A Note from Keia
I find it's always easier to create a scene card if you have a person in mind for whom it is for. As an active duty service member, my husband is often called away for work. However, even with the distance between us, no matter where he is and where the children and I are, we are sleeping underneath the same heavenly stars. And in that regard, we are home and together, if only in our dreams. I created this card to remind him of that while he is away.
*Helpful hint from Keia: Before starting, it is nice to have a few tools handy to make building scenes easier. I always have on my desk: a dish to collect scene die-cuts, fine-tipped liquid glue adhesive, tweezers, foam adhesive (usually fun foam for better, even coverage) and score tape.
Let's get started!
First, die-cut and assemble the pieces needed for the scene. If a die-cut piece is delicate, die-cut it several times and glue the pieces together for added stability. (Tip: There is a possibility that you will not use all the pieces as you see which best work together. Use the extra die-cut pieces for the next time you build a scene!)
Note from Keia: This is also the time where I layout my scene to see which die-cut pieces will work with the scene and placement. I also think about support for the die-cut pieces and where to hide foam adhesive.
Using the Starry Night Cutting Plate, die-cut the image from Sugar Cube and Blue Corn cardstock, being careful to keep the stars in place for both die-cuts. Gently turn the Blue Corn panel over and apply permanent tape to the back to keep the stars in place. For added shimmer, apply a shimmer spritz to the Blue Corn panel for a little extra starry night sparkle!
Using removable or washi tape, center the medium-sized heart from the Stitched Heart Stacklets die set onto the front of the Blue Corn die-cut panel.
(Tip: This is also a great time to figure out sentiment placement if you are adding one to the front of your card.)
Next, apply adhesive, using a fine-tipped liquid adhesive, onto the back of the white stars from the Sugar Cube panel and adhere to the Blue Corn panel in a random fashion to create the starry night panel.
Using a sentiment from the Welcome Home stamp set, VersaMark ink, an embossing buddy, and fine white embossing powder, heat emboss the sentiment
"home sweet H*O*M*E."
Cut a piece of Sugar Cube cardstock measuring 3 7/8" x 5 1/8".
Apply Distress Inks: With an ink blending tool, apply a layer of Tumbled Glass to the entire panel. Next, apply Salty Ocean while leaving some of the Tumbled Glass inking showing through. Apply Chipped Sapphire to the edges, slightly overlapping the Salty Ocean. Apply Black Soot to the very edge, and then use a pouncing motion to add to the blue areas. Lastly, go back over the inked panel with Tumbled Glass to smooth out the ink and lighten any areas that are too dark.
(Note from Keia: After applying each Distress Ink layer, I used the Blue Corn window panel to make sure the inked area that would be exposed through the heart-shaped aperture looked like the night sky, giving me the look I was seeking to achieve.)
To create the moon, use the moon stamp from the Light up the Night stamp set and Sugar Cube pigment ink. Using the Blue Corn die-cut panel as a guide, position the moon at the desired location within the scene. Stamp image.
