My Favorite New Technique: Spellbinder Glimmer Hot Foil Card

Hello, crafty friends!  I don't know about you, but I've seen some absolutely gorgeous cards made with the Spellbinders Glimmer Hot Foil System.  I bought myself a Glimmer system quite a while ago but for reasons I can't quite articulate, I found myself a little... intimidated?  I don't know if that's exactly the word I'm looking for, but I suppose I was afraid that I wasn't going to know how to work it "right," or that my results wouldn't be what I was hoping for.  

I am here today to tell anyone who has similar feelings to throw them out the window.  This system is incredibly easy to use, and I achieved beautiful results my very first time using it.  Lucky for us, crafting gurus like Yana Smakula and Jennifer McGuire have put together incredibly comprehensive tutorials for us on YouTube, and I highly recommend watching them before using this system.  They make it look so easy... and it is!  

I was thrilled to make this card today with the Spellbinders Essential Glimmer Squares hot foil plates.  I started my card by hot foiling a beautiful square onto gray cardstock.  I then die cut pretty flowers using my favorite Spellbinders floral dies (most of these are from their monthly large and small die club kits, which are my favorite) and arranged them into clusters at the corners of my card.  Before adhering them down, to add even more shine, I added some foliage from Spellbinders Organic Foliage hot plate and die set onto the gray card cardstock.  I then adhered my floral bunches over top.  

I then die cut a Thank You sentiment from gold cardstock using Spellbinders Die D-Lites Bold Type Thank You die and adhered it onto my card.  I arranged my card with a stitched yellow strip underneath and finished it with some sparkly clear sequins.  

I am so happy I finally mustered up the courage (LOL) to try this amazing system.  It was SO easy and every time I peeled off the gold foil, I couldn't stop oooohing and aaaahhing over the results.  I highly encourage you to try this technique if you're a sucker for shiny and sparkly like I am!  

Links to the products I used are below.  I participate in the Spellbinders affiliate program, which means that I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you when products are purchased through the links I share.  I truly appreciate your support!  

I hope you enjoyed this project!  I had a blast making it.  Thank you so much for stopping by and have a wonderful day!  

Simon Says Stamp Lucky to Know You Release: Suzy's Spring and Easter Wishes Watercolor Prints

Is it time for spring yet?  I don't know about you, but I am beyond ready for warmer weather and getting back outside!  I was lucky enough to be able to create a card with the new Suzy's Spring and Easter Wishes Watercolor Prints from Simon Says Stamp's new Lucky to Know You release, and these adorable prints were just the thing to put me into a spring mood!

I was so impressed with the quality of these prints; they are printed on Tim Holtz watercolor paper and are really thick and sturdy.  Even though I knew they were technically watercolor prints, I decided to break the rules and stitch one up instead.  I was a little nervous because the medium is watercolor paper, but I tried some simple Copic coloring on the images and it worked beautifully!  After adding some pretty spring shades, it was time to stitch them up.

The stitching couldn't have been easier... I just followed the lines and added stitched details.  I used french knots on the little sheep to give them a fluffy texture, and on the rest of the card I used a simple backstitch.

To finish the card, I added a postcard frame with some quick hand stitching, some felt flowers over top of the daisy images, and some gems from Little Things by Lucy's cards.  I can't wait to use this on my Easter table!

I hope you enjoyed this project!  Links to the products I used are below.  I'm off to take a look at all the new products... Simon Says Stamp release days are just so fun!

I really appreciate you taking the time to stop by!  Have a wonderful day!

Stitched Postcard with The Greetery's BotaniCuts Rose Die

Do you ever feel like a stamp company has tapped into your head and designed something that is just perfect for you?  This is exactly how I felt when I saw the latest release from The Greetery... especially when I saw the new BotaniCuts Rose and the Postal Frames die set.  It's no secret that I love flowers, and if you look through my past creations, I definitely have a thing for postcard-themed cards.  These two die sets have already established their place in the container I use for my most-loved products!  

I started this card by making the roses.  I cut the layers out of Neenah Solar White 80# cardstock (I usually use Neenah's 110# cardstock, but I find it easier to create dimension out of die cuts with the lighter weight cardstock without distracting creasing).  I colored the layers with Copic markers to create a base layer of color, when sponged on highlights and deeper shades using sponge daubers and a combination of Distress Oxide inks and different pigment inks.  One big tip... if you try this technique, experiment with adding blue or turquoise shades to your leaves.  It adds such interest and life to foliage!  

I assembled my flowers, bending the petals at the edges to create some beautiful dimension.  

The Postal Frames die set made the assembly of this postcard so easy (although I had to add some hand stitching around the frame #justbecause).  I created a quick watercolor background using my Altenew watercolor pan set.  To finish, I added sentiments from Simon Says Stamp and Mama Elephant.  

I loved making this card!  I created quite the craftalanche creating the roses and foliage - it was just too much fun experimenting with different color combinations.  I already have another idea for a project using these gorgeous blooms as a focal point... I can't wait to get started!  

I hope you enjoyed this project!  Links to the products I used are below.  Thank you so much for stopping by and I'll see you soon!  

Crafty Resolutions and Thoughts on the Future: Coloring the You Make a Difference Stamp Set from Pinkfresh Studios and Hero Arts

Hi, crafty friends!  I hope you all had wonderful holiday seasons.  Ours was busy, but in the best of ways (day trips here and there, and a quick getaway to the mountains for our New Year's celebration, which is a favorite family tradition).  I'm not usually one to make New Years resolutions (I'm pretty impulsive, so I just make changes as I go along), but I found myself reflecting on what my goals are with crafting for the upcoming year.  I've learned a lot about what I like - and don't like - about paper crafting since I started his hobby a couple of years ago.

As I really started thinking about this, I was inspired to do some relaxing coloring.  The gorgeous You Make a Difference stamp collaboration between Pinkfresh Studios and Hero Arts was one of my most favorite stamp sets from last year, so I pulled it out to do some coloring and reflecting.  This was also a fantastic excuse for me to try out my new Caran D'Ache Luminance colored pencils that I gifted to myself (Merry Christmas to me!  LOL  And by the way, these pencils are AMAZING).  I just love using colored pencils on the beautiful blooms and foliage in this set.

One of my big revelations has been that I love the process of creating as much as I love the results.  What this means is that it usually takes me hours (and sometimes more and more hours) to finish a project.  Although I have no problem with this because I enjoy it so much, the thought of someone throwing away a card that took me all those hours to make pains me just a bit.  What this has translated to is that the cards end up going to those who really appreciate the time that went into them... but this is also limiting.  And I don't want people to feel pressure into keeping something that I've sent them just because they know it took me a long time.

So what does all this mean?  I'm throwing around some ideas in my head that will allow me to keep card making but also expand into projects that might make more sense in terms of the time spent on them.  I am just starting to design some new ideas... I have no idea whether they'll work or whether I'll enjoy making them as much as I hope I will, but nothing ventured, nothing gained (I hope)!

Links to the products I used are below.  I participate in the Scrapbook.com affiliate program, which means that I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you when products are purchased through the links I share.  I truly appreciate your support!

I hope you enjoyed this project and that I didn't lose you in my crafty rambling.  LOL  Thanks so much for stopping by, and I'll be back soon... hopefully with some of the fruits of my New Year's thinking!