Instructions

Step 1: Die cut a piece of Distress Watercolor Cardstock using the largest Tim Holtz Sizzix Square die. Tack down cardstock with painter’s tape. Place the Mini Diamonds stencil over the square, and apply Broken China Distress Oxide to the stencil using an Ink Blending Tool. Move stencil to continue the pattern, then dry with Heat It Tool.

Step 2: Place the Mini Crate stencil over the square, and apply Fossilized Amber Distress Oxide to the stencil using an Ink Blending Tool. Spritz
cardstock with droplets of water using the Distress Sprayer, then dry with Heat It Tool. This will really bring out the oxidation look in the Distress Oxide Inks.

Step 3: Place the Mini Diamonds stencil over the square, matching up the previous inked pattern. Apply a little Distress Grit-Paste using a palette knife, just skimming across the stencil. Carefully lift stencil from cardstock and wash stencil immediately. Then set aside cardstock to air dry. It’s really important not to apply heat to paste.

Step 4: Stamp the Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Schoolhouse Blueprints apple image onto Distress Watercolor Cardstock, using Distress Embossing Ink. Place the stamped cardstock on a piece of scrap paper and pour Ranger Black Embossing Powder to cover the entire stamped image. Pour off the excess powder onto the scrap paper and return to the jar. Use the Heat it Tool to melt the powder. Let Cool.

Step 5: Stamp the apple image onto a sticky note, using Black Soot Archival Ink. Then dry with Heat It Tool. Cut out apple, stem and leaf separately. Place the cutout stem and leaf on top of the embossed image, for masking while coloring.

Step 6: Start applying color to apple image using Candied Apple Distress Ink and Ink Blending Tool with foam. Keep a little uninked white space close to center of apple for depth. Swirl color onto image, until cardstock is fully saturated. Then dry with the Heat It Tool, being careful not to overheat embossing powder.

Step 7: Continue to build color using Fired Brick Distress Ink and Blending Tool. Then apply a very small amount of Walnut Stain Distress Ink with Blending Tool to apples edge. Drying with Heat It Tool between colors. Layering the colors really make a big impact in the appearance of image depth. Remove stem mask (but save it for later) and apply the apple mask.

Step 8: Apply Frayed Burlap, then Walnut Stain Distress Ink to stem using Blending Tool with foam. Dry with Heat It Tool. Remove stem mask and apply stem mask to image.

Step 9: Apply Twisted Citron Distress Ink to entire leaf using Blending Tool with foam. Then layer Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint and a touch of Walnut Stain Distress Ink to lower portions of leaf using a Blending Tool with foam. Drying with Heat It Tool, between each color layer.

Step 10: Remove all masks. Spritz a few droplets of water using the Distress Sprayer to image. Then dry with Heat It Tool.

Step 11: Cutout apple using scissors or craft knife. If using craft knife, make sure to protect your cutting surface with a self healing mat.

Step 12: Stamp the Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Calendar 2 “August” image onto Distress Watercolor Cardstock, using Distress Embossing Ink. Place the stamped cardstock on a piece of scrap paper and pour Ranger White Embossing powder to cover the entire stamped image. Pour off the excess powder onto the scrap paper and return to the jar. Use the Heat it Tool to melt the powder. Let Cool.

Step 13: Apply Black Soot Distress Oxide to embossed image, using Blending Tool with foam. Wipe off excess ink from embossing, using a cloth towel. Spritz image with water using Distress Sprayer, then dry with Heat It Tool.

Step 14: Blot to pick up a little color from calendar image, using a moist baby wipe. Then dry with Heat It Tool.

Step 15: Cut a small strip about 1/2 x 3 inches from a scrap of Distress Watercolor Cardstock. Apply Black Soot Distress Oxide using Blending Tool with foam. Spritz water onto inked strip using the Distress Sprayer. Then dry with Heat It tool.

Step 16: Select the Small Talk Idea-ology sticker “be awesome today” from the sticker pad. Cut a < to create a banner, with scissors. Then attach to inked Distress Watercolor Cardstock strip. Cut a thin border around inked strip to continue banner. Punch small holes near stem and end of banner phrase. Then tie banner to stem using Tim Holtz white craft thread.

Step 17: Cut a 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 piece of light green Classic Kraft Cardstock and a 4 1/2 x 9 piece of black kraft cardstock scored and folded. Sand cardstock with sanding grip on scrap paper to expose kraft. Assemble card, to light green mat. Attach apple and calendar with Ranger Black Adhesive Foam and tie off linen ribbon, then attach to folded black card.

I think this would be a fun card for teachers, principals or students! Everyone could use a little encouragement and kind words!