The Riley’s Go Camping for Christmas

I love Riley.  I say it every time I post a project with him but it can't help it. No sweeter face can be found anywhere. These images are part of the Hanna Stamps December release- Van Riley and Trailer Riley.  I an issue or two with this project and had to cover up a portion of the Airstream trailer but I decided it looked Riley was backing his van into the parking area by the trailer so he could easily unload the Christmas tree. I used the layout from the Wednesday SCS Sketch Challenge with three identical layers across the card front.  I decided to create a scene that I could cut and continue from layer to the next.  Sadly, I miscalculated where I stamped the trailer image and ended up having to cut Mrs. Riley's antler and arm off. I decided she needed to be wearing a bow on her antler that would disguise the mishap a little.

I stamped several of the little evergreen trees from the retired SU set-Happy Winter, masked them and stamped the trailer in place.  I masked the trailer and stamped several trees to appear behind the trailer and removed the masks to paint. I used a dry brush directly to the ink pad and stippled olive over each tree. If you try to paint over water based ink with a wet brush it makes it run and blur. I painted the main image with a brush and reinkers, heat dried and then applied craft ink for the ground snow and falling snow and embossed with white embossing powder. I cut the image into three panels, attached to the red layer and attached to the card base. I stamped Van Riley on a piece of scrap paper with the intention of cutting out and popping up where the sentiment was to be placed according to the sketch layout. Again I stamped with a brush and reinkers, heat dried and applied craft ink for the snow. I used a tiny brush to apply touches of craft ink for snow to the top of the van and trailer and around the door and window frames and embossed with white craft ink. I underestimated the size of the image and it was too large and overpowering for that spot. I had thought it would be darling to see the trailer in the woods and having Riley bringing home the tree. I had to modify my plan and attach Riley's van in the scene and in front of the trailer. I had worked too hard on both images for this project to discard it.  I never give up….! The ribbon was attached to the bottom of the card before I realized my error in calculating image sizes so I just popped the van over the ribbon and kept it in place. Sometimes our biggest mistakes can turn into something very wonderful even though different than the original plan. I refer to this as a "happy mistake".

Stamps:  Hanna Stamps-Van Riley, Trailer Riley, Happy Winter, Itty BItty Background

Paper:  White, Real Red, Watercolor

Ink:  Black Craft, Old Olive, Ballet Blue (for sky) Adirondack Slate, Distress Fired Brick, Vintage Photo, White Craft

Accessories:  White Embossing Powder, Clear Embossing Powder (sentiment) Twill, Linen Thread, Satin, Deckle Scissors, Brushes, Inkssential Ink Blending Tool, Cloud Template