Many of my Stampin’ Up! team members (not only those with blogs) share their gorgeous projects in our team’s Facebook community – there’s such amazing and inspiring creativity in this group! I’m always excited when my team’s blog hop rolls around, though, because I get to share some of their amazing work with you. I’m just as excited to see their projects as you are, and I am proud to share them with you.
Welcome to InKing Royalty’s May Blog Hop! During this year’s blog hops, we are having fun with our stamping favorites – our favorite themes for seasonal cards and projects. This month’s projects are centered around Travel & Transportation, so prepare yourself for a fun journey. We are excited to share our creations with you today! After you read my post, I hope you’ll hop over to the next person on the list at the base of this post.
Better Places
My mom always warned me about wishing for greener pastures, but the hillside scene in Better Places is a gorgeous landscape that leaves us wishing. How wonderful it would be to enjoy a little meal by the creek or take a nap on a blanket under a tree! I made a Father’s Day card with the Better Places scene and two of Stampin’ Up!’s 2021-2023 In Colors for today’s Travel & Transportation Blog Hop. Here’s my card:
Tips, Tricks and Reminders
- Better Places and Best Year. To build my peaceful scene on this card, I stamped the beautiful landscape with Versamark ink on Evening Evergreen and Soft Succulent and then covered both panels with White Stampin’ Emboss Powder. When I heated the powder with my Heat Tool, the entire scene began to shine. This host set is available for $12 with Stampin’ Rewards (when you spend $150+, you earn Stampin’ Rewards that can be spent on any product or on exclusive, price-reduced host products. Here’s a look at the Better Places Host Set:
While there’s a “Happy Father’s Day” sentiment in the stamp set, I pulled my “Happy Father’s Day” from Best Year, a stamp set that carried over from Stampin’ Up!’s 2020 Annual Catalog into its 2021 Annual Catalog because it fit the layout I wanted on this card (a long, slender sentiment vs. a chunky one). Here’s a look at the year-long celebrations in the Best Year stamp set: 
- Layers. I set out to make a simple card for today’s hop, but (in regular Brian fashion) ended up with a many-layers project. Sometimes I just can’t help myself. Each layer, though, plays an important part in the construction of this card.
Here are the measurements for the layers on this card, starting with the card base and working my way up:- Evening Evergreen – 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ (scored at 4-1/4″)
- Soft Succulent – 5-1/8″ x 3-7/8″
- Basic White – 5″ x 3-3/4″
- Tidings of Christmas 6″ x 6″ Designer Series Paper – 4-7/8″ x 3-5/8″
- Stampin’ Dimensionals
- Stitched So Sweetly Dies
- Soft Succulent – 3-5/8″ x 2-1/2″
- Basic White – 3-1/2″ x 2-3/8″
- Early Evergreen – 3-3/8″ x 2-1/4″
- Soft Succulent – Layering Circles Dies
- Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals
- Thick Basic White – 2-1/2 x 3/8″
- Warm Color Combination. There’s a lot of green on this card – the layers of Soft Succulent and Evening Evergreen are gorgeous, but I needed something to break up the greens just a bit. This panel of Tidings of Christmas 6″ x 6″ Designer Series Paper gave me exactly what I wanted – a different color, a small pattern and a little warmth. Here’s a look at the patterns and colors in the Tidings of Christmas 6″ x 6″ Designer Series Paper:
If you like this warm mix of Sahara Sand, Soft Succulent and Evening Evergreen as much as I do, I hope you’ll save this for future reference:
Stamp Sets: Better Places Host Set, Best Year Papers: Christmas Tidings 6″ x 6″ Designer Series Paper, Evening Evergreen, Soft Succulent, Basic White, Thick Basic White Inks: Evening Evergreen, Versamark Accessories: Stitched So Sweetly Dies, Layering Circles Dies, White Stampin’ Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals, Stampin’ Dimensionals
Thank you for stopping by today. I hope you’ll hop along to the next stop on the blog hop, Jackie Beers at Blue Line Stamping. There’s lots of inspiration to be found in this group – and you don’t want to miss it!
Thanks for stopping by!
Brian
Thank you for hopping along with us. If you get stuck during the Blog Hop, please use this line-up as a guide:
I have not really noticed this stamp set. But now it’s on my list! I love how you added all the layers yet the stamp is still the star.
Thank you so much, Jackie! It was a fun image to play with – and a place I’d very much like to visit. 🙂
Beautiful card, Brian. Your use of colors and layers as the background for this peaceful and inviting stamped scene is genius!!
Thank you, Stella. I love these new greens – and they look wonderful together. So glad you like the card – appreciate your comments. ♥
I hadn’t paid an ounce of attention to these products until now! Amazing embossed.
Thanks, Mary! I don’t usually do much with the host products, but this set is pretty wonderful – and the Pattern Party Paper…amazing. Thanks!
I absolutely LOVE this card!! Gorgeous!
Awww…thank you so much, Marie! The layers just kept coming. 🙂
Love all the layers and the gorgeous green combos!
Thank you so much, Windy! I enjoyed playing with these colors and layers. Glad you like it. ♥
Thank you for pointing out this beautiful stamp
Set that I had completely passed over before now. You used my two current favorite colors and made such a peaceful
Scene.
Aren’t the colors beautiful together?! I’ve always loved our greens, but these are two of my new favorites. Thanks, Lynn!
Incredibly beautiful card and worth every layer!
Thank you so much, Susan! I just couldn’t stop myself. 🙂
You are so clever to find things in the catalog few people have noticed. Your card is lovely. Thanks for the measurements. Great design. Enjoy your day!
Thank you so much, Hilda! It’s a great catalog – there’s no way everyone can find everything on their own. 🙂 Happy to share. ♥ Hope your day is wonderful.
Wow! I can’t stop looking at this card….
Awww…thank you so much, Cindie! ♥
This ‘Better Places’ host set wasn’t even on my radar……But of course…..You changed that all up (thanks….I think). Your card is FANTASTIC my friend.
I’m so happy to be such an influencer. Next…to get a selfie stick and circle light. 🙂 Thanks, Kadie!
That host set caught my eye, but your card sealed the deal for me! It’s stunning!
Thank you so much, Wendie! I was happy with how embossing the image really made it pop. So glad you like it! ♥
Great card Brian
Thank you, my friend! ♥
Your card is different and soothing . I like the soft colors.
Pretty scene ….almost mystical . This is another set that I think has been sadly overlooked ! Brian to the rescue !
I’m so happy to point out the things you didn’t see at first. 🙂 Thanks, Sonny! ♥
Oh wow Brian! Everything about this is pure perfection. A serene piece of art. Brilliant layering with the circle and the white embossing showcases this stamp beautifully.
Thank you so much, Pam! I was happy with the first two layers and then couldn’t stop adding layers. Had fun with this card – glad you like it. ♥
Love this! I kept looking at it trying to figure out how you did it. You’re so smart! Gorgeous card!
Thank you so much, Sue! It looks like it might be a peek-a-boo, but it’s not. Always love to hear from you! ♥
Brain
Great card. I love the layers of dimension and of course the embossing was ingenious! Thanks for inspiring us!
Thank you so much, Renae! ♥
Gorgeous!
Thank you so much, Mary! ♥
Excellent layering, I love the coordinating greens.
These greens make me very happy! Thank you so much, Katrina! ♥
Awesome card. It has all been said: the layers: the colors; the embossing! I love love it!
Your card is over-the-top amazing! That description doesn’t do it justice, but is the best I can do. It would make a great home decor piece of some kind! You knocked it out of the park, Brian!
Thank you so much, Trish! I really appreciate your kind comments. ♥
Thank you so much, my sweet friend! It was a fun card to make, and I’m glad you like it. ♥
You have worked magic with this set, Brian! Makes everyone want to earn it. Love this so much!
🙂 Thank you so much, Sheryl! I had fun playing with it and adding layer after layer after layer to what was supposed to be a simple card. Thanks! ♥