Swinging By - Neat and Tangled

Hello, I've been creating with some new stamps and dies I treated myself to.  This is Swinging By by Neat and Tangled.



My card started by making the stencilled background by ink blending using  Distress Oxides in Blueprint Sketch and Cracked Pistachio and the Scalloped Stencil by Neat and Tangled.  I then squished a little of the Blueprint Sketch onto my craft mat and adding a dollop of water and then using a toothbrush I splattered the panel to distress it.  The panel was then die cut using one of the dies from Scalloped Nice and Neat set.



I backed this panel with craft foam and applied it to a panel with a faux stitched die cut edge which in turn was adhered to the white cardstock base.

On Bristol Smooth cardstock the main image was stamped using Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil.  I watercolour painted it using the following Kuretake Zig colours - Blue Gray 092, Blue 030, Deep Red 260, Light Pink 026, Flesh Colour 071 and Blush 069.  Points were highlighted with a Uni-Ball Signo white gel pen.  The image was die cut with the coordinating die and applied using foam tape.



Final steps were to stamp the two sentiments with Versamark Ink and heat emboss in silver.  I used two dies included in the Scalloped Nice and Neat die set to cut the sentiment strips and each was applied with more foam tape.

The scene was finished out with a varied selection of sequins which were adhered with Ranger Multi Medium Matte glue.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today to read about this card, see you next time!

Nicky x

Pig Day - Hello Bluebird

Hi!  Today's card packs a whole lot of colour and happiness!  This is Pig Day by Hello Bluebird together with letters from the Charlie Alpha Die set.



My card started by ink blending a panel of Bristol Smooth cardstock with Distress Oxides in Abandoned Coral and Squeezed Lemonade.  I made sure to go back and forth between the two colours to make sure that they blended seamlessly .  I then squished a little of the Abandoned Coral onto my acrylic block, I spritzed it with water to loosen it up and then using a paintbrush I picked up some of the solution and splattered some of the colour onto my project.

Once dry I die cut the panel to provide the decorative edge.  I then grabbed my Charlie Alpha Die and chose my letters and symbols to form the sentiment HAPPY B'DAY!    I die cut each required letter/symbol 4 times and adhered each one to the next with glue.  On the top layer I ink blended a little Squeezed Lemonade and then on top of that even less of Abandoned Coral .... it looks a little 'rhubarb and custard' YUM!  Or raspberry ripple!  These letters were then arranged and adhered to the card in a subtle curve.



On Bristol Smooth cardstock I stamped just about all the images from Pig Day using Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil.  I watercolour painted everything using the following colours.  Kuretake Zigs in Flesh Colour 071, Light Pink 026, Wine Red 024 and Gray Brown 094.  I also used a Tombow ABT in shade 991.

I die cut everything and applied them to the card using dimensional foam tape.



The final touches were to apply a few sparkling clear sequins by Pretty Pink Posh.  I dotted in some Liquid Pearls in Ruby Red and glittered the top of my sentiment letters using Stickles in 'Diamond'.  All of this just adds to celebratory feel of the scene and gives it more movement.

I appreciate you stopping by to read today, I hope you enjoyed the card.  See you next time!

Nicky x

Piñata Party - Pretty Pink Posh

Hello!

Today, I have another card using product from the latest Pretty Pink Posh release.  This is Piñata Party!  Keep reading to find out how I made it.


To make this card I prepared an A2 panel of Bristol Smooth cardstock and ink blended a large focal point using Distress Oxide Ink in Spun Sugar.  I stamped the sentiment using Versamark Ink and heat embossed in silver.  I determined the centre point of the card and using silver gel pen and a ruler I drew a line down the centre of the card to just above the sentiment to act as the string from which the piñata is 'suspended'.



On more Bristol Smooth cardstock I stamped my images from the stamp set using more Versamark Ink and heat embossed them all in silver again.  I then watercolour painted the images delicately using the following Kuretake Zig colours - Light Violet, Pink, Light Pink, Bright Yellow, Pale Yellow, Green Shadow and Light Blue.  I then die cut all of these elements.  I applied them to the scene using dimensional foam tape.

I adhered the panel to the card base which is made of a nice and sturdy 110lb Neenah and just finished with a few festive dots of the same silver gel pen I used earlier so there is a nice twinkle as the card is handled.   The inside of the card has the cupcake piñata inside and the reverse of the card has the heart piñata applied just above my maker's stamp - so there's a lot more going on than initially meets the eye!



Thanks for coming by to read about this card, happy crafting, see you next time!

Nicky x

Winston - Purple Onion Designs

Hi, I have a new card for you today using the adorable little Winston from Purple Onion Designs as illustrated by Stacey Yacula Studio.



The card also features Garden Bushes which I stamped twice onto Bristol Smooth cardstock.  I also stamped Winston, May (the flying bird) and  Finch the little bird in the shirt.  I used my favourite ink for watercolour painting - Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil.  I painted all of my images and here is a list of the colours used.  Kuretake Zigs in Mid Gray 096, Beige 072, Warm Gray(2) 900, May Green 047, Light Green 041 and Mid Green 046.  Cheeks were blushed using a Tombow ABT in shade 761.  A few points were highlighted with a Uni-Ball Signo white gel pen.



I masked off the bushes at their base and ink blended the grass using Distress Ink in Cracked Pistachio. The mask was removed and I fussy cut the bush line.  I took another A2 panel of cardstock and ink blended it for the sky using Distress Ink in Peacock Feathers.  I applied the grass and bushes over the sky panel with dimensional foam tape.  I also fussy cut the bunny and birds and also attached them with foam tape.   I die cut a slim frame using kraft cardstock.  I backed the frame with foam tape and applied it.



The final touches were to stamp the sentiment.  I then hand dotted and flecked in tufts of grass using a Kuretake Zig in Green Shadow 049  which nicely tones with the Cracked Pistachio.  I blended it out a little with a waterbrush pen and dotted in some white daisies.

I found the wooden floral daises in my sequin stash and adhered them using Ranger Multi Medium Matte which is beautifully strong.

Hope you enjoyed my card, thanks for stopping by.

Nicky x

Simple Sentiments with Party Fox - Avery Elle

Hi, thanks for coming by the blog.  Today I'm sharing a card that puts the new Simple Sentiments stamp set from Avery Elle, front and centre.  Simple Sentiments comes with coordinating Elle-ments which makes your sentiment strips incredibly simple to make!



To create my card I ink blended my background using Distress Inks and then splashing a watered down amount of the ink into each colour zone to distress it a little further.  I dotted in some silvery gold gel pen dots and then die cut the panel to give it the subtle stitched edge.



I adhered the panel to the card base.  I die cut a whole bunch of the Simple Sentiments Elle-ments and then chose a few of the stamp sentiments that would say what I wanted them to declare and then stamped them in Versamark Ink and heat embossed in Antique Gold embossing powder.  I masked a line down the left hand length of my card and aligned my sentiment strips along it and adhered them with foam tape before removing the mask.



On Bristol Smooth cardstock I stamped the foxes from Party Fox, I watercolour painted them using Kuretake Zigs then die cut them using the Party Fox Elle-ments.  These too were adhered with  foam tape and the final touch for the card was the addition of a generous amount of flat, gold, micro star embellishments for a celebratory twinkle!

Hope you enjoyed today's card, happy crafting everybody and see you next time!

Nicky x

Silly Birds - Hello Bluebird

Hello!  Thanks for coming by today to read about this slimline card using Silly Birds by Hello Bluebird Stamps.

Finished dimensions of this card are 8 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches with a panel cut at 8.2 x 3.2 inches - you can make this entire card using just one panel of cardstock and it leaves you a handy sentiment strip too!  You can find standard envelopes for this card size by searching for Slimline, Invitation, #9 or Size 9 envelopes.

I ink blended the panel using Distress Inks in Mowed Lawn, Tumbled Glass and Spun Sugar.  I achieved the soft look by using Clarity Stencil Brushes.  I stamped my images on Bristol Smooth cardstock using Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil.  I watercolour painted them using the following colours - Kuretake Zigs in Light Carmine 021, Light Blue 036 and Light Green 041.  I also used a Tombow in 991.  I die cut the images and decided on an arrangement.  I stamped the sentiment then snapped a photo on my iPhone so that I could be sure of where everything was in case I forgot the arrangement and then set about applying each component using dimensional foam tape.

I adhered the panel to the card base and the finishing touches were to highlight one or two areas with a Uni-ball Signo white gel pen and then I used Ranger Multi Medium Matte to glue the water droplet style embellishments which are by Pretty Pink Posh.

Thanks for coming by to read ..... and see you next time!

Nicky x

Bee Happy - Hello Bluebird

Hello!

I have a new card for you today featuring Bee Happy by Hello Bluebird Stamps.



First of all I ink blended my background panel using Distress Inks in Peacock Feathers and Mowed Lawn.  I distressed the panel by splashing water droplets over it and then blotted them up a few seconds later.  Next, I prepared my top panel.  I chose a die in my collection to cut an offset opening - anything will do but circular shapes work best in my opinion.  I then repeatedly stamped a small floral sprig from the Springtime stamp set.  I used a couple of toning shades of Memento Inks to achieve this.



I backed the top panel with dimensional foam tape and positioned it over my panel to test where the buzzy bee trail would be stamped.  Removed the panel, stamped the trail and then actually adhered the panel.



On Bristol Smooth cardstock I stamped the images from Bee Happy.  I watercolour painted them using the following colours.  Kuretake Zigs in Pale Yellow 055, Yellow 050, Light Green 041, Dark Gray 095, Haze Blue 302 and Light Pink 026.  Also used were Tombow ABTs in 991 and 062.   These images were then die cut and applied to the scene with 1 or 2 layers of dimensional foam tape.

I used a little Wink of Stella to glitter up the bee's wings and the honey in the pot.  I stamped the sentiment on a strip of toning cardstock and also adhered it with foam tape.



The final touch was the application of Nuvo Crystal Drops in Duck Egg Blue.  I kept these drops close to the focal point of the card to keep the attention right where it is needed!

Thanks for stopping by to read today - I hope you make something pretty today!

Nicky x

VW Bus - Purple Onion Designs - Design Team Announcement!

Hey everybody I have some exciting news to share with you today .... I have been invited to join the Purple Onion Designs Design Team and I can't wait for all the creativity that lies ahead.

I've got a cute card for you today that seems quite fitting for the occasion and it features the incredibly sweet VW Bus and Trio of Balloons by Purple Onion Designs as illustrated by Stacey Yacula.  The scene also includes the Stacked Luggage with Bird stamp that nicely compliments the bus.



This is one of my slimline cards (use my search feature to find more) the finished dimensions of which are 8 1/12 x 3 1/2 inches with my panel cut to 8.2 x 3.2 and you can make this from one sheet of new cardstock with only a slim strip left over making it very economical and those strips are great to keeping for sentiments!  Envelopes for this size of card can easily be sourced by searching for slimline, invitation, #9 or size 9 envelopes.



I started by masking off an edge around my panel and then using Clarity Stencil Brushes I delicately ink blended using Distress Inks in Spun Sugar, Squeezed Lemonade and Dried Marigold which is a favourite combo of mine.  I finished by squishing a little Picked Raspberry onto my acrylic block and then spritzing a little water into it and then using a paint brush I splattered a few times to distress the background and then a few more times after that just with water alone.  This all makes the background so soft and dreamy.



I removed the mask and set the panel aside whilst I stamped my images onto Bristol Smooth cardstock using Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil and that I then watercolour painted using the following colours.  Kuretake Zigs in Warm Gray 900, Beige 072, Mid Gray 096, Bright Yellow 052, Light Carmine 021 and Haze Blue 302.  Also used was a Tombow ABT 020.  All images were then fussy cut out - nothing too complicated here but I did use a craft knife for in between the balloon strings!  

I decided on my exact layout and stamped my three sentiments with more of the Potting Soil Ink then applied dimensional foam tape behind the bus and balloons and applied them to the scene.



The final touch was to delve into my substantial sequin stash and find a variety of toning sequins which I glued using Ranger Multi Medium Matte.  The panel was attached to the card base using my Scotch Tape Runner and my card was complete.

Thanks for coming by to read today!  I'll be back very soon with new inspiration.

Nicky x

Sweetheart Owl and Arbor Valentine's Card - Purple Onion Designs

Hello!  I have a sweet little watercolour painted Valentine's card to share with you today using product from Purple Onion Designs I have always enjoyed using the stamps illustrated by the talented Stacey Yacula.



For this card I used Clarity Stencil brushes to delicately ink blend the background using Distress Inks in Tumbled Glass and Shabby Shutters.  I then die cut the panel for some simple interest to give it the faux stitched edge.



On Bristol Smooth cardstock I stamped my arbor stamp three times and also the sweetheart owl and the two little birdies using Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil.  Needing more hearts to place in the vines I stamped just that part of the owl stamp several times.  Everything was watercolour painted using Kuretake Zigs.  Colours used for this card are .... Beige 072, Oatmeal 064, Mid Gray 096, Light Pink 026, Light Green 041 and Carmine Red 022.



Points were highlighted with a Uni-ball Signo white gel pen and then I set to work fussy cutting out all the images.  It was super fiddly but totally worth it because I wanted a great deal of dimension on my card.  Once cut I adhered them to my background panel with either a single or double layer of dimensional foam tape.  I flecked in the grass by hand using the Zig in Light Green again.  For the sentiment, I curved it on to my stamping block and stamped with the Potting Soil ink again and added two little exclamation points by hand.



To complete the 'dewy garden' look and feel I pulled out some water droplet embellishments and dotted them around glueing with Ranger Multi Medium Matte since it dries clear and adheres strong!

Hope you enjoyed my card, thank you for coming by the blog to read today.

Happy crafting!

Nicky x

Pretty Pink Posh New Release Blog Hop!

Hi everyone!  Welcome to my blog and thank you for hopping along to see what the Design Team and other guest designers have created using products from Pretty Pink Posh's new release which you can now buy!  Birthdays are always fun and Pretty Pink Posh is turning 5 and therefore a birthday card seemed appropriate!



My card today puts the irresistibly cute Cupcake Critters front and centre, I grouped them all together for a fun party feel.   I started by delicately ink blending my background panel using a Clarity Stencil Brush and Distress Ink in Spun Sugar.  This panel was then stamped with the happy birthday sentiment using Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil.  The panel was adhered to the 110lb Neenah white card base.



Using Bristol Smooth cardstock I stamped all of the images from the stamp set and then I watercolour painted them using the following colours:-

Kuretake Zigs in - Light Gray, Mid Gray, Beige, Oatmeal, Gray Brown, Light Pink and Carmine Red.

Tombow in colours - 243, 969 and 020

Can you tell I'm a mint chocolate chip fan?

I highlighted some areas with a Uni-Ball Signo white gel pen then die cut each image and adhered them into place using two different thicknesses of dimensional foam tape.  The final touch was to make it a truly 'Posh' card by adding some sparkling jewels from the Pretty Pink Posh extensive collection which I couldn't live without!




































Happy crafting everyone - hope you're inspired and please keep scrolling for details and offers and to find the next blog to hop to!

Nicky x




Now please hop along to the next talented blogger:-

Pretty Pink Posh blog
Laura Bassen
Eloise Blue
Melody Rupple
Nicky Meek (you are here)
Cathy Zielske
Dana Kirby
Amy Rysavy
Suzy Plantamura
Wanda Guess

Puddle Play - Hello Bluebird

Hi!  I have a slimline card featuring all the cuties from Puddle Play by Hello Bluebird Stamps. 



A slimline card gives you so much more 'real estate' to work with to build your scenes and get all those characters and elements in that you love!   Finished size is 8 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches.  Panel cut at 8.2 x 3.2 inches.  Envelopes for this size are easily sourced and are called slimline, invitation, #9 and size 9.



I used a Clarity Stencil Brush to ink blend my gray background using Distress Ink in Weathered wood.  I die cut the clouds without stamping them from the stamp set and ink blended them too.  I stamped some of the water splashes upside down to become raindrops using Memento Ink in Fog.  I backed my panel with craft foam and applied it to the card base.  The craft foam backing means that your card makes it through the postal system in much better shape especially when you have embellishments such as I have on this card.



I stamped my images using Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil on to Bristol Smooth cardstock.  I watercolour painted the images using the following colours.  Kuretake Zigs in Gray Brown 094, Bright Yellow 052 and Light Pink 026.  Also Tombow ABT in 020.  I die cut all the elements and highlighted some points with a Uni-ball Signo white gel pen.  I decided on a layout then adhered everything using dimensional foam tape - making sure all my characters were interacting with one another to tell a story.



To finish out the card I stamped the sentiment with the same Fog ink onto a sentiment strip and backed it with foam mounting tape and adhered.  Embellishments needed to be water droplets and so I used 4 different sizes to add some fun dimension to the card.

I hope you like this encouragement card and feel inspired.

Thanks for stopping by - happy crafting!

Nicky x

Floral Hearts - Pretty Pink Posh

Hello!  Pretty Pink Posh has a new release available for purchase tomorrow (January 8th) and I am happy to be able to share this sneak peek of a gorgeous new stamp set called 'Floral Hearts' that is great for Valentine's Day and well beyond.



Using my Misti I stamped the open heart images (there's another closed heart design in the set).  I used Distress Ink in Antique Linen and stamped very lightly since this is all you want with no-line watercolour painting.  I painted my images delicately using just three colours of Kuretake Zigs.  They are .... Light Green No.41, Light Pink No.26 and Pink No.25.



The painted panel was kept really simple and adhered to the card base.  Next, I took a pre-prepared skinny sentiment strip and stamped two of the sentiments with Versamark Ink and heat embossed in Gold.  I trimmed them to size and applied them with dimensional foam tape behind them.

I was going for super sweet and simple and decided no further embellishment was needed.

Thanks for coming along to read about this card and I hope you treat yourself to this mini stamp set.

Nicky x

'And Then' Sentiment Set - Avery Elle

Hello everybody!  I'm sharing a card using the new And Then  sentiment stamp set from the most recent Avery Elle release.

Since the sentiments in this set are slightly chunky/oversized I decided I'd do a larger than normal card and I'm pretty much addicted to 'Slimline' cards right now.  The finished dimensions are 3 1/2" x 8 1/2", so cut an A4 panel of cardstock at 7 inches then score and fold in half (4 bar).  My panel was cut from the remainder of the sheet and is sized 3.2" x 8.2".  These cards fit a standard 'slimline' envelope which is easily found in online searches.



I ink blended my panel using Distress Ink in Mermaid Lagoon.  I then took a couple of different stencils that I had and used different sized circles from each, moving it about and ink blending using White Pigment Ink to create a bubbly or bokeh affect.  I stamped the sentiment with black archival ink and dotted in a few spots using a Uni-Ball Signo white gel pen.



On Bristol Smooth cardstock I stamped my images from Swans and watercolour painted them using Kuretake Zigs.  I fussy cut the images out and adhered them using foam tape for dimension.  I backed the panel with white craft foam and stuck it to the card base.



The final touch was to draw the ripples of water around the swans again using the Uniball Signo White gel pen.

Card complete!  Thanks for coming by today, I'll see you next time .......

Nicky x

Tea With Friends & Picnic With Friends - Mama Elephant

Hi!  I have a pretty card to share with you today where I've combined both Tea With Friends and Picnic With Friends by Mama Elephant.



The scale of these two stamp sets is perfect for combining as you can see and in order to fit everything into the one card, I opted for one of my slimline cards.  Finished dimensions are 8 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches with a panel cut at 8.2 x 3.2 inches - it can be made from one new panel of cardstock with just a skinny strip left over (useful for sentiments).  My panel was ink blended using Clarity Stencil Brushes.  Colours used are Distress Inks in Tumbled Glass, Stormy Sky and Shabby Shutters.



I stamped all of the images using Bristol Smooth cardstock and Ranger Archival Ink in Coffee.  I watercolour painted the images using Kuretake Zigs in Oatmeal 064, Brown 060, Pale Rose 230, Beige 072, Blue Gray 092, Mid Grey 096, Light Pink 026 and Carmine Red 022.

Everything was die cut and I decided on an arrangement, took a photo on my phone so that I didn't forget it and then I set about adhering everything into the scene, sometime glueing it directly and sometimes popped up on dimensional foam tape.

I dotted in some crumbs and flecked in some tufts of grass directly with my Zigs and the final touch was delicately glittering a few areas as if glistening in the sunshine (it is super subtle).  I backed the panel with white craft foam and adhered it to the card base.  I had some left over little birds which I adhered inside the card where I also stamped a Happy Birthday sentiment.




I do thank you for stopping by the blog to read about this card today.  See you next time!

Nicky x

Pretty Pink Posh Design Team Announcement!

Hello Friends!!!

I'm delighted to share with you the news that I am staying on with Pretty Pink Posh for a third year and my new term starts today!  Such a lovely company to design for and today I've made one of my 'Slimline' cards to make my announcement.  I've combined Koala Friends with Birthday Friends.



This is a slimline card measuring 8 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches with a panel cut at 8.2 inches x 3.2 inches.  You can purchase envelopes for a card with these dimensions - search for Slimline, Invitation, #9 or Size 9.



I ink blended my background using a Clarity Stencil Brush and Distress Ink in Mowed Lawn and Mermaid Lagoon.  I used a hill stencil (of which there are many on the market).  I stamped the sentiment and then backed the panel with white craft foam and adhered it to the base.   Using craft foam not only nicely lifts your panel but it also helps cards with embellishments survive the rigours of the mailing system!



My images were all stamped on Bristol Smooth cardstock using Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil.  I watercolour painted them all using Kuretake Zigs.  Koalas were painting using Grey No.91 and Mid Gray No.96.  Three other colours were used for the accessories and they were Yellow No.50, Light Pink No.26 and Light Green No.41.  Certain areas were highlighted with a Uniball Signo white gel pen.



The images were then either die cut or fussy cut and applied with dimensional foam tape.  I embellished my card with Pretty Pink Posh jewels as seen in the image above and since I had one remaining painted image I decided to add it to the inside of my card as a cute little surprise.

I don't know about you but I am certainly looking forward to lots of new products from Pretty Pink Posh in 2019!

I appreciate you stopping by to read today, thank you and happy crafting!

Nicky x