The Greetery {La Dolce Vita Sardines}

 

Hello and welcome, friends! I'm happy to be here today with a fun card using so many favorites from the latest release! I mentioned in one of my countdown posts that I didn’t get a chance to use the Canned Lite Die and that I would soon be remedying that! Well, today is the day! These little sardine cans are just the cutest thing and I’m so thrilled I was able to use two on a standard A2 card, with room to spare for other fun details!

To begin, I cut a panel of China White cardstock (Cardstock Warehouse) measuring 4 by 5 ¼ inches and embossed it using the beautiful Citrus Fields Embossing Folder. I adhered it to a top-folding A2 Vintage Cream card base using foam squares for dimension. I set that aside and got to work on the “olives”; this was achieved by using the Rosemary & Berry Die.

I cut all of the sprigs from white cardstock and then colored them with Mellow Moss (SU!) and Ripe Avocado ink. I used some Brushed Corduroy Distress Oxide ink to color a scrap of white cardstock and then cut the "olives” from that. I glued them onto the sprigs using liquid glue.

Next, I had so much fun creating the little sardine cans using the Canned Lite Die, Ciao Bella Borders Stamp Set, and the Something Fishy Stamp Set and Die. The sardines are cut from white and then I added the color and shading using dye inks and blender brushes. The base of the closed can is cut from Antique Gold cardstock (Cardstock Warehouse) and the open can is cut from silver specialty cardstock. I love using metallic cardstock for the cans and the aluminum details.

I used the Citrus Fields Die for the lemons and additional foliage. I cut everything from white and then added the color with dye inks and blender brushes. I had a few daisies leftover from my release projects, which are cut using the Coastal Cuttings Die, so I added the pair for additional details. The finishing touch is the La Dolce Vita sentiment from the Rolling Hills Bella Terra Additions Stamp Set. I had a lot of fun with this project and I hope it gives you some additional inspiration for those of you who may be diving into the new release! Thanks for fluttering by!

 

The Greetery {La Dolce Vita Collection} Release Day

Hello friends! It's release day for the beautiful and inspiring La Dolce Vita Collection from The Greetery! Everything will be available for purchase beginning at 10 am EDT! I have a bonus card to share with you today sneaking in a few products I didn't get a chance to use on my countdown projects. That being said, there are still quite a few I still need to use!

To begin, I used the new Cottage Tile Background; this is a big background that can accommodate all different sizes of cards. You'll want to cut your background to the size you want to use and then place it on the die; it doesn't cut an outside border, if that makes sense. 

I glued it onto an A2 card base using liquid glue and set it aside to work on the details of the card. I already had this lemon bunch all ready to go because I ended up not using it on one of my countdown projects. I used the Citrus Fields Die and cut it from white cardstock and colored it with blender brushes and dye inks. I gave it a spritz of fossilized amber distress oxide spray and set it aside to dry.

The "grounding" strip it embossed using the new Shortbread Shapes Rectangle Tiles Embossing Folder. I attached it to the card background using foam squares.

I cut out the villa using the Countryside Villa Mini Die from white, with the exception of the tiled roof and shutters. I cut the roof from Melon Berry cardstock and then added some rust ink with a blender brush. The shutters are cut from the same green as the tile embossed panel. 

I used foam squares to mount everything to the card base including the sentiment, which is from the new Rolling Hills Bella Terra Addition Stamp Set. I absolutely adore these sentiments and the font!

This concludes today's post, but remember, the new release will be available for purchase today at 10 AM EDT! Thanks for fluttering by!

 

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 June Release Countdown Day 2

Welcome back for day 2 of the Papertrey Ink June release countdown! I have two projects to share with you using one of my unexpected favorite die sets: Through the Forest! My first card also features the new Inspired Expressions. It is a collection of beautiful famous and inspiring quotes along with some generic sentiments, like I've used here.

To begin, I cut a piece of Ocean Tides cardstock using the In Frames: Big and Tall Rectangles Die. I foiled the middle portion using the Cascading Dots Hot Foil Plate; another fun alternative would be the Cascading Stars Hot Foil Plate. I used champagne foil; it's usually my first choice! Once the foiling was done, I used Enchanted Evening ink around the edges and on the frame portion.

The Through the Forest Die consists of three layers of trees, the leaf portion, and a sun/moon and crescent moon die I cut the trees from Pinefeather, Simply Chartreuse, and Green Parakeet cardstock and then added some shading with ink and blender brushes. The leaf is cut from Enchanted Evening and then I gave the pieces a spritz or two of Fossilized Amber Distress Oxide Spray.

The sentiment is heat embossed onto Enchanted Evening cardstock with gold powder. I was on the struggle bus when I was making the sentiment, so it got some stray powder, but in the end I really like how it gives the same feeling as the sky portion!

Everything is layered up onto a Vintage Cream 5 by 7 card base using liquid glue and foam squares.

Another fun set being released this month is a ticket set called Always a Winner. Back in May I used the original ticket set from clear back in the day for a Teacher Appreciation poster, so I was thrilled to see a new, updated ticket set! I made this card for my youngest son who will be turning 13 in September.

I couldn't resist using the Through the Forest Die again, so he's getting a nature-inspired birthday card, which he will love (I hope!). This card also features the new Wild Arrows Press Plate which I used to add the champagne foiled border detail.

The Always a Winner Die includes three ticket options: the long strip, a single ticket with a jagged/torn edge look, and a clean ticket. I chose to cut the strip from Honey Nut cardstock, but then used Vintage Cream and Pinefeather cardstock for the other two tickets for additional color. 

It's easier to tell in this photo how I placed the tickets; I wanted them to be slightly bent at the perforations. I strategically place foam squares to keep them bent. This won't go in an envelope so it won't get smashed.

I have a big post tomorrow, so make sure to stop by! Thanks for fluttering by!

 

Papertrey Ink April Release Countdown Day 4

Wow! What a whirlwind it's been; we've made it to the 4th and final day of the Papertrey Ink April release countdown! As I mentioned yesterday, I have quite a bit to share with you again today! Up first is a card using some of my favorites from the new release and then the last 3 cards use a beautiful new sympathy set called Peaceful Meadow. I did use the leaf image from that set for the background on this first card.

To begin, I cut a 4 by 5 1/4 inch panel of white cardstock and then stamped the leaf image on two corner using Spring Rain ink. I didn't move the stamp, but rather just rotated the panel so that it would be the same for each corner. Once that was done, I added the hot foil design using the Filigree Frame Hot Foil Plate and champagne foil to the stamped panel.

I cut the middle-sized mat that's included in the Love to Layer: Top Notch Die from Spring Rain cardstock and attached it to the center of the foiled frame. I also cut the smallest mat from the same set and stamped the sentiment, which is from the Just Sentiments: You're on My Mind Mini Stamp Set in black. 

I created the Blueberry Sky banner piece using the Hold That Thought Die. I cut one of the pieces twice and then trimmed it and mounted them underneath the white portion to hide the cut seam.

I can't get enough of the Into the Blooms: Pressed Flowers Die, so I used it for the flowers and foliage.

I sprinkled some glitter on the flowers and leaves for sparkle and shine.

I added some pearls to the four corners of the foiled design and then mounted the entire background on an A2-sized Spring Rain panel. I glued it to a top-folding A2 card base using liquid glue.

For my next three cards, I'll be showing three different ways to use the new Peaceful Meadow Stamp Set. When I first saw it, I wondered if I would really be able to create anything other than the prescribed way of using this set, but much to my pleasant surprise, this set has become a favorite and I really love all of the delicate pieces that can be used in so many different ways! 

My goal was to use each of the three included sentiments on each of the three cards. For this first card, I paired the "remembering" sentiment, which is included in the set, with the Strength sentiment that was featured on day 1.

I used the new Regal Flourish Frame (yes, again) on a panel of Lilac Grace cardstock using champagne foil. I trimmed it down and then mounted it onto an A2-sized panel of white cardstock that has been cut using the Nesting Basics: Pierced Rectangles Die.

The die set comes with the option to combine the branches and leaves together one one die OR there's the option to cut the leaves or flowers separately and then add them to the branch image. I decided to omit the branches altogether on this card and just lay the leaves over the top for a delicate look.

I cut the flowers separately from the stems and then glued them together. This is the same thing you could do with the leaves and branches, but as I mentioned earlier, I chose to just use the leaves.

The stamp set comes with six different birds and I chose to use these two to perch in the leaves. I did add some black marker to create eyes, but in retrospect, I'm not sure if I like it!

I probably should have shared this card earlier, but this is more of the prescribed way for using the set. This shows the branches and leaves/flowers and stems put together on their singular die cut. I wanted something springy, so I chose to make leaves that look like blossoms.

This card features the second sentiment included in the set, which is a nice sized "With Sympathy" stamp.

For the background, I used the stencils included in the Elegant Notes Stationery Kit; blue to mimic the sky and green at the bottom to mimic grass.

This will be a perfect CAS sympathy card for mailing!

I went for a rustic look for my next card using just the leaves on the corners again, but this time stamped in green! I love all of the versatility I was able to achieve with this stamp set!

The flowers are from the new Into the Blooms: Pressed Flowers Die and the wood slices are from the Into the Blooms: Wild Wood. I cut the middle portion from Fine Linen cardstock and the outer portion from white and then colored it with Walnut Stain distress oxide ink.

This is the third sentiment included in the set; I love that they each have a coordinating die! It really makes the design options easier! 

Everything will be available for purchase tomorrow! Thanks for fluttering by!