How fun is the Fall/Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop? So many wonderful cards entered. I hope you are joining in!
I decided to create a holiday card, because it is time to get busy!
My card features an image from Cozy Vibes Coffee from Unity Stamps. I colored it with Copic Markers and went back in with the colorless blender to remove some of the color from the latte design. I also added some white gel pen to brighten it up. The sentiment is from Christmas Coffee Sayings by Impression Obsession. I stamped it with Momento Tuxedo Black Ink and then die cut it with a pennant die from Divinity Designs. I used some older punches to create my holly and pine accents. I splattered some white paint on the holly and pine to look like snow.
I’m linking this up to the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop and also entering it in the current Caffeinated Christmas Card challenge #cccc11.
I look forward to seeing your caffeinated creations!
I started by stamping my images in a Copic-friendly ink (I used Momento Tuxedo Black Ink) and then Copic colored them. Next, I used the coordinating dies to cut out my images and the scalloped frame to die cut my kraft panel. Then, I figured out where I wanted to put my images, so I could determine where to stamp the sentiment. I stamped the sentiment with Gina K Faded Brick ink. I adhered the cider mug, and added foam tape to the back of the coffee cup to add some dimension. I used the stitched square die to cut out a piece of polka dot patterned paper for the background panel. I then made a square card and adhered the polka dot and kraft panels to it. I think square cards are a fun alternative to an A2 card, don’t you?
Thank you for stopping by! Enjoy the hop and fingers crossed that you win a prize!
The latest Simon Says Stamp release, Holiday Sparkle, is live and you are going to LOVE it! Today I am featuring the new cling stamp “Christmas Star.”
This stamp is truly versatile and perfect for all of your holiday makes!
For my background, I sprayed Ranger’s Distress Mica Spray in Shiny Bauble and a bit of Merry Mint onto watercolor paper. I first misted the paper with water and then, layered on the mica spray. Let me tell you, that spray is magical! So shimmery and pretty! After it was completely dry, I inked up the cling stamp with embossing ink and then sprinkled on Ranger Snowflake Tinsel embossing powder. I decided I wanted lots of sparkle! After I embossed my background, I cut it down to 3″ x 4.5″. For my sentiment, I selected “Joyeux Noel” from Simon Says Stamp Reverse Christmas Wishes sentiment strips. Lastly, I adhered everything to a black panel and put it on a top folding A2 card base.
I loved the mica spray combined with this cling stamp so much, I had to make another card! I used the same process, but this time I only used the Merry Mint mica spray. Then, I heat embossed the stamp with Wow Metallic Platinum Sparkle embossing powder. Next, I cut the snow bank out of white card stock and stamped the sentiment in grey ink. I die cut the Simon Says Stylized Star from some matte silver card stock and adhered it to the background along with the snow bank. To finish, I adhered it to a top folding A2 card base.
I also made a quick and simple tag using the “Christmas Star” stamp set. Doesn’t the gold embossing look pretty on this dark green card stock? Stamping and embossing a 6 x6″ piece of cardstock allowed me to make multiple tags quickly. I die cut a small circle and scored it in the middle to create the topper to my tag. Once again, I used a sentiment from Simon’s Reverse Christmas Wishes sentiment strips.
I was challenged to create something other than a card with this cling stamp. So, I stamped it onto green paper with GinaK Fresh Asparagas ink and used my gold gel pen on the dots. This made adorable gift wrapping – especially with the gold bow!
I hope you are inspired to create some holiday crafts with big sparkle energy! Click here to see the entire new Holiday Sparkle Release https://bit.ly/3taLidE
The Simon Says Stamp Cozy Hugs release is live! There are so many great products for your seasonal crafting.
I am featuring projects created with the Simon Says Stamp Batty for You stamp set. This stamp set has an adorable bat and several fun sentiments. I am so excited to share these projects with you!
For my first project, I wanted to create a fun Halloween card. I began by stamping the bat parts out and then Copic Colored them. I used the following : 100, W8, W6, W5, W3 and R01. I did not have the dies, so I fussy cut my bat – It was super easy! I wanted to add some dimension, so I scored the wing along the printed lines, and gently folded them accordian style. I adhered the wings to the back of the bat body. I used a Sakura Black Glaze pen on his nose and Ranger Glossy Accents on the eyes to add some shine.
Next, I cut a 4.25 x 5.5 panel out of grey Kraft paper and ink blended around the edges with Ranger Black Soot Distress Oxide. I splattered Ranger Perfect Pearls to add some sparkle. I die cut stars and a moon out of metallic paper from my stash. I also cut a moon out of heavy black cardstock to layer behind the gold moon for dimension.
I played around with the layout of the card so I could determine where I wanted to stamp the sentiment. I stamped it, then adhered all of the elements to the background. Lastly, I adhered the whole panel to a top-folding A2 cardbase so it would be ready to mail.
I had so much fun creating the first card, I decided to make another one!
Card #2:
For my next project, I prepared the bat exactly as I did for the first project. I used the Simon Says Stamp Here for the Boos die for the sentiment. I die cut the words out of black cardstock, and the background out of purple cardstock. I left the whole purple die cut in tact, so I could layer the black wording on top of it. I love the added dimension this gives! I also adhered some foam tape behind the sentiment die cut and the bat so they would pop off the background.
For the background, I found some textured cardstock in my stash that I thought would look cool ink blended. I started with Speckled Egg Distress Oxide and then moved to Chipped Sapphire and finally, Villanous Potion. I went over these a few times to get the blend I wanted to acheive. Next, I die cut the panel with a Honey Bee Deckle Edge A2 die. I adhered it to a top folding, A2 panel and added my sentiment and bat die cuts. This card really came together quickly!
Project #3:
I love giving out a little something special to some of my favorite trick-or-treaters. So I decided to add the cute bat to some Halloween treats.
This time, all I did was stamp the bat parts with Versa Mark embossing ink and heat embossed with Brutus Monroe Alabaster embossing powder. (Glow in the dark embossing powder would be really fun for this too!)I fussy cut the bats again and folded the wings (I scored on the back of the wings so I wouldn’t mess up the embossing) for dimension. Then, I added googly eyes for some extra fun. Lastly, I adhered the bats to the candy with a pop dot. Don’t they look fun in the candy dish?!?
I hope this gave you some inspiration for creating your own Halloween creations with this new set from Simon Says Stamp.
For more card inspiration, please follow me on Instagram @maryredjr
I don’t know about you, but I really need to get a jump on my holiday cards. Every year I say I’m going to do it…but rarely do I actually fulfill it. This year I am teachig a class at the local papercrafting store and the theme for this month is Christmas in July. Lucky for me, I don’t have a choice but to start working on holiday cards.
This card features a wonderful stamp set from Dare2BArtzy. It is called Deck the Halls. I love the images as well as the sentiments.
For my card, I decided to go with a clean and simple layout. I really like how this one turned out! For my class, I thought it was a good card for students to practice their coloring skills by coloring the ornaments. Also, they could go with any color combination they chose, since the rest of the card is black and white.
For my ornaments, I colored with Spectrum Noir Tri Blend markers. I like how simple they are to use and that they take the guess work out of finding colors to blend together. I also added some silver gel pen details to the ornaments to make them even more festive. To give dimension, I added a cardstock layer to the square ornament and then a pop dot to the ornament in the foreground.
I hope this inspires you to start creating your holiday cards!
Did you know that July 1st is National Postal Worker Day? I just found this out a couple of weeks ago. It celebrates and recognizes postal workers and the hard work they put in to ensure your mail and deliveries arrive to you safely. I donāt know about you, but I really appreciate my mail carrier. I LOVE it when he brings me packagesā¤ļø
This is the card I created to participate in the July Wacky Holidays Hop!
Welcome to the July Wacky Holidays Hop! You know all those obscure things that earned themselves national days of recognition? We’re here to celebrate them! Who says only the major holidays get cards?!
This hop takes place on the first Saturday of each month on Instagram and we’d love to have you join us! DM @claires_card_on for all the info.
Please hop along with me and the below participants on Instagram as we celebrate all things July! @claires_card_on @emiliescardcreations @handmadebykanicky @joyinthemakingco @kellyannsanti @magymakes @love.builds_up.crafts @madewithlovebyterri @craftwithme101 @withlovebyamy @maryredjr @rp_shutterbug @savyakala @plum_trillium @kellys.craft @vr_handmadelove
I am also submitting this to the My Favorite Things color challenge #192.
Donāt you just love the colors of this challenge?!
To create this card, I used a retired stamp set called “You’ve Got Mail” from My Favorite Things.
I hope this post reminds you to thank your postman!
Today I am sharing a recent sympathy card I made. I was inspired by cards on the Pinkfresh Studios webpage and also the current Freshly Made Sketch Challenge #525. Here is the sketch:
I really like all of the texture I created with the different layers of die cutting.
For me, sympathy cards are difficult to make. It was nice to have a sketch for inspiration. Do you have a go to design for sympathy cards? Let me know in the comments.
I love how this turned out and that it feels a little Spring-like to me. I may send this as a valentine…who knows! I can tell you that I enjoy stretching my creativity by entering sketch challenges. Do you?
Today I am sharing a card I made for a friend who is going through a rough patch. I thought this Lawn Fawn set was the perfect choice and it is super cute and punny. I am also entering this in the Sunday Stamps current color challenge.
For this challenge I chose to use three of the colors from the options.
I hope this card makes my friend smile…and you too!
I woke up this morning to a winter wonderland! I guess it was time for snow since it’s already mid January. I am fortunate to have the day off, so I thought I’d join in some challenge fun.
I’m entering this card in the Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge and Freshly Made Sketches #518 Challenge. I think entering challenges helps stretch my creativity. Do you enter challenges? I hope so!
Thanks for stopping by and I hope you stay warm and healthy!
A Red Letter Day 