Hip hip hooray! {Purple Onion Designs}

Hi, crafty friends. I’m back with another card featuring stamps from the newly released A Special Day collection, illustrated by Stacey Yacula for Purple Onion Designs. This time it’s one with lots of the cute critters in the collection.

I stamped and masked all these critters. From left to right we have Bonnie, Bernard, Petunia, Gillian and Faye. The tree stump is from the woodland floor set, also new in this collection, and once I’d colored all my images, I even masked off the tree stump so I could airbrush a blue sky behind them all.

There are two sentiments that come with Petunia that you can stamp in the banner. One is the hip hip hooray!, which I white heat embossed, the other says Happy birthday! This card is a bit of an odd size. I needed it big to fit all my images, and it measures 7 1/4 x 5 1/16″. I probably could have trimmed off a little bit on the sides and on the bottom (or top) to make it an even A7 size, but this is what I wound up with. I’ll probably make my own envelope to fit anyway.

Lots of Copics used for this one. I tried to make the colors of the critters different even though I have two brown ones and two gray ones. I love the Copic range of earth tones and gray tones, it really does allow you the option to create different colors within the same color family.

It’s your day {Mo’s Digital Pencil}

Hi, crafty friends and welcome to Summer. Can you believe it’s June already? Where has the time gone? In the spirit of this first summer month, I’ve made a summery card with a summery image. 3 on a bench from Mo’s Digital Pencil is one of those stamps that you can get as a merged image or as the separate components that make up the scene. This particular one consists of three kids sitting on a bench, each enjoying their own snack. I’ve used the separated version for my card, and I’ve used the bench and the girl with the big wedge of watermelon. There’s also a boy with a popsicle and a girl eating corn in the same stamp, but I opted for the watermelon alone today.

I printed the image towards the bottom left of my panel of X-Press It blending card and colored it with Copics. I’ve colored this girl once before, but I decided to go for a different color scheme this time, I think the only thing that’s stayed the same since the last card is the coloring on the watermelon. The printer doesn’t print all the way to the edge, so I cut off a little strip on the left side and decided to add a strip of yellow patterned paper from Papirdesign on the right to balance out the design and fill the front of this A2 card.

I also added a tiny piece on the left side to add a tiny bit of added interest. I adhered my panel onto a top fold card base I created from Buttercup cardstock from Concord & 9th. I used a die from Papirdesign (Hipp hurra, oval) to die cut the letters from the same color of cardstock and adhered them towards the top right corner of the card front. Onto a strip of Red Hot cardstock from My Favorite Things, I stamped a sentiment from the A06 stamp set from Norsk Stempelblad AS using VersaMark ink and white heat embossed it using super fine detail embossing powder from Ranger, before adding two additional layers of cardstock behind it for a bit of dimension and adhering it to the card. I added a few enamel dots from the Pocketful of Sunshine pack of enamel dots from Altenew, and my super simple card was finished.

And as usual, I finish with the Copics I used. Quite a few for this super simple image, I reckon.

It’s your Birthday {Crafty Meraki}

Hi, crafty friends. Crafty Meraki is turning 2!! They asked me to guest design and I have a fun birthday card to share today featuring a couple of products from their anniversary release.

I used one of the dragons in the Flamin’ Birthday stamp set for the focal point of my card. I stamped it in Copic friendly ink, colored it with Copics, then stamped on top using VersaFine Onyx Black ink to get crisp, black lines. Copics and VersaFine don’t play nice together, so you need to do the stamping after you’ve finished coloring. I use my Misti to make sure I stamp in the exact same spot as the first stamping.

I fussy cut around the image leaving a thin white border. There’s a set of coordinating dies to go with the stamp set, but I don’t have it, and fussy cutting this one was simple enough.

I added a thick coat of modeling paste through the Birthday Balloons stencil on a piece of Sno Cone cardstock from My Favorite Things that I’d cut down to 3 1/2 x 4 3/4″. Once I’d slathered on the modeling paste and before it had a chance to dry, I quickly sprinkled distress glitter Rock Candy over the top for a glittery balloon effect. Once dry, I lightly sanded the rough edges and mounted the panel to the center of a top fold A2 card base using foam tape. Lots of foam tape, I’m not shy with my foam tape.

Using 1/16″ foam squares, I added my colored dragon towards the bottom center of the card. I added a little bit of liquid glue to make sure it really adhered to my glitter balloons, I didn’t want it coming off at any point. I didn’t have the right shade of cardstock to match my tealy blue coloring, so I colored a scrap strip of X-Press It blending card using one of the markers I used for the bow, before stamping and white heat embossing a sentiment from the Flamin’ Birthday stamp set. I cut it to fit the sentiment, added a couple of strips of cardstock behind it for dimension and stability and adhered it to the present.

I finished off the card by adding a few sparkle gems. These are from the Green Illusion mix, and they’re really fun because they change color depending on how you tip them in the light. I love that there are many sizes in the mix, and the smallest ones really are tiny at 1.5 mm.

Last, but certainly not least – the colors I used for this cute dragon present. BG05 is the color I also used on the sentiment strip.

Life is better with friends {Rachelle Anne Miller Creative Studios}

Hi, crafty friends. Today I’m sharing a super simple card featuring the Bunny & Guinea: Ladybug stamp from Rachelle Anne Miller. The stamp actually comes with a sentiment, which you can leave off if you want, but I thought I’d make it easier on myself by having it there. That way I didn’t have to find one myself to add to the card once I finished coloring.

I printed the image in the center of a panel of X-Press It blending card and colored it in with Copics.

I used the largest die in the Wonky Stitched Rectangles STAX die set from My Favorite Things to create a little bit of interest on the edge of my panel.

I adhered the panel to a top fold A2 landscape card base I created from Bright Buttercup cardstock from Papertrey Ink. The yellow border around the edge picks up the yellow of the flowers and makes them pop.

I added a few yellow sequins from the Seashore mix from Little Things from Lucy’s Cards around the image and sentiment, and my card was finished.

The end result is a very mail friendly card without a lot of bulk. The sequins add a tiny bit of lift off the base of the card, but not much.

Simple color palette for this one.

Hugs from the heart {Lee Holland Design}

Hi, crafty friends. I’m back with another dragon card to share. This time it’s Dragon with three flowers from Lee Holland that is front and center on my card.

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of Lee’s Dragons, and this one holding sunflowers was begging for a blue/yellow combo. Once I’d colored the image with Copics, I used the second largest die in the A2 Stitched Rectangles STAX 1 die set from My Favorite Things to give the panel a nice finishing edge. I adhered it to a card base I created from Cornflower cardstock, also from MFT.

I die cut a heart from Bright Buttercup cardstock from Papertrey Ink and stamped a sentiment from an Inky Wings stamp set in the center using Cornflower ink from My Favorite Things. I added the heart using foam tape and then a few sequins from the White Orchid Sequin Mix from Little Things from Lucy’s Cards to finish off this simple card.

Let’s Celebrate {Purple Onion Designs}

Hi, there. I have another card to share today featuring the newly released “A Special Day” collection illustrated by Stacey Yacula for Purple Onion Designs. This time I’ve focused on The Prickles, which was the first image I noticed and really wanted to use from this collection.

I stamped the image using Extreme Black ink from My Favorite Things, before creating a mask, adding that on top and stamping the woodland background using Fadeout ink from Inkon3 for a no line look in the background.

I colored in my scene using Copics and stamped a sentiment from the older Everyday Blurbs stamp set using Poppin’ Pink ink from My Favorite Things. I then fussy cut around the speech bubble stamp, leaving a thin white border and popped it up on some foam squares for dimension to finish the card.

Last, but not least – the Copics I used. I also used B30 (which is a color I’ve created myself) for the sky in addition to B32.

Have a joyful day {Rachelle Anne Miller Creative Studios}

Hi, crafty friends. I’m sharing a simple card today, featuring the Bunny & Guinea: Balloon image from Rachelle Anne Miller. It’s an adorable one, and I can’t resist a stamp with a balloon in it. And definitely not one that also includes cute critters.

I printed the image with the accompanying sentiment and made it bigger than what I normally color. I wanted the focus to really be on this stamp.

I colored the image with Copics, then used a die from the A2 Double Stitched Rectangles STAX set from My Favorite Things to create the faux stitch look around the edge that I really enjoy having on my cards.

I adhered the panel to a card base I created from Pure Poppy cardstock from Papertrey Ink.

The red cardstock matches the red balloon and really makes it pop.

To finish the card I added Sparkling Clear sequins from Pretty Pink Posh here and there. These are my favorite sequins, and they’re near impossible to find in stock anywhere. I need to get some more soon, though, I’ve almost run out.

Last, but not least; the colors I used for this. The ones on the bottom row were all used for the balloon. I went a little overboard on the balloon.

Time for a little happy dance {Purple Onion Designs}

Hi, crafty friends. It’s time for a happy dance, because there’s a new stamp collection out from Purple Onion Designs, illustrated by Stacey Yacula. You know how much I love Stacey’s style, and she’s been illustrating stamps for Purple Onion for 10 years, which is reason to celebrate. A Special Day is a collection of stamps focusing on celebrations and milestones. If you have an occasion that needs to be celebrated, this is the collection for you.

My first card with images from the release is this one. I love creating birthday cards, so this collection is right up my alley!! Using Extreme Black ink from My Favorite Things, I stamped and masked Hugh (snail), Sage (mouse) and Dylan (bear) before stamping the mushrooms and the tree stump from the woodland floor set, as well as the woodland background. I colored in my scene using Copics, then stamped the sentiment from the Let’s Celebrate sentiment set using VersaFine Onyx Black ink. The stamp was perfect to nestle into the clearing between the trees.

I cut down my colored panel ever so slightly and adhered it to a top fold A2 card base I created from Stamper’s Select White cardstock from Papertrey Ink. I love that little 1/16″ border around the edge.

I kind of thought I’d use a whole lot more Copics for a full panel card, but I admit I love the orange color with the teal and the bright green, it’s such a classic color combo for a reason.

For a limited time, you can purchase this collection as a bundle with a 30% discount for $130.00.  The “A Special Day” bundle consists of all 28 stamps/stamp sets & the coordinating “Let’s Celebrate” sentiment set.

In celebration of Stacey’s 10th year illustrating stamps for Purple Onion Designs, the entire “A Special Day” collection will be 10% off when purchased individually.  The bundle will not receive the additional 10% off since it is already discounted 30%.

The special bundle price and the 10% birthday discount will run for 2 weeks and end on Wednesday, June 8, 2022.

It’s your day! {Mo’s Digital Pencil}

Hi, there! It’s been a while. I’ve been busy for the last few weeks replacing old windows, but we installed the last window today. Finally!! There’s still lots of work to be done, but I’m happy that the windows are all in and things can somewhat return to normal. Enough blabbing, you’re not here to read about windows, I’m sure. I have a clean and simple birthday card to share today, featuring this Baby Fairy Purl image from Mo Manning.

I colored the image with Copics, die cut the word HURRA from my panel using a die from Kort & Godt and the largest die in the A2 Stitched Rectangles STAX 2 set from My Favorite Things for the faux stitching to frame the image. I printed a second image to put behind, so the ball of yarn is continuous throughout the word.

I adhered my panel to an A2 card base I created from Berry Sorbet cardstock from Papertrey Ink. Onto a strip of the same color cardstock, I stamped and white heat embossed a sentiment from Huldra Designstudio, added a couple of additional layers of cardstock behind it for dimension and embellished with a couple of sequins from Pretty Pink Posh to finish the card.

Not a whole lot of colors used for this one, it’s a simple image, after all.

Hi! {Sweet November Stamps}

Hi, crafty friends. Today’s card is one of those where I focus on the smaller images in a stamp set.

I used the Flutterbee Tullia stamp set from Sweet November Stamps. The stamp set has one main image (a little girl sitting), a sentiment and six smaller butterflies. I’m only using the butterflies for this card. I stamped all the butterflies twice and colored most of them with two tone blends with Copics.

I fussy cut each of the butterflies right up against the stamped lines, going over the cut edge with a black pen so no white core would show from the sides. I then took a thin Copic multiliner to make the bodies of the butterflies more solid black (I suspect I might need a new black ink pad because my current one is starting to get dry).

I added the butterflies to a 3 1/2 x 4 3/4″ panel of Stamper’s Select White cardstock from Papertrey Ink, lifting the wings and adding tiny pieces of 1 mm foam squares to the back of them for dimension. I didn’t want these to be flat. On some of the butterlies, I added 2 mm white pearls from Kort & Godt to the bodies.

The sentiment is from the Flutterbee Skye stamp set. I stamped it in VersaFine Onyx Black ink in the center of my white panel and covered it in Iridescent Sparkle embossing powder from Judikins, before heat setting. I mounted my white panel onto a card base made from Vintage Cream cardstock from Papertrey Ink.

The sparkle of the embossing powder is visible in this photo, as is the wonderful lift the wings of the butterflies get by using tiny pieces of foam tape. I colored one more butterfly, but there was no more room on the front of the card, so I adhered it to the back of the card above my “Handmade by Elin” stamp.

Not a lot of colors for this one, though I did use the yellow ones for all the two toned butterflies.