One Last Autumn Thanks + Some Tools I'm Excited About

 

Hello, friends!  I'm sneaking in one last autumn card before I say goodbye to the season.  (If I hadn't totally forgotten to share this card it would have been here a lot sooner!)  A little while back Waffle Flower offered to send me some goodies to try including their new grip mat and 0+ Shader Brushes (plus being the important part).  So generous of them, and let me just tell you...they are AMAZING!!!  I already feel like I can't live without either one.  I've never had such a stress-free experience blending with stencils.  The grip mat keeps everything secure.  As in my card base and stencil did.not.move.at.all.  It's also awesome in the Misti.  I am amazed that I don't need any kind of magnet or tape to hold my paper down.  I liked the grip mat so much that I actually ordered a second one.  

And these teeny tiny 0+ brushes are exactly what I was missing for my ever-increasing detailed stencils.  They soak up color really quickly and blend with ease.  Previously, I've always struggled to get the ink in really tiny, detailed stencils, especially with out bending the stencil.  I used them to blend this super cool stencil/die duo from Waffle Flower - Fall Leaves Background Stencil and Pop-up Fall Leaves Panel Die.  You die cut the panel and the stencil fits perfectly over top.  The pop-up feature adds the coolest dimension.  

Now you may notice a little bleeding around some of my leaves...that had more to do with a really watery spray I used that I didn't let dry enough before I picked up the card.  Oops!  I used Waffle Flower's Retro Outline Alpha Die to create my sentiment.  I bought this set years ago and am wondering why I don't use these dies more often.  They were just what this card needed. 

Can we talk for a second about this color combination?  I made a color swatch for it months ago but forgot all about it.  The colors are Eggplant, Briar Rose, Tidepool, Juniper, Spiced Cider, and Nectar (all Concord & 9th), and I'm totally smitten.  

This card just makes me smile.  And so do these colors.  And so do these tools.  Can you live without these tools?  Yes.  But now that I have tried them, would I want to?  No.  And they absolutely did not ask me to write this.  I am just so excited I feel like shouting it from the rooftops.  Thanks so much for visiting (and listening) today! :D

For the Record + Your Paper Insider

Hello!  I'm super excited to share today's card with you.  A month or so ago Your Paper Insider contacted me and asked if I would like to try one of their paper subscription boxes.  They release a curated box of unique papers quarterly and were just about to release Box 5. (They also sell some individual paper packs and assortment packs, though.) They were new to me and I was intrigued, so I said yes.  And I'm so glad I did!  

When the package arrived it totally exceeded my expectations.  First of all, it was so carefully packaged.  I could tell a lot of care was put in to make sure everything arrived safely.  Second, there was such a fun variety of papers.  I expected a variety of colors, but was amazed by the variety of textures.  I'm a really tactile person, and I have to say I've gone through the papers several times just to feel the difference in the papers.  I needed to make a special card for a niece of mine, so I pulled out the super sparkly Silver Diamond Glitter Cardstock and Black Matte EVO Synthetic Paper that has a texture that is difficult to describe.  It's almost rubbery but smooth.  Kind of like vinyl?   I don't quite have the words, but I love the way it feels and it was absolutely perfect for creating records. 

Speaking of records, these come from a the super fun Greatest Hits Bundle by Concord and 9th. I used the Greatest Hits Dies to cut the records, music notes, and stars on my card.  

I built the sentiment with several different sets.   I selectively inked some words from the Perfect Match Stamp Set to get "for the".  Then I used the gorgeous "record" and it's shadow from the For the Record Die Set, cutting it in lilac and the Silver Diamond Glitter Cardstock.  Isn't the sparkle of that paper amazing?!  I loved it so much that I used it again for the oval shape from the For the Record Dies to anchor the records and all the sentiment pieces. Finally I added a banner with a sentiment from the Greatest Hits Stamp Set in Papertrey's Aqua Mist.

I used C9's Triangle Background Dies on my card base and ended with a happy sigh.  This card is so totally my niece, and I absolutely love it.  The fabulous Your Paper Insider papers really made it special.  Thanks so much for stopping by!  It makes me happy to be able to share with others. I hope you have a wonderful weekend, friends!

SUPPLIES:

Paper 

Lilac Cardstock (Concord & 9th)

Aqua Mist Cardstock (Papertrey Ink)

Black Matte EVO Synthetic Paper, Silver Diamond Glitter Cardstock (Your Paper Insider Box 5)

Stamps (all Concord & 9th)

Greatest Hits 

Perfect Match 

Dies (all Concord & 9th)

For the Record Dies

Greatest Hits Dies

Triangle Background Dies 

Feminine Birthday

For being a cardmaker, I am terrible at making and sending birthday cards.  I managed to get a few caught up this week and had so much fun designing them specifically for each recipient.  They all turned out very different.  This one came together quicker than the others and is a testament that all you need is a few good supplies.  

I started with Concord & 9th's Magnolia Perfect Pairings Dies. The delicate white lines on top of the  nectar cardstock looks like a lace overlay, and I think it is so pretty.  Then I used C9's All The Birthday Bundle to cut the giant "HB" and cut/stamp the sentiment banner.  I layered a little sea glass banner behind for just a hint of color.  

Everything about it reminds me of my lovely niece - soft, feminine, sweet, sparkly. I hope you are headed into a wonderful weekend!  Thanks for visiting!

Many Thanks

Hello, friends!  I sure am grateful for a day of Thanksgiving.  I may have said this before, but I don't think there could be a more perfect holiday to precede Christmas or to start the wrap up of a year.  It is the nudge many of us need to reflect on the year and recognize the blessings held within.  

I had these thoughts swirling as I created todays card.  I pulled out Pretty Pink Posh's Stitched Pumpkins Dies and cut them in a variety of Concord & 9th colors. I used Nectar, Sorbet, Spiced Cider, Cayenne for the pumpkins and Pebble, Cobblestone and Papertrey Ink's Ocean Tides for the stems, vines, and leaves.  The playful--even joyful--feel of this wonky stack of pumpkins makes me smile. 

After creating my stack, I pulled out a shimmery piece of cardstock that I have had in my stash for years and cut it with the Slimline Scallop Frame Dies.  I popped all the pumpkins up with dimensional foam, and then I embossed a sentiment from Woodland Thanks onto the smallest Stitched Torn  Rectangle Die. The final touch was a sprinkling of ivory pearls. 

Many thanks for visiting today!  I am grateful for you!  

Pretty Pink Posh STAMPtember Collab

Good morning, friends!  Today I have the pleasure of sharing Pretty Pink Posh's exclusive collaboration for STAMPtember: Peace On Earth.  This set is available only at Simon Says Stamp while supplies last, so make sure you hurry and snatch one up before they're gone.

Some time ago, I saw a pretty pink globe ornament, and it has stayed in the back of my mind.  As soon as I saw Peace on Earth, I knew it was the perfect time to try to recreate that ornament. 

 

I embossed the world image with Simon Says Stamp Rose Gold Embossing Powder, watercolored it with several Concord and 9th inks (Aqua Sky, Pink Lemonade, Sea Glass, Sorbet), and flicked on some white and gold paint for good measure. 

I hand cut the ornament topper and added a glittery rose gold double bow using the Build A Gift Dies by Pretty Pink Posh.  Finally, I added a vellum embossed banner + sentiment. 

My ornament looked a little out of place all by itself, so I used just the pine stencil in Pretty Pink Posh's Layered Christmas Lights Stencils for the background.  I wanted some color variation, so I blended on both Sea Glass and Aqua Sky inks.  I also die cut some Pine Sprigs from the same blended paper to hang my ornament on.  

Thanks so much for joining me today!  Make sure you quickly go snatch up Peace on Earth before it's gone!

SUPPLIES

Stamps: Peace on Earth 2023 STAMPtember Exclusive

Dies: Pine Sprigs Dies, Build A Gift Dies

Ink: Aqua Sky, Pink Lemonade, Sea Glass, Sorbet

Extras: Simon Says Stamp Rose Gold Embossing Powder