Simon Says Stamp Diecember 2020: Stitched Rainbow Card Featuring CZ Design Hugs Die

Hello, friends!  I am so happy you stopped by for yet another exciting Simon Says Stamp Diecember release!  I made this stitched card with the new CZ Designs Hugs dies.  This is one of those staple dies that I am so happy to have in my collection... I can't get enough of the clean and simple font.  

I started my card by stitching a rainbow heart using Simon Says Stamp's Rainbow Heart die (another favorite).  For a tutorial on how I stitched this die, you can check out this post.  I then used Concord & 9th's Brighter Days die set to attach a cute yellow sun to the corner of my heart.  

I then chose an Avery Elle stitched postage die (similar is here) and used a simple backstitch to add stitching along the edge.  Before adhering everything down, I used a smaller "Everything will be alright" sentiment from Simon Says Stamp's Messages for Everyday stamp set in the corner of an A2 white cardstock base.  I them adhered my postage frame and heart inside using foam tape for dimension.  For my sentiment, I die cut several layers of black cardstock using the Hugs die, adhering it on top of the heart (and adding foam tape where needed).  To finish, I added some shine to my sentiment using Tonic crystal glaze and some hearts from the Concord & 9th's Brighter Days dies. 

I had so much fun making this project and I hope you enjoyed it!  I can't wait to check out the new dies coming to us this month... I am a die cutter at heart and this is one of my favorite releases every year!  Thanks so much for stopping by and I'll see you again soon with another papercrafting project.   

Pinkfresh November 2020 Essentials Die Release: Stitched Floral Card Featuring Diagonal Stitched Plaid Die

Hello, friends!  I am thrilled to be participating in Pinkfresh Studios' November Essentials Die Release, and I'm so happy you stopped by!  You may be stopping by from Lea Lawson's blog (you can see the list of all blog participants below).  This blog hop is full of gorgeous inspiration using Pinkfresh's new dies, all of which are diecutting staples that add such beautiful dimension to cardmaking projects.  Stay tuned on how to win a $25 gift card from my blog... details are below!  Woohoo!  

My project today features the new Diagonal Stitched Plaid background die.  If you know me at all, you know I love anything stitched.  And I love die cutting.  So I decided to highlight the stitched feature of this background die by adding lots of floral die cuts enhanced with hand stitching.  To start, I die cut my background panel onto a piece of blush cardstock and ink blended Pinkfresh Studios' Ballet Slipper and Coral Reef inks using a blending brush in a light gradient from top to bottom.  

I then die cut a bunch of floral images from Pinkfresh's Lovely Blossoms stamp set onto white cardstock.  Before I cut them out, I poked holes into the floral and foliage images and used 2 strands of embroidery floss to add simple backstitching and french knots (tip: I recommend adding stitched details before cutting the images out because they are small and a little unwieldy to handle once they are cut out).  Once the stitching was done, I fussy cut the images out (another tip: even though I have the coordinating dies for this set, I find that die cutting smushes the stitching down, especially french knots.  Fussy cutting yields better results, and don't worry about getting them perfect.  All the details bring the eye away from any imperfect edges!) 

I then used Pinkfresh's Leafy Wreaths die set to cut two wreaths out of white and green cardstock.  I adhered the green wreath to my plaid cardstock panel, then adhered the white wreath on top, rotating it a bit so the wreaths were not perfectly aligned.  I also spent some time fluffing up the white leaves on the top wreath to create dimension.  I then arranged my florals on top of and around this wreath, using foam tape when needed to pop the florals up over the leaves. 

I die cut the center of the wreath from dark gray cardstock and heat embossed my sentiment in two colors from Pinkfresh's Flower Garden stamp set.  I used some white pigment ink and a blending brush to create a bit of a chalkboard effect, then added a few french knots here and there.  Once I adhered the center to the wreath, this card was finished! 

GIVEAWAY + PROMO!

I hope you enjoyed this project!  To enter for a chance to win a $25 gift card, leave a comment on my blog (I'd love to hear what your favorite new product is!).  A winner will be chosen from the comments and will be posted to the Pinkfresh Giveaway Page on November 30, 2020.  Winners will have 2 weeks to claim their prize.  GOOD LUCK!  

Pinkfresh is also discounted shipping and a FREE Hey Gorgeous die for all orders over $50! 

Your next stop on the blog hop is Maria Willis.  A list of all the blog hop participants is below.  Thanks again for stopping by and have fun on the hop! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Stitched Card and Tag Featuring Ink to Paper's In Stitches: Candy Swirl Dies

Hello!  Thanks so much for stopping by today for these papercrafting projects featuring Ink to Paper's new In Stitches: Candy Swirl dies.  These projects were a breeze to make using these fun stitching dies! 

I die cut two candy pieces using the dies from white, Lovely Lady, and Pure Poppy cardstock and stitched them together using coordinating shades of embroidery floss (hint: the stitch holes are big, so I used all 6 strands of floss for these projects).  I also hand beaded some sparkly sequins to the candies.  These beautiful die cuts are the stars of the show, so it didn't take much embellishing to finish the projects.  For my card, I die cut some foliage from the Tree Essentials stamps and dies and the Corner It: Holly stamps and dies, adding stitching to the little holly leaves for added interest.  For my card, I created a lollipop stick from a thin stipe of cardstock and adhered it to an Aqua Mist panel I cut using the new Border Bling: Twinkle die (I had popped this panel onto a white card base using foam tape for some dimension).  I then adhered my foliage to the stick and added a red bow.  For my sentiment, I used the Joyous Holiday stamps, stamping it on vellum with Versafine ink and heat embossing it with clear embossing powder.  

My tag came together in the exact same way, except I added twine to the top.  I think this would also make such a cute Christmas ornament!  

Thanks so much for stopping by today to look at these projects!  They were such fun to make.  I hope you've enjoyed the design team's projects with the new November products, and I can't wait to see what you make!  

Gouache Floral Shaker Card Featuring Ink to Paper's Abundant Blooms and Inside Greetings: Feel Better Stamp sets

Hello!  Thanks so much for stopping by today for this gouache floral shaker card highlighting Ink to Paper's new Abundant Blooms and Just Sentiments: Get Well stamps.  This card was so much fun to make and I'm excited to share the process with you! 

I started my card by selecting a panel of Sweet Blush cardstock cut to 4 x 5.25 inches.  I stamped stems onto the cardstock and heat embossed them with green embossing powder.  I then stamped my blooms from the Abundant Blooms to the panel using light-colored ink.  I then mixed some shades of dusty rose and earthy yellow gouache to pain over the blooms.  The abstract nature of these flowers made this so easy... I think I was done in about 10 minutes!  I then chose some flowers from the Birthday Bouquet stamp set, stamped them onto Sweet Blush cardstock, and again painted them with gouache.  I die cut the florals and popped them up onto the bouquet with foam tape. 

I then stamped the vase from the Clearly in the Vase Mini Stamp Set, selectively stamping it to make it a bit shorter.  I then fussy cut my shortened vase out, cut out the center and adhered a piece of acetate to the back.  I used thin strips of foam tape to pop it up, adding clear sequins into the middle for a sparkly shaker effect.  After that, all that was left to do was stamp my sentiment from the Inside Greetings: Feel Better stamp set onto some Pale Peony cardstock and adhere it to my frame. 

I love this sweet card and I hope you enjoyed it, too!  Links to the products I used are above.  Thanks so much for stopping by today and I'll see you again soon with another Ink to Paper card project!