Friday, July 1, 2016

Inspiration Week: Introducing Fishtail Banners II Dies + Giveaway

Hello & welcome to the last day of inspiration week.  All of our new items for July are now available for purchase in our online store.  We've put together some bundles to save you money and don't forget you can use the code "SAVE5" to save $5 on all orders over $49.  It's our way of helping you out with shipping.  ;)

Today we are featuring our new Fishtail banner II dies which are a follow up to our original Fishtail Banner dies.  These can be used together with the originals or on their own.  They come with scallops on both sides of the "v" for two unique looks and standalone stitched and dotted lines that can go solo or be paired with either scallop.  :)

Up first I have a card using the scalloped edge to create a diamond.  I started with by cutting the center diamond in white and then worked my way out from there using a rainbow of colors.  To save on paper I just created V's and hid them below the other layers.  A ran the stitched border through as a separate pass in my die-cutting machine so that I could get the two dies closer than I would have been able to if I ran them through at the same time.  When I was done I realized I hadn't left space to add a full stitched "v" to my white piece so I hung the corners off the edge of my cutting plates so it wouldn't pierce my paper all the way to the edge. I finished my card with a simple stamped sentiment from Sunny Sentiments.  :)

Sunny Studio Stamps: Fishtail Banners II Rainbow Card by Mendi Yoshikawa

Up next is a card featuring a similar scalloped edge, but this time joining them together to create the look of a cute closure.  To embellish my card I turned to our new Baby Bear stamp set.  I thought it would be fun to create a sweet group of babies all in different outfits.  Before adhering my pieces, I inked up my card base with Tumbled Glass Distress ink and then repeatedly stamped the little diaper pin (that is designed to be added to the baby's diaper) in a random pattern.  I like the little splash of color and subtle pattern it gives my finished card.  
Sunny Studio Stamps: Fishtail Banners II & Baby Bear Adoption Card by Mendi Yoshikawa

For my next card, I used the new fishtail banners II to create a pennant style shaped card.  I started by folding a 4.25 x 11 piece of white cardstock in half to form my card base.  I then used the dies to cut through the front of my card and then closed my card and used the first cut to position a second cut for the back.  It's possible you could do this in one pass, but I was using really heavy cardstock and didn't want to take my chances.  

For my card front, I cut another 4.25 x 5.5 panel from white cardstock and cut it along the bottom using the original Fishtail Banner dies.  I then inked it up with Worn Lipstick distress ink and used the sprinkles images from our new Sweet Shoppe stamp set to stamp a subtle tone-one-tone background. I pulled my focal point images from that same set and then completed my card with a banner from our Sunny Borders set inked up in Vintage Sepia distress ink.  I was searching for just the right sentiment to fit the space and ended up piecing one together using the word "birthday" from Comfy Creatures and the "sweet wishes" from Sending My Love.  :)
Sunny Studio Stamps: Fishtail Banners II & Sweet Shop Doughnut Birthday Card by Mendi Yoshikawa

For my last card I used the dotted banner on it's own to create a subtle stitched chevron pattern for my card background. I love how classy and sophisticated it feels!  To create my three little pennants I inked up strips of cardstock with Worn Lipstick, Tumbled Glass and Fossilized Amber Distress inks and then cut the ends using our original Fishtail Banner dies.  I finished off my card with a little pineapple and hibiscus grouping from our Tropical Paradise set.
Sunny Studio Stamps: Tropical Paradise & Fishtail Banners II Chevron Card by Mendi Yoshikawa

As I was working on my background I snapped a picture for your to see how I lined things up.  I started by using my grid ruler to sketch in some light pencil lines 1/4" apart.  By using a clear grid type ruler it made it super quick and easy (if you don't have something like this in your stash I highly recommend it--It's one of my favorite supplies). I also added a line down the center to help ensure I was lining the tip of my "v" in the center each time.  I then used the lines to guide me on where to place my die each time.  When I was done, I just erased my pencil lines.  While this isn't something you'd want to do for mass produced Christmas cards, I actually was able to do this fairly quick and I love the results!


Sunny Studio Stamps: Fishtail Banners II Stitched Chevron Card Tutorial

I've put together a free printable for you to download HERE giving you some ideas on how these banner dies can be used.  We will be having a sketch contest using them in early September so make sure to stay tuned.  ;)
Sunny Studio Stamps: Fishtail Banner II Dies Card Sketches

Here's a side by side comparison of the new Fishtail Banner II dies next to the originals...


Sunny Studio Stamps: Introducing New Fishtail Banners II dies     Sunny Studio Stamps: Fishtail Banner Sunny Snippets Dies


Also, just a reminder that today is the final day of our $20 gift certificate giveaway.  You have until midnight tonight to enter today's contest as well as all our contests from the previous four days.  Winners will be announced tomorrow morning.  I hope you will stop by our store to see the full reveal in our New Arrivals section.  :)





52 comments:

  1. Oooh, oooh, oooh! I'm the first to comment! This is just one of the best ever releases! I literally LOVE everything! So hard to stay within budget!

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  2. The fishtail banner dies are wonderful!!Such pretty cards and love the fun use of the dies!! I am with Brenda Cannova....one of the best releases ever!!
    Enjoy your long weekend.Happy 4th of July too!
    Have a blessed day,
    Migdalia
    Crafting with Creative M

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  3. Amazing cards and thanks for the free printable download! Can't wait to add this die to the first fishtail dies.

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  4. Great release! Many beautiful products! I want all of them! I plan to do a lot of cards, I've been working like crazy and I haven´t had much time to do what I like most.

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  5. Fabulous release...!! Great products...love the dies...💕💕

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  6. Fun! Love these....I use my original Fishtail Banners frequently!! My summer is filled with my son's lacrosse tournaments, but he has one near Niagara Falls at the end of the month, so that will be our mini summer vacation!

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  7. Love love the fishtail banner dies! Thanks for sharing all the ways you can use them.

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  8. Love these dies! Summer trips include many lacrosse tournament trips to Chicago and Columbus and annual family vacation to the Jersey Shore, Lavallette to be specific. Have been going there since 1970 when my parents bought a beach cottage. Now my kids love it too! No big crafty plans other than trying to craft every day!

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  9. Super cute Mendi...I love the idea of not doing the full banners in different sizes but instead putting the variety in the styles of banners offered! so fun!! TFS!

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  10. Love the fishtail banner die!!! I have the first one and use it all the time!! I am vacationing in my craft room, putting on some tropical music, organizing and creating!!

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  11. Great cards today--and love the sketches! This summer we are planning a vacation and get to reconnect with some old friends!

    Chris L.

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  12. A great release! I don't have many plans for the summer, just a trip to Sedona (about 3 hours away) later this month. It's really too hot in Arizona to do much outside.

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  13. Oooh I bet these banner dies would come in handy often! This has been an awesome release! My husband and I are planning to buy our first house this summer. The market here in Dallas is crazy right now, so it's not been an easy process so far but I'm optimistic. In August we're going to Iowa for my husband's family's annual family reunion.

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  14. What great ideas you are sharing with us Mendi! and such cute release! Our plans for this summer : I think we will go to Italy , my sister live there(and since we didn't see her in long time) and near her is the sea, we will go there !

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  15. These are so cool!
    What a great touch
    to add to designs.
    We just finished
    our family reunion
    and we have a archery
    shoot in two weeks.
    We went on a zip line
    a week ago also.
    Carla from Utah

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  16. Love these new dies! We are doing lots of fun stuff with the kids including going to a beach!

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  17. Love, love, love! I am hooked on dies - thank you for the awesome sketches you provided and the gorgeous inspirational cards by your designers! My plans this summer are to take a few day trips around the local area and also get a start on my Christmas cards! Hate to scramble in November/December! Thank you for a wonderful release - I've enjoyed each and every day! Thank you for the giveaways too - super excited about them!

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  18. LOVE the new fishtail banner dies! I have the first set and must get the new one too. Thanks so much for all the great ideas and the opportunity to win!

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  19. Love the fishtail banner dies and the examples for using them. This entire release is awesome Mendi!

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  20. These new fishtail dies are fabulous. Your cards are beautiful.

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  21. The fishtails are like the coolest things ever!!! They are so versatile.
    Just look at all the fab samples and designs you have shared.
    Happy 4th of July!

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  22. These cards are all so COOL - you have used these dies in such creative and super clever ways!! I just want you to know how impressive this release is and just how much I love what you are doing - Your cards are so precise, so perfect, so excellent and extremely AWESOME!! You have hit a HOME RUN with this release!! AS far as Summer plans - I wish I was going to WA, but I have Girls Camp with my Church group and then we are hoping to tale a little trip over to Denver, CO. And then in the middle of August I get to go to LET'S CREATE AT DOODLEBUG!!!! Yippee, so excited!!!

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  23. WOW this is extra versatile. I especially love the subtle effect of the dotted fishtail background! Love the new release. Hugs.

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  24. Love the cards. They are so happy and fun.

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  25. Wonderful dies! The cards are all FABULOUS!!!

    As for Summer plans....don't have anything specific :-D Just soak in the summer 1 day at a time ♥

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  26. I already took a road trip to Alaska and I'm almost done making a mini-album.

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  27. I am enjoying my first Grandbaby that lives too far away!

    Great release thanks for the chance to win!
    ~God bless

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  28. Love these banners. No trips planned but the grandchildren love to visit and craft with me.

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  29. Love these new fishtail banners....wow...so many great examples..thanks so much....

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  30. OH each of these cards are full of color and brightness and cheer! This summer, we plan to enjoy our homestate with 'stay cations' as we can't afford to leave to anywhere else, LOL- sometimes the joy of your own backyard is just as fun! And I can catch up on my stamping :) Thanks for the chance!

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  31. I absolutely LOVE the cards you have shown here!!! Have you made any videos showing the process? I would watch them if they are available. I can learn things better watching a video or live presentation than just by reading the instructions. Thanks so much for the inspiration!

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    1. Thank you Denise. I'd really love to start doing that some more, but sadly I don't have a minute of spare time to capture and edit videos with all the other hats I'm wearing at the moment (I'm currently a one-woman show). ;) I'm looking into a special camera mount though so hopefully I can at least add one or two per release in the near future. :)

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  32. I love the Baby bears and all of your stamps and dies. They are all so cute and work so well. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  33. Love the fishtail banner dies and of course your cards are amazing!

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  34. Super cute donuts!!! The new dies are awesome!

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  35. Super cute donuts!!! The new dies are awesome!

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  36. I'll be spending summer at our holiday home in the Yorkshire Dales (UK) making a patchwork quilt for my mum in laws Christmas gift as well as doing lots of cardmaking. Then in September we are heading for Florida for three weeks! Can't wait - its our holiday (vacation) of a lifetime!

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    1. That sounds wonderful! I think you will be glad you waited for September. We're taking a trip to Florida mid-summer and I'm wondering what I was thinking with the crazy high temps. ;)

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  37. Love all these fun sample cards! Awesome stamps and dies!
    No big plans this summer, but when it gets hot sometimes we head over to Lake Tahoe for a couple of days. It's cooler there and takes only about an hour and 45 minutes to get there! A beautiful spot to enjoy!

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  38. No plans. It is winter in Australia now. Perfect time to sit by the fire and craft! Love your stamps

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  39. OMG love, love these fishtail dies!!!! Definitely on my "need" list! LOL! To your question, we are celebrating our 30th anniversary that's in October by taking a trip in August. We are going to Rome, getting on a 5-masted sailing ship (Royal Clipper) stopping along Italy's coast then across to a few stops in Greece, ending up in Athens. We can't wait!!!!!!!

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  40. These dies are really cool. My summer plans include... Relaxing (I do not work in the summer :) Working on my paper crafting techniques and finding my niche for my blog / You Tube channel.

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  41. Thanks for your give away. Next weekend I get to see my grandson play in Little League state tournament. The rest of the summer hopefully will also be spent with kids and grandsons. My favorite thing.

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  42. Love these dies and the creations made with them! My summer plans are making memories with my family going to the beaches and theme parks, as well as a lot of music concerts.

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  43. My summer plans include a family reunion held in Gatlinburg TN in a huge cabin in the mountains!

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  44. Beautiful products! I'm currently on vacation with my family off to Minnesota to visit my mom. Can't wait to get on the boat!!! :)

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  45. Beautiful cards!!!! So much talent my friend! Love your new fishtail banners with the scallops!!! I can see the possibilities!!! Again sorry I haven't been around to visit lately, been extremely sick but on the mend! Miss you!!!! We need to catch up!
    Hugs,
    Jo
    xox

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