Oriental Brushstrokes – Tranquility

How about we pull out the one stamp set that made me swoon when I flipped through the very first catalog I ever saw. Oriental Brushstrokes. It had retired by the time I started buying Stampin’ Up! products and it took me a few years to find it. I think it will be part of my collection forever.

I was inspired to pull it out for a few current challenges:  Retro Rubber (#188) where anything goes as long as it is at least one year old and the Joy of Sets Facebook Group August challenge to use “old wooden” stamp sets.

Other challenges that influenced my choices: Alphabet Challenge – Letter “I” for Interests.  I have a keen interest in Oriental Brushstroke Paintings and painting, but I am not as proficient as I’d like to be.  Image selection – Birds for the Inspiration Station (#35) Animal Kingdom theme and Colour Crazy Craft (#29) because I colored the stamped image with dry Watercolor Pencils.

Here is the result: 

Steps:

• Card Base: (8½” x 5½” scored at 4¼”) So Saffron cardstock.
  • The Oriental Symbol image for Tranquility from the retired Kanji stamp set (circa 2000) was stamped in the upper left corner with Soft Suede ink.
  • The matching word, Tranquility was stamped in the lower right corner, also with Soft Suede ink.
• Overlay Panel: (4⅛” x 5⅜”) Light Tinted Gold Vellum from my stash.
• Background Panel: (3½” x 3¼”) Pear Pizzazz cardstock dry-embossed with the retired Subtle 3D Embossing Folder.  I love how this folder leaves behind a soft linen-look texture.
• Accent Piece: (3” x 3½”) Soft Suede cardstock die-cut with the Open Fret die from the Chic Dies set.  Such an interesting piece to add both visual interest, texture and dimension.
• Focal Panel: (2⅞” x 2”) Very Vanilla cardstock scrap.
  • The Birds in Tree image from the retired Oriental Brushstrokes stamp set (circa 2004) was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.
  • The image was then colored with a variety of Watercolor Pencils from both Assortment packs.

All of the pieces were layered on to the card base with the Bird image popped up with Dimensionals.

The art of Brushstroke Painting, especially Oriental Brushstroke Painting is so serene and tranquil.  Reminding us to be patient and to slow down and enjoy the beauty of nature all around us.

Thanks for spending some more of your time with me today.  Cheers,  Jolanda.

Need a card? Ask me and I can create one for you.  Want the supplies to create your own, let me know and I can help you with that too!

Like this card? Want to make one similar?
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The new Holiday Catalog has arrived and Sale-a-bration is in full swing.  Lots of lovely new things.