Friday, March 15, 2024

The Greetery {Chocolates and Flowers for Mom}

 


Hello and welcome, friends!  I'm happy to be here today with a fun Mother’s Day project using the new To Mom with Love stamp/die set as the focal point and then traditional Mother’s Day accents: flowers and chocolate!  Mother’s Day is just a few short months away and I find that it’s always good to ensure that YOUR mom or mother-in-law is taken care of long before the actual day so you don’t have to endure stress on YOUR special day (if you’re a mom). Mother’s Day can be tricky for some and for those of you who struggle on that day, please know you’re in my mind and in my heart.  That being said, this card design transcends beyond Mother’s Day; simply switch out the large focal sentiment for a birthday or thinking of you sentiment, whatever your needs may be.

To begin, I die cut quite a few flowers and greenery using the Winter Medley Die and then colored them with distress oxide inks. I used a foam mat and the smaller end of my stylus to give the flowers shape and then glued them to the greenery. I added a black dot to the center of each flower using a fine-tip Sharpie marker. I gave them a spritz of Shimmer Spray and set them aside to work on the chocolates.

I used the Curio Confections Die and cut out all of the pieces and then just had fun coloring them. I die cut the paper liners from vellum and then added the chocolates using foam squares for dimension. I added some Strawberry Bits and some Flower Bits to the chocolates for added detail. I simply glued them to the top of the chocolates using liquid glue. I find that a gem picker comes in handy to add embellishments like this.

Once the flowers and chocolates were finished, I got to work on the background. I used the Curio Divider & Details II die for both the outer frame and the liners die cut from pattern paper. This particular pattern paper is from a 12 by 12 pad from Recollections called Floral Fantasy. I didn’t notice when I chose it that the tiny detail of the pattern is a crown, just perfect for Mom! I die cut the divider portion three times from Kraft cardstock and then glued it together using liquid glue. I added some brown shades of distress oxide ink near the joint of each section. I layered it onto an A2 panel of white cardstock using additional liquid glue and then secured each of the liners using a tape runner.

Once that was done, I just had fun adding all of the chocolates! I heat embossed the sentiment in gold onto white cardstock and then using the To Mom With Love Die to cut it out. I layered it over the chocolates using foam squares. Once that was done, I added the different clusters of flowers here and there until I was satisfied with the arrangement. I gave the chocolates and flowers a generous sprinkling of glitter and then mounted the entire panel onto a top-folding A2 white card base using liquid glue! This card was a joy to create and I’m so glad that my Mom’s card is taken care of this early! No procrastination for this girl! Ha ha! Thanks for fluttering by!

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Hello, March!

Hello and welcome! We've ushered in a new month and that means spring is on its way! It's my turn for this week's Papertrey Ink Flash Sale and I chose something festive and fitting for the upcoming spring season with some St. Patrick's Day touches! I chose to use the Tuck It Sentiments stamp set and the coordinating Tuck It Die paired with the ever-so-sweet Into the Blooms: Clover die.

The inspiration for today's card actually came from the Shamrock food truck that was parked at the gas station as I was getting gas today! ha ha! I saw the white truck and the green shamrock's floating across the side and I just KNEW I wanted to tuck some clover greens and blooms into the sentiment! I was wishing there was a sentiment about being lucky, but I thought this HELLO was cute, so I used it!

To begin, I die cut all of the clover pieces and colored them with small blender brushes and PTI ink pads. The greenery and clover pieces are colored with Green Parakeet, New Leaf, and Pinefeather ink. The blossoms are colored with Sweet Blush, Berry Sorbet, Bright Buttercup, and Honey Nut ink.

Once that was done, I got my hot foil machine heating up with the Ornamental Swirl Hot Foil Plate and in the meantime got the focal panel ready. I die cut the largest oval included in the Love to Layer: Ovals die collection. I stamped the cute dotted detail and the hello sentiment before I die cut the slits. The Tuck It Die has the large bar pieces to keep both sides connected (they are not meant to be snipped) and if you die cut first, it will leave those impressions and can possibly impede the stamping process and you may not get even coverage with the ink. I'm sure that was clear as mud! ha ha!

My hot foil machine alerted me it was at the right temperature, so I cut a 4 by 5 1/4 inch piece of New Leaf cardstock and added some Pinefeather ink around the edges. I used Champagne foil to do the hot foiling; something gold, but not bright gold! I layered that panel onto a top-folding A2 white cardbase using foam squares for dimension.

I was also originally drawn to the clover die set because it includes stems; just perfect for the Tuck It series! I decided where I wanted each clover to go and then slid the stems in place. I secured them all in the back using clear tape. I used mini foam squares to attach the clover and blooms. I also added some PTI Gems: Clear in varying sizes to the center of each clover. I also added some glitter for added sparkle and shine. I layered it onto the green panel and called it done! Thanks for fluttering by!

 

Thursday, February 29, 2024

The Greetery {Spring Fling Collection} Release Day!

It's release day for the Spring Fling Collection from The Greetery! Everything will be available beginning at 10 am ET today! I created two bonus cards for you today using the lovely BotaniCuts: Lilac dies paired with some fun products from the last release! They are some of my favorites, so I couldn't wait to incorporate the lilacs with the postal theme!

I decided to make two cards; one horizontal and one vertical to add to my stash! To begin, I used the Airmail Border Stencil with Almost Amethyst and Certainly Celery ink from Stampin' Up! I set the two panels aside and then die cut all of the lilac pieces I would need for the two cards. I colored the blooms using milled lavender, shaded lilac, and dusty concord distress oxide ink. The leaves are colored using twisted citron, mowed lawn, and rustic wilderness distress oxide inks. I used a fine-tip black Sharpie marker to add dots to the flower centers. Not the ones on the large, main piece, but rather just the individual blossoms.

 I used the smallest tip of my stylus and a foam mat to curve each of the individual blossoms and then added them to the main cluster using liquid glue and a gem picker for ease. I spritzed both the leaves and the blooms with Shimmer Spray and set them aside to dry while I got to work on the rest of the background pieces.

I used the Postal Modern stamp set for all of the postal themed accents. This is seriously one of my favorite stamp sets and I have a sneaking suspicion I will be reaching for it often! I chose two of the beautiful sentiments from the Scripted Sentiments stamp set for each of the cards. 

I love the guides on the Postcard Details Pierce Plate; it gives the perfect place to add the accent sentiments and the lovely pierced detail. As you can see on this card, I chose to use it for a vertical design rather than the traditional horizontal looking postcard! Before I forget, I did add a bit of black ink splatter for added interest.

Once all of the postal elements were in place and the scripted sentiments, I had fun arranging the lilacs and leaves until I was satisfied with the arrangement. I did go in and fill in with a few additional postal images. I hope I didn't go overboard....I have a tendency of doing that! ha ha! I hope you've enjoyed this bonus post today! Everything will be available for purchase in The Greetery Shop beginning at 10 am ET! Thanks for fluttering by!

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

The Greetery {Spring Fling Collection} Day 2

Hello and welcome back for day 2 as we showcase projects for the Spring Fling Collection from The Greetery! Make sure to head to The Greetery Blog for the official "meet and greet" for each of the today's featured products! Also, leave a comment here and on the other designers' blogs for a chance to win one of two $50 gift certificates.

My first card for today uses the new Print Shop Modern Botanical stamp +stencil & die! I've always been a big fan of the Print Shop series of products and this one is just as beautiful as the others! I know I say this every time I use a Print Shop background that I just want to sit and stare at it and not do anything with it! ha ha!

I really do have a hard time covering them up, so I chose to keep things simple. I added the beautiful "hello" sentiment from the Scripted Sentiments stamp set and heat embossed the companion sentiment.

I actually stenciled two panels because I wanted to use the dies to cut out the individual flowers, but in the end, I only used one with a pair of leaves from the BotaniCuts Lilacs die collection. I used Distress Oxide inks for my panel which really change the look of the stenciling. When you use dye ink, it creates a softer look. I can't wait to create all kinds of different color combos to change the feel!

My second card for today uses the beautiful new Spring Frame rubber stamp paired with the new Easter Morning Sentiments stamp & die. The base of this card is actually identical to the base of my lilac card from yesterday. This was my first attempt which had a few "flaws" but with the Spring Frame in place, it camouflaged the mistakes! LOL!

I stamped and cut out the frame and then used colored pencils to bring in some added detail and color to the frame. The Spring Frame die also includes the dies to cut out the tulips to add to the frame individually. I colored them with yellow Distress Oxide ink and then added them to the frame using liquid glue. The tulips also got some colored pencil details.

Since I'm addicted to the Wildflower Mix, I added some of those here and there as well. I just love how much color and interest it adds to the frame!

I stamped the large "Happy Easter" in black ink and then die cut it using the coordinating Easter Morning die. I heat embossed the "He Is Risen" in white onto Pale Peony ink and then die cut it using the dies. I added black dots to the centers of the flowers using a fine-tip Sharpie and some glitter to finish off this card!

My final card for today and for the countdown uses the new To Mom with Love stamp/die. I couldn't resist using more lilacs because they are just the ultimate Mother's Day flower, in my opinion! They are generally in bloom in Utah for Mother's Day and I just love it!

I also brought in some tulips for added interest and color. I love tulips, so they are just the perfect choice for a Mother's Day card!

I want to thank you for all of the sweet comments you left on yesterday's post. You're always so kinds and supportive and I really appreciate it! I had such a great time creating for this release! Thanks for fluttering by!
P.S. Don't forget to leave a comment on the other designers' blogs and everything will be available for purchase tomorrow at 10 am ET!




Kelly (you are here)




 

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

The Greetery {Spring Fling Collection} Day 1

Hello and welcome! I'm so happy to be here today sharing some spring projects using the beautiful new Spring Fling Collection from The Greetery! You can find the official "meet and greet" over on The Greetery Blog and there will be two $50 gift certificates given away each day so make sure to leave a comment here, and on each of the designers' blogs, to be eligible to win! 
My first card features the gorgeous new BotaniCuts Lilacs die. I love how easy this die set is to use and you can achieve beautiful results almost effortlessly. You can make your clusters as full as you want depending on your preferences!

I really wanted the lilacs to take center stage so I used them as the focal point with a beautiful sentiment from the Scripted Sentiments stamp set that was included in the last release! I thought the fonts worked perfectly with the lilacs to achieve the look and feel I was going for!

I used the Halfsies Oval Die to create the frame over the top of the stamped panel which uses the Spring Meadow Background Stamp. I layered it all together and then added the lilacs and sentiment. A sprinkling of glitter finishes off this first card!

Up next is a springtime card using the ingenious and darling Seagrass Basket Die. You can actually weave the two basket pieces together like I did here, OR  you can simply glue the two pieces together without weaving if you're short on time. I filled my basket with the darling flowers included in the Botanicuts Wildflower Mix Die. If you've been around awhile then you know how much I adore these cute flowers; I really can use them all the time if I put my mind to it! ha ha!

The basket die also comes with this cute label; I stamped it with one of the many sentiments included in the new All Occasion Script Sentiments stamp set. This is one that you could leave on your desk permanently because you would need it so often....it's just that versatile and handy!

The basket die also includes a handle which you can simply glue down, but I chose to add some mini silver brads for added detail.

My final project for today uses the ever-so-sweet new stamp/die/stencil set called Spring Snowdrops! I'm smitten...it's so cute! I made two cards because I wanted to showcase the two main sentiments included in the set: Spring and Hope. As you can see, they both say Spring! LOL! I'm a huge dork and heat embossed two sentiments that coordinate with Spring! ha ha! I liked both of them so I just went with it! I can use the Hope sentiment soon!

This suite of products is very easy to use and I can't wait to try other color combinations with the Snowdrops.

As I mentioned before, there are two main sentiments. I really like that they both have coordinating dies so you can cut out the scripted sentiment.

I heat embossed the companion sentiment in white detail embossing powder onto Pale Peony cardstock and then added it below the main sentiment. I added a generous sprinkling of glitter to give it a snowy or dewy look! Remember to leave a comment here and on each of the designers' blogs to be eligible for a chance to win one of the gift certificates to the shop! Thanks for fluttering by!
P.S. Join me again tomorrow for day 2!
Kelly (you are here)

Monday, February 26, 2024

Papertrey Ink February Release Day 4


 Welcome to the 4th and final day of the Papertrey Ink February release! I had so much fun creating these final two cards! Up first is a card using the new He Is Risen die collection. I die cut all of the pieces from white cardstock and then colored them using distress oxide inks and then glued everything together with foam squares and liquid glue.

I loved using the Exquisite Leaf Frame Hot Foil Plate on yesterday's card and I thought it would be perfect to frame the cross, so I used it again! I love  how the Champagne foil looks against the Royal Velvet cardstock!

I heat embossed another sentiment from the Thoughts of Easter Sentiments stamp set onto a strip of vellum and wrapped it around the Royal Velvet panel and then glued it to a top-folding A2 cardbase.

My final card for the release uses the new Beautiful Branches Hot Foil Plate. I used Rose Gold foil at the bottom of an A2 white panel. I then added flowers that were created using the Into the Blooms: Wreath dies to the branches. 

I added some Aqua Mist and Hawaiian Shores to the top portion of the card with some Hawaiian Shores ink splatter. I stamped the sentiment in black and then accented it with the Rejoice sentiment; please note these are from two different stamp sets, but paired up to make one greeting.

The flowers are added using foam squares and then sprinkled with glitter for sparkle and shine. I also rounded the corners! Thanks for fluttering by!

P.S. Everything will be available for purchase tomorrow night at 10 PM ET. 

Sunday, February 25, 2024

Papertrey Ink February Release Day 3

Welcome to day 3! Once again, I couldn't decided what to share first so I am sharing them in the order that I created them! ha ha! Up first is a card created using the new Reflections: February stamp/die set. It  is one of my favorite verses of scripture! He has Risen! 

I heat embossed the verse onto a piece of New Leaf cardstock using white detail embossing powder and then die cut it using the largest die included in the Reflections: February die set. I added some Stampin' Up!  Garden Green ink around the edges ; I wanted something darker, but within the same color tone and so this was the winner.

I did the same shading to the background panel and added some white paint splatter.

I used the flowers from the Into the Blooms: Wreath dies, but the leaves are from the Into the Blooms: Peonies die collection and the Into the Blooms: Clover die collection. I colored the flowers and leaves using distress oxide inks.

I rounded the corners of the background panel and then arranged the flowers and leaves using foam squares and liquid glue. I added glitter and a trio of sparkling clear sequins.

My next card features the new Spring Silhouettes die collection. Please note that I did not use these dies as they were intended, but I'm sure that plenty of the designers DID! ha ha! The concept behind this set is just so sweet and reminds me of the sugar easter eggs they had when I was little. You know, the ones that had a scene inside! Those were my favorite!

Anyway, I did attempt to make a card the correct way but I just wasn't feeling it and threw it away.

I decided to use the egg as a focal piece rather than a window to build the scene. I used one of my favorite sentiments included in the Thoughts of Easter sentiments stamp set.

I used the new Into the Blooms: Spring Nest stencil collection to add patterns to the animals. The stencils didn't come in time for me to use them with yesterday's nest cards, so I was just itching to use them!

I used the Exquisite Leaf Frame Hot Foil Plate to frame the scene. I had so much fun creating these two cards! Join me again tomorrow for the 4th and final day! Thanks for fluttering by!