VIDEO | Altenew May 2018 Stamp & Die Release Blog Hop + Giveaway

Hello there, I am delighted to be hopping along with Altenew for their May 2018 stamp & die release today. It is a wonderful release with something for everyone but today, I decided to focus on creating some simple floral cards where the focus is the flowers.

 

My first card uses the new Starry Flowers stamp set. I started off by stamping the larger of the two floral images from the set on to watercolour paper, using Versamark Ink. I applied white embossing powder and heat set. Using an ink blending tool, I applied inks from the Sweet Dreams Ink collection on to the panel.

 

I used all four of the ink colours starting darker at the top and moving to lighter shades at the bottom. I then misted over Iridescent Ink Spray and also added some larger drops for some added interest and shimmer.

 

 

While the panel was drying, I took one of the sentiments from the set and stamped this on to black cardstock with Versamark ink. I applied white embossing powder and then heat set. This was cut in to a strip. I adhered the image panel to a white A2 card base with foam sheet and DST and then added the sentiment on top with clear foam tape.

 

My second card uses the new Fabulous Floral stamp set. This is a wonderful layering set with two flowers and a few different leaves. I started off by stamping one of the flowers on to a 4" x 5.25" panel of white cardstock. I used the Glacier Caves Ink collection and started with the lightest colour at the bottom for the larger layers, moving up to the darker colours for the smaller layers. I also used black for the flower centre.

 

 

The flower was masked off and then the other flower from the set stamped using the same colours, before removing the mask. This makes it look like the first flower is in front of the second. Both flowers were then masked off and the leaves stamped using the Green Fields Ink collection. I used all three shades of green from the set.

 

 

The panel was then adhered to a white A2 card base with foam sheet and DST. I then took a sentiment from the Strawberry stamp set and stamped this on to black cardstock, white heat embossed it and cut it in to a strip. This was added to the card with clear foam tape. To finish off, I added a few Sparkling Clear sequins.

 

 

Since I really like how the flowers looked in the blue, I decided to create a tag as well. I free-hand cut a tag from white cardstock and stamped one of the flowers and leaves in the bottom right hand corner using the same inks. I then stamped a sentiment from the Sentiments and Quotes stamp set in the top left hand corner. To frame the tag, I used the new Fine Frames Rectangles dies. These are thin frames and I think they worked particularly well for this tag, bringing the focus in to the middle.

 

VIDEO:

 

Here is the video showing how I made the cards:

 

 

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. Products marked with an asterisk (*) were kindly sent to me to use.
 

BLOG HOP:

 

 

 

For the hop, you should have arrived here from Laura Jane. The next person on the hop is Erum Tasneem. For the full list of participants, or to start the hop from the beginning please visit the Altenew Card Blog.

 

GIVEAWAY:

 

To celebrate the release, Altenew is giving away a $50 gift certificate to 6 lucky winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog and/or Altenew Scrapbook Blog by Friday 26th May 2018 for a chance to win. The 6 winners will be announced on the Altenew blogs on the 27th May 2018.

 

I am also giving away a $30 gift certificate to the Altenew store to one lucky winner. Please leave a comment on this post by May 25th 2018 at 17.00 hrs BST/ 12.00 EDT. I will announce the winner on May 26th. Good luck!

 

Thank you so much for visiting me today. I hope you have a great time on the rest of the hop and have a fabulous day!  

Birthday Peony

Hello there, today I have a card to share using the new Peonies Stamp Set from Hero Arts. I am in love with all the new florals that they have brought out, perfect for colouring!

 

I started off by stamping the large peony image using black ink on to Fabriano Artistico watercolour paper. I then did a light wash of Daniel Smith Quinacridone Rose watercolour to the petals and Undersea Green to the leaves. Once dry, I coloured the peony with colored pencils. I used mainly Polychromos and then added some white highlights with a Caran d'Ache Luminance white pencil. The colours I used are listed below the supplies section.

 

 

The image panel was then cut down to 5.25" x 4" and added to a Fog card base with ATG. I took the 'happy birthday' sentiment from the Eat Cake All Day Stamp & Cut and stamped this on to black cardstock using Versamark Ink. I applied white embossing powder and heat set. This was then cut in to a strip and added to the card with foam tape. To finish off, I added a few Sparkling Clear sequins.

 

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. Products marked with an asterisk (*) were kindly sent to me to use.
 

 

COLOUR PENCILS: Flower petals - Polychromos 199, 133, 125, 129, Luminance 001 White. Leaves - Polychromos 199, 174, 168, Luminance 001 White.

 

Unfortunately the photos aren't quite doing the colouring justice but I think the watercolour helped to give a base to the colour pencils. Thank you so much for visiting me today. I hope you have a great rest of the weekend!

VIDEO | Card Making Haul - May 2018

Hello there, today I am popping in to share my Card Making Haul for May 2018 (plus a few little bits I bought in April too!). I mainly bought stamps and dies this month, plus a lot of Doodlebug stickers!

 

 

As I share in the video, I don't usually use stickers on my cards but I often add them when wrapping up presents, use them on tags or on envelopes. I also add them in my Filofax sometimes for a bit of fun! Here is everything I got:

 

SUPPLIES:

Here are the links to what I 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. Products marked with an asterisk (*) were kindly sent to me to use.
 

 

I am really looking forward to using it all. Thank you so much for visiting me today. Have a great weekend!

Flowers for Colouring

Hello there, today I am over on the Hero Arts Blog sharing a card made using the new Hero Arts Flowers for Coloring Bold Prints. I tend to go for softer backgrounds, so this time I challenged myself to create a fairly bold one. I loved colouring the flowers with watercolours.

 

 

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. Products marked with an asterisk (*) were kindly sent to me to use.
 

 

For more information on how I made the card, please head over to the blog post. Thank you so much for visiting me today. I hope you have a great rest of the day and a wonderful weekend!

MFT Sketch Challenge | Happy Birthday To Roo

*This is my second post for the day, please see below for my Simon Says Stamp Sending Sunshine post*

 

Hello there, today I am back to share another card with you as a guest designer for My Favorite Things Wednesday Sketch Challenge. We are on sketch 385 and I have to say, this was a bit of a challenge for me! I don't often add so many layers to my card and I did flip the side panel to be on the other side, but in the end, I really like how the card came out!

 

I started out by creating the background piece. I took a panel of white cardstock and using the Cloud Stencil and Broken China Distress Oxide Ink, I added some subtle clouds to the panel. I took a strip of paper from the Black & White Stripes Pattern Paper Pad and added this to the left hand side, along with a thin strip of black cardstock. I took the Grassy Fields dies and die cut these from green cardstock. I then blended a little Mowed Lawn and Twisted Citron Distress Ink on to them to give some depth. These were added to the cloud side of the panel and then the whole panel was added to a 5" x 5" white card base with tape runner.

 

 

I took the kangaroo image from the new Aussie Animals Stamp Set, along with the balloons from the Beary Special Birthday stamp set. These were stamped with black ink on to white cardstock and coloured using Copic Markers. They were then die cut out with the coordinating dies. The balloons were added to the card with tape runner and then the kangaroo added with a combination of tape runner and thin foam tape (to the stop half of his body).

 

 

I took the sentiment from the Aussie Animals set and stamped this on to black cardstock with Versamark Ink. I applied white embossing powder and heat set. This was cut in to strips and added to the card with thin 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. Products marked with an asterisk (*) were kindly sent to me to use.
 

 

COPIC MARKERS: Kangaroo - E47, E44, E43, E42, E41, E40, R12, R00. Balloons - Y17, Y15, Y13, Y11, B04, B02, B00, YG17, YG23, YG03.

 

Do head over to the MFT Challenge Blog to see the sketch and for more inspiration. I hope you will enter. There is a $50 gift certificate to MFT up for grabs! Thank you so much for visiting me to day. I hope you have a great day!

Fancy Floral Thanks

Hello there, today I have a card to share using the wonderful new Center Cut Fancy Flower background stamp from the new Sending Sunshine release from Simon Says Stamp. The new release is out today.

 

For my card, I started off by stamping the background stamp on to a piece of Ranger watercolor paper. I stamped it using Versamark Ink and then applied white embossing powder. This was then heat set. I placed the panel in a box and sprayed on Broken China, Peacock Feathers, Mermaid Lagoon and Chipped Sapphire Distress Spray Stains. I set the piece aside to dry and once dry, wiped off any excess ink from the embossing powder. This was then cut down and added to a 5.25" x 5.25" white card base with tape runner.

 

 

I took the Big Thanks die and cut the bubble piece from vellum and the wording piece from white. I cut the word three times from white and stacked these up with liquid glue before adding on to the vellum piece. This was added to the card with more liquid glue. I took the sentiment from the CZ Design Emphatic stamp set and stamped this on to black cardstock with Versamark Ink. I applied white embossing powder and heat set. This was cut in to a strip and added to the card with clear 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. Products marked with an asterisk (*) were kindly sent to me to use.
 

 

I am really looking forward to using this stamp again for a different technique. Watercolour maybe? Thanks so much for visiting me today. I will be back later with my MFT Sketch Wednesday post.

VIDEO | MFT & Friends Ombre Stencilling

* This is my second post of the day, please see below for my Hero Arts Summer Catalogue Release Hop post*

 

Hello there, today I am delighted to be joining My Favorite Things for the May MFT & Friends. We are sharing more inspiration using the wonderful May release.

 

For my card today, I wanted to use the new Hello, Little One stamp set and Die-namics. It is such a cute set and since I have needed quite a few baby cards recently, I thought it would be great to have another ready to go!

 

 

I started off by creating my tag for my images to sit on. I die cut the new Scallop Cross-Stich Tag Die-Namics die from Bristol Smooth Cardstock. Using an ink blending tool, I blended Picked Raspberry Distress Oxide ink on to the tag in an ombre fashion - having the darker colour at the bottom and lighter at the top. I then placed the Full Of Heart Stencil over the tag and blended ink over this too, to create a nice ombre pattern. I added a piece of black ribbon through the top and added this to an A2 white card base with thin foam tape.

 

 

I took the stork image from the Hello, Little One stamp set and stamped this on to white cardstock with Extreme Black ink. I coloured the image with Copic Markers and die cut out with the coordinating die. The sentiment, from the same set, was stamped on to black cardstock with Versamark Ink. I applied white embossing powder and heat set. This is was cut in to a strip using one of the banner dies from the Hearts In A Row Vertical Die-Namics set. I added both of these to the card with more thin foam tape and then to finish, added a few Sparkling Clear sequins around the sentiment piece.

 

VIDEO:

 

Here is the video showing how I made the card:

 

SUPPLIES:

Here are the links to what I have used on the card and 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. Products marked with an asterisk (*) were kindly sent to me to use.
 

 

Please do head over to the MFT Blog to see what the other participants have created. Thank you so much for visiting me today, have a great day!

Hero Arts Summer 2018 Catalogue Blog Hop + Giveaway

Hello there, today is THE day, the new summer 2018 products from Hero Arts are now available to purchase in the Hero store. You can also purchase them from your favourite Hero Arts retailers too! It is such a great release, full of beautiful flowers, fun wild west/desert themed products, summer products and also lots of fabulous accessories. If you are following along in the hop, you should have arrived here from the fabulous May, but if you get lost along the way, the full list of participants are below.

 

 

My first card uses some of the products that are more on the western theme. I started off by creating my background. I took a panel of white cardstock and die cut the new Desert Sunset Fancy Die from it to create a window. Behind this I added a panel of alcohol ink background. This was created with Lemonade, Honeycomb, Peach Bellini, Valencia and Watermelon TH Alcohol Inks on to Yupo paper.

 

The alcohol ink background was added to the front of an A2 white card base and then the window piece added on top with foam tape. I took the fox image from the new Fennec The Fox stamp set and stamped this on to white cardstock. I coloured him with Copic Markers and then cut him out with the coordinating frame cuts.

 

He was added on to the card with a combination of foam tape and tape runner (so that he is level on the card). I then took the 'hello' sentiment from the same set and stamped this with Versamark Ink on to white cardstock. I applied white embossing powder and heat set. This was fussy cut with scissors and then added to the card with foam tape also.

 

My next card uses the beautiful new Hero Florals Rose Stamp & Cut. This is a design that has already been released as a wood mount stamp but now available in clear. It is slightly smaller in size than the wood mount set. I am delighted that this card was one that I made for the catalogue and it features in it. I started off by taking a panel of Fabriano Artistico Extra White Hot Press Paper and stamping the flower on it twice with Versamark ink (I masked the first before stamping the second). I applied White Detail Embossing powder and then heat set.

 

 

I took the Mulled Wine Liquid Watercolor and a paintbrush with water and water coloured the image, adding a little colour over the edge of the flowers at the top. I added the colour in layers on the flowers (to create depth) and then set aside to dry. Once dry, the panel was added to an A2 card base with tape runner. I then stamped the hello sentiment from the set on to black cardstock with Versamark Ink. I applied white embossing powder and heat set. It was cut in to a strip and added to the card 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. Products marked with an asterisk (*) were kindly sent to me to use.

COPIC MARKERS: E55, E53, E51, E50, R12, R00.

BLOG HOP:

Here is the full list of participants taking part in the hop:

 

Hero Arts Blog

Amy Tsuruta
Clare Prezzia
Emily Midgett
Ilina Crouse
Janette Kausen
Jessica Frost-Ballas
May Sukyong Park
Michelle Short - you are here!
Yana Smakula
Kathy Racoosin
Kelly Latevola
Lydia Fiedler
Wanda Guess
Cynde Whitlow
Ericka Strange
Jeanne Jachna
Juhi Khanna
Karen Bull
Kim Hamilton
Lisa Stein
Meghan Peterson
Michelle Yuen
Libby Hickson
Jennifer McGuire

GIVEAWAY:

Hero Arts are giving away two $50 shopping sprees in the Hero Arts Store. The winners will be drawn at random from all of the comments left across all of the stops in the hop. Please comment by 11.59pm PST on Sunday may 20th to enter. The winners will be announced on the Hero Arts blog shortly afterwards. Good luck!

The next person on the hop is the amazing Yana Smakula. Thank you so much for visiting me today, I hope you have a great time on the rest of the hop and a fabulous day!

Birthday Wishes

Hello there, today I have a card to share using the Pink & Main Pocket of Sunshine stamp set and dies. Pink & Main kindly sent these to me to play with, and I have to say, I am in love!

 

I started off by stamping the flowers from the set on to white cardstock, with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I coloured them with Copic Markers (the colours I used are listed below the supplies section) and then die cut them out with the coordinating die. I then took the sentiment from the Pink & Main Hello Sweet stamp set and stamped this using Versamark Ink on to black cardstock. I applied white embossing powder and heat set, this was then cut in to a strip.

 

 

I took a panel of white cardstock and embossed this using the PTI Woodgrain Impression Plate. The panel was adhered to a white A2 card base with ATG. I then die cut a Pink & Main Cloudy Frame Die from white cardstock and added this to the card with thin foam squares. The flowers were popped inside with more foam tape. The sentiment was added to the top, again with foam tape. To finish off, I added a few Pink & Main clear/silver Glossy Dots.

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. Products marked with an asterisk (*) were kindly sent to me to use.
 

COPIC MARKERS: Pink flower - R85, R83, R81, YR16, YR12. Purple flower - V17, V15, V12. Yellow flower - Y17, Y15, Y13, Y11. Blue flower - B04, B02, B01, B00. Stems & leaves - YG17, YG23, YG03.

I think these stamps work perfectly for my clean and simple style and I really enjoyed making this card! Thank you so much for visiting me today. I hope you have a great day and a fabulous weekend!

MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge | DAD

Hello there, today I am back as a guest designer for My Favorite Things Sketch Challenge. Today we are using sketch 384. I did change the sketch to be a landscape card and not portrait, but I hope you can still see the design elements from the sketch.

 

I started off by creating the galaxy background. I took a piece of Bristol Smooth cardstock and sprayed on some Distress Resist Spray. I let this dry and then using an ink blending tool, blended over various shades of Distress Ink. I used Dusty Concord, Wilted Violet, Salty Ocean, Blueprint Sketch and Chipped Sapphire, as well as Black Soot. The Distress Resist Spray resisted the ink and left spots to look like stars. I did splatter the piece with some water too, to create more interest. I really like how it turned out!

 

 

Once dry, I die cut the piece with the second largest of the A2 Stitched Rectangle Stax dies. The piece was added to a white A2 card base with tape runner. I then took the Dad Die-namics and die cut the capital letters 'dad' three times from white cardstock and then once from silver glitter cardstock. These were stacked up with liquid glue. I also die cut three stars from the Happy Birthday Centrepieces die-namics.

 

 

I took one of the sentiments from the All About Dad Stamp Set and stamped this using Versamark Ink on to black cardstock. I applied white embossing powder and heat set. I then cut this in to a strip and cut a banner edge on one side. This was added to the card with foam tape. I then added the 'dad' word/letters above. The stars were added to finish, 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. Products marked with an asterisk (*) were kindly sent to me to use.
 

 

For more details and to see the sketch, please do check out the MFT Challenge Blog. There is a $50 gift certificate to MFT up for grabs! Thank you so much fro visiting me today. I hope you have a great rest of the day!

Hero Arts May 2018 My Monthly Hero Kit Blog Hop + Giveaway

Hello there, today we are celebrating the release of the May 2018 My Monthly Hero Kit from Hero Arts. It is a fabulous kit this month that can be used for lots of occasions. Trees feature heavily in the main kit and also the add-ons and they are really beautiful. If you are following along in the hop, you should have arrived here from the amazing Ilina, but if you get lost along the way, the full list of participants are below.

 

For my card today, I started off with a panel of white cardstock. I took a sheet of mask paper and cut an oval from it using the Nesting Oval Infinity Dies. This was placed over the cardstock panel and then I blended Distress Oxide Inks on the oval, using an ink blending tool. I decided to create a rainbow background to give a fun look.

 

 

I carefully cut the mask so that it was removed from the right side of the oval but still intact on the left side. I then took one of the branch images from the main kit stamp set and stamped this across the top with black ink. I could then remove the rest of the mask. I took the girl on the swing image and stamped this to fit below the branch. Finally, I stamped the sentiment to the right. The panel was then simply adhered to a white A2 card base with foam tape.

 

 

In case you missed it, I wanted to share my countdown card with you too. I used the new Ombre Reactive Spring Day Ink Pad, which is an add-on this month, and blended the three colours from the ink pad on to a piece of watercolour paper. I then splattered on some water to get the reaction from the ink. I used the frame die from the kit (it is so beautiful!) and cut this from white cardstock. This was added on top with foam tape and adhered to a white A2 card base. The sentiment was embossed with white on to black cardstock. To finish off, I added a few clear jewels.

 

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. Products marked with an asterisk (*) were kindly sent to me to use.
 

 

 

THE KIT:

 

 

The May 2018 My Monthly Hero Kit contains a 6" x 8" clear stamp set, 13 coordinating Frame Cuts dies, 2 leaf dies, 1 Window Fancy Die with Frame, 1 roll of leaf patterned washi tape (assorted designs), 5 ivory skeleton leaves, 4 5" x 7" sheets of 100% recycled handmade hot pressed watercolour paper (140lb) and 1 5.25" x 6.5" Tree Swirl stencil.

 

The value of the kit is $74 but you can get it for an amazing $34.99 (approximately £27.00 depending on exchange rate). Remember that the kits are limited edition and often sell out quickly. You can subscribe here so that you never miss a kit (if you subscribe now, your subscription will start with the June kit). International subscribers get a discount off shipping too!

 

In addition to the main kit, there are lots of wonderful add-on products available to purchase this month too. These are not limited edition and can be purchased from your favourite Hero Arts retailer. Here is a look at them:

 

 

BLOG HOP:

 

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

 

Hero Arts Blog

Jennifer McGuire

Nichol Spohr

Wanda Guess

Janette Kausen

Laurie Willison

Ilina Crouse

Michelle Short - you are here!

Amy Kolling

Clare Prezzia

Lydia Fiedler

Jessica Frost-Ballas
Amy Tsuruta

Emily Midgett

May Sukyong Park

Libby Hickson

Yana Smakula

 

GIVEAWAY:

 

Hero Arts are giving away one kit to one lucky blog reader - selected from the comments left across all of the blogs in the hop. The giveaway closes Sunday, May 13th at 11.59pm EST and the winner will be announced the following week on the Hero Arts Blog. Good luck!

 

The next person in the hop is the amazing Amy Kolling. Thank you so much for visiting me today, I hope you have a great time on the rest of the hop and a fabulous day!

Hero Arts May MMH | Thinking Of You

Hello there, Today I am over on the Hero Arts blog, sharing a card I have made with the May My Monthly Hero Kit which is out on Monday. It is such a wonderful kit, that can be used for so many occasions. I am loving the new ombre reactive ink pad which is an add-on this month, too.

 

 

For more details on how I made the card, please head over to the blog post and don't forget to leave a comment over there for a chance to win a kit! Thanks so much for stopping by today, have a great weekend!