Project Inspiration {Hello Sweet Sunshine}

Hello friends! It's my turn for this week's Project Inspiration feature for Papertrey Ink. I'll be sharing step-by-step photos and instructions.

I usually make at least one strawberry-themed card during the spring/summer and this is the first one for 2025. 

To begin, I used the Watercolor Plaid Stencil Collection using Pure Poppy ink to create the background. I trimmed it to 3 by 5 1/4 inches, used a corner rounder punch and then mounted it to a top-folding A2 card base using foam squares. 

Next, I used the Simple Stitch Crochet-Small Stencil Collection using Mint Julep ink on Mint Julep cardstock. I cut it using the middle size included in the Love to Layer: Scalloped Ovals Die. I added it to the background using foam squares.

I die cut the circle from white cardstock using the Love to Layer: Scalloped Circles Die and added it to the center of the mint piece using foam squares.

 I used the Sweet Celebration Die to cut all of the leaves, berries, and flowers from white cardstock. I used blender brushes and ink to color all of the pieces. I added them to the card using both liquid glue and foam squares.

The sentiment, which is from the Just Sentiments: Summer Mini Stamp Set, is heat embossed in gold onto a strip of Berry Sorbet cardstock and then adhered using foam squares.

I did give the flowers and leaves a spritz of shimmer spray before I added them, but forgot to mention that earlier. I added a trio of sparkling clear sequins using liquid glue.

In just six easy steps, the card is complete!

Some additional tips and details about this card: I always like to use a foam mat and a stylus to give dimension to the flowers I add to my cards. 

The smallest flowers have pink pearls in the centers for some added detail and interest.

Well, that wraps things up for today! Thanks for fluttering by!

 

The Greetery {Congrats! You're Amazing!}

 

Hello and welcome, friends! Today I'm sharing a pair of congratulatory cards using some of the beautiful new products from The Greetery included in the Star Spangled Summer Collection paired with some previously released stamps/dies from the Jubilee Collection! I had saved a cute illustration using a trophy cup but didn’t feel I could execute the same look with the available products, but all that changed when the Star Stream suite of products made their debut! I couldn’t wait to get started; let me tell you how I created the pair!

To begin, I used the beautiful new Star Stream Hot Foil on an A2 panel of Gray Kraft and Vintage Cream cardstock using champagne foil.  Once that was done, I used the Star Stream 3D Embossing Folder on both panels! Your die cutting machine should have instructions on how to build the correct “sandwich” for this type of embossing folder. The embossing folder is clear so it makes it easy to line the stars up for precision.

I spritzed both panels with shimmer spray (I’m definitely back in my shimmer spray era) and set them aside to dry. I used the World's Greatest Die to cut the two trophy cups from Antique Gold cardstock. I also heat embossed the two sentiments, which are included in the World's Greatest Sentiments Stamp Se , on the same cardstock using gold embossing powder and then cut them using the World's Greatest Sentiments Die . I attached them to the cups using small strips of foam tape.

I die cut the foliage using the Rosemary and Berry Die from white cardstock and then colored them using twisted citron, mowed lawn, and rustic wilderness distress oxide ink and finger sponge daubers. I also cut the berries, but quickly realized that the stars would be much cuter! The stars are left over from the centers of the stars tucked in the cups using the Star Struck Die. I simply glued them to the “bulbs” where the berries should go using liquid glue. I also gave a few of them a gem for added sparkle and detail.

Once that was all done, it was time to assemble the cards! I trimmed the foiled panels to measure 4 by 5 ¼ inches and attached them to their bases with foam squares: Antique Gold for the Gray Kraft panel and Gray Kraft for the Vintage Cream panel. The trophy cups hide the large star on the panel perfectly and then I added the foliage using small strips of foam squares, like I mentioned earlier; same goes for the stars tucked into the cups.

I had so much fun bringing this idea to life; it was one of those things that I kept thinking about and then the Star Spangled Summer Collection made it a reality! For the past few months, I haven’t been organizing the new cards I make very well and my stash had gotten pretty out of control. I took some time the other day to get it back where it needed to be and in doing so, I noticed the “congrats/well done” section was quite lacking. It’s nice to have gender neutral cards like this on hand for all sorts of occasions that would warrant it; retirement, accomplishments other than graduation (although these would work for that, too), recitals, performances, etc. I hope the pairing of these two collections has sparked some of your own ideas! Thanks for fluttering by!