Warmest Thanks

Hello there, I am over on the Hero Arts Blog today using the new Autumn Wreath stamp set. I thought the wreath would work well for a thank you card.

 

 

 

SUPPLIES:

Here are the links to what I have used on the card. Affiliate links are used on some products. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support when using these links. Please click on the logo below the product to shop at your favourite store. All products were personally purchased except those from Clearly Besotted, Hero Arts or those marked with an asterisk (*) which were kindly sent to me to use. You can read my full disclosure here.
 

 

COPIC MARKERS: Wreath leaves - YG67, YG63, YG61, BG78, BG75, BG72. Pine cone - E59, E57, E55. Acorn - E57, E55, E53, E50. Mushroom - R89, R39, R27, R24, E55, E53, E50.

 

For the details on how I made the card, please head over to the blog post here. Thanks so much for visiting me today. I hope you have a wonderful day!

Mama Elephant 7th Anniversary Stampede Day 1

 

Welcome to a very special Mama Elephant Design Team blog hop! We are celebrating 7 years this month with a fantastic new holiday release along with our amazing friends!

You can shop the newest release which is LIVE in our store now!

www.mamaelephant.com

 

 

I am delighted to be joining Mama Elephant their 7th Anniversary celebrations today. I have two projects to share with you using the wonderful new Oh Puppy Tree set.

 

For my card, I started off by creating the background. I wanted a sparkly, snowy scene so I first blended on a layer of Distress Inks on to a panel of white cardstock with blending brushes. I used Mermaid Lagoon and Blueprint Sketch for the first layers and then added some darkness at the top with Chipped Sapphire. For the sparkly effect, I spritzed over Sheer Shimmer Sparkle Spritz and then Distress Spray Stain in Picket Fence. The piece was then set aside to dry.

 

 

I took the puppy tree image from the Mama Elephant Oh Puppy Tree Stamp Set and stamped it on to white cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink. The image was then coloured with Copic Markers (the colours that I used are listed below the supplies area) and then die cut out using the coordinating dies.

 

 

I added the background panel flat to an A2 white card base with tape runner and then added the puppy tree on top with foam tape. I took the sentiment from the set and stamped this on to black cardstock with Versamark Ink. I applied white detail embossing powder and heat set. This was then cut out using the Mama Elephant Sentiment Strips Dies and added to the card with more foam tape. To finish off, I added Tonic Nuvo Aqua Shimmer Pen to parts of the image for even more sparkle.

 

Next up, I created two tags with the same design as the card. I cut the tag die from the Mama Elephant Basic Set Dies twice from white cardstock. I then blended Distress Inks on to them. For the blue tag, I used Mermaid Lagoon and Blueprint Sketch and for the purple one, I used Shaded Lilac and Wilted Violet. These were then spritzed with the same shimmer spray, as well as the Picket Fence Distress Spray Stain and set aside to dry.

 

 

I stamped the two individual puppies from the Mama Elephant Oh Puppy Tree Stamp Set on to white cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink. They were coloured with Copic Markers and die cut with the coordinating dies. I also die cut snowbanks for the puppies to stand on with the Mama Elephant Landscape Trio Dies and the hole reinforcer from white cardstock.

 

I took two sentiments from the Mama Elephant Mini Merry Messages Stamp Set and stamped these on to black cardstock with Versamark Ink. I applied white detail embossing powder and heat set. These were then cut in to strips.

 

 

I first adhered the snowbanks to the tags with tape runner and then added the puppies on top with foam tape. The sentiments were added on next, again with foam tape. I then adhered the hole reinforcer with liquid glue and added bows made with black twine on top. To finish off, I added Tonic Nuvo Crystal Glaze to the puppies noses.

 

VIDEO:

Here is the video showing how I created the card:

 

If you are viewing this post via email subscription, you can watch the video HERE on YouTube.

 

SUPPLIES:

Here are the links to what I have used on the card. Affiliate links are used on some products. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support when using these links. Please click on the logo below the product to shop at your favourite store. All products were personally purchased except those from Clearly Besotted, Hero Arts or those marked with an asterisk (*) which were kindly sent to me to use. You can read my full disclosure here.
 

 

COPIC MARKERS: Puppies - E59, E57, E55, E53 / C7, C5, C3, C1, C00 / E34, E31, E30, E50 / E27, E25, E23. Ears - R00, R000. Tongue - R21, R30. Top hat - C10, C8, C7, C5, YR17, YR25. Red areas - R89, R39, R27, R24. White areas - C2, C1. Gold areas - Y26, YR31. Birds - B04, B02, B00.

 

STAMPEDE + SHOPPING

 

The Mama Elephant 7th Anniversary Stampede continues over three days. To celebrate, there is 10% off the entire store, as well as shopping free gifts.

BLOG HOP + GIVEAWAY
 

That's not all! To celebrate this special Anniversary release, Mama Elephant is giving away ten $25 gift certificates to the Mama Elephant store. That is 10 winners! Winners will be chosen at random from the collective blogs in the 3 day Stampede. You have up to 4 chances to qualify to win!

» 1. Leave a comment on this blog post «

» 2. Like/share us on Facebook «

» 3. Follow/tweet us on Twitter «
» 4. Follow/leave a comment for us on Instagram «

(Each action qualifies for one entry, max 4 entries per stampeder please!)

Here are the designers for today. Please make sure to visit each of them and leave some kind words and comments!

Nichol Spohr 

Vera Rhuhay

Alberto Gava

Thi Lam

Jessica Frost-Ballas

Michelle Short - you are here :)

Jennifer McGuire

Mama Elephant

It is such a fantastic release so I hope that you will check it out. Thank you so much for stopping by today, I really do appreciate it. I hope you enjoy the rest of the hop and have a wonderful day!

Reverse Confetti September 2019 Release Blog Hop

Hello there, I am delighted to be joining Reverse Confetti to celebrate their holiday release today. It is a fantastic release and today, I am using two new stamps sets, along with a wonderful die. If you are following along in the hop, you should have arrived here from the amazing Amy, but if you get lost along the way, I have the full list of participants below.

 

PEONIES

 

My first two projects use the beautiful new Peony set. I started off my card by first stamping the flower from the Reverse Confetti Peony Stamp Set on to white cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink. I then made a mask for this and stamped two of the leaf clusters towards the top and bottom. The mask was removed and the flower and leaves coloured using Copic Markers (the colours that I used are listed below the supplies area). I then fussy cut the whole image out with scissors (there are dies but I wanted to keep the image whole for this design).

 

 

I took the Reverse Confetti Stitched Rays Cover Panel Confetti Cuts and cut this from white cardstock. This was adhered to the front of an A2 white card base with tape runner. The flower image was then added on top with foam tape.

 

 

I took the sentiment from the new Reverse Confetti Sentimentally Yours Stamp Set and stamped it on to black cardstock with Versamark Ink. I applied white embossing powder and heat set. This was then cut in to a strip and added to the card with more foam tape. To finish off, I added a scattering of Lucy's Iridescent Jewels.

 

Next up is an accompanying tag using the same sets. I first stamped the smaller flower image on to white cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and then coloured it using Copic Markers. I cut the image out using the Reverse Confetti Peony Confetti Cuts and adhered it to a Reverse Confetti Dashed Line Tag Confetti Cut, that I cut from white cardstock, with foam tape.

 

 

I then stamped and heat embossed another sentiment from the Reverse Confetti Sentimentally Yours Stamp Set and added that to the tag, again with foam tape. To finish off, I added a scattering of Iridescent Jewels as well as a twine bow at the top, held on with a mini clothes pin.

 

JOYOUS HOLIDAY

 

My next two projects use the wonderful new Joyous Holiday stamp set. I started off my card by stamping one of the angels from the Reverse Confetti Joyous Holiday Stamp Set on to white cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink. I then coloured her using Copic Markers (the colours that I used are listed below the supplies section) and cut her out using the Reverse Confetti Joyous Holiday Confetti Cuts. I set her aside while I worked on my background.

 

 

I first took a panel of watercolour paper and die cut this using the Reverse Confetti Stitched Squares Confetti Cuts. I then die cut this further using the wonderful new Reverse Confetti All the Stars Confetti Cuts. I took Distress Inks in Mermaid Lagoon, Blueprint Sketch and Chipped Sapphire and blended these on to the panel using blending tools. I then spritzed the panel with Sparkle Shimmer Spritz and set it aside to dry.

 

 

Once the panel was dry, I stamped the sentiment from the Reverse Confetti Joyous Holiday Stamp Set on top with Versamark Ink. I applied detail white embossing powder and heat set. The panel was then adhered to a 5" x 5" white card base with foam tape. The angel was added on top with more foam tape. To finish off, I added Gold Wink of Stella pen to the trumpet and halo.

 

Last but not least is a tag made using the same set but different images. I started off by stamping the mouse and tree from the Reverse Confetti Joyous Holiday Stamp Set on to white cardstock with black ink. I masked off the star from the top of the tree so that I could have the mouse be adding it on. They were coloured using Copic Markers and then die cut using the coordinating dies.

 

 

I took the Reverse Confetti Grid Stitched Tag Die and cut this from red cardstock. I then blended Distress Inks around the edge in Candied Apple and Aged Mahogany for some added depth. I cut a circle die from the green striped paper in the Reverse Confetti Sweet Stripes Paper Pad and adhered this to the middle of the tag with foam tape. I die cut  a further circle from vellum and added this on top, followed by the mouse and tree images.

 

 

I took the sentiment from the Reverse Confetti Joyous Holiday Stamp Set and stamped this on to black cardstock withy Versamark Ink, this time masking off the 'joyous' word. I applied white detail embossing powder and heat set before cutting into a strip and adding to the tag with foam tape below the images. To finish off, I added twine through the top of the tag.

SUPPLIES:

Here are the links to what I have used on the card. Affiliate links are used on some products. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support when using these links. Please click on the logo below the product to shop at your favourite store. All products were personally purchased except those from Clearly Besotted, Hero Arts or those marked with an asterisk (*) which were kindly sent to me to use. You can read my full disclosure here.
 

COPIC MARKERS: Peony - B28, B06, B04, B02, B00. Leaves - YG17, YG25, YG01. Angel skin - E13, E11, E00, E50. Hair - Y26, YR23, YR31. Outfit - BV34, BV01, BV0000. Wings - B00, B000, B0000. Halo and trumpet - Y28, Y26, YR31. Mouse - W5, W3, W1, R00, R000. Star - Y17, Y13, Y11. Tree - YG17, YG25, YG03, YG01, E57, E55, R89, R25, R27, R24, Y13, Y11.

BLOG HOP:

Here is the full list of participants in the hop today:

Reverse Confetti Blog

Amy Kolling
Michelle Short - you are here!
Tricia Barber

Kelly Lunceford

Becky Roberts

Lisa Henke

Heather Hoffman

Leanne West

Amy Tsuruta

Kathy Schweinfurth

Julee Tilman

Audrey Tokach

Jeanne Jachna

Susan Wymer
Deanne Kuntz
Samantha VanArnhem
Wanda Guess

Francesca Vignoli
Olga Matyushevskaya
Olga Moss

Ali Farmer

Therese Calvird

 

I am sorry that my post is so long today but I had a lot of fun playing with these products. Next in the hop is the fantastic Tricia. Thank you so much for visiting me today, I really do appreciate it. I hope you have a great time of the rest of the hop and a wonderful day!

VIDEO | Top 10 Tools For Cardmaking

Hello there, today I have a video to share with you that shows my top 10 tools that I reach for in cardmaking. I have done videos similar to this in the past and there are still some tools that I use on a daily basis that I didn't include in this video - bone folder, scoring board etc but I wanted to try and narrow it down to 10 for this video.

 

 

New additions to the list are brushes for ink blending, as you will see in the video, I still love the ink blending tools but have been really enjoying the brushes for a lighter coverage. Another new addition is the Tim Holtz Splat Box. I had been using a standard cardboard box for all my spraying and splattering but the Splat Box is helpful as the front is open.

 

Here is a look at my top 10 tools for cardmaking:

 

If you are viewing this post via email subscription, you can watch the video HERE on YouTube.

 

SUPPLIES:

Here are the links to what I have shared in the video. Affiliate links are used on some products. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support when using these links. Please click on the logo below the product to shop at your favourite store. All products were personally purchased except those from Clearly Besotted, Hero Arts or those marked with an asterisk (*) which were kindly sent to me to use. You can read my full disclosure here.
 

 

I would love to hear what your go-to tools are. Are there any that I have missed off my list that you love? Thanks so much for visiting me today, I really appreciate it. Have a great day!

Hero Arts September 2019 My Monthly Hero Kit Blog Hop + Giveaway

Hello there, today we are celebrating the release of the Hero Arts September 2019 My Monthly Hero Kit. The kit has a fun Halloween/Cabinet of Curiosities theme to it. For the hop, you should have arrived here from Mariana but I will have the full list of participants below.

For the hop today, I went with a completely different take on the kit. Although it is fun to get out of your comfort zone, I also find it fun to try and incorporate stamps that wouldn't usually be my style, into my style, so that is what I did today.

I first took the butterfly and moth stamps from the main kit stamp set and stamped them on to white cardstock with Hero Arts Intens-ified Black Ink. I coloured them with Copic Markers and then fussy cut them out before setting them aside to work on my background.

 

I took a panel of watercolour paper and blended Hero Arts Reactive Inks on to it, blending from the top to fade into white at the bottom. I used Lemon Drop, Creamsicle, Fruit Punch and then added some Berry Smoothie at the top to darken it a bit. I thought these colours would work well for autumn. I then spritzed the panel with water and allowed the reaction to take place. The piece was then set aside to dry.

 

Once dry, the panel was adhered flat to a Hero Arts Top Folding Dove White card base with tape runner. I then took the 'autumn greetings' sentiment from the main kit stamp set and stamped this on to Hero Hues Pitch Black Cardstock with Hero Arts Clear Embossing & Watermark Ink. I applied Hero Arts Detail White Embossing Powder and heat set. It was cut in to a strip and added to the card with foam tape. I then added the butterfly and moth with more foam tape. To finish off, I added a few Raindrops.

 

 

My next card is the card that I shared over on the Hero Arts Blog for the countdown. I really like the 'happy halloween' word die that comes in the kit and thought it would be fun to ink it up with Halloween colours. I used Creamsicle Reactive Ink, as well as Grape Slush Reactive Ink and then added some Intens-ified Black at the bottom.

 

The spider is from the main kit stamp set too. To finish off, I added some scoring lines on to the card to help mimic the look of a spider's web. For more details on the card, please head over to the blog post here.

SUPPLIES:

Here are the links to what I have used on the card. Affiliate links are used on some products. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support when using these links. Please click on the logo below the product to shop at your favourite store. All products were personally purchased except those from Clearly Besotted, Hero Arts or those marked with an asterisk (*) which were kindly sent to me to use. You can read my full disclosure here.
 

COPIC MARKERS: YR16, YR15, YR12, Y17, Y13, E53, E50.

THE KIT:

 

The September 2019 My Monthly Hero Kit contains a 6" x 8" clear stamp set, 1 Peek-a-boo Drawers Fancy Die, 3 Fancy Dies, Bronze Silk Ink, 10 bee and key charms and 6 8.5" x 5.5" sheets of decorative paper (Rich Copper, Urban Basilia Black and Wood Abachi Solid). All of this is valued at $76.49 but you can get it for an amazing price of $34.99 (approximately £28 depending on exchange rate). The kits often sell out quickly so you can subscribe here so that you never miss a kit. International subscribers get a discount of shipping too. Kits begin shipping 6th September 2019.

ADD-ONS:

There are some wonderful add-on products this month. These products follow the theme of the kit but unlike the kit, they are not limited edition and can be purchased from both Hero Arts and your favourite Hero Arts retailer. Here is a look at them:

BLOG HOP:

Here is the full list of participants in the hop today:

The Hero Arts Blog

Amy Kolling

Caly Person

Debi Adams

Emily Midgett

Ilina Crouse

Janette Kausen

Julee Tilman

Laurie Willison

Libby Hickson

Lydia Fiedler

Mariana Grigsby

Michelle Short - you are here!

Nichol Spohr

GIVEAWAY:

Hero Arts are giving away one kit to one lucky blog hop reader. The winner will be selected from all of the comments left across all of the stops in the hop. Giveaway closes 8th September at 11.59pm PDT and the winner will be announced on the Hero arts blog the following week.

 

Thank you so much for visiting me today. Next on the hop is Nichol. I hope you have a great rest of the day!

STAMPtember | It's STAMptember Party Time!

Hello there, as I mentioned yesterday, I would be back to today to share some more STAMPtember inspiration with you. This time I am taking part in Simon Says Stamp's STAMPtember party! Lots of designers have got together to celebrate STAMPtember and create projects for the occasion using the new release. Of course it wouldn't be a party without gifts! Each person at the party is sharing a different promotion with you so that you can enjoy the party too (more on that below).

My first card today uses the floral type image from the Simon Says Stamp Healing Hugs Stamp Set. This image is in a rounded shape and would be perfect to fit a sentiment inside but I thought I would use it in a different way today. I stamped the image on to hot pressed watercolour paper using Versamark Ink. I applied White Embossing Powder and heat set. I taped the piece on to a board and then coloured around parts of the image using Peerless Watercolors and a paint brush and water.

 

 

I wanted a few different colours on the card, so I made sure to mix a variety of colours. I used Gamboge Yellow, Deep Yellow and Rose Pink on the left hand square, Jackquemint Red, Turquoise Blue and Wisteria Violet on the middle square and then Butterfly Wing Blue, Robin's Egg Blue and Grass Green on the right hand square. I then spritzed the image with a solution of Perfect Pearls and water in a Mini Mister bottle. Once the panel was dry, I die cut the panel out into three squares using the Simon Says Stamp Stitched Squares Dies.

 

 

I added the image squares to an A2 white card base with foam tape. I then took one of the sentiments from the same Healing Hugs set and stamped this on to black cardstock with more Versamark Ink. This time I used Detail White Embossing Powder and heat set. It was cut in to a strip and added to the card with more foam tape. To finish off, I added a few Lucy's Ice Cube Jewels.

 

My next card uses one of the larger sentiments from the set for a very quick and simple card. I started off by taking a sheet of printer paper cut to 4" x 5.25" and adhered strips of Hero Arts Hero Hues Cardstock on top. For interest, I varied the width of these and then added them in rainbow order with tape runner adhesive.

 

 

Once the strips were added to the paper, I cut off the edges with my guillotine. I then took the large 'get well soon' sentiment from the Simon Says Stamp Healing Hugs Stamp Set and stamped it on to the panel with Versamark Ink. I applied White Embossing Powder and heat set. I then stamped one of the little hearts and heat embossed that also.

 

 

Because I heat embossed on to an uneven surface, the embossing wasn't perfect so I went over the areas were the stamping was over a join in the cardstock with a Sakura White Gelly Roll Pen. The panel was then simply added to a white A2 card base with foam tape.

 

SUPPLIES:

Here are the links to what I have used on the card. Affiliate links are used on some products. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support when using these links. Please click on the logo below the product to shop at your favourite store. All products were personally purchased except those from Clearly Besotted, Hero Arts or those marked with an asterisk (*) which were kindly sent to me to use. You can read my full disclosure here.
 

 

PARTY TIME!

 

As mentioned, this is a party (not a blog hop) and we all have different promotions to share (as well as inspiration) so it is kind of like a scavenger hunt to find them all! The Simon Says Stamp Blog has links to all those participating in the party.

 

My gift to you is a free Simon Says Stamp branded pen with any purchase. Use the code PEN983 at checkout. You can find the new release here.

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by to see me today, I really do appreciate it. I hope you have a fabulous rest of the party, I am off to get some nibbles! :) Have a great day!

VIDEO | Clearly Besotted September 2019 Release Preview

*This is my second post of the day, please see below for my Simon Says Stamp STAMPtember card*

Hello there, today is THE day! The new release from Clearly Besotted will be available to purchase today at 8pm BST. The theme this month is definitely Halloween but if you are not into that, there are two sets that can be used all year round as well.

 

 

You can purchase the sets from the Clearly Besotted shop at 8pm BST (UK based, ships almost worldwide) and now at Simon Says Stamp (US based, ships worldwide). Here is a look at all of the new sets:

 

If you are viewing this post via email subscription, you can watch the video HERE on YouTube.

 

SUPPLIES:

 

Here are the links to what I have shared in the video. Affiliate links are used on some products. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support when using these links. Please click on the logo below the product to shop at your favourite store. All products were personally purchased except those from Clearly Besotted, Hero Arts or those marked with an asterisk (*) which were kindly sent to me to use. You can read my full disclosure here.
 

 

I really hope that you like the release. Although I do not usually send out Halloween cards, the sets were so fun to work with! For more inspiration using the new release, please head over to the Clearly Besotted Blog. Keren also has one last teaser to share with you today too. Thanks so much for popping by today, I hope you have a great day!

STAMPtember | Sending Healing Hugs

Hello there, today is an exciting day as Simon Says Stamp's 10th anniversary STAMPtember® starts. It is a month long celebration of all things crafty with collaborations, prizes and lots of inspiration. Today kicks off the STAMPtember® release and I have a card to share with you using the wonderful Healing Hugs set.

 

I started off my card by taking a panel of white cardstock and placing the Simon Says Stamp Bouquet Of Roses Stencil on top, holding it down with Post-It Tape. Using more of the tape, I first masked off the leaves so that I could colour the roses. Using ink blending brushes, I blended on Distress Inks. I used Spun Sugar, Shaded Lilac and Wilted Violet.  

 

 

I then moved the masks so that they were covering the flowers and blended ink on to the leaves. I used Twisted Citron, Cracked Pistachio and Evergreen Bough Distress Inks. I removed the masks and then with the stencil still in place, I spritzed over Sparkle Shimmer Spritz. I removed the stencil and let it sit to dry.

 

 

Once dry, I took the Simon Says Stamp Healing Hugs Stamp Set and stamped the 'sending healing hugs' sentiment on to it using Nocturne Versafine Clair Ink. The panel was adhered to an A2 white card base with foam tape and then I added a few Simon Says Stamp Moonshine Sequins to finish off.

 

SUPPLIES:

Here are the links to what I have used on the card. Affiliate links are used on some products. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I receive a small commission with no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support when using these links. Please click on the logo below the product to shop at your favourite store. All products were personally purchased except those from Clearly Besotted, Hero Arts or those marked with an asterisk (*) which were kindly sent to me to use. You can read my full disclosure here.
 

 

There are so many fantastic sentiments in the Healing Hugs set and of various sizes too. I will be using some more tomorrow on a couple of other cards, so I hope you will join me then too. Thanks so much for stopping by today, I really appreciate it. I hope you have a great day!