Frightfully Sweet Halloween

Halloween is frightfully close and I snuck some time to create a few cards and tags to finish up the season! This particular stamp set is one of my favorites and I seem to pull it out every year, but it looks like it has been discontinued. It is called Frightfully Sweet from MFT and is such a fun one to color. 

Both cards are almost identical and to begin, I used a Cloud Stencil on an A2 panel of white cardstock with milled lavender and wilted violet distress oxide inks. I also added some wilted violet ink splatter over the top. I trimmed the panels down to measure 4 by 5 1/4 inches and set them aside.

The scene was created by using the Bring Home the Holidays Die Collection. I have been using this particular die set a TON lately and for all types of cards, so it definitely transcends beyond Christmas and winter. I die cut the hills from Weathervane and Soft Stone cardstock and the trees from black. I glued them all on the stenciled panels using foam squares and liquid glue.

Please note, I DID stamp the sentiment on the grey hill before I added it to the background. I die cut all of the cute critters and candy pieces and then stamped them with black ink. I colored them with alcohol markers and added some glossy accents to the candy pieces and the treat buckets. Once they were dry, I added some white gel pen accents. 

I also created some quick and easy tags using the same spooky critters. I didn't use a tag die but rather just cut black cardstock and then used a paper punch on the corners to give it the tag shape.

I used a sheet of really old SU!  Halloween pattern paper that I've had in my stash for the cute pattern and color.

The sentiments are heat embossed in silver and then added to the tags with foam squares.

I thought the sky on both cards was looking a bit stark, so I added some moon stickers from a sticker pad my sister gave me a few years ago. I had fun creating this set of cards and tags and I'm sad Halloween is almost here because I just love October! Thanks for fluttering by!

 

Papertrey Ink September Release Countdown Day 4

I can't believe it, but we're on the 4th and final day of the Papertrey Ink September release countdown! I have a lot to share with you today, so get cozy and let's dig in! My first card for today features the new Nutcracker Magic Stamp/Die set; this one has a soft spot in my heart because my daughter was part of Ballet West's  The Nutcracker for a few years and it was always such a treat to see her perform!

To begin, I die cut all of the pieces I used in the corners and across the middle using the Nutcracker Magic Die set. I stamped the images using Vintage Photo distress ink for a soft look and then colored them using alcohol markers. I don't color very often anymore and my Copic markers have mostly dried up so I bought an inexpensive set from Amazon. The key to making them more user-friendly was to make a swatch chart. Inevitably, the lids don't actually represent the color accurately, but now that I made a swatch chart, I can get things to actually turn out how I envisioned! ha ha!

For the background, I used the new Fresh Greens Hot Foil Plate using champagne foil on a panel of Pinefeather cardstock. I trimmed it down and then adhered it to an A2 panel of Pure Poppy cardstock using foam squares. I also die cut another rectangle piece using the new Rounded Rectangles: Pierced Die from  Sweet Blush ink with Berry Sorbet ink added around the edges. I also stamped one of the "twinkle" images included in the Nutcracker Magic stamp set, but it's hard to see in the photos.

I die cut a Pinefeather frame using the In Frames: Oval Die and added it using foam squares.

There are two large nutcracker images so I chose one and stamped and colored it the same as the foliage pieces. I added it to the center of the frame using foam squares. 

I layered the large swag piece over the nutcracker's waist and added the sentiment underneath. I added Glossy Accents to the berries for some additional detail and shine.

The nutcracker's buttons are adhesive gray pearls. I added some sparkling clear sequins and a spritz of shimmer spray to finish it off!

My  next card also features the new Nutcracker Magic Stamp/Die set but this time I'm showcasing the cute ballerina!

I had fun heat embossing the skirt portion in white on vellum to give the illusion of a real tutu!

The background was created with the new Merry Motifs Hot Foil Plate that I can't seem to get enough of! I used silver foil on Spring Rain cardstock for a wintery look.

I stenciled the pattern on the oval using the new Dotted Lines Stencil Collection with Spring Rain ink.

I gave her crown a small adhesive gem and then added one in each of the four corners of the foiled design.

My last card using the Nutcracker Magic Stamp/Die set features Clara with her prized nutcracker doll. 

I used the same technique on this card for the coloring as with the other two. I really like using the Vintage Photo ink for the outline so it doesn't look too harsh.

I used two different hot foil plates on this card, but I feel like it works because of the two different scales of pattern.

I kept the coloring simple, but if you enjoy showing off your skills, have fun and let your artistry shine!

I opted for shimmer spray on these three cards, but glitter could be fun, too! I also added some white gel pen detail to the glossy accents on the berries once it dried.

For my last card, I'm bringing back the Snowdrops that were introduced yesterday, but this time with a completely different feeling! 

Blue is the obvious choice for the snowdrops, but I wanted to try something a little bit more bold for my final project. I die cut all of the pieces using the Into the Blooms: Snowdrops Die from white cardstock and then used sponge daubers and distress oxide inks. The greenery is colored with twisted citron, mowed lawn, and rustic wilderness ink. I added a touch of speckled egg to the inside and outer edges of some of the petals to give the illusion of shadow. I glued them together using liquid glue and small foam squares.

I used the largest size included in the Rounded Rectangles: Stitched Die and used it on a panel of True Black cardstock. I placed the flowers and leaves where I wanted them and then used the Glad Press N' Seal trick to pick everything up exactly in place, add glue to the back and then place it back down. Wait until the glue dries a bit and then remove the wrap carefully. 

Once that was done, I added white acrylic paint splatter for a snowy look. I also spritzed it with shimmer spray which is giving HIGH contrast, but it doesn't look THIS speckled in real life.

I added it to an A2 panel of Pure Poppy cardstock that is hot foiled with the Fanciful Snowflakes Hot Foil Plate.

A few sparkling sequins add to the look. I heat embossed one of the sentiments that is included in the This is Big Sentiments: Happy Holidays using silver powder and then added it to the card using black foam squares. 

This concludes the countdown and everything will be available for purchase tomorrow!

Thanks for fluttering by!

Simon Says Stamp Celebrate Release {Flower Power}

I'm thrilled to be helping with the Celebrate Release from Simon Says Stamp!  My card for today features the new Flower Power stamp set that features an assortment of daisies and flowers in all kinds of sizes and a few leaves and hearts.  It also features quite a few uplifting and encouraging sentiments so I was happy to be able to sneak two onto the card without it seeming odd or busy!

I had thought up the design for this card one night when I couldn't sleep, so once I had time to sit down and get busy, it came together quite easily. To begin, I cut a bunch of 1/4 inch strips of scrap cardstock in rainbow colors (omitting purple). I cut a panel of white cardstock measuring 3 3/4 inches by 5 and then glued the strips using liquid glue. I like using liquid glue on projects like this because it gives me a little "wiggle room" (literally) to get the strips placed neat and straight.

When it was all said and done, I only used two blue strips, so I decided to heat emboss the "hugs and happy thoughts" sentiment on the teal cardstock using white detail embossing powder.

I cut a slightly narrower panel and got to work building the flower pattern using the included images. Once I had what I wanted, I got to work coloring them with an assortment of alcohol markers. I don't do much coloring at all anymore so many of my Copic markers have dried up, so I had to use a few from my inexpensive set I got on Amazon. I added some black ink splatter for added interest and detail.

I attached the teal sentiment underneath the colored panel and then adhered it to the panel with the strips using foam squares. I mounted the entire thing onto a white card base using additional foam squares. I added some Tim Holtz Rock Candy glitter to the flower centers, leaves, and the smaller flowers. I added a trio of sparkling clear sequins to finish it off! Thanks for fluttering by!

 

Papertrey Ink April Release Countdown Day 4

It's the 4th and final day of the Papertrey Ink April release countdown! I have two floral cards to share with you using some beautiful new products! My first card features the new Cover Plate Exquisite die paired with the new Just Sentiments: In Motion stamp set. The sentiment set is perfect for sports themed cards, but I chose to use the "Follow Your Dreams" sentiment to use as a graduation card in May.

To begin, I die cut the background using the Cover Plate: Exquisite die and Tropic Teal cardstock. I glued it an A2 Tropic Teal piece of cardstock for a tone-on-tone look. I also die cut the Border Bling: Skinny Postage Frames and added it to the top using foam squares.

I had a few Gardenias left over from one of my cards from day 1, so I put them to good use on this card. I added a little bit of blue-green ink to the edges of the leaves to pull in the Tropic Teal feel to them as well.

I used the Vintage Postage Stamp Set for the stamp and then I stamped the Follow Your Dreams portion of the sentiment, which is from the new Just Sentiments: In Motion stamp set, in black. I added some glitter, white acrylic paint splatter, and sequins to finish it off.

My final card for today, and for the release, uses the new Easy Bouquet stamp set paired with the new Cornered: Baroque dies. I stamped the Easy Bouquet image in black ink and then colored it with alcohol markers. I don't really do coloring with markers anymore, so a lot of my Copic markers have dried up! Boo! I really need to get the refills and get them juicy again!

Once the coloring was done, I die cut it using the Easy Bouquet die. Now, if coloring with markers isn't your thing, a few of the other designers have shown other ways to use this stamp set, so don't fret!

I added the Cornered: Baroque detail to each of the four corner of an A2 Aqua Mist panel and then layered it onto a top-folding A2 card base using a bit of liquid glue and 1/8 inch ScorTape around the edges.

I used the new Love to Layer: Delightful Brackets, which by the way fit perfectly into the space left from the Baroque corners, to anchor the bouquet and for the sentiment. The Easy Bouquet stamp set comes with 4 or so sentiments; I chose the thinking of you today sentiment. It would work for a sympathy card, or anything, really! Thanks for fluttering by!

 

Reverse Confetti May Release Blog Hop

Hello and welcome, friends! Today is the Reverse Confetti 9th Birthday release blog hop! I'm sharing two projects with you for the hop using some of the cutest new products in honor of the celebration!

My boys' school is celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week later than the nationally scheduled time, but that doesn't mean I haven't already been working hard on getting gifts and things put together for them! I found the cutest bundle of lotions and potions at Bath and Body Works featuring butterflies and purple and blue tones with the sentiment "I appreciate you everyday". I knew it would be the perfect gift to send for the teachers!

I created a trio of tags using the new A Beautiful Day stamp/die set to coordinate with the gifts! Since I was using 3 each of every butterfly image in the set, I decided to use the emboss/resist technique for a soft look, and to make great use of my time! I chose to use the same colors that the box featured, of course!

I used the new tag die collection to create the layered tag. The base layer is cut using the largest die and then the next layer is die cut using the second tag die included in the set. I die cut this layer from watercolor paper and then spritzed it with Salvaged Patina Distress Spray for some added detail. The sentiment, which is an older set, coordinated so nicely with the bold font on the box. I couldn't resist using it for these tags, but the included sentiments are very lovely, too! My choice was purely based on coordination! ha ha! I heat embossed the "you are totally awesome sentiment, which is from the Best Sentiments stamp set, onto strips of vellum. I secured them to the back in a very tidy manner opting for a thin piece of ScorTape. I also added a few gems here and there for added detail and shine.

My second project for today uses the new Wildflowers stamp/die set! I know I say it every new release blog hop, but I rarely do any coloring these days, so it's always fun to get my markers out to color!

I'm especially loving this cute sentiment, which is one of three included in the Wildflowers set. I heat embossed it in white for a bold contrast! The background was cut using the same cardstock and the Stitched Scallops Cover Panel to give the background some subtle detail.

I die cut the flower panel using the Wildflowers die set and then layered it onto a piece of Darling Dots paper. I added a few sparkling clear sequins for some sparkle and shine! Thanks for fluttering by!

Don't forget to hop along to the other designers' blogs to see what magic they've created!

Reverse Confetti

Michelle Short

Cheryl Espie

Kelly Lunceford

Audrey Tokach

Joy Baldwin

Amy Rohl

Jennifer McGuire

Maria Russell

Becky Roberts

Kavya

Andrea Shell

Lisa Henke

Cheiron Brandon

Anita Madden

Heather Ruwe

Amy Kolling

Jenny Colacicco

Lien Leysen

April Antonio

Dana Kirby

Susan Wymer

Jeanne Jachna

Rachel Alvarado

Tricia Barber

Brandi Mahon

Amy Tsuruta

Richard Breaks

Jeff Lindberg

Colleen Beamish

Ricky Burton - Romero

Joe Sysavath