Poshta Design {Nutcracker Parade}

Hello friends! I'm popping in today with something a little bit different, but oh, so fun! Lizzie Jones from Poshta Design reached out to me to see if I would like to create with her fabulous Homespun Holiday: Nutcracker Parade Kit! My childhood Christmases were encompassed with felt, stitching, homespun creations, sequins, and beads, so it was such an honor to be able to create with this beautiful kit!

The kit comes with everything you will need to create this adorable nutcracker and the kit is so beautifully put together; just pulling everything out was a treat in an of itself! Lizzie also sent me the Pocket Tag II die so I had some fun with that as well!

I chose to use the head of the nutcracker on this tag.

I particularly love the color scheme for this kit; it's just the right blend of traditional and whimsical that allows you to create beautiful  heirloom pieces.

The beads are used for the eyes, but you can also gussy up the hat with sequins and beads as well, like I've done here.

I've most likely mentioned it, but my cute daughter performed in Ballet West's The Nutcracker when she was younger, so this kit has a special place in my heart! Each of the dancers in her cast/number would receive a gift from Emma, my daughter, and I have a feeling, these would DEFINITELY have been one of the gifts!

Once it is all assembled, these nutcrackers are a nice, sturdy weight!

I used my Gemini Jr. for all of the diecutting, which worked beautifully to get crisp pieces.

Lizzie emailed me an assembly video that was SO helpful for putting this guy together! Once you get down how to do it, you can do it without the video!

Once I finished with just the head for the tag, I thought nutcracker earrings could be a lot of fun! ha ha !

Here's a final look at the three projects using the kit! I will post again when I get a chance to whip up some additional nutcrackers! Thanks for fluttering by!

 

Papertrey Ink October Release Countdown Day 4

I can't believe we've made it to the final day of the Papertrey Ink October release countdown! My first card for today uses the new Stained Glass Dies. 

There are three different styles of window, but I chose to use on of them twice for this card. To begin, I added blues and greens using watercolors on a panel of watercolor paper.

While that was drying, I die cut both windows from Antique Gold cardstock. I glued them to a 4 by 5 1/4 inch panel of watercolor paper. I die cut the window again from the watercolor panel and then inlaid the pieces using liquid glue and a gem picker.

I stamped the sentiment, which is from the Reflections: October stamp set onto a pieced of acetate using Jet Black StazOn ink. I strategically added liquid glue to the back of some of the more bold letters and glued it over the top of the windows.

I added the star and the manger, which are from the Reflections: October die set.

I finished it off with some foliage from the Into the Blooms: Mushrooms die set.

My final card for today, and for the release uses the new Border Bling die. I cut it from Stormy Sea cardstock and then glued the sheet music paper to the opening and then added it to a Vintage Cream top-folding A2 card base.

I had fun making the pinecones using the Into the Blooms: Pine die and added them to the corners.

The angel is die cut using the Angelic Sentiments die and added to the middle using foam squares.

The sentiment is heat embossed in gold onto scarlet Jewel cardstock and layered over the top of the angel using foam squares.

Thanks for fluttering by!

 

Papertrey Ink October Release Countdown Day 3

I'm so happy to be here today for day 3 of the Papertrey Ink October release countdown! I have a big post today to share, so get cozy! 

My first card for today features the new Sparkling Tree Hot Foil Plate and coordinating die!

I also used the new Line It Up Christmas die for the sentiment.

To begin, I used red foil on Pure Poppy cardstock; I used the highest heat and 25 seconds to heat the tree. Once it was foiled, I used the coordinating die to cut it out. I layered it onto the new Love to Layer set (I still can't remember the name). I added that to a panel of Olive Twist cardstock that is foiled using the Fanciful Snowflake Background Hot Foil Plate and silver foil.

The sentiment is die cut twice; once from silver cardstock and once from white and then I glued them together. The metallic cardstock has a tendency of curling, so layering it gives it more stability. I added it over the tree using strips of foam for dimension. I couldn't resist adding some of the berries and foliage from the new The Bigs Christmas Sentiment stamp set that was showcased on day 1.

My second card also uses the Sparkling Tree Hot Foil Plate and coordinating die, but this time I gave my card a completely different look.

I used silver foil on Tropical Teal cardstock and then cut it out. I prepared an A2 panel of Tropical Teal cardstock by adding some Tropical Teal ink around the edges and some Enchanted Evening ink. Once that was done I added some white paint splatter.

I used silver cardstock for the Merry Christmas sentiment and layered it like I did on the first card. I also used an accent sentiment stamped in white from the new This Is Big Christmas Sentiments.

The Sparkling Tree die collection comes with the little sparkle images that I glued up at the top and also the star for the top of the tree.

I spritzed it with shimmer spray for additional sparkle and shine! The entire panel is glued to a top-folding A2 white card base.

I went for a more CAS card using the fa la la sentiment from the Line It Up Christmas die set.

I die cut the sentiment three times from Pure Poppy cardstock and glued them together for a chipboard-weight piece.

I added the fa la la to a Ripe Avocado panel using foam squares and then tucked the foliage and berries underneath until I was satisfied with the arrangement. 

I layered the focal panel on to a panel of Stormy Sea cardstock slightly offset so the fa la la could trail to the right.

I gave it a good spritz of shimmer spray.

My final card for today uses the new Deerest Blessings stamp set.

This is a fun, whimsical stamp set with some beautiful sentiments.

I chose a retro type color combo.

Thanks for fluttering by!

 

Papertrey Ink October Release Countdown Day 2

Hello and welcome to day 2 of the Papertrey Ink October release countdown! For today, the team is showcasing the beautiful new Reflections: October stamp/die set!

To begin, I die cut the stable portion from Kraft cardstock twice and then glued it together for a more sturdy piece. I glued the larger star to the back of the stable and the smaller star to the front for a layered look.

The manger is die cut from Antique Gold cardstock and then the "halo" portion is cut from metallic gold cardstock.

I blended a panel of white cardstock using speckled egg, stormy sky, and chipped sapphire distress oxide ink.

I used the Through the Palms Hot Foil Plate and silver foil to create a backdrop for the stable. I stamped the sentiment with black ink and then added the stable over the top. I tucked the manger on the side and gave it a spritz of shimmer spray! Join me again tomorrow for a BIG post! Thanks for fluttering by!

 

Papertrey Ink October Release Countdown Day 1

Hello friends! It's day 1 of the Papertrey Ink October release countdown!  My first card for today uses the new Build-An-Angel dies and coordinating Angelic Sentiments stamp set!  While most of the designers are using these dies for Christmas, I thought I'd showcase the friendship sentiments and a card that you could be used year round!

To begin, I got to work on the wreath using the gorgeous Into the Blooms: Wreath Dies. I die cut everything from white cardstock and then colored the pieces using distress oxide inks.

The angel is cut from white cardstock and Antique Gold cardstock.

The sentiment is heat embossed on vellum using gold powder.

There is a small angel that is the Angelic Sentiments die. It is the perfect size for a tag. The base of the tag is cut from the new Love to Layer set. I'm drawing a blank on the exact name! ugh!

I used another friendship sentiment from the Angelic Sentiments stamp set. I added a few flowers leftover from the wreath.

My second card for today uses the new The Bigs Christmas Sentiments stamps and dies.

This set includes quite an assortment of really large sentiments with foliage to accent.

I stamped the foliage in Ripe Avocado and Stormy Sea ink and the berries are stamped in Pure Poppy.

Join me tomorrow for day 2! Thanks for fluttering by!