The Greetery {La Dolce Vita Collection} Day 1

I'm so excited to be here today sharing a few projects using the beautiful and fun new collection from The Greetery called La Dolce Vita! It's jam-packed with SO many wonderful new products that will make you want to fly off to the Mediterranean! Before I dive into the details of my projects, you'll want to head to The Greetery Blog for the official "Meet & Greet" for each of the products being featured today. As always, make sure to leave a comment here, and on each of the designers' blogs, for a chance to win one of two $100 gift cards to the shop!

My first project uses the beautiful and refreshing new Citrus Fields suite of products! I've never made a 5 by 7 card set before, but with the large Citrus Fields Stencil and Citrus Fields Embossing Folder, I couldn't resist! Please note: if you only make A2-sized cards, don't fret; you can cut your cardstock down! Making this larger card set allowed me to challenge myself to create a larger box to hold the cards, which turned out perfectly, thank heavens! ha ha!

To begin, I stenciled four panels using the Citrus Fields Stencil collection. I did each step on each of the four panels rather than stenciling one completely and then moving onto another, if that makes sense. I gave them all a spritz of Shimmer Spray-Sparkle for sparkle and shine and attached them to 5 by 7 white card bases.

For the sentiments, I used the Oblong Octagon Labels Stamp Set along with the coordinating Oblong Octagon Labels Hot Foil and Oblong Octagon Labels Die. I really love how the hot foil elevates the look; it gives a boutique feeling, but with handmade touches.

Two of the sentiments are embossed/foiled on Powder Green cardstock and two on coral cardstock for variation.

I made a belly band to go around the set of cards and envelopes, similar to what you would find on a store bought set. 

I found the envelopes on Amazon and they have a gold trim on the edges to elevate the set as well.

Let's talk about the box lid; if you're not into making boxes, you could make this as a card! The corners use a beautiful new set called Ciao Bella Borders, which I will share on another project today. I used the new Citrus Fields Die for the focal point; it's all cut from white and then colored with blender brushes and dye inks.

I framed the lemons with a frame cut using the Capsule Fixed Border Large and then cut using the beautiful Pretty Picado Die. I layered it onto the pinked layer that is cut using the Capsule Star Studded Borders Die and then some additional detail using the Capsule Filigree Borders Die. The lemons are arranged in the middle using foam squares for dimension. As I mentioned earlier, you could just use this portion for a card design, or even add the yellow portion as well.

My next project uses the beautiful new Coastal Cuttings Die paired with the Ciao Bella Borders Stamp/Die set. I couldn't resist using the Citrus Fields Embossing Folder again for added interest and depth. 

If you fell in love with the Best Bouquet Die, you'll love this as well. It's the same concept for arranging the cluster!

I love the color combination found on the assembly guide, so that is what I used on both cards.

Everything is cut from white cardstock and then I colored each flower/leaf/ etc. using blender brushes and dye inks.

The two cards use the two different options for borders included in the Ciao Bella Borders along with two of the sentiments. 

And now for something FUN! I absolutely adore this new Something Fishy Suite of products; so clever and cute! I've created a shaped birthday card using the Canned Die and the new Something Fishy Stamp/Die set. There is a smaller version of the can called Canned Lite. I didn't get a chance to use it on any projects, but that will soon be remedied!

I used green metallic cardstock for the "rolled down" portion of the can to give it some realism.

There are so many fun different sentiments in the Something Fishy Stamp Set; baby, birthday, celebration, etc. 

There is a die so you can create a pull-tab for an interactive card; that's also on my to-make list! So many fun possibilities! This concludes today's post, but join me again tomorrow for day two of full reveals! Don't forget to leave a comment here, and on each of the designers' blogs, for a chance to win one of the two $100 gift certificates!

Caly Person

Dana Kirby

Dawn McVey

Kelly Lunceford {you are here}

Laura Bassen

Laurie Willison

Lea Lawson

Melissa Phillips

Wanda Guess

 

Papertrey Ink Project Inspiration {Santa Mail}

Hello and welcome friends! It's my turn for this weekend's Project Inspiration Feature for Papertrey Ink. Since I've been on a Christmas kick, I thought I'd immerse myself more fully in the Christmas in July festivities! When I was making my cards for the June release, I couldn't help but think how fun it would be to use the Through the Forest Die for a Christmas card paired with the Stacked Mail Stencil Collection.

I also pulled in some older favorites to tailor this card to bring my vision to life!

This card comes together in six easy steps and I will explain everything throughout the post!

Step 1: Cut and A2 panel of Vintage Cream cardstock and then cut a smaller panel using one of the dies included in the Stacked Mail Die. Add the stenciling using the Stacked Mail Stencil Collection. Add some Vintage Photo Distress ink around the corners for a worn look. Set the smaller piece aside and glue the larger one to an A2 card base.

Step 2: Hot foil a panel of Pure Poppy cardstock using the Deco Framework Hot Foil Plate. Add some Scarlet Jewel ink around the edges using a sticky note to cover the foiling.  Attach it to the stenciled panel using foam squares. 

Step 3: Stamp the sentiment onto the smaller stenciled panel from earlier. This sentiment is from the North Pole Mail Stamp Set and I stamped it in black. Attach it to the foiled panel with foam squares.

Step 4: Cut the pieces for the tree portion using the Through the Forest Die. I cut the largest piece from Pinefeather, the middle piece from Simply Chartreuse, and the smallest piece from Green Parakeet. I added black ink to the tops of the Pinefeather trees, Ripe Avocado the Simply Chartreuse trees, and New Leaf on the Green Parakeet trees. I layered it all together with foam squares and then added some white acrylic paint splatter. Attach it to the card with foam squares.

Step 5: Cut the reindeer using the Winter Globes: Believe Die from True Black cardstock and then attach them over the trees using black foam squares.

Step 6: Heat emboss the two postage images that are included in the Deliver By December 25th Stamp Set and attach them to the card. Add glitter for sparkle and shine!

I used the Deliver by December 25th Die to cut them out after I did the embossing. I like to use a 2-way glue pen to attach the glitter. 

This was such a fun project to work on and it's given me the drive I need to get started on some Christmas projects, especially tags! I didn't have what I needed last year and I don't want to be in the same predicament this year! I bought a bunch of fun things in January with the hopes of working on it all year, but so far, I haven't done anything with them! I think it might be fun to get some neighborhood friends together to make tags this month! We'll see.....haha! Thanks for fluttering by!

 

Poshta Design {Christmas in July Collection} Day 3

Hello friends! I'm thrilled to be back for day 3 of the Christmas in July Collection from Poshta Design! I've made three ornaments using the  Homespun Holiday: Evergreen Kit paired with the new Vintage Starburst Sequin Mix; a match made in heaven! I had so much fun stitching up these three ornaments and I can't wait to hang them on my Christmas tree this year! Before I dive into the details, make sure to head to the Poshta Design Blog to enter to win a $150 gift certificate to the shop to get this beautiful kit.

I was feeling like I had neglected sequins and beads the first two days so I made up for it today! haha! Everything has beads and the beautiful new Vintage Starburst Sequins that I love so much! The kit comes with three beautiful colors of felt and coordinating floss. I did add a tiny bit of Wintergreen felt that is included in the Ribbon Candy color story.

This is the first ornament I made and is the most labor-intensive of the three. It is really easy to put together, though....just takes a little bit more time.

Here is a closeup of the beads and layers. You can omit the backer on the oval if you just want the green color to show through. I chose to use the Wintergreen behind and on the ornament topper.

I used three strands of floss for everything and then made a looped topper for the top; just don't forget to sandwich it in when you're closing everything up! I made this mistake twice, made some adjustments the first time, but totally forgot on my last one....woops! I will just add an ornament hook directly to the stitching. 

My second ornament is the red one with all of the beautiful bead work! It was seriously so fun to make and I just want to bead all the things! ha ha!

Even with the beading, this was the easiest of the three!

This particular style is perfect if you have any word dies or year dies you want to add to the middle. I don't have any of those, so I opted to fill the empty space with some medallions and sequins.

I had so much fun with this release! Thanks for fluttering by!

 

Poshta Design {Christmas in July} Day 2

Hello friends! Welcome back for day 2 of the Poshta Design Christmas in July Collection release! I have quite a bit to share with you today using so many of the fabulous new dies! Just like yesterday, I'm using the Ribbon Candy felt color story for all of my projects with the addition of black from a previously released kit.

Up first are the adorable new Table Top Trees. These come in two sizes, but the two I'm sharing are the smaller size. The larger size is a bit bigger (obviously) so I didn't have enough felt leftover to make the larger one, unfortunately.

The die collection also comes with the star, as shown, and then it has little dies for ornaments. I loved my bare trees, so I didn't use them, but I can't wait to see other samples with the ornaments on the trees.

As you can see, the project consists of two pieces that slide together. The stitching guide also recommends putting a piece of cardstock inside the sandwich for stability, which I did and it's perfect. You simply die cut the tree pieces from heavier cardstock and then trim off the stitching holes and sandwich inbetween.

I used contrasting thread for this tree, but in the end I think I like the tone on tone tree better, but this definitely shows you options for you to decided which you prefer.

I'm not sure if I put the star on correctly, ha ha! It has a place to slide it over the top of the tree, so hopefully I did it right!

My next project is a cut little envelope stitched up "From Santa" using the previously released Love Notes Die but added the new Santa detail.

You can choose to or from Santa and then it has the cute tree stamp included.

Continuing on with that theme, the next project uses the new Candy Cane Express collection. This photo shows the Candy Cane Express: Engine, which included the bow.

This photo shows the Candy Cane Express: Passenger Car. I did add the bows to the window, so please note, they are not included in the passenger die. I also made a cute Railroad Crossing sign using the new North Pole Die. This has quite a few dies to make a North Pole sign, plus the Railroad Crossing sign; I'm going to finish this one with the pole so I can use it as an ornament with these cute train cars!

There are a few different ways to gussy up the car: candy cane stripes, Express, like this photo shows, etc.

There is a third car that I still need to make, which is the cargo car! It's full of fun things in it's open bed! Join me again tomorrow for the final day! Thanks for fluttering by!

 

Poshta Design {Christmas in July} Day 1

Hello and welcome, friends! I'm so excited to be a guest creator for Poshta Design featuring their new Christmas in July release! Today I'm sharing a few projects using the new Picture Frame Die, Picture Frame Extras Die,  & the Ribbon Candy Color Story (felt collection).

There will be a $50 gift certificate giveaway for today, so please head to the Poshta Design Blog to read all about it!

My first project uses both the Picture Frame Die and the Picture Frame Extras Die. I used the Spearmint Felt for the main frame and then die cut the leaf portion using a die included in the "extras" collection. I stitched all of that with coordinating floss with three strands.

Once the leaves were done, I went ahead and stitched the frame with pink floss (3 strands). Normally I don't like to leave a running stitch, but rather go back to fill in the spaces, but I really like how it looked, so I left it like this. I felt it might be too heavy with the extra stitching. I started doing it and then removed the stitches.

The extras die collection also includes this beautiful poinsettia, so I created two of those with crabapple felt and taffy for the center. I also added some beads to the center for some sparkle and shine.

There are a few different options for how to assemble these frames. There is a die so you can cut a pocket to slip the photos in and out. this makes it easy to swap them out, especially if you're using it as a fridge magnet or something like that.

You can also add loops to the top to create ornaments....the sky is the limit! I couldn't decide if I wanted mine to be ornaments or not, so when I decide, I'll need to do some tweaking!

My second project uses the main frame again, which includes this precious scallop, and then I also added the inner border which is included in the extras!

I cut the frame from taffy felt and then cut the scallop portion. I stitched that with wintergreen floss and then added the crabapple inner border using coordinating floss.

Once again, I really liked the running stitch on the outer edge which is stitched in taffy floss.

Join me again tomorrow for even more Christmas in July fun! Thanks for fluttering by!