Rainbow Thinking of You Card with Create A Smile Stamps!

Hello friends and welcome!  Today, I made a rainbow "thinking of you" card featuring stamps and dies from Create a Smile Stamps.

I started by taking one of the banner dies from the Useful Banner Die Set and cut rainbow strips of card stock. I adhered the banners one by one onto a scrap piece of cardstock so it became one piece and easy to move around.

To add a bit of texture and interest, I chose a few of the solid images from the Wildflowers Stamp Set and heat embossed them with clear embossing powder. I love this look. It lets the background show through yet it also darkens the cardstock where it's embossed!

After a dry run of panel placement, I decided to clear heat emboss directly onto the card base as well. Hard to see but the texture is awesome!!

I used fun foam to adhere the rainbow panel. The sentiment is a combination of the You Twice Die and the All About You Stamp Set. In retrospect, I wish I had white heat embossed the "thinking of" but I'm still happy with the way this turned out!

Thanks so much for dropping by! See you soon!

Laurie

Spring Fling Challenge with Gina K Designs!

Hello and welcome back! Having a lot more time on my hands means being able to participate in card challenges!  I'm finding that being stuck at home has really hindered my creativity and these challenges are an awesome way to fire that mojo back up!

I'm playing along with the Spring Fling Challenge over on the Gina K Designs blog. You really need to check out the inspiration on that page...incredible!

I used the Bold and Blooming Stamp Set for my card today. This is the very first Gina K stamp set I ever got and was hooked ever since! 

I die cut a circle out of Strathmore Mixed Media Paper and lined one of the images along the edge to get just a partial image. I moved the stamp slightly and stamped once more. I made sure not to get the same part of the stamp! I used Versamark Ink and gold embossing powder.

It's been awhile since I used my Zig Clean Colour Real Brush markers so I whipped those out. This is such an easy way to watercolour. And fast!! Because the image is heat embossed, you don't have to worry about going out of the lines.

Once everything was dry, I gold heat embossed the "hello" which is also from the same set.  I layered the painted circle onto a Scalloped Circle Die from Lawn Fawn cut out of kraft cardstock. I love the way gold and kraft look together!

I popped the circles onto a 4.25 X 4.25 white card base and added a few clear sequins to finish it off!

Thank you so much for dropping by this morning! Be well and be safe!

Happy Easter!

Laurie

Woodland Whimsy...Gina K Designs

Hello!! Today I'm sharing my second card using the new Woodland Whimsy Stamp Set from the latest release from Gina K Designs.  This gorgeous set was designed by Lisa Hetrick and is just beautiful! You can check out all of Lisa designs, here!

I did one of my favourite techniques on this card, Copic colouring with heat embossing on kraft cardstock.

I first stamped that beautiful cluster of flowers onto a piece of kraft cardstock using a light, copic friendly ink. In the case, Memento Desert Sand. NOTE: A stamp positioning tool is key here as you need to restamp in precisely the right spot after the colouring is done!! I used some pinks and purples to colour the flowers and a couple greens for the stems. What I love about this technique is that you don't have to worry about the details. Because you'll be adding all those back when you heat emboss! When the colouring was done, I popped the panel back into my Misti, inked up the stamp with Versamark Ink and added the gold embossing powder. 

I used a rectangle die and did a bit of partial die cutting. I wanted the petals of the one flower to overhang slightly. This was easy to do. I lined up the die and only put the top cutting plate where I wanted it to cut. I used my Fiskars trimmer (with the guide wire) to line up the top and bottom cuts then trimmed around the flower with my scissors.

I heat embossed the sentiment in the same gold, embossing powder, foam mounted the panel on to an ivory, top fold card base and added a few sequins for a finishing touch. I love the subtle shades the markers give on kraft cardstock.

I hope you enjoyed today's clean and simple project using the new Woodland Whimsy Stamp Set from Gina K and Lisa Hetrick!

I have one more card to share using the amazing set so be sure to visit again!!

Laurie

Create A Smile Stamps Mood Board Challenge!

Welcome back, friends!!  Today is the start of another challenge over at Create A Smile Stamps! We've got a beautiful mood board to inspire you...

I took inspiration from the wood, wreath and the colour gold.  I started by breaking out the Wreath Builder Template from Gina K Designs (a must have, in my opinion) and the Floral Decorations Stamp Set.  Before creating my wreath, I used a circle die that matched up to the largest Postage Edge Circle Die. I wanted to make sure my wreath didn't get too big!

I chose a variety of images from the stamp set and created the wreath using Icing on the Cake Ink from Catherine Pooler Designs. The sentiment comes from the Decorated Wishes Add On Stamp Set, this is one of my all time favourite stamp sets!  I used Versamark Ink and Gold Embossing Powder from WOW.  I then used the circle die (same one I used for a guide), to cut around the wreath.

To create the gold Postage Edge Circle, I simply pressed the Versamark Ink pad around the edge and added the same gold embossing powder. I did this twice to get a nice smooth finish.  I decided to add a few gold heart to my wreath using a good ol fashioned acrylic block.

I foam mounted the circle onto an ivory card base that was dry embossed using an embossing folder from Stampin' Up.  I refrained from adding any embellishments :)

Thanks for stopping in today!  I hope you'll join us for this challenge! As always, you'll be playing for a €25 gift certificate to the Create A Smile Stamps online shop!  For more details, please visit the Create A Smile Stamps Challenge Blog.

Poignant Poppies Blog Hop (ScrapNStamp Canada).

Welcome to our monthly blog hop for Scrap N Stamp Canada! Being November, we've decided to use poppies as our inspiration!

Of course, poppies are a symbol of Remembrance Day. But can be used for so much more! Think sympathy, encouragement, hello or thinking of you cards! And don't limit yourself to the colour red! Poppies come in many colours!

I used the Inspiring Poppies Stamp Set from Gina K Designs along with one of my favourite techniques. And that it using alcohol markers along with heat embossing. Now, I'm uncomfortable using my pricey markers alongside embossed images because I'm scared it will ruin the tip of the marker, so here is how I do it.

I stamped out the image using Memento Grey Flannel Ink which is an alcohol marker safe ink. I made sure to use my Misti for this and leave the stamp on the door!

I did some quick colouring. No need to be fussy when it comes to blending as all the detail will be added later!  After it was coloured, I put the panel back in the Misti, rubbed it down with an antistatic bag, inked it up with Versamark Ink and used Metallic Copper Embossing Powder from WOW.

You can see here how all the lovely details are added back in. And that gorgeous embossing powder!

I then took some time to fussy cut the image. Tedious but so worth it!!  I used a stitched frame die from Lawn Fawn and cut it from white cardstock.  I attached the floral image with some behind and some in front.

Before adhering the flowers and frame to a white card base, I used a splatter image stamp from and older MFT set and stamped the front of the card base. I used Versamark Ink and the same embossing powder. Such an easy and mess free way to get a splattered background!

I die cut the frame from craft foam as well, to give some dimension to the card.  I adhered it down then placed some foam squares underneath the flowers.

The sentiment comes from the Inspiring Poppies set as well. I used a couple of pink inks to create a soft ombre look then fussy cut around it. I adhered it down with a combo of liquid glue and foam adhesive.

I love the clean and simple look of this card but with the added punch of that metallic embossing!

Thank you so much for hopping along with us! If you would like to play along with this challenge, please visit the Scrap N Stamp Facebook Page to enter your creation!

Here is the complete blog hop list!

Tara
Sandi
Nancy
Laurie
Deb
Chala
Susan
Kia

Make sure to stop and leave a comment on each stop of the hop for a chance at winning a $50 gift certificate to the SNS online store. Also, as an added bonus, all things Poppy related including stamps and dies will be 20% off this weekend only. Ends Sunday, November 3rd.

Circle Bursts...Your Next Stamp Preview!

I'm baaaack! Welcome, friends!  Today, I'm sharing a little look at another of the stamps sets coming in the new Your Next Stamp release!!  All sets will be available TODAY,  September 12th @ 11am EST , so be ready!!

This little stamp set is called Circle Bursts and is perfect for backgrounds and festive scene making!  You should never overlook these small sets. Not only do they have a great price point, they are often packed with images and sentiments!

I created a background using Tattered Rose, Dusty Concord and Chipped Sapphire Distress Oxide Inks. After the panel was dry, I used Gold Sparkle Embossing Powder from WOW to heat emboss the three circle burst images.  To add some fun interest, I used a few of the Circles-Piercing Holes Die Set to cut around each of the bursts. They fit perfectly!!

I coloured up the cute, singing rabbit from the new Birthday Song Stamp Set with alcohol markers and foam mounted him to the panel.  To give my rabbit some sort of ground, I used one of the Scrapworks-Strips Die Set to stamp the sentiment.

I love the way this card turned out and I love these Circle Bursts!  I hope you enjoyed todays preview!  Please visit the YNS Blog for links to all the amazing projects from the design team and guests!!

And here's a look at the fabulous deals!!

Thanks for stopping by!! See you soon!

Laurie

Create A Smile Challenge...CIRCLES!!

Hello friends and welcome back to another challenge for Create A Smile Stamps!!  It's all about circles. Who doesn't love a basic shape?  Especially, circles!!

I used a bunch of CAS products on this card. I basically went through every stamp set I have and looked for circles.  But real basis for this card comes from the Huge Polka Dots Stencil.  I used Catherine Pooler Inks in the colours Sweet Sixteen, Aquatini and Lime Rickey.  I used a Life Changing Blending Brush from Picket Fence Studio for the blending.

When the ink was dry, I heat embossed a bunch of circle images in silver.  The two largest circles come from the Hocus Focus set and all the other circles come from the Fine Ferns Stamp Set. I trimmed the panel down and adhered it to a light grey panel cut with a stitched rectangle die.

For the sentiment, I die cut the "you" from the You Twice Cool Cuts and used the Sweet Sixteen ink to give it some ombre style colour.  I took a co-ordinating sentiment from the All About You Stamp Set.  I heat embossed it onto a circle cut from a piece of polka dot vellum (from PaperTrey Ink, years ago!).  I simply manipulated the stamp to fit the circular shape.  I did layer the vellum onto a white circle die cut as well.  The sentiment just got lost without it.  I cut the "you" out of white craft foam for some dimension and added it to the circle.

I did adhere the sentiment circle with foam tape to separate it from the stencilled and embossed background!!

I hope you can play along with us!! I love seeing all creativity!!  Visit the Create A Smile Stamps Challenge Blog to enter!!

Thanks for stopping by! See you soon!!

Laurie

Create A Smile Challenge...Crafty Friends!

Welcome back to another Challenge for Create A Smile Stamps!!  It's a fun one this week and one we can all appreciate...Crafty Friends!  So get those CAS stamps out and start getting crafty!!

Create A Smile has a must have set in the store called Stamping Friends.  This set is perfect for creating something special for one (or all) of your paper loving buddies!  I used a couple of images from this set and combined them with a couple older stamp sets.

I started by gold heat embossing the gorgeous sentiment from the Happy to Call You My Friend Stamp Set.  I used the Heart Rays Stencil along with Seedless Preserves and Dusty Concord Distress Inks right over top of the sentiment.  I tried to centre it the best I could.  I cut down the inked panel using the second largest die from the Scalloped Rectangles Cool Cuts Set.

I stamped the ink blending tool and a few sequins from the Stamping Friends set.  The sequins were gold heat embossed right off the start and colour was added with the same Distress Inks.  I stamped the blending tool in a light Copic safe ink, coloured it and then added the embossing.  Jury still seems to be out on whether the embossing ruins your marker tips so I played it safe! Everything was fussy cut.

I foam mounted the images and it was at this point I decided to add the "creative" to the card.  This comes from the Same Frequency Stamp Set (which also contains some crafty images!). I simply masked off a portion of the stamp, inked and fussy cut around it.  I adhered the focal panel to an ivory card base...I am loving the white and ivory combination!!

To have the heat embossed sentiment stand out a bit more, I CAREFULLY added a drop shadow using some cool grey markers.  And that's it!!  

Can't wait to see what crafty creation you come up with!!  Please visit the Create A Smile Challenge Blog for more details but in the meantime, this is what you'll be playing for!

Thank you so much for stopping by today!!  See you soon!

Laurie

Your Next Stamp New Release Preview!!

Hello, friends!!  I'm so excited to be a guest for Your Next Stamp for their upcoming release!!  This is another amazing release, you will not be disappointed!!

For my card today, I used the new Fishy Background Stamp.  This is the most adorable stamp and will lend itself to a variety of techniques!

Of course, I just had to white heat emboss it and colour it in with my Tombow Dual Brush Pens for a simple watercolour look!

Aren't those rainbow fish so sweet??  The sentiment comes from the Snorkel Fun Fishy Stamp Set which is older but works perfectly on this card!!  I did some partial die cutting of one of the Scrapworks-Strips Dies to make a label for the sentiment.

And that's my little peak at just one of the sets being released TOMORROW!! Make sure you head to the YNS Blog for a look at all the design team and guest creations featuring goodies from this release!!

See you tomorrow for the big reveal and blog hop to celebrate!!

Laurie

Create A Smile Challenge...Friendship!!

Hello and welcome back to another Create A Smile Stamps Challenge!!  This one is an easy one.  It's all about friendship. Friendship cards are a favourite of mine to make because you can use so many different styles of stamps. Critters, florals, graphic...anything goes!

For my card today, I combined an older CAS set along with a new release set.  I heat embossed one of the leaf images from the new Fine Ferns Stamp Set.  I used Silver Pearl embossing powder for this.  This is one of my most loved embossing powder!  Because I used watercolour paper, the images are a light shimmery colour without being stark white.

I used my Misti for the stamping as it's super easy to create a mirror image.  To colour, I chose 3 different greens from my set of Tombow Dual Brush Pens.  I swiped some colour inside each leaf and blended it out with water.

For the sentiment, I used the Alphabet Sticker Set in the colour of Deep Sea.  This was my first time using these stickers and I love them!!  I stuck them onto a piece of the same watercolour paper cut with a Cool Cuts Scalloped Rectangle Die.

The small "wonderful" word comes from the All About You Stamp Set. The stamp actually says "are wonderful", but I masked off the "are" before stamping.

I added some glitter and Nuvo Crystal Glaze to the letter stickers, adhered that panel with foam adhesive and added a few clear sequins.  The entire panel was glued onto a white card base.

I hope you enjoyed my project for today and I encourage you to play along!!  Create A Smile Stamps has wonderful products you are sure to love!!

All the details are on the Challenge Blog but here is what you're playing for:

Thank you for stopping by today!!  See you soon!!

Laurie

Pink & Main and WOW Embossing Powders Blog Hop!!!

Hello crafty friends and welcome back!! Today is an exciting day as Pink & Main has teamed up with Wow Embossing Powders for a fabulous blog hop!!  This hop is jam packed with amazing inspiration from a ton of incredible designers so sit back, relax and enjoy the hop!!  If you arrived from the wonderful Kimberly's Blog, you are on the right track! If not, you can click here for the beginning of the hop!! Stay tuned until the end of this post for all the sweet details on how to win some awesome prizes!!

I was so excited to play with the Turkish Nights Embossing Glitter!! And let me tell you, it didn't disappoint!  It is so sparkly and gorgeous and worked perfectly for snowflakes. Non-traditional snowflakes, that is!

I stamped a bunch of snowflakes that are from the previously released P&M stamp set, Flurries. This is a chunky glitter so some details were lost but that didn't bother me at all!  I used the co-ordinating Flurries Dies to cut out each snowflake.  To continue on with this glittery theme, I die cut a "snowbank" using the Scallop Waves Dies and swiped the WOW Embossing Pad along the top to add  some shimmery snow.

To create a wintery background, I blended Shaded Lilac and Victorian Velvet Distress Inks onto my panel. I should mention that the panel was cut using the Cloudy Frame Dies but I only used the inner portion.

Not a super great blend (or photo, I apologize) but our beautiful snowflakes will cover most of that background!  I used the Snow Sweet Stamp set and co-ordinating dies for my focal image.  This set is filled with the cutest snow people, ever!!

I coloured these sweeties with my alcohol markers and popped them up on the blended panel.  All the snowflakes were adhered using liquid glue.

This stamp set lets you "build" your own sentiment so I chose "You're Snow Wonderful".  Because the snow is a bolder font, I was able to use the Turkish Nights embossing glitter on it as well!

I had "Snow Much Fun" (hahaha) making this card. Glittery snowflakes and cute snow people-can't go wrong with that!!

Up next on the hop is my super talented friend, Lynnea, who will knock your socks off!!

But before you go, check out how you can win some fabulous prizes!!

All you have to do is leave some love on each stop of the hop, easy right??! Pink & Main is giving away a $25.00 gift certificate to one lucky commenter and WOW Embossing Powders is giving away a set of 6 embossing powders with carry case!!! 

Winners will be announced on the Pink&Main and Wow Embossing Powders Blogs on Wednesday, October 22nd at 9:00 am EST.  Good Luck, my friends!!

Thank you for stopping in today...enjoy the hop!!!!

Laurie