Highlighted Stitched Sentiments: Pinkfresh Studios You've Got This and Embroidered Flowers

Happy Friday, everyone!  I'm back today to share two more cards I made using Pinkfresh Studios' new You've Got This stamp set.  I just love the sentiments in this set and I wanted to give them special focus in these two cards by stitching them up... I love the texture and dimension that stitching adds to these special phrases.

If you haven't stitched a card before and would like to try it, this first card is the perfect place to start. The sentiment is beautiful but simple in its lines.  I started the card by stamping some pretty blooms in pastel hues from Pinkfresh's Embroidered Flowers stamp set in the center of my card.  I then stamped my sentiment over the flowers and poked holes along the lines of the words.  I have a couple of tips for achieving smooth stitch lines.   First, make sure to poke a hole wherever two lines intersect with each other.  Second, when poking holes along curves, poke them a little closer together than you would along straight lines.  This allows you to avoid choppy-looking stitch lines.

I added some small stitched details and some pretty flower sequins.  This card is so clean and simple, but the stitching adds just the right amount of texture and interest.

For my second card, I went all out with the stitching.  I first stamped my sentiment in the center of the card in pool-colored ink and surrounded it with floral images from Pinkfresh's Fleur 1 stamp set.  I then colored the flowers in with Copic markers.  I then stitched up all of the images using the techniques described above.  This takes some time but is so meditative... it is the perfect project to take to the couch for a Netflix binge!

I hope you enjoyed these projects!  It's no secret that I love stitching, and I had a blast creating these. You still have time to enter the giveaway to win a $25 Pinkfresh Studio gift certificate... be sure to visit this post and leave a comment for your chance to win!

Thanks for stopping by today!  xo

Stretch Your Watercolor Supplies: Pinkfresh Liquid Watercolors with You've Got This and Embroidered Blossoms Stamps

I recently ordered Pinkfresh Studios' Liquid Watercolors and just fell in love with the beautiful, vibrant colors.  Always looking for a way to stretch my supplies, I wondered if there was a way for me to combine these colors with gouache (one of my favorite painting mediums) for a new look.  The answer was a resounding yes... and I was amazed at how easy and effective this was in creating my own custom paint colors!

I started my card by stamping my sentiment from Pinkfresh's new You've Got This stamp set (one of my most favorite sentiment sets EVER... I just love this set!) and flowers from the Embroidered Blossoms set using light-colored ink on pool-colored cardstock.  I then created all of the colors in my card today by mixing Pinkfresh liquid watercolors with white gouache.  So simple!  To mix my colors, I would simply take a small dollop of white gouache and mix in drops of the liquid watercolors until I achieved the shade I was after.  After that, all there was to do was paint!  I love how the opacity of gouache allows you to paint directly onto colored cardstock.

I also love painting with gouache because its opacity allows you to paint light colors on top of dark colors.  Although I loved this card from the beginning, I really started having fun when I started creating unique color combinations on the leaves.  Combining these non-traditional colors together really brought the card to life.

I finished my card by adding little white dots using the same white gouache.  I hand stitched a few little white flower sequins onto the card because I just can't seem to finish a card without stitching something!

This project came together so incredibly easily using the Liquid Watercolors and a little white gouache.  I hope you give this technique a try!

If you haven't already, be sure to check out this post for your chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Pinkfresh Studios!  A winner will be selected on May 6, 2019.  Have a great day and happy crafting!

Pinkfresh Studio April Stamp and Die Release Blog Hop!

Welcome, fellow Pinkfresh Studio fans!  I am so honored and excited to be participating in Pinkfresh's April Stamp and Die Release Blog Hop!  This release is so fresh, fun, and full of amazing new products.  If you're hopping along, you've arrived from the amazing Lea Lawson's blog.   If you're jumping in here, you can start back at the Pinkfresh blog for all of the details.  I also have the entire blog hop list at the end of this post so you don't miss any of the inspiration!

I created my first two cards using Pinkfresh's new Partial Cut Bouquet & A Bow die set.  This set makes creating sweet and simple cards such a breeze.  I started my first card by die cutting my bouquet out of white cardstock and added some horizontal score lines for interest.  I then stamped my sentiment from Pinkfresh's Say It With Florals stamp set - I thought this was just perfect for this sweet little bouquet.  I colored the little  blooms in rainbow colors using Copic markers, adding an extra bloom in the back of each flower for some dimension and some sparkly gems in the centers.  I die cut the bow from pretty teal wool felt and added stitching around the border - I love the soft texture that wool felt lends to cards.  For even more added texture, I mounted the panel on top of some teal-colored burlap.

This sweet card came together so easily that I quickly decided to make another in more subtle hues.  I die cut my bouquet again from white cardstock and added another layer of flowers to create a fuller bouquet.  I again stamped my sentiment from the Say It With Florals stamp set.  I die cut extra flowers from white glitter paper for some sparkle, colored the stems and leaves with Copic markers, and finished each flower with a little gem.  After adding a peach-colored felt bow, I added some gold stitching around the perimeter of my panel.  I mounted it onto a peach-colored card base to finish the card.

For my next card, I used the new Hanging Florals Stamp Set.  This set is so lovely and as soon as I saw it, I knew I wanted to add stitching to all the pretty florals.

 I started my card by stamping my image in Copic-friendly ink (in this case, Memento Gray Flannel Ink) and coloring the flowers and leaves with Copic markers.  I then started my stitching by poking holes along the stamp lines and doing a simple backstitch along the holes in coordinating thread colors.

I stitched the circular lines using metallic gold thread.  Although the stamp set has an adorable bow image, I decided to add a bow using the bow die from the Partial Cut Bouquet & A Bow die set.  I stitched the perimeter of the panel and mounted it on top of a pool-colored card base onto which I had adhered a pretty grosgrain ribbon.

I hope you enjoyed these card projects!  I'll be sharing some additional inspiration throughout the week and I hope you stop back.  The next stop on the blog hop is Mindy Eggen!

SUPPLY LIST:

Partial Cut Bouquet Stamp & A Bow Die Set
Blooming Bouquet Stamp Set
Blooming Bouquet Die Set


GIVEAWAYS!!!

To celebrate this blog hop, each designer is giving away a $25 gift card!  Be sure to leave a comment below for your chance to win!  A winner will be selected from the comments and will be posted on the Pinkfresh Giveaway Page on Monday, May 6, 2019.  Please note that you must check that page and claim your prize within 2 weeks.

SHOPPING PROMOS!!!

Pinkfresh is also offering two shopping promos for this release:

PROMO #1: A gorgeous free die with purchase.  This will load automatically in your cart.

PROMO #2: Free/discounted shipping from April 29 - May 5 on orders of $50+.  You must use the code APRFREESHIPWITH50.  Shipping is free in the USA, and $5.50 off for international customers.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

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Thanks again for stopping by and have a great day!  

Simon Says Stamp Blossoms and Butterflies Release: Stitched Card with Sketchy Lines Background

Happy Thursday, everyone!  It's time for another fabulous release from Simon Says Stamp... their Butterflies and Blossoms Release has so many new beautiful products.  I was so happy to create this card with the new Sketchy Lines Background stamp set.  I love the versatility of these background stamps and the ability they give you to create your own patterned papers!

I did just this when I created this mixed pattern card.  I first stamped my background with the Sketchy Lines stamp to create a graphic black and white background.  To mix up the patterns and textures, I created a stitched panel of sketchy white blooms, doodling flowers here and there and stitching over them in a white on white color scheme.  I added some vellum white flower sequins for some added interest.  I just love the way these two sketchy patterns work together!

I then used Simon's Bold Flowers stamp set to stamp out some floral accents in pretty spring hues.  To finish the card, I die cut Simon's "Oh, Hello There" sentiment (one of my favorites EVER) from gold mirror cardstock and adhered it in the middle of my panel for some added shine.

I had so much fun working on this project and I love how the sketchy lines background gives that pop of graphic detail.  I hope you enjoyed this card, and have so much fun with the new release!