Gina K Designs February 2020 Release...Guest!

Hello, my friends and welcome back! I'm super excited (and honoured) to be a part of the Gina K Designs February release!  All the amazing new products are available now and you can find them here!!

I've used the new Woodland Whimsy Stamp Set which was illustrated by the oh-so-talented Lisa Hetrick. If you're not familiar with her stamp sets, you can find them all right here!  Her style is so unique and so beautiful!

I've created three different cards using the set and will share them over the next few weeks! Today, we'll start with this one:

 I chose one of the flower stamps as well as one solid leaf and one open leaf leaves images. Using Fog Ink from Simon Says Stamp, I stamped a random pattern onto a white panel. I decided to add some dots to fill in the pattern even more so I used the Lots of Dots Stamp Set from Simon. Once the stamping was done, I used a rectangle die to cut out the middle portion.

I have to admit, I didn't really think this plan through too well. My intention was NOT to do no-line colouring. I should have used a darker ink. But, at this point, I thought I'd see where this ended up! On the centre portion, I coloured up all the open images with alcohol markers. I did not take my time with this. As I laid the colours down, the basic shape of the flower appeared. No two are coloured the same. I actually love the way it turned!

I stamped the large sentiment right over top of the colouring using a darker shade of grey ink. I adhered the uncoloured, frame portion to a white, A2 cardbase and popped up the inner portion with some craft foam.

I added a few clear gems and called this card done!  I really hope you like it!

Thank you so much for stopping by! Be sure to visit again, as I'll have more to show you using the stamp set!

Please visit the Gina K Designs shop to check out all the fab, new products!

See you soon!

Laurie

February Pinkfresh Studio Challenge!

Hey, hi, hello there and welcome back! Today, I'm sharing a card I made for the current challenge over on the Pinkfresh Studio Challenge Blog.

I received some brand new items from their January release and was dying to have a play with them! Speaking of a new release, they are releasing a bunch of gorgeous background stamps today! They have some very unique designs and I may just have to "take a look" aka "add to cart".

Okay, let's have a look at the card I made! It's very clean and simple but I've added a few, subtle details to step it up a notch.

I just had to use the new Curvy Floral Vine Stamp Set. This is a simple layering set that is just beautiful. TIP: I die cut first, then stamped. I don't usually do it this way but I was having some issues having the die fit properly after I stamped the image. **This is NOT a flaw with the products! Photopolymer stamps are flexible so sometimes while placing it on your block or in your MISTI, it can shift slightly. And while it's easy to manipulate the stamps to line up, if you're off just by a little, the die will not line up.**

I used the smaller banner shape from the Essentials: Ornate Banner Die Set on a piece of white cardstock. I have a homemade stencil that easily lets me ink blend a heart shape. I used a light yellow ink.  To add a bit more detail to the banner, I flipped it over and using my scoring board, added score lines every 1/4 inch.

To add a bit more detail to flowers and leaves, I took a slightly darker shade of pencil crayon and added some simple flicks. This made quite a difference!  I used the Curvy Floral Vine die and cut it from white cardstock 3 more times. I adhered all those layers together including the stamped image. This created some nice dimension. For putting everything together, I stamped the sentiment in the middle of the heart using a dark, grey ink.  This sentiment comes from the new Leafy Decor Set. This stamp set is packed with awesome sentiments!!

I adhered the florals to encircle the heart. I foam mounted the focal banner onto an ivory card base that measures 3.75 X 5.25 inches.  I added a few pink jewels from my stash to add a bit of sparkle.

And that's it!  I hope you enjoyed my little process today!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Laurie

"Galentines" Blog Hop for Scrap N Stamp Canada!

Hi and welcome to the Scrap N Stamp monthly blog hop! We are celebrating "Galentines Day". This is a fun take on Valentines where you make cards for your girlfriends!  Valentines Day can be a rough day for some people so this is a great way to spread some cheer.  What's really nice about this theme is that is doesn't necessarily have to love. It can be a simple "thinking about you", "thank you" or "hello"!

I've made a couple of cards using the Friendship Bloom Stamp Set. This is a collaboration set with Hero Arts and Gina K Designs. I highly recommend this set if you like florals. The main image is massive and the sentiments are amazing.

I white heat embossed the entire image onto a piece of Bristol Smooth paper.  For the colouring, I actually used some GinaK Designs. These are dye inks that come in beautiful colours! I used the Autumn and Summer Assortment set of ink cubes. 

When the colouring was done, I cut the image in half and trimmed the pieces down to fit 2 cards. This purple is my favourite!

But this pink is pretty fabulous, too!

I foam mounted each floral piece with foam tape. Each of the sentiments come from the You Get Me Stamp Set, also from Gina K.  This is a small, affordable set that has THE best sentiments that would make any girlfriend smile!

To finish each card off, I added a few colour co-ordinated sequins from my stash.

PRIZES:

There will be one lucky winner of a $50 gift certificate to the Scrap N Stamp Online Store. All you have to do is leave a comment on each stop of the hop for your chance to win! The winner will be announced on the SNS Blog on February 18th, 2020!

FACEBOOK CHALLENGE:

For another chance to win, you can upload a creation with this months theme to the SNS Facebook Challenge Page. Use #SNSCHALLENGE.

BLOG HOP LINEUP:

Tara

Amber

Sandie

Laurie (that's me!)

Kia

Nancy

Susan

Chala

Deb

Thanks for hopping along with us! Thank you in advance for all your lovely comments!

Laurie

Pinkfresh Studio January 2020 Challenge

Welcome back! Today, I've joined in the first challenge of 2020 over at Pinkfresh Studio and it's a super fun one!  For this challenge, you can choose any of the challenge themes from 2019, fun right?

I chose October's theme...Circle Elements.

Now, I currently don't own much Pinkfresh Studio but let me tell you that I have remedied that!  I've recently placed a couple orders to beef up my stash! And I'm so excited!! I've really been loving Pinkfresh for awhile and can't wait to get all my goodies!  But enough rambling, let's have a look at what I've made!

I used the Braided Circles Die set to be the focal point on this birthday card. I coloured and fussy cut a couple of images from the Party Animals Stamp Set. This is an older set that has been discontinued.

The "hooray" comes from the Essentials Classic Words Die Set. If you're looking for a set of word dies, I highly recommend this set. It comes with any sentiment you'll ever need. Plus, the font is beautiful and there's a shadow die for each word! It's an amazing set! I used Picked Raspberry Distress Ink to add colour!

One of the first PF sets I got was the Dainty Botanicals Set. I love this set as it is filled with lovely, filler images that are great for almost any card! I thought the greenery would fill in this circe nicely.

Before adhering all the bits and pieces, I added a little blue ink to the top of the circle for a bit of contrast.  I used liquid adhesive for the greenery and foam adhesive for the critters.  I die cut the "hooray" 3 times from scrap, white cardstock and adhered them all together to give the die cut some dimension.

The sub sentiment comes from the Playful Animals 1 Set. This was another great set and I'm sad it's no longer available.  I used an embossing folder from my stash on the front of the card base and foam mounted the focal circle.

A few sequins finish this card and I love the way it turned out.

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

Laurie

Snarky New Year Blog Hop ft. Taylored Expressions!

Hello, friends and welcome back to our monthly blog hop for Scrap N Stamp Canada! This month we have a fun one..snarky/sarcastic cards!

I've used a bunch of Taylored Expressions goodies on my project. This brand has some of the best (and cutest) stamps and dies out there...in my humble opinion:).

When creating a card with a snarky or sarcastic sentiment, I always like to pair it with super cute critter images or florals. I think this combination works well and adds to the humour of the card.

I white heat embossed the Rainbow Waves Background onto a piece of white cardstock. I made my own stencil by using a Stencil material I found on Amazon along with a heart die set.  Taylored Expressions has a new, amazing line of masking stencils like the Oval Set but I really wanted a heart shape!

I lined up my homemade stencil over the heat embossed panel and using sponge daubers, I added a rainbow of colours. I used:  Picked Raspberry, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Twisted Citron, Peacock Feathers and Seedless Preserves Distress Inks. After pulling off the stencil, it revealed this gorgeous heart rainbow!!

The super cute pegasus (I think) image is also from a stamp and die set from Taylored Expressions called Dreamer. I coloured that sweet thing with Copic markers.

I used one of the awesome sentiments from the TE stamp set called Shenanigans. This little set has some of the best sarcastic sentiments in it!! This particular sentiment is one stamp but I was easily able to trim it into small strips. It was a toss up on white on black or black on white but this won out in the end!

I trimmed the inked panel down before foam mounting the critter and the sentiment strips. I used a grey card base and added some Nuvo Glitter Pen and Crystal Glaze to portions of the pegasus!

I had so much fun with this card that I made a VIDEO!!  You can watch it HERE!!

Thanks for joining us! If you'd like to play along with the Snarky New Year Challenge, please visit our Facebook Page to enter your creation! We love to see what you come up with!

This month's prize is one $50 gift certificate to SNS online store. All you have to do is leave a comment on each stop of the hop for a chance to win! The winner will be announced on January 21st on the SNS Blog. Also, we have New Year's coupon code that is good until Sunday, January 5th and gives you $20 off any purchase of $75 or more!! Use code SNY20 at checkout.

Here is the complete blog hop lineup:

Tara (SNS Shop)

Laurie (that's me!)

Susan 

Kia

Deborah

Nancy E

Sandi

See you soon!

Laurie

MFT Weekly Sketch Challenge #469

Hello, friends and welcome back! Being on Christmas break is always nice because it gives me time to sit and create! Although, after making all those holiday cards my creative juices flow a little slowly. That's why I like to participate in challenges. I find that by looking at a colour palette or sketch can trigger an idea. And this weeks Sketch Challenge from MFT Stamps did just that!!

I followed the sketch closely but did switch a couple of things! That's the beauty of these challenges. You can follow it exactly, flip it around or switch out shapes! It's wherever the creative process takes you!

I used the second large Stitched Mini Scalloped Rectangles to house my little scene. I coloured the adorable little girl and her basket of flowers from the Bring Out the Sunshine Stamp Set and used the co-ordinating dies to cut them out.  On the scalloped panel, I used the Drifts and Hills Stencil to create a little grassy hill for the girl to stand on.

Instead of the clouds from the sketch, I die cut 3 hearts using the Infinity Heart Dies from Hero Arts and used my alcohol markers to colour them.

I adhered the panel and the hearts on a white card base with liquid glue and used foam adhesive to adhere the girl, the flowers and the sentiment. The sentiment comes from the Essential Sentiments Set and was stamped onto a speech bubble die with the little tail cut off.

I just had to add some white gel pen details to a few areas as well as some Nuvo Crystal Glaze!!

Thanks for dropping by! 

See you soon and...stay awesome :)

Laurie

My Creative Time 98th Edition Release Blog Hop and Sale!!

Welcome this month's blog hop for the 98th Edition Release from My Creative Time!!  Even though this is a smaller release, it will have you covered for Valentines Day and beyond! Stay tuned to the end of this post for details on the Freebie and Sale as well as the full hop lineup!!

For my project today, I've used the Freebie Die for this month! It's the Fun Sized Heart Bow Die and it is adorable!! I've also made a shaker card, which I rarely do!!

I used and modified one die cut from the recently released Jar Treat Die to create a shaker.

This was very easy and I'll show you how!  Die cut the stitched layer of the jar, twice. Simply cut around the inside of one of the die cuts to create a frame. It doesn't matter that the top is open as this will have foam tape to seal it off. 

It can also be ugly under there as the "fabric" topper of the jar will cover it :)! On the second die cut (the one not cut up), I inked some light blue ink around the edges as well as adhered some die cut hearts directly on it. The sequins will shake around but the hearts will remain in place. I like this because there will always be something floating in the jar.

After the sequins were in place, I added the frame portion, with the acetate attached, one top. I pressed everything together to make sure it was sealed well.

The Fun Sized Heart Bow Die is actually a great size to decorate the jar!  I just went with a simple white bow to really contract against the pink jar topper.  I stamped a sentiment from the Jar Treat Sentiments onto a white circle cut using one of the smaller dies from the Bunch of Fun Circles Die Set.

I made a 4X4 inch card and embossed the front of it using a polka dot embossing folder. I adhered the jar and sentiment to the card base with a combination of liquid glue and foam tape. And that's the finished card!!

There are two other sizes of Heart Bow Dies in this release and they are all just as sweet!! 

BLOG HOP LINEUP:

Emma (My Creative Time)

Emily

Gaylynn

Jessica

Kendra

Laurie (ME)

Ruthie

BLOG HOP GIVEAWAY!!

For our blog hop giveaway, Emma is giving a $25 gift card to the My Creative Time Store to ONE lucky winner!  All you have to do is leave a comment on each of our blogs. You are not required to comment on every blog but the more you comment, the more chances you have of winning!! Very important:  Please leave a way for us to contact you (with your comment) just in case you are the winner!!

FREEBIE!!

Starting today, Friday, December 13th, 2019 at 8am PST, we will be giving away these adorable new "Fun Sized Heart Bow Die".  This new set will be given to the first 25 shoppers!  It will be automatically added to your package during packing/shipping. Once the 25 shoppers have gone through, this die set will be available for purchase!  So, if it's available in the store, you are not one of the first 25 shoppers.  No exceptions will be made.  The "freebie" is NOT part of the bundle and will be sold separately.

SALE ALERT!!

Don't forget!! Our sale starts right now at the My Creative Time Store!!  Use the code DEC2019 at checkout to receive 15% off your entire in-stock purchase!! The sale ends on Friday, December 20th 2019 at midnight PST!!

On a sad note, this will be my last post for My Creative Time as I've decided to step down from the Design Team.  This wasn't an easy decision as I love Emma, her products and the fabulous group of ladies on this team. I want to thank you all who have left the most amazing comments on my posts, I appreciate you more than you know!! Take care, my friends!!

Laurie

Here's a look at this months release:

Be Mine

Love Letter Die

Fun Sized Heart Bow Die (FREEBIE)

Small Heart Bow Die

Medium Heart Bow Die

Thank you so much for hopping along with us!! Happy Shopping!