Nature's Peace - Stampin' Up!® Nature's Symphony

   Last year I came across some people on Instagram who were making crochet granny square blankets using the books that they read throughout the year as inspiration for each square.  They were using the covers as inspiration for the color combo and design of the squares.  As a reader I thought that it was such a cool idea to log all of your read books in a really tangible (and practical way) other than just checking things off on Goodreads.  I'm not a crocheter but I am a card maker and I thought I could try something along those lines in 2026 but using paper instead!  So I'm going to try to make a card using each book that I read as inspiration.  It will be my own little Stamping Book Club!  

  The first book I finished in 2026 was Exiles by Jane Harper.  It's the third in a trilogy that follows the story of protagonist Aaron Falk. I enjoyed this mystery set in Australia centered on old friends gathering together in their small hometown and all the secrets that have been kept over the years.  

  I thought the book cover was an excellent inspiration for a card with the way the sky was colored and then contrasted with the dark of the surrounding trees and vegetation.  

  I definitely wanted to try to re-create the sky with inkpads and blending brushes.  I used Lemon Lolly, Timid Tiger, Balmy Blue and a tiny bit of Blueberry Bushel to get the colors shown on the cover.  The branches are stamped over the ink blending in Memento Black using the Nature's Symphony stamp set.  If only I had the new Boardwalk Fun bundle I could have been very faithful to the cover!

  To create the vegetation in the foreground I used the large branch die and Basic Black to do a partial die cut so that the branch would still be attached to the band of cardstock.  I cut a second branch fully and then added that before popping up the partial die cut on dimensionals.

  Before adding the dimensionals I tied a length of Balmy Blue Sheer Ribbon around the panel.  I added another smaller branch which is tucked under the ribbon knot.

  I struggled on deciding what sentiment to use and finally landed on this one from the Prayers & Promises stamp set.  I embossed it in black for a but of shine and dimension.  No other embellishments were added for this one.

  Anyway I hope to keep up making a card for each book I've finished.  I think it could be fun to track my books in this way and maybe inspire some others to do the same!  If you give this a try please leave a comment or tag me on social media!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

All of the supplies used to make this card can be purchased in my ONLINE STORE.

Stamps: Prayers & Promises, Nature's Symphony

Ink: Memento Black, Lemon Lolly, Timid Tiger, Balmy Blue, Blueberry Bushel

Paper: Basic Black, Basic White

Accessories: Nature's Symphony dies, dimensionals, black embossing powder, Balmy Blue Sheer ribbon