Ink to Paper January Release Countdown Day 1

Hello friends! It's day 1 of the Ink to Paper January release countdown! You'll be seeing a lot of fun and festive products over the next few days, so get your party hats on! Up first is a super adorable set called "Cake Please"! I've created three cards today using this new stamp/die set and another one using a gorgeous new set called Sprigs and Sprays that pairs perfectly with some recently released sets that I'll talk about at the bottom of today's post.

My first card uses the new Delicate Doilies which are SO much fun and I know I'll be using them A LOT! Just warning you now...ha ha! They come in 3 sizes with a different pattern for each size. This is the largest of the 3, but I use the middle size one on my last card for today's post. These are such great detail pieces to help anchor your focal points or to stamp a sentiment!

The cake die has built in details to help give the cake texture and the shadow image fits perfectly onto the texture lines for ease of stamping. I chose to leave the cake white, but add some Pink Peony ink around the edges using a blender brush. I stamped the detail image in Pale Peony ink as well and then added the polka dot detail using Berry Sorbet ink. Doesn't this cake look scrumptious? My cute son is having his birthday next week and he asked for a 
Strawberry cake with Strawberry icing, so that is how I'm imaging this cake to taste! Yum!!!

The Cake Please stamp set comes with a lot of accessories, like the cake stand, of course. It also comes with candles, which I opted not to use. I chose to use the Happy Birthday cake topper instead. The little "sparkles" that I've added around this cake are actually meant to be used with the candles. I chose to stamp them in silver metallic ink and then add some die cut stars over the top that are cut from silver glitter paper. I thought it gave the card an added festive touch.

It also comes with this beautiful foliage garland, leaves and flowers to decorate your cake any way you'd like! The possibilities are endless! I can't help wanting to make a chocolate cake done up in different shades of brown with some dramatic flowers. 

The set also comes with a baby topper, which I will be showing on my third card, and a Happy Anniversary topper! I couldn't resist adding some glitter to the flowers and cake for even more festive sparkle! 

My next card uses a very simple approach to the cake...I left it completely white but added some white Nuvo drops for added detail. I let them dry while I got to work on some of the other design elements. I know I keep mentioning it, but my mom and sister gave me a Gemini Jr. for Christmas and I am just LOVING the way it cuts! I have hesitated to use some of the more intricate dies because of the problems I've had with my old Cuttlebug. The Gemini Jr. has been cutting everything so well, that I decided to pull out some neglected background dies.

I die cut the On the Border: From the Heart Frame die from Dark Indigo cardstock and layered it onto a panel of the same cardstock for a tone-on-tone dimensional background. I also added a Border Bling: Skinny Diagonals Frames over the top using 1/8 inch ScorTape for security. I'm obsessed with the dramatic feel that this background has! I almost didn't want to cover it up with anything! ha ha!

Once the Nuvo drops were dry, I was ready to assemble the card. I placed the cake on a Sweet Blush/Pale Peony cake stand and added some stamped flowers and foliage.

The sentiment, which is from the previously released Wreath Favor Box Sentiments Stamp Set, is heat embossed in gold and wrapped around the blue base and secured it in the back using clear tape. I absolutely LOVE this stamp set and think this sentiment is perfect for this sweet cake!

I added some Gold Drip Drops to the centers of some of the flowers and on the blue background for some dramatic detail. I've been having so much fun with these so I'm just warning you they'll be making a few more appearances over the next few days! ha ha! This card is quite simple, but the colors and texture paired with the gold accents step it up a bit!

My final card using the Cake Please stamp set uses the Oh Baby cake topper and ANOTHER sentiment from the Wreath Favor Box Sentiments stamp set. This "sweet as can be" sentiment works perfectly with the baby topper AND the cake theme of the card!

My mouth is watering imaging this yellow cake being something Lemon-y! I used the same inking technique with this cake as I did on the first one. I used yet another doily to anchor this cake and create a visual barrier between the yellow cake and the yellow background.

These flowers got a coating of sugary glitter as well to give the card some added detail! The Oh baby topper is stamped in metallic ink and tucked behind the cake. I added a few glittery stars to this card as well, AND another one of the "sparkles"!

I created another tone-on-tone background, but this time using the Cover Plate Ornate Die and Lemon Tart cardstock! This is one of my favorite backgrounds and I love the detail and dimension it adds! I wanted to added another frame around the edge, but resisted so it wouldn't look too similar to my last card! ha ha!

I added some gold drip drops to this card as well. I love how well they play off of the glitter cardstock and gold embossing!

It would be easy to make a baby boy card using this same idea, just omitting the flowers. You could add the stars to the cake like I did the Nuvo drops on the blue card. The doily could also be swapped out for a circle die. 

My 4th and final card for today uses the new Sprigs and Sprays stamp set paired with another new set called Antique Wishes. I was going for a Shabby Chic feel with the colors and overall feel. 

This card uses the middle size of the Delicate Doilies and this one has a smaller eyelet looking lace edge. I just love the sweet detail that it adds to this design.

I die cut the foliage in the pitcher and then stamped them using my MISTI for ease and precision.  Since this is a sympathy card, I chose soft, reassuring colors to evoke peace and comfort. 

The frame is from the Antique Wishes stamp set as well as the foliage in the bottom right corner. The frame die cut has built-in embossed details and the coordinating stamp set fits over the top. My frame is die cut from Aqua Mist cardstock and then I added the stamped detail using Stormy Sea ink. 

The Sprigs and Sprays stamp set was designed to coordinate with the pitcher from the Abundant Blooms stamp set AND the vase/earthenware pot from the Branches of Love stamp set. I love this pitcher and knew it would be perfect for the antique/shabby feel of my card.

I want to stop NEEDING sympathy cards, but I do indeed, so I chose to use this beautiful sentiment from the Feathered Friends 4 stamp set. I heat embossed it using detail black embossing powder onto a strip of vellum. I added some glitter and sequins to finish off this design! Don't forget to join me tomorrow for day 2 of the countdown! Thanks for fluttering by!

 

Celebrating 13 FABULOUS Years and a GIVEAWAY!!!

Hello and welcome, friends! Today is a very special day...it's the 13 birthday of my blog! Can you even believe it? I can't! LOL! I'm so HAPPY to be here, all of these years later! There were years when I really thought that it would be the last, but my creative spirit has kept me going, even during those difficult "baby raising" years! The most wonderful thing about these past 13 years are ALL OF YOU! I have made such wonderful friends through this crazy paper crafting adventure and I wouldn't trade it for the world! 

So....in celebration...how about a little GIVEAWAY???? I'd like to give one lucky blog reader/Instagram follower a $100 gift certificate to the stamp store OF THEIR CHOICE!!! (U.S. currency only) You can enter BOTH places, but you MUST be a follower of mine on Instagram (please no follow and then un-follow later). I will be drawing randomly from ALL entries on both Instagram and here on my blog. Simply leave a comment letting me know what you have enjoyed here most over the years! That's it...easy, peasy! I won't be posting to Instagram until later in the morning since I am on MT, not ET, but it should be up around 7-8 a.m. The deadline for entries will be Sunday at 12 noon MT. 

And now...on to the cards!

I've created two almost identical cards that would be perfect for Valentine's Day. These cards actually had me thinking of all kinds of 4 letter words. NO, not those 4 letter words, silly! I'm talking about words like LOVE, HUGS, BABY, etc. I thought this design would work perfectly for a card for a baby girl, or a sympathy card using HUGS.

To begin both cards, I heat embossed the Enchanted Blooms Cling Rubber Stamp using white powder and then added the Passion Fruit ink over the top. It's been a while since I've done the emboss/resist technique and I felt it would be perfect for these two Valentine's Day cards. Once that was done, I die cut them using the Diagonal Stitched Rectangles dies. I love the polished, professional edges that it creates.

I die cut the frame using the gorgeous Fancy Oval Frame Die and then adhered it directly to the embossed panel using liquid glue with a precision tip. This set the stage to add the beautiful floral image from the Sending Love and Hugs Stamp Set. I stamped one with the lighter Fresh Pear ink and one with the darker Emerald ink. I layered two die cuts together for a more sturdy piece. This was the perfect platform to add the die cut silver metallic letters and a die cut bow. 

The letters were die cut twice; once from thick white cardstock and once from the silver specialty cardstock. I glued them together with liquid glue. The bow is secured with hot glue and then I added some glitter to it as well. I warned you about glittery bows, didn't I? ha ha!

The sentiment, which is from the Simply Sentiments Hello stamp set, is heat embossed in silver onto a strip of vellum. I secured it around the focal panel with tape in the back.

I thought I was going to like the one with the lighter green ink, but now I just don't know. This one has such a dramatic feeling with the dark foliage.

I added a few Jewels here and there. I reached for the pink ones, which you would think would be the obvious choice, but in the end I settled on the white ones. They pick up the pink beautifully, while the pink ones were giving this particular design a yellow look! Go figure! That's why it's always nice to play around with different options and don't get to "married" to a certain idea...let yourself enjoy the creative process and scrap an idea if it just isn't working! 

Once again, thanks so much for 13 fabulous years and thanks for fluttering by!

 

Papertrey Ink/Ink to Paper Flash Sale {Birthday Bouquet}

Hello, friends! I'm back again today with EVEN MORE birthday inspiration! I'm sharing two cards using some fun products that will be part of this week's Papertrey Ink/Ink to Paper Flash Sale! I know many of you are looking ahead to spring, so hopefully these bright, floral designs will bolster any sagging spirits! The sale will run from 12 noon today and end on Wednesday at noon!

Stamps: Birthday Bouquet

INK: Green Parakeet, New Leaf, Pale Peony, Hibiscus Burst, Bright Buttercup, Summer Sunrise, Pure Poppy, Scarlet Jewel, Versamark

PAPER: Pure Poppy, Bright Buttercup

DIES: Birthday Bouquet, On the Border: Floral Bliss

Birthday Bouquet is one of my favorite floral sets and it is so much fun putting these bouquets together! The set includes a bunch of sentiments for multiple different combinations! I chose to keep things simple with the bold "Hope your birthday is as wonderful as you are" sentiment!

I heat embossed it in white for this card! I just love crisp white embossing, don't you? I die cut the On the Border: Floral Bliss die twice, one for each card. I used my new Gemini Junior that my mom and sister gave me for Christmas and it cuts like a DREAM!!! I have struggled for YEARS with intricate dies like this, but not with the Gemini Junior! Yay!

I used two different inks on ALL of the flowers and leaves for two reasons: #1 it gives the flowers more dimension and #2 it gives you all even more inks at a discount! ha ha!

The sentiment for this card is stamped in black onto a Bright Buttercup panel for some nice contrast!

I love adding glitter and sequins to finish off many of my cards, so that is just what I did on these!

I've got a few birthday cards to get popped in the mail! Thanks for fluttering by!

 

Pinkfresh Studio {this is totally worth celebrating}

It's a new year and I'm freshening up my birthday card stash with some pretty floral designs! Every year I tell myself that I'll be better about sending birthday cards, but I'm hoping THIS is THE year! ha ha! I think I did pretty good last year as well! Today's card uses the fabulous Daisy Wreath die and Daisy Wreath Layered Stencil set. I fell in love with this as soon as I saw it, but haven't had a chance to use it, until now! It's so much fun and I can already tell I'll be reaching it for it time and time again!

I paired it with some of my other new favorites like the Essentials: Stitched Scalloped Rectangles and the Essentials: Diagonal Stitched Plaid background. 

I left the plaid background white but added some Soft Lilac ink around the edges of the scalloped frame. The Daisy Wreath is stenciled using these inks: Fresh Pear and Olive for the greenery. Soft Lilac and Regal Kiss for the flowers and Marigold for the flower centers. The bow is inked up with a Slumber base (I thought I would be using it with this color) but then decided on Regal Kiss, so that is blended over the top for a stunning look! I added a lot of crystal glitter to the bow for a beautiful vintage look! I'm afraid you might be seeing  A LOT more glittery bows! ha ha!

I added a bit more dimension and detail to the flowers by adding some shading using color pencils. 

I die cut the "celebrate" word using the Thin Words Everyday Script dies and some silver glitter cardstock. I also die cut it from white cardstock as well and glued the two together for a more sturdy piece. The "this is totally worth celebrating" is from the Celebrate Today stamp set and is stamped in black onto a strip of Weathervane cardstock.  Of course I couldn't resist adding some glitter to the flowers and a few Jewels. The thing that is great about this particular card is that it could be used for WAY more than just a birthday. You could keep a couple on hand for weddings, congratulations, graduation, etc! 

Thanks for fluttering by!

 

Reverse Confetti January Release Blog Hop

Hello and welcome, friends! I'm super excited to be participating in the Reverse Confetti January release Blog Hop! There are so many darling stamp sets and awesome new Confetti Cuts! For my first card, I used a mashup of old and new products to create this sweet Valentine's Day design! It's been a while since I've created any cards with critters, so this was a fun change of pace!

To begin this card, I stamped the cute little puppy from the Love is in the Air stamp set directly onto a strip of white cardstock using black ink. I colored the puppy using an assortment of Copic markers. I die cut the L,V, and E  twice each from the Big Love Confetti Cuts using Kraft cardstock. I glued them together and then added some darker brown ink to the top to create some interest. I added these around the puppy image using strips of adhesive foam to give them some dimension. I also stamped the "love is in the air" sentiment at the bottom of the panel using black ink.

I set the panel aside and got to work on the other design elements that I've used on the card. The background is die cut from red cardstock using the Circle of Hearts Cover Panel. I added it over the top of a top folding A2 card base using foam squares for dimension. I love the shadows that it creates to enhance the cute heart detail!

The XOXOX tag is created by die cutting the tag that is included in the new Pencil Treat Holder Confetti Cuts. I die cut it twice and glued it together using liquid glue to create a sturdy piece. The sentiment is from the new Words of Love stamp set and I also used it for the heat embossed sentiment under the puppy panel.

I added some red and white Baker's Twine to the tag for some added detail and interest. I added a Stitched Note and Frames Confetti Cuts to the background panel using additional foam squares. Once that was done, I was ready to put the rest of the design elements onto the card. I added some Crystal Glaze over the top of the puppy's heart and a pinch of crystal glitter. A few sparkling clear sequins finish off this Valentine's Day design!

My second card for today's hop uses the gorgeous new Farmhouse Wreath stamp set paired with some of my older favorites! I used the main panel from the Pencil Treat Holder Confetti Cuts as a decorative panel in the background. 

To begin, I stamped the wreath and extra flowers using black ink and then colored them with an assortment of alcohol markers. I used the coordinating Farmhouse Wreath Confetti Cuts to die cut the images. My mom and sister gave me a Gemini Jr. for Christmas which has made die cutting so much easier! I am loving it! Thank you!

I die cut the background using the Stitched Scallops Cover Panel and then layered the Darling Dots Pattern Paper over the top. As I mentioned before, I used the Pencil Treat Holder Confetti Cuts to cut the Aqua panel and added it to the card front. I stamped "hugs and kisses", which is from the So Very Lovely stamp set, using black ink.

The piece that the wreath is attached to is die cut using the Rounded Stitched Window Confetti Cuts. I added the wreath and additional flowers using foam squares. 

The sentiment, which is from the Words of Love stamp set, is heat embossed in silver onto a vellum strip. I wrapped it around the card front and secured it with scotch tape. Some glitter and sequins finish off this floral card!

My third and final project for today uses the new Pencil Treat Holder Confetti Cuts. I bought some Ghirardelli squares that came in a two pack, so they are a little bit bigger than usual, so I tweaked the treat holder to make it work! I'll show you in the photo below!

You can see the double size chocolate package in this photo. For each treat, I die cut the treat holder twice and then cut the bottom portion off. I scored the cut edge at 1/4 inches on each one. I folded it and then secured two of them together using ScorTape. You can see a finished one on the right. I put two glue dots on the back of the chocolate packages and secured them on the inside of the treat holder.

If you look closely on this photo, you can see the XOXO sentiment stamped in red for a tone on tone look on the background. Once that was done, I had fun creating the tags. I die cut the Fold Over Window Tag Confetti Cuts, two from Kraft and one from Red. I made three treat holders in total, so I needed this combination of colors.

I stamped the "happy valentine's day" sentiment at the bottom using the So Very Lovely stamp set. Each tag has a piece of the darling Sweet as Sugar paper under the circle. 

The tags are secured shut using foam squares and then I added another sentiment strip over the top of the circles.

As you can see, I also added a coordinating pencil inside each of the treats. I bought some at the Dollar Tree and plan on making some with JUST pencils for my kiddos to take to school (that is, IF they are doing an exchange this year).

The projects were such fun to make! Don't forget to head to the other designers' blogs to see their darling creations! Thanks for fluttering by!

 Reverse Confetti Blog

Amy Kolling

Michelle Short

Tricia Barber

Kelly Lunceford

Lisa Henke

Jenny Colacicco

Kathy Schweinfurth

Jane Trivedi

Amy Rohl

Jeanne Jachna

Rebecca Keppel

Julee Tilman

Audrey Tokach

Kavya

Becky Roberts

Candice Fisher

Amy Tsuruta

Cheiron Brandon

Deanne Kuntz

Pinkfresh Studio {Celebrate}

Hello friends! I hope you all had an amazing New Year's Eve and New Year's Day! We took things easy, but my mom brought some fireworks for New Year's Eve, which was fun, and something we could do socially distanced! It was nice to get some fresh, crisp air and ring in the new year! How about you? Any fun plans, or low-key like us?

My first post for the year is bright, fun and sparkly, which is what I hope for 2021! ha ha! I wasn't quite ready to put away my holiday/Christmas stamps, so I chose to use the fabulous gift boxes from the Gift Boxes Cling Stamp and the Pop-Out: Gift Boxes coordinating die. I inked them up in some of my favorite bright colors to evoke that birthday feeling!

The background is die cut using the Essentials: Slim Diagonal Stitched Plaid die. It reminds me of wrapping paper so I felt it was the perfect choice for a subtle, but interesting background. I layered the Essentials: Slim Stripes over the top that were die cut in white and then I added some ink using a blender brush. This set the stage for the sparkly letters that are die cut using the AMAZING Lea's Ornate Lowercase alphabet dies. It was so easy to line them up using the inked strips in the background. 

I also added a circle for added detail and it gave me an excuse to add a purple bow, because you know how much I love them! ha ha! I added a sentiment from theSimply Sentiments: Hello stamp set to enhance the birthday vibe!  I tucked it with all of the gift boxes and then added some color coordinated Jewels. 

This was such a fun card to make and I loved using all of the bright colors! Thanks for fluttering by!