Introducing Santa's Helpers: Holiday Themed Pet Cards

Hi there!  Today I have another pet inspired stamp set to share with a holiday spin called Santa's Helpers.

For my first card I created my card base using a 5-inch circle die from Lifestyle Crafts Nesting Circle set.  I simply cut two of them, scored one along the top and adhered it with some good strong adhesive to the back side of the front circle.  To help it stay upright I cut a little sliver off the bottom of the back circle as well.

My images were colored once again with Copics and fussy cut, although they too will have a die set available to spare you the hassle if you prefer.  The dies are actually really cool because they come with loads of extra stand alone dies like words and shapes such as holly and snowflakes!

For my colors I inked up my pieces using barn door and mowed lawn distress ink.  I love how cute the kitty and puppy look paired together!

For my next card I lined up several kitties in stockings.  I love making them look like they are all hanging in a row.  I added some small gold brads to the little stocking loops as an extra detail.

The sentiment was the perfect size to fill the space I had leftover along the bottom of my card, but you could also cut it apart to fit onto two lines to extend your options.

Here's a look at the full Santa's Helpers stamp set used for both of today's cards (available for purchase on September 8th):

I hope you've been enjoying these little peeks so far.  I can't wait for you to see all the amazing projects the gals are putting together for our grand opening blog hop on Tuesday!  :)

Introducing Furever Friends: Kitty Cat Cards

Hello there!   Today I am excited to share some ideas using the first set I created called Furever Friends.  I love that you can completely change the look of these kitties just by the way you choose to color them!

For my first card I thought I would try one of my favorite color schemes:  Black, grey and pink!  I started by coloring in my images with copic markers and then fussy cut them out.  For those who dislike cutting things out by hand there will also some cool matching dies available.  ;)

I inked up my background using Spun Sugar and Worn Lipstick distress inks and then adhered my images and stamped my sentiment with VersaFine Black Onyx ink.  When I had those placed just the way I wanted them I set to work stamping the open hearts from the set (and a tiny one borrowed from the Harvest Happiness set) to frame them.

For my next card I chose to go with another favorite color combo of mine using soft blue and brown together.  I couldn't decide which color to go with for my kitty so I decided to stamp three of them so I wouldn't have to choose.  For the middle kitty I colored a random calico pattern with my Copic Markers and then used my .3 mm Copic Multiliner pen to trace the edges of my pattern.

My background was inked up using Tumbled Glass distress ink and a Tsukineko Jumbo Dauber.  The sentiment was stamped with Hero Arts Cup O' Joe Shadow Ink.

This particular image is extra special to me because I quickly sketched it of my own kitty as he sat hogging my desk space while I worked.  He was laying in this exact pose next to my warm keyboard and I was so giddy I was able to capture his personality on my first attempt.  In moments like these, I swear God was literally guiding my hand as I drew.  ;)

Here's a look at the full Furever Friends stamp set used for both of today's cards (available for purchase on September 8th):

Thanks for hanging with me today.  :)

Introducing Harvest Happiness: Autumn Blessings Card

Today I would like to formally introduce the new Harvest Happiness stamp set.

For my card I created a little scene using the pumpkin and leaf images from the set which I colored with Copic Markers and fussy cut.  I will admit cutting out these little leaves made my eyes cross and were largely responsible for inspiring me to release a line of dies with my debut (that and the skinny little Turkey and Owl legs).  ;)

My background was a created through lots of trial and error.  I really wanted to create a multi-colored background picking up all the colors of the leaves, but it just wasn't coming together the way I imagined.  I actually was close to pulling my hair out with how bad it was looking.

To try a miraculous rescue I ended up spritzing the whole piece like crazy with water, soaking up some of the darker mucky colors with a paper towel, hitting it with my heat gun and sponging on some more Ripe Persimmon and Spice Marmalade distress ink over the top.  In the end I actually love the layered, modeled look of it all and how it compliments the pumpkins.  I thought I would share my experience in case you're ever feeling like your project is also a hot mess.  With a little perseverance & experimenting you can frequently turn things around.  ;)

Here's a look at the full Harvest Happiness stamp set used for today's card (available for purchase on September 8th):

I hope you've enjoyed the sneak peeks so far.  I will be back tomorrow with some more fun reveals.  :)

Birthday Smiles: Sending A Smile Your Way Banner Card

Hi there!  For today's card I thought I would share how versatile the Birthday Smiles stamp set is and how well it works for everyday cards.

This card focuses on the little banner and pennant images which I colored with my Copic markers.  Since I knew I would be fussy cutting these out, I had a blast really coloring outside the lines (big time) and focusing my efforts on quickly blending the colors instead.  With the straight lines I had them colored and cut out in a matter of minutes which was awesome.

For my background, I finally experimented with my new Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers.  I added a bunch of water to my Ranger watercolor cardstock panel and then just went to town layering the ink from the Zig markers.  I have much to learn and I must admit that I don't know if my perfectionist personality is well suited for watercolors, but after a little patting with a paper towel I was satisfied with it.

I have another confession... That little sentiment on the cloud punch was my way of rescuing this card from the trash bin.  I sadly made a mess of stamping it directly on my background with the textured surface.  It still feels a bit out of place to me, but I'm happy I was able to find a way to make it work.  ;)

Here's a look at the full Birthday Smiles stamp set used for today's card (available for purchase on September 8th):

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I hope you have a happy Monday!  :)

Happy Home: Victorian New House Card

Hello there! I'm back today with another idea using the Happy Home stamp set.  For this card, I thought it would be fun to color the Victorian home image as a pretty pink lady.  ;)

To ground my image I created a little scene contained within a 3" x 3" square (and matted using Spellbinders Classic Scalloped Squares dies).  I stamped the clouds on masking material and fussy cut them out to apply to the background before inking it up.  For the grass I repeatedly stamped the grass stamp image to form a continuous border..

The tree is a sneak peek of a free digital stamp set I will be sharing at the grand opening blog hop on September 8th.

For my pink background, I inked it up with Spun Sugar distress ink and then used that same ink to stamp a random pattern with the little flower image in the set.

Here's a look at the Happy Home stamp set used for today's card (available for purchase on September 8th):

Thanks for visiting.  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!  :)

Introducing Birthday Smiles: Cupcake Trio Card

Hi there!  Today I have a card using the new Birthday Smiles stamp set.  For my card I decided to scraplift myself, using a card I previously created and shared on my personal blog HERE.

This particular stamp set is chocked full of tiny little images and sprinkles to layer on the cupcakes and ice cream cone images.  I decided to stamp those mini sprinkles in random patterns on the 2-inch circles I had sponged with the same color of ink to create perfectly coordinated patterned paper.

For my cupcakes, I colored them in with Copic markers and fussy cut them with my scissors.

And for once I actually remembered to leave out my Copics so I could share the colors I used.  ;)

Here's a look at the full Birthday Smiles stamp set used for today's card (available for purchase on September 8th):

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I hope you're day is sunny!  :)

Introducing School Time: Cards For Teachers & Students

Today I have two cards to share using the School Time stamp set.  I'm sure it will be evident in no time at all, but I adore bold, bright colors so school themes have always appealed to me. These images bring the scent of fresh school supplies to mind.  Maybe it's the nerd in me, but I seriously can't resist taking in the sweet smell of a fresh box of pencils, crayons or pink pearl erasers!

For my first card I inked up my background using a mix of Festive Berries and Fired Brick Distress Ink and then stamped over the top using the same fired brick ink with the apple image in the set to create a patterned paper of sorts.

To form a base for my design, I stamped the notebook paper image three times in pale blue ink and fussy cut them.  I then stacked it with the ruler image which I airbrushed with my Copic marker.  The pencil and apple were also colored with copics.  As a finishing touch I added a coat of Glossy Accents to make my apple shiny.

My next card focuses on the crayon image.  With my love for bright & happy colors, crayons in rainbow colors hold major appeal for me (and of course there's something special about a fresh box of new sharp crayons, right?)

I colored them in with my Copics and then heat embossed my sentiment on a black semi-circle which I layered the crayons around.  For the bottom of my card I used Doodlebug's Petite Prints patterned paper and another airbrushed ruler.

Here's a look at the full School Time stamp set used for both of today's cards (available for purchase on September 8th):

Thanks for hanging with me today.  :)