I had a couple of requests after my shadow box post last week to show how to make paper-pieced rolling hills; these are really simple and fun. I've chosen the Kim Hughes Heart Warmers stamps,perennially one of my favorite little Christmas card sets. I've combined those with papers from the Cosmo Cricket Jolly by Golly Mini Deck and used a few Copic markers in the process.
Next, (shown below) I cut random curves from the pattern that I'd chosen to be my snow. I try to alternate the curves for a more natural looking landscape. The pieces on the right are my scraps from cutting the pieces that I ended up using, though often I turn the scraps upside down and use them as well. Also, if I'm using a vintage paper, I usually sand the edges with a sanding block. That little edge of white adds one more visual layer.
Below, I have sewn two of the layers on. I stitched the top of the third layer, but I didn't sew it on since I want to tuck the snowman figure behind the top hill. Do you see how there is contrast between the bottom of the back hill and the top of the second hill? I sponged on a bit of Antique Linen Distress ink to heighten the contrast and make the top of the hill show up better.
Here I have added the top hill with a strip of foam tape, allowing room for the snowman to tuck in.
I wanted to trim around the stamped snowman, but I didn't want to trim around his stick arms. To get around that, I stamped the snowman image directly onto the snow layers. (I had to pull my bottom layer loose to stamp the snowman; I should have stamped him before attaching that layer. Thankfully, a few seconds with a heat gun softens most adhesives and makes removal easier!)
Pictured below are the Copic markers that I used to color the snowman. (You can click on any image to see a larger picture.)
Here is a detail shot of my finished card. Are you ready to go create some rolling hills yet?
Not all hills have to be stitched. The ones below on the left were simply sanded and attached with adhesive. The ones on the right are cut from felt and layered for a different look. At other times I have either straight-stitched the hills, or even cut them with pinking shears to give the impression of zig-zag stitching. I've also torn hills for added texture with no stitching involved. The sky is the limit--try something, anything!
Both of the above projects are ones in which I pieced rolling hills. You can click on them to go to the CLASSroom post in which they appear. Thank you for visiting the CLASSroom today!
