Red Bicycle Scene and Mini Cloud Tutorial

Happy Monday!  I hope you had a great weekend.  I have had several people write and ask me for a tutorial on how I create the clouds in my scene backgrounds.  I thought I would take a few step by step photos while making the background for today’s project. First, I want to thank Cindy Motherway aka Splitcoaststampers Mothermark for sharing her hand cut scalloped cloud template technique with us a couple of years ago.

Here’s my little red bicycle scene and the sky background that you will see develop in the pictures below.

1.  Using a good thick cardstock cut several rounded scallops with your scalloped scissors to create your cloud template/ template with scalloped scissors.  AS you can see below my template is well worn.  That is no problem because I can always make another one.

2. I like to use the Inkssentials Ink Blending tool to apply ink to create the sky. I turn the wooden base on its side and lightly push the sponge over the template.  This allows the ink to be applied to the template edge.  Using the sponge in a flat motion would apply too much ink and not leave white space.  I hope this makes sense. 

3.  I start applying ink from one side and then move the template over to continue.  You can see the completed line in the next photo.

4.  When the first row is complete I move the template over and start again.  Notice I have set the rounded scallops offset so the clouds are not perfectly lined up and unnatural looking.

5.  Continue across the page to create the second row.  You will continue this pattern until you have as much space as you want covered with clouds.

My project today is made with dies from several companies.  It shows how easily these dies can be combined to make beautiful cards.  I especially love making scenes.

I cut the Impression Obsession tree out of kraft paper and used a dry brush to apply Distress Ink reinkers lightly to the trunk to give the appearance of bark. The leaves were cut from the Memory Box Flower Mound, formed with a stylus and attached to the tree with rolled glue dots.

Here’s a closer view of the tree.

Both the fence and grass border are from My Favorite Things.  The fence was attached with mounting tape and the grass was attached with adhesive from my ATG. The bike is made by Savvy Stamps and is the cutest thing ever.  I cut two, one in gray and one in red and paper pieced them together and attached them in between the grass layers.

Here’s a closer view of the bike and fence line. Click on the photos to see a larger view.

I cut a Memory Box Leafy Branch, cut apart the stems and attached the tiny flowers and inserted them along the fence line. The Memory Box butterflies were the finishing touch.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

Paper: Red, White, Old Olive, Kiwi Kiss, Kraft, Gray
Ink: Distress Ink Vintage Photo, Tumbled Glass
Accessories: Impression Obsession Tree Die, Savvy Stamps Bicycle , My Favorite Things Fence and Fresh Cut Grass , Memory Box Flower Mound, Leafy Branch and Butterfly Delights, Mounting Tape, Glossy Accents, Stylus, Mat, Inkssentials Ink Blending Tool, Glue Dots, Brush,  Handmade Cloud Template