layers: Firepit Honey Cuts dies. I wanted the firepit to look weathered / worn and very used so I blended on Distress Oxide Ink in Black Soot over a craft cardstock. I also used my cool gray Copic markers to add additional shading to the layers of the stone walls of the pit. I assembled the elements adding marker ink as needed to color the graham crackers and toasted marshmallows. I used my Honey Bee Stamps Bee Creative Precision Glue to attach the elements together.
The fire's flames were cut from yellow cardstock. I blended on inks in Carved Pumpkin and Candied Apple to make yellow-orange and red flame layers. I added some white highlights to the flames and blended color on each one using the next layer's color to soften the harsh color change.
I did the same for the A-frame cabin and trees from the Summer Cabins Honey Cuts dies. I gave the cabin a natural wood siding, red trim around the windows and the facia board and a blue-green colored door. I used Distress Oxide Inks in Rustic Wilderness and Mowed Lawn for varied shading of the trees. I created two sets of the smaller trees to layer around the cabin. I splattered dark green watercolor ink over the trees to make them less perfect. These smaller trees from the Summer Cabins Honey Cuts dies set will be in the background. For the foreground, I cut the three larger pines using the Pine Trees Honey Cuts dies and gave them the same treatment of ink blending/coloring.
With my die cut elements ready, I focused on creating the rest of the scene. This card has a distinctive "foreground" and "background." The different size of the trees and the difference between the large firepit and the chalet cabin give a sense of depth to the scene. Everything in the background is much smaller than what is in the foreground, just like you would see in real life.
The At the Lake Set of 6 Layering Stencils are excellent for creating a beautiful outdoor scene in nature. I altered the scene just a bit to fit this cabin nestled in the foothills. Watch my reel to see the blended layers come together to create the background.
Once all six stencil layers were done, I splattered black watercolor paint and white ink over the foreground dirt. Notice that the dirt in the front looks more like clay dirt because I used the Distress Oxide Ink, Rusty Hinge for the color. It helps give some warm color to the foreground, a nice contrast to the cooler blackish gray stone fire pit. For the mountains, I used my Copic Markers in cool grays and my white ink pen to add more detail to the mountains. Shading in the crevices and divisions of the peaks helps with that look.
I attached the firepit, s'mores, marshmallows, wood, flames, cabin, and all the trees (big and small) to the scene. I used foam tabs behind the firepit and a couple of the trees to make the scene more dimensional. Finally, I stamped, die cut and attached the sentiments from the Nailed It stamp set and coordinating Nailed It Honey Cuts dies. This set has sentiments to make this card into a birthday card, too. See my card below that I made for a birthday!
Check out this firepit card I made last year. You can read all about it here! This is another scene setting where the firepit takes center stage in the foreground. No mountains in this one just another pine tree setting using the Lovely Layers: Trees Honey Cuts dies. If the retired trees that I used in the top card, these trees would be a great choice, too!
You can shop the entire Honey Bee Stamps store here, If you decide to place an order, please use the links in this post so that Honey Bee knows which ideas inspired you! When you spend $100 or more, you are eligible for a FREE BEE, too! (While supplies last!)
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