Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Inspiration Week: Introducing Quilted Hexagons & Cute As A Button

Hi there!  Thank you for joining me for our second day of sneak peeks as we count down to our fall release coming out on Friday.  :)

Today I have two fun new sets to share that play nicely together called Quilted Hexagons and Cute As A Button.  A while back a sweet customer emailed me asking me to create a quilt-themed set and it sparked something in me so I totally ran with it.  ;)

First up, I have a card using both sets with a happy rainbow color scheme, along with our previously released Color Me Happy Stamps and Color Word die.  The Quilted Hexagons come with a row of stitched hexagons and a second row of hexagons that allow you to build on the first row.  You can then fill in the spaces with the different patterned hexagons in all your favorite colors and patterns.  Sunny Studio Stamps: Quilted Hexagons You Color Me Happy Rainbow Card by Mendi Yoshikawa

I love that the backgrounds don't have to be perfect to still be beautiful.  For both my first card and my next card, I stamped all of these freehand with no stamp positioning tool.  The patterns are busy enough that no one is going to notice if you don't have them stamped perfectly centered and it adds to the homespun feel.  :)

For my second card I incorporated a row of buttons using the Cute As A Button stamps which come with 7 sentiments that play on the word "sew", along with two layering buttons, a layered needle and a stitched heart.  I have to say my heart skipped a beat the first time I saw the buttons layered together--They truly look 3-D without any of the bulk, making them perfect for putting through the mail!
Sunny Studio Stamps: Quilted Hexagons & Cute As A Button Sew Thankful Red, White & Blue Card by Mendi Yoshikawa

For my third card, I was inspired by THIS quilt.  I found for this particular card it was easiest to line things up by using my MISTI (using the instructions outlined below) and the coordinating dies for this set.  This pattern utilizes a stamp that has three of the six sections of the hexagon and then you turn your paper a half turn and stamp again with a lighter color. The image has a fine outline in the center to help you line up your second layer.  

I found once I got them lined up in my MISTI, I was able to stamp out all my colors rather quickly. I then was able to add the die-cut hexagons to my card with a glue pen in a fun, random pattern.  I just drew some light vertical pencil lines to help me keep my rows straight which I was able to erase after my background was assembled.

For my sentiment, I heat embossed my words with black glitter embossing powder on vellum, pairing them with the Sew Word die cut from black cardstock.  To hide my adhesive, I added a simple scalloped edge and sewed around the border to tack down the open side.
Sunny Studio Stamps: Quilted Hexagon You Are Sew Amazing Modern Quilt Inspired card by Mendi Yoshikawa


My next card uses the stamps in a more modern, free-form look.  To creat this card I started by stamping my sentiment in the bottom, right portion of my card and then stamped the larger hexagons, working out towards the far corners.  When I was done, I went back with the smaller hexagon from the set to fill in some of the spaces.  I finished off my card with some pearlescent sequins and clear jewels for a bit of sparkle.
Sunny Studio Stamps: Quilted Hexagons Pink, Navy & Blue Birthday Card by Mendi Yoshikawa

My next card uses more of the buttons to create a layered border that honestly would be quite bulky and difficult to achieve with regular buttons.  For the bottom half of my card, I blended on Worn Lipstick, Carved Pumpkin, Mustard Seed, Twisted Citron and Peacock Feathers distress ink, before going back over in the same colors and stamping a stitched border using the trail from our Backyard Bugs stamps.
Sunny Studio Stamps: Cute As A Button Sew Happy We're Friends card by Mendi Yoshikawa

For this card I created an overall pattern using the stamped and die-cut buttons.  It looks pretty cool here, but I honestly think it looks even better in person.  It begs to be pet with the optical illusion created.  I had one friend who kept feeling it, certain they were more dimensional than they really are.  ;)  
Sunny Studio Stamps: Your Are Cute As A Button Rainbow Polka-Dot Card by Mendi Yoshikawa

When stamping my buttons (and the hexagons on my third card) I found it easiest to first die-cut them from cardstock and then to create a template to slip them into so I could stamp them assembly line style using a stamp positioning tool like the Mini MISTI.  I then stamped the darkest layer first, going color by color and then followed with all my lighter colors.   Because circles are round, they obviously can rotate around in the template, but I found if I just did my best to line them up perpendicular that they generally lined up pretty well.


Sunny Studio Stamps: Using Cute As A Button Layering Stamps with Coordinating dies & Mini MISTI

For the Quilted Hexagon set, you really are only limited by your imagination.  For these patterns, they both started with a simple stitched background and were built into the two patterns shown here using the diamond and triangle stitched inserts.


Sunny Studio Stamps: Quilted Hexagons Triangle and Diamond Background Building Patterns

To help get your creative juices flowing, I have pinned some patterns and ideas of real hexagon quilts HERE.

Here's a full look at the new 4x6 Quilted Hexagon and 3x4 Cute As A Button clear stamps and coordinating dies available for purchase on Friday morning.  I made sure to also add the word "So" the regular way to expand the versatility of the set for everyday use.  :)

Sunny Studio Stamps: Introducing Quilted Hexagons Background Building 4x6 Photopolymer Clear Stamp Set     Sunny Studio Stamps: Cute As A Button 3x4 Photopolymer Clear Stamp Set with sewing themed sentiments and layering needle & buttons

Sunny Studio Stamps: Introducing Quilted Hexagons Coordinating Dies    Sunny Studio Stamps: Introducing Cute As A Button Coordinating Dies    Sunny Studio Stamps: Introducing the Sew Word die (to coordinate with our Cute As A Button Sentiment stamps)


I frequently am asked what ink colors I've used.  While I have used a variety of brands in my samples, there's a good chance you can achieve similar results with inks you probably already have in you stash.  I highly recommend stamping your inks out and creating a swatch book to aid you in choosing two inks that compliment each other.  These are the ones I happened to use here today from lightest to darkest:

Hot Pink
Colorbox Candy
Colorbox Pinkolicious
Colorbox Very Berry

Ranger Pink Gumball
Colorbox Guava


Red

Colorbox Strawberry
Colorbox Cranberry

Orange
Simon Says Stamp Orange Slush
Colorbox Tangerine

My Favorite Things Orange Zest

Yellow
Colorbox Lemonade
Colorbox Banana
Simon Says Stamp Orange Slush


Green
Colorbox Kiwi
Colorbox Tree Frog

Aqua
Colorbox Seaglass
Colorbox Ocean

Pale Blue
Colorbox Sky
Simon Says Stamp Blue Jay

Medium Blue 
Colorbox Poolside
Colorbox Wave


Royal Blue
Colorbox Moody Blue
Colorbox Atlantic Blue

Purple
Colorbox Grape Slushy
Colorbox Grape
Colorbox Imperial

I hope you've enjoyed today's sneak peek.  Would you like to win a $25 gift code to our online store to spend on some of the new sets?  Use the rafflecopter below to enter to win.  We will be giving away a new gift code each day for a total of five chances to win!  Contest closes on July 22nd at Midnight PST.  Winners will be announced on Sunday, July 23rd.  :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Make sure to check back tomorrow when I will be sharing another fun new stamp & die set. :)


Other Supplies Used Today:

Backyard Bugs Stamps
Backyard Bugs Stamps
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Colorbox Archival Dye Ink- Very Berry
Colorbox Archival Dye Ink- Very Berry
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Colorbox Archival Dye Ink- Grape Slushy
Colorbox Archival Dye Ink- Grape Slushy
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Sunny Studio

Monday, July 17, 2017

Inspiration Week: Introducing Barnyard Buddies & Missing Ewe

Hello & welcome to our inspiration week where I will be sharing sneak peeks of Sunny Studio's newest release for Fall coming out on July 21st!  I hope you will pull up a comfy chair and join me.  Make sure to scroll to the bottom to enter today's giveaway too!  ;)

Today I'm excited to introduce you to our new Barnyard Buddies and Missing Ewe Stamps and Dies!  I went through a "country" phase in the 90's where I was obsessed with cute cows and after that I received a million cows from thoughtful friends and family.  While I have parted with most of my collection, I still have a soft spot for cute farm animals.  ;)  

I don't know why, but the entire time I was designing this set, I had in my mind that I wanted to stack the critters and they didn't disappoint.  The set comes with a small section of fence that is great for repeating in scenes and using to layer in the distance.

Sunny Studio Stamps: Barnyard Buddies Greetings From The Funny Farm Horse, Pig, Sheep & Chicken Card by Mendi Yoshikawa

For my next card I used the little barn from the set, along with my beloved cow to create a fun, punny card.  To create a relatively flat card, I took turns masking off the sky line and dirt path before inking with my favorite jumbo dauber and distress inks.  Then to add a bit of interest, I stamped a border of corn stalks and the grass image, using some companion stamps that come with the set.  For my last finishing touch, I heat embossed the tiny white flowers and topped them with some Nuvo Dandelion Yellow Crystal Drops.  :)

Sunny Studio Stamps: Barnyard Buddies What's Moo? Handmade Cow Card by Mendi Yoshikawa

Up next is a card showcasing the leaping sheep from the 2x3 Missing Ewe set.  This set comes with several fun punny sentiments playing on the word "ewe", but for this card I wanted to go soft and sweet with a baby theme so I borrowed a sentiment from our Baby Bear stamps and the fence from Barnyard Buddies.  I inked up some Lawn Fawn cloud borders using my favorite Tumbled Glass distress inks and tucked my fence pieces in between.

Sunny Studio Stamps: Missing Ewe Counting Sheep Leaping Over Fences in Clouds New Baby Girl Card by Mendi Yoshikawa

For my next card I created another scene, this time focusing on the Chicken, eggs and baby chicks from the set...

Sunny Studio Stamps: Barnyard Buddies Chicken Funny Farm Card by Mendi Yoshikawa

For my last card today I thought it would be fun to color my horse with Copic Markers in princess colors and pair her with another fun set that I will be sharing later this week.  ;)  

To create my card I cut our Sun Ray Dies from masking paper and sponged on my rays using Spun Sugar and Shaded Lilac distress ink, before going over the entire card with a light layer of spun sugar.  I then cut the center out using Tonic's Scalloped Circle dies to form my shaker window.
Sunny Studio Stamps: Happy Owl-o-ween & Barnyard Buddies Princess Owl & Pony Card by Mendi Yoshikawa

The shaker elements on this card were cut out from glitter cardstock using a free mini star trio die that will automatically ship with each order placed on our website starting on July 21st (while supplies last).



Here's a full look at the new 4x6 Barnyard Buddies and 2x3 Missing Ewe clear stamps and coordinating dies available for purchase on Friday morning.

Sunny Studio Stamps: Introducing Barnyard Buddies 4x6 Farm Animals Photopolymer Clear Stamp Set    Sunny Studio Stamps: Introducing Barnyard Buddies Farm Animals Coordinating Dies

Sunny Studio Stamps: Introducing Missing Ewe Sheep 2x3 Photopolymer Clear Stamp Set    Sunny Studio Stamps: Introducing Missing Ewe Sheep Coordinating Dies

I hope you've enjoyed today's sneak peeks.  Would you like to win a $25 gift code to our online store to spend on some of the new sets?  Use the Rafflecopter below to enter to win.  We will be giving away a new gift code each day for a total of five chances to win!  The contest closes on July 22nd at Midnight PST.  Winners will be announced on Sunday, July 23rd.  :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Make sure to check back tomorrow when I will be sharing another new stamp & die set that I'm hoping you'll fall in love with as much as I have. ;)

Other Sunny Studio Supplies Used Today:

Baby Bear Stamps
Baby Bear Stamps
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Stars & Stripes Dies
Stars & Stripes Dies
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Sun Ray Dies
Sun Ray Dies
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Tsukineko Jumbo Dauber
Tsukineko Jumbo Dauber
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Sunny Studio

Saturday, July 15, 2017

Sunny Saturday Share: Customer Cards


How are you? I'm so excited to be popping in today with a Sunny Saturday Share. There have been so many amazing cards popping up on Instagram that have made my jaw drop so I couldn't wait to share them with all of you!  :)

Daffodil Dreams card by Emily Lauritzen

Sunny Studio Stamps: Daffodil Drams Card by Emily Lauritzen

Tropical Paradise card by Jessica McAfee
Thank you for sharing all these fabulous ideas with us!  I hope you will continue to share your gorgeous projects with us--It always makes my day to see them.  You can tag us on instagram with the hashtag #sunnystudiostamps or share your projects with us in our flickr group or on our facebook page. ☺

Sunny Studio Supplies Used:


Color Me Happy Stamps
Color Me Happy Stamps
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Color Word Die
Color Word Die
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Magical Mermaid Dies
Magical Mermaid Dies
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Magical Mermaid Stamps
Magical Mermaid Stamps
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Perfect Popsicles Dies
Perfect Popsicles Dies
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Perfect Popsicles Stamps
Perfect Popsicles Stamps
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Sock Hop Dies
Sock Hop Dies
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Sock Hop Stamps
Sock Hop Stamps
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That Sucks Dies
That Sucks Dies
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That Sucks Stamps
That Sucks Stamps
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Tropical Paradise Dies
Tropical Paradise Dies
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Tropical Paradise Stamps
Tropical Paradise Stamps
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Turtley Awesome Dies
Turtley Awesome Dies
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Turtley Awesome Stamps
Turtley Awesome Stamps
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Two Scoop Dies
Two Scoop Dies
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Two Scoop Stamps
Two Scoop Stamps
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Daffodil Dreams Dies
Daffodil Dreams Dies
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Sunny Studio
Daffodil Dreams Stamps
Daffodil Dreams Stamps
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Sunny Studio