Welcome to InKing Royalty’s November Blog Hop! This year’s Blog Hop themes are inspired by a single word – and this month our projects are centered around the word GRATEFUL. Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and we are grateful you’ve stopped by. We are excited to share our Thanksgiving-themed or grateful-centered projects with you! After you read my post, I hope you’ll hop over to the next person on the list at the end of this post.

Here is the project I created for your viewing (and maybe, CASEing) pleasure.

I learned a new acronym, from Mary Deatherage another wonderful Stampin’ Up! Independent Demonstrator, a couple of weeks ago. TLAR. What? TLAR is ‘This Looks About Right.’ This project will require you to keep layering until you hit TLAR. So relax. It’s all good. Trust yourself.

GATHER UP THIS STUFF (Supplies and Links are at the end)

  • Reinkers: Cajun Craze, Crushed Curry, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie
  • Ink Pads: Early Espresso, Soft Suede
  • Cardstock: Mossy Meadow, Old Olive, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Cajun Craze
  • Watercolor paper
  • Foils: Copper and Grapefruit Grove (retired from 2019 Sale-a-bration)
  • Dies: Beautiful Boughs, Frosted Bouquet, Seasonal Layers. Stitched Rectangles
  • Punch: Sprig Punch
  • Stamp Set: Colorful Seasons and Country Home
  • Ribbon: Burlap and Copper Trim
  • Embellishments: Gold Faceted Gems
  • Adhesive: Multipurpose Liquid Glue
  • Tools: Take You Pick aka ‘The Pokey Thing’
  • Optional: Aqua Painter, Early Espresso reinker or Early Espresso Stampin’ Write Marker
  • Sturdy cardboard 6″ circle or purchased MDF 6″ wreath for the base

DIRTY WORK

  1. On a craft mat or glass surface put lots of drops of each of the reinkers. Space drops out a little to prevent ‘muddy’ colors.
  2. LIGHTLY spritz the ink drops and the watercolor paper.
  3. Smoosh the watercolor paper into the ink. Pick it up and smoosh again until you like the result. 
  4. Set aside to dry and thoroughly clean the area and your hands.

BUSY WORK (with punch and your favorite die-cutting machine)

  1. Punch 12-15 sprigs from Old Olive and Copper Foil. I cut some single-sided sprigs from scraps Copper Foil to fill in as desired.
  2. Die-cut about 12-15 of each of the pine boughs from Mossy Meadow. More is better…LOL
  3. Die-cut 8-10 single pine boughs from Early Espresso.
  4. Die-cut 8 berry sprigs from Grapefruit Grove Foil. If you do not have any, just use the Copper Foil.
  5. Stamp leaf with Soft Suede on the inked and dry watercolor paper and die-cut 8-10 leaves. 

ASSEMBLY

  1. Lightly sand the wreath form and use Multipurpose Liquid Glue to attach the larger pine bough clusters.
  2. Layer boughs, sprigs and berries. I did a little selective ‘pruning’ if my bough or branch was too big for the space I was filling. TIP: I used the end of the Take Your Pick tool to press the boughs in place. 
  3. Distress edges of the leaves with Early Espresso. TIP: Cut a Stampin’ Sponge into quarters and staple a folded strip of cardstock on tip for easy gripping and color identification.
  4. Curl leaves inward to give them some dimension and attach with a line of Multipurpose Liquid Glue down the centerline of the leaf.
  5. Keep adding boughs and sprigs until you are pleased with the fullness of the wreath.

FINISHING TOUCHES

  1. Flick Early Espresso ink over finished wreath with the brush end of the marker and cap or with an Aqua Painter and reinker.
  2. Attach a Burlap and Copper Trim ribbon bow with Glue Dots. TIP: Pull the sides of the Copper Trim to ‘open up’ the weave for dimension.
  3. Stamp sentiment on Crumb Cake and die-cut using Stitched Rectangle dies.
  4. Cut Cajun Craze layer about 1/4″ larger than sentiment die-cut and layer together.
  5. Attach to the wreath using Dimensionals. 
  6. Add Gold Faceted Gems to add sparkle to the wreath.
  7. If you want to hang your wreath, glue a soda can pop tab to the back. 

Thank you for stopping by today!  I hope you’ll hop along to the next stop on the blog hop, Pam Morris at Tap Tap Stamp. There’s lots of inspiration to be found in this group – and you don’t want to miss it! If you get stuck during the Blog Hop, please use this line-up as a guide:

  1. Brian King at Stamp with Brian
  2. Sue Jackson at Just Peachy Stamping
  3. Linda Krueger at The Stamp Coach
  4. Julie DiMatteo at The Paper Pixie
  5. Sheryl Abernathy at Elegant Sentiments
  6. Ann Murray at Murray Stamps Ink
  7. Pam Morris at Tap Tap Stamp
  8. Lynn Kolcun at Avery’s Owlery
  9. Sheryl Sharp at Sharp Notes by Sheryl
  10. Jackie Beers at Blue Line Stamping

Placing an order today?   If you are placing an order for $150 or more, I want you to enjoy all of the Host Rewards you have earned.  If your order is less than $150, Please add the Host Code for the month when prompted. I use the accumulated Stampin’ Rewards to purchase gifts for my customers and team.


Thank you! If you do not currently have a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator, I would love to work with you. Contact me.

Do Something Creative Every Day,


SUPPLIES (Click on any product to SHOP ONLINE 24/7)