Saturday Showcase {Sending you Congrats}

Yay! It's the weekend and today I'm sharing a card and tag for this week's Ink to Paper Saturday Showcase using the Bon Voyage stamp set and the new Swirling Clouds die collection! I love creating unconventional baby cards with the interests or likes of the new parents; in this case, airplanes!

To begin this card, I blended some ink on a panel of Fresh Snow Linen cardstock measuring 4 by 5 1/4 inches. I also blended the same ink around the edges of a tag that was die cut using the new Tagged and Labeled die collection. I smooshed my ink pad onto an acrylic block and added some water. I picked up the ink with a fine point paint brush and tapped it onto the panel.

I die cut quite a few of the Swirling Clouds and stacked them together for chipboard weight pieces. I added them to the tag and the card front using foam squares or directly to the card with a tape runner. I stamped the airplanes and helicopter outlines using black ink and then added the coordinating solid image using Orange Zest, Enchanted Evening, and Simply Chartreuse ink. I also stamped the trailing banner images and sentiments in black ink. The "sending you" sentiment is from Bon Voyage, but the "Congrats" portion is from the Simply Sentiments I stamp set.

I used the coordinating Bon Voyage die collection to die cut the images. Once that was done, I arranged them on the card and tags using foam squares for dimension.

The thing I like about this set is that is has the coordinating solid image to stamp over the line art, BUT you could also use Copic markers to color them if you like. 

I love banners and buntings, so I decided it would be fun to add the banner from the Garden Party stamp set to the corner. I die cut it using the Garden Party die collection and then stamped each of the triangles using both the solid image and the pattern images on the green and orange pieces.

A few sparkling clear sequins finish of this tag and card combo! I had a lot of fun working on this and I hope the new parents enjoy it as well! Thanks for fluttering by!

Pinkfresh Studio and Hero Arts Blog Hop {You make a difference}

I'm beyond thrilled and honored to be participating in this AMAZING blog hop! It's all about celebrating 45 years of HERO ARTS and CELEBRATING OUR INDUSTRY! Hero Arts and Pinkfresh Studios have come together to create a beautiful stamp set for this collaboration! You will see how versatile this stamp set is and all of the beautiful sentiments as you hop along to the other {Amazing} designers' blogs!

Before I share those links, you can see the beautiful set called You make a Difference! It is available for purchase at Pinkfresh  Studio HERE-You make a difference. Also, there will be an amazing giveaway as well! There will be 3 prizes, drawn from comments left across the blog hop:

- One winner will receive the stamp set!

- One winner will receive a $25 shopping spree at Pinkfresh Studio

- One winner will receive a $25 shopping spree at Hero Arts

Hoppers have until Sunday, August 18 to leave their comments, and the winner will be announced on the Hero Arts blog the following week.

Before I dive into the details of my card, don't forget to hop along to the rest of the designers' blogs (isn't that a spectacular line up?)

Angelica Conrad

Ashlea Cornell

Caly Person

Cathy Zielske

Emily Midgett

Heather Hoffman

Ilina Crouse

Ivana Camdzic

Janette Kausen

Jennifer McGuire

Jessica Frost-Ballas

Kelly Lunceford {you are here}

Kristina Pokazanieva

Laura Bassen

Lea Lawson

Libby Hickson

Nichol Spohr

Tae Eun Yoo

Yana Smakula

Zsoka Marko

Whew! Now that the business is out of the way, let me share the details about this gate-fold design. To begin this card, I took a piece of 4 1/4 by 11 white cardstock and scored it a 2 3/4 on one end and then 2 3/4 again on the other end to create a gate-fold card. I used my bone folder to get the folds nice and crisp. Once that was done, I put it into my mini MISTI and stamped the image a few times to get a saturated and crisp image. 

I used two of the sentiments paired together for the greeting on the inside. This was done by cutting a piece of cardstock 4 by 5 1/4 inches and then stamping it in my MISTI. I layered that on the inside of the gate-fold card using adhesive.

The outside of the card is colored using Copic markers in wildflower tones; red, yellow, purple, and white! I really love this selection of images and how fun they are to color! I also blended a little bit of green ink around the perimeter of the card using a blending brush. I just used whatever was left on the brush! LOL!

The sentiment on the front is heat embossed using white powder and then die cut using the AMAZING and VERSATILE Essentials: Fancy Label Frames die collection. I actually die cut two of them so that I could layer them together for stability AND weight since I wanted this detail to help weigh down the folded flaps. 

I die cut the next larger in the label frames collection out of white cardstock. At this point, I took a long strip of red cardstock and sandwiched it between the two, making sure to measure it at the correct length beforehand. I used foam squares between the black and white portion.

In this photo you can see that I only adhered the label and red strip to the left hand side of the card. I wanted it to give the impression of a belly band (of sorts) but not actually have one! As much as I LOVE a belly band, I think they can confuse the recipient! Once that was all done, I matted the entire white card onto a piece of black cardstock that measures 5 3/4 inches by 4 1/2. In the end, it comes out to be larger than a standard A2 sized card, but the envelopes that I purchase can handle the extra dimensions. The finishing touch is a few of the clear jewels from the Essentials Jewel Mix. 

I hope you've enjoyed today's hop! Don't forget to leave comments along the way for your chance to win the prize! Thanks for fluttering by!

Pinkfresh Studios {Tags for gift giving}

I'm so excited to be sharing my second post for Pinkfresh Studios with you today! I've got a post over on their Blog as well, but I'll share the details here as well! For me, card making and gift giving go hand in hand, so it's always nice to have some tags on hand for those last minute or unexpected gifts!

I'm sharing 2 sets of  2 tags with you today. This first set uses the Essentials: Classic tags with fillable elements which I die cut from the beautiful Just a Little Lovely 6 by 6 paper pad. 

Once the die cutting was done, I used the Just a Little Lovely embellishment bundle to decorate each of the tags. I'm in love with these acetate floral clusters. I added them to the tags using strategically place foam squares.

The second set of tags uses the amazing Essentials: Braided Tag die. The thing that I love about these dies is that you can add or omit the tiny details. For these tags, I used the braided portion, but omitted the small dots.

I used the embellishment bundle on these tags as well. These cute stickers really add quick detail to any card or project!

These tags could easily be added to a card for a quick focal point!

I can't wait to add these to a gift! Thanks for fluttering by!

Ink to Paper August Countdown Day 5

Hello and welcome to the 5th and final day of the Ink to Paper August release countdown! Today the team is showcasing some fun new products that will be wonderful for Halloween, but for anytime, really! I couldn't resist turning these new Monster Dies into Mike, Sully, and Boo from Disney's Monsters,Inc. The sentiments from the new "Ghosts and Ghoulies sentiments" set are just perfect, especially the one that says "BOO!".

These also use the new Tent Style Packaging that is perfect to hold small treats, gift cards, or a small gift. 

I used Crystal Glaze on the eyes for some shine and added fun!

On the back of each of the "tents" is a label that was created by using the new "Tagged and Labeled" die set and the new "Halloween Fillings" stamp set. It has quite a few different options for things to check off (or not) I chose to only add good things! LOL!

The possibilities for these new labels are endless and I can't wait to use them on some cards and other packaging! Everything will be available for purchase starting at 10 pm on August 15th. Thanks for fluttering by!

Ink to Paper August Countdown Day 4

Hello and welcome to day 4 of the Ink to Paper August release countdown! I'm switching back to Autumn/Halloween for today's reveals! Today I will be sharing quite a few projects with you using the new "Caught in my Web" stamp and the new To Die For Sentiments: Halloween! 

I'm really loving the Glossy Accents on the die cut sentiments this release, if you can't tell! LOL! I die cut the "Trick or Treat" sentiment 3 times out of Black cardstock and glued them together using liquid glue. I set them aside and got to work on the rest of the card.

I stamped just a corner of the new "Caught in my Web" stamp in black onto a panel of Orange Zest cardstock. Once that was done, I added the die cut sentiment and added a nice coat of Crystal Glaze over the top. Once that was done, I was able to add it to a few panels of Bitty Big: True Black Pattern Paper. 

I'm obsessed with the new Lovely Leaves stamp set so I added a few of those to this design as well. I stamped the black vein portion and then used a combination of Canyon Clay ink and Harvest Gold ink to get the look I was going for.

The leaves are added using foam squares and then I cut off the edge of the leaf that is in the lower left corner. I added a few sparkling clear sequins here and there for shine.

I layered the entire piece onto a standard A2 top-folding card base. 

Next up is something a little more playful; I combined some spooky and sweet for a more lighthearted approach to what can often be a scary holiday for kids! This time I used the Caught in my Web stamp in its entirety and used the coordinating die as well.

To begin,I die cut the web, placed it back into the negative space and put it in my  MISTI to stamp the black image. I stamped it a few times to get the saturation that I wanted. I used foam squares in the middle of the web and liquid glue on the "points" to adhere it to the white panel. The white piece was dry embossed using the Woodgrain Impression Plate to give some added detail. 

I die cut the "Happy Halloween" sentiment twice and glued it together and added it to the spider web. I added some leaves as well because I just love them so much. The ghost,which is from the "Ghost and Ghoulies" set that is also being showcased today, is stamped and die cut and added to the bottom of the sentiment. 

This final design using the "Caught in my Web" set lets this ghost take center stage since he is clearly working hard to get his voice heard! LOL!

These letters were created using the same steps as I did in the first card, but I used Royal Velvet cardstock instead. I always love adding purple into my Halloween designs!

For this card, I heat embossed the web using white powder on black paper, but only used a portion in the corner for a fun detail.

The new "Ghost and Ghoulies" stamp set has two sizes of word bubbles so your ghost can speak beyond the grave!

Halloween/Fall just wouldn't be complete without good old fashioned Candy Corn! Who are my Candy Corn lovers? Haters? I sure love to decorate with it, add it to the tops of cupcakes, or cookies and of course nibble on a few!

I cut strips of paper in the three candy corn colors and added the die cut "boo!" to each of them with foam squares.

 I layered them onto a panel of Bitty Big: True Black pattern paper using foam squares at a jaunty angle. Once that was done, I added some black paint splatter for some added detail.

I couldn't resist giving these "Ghosts and Ghoulies" some googly eyes for playfulness! I hope you've enjoyed today's sneak peeks! Tomorrow will be the last countdown day and then everything will be available for purchase starting at 10 pm the 15th! Thanks for fluttering by!

Ink to Paper Countdown Day 3

Welcome to day 3 of the Ink to Paper August release Countdown! There's some fun new products being showcased today that you're sure to love! As you can see, I decided to switch gears BACK to summer today since it still IS summer (and feels like summer) LOL! However, I can't wait to use both of the new stamp sets being showcased today in some fall colors soon!

First up is a fun new set called "It's a Sign: Love and Kindness. I really love the It's a Sign: Beautiful stamp set, so I was happy to see a second one in the series. The wood grain look of the sign made me think of a summer tiki hut or something so I decided to go for a tropical look.

I ended up making two cards because I was having so much fun stamping everything. I used the previously released Beachy Keen stamp set for the palm trees. To begin, I used the Woodgrain Impression Plate on Pale Peony cardstock; one vertical and one horizontal. I layered those onto white card bases using foam squares for dimension.

I added some panels of Pale Peony Bitty Big cardstock for some fun pattern. This set the stage for me to begin adding on the stamped elements. I added some sequins to the centers of some of the flowers and some white Nuvo drops to the centers of the palm tree fronds. 

Next up is a fun new set called Birdie and a coordinating sentiment set called "Sweet Tweets". To begin, I sponged some ink onto the edges of a panel of Linen cardstock. I really like using the linen cardstock paired with ink blending because it really brings out the texture of the paper.

Once that was done, I used my mini MISTI to stamp the sentiment directly in the middle of the card. I had already decided how my branches would be placed, so I didn't have to take that leap of faith hoping it would all turn out! LOL!

I die cut the branches and then stamped them using Cocoa Bean ink. I added them to the blended panel using foam squares. From there, I was able to stamp the leaf clusters here and there until I got the coverage that I wanted. I also went back in and added the blossoms for a pop of color and added detail.

The birds are stamped in black and then die cut using the coordinating "Birdie" die cuts. I used a copic marker to color them. I added them to the branches using foam squares.

I used a white gel pen to add some extra white to the centers of the flowers to help make them pop. I used my color spritzer tool to add some blue ink flecks around the perimeter.

A few sparkling clear sequins finish off this cute and easy design. I hope you've enjoyed today's sneak peeks! Tomorrow will be a little change of pace,so stay tuned! Thanks for fluttering by!