Unicorn Tales Shaker Card - Hello Bluebird Stamps

I have a new card for Hello Bluebird Stamps today.  I hadn't made a shaker card in a little while and so I decided to combine the After The Rain die with the lovely Unicorn Tales stamp set.



I die cut the After The Rain scene from a panel of white cardstock and ink blended all the different pieces that were formed using Distress Oxides in Spun Sugar, Cracked Pistachio, Squeezed Lemonade and Tumbled Glass.  I stamped the sentiment at the bottom using Versamark Ink and heat embossed in silver and dotted in some white specks with a white gel pane.  I then flipped the pieces over and used tape to reassemble all the pieces back into position.  I then made an acetate panel and stuck it the back then added foam tape around the edges.



I next prepared the background panel by mixing all the Distress Oxides I previously used with a little water and one at a time I splattered the panel.  The shaker unit was turned over, filled with shaker contents and then the splattered panel sealed the unit and in turn was attached to the card base.



I used the word Sparkle from the Magical Sparkle Words Die, die cutting it 4 times from white cardstock.  I glued each word on top of the next then used Stickles in 'Star Dust' to give it some lovely twinkle.  Once dry I glued it over the rainbow.



Finally, the unicorns were stamped with Memento Ink and die cut then Copic coloured using C1, RVOO, RV10, Y11 and BG10.  Points were highlighted using the white gel pen again and then they were backed with dimensional foam tape and applied.

I hope you are inspired to make yourself a shaker card.  Here it is one more time and I've shaken up the contents.



Thank you for coming by to read, I'll be back soon with a new project.

Nicky x

Avery Elle New Release Blog Hop - Pool Party

Well hello there!  Thank you for hopping along today with the Avery Elle new release blog hop designers.  I'd like to introduce you to the brand new stamp and coordinating die set called 'Pool Party'.  Before I continue, I want to be sure you continue scrolling past where I sign off - this will take you to the other designers participating in this blog hop and to the giveaway rules.  Enjoy!



To know me is to know I love to make slimline cards and this is one of them.  This card has a finished size of 8 1/2 inches x 3 1/2 inches.  I created my 110lb white cardstock base and set it to one side and I also cut a full size panel to fit which I used Washi Tape to mask off the edges and then I ink blended using Distress Oxides in Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Crushed Olive and Mowed Lawn.  I also splattered on some water and blotted it up a few seconds later.  I used a Distress Ink pen to quickly add some texture to the lawn.  The mask was carefully removed.



On Strathmore Bristol Smooth and using Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil, I stamped all of my cute images from Pool Party.

I watercolour painted everything using the following list of Kuretake Zig colours - Gray, Beige, Dark Brown, Haze Blue, Cool Gray (1), Flesh Colour, Yellow, Pale Pink, Light Blue, Vanilla and Light Pink.  All elements were then die cut using the coordinating dies, backed with dimensional foam tape and applied to the background panel.  Points were highlighted with a Uniball Signo White gel pen.



I popped the panel into my Misti and stamped the sentiments 2 or 3 times so that they were nice and bold against the colourful background, I attached the panel to the card base and the final touch was the addition of several Sparkling Clear Sequins by Pretty Pink Posh as embellishing accents.

This stamp set is perfect for all your sizzling summer cards!

Thanks for stopping by, keep scrolling to click on the next designer on the list and to read how to enter to win a free stamp set from Avery Elle (it's all below)!

Nicky x

Avery Elle  
Caryn Davies
Heather Campbell
Yainea
Melania Deasy
Katie Gehring 
Amy Kolling 
Ashley Marcu
Elena Roussakis
Nicky Meek

To celebrate our Summer 2019 Release Blog Hop, Avery Elle is giving away a stamp set of their choice to 3 winners.  To enter to win just comment on this post.  There is no purchase necessary and you must be 18 years of age or older to enter.  This giveaway is void where prohibited.  You can also do options 2, 3 and 4 of the following to increase your chances of winning. You have until midnight Sunday, May 26th to enter.  The winner will be announced on the Avery Elle Blog on Monday, May 27th .  All products are available for purchase in the Avery Elle store right now.  You can check them all out here. 
To enter to win you can do 1, 2, 3, or all 4 of the following to increase your chances:

1. Comment here on the Avery Elle Blog
2. Follow / Tweet us on Twitter (we are @averyellestamps )
3. Follow / Share us on Facebook (we are www.facebook.com/AveryElle ) .
4. Follow / Comment on Instagram (we are https://www.instagram.com/averyellestamps/).

Thanks for stopping by to take a peek. Have a great day!

Party Parade - Hello Bluebird Stamps

A new day and a new card for Hello Bluebird Stamps.  Once again I'm using those little cuties from Party Parade.



A panel of white cardstock was ink blended using Distress Oxides in Worn Lipstick, Squeezed Lemonade and Peacock Feathers.  I then squished a little of the Worn Lipstick onto my craft mat, added a drop of water and then using an old toothbrush I picked up some of the colour and ran my thumb over the bristles spritzing the pink colour through the yellow and blue background.



From another panel of white cardstock I die cut the frame from the Gallery Frame #3 Die.  I backed it with dimensional foam tape and applied it to the background.



The Party Parade characters were stamped on to Strathmore Bristol Smooth cardstock using Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil.  They were watercolour painted using Kuretake Zigs in Gray Brown, Light Pink, Blue Gray, Orange, Light Carmine, Light Blue, Yellow, Light Brown and Oatmeal.  Points were highlighted with a white gel pen, they were die cut and backed with either 1 or 2 layers of foam tape and applied to the scene.

I used the Charlie Alpha Die and the Charlie Numbers Die to create the HB2U sentiment.  Each number or letter was die cut 4 times to create a nice meaty stack, each being glued to the next using Ranger Multi Medium Matte.



Time for the finishing touches.  I used Nuvo Crystal Glaze to add a glossy appearance to the balloons and drum and I also adhered a selection of my favourite Sparkling Clear Sequins by Pretty Pink Posh.

Many thanks for coming by to read, I'll be back soon with another card!

Nicky x

Sunny Meadow Fair - Purple Onion Designs

I'm continuing to enjoy playing with the sweet images from Sunny Meadow Fair, the new stamp collection illustrated by Stacey Yacula for Purple Onion Designs.



For this slimline card (8 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches) I ink blended a panel using Distress Inks in Milled Lavender, Spun Sugar and Peeled Paint.   I then stamped the fairground background image using Memento Ink in Fog.



Using Versamark Ink I stamped the sentiment and heat embossed using Wow Embossing Glitter in Calypso.  I then applied this panel to a white cardstock base and set it to one side.



On Strathmore Bristol Smooth cardstock I stamped my feature images from Sunny Meadow Fair using Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil.  All images were watercolour painted using Kuretake Zigs in Oatmeal, Mid Brown,  S.Almond Pink, Pale Pink, Light Gray, Gray,  Cool Gray (1), Light Pink and Turquoise Green.  Also a Tombow ABT was in used in shade 991 (the yellow).  Images were fussy cut.



Do these cute critter images look extra dimensional to you?  It's not your imagination.  I used a trick whereby I flip the prepared images over on to a rubber mat and I use a round ended stylus and make circular movements (not at the edges) and using medium pressure until the image starts to dome or curl forwards.  Keep flipping the image to check progress and don't do too much or you can damage it but this adds wonderful dimension AND has the added bonus of making your dimensional foam tape less noticeable from the side.  Win win!



This last image shows you how the heat embossing sparkles nicely.  Certain points on my images were highlighted with a white gel pen and I decided no other embellishment was required.

Card complete!

See you next time, thanks for coming by to read.

Nicky x

Garden Friends - Hello Bluebird Stamps

I'm back today with a new slimline card for Hello Bluebird Stamps.  This card uses the new Garden Friends stamp set and I've also used the Pond Builder Die in a slightly unusual way.



This is as I said, a slimline card.  The finished measurements are 8 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches and you can source Size 9/Invitation envelopes for these dimensions.

I created a panel of white cardstock.  I used the pond builder die to cut all the different elements just from that one single panel.  I then used the following Distress Oxide inks to ink blend each separate piece - Crushed Olive, Peeled Paint, Broken China, Faded Jeans and Tumbled Glass.



I used an extra thick foam tape to adhere the top overhanging tree greenery and a regular foam tape for the lower (light coloured) overhanging tree limb, attaching them to the card base.  I then used glue to adhere the sky portion directly to the card base.  The grassy bank was backed with regular foam tape and again the water portion was directly glued.  Tons of dimension and interest.



I die cut some of the stones from Pond Builder also.  I watercolour painted them using Kuretake Zig in Mid Gray and they two are backed with dimensional foam tape.

On Strathmore Bristol Smooth the elements from Garden Friends that I was using were stamped using Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil.  They were watercolour painted using the following Zigs.  Orange, Light Pink, Oatmeal, Olive Green, Deep Red and Cobalt Blue.   Points were highlighted with a white gel pen and I put water ripples around the stones.



All images were die cut, backed with foam tape (I get through a lot of this stuff lol) and attached.

The sentiment was stamped using Versamark Ink on a strip of black cardstock and heat embossed in white. 

Finally some sparkling clear sequins by Pretty Pink Posh were glued using Ranger Multi Medium Matte because it dries beautifully clear and is very strong and they make me think of sparkling water droplets.



I'll be back again very soon with a new card.  I invite you to sign up for emails and never miss a post!

Nicky x

Fly A Kite - Hello Bluebird

Hello and thank you for coming by my blog today to read about my latest card for  Hello Bluebird.  This card uses Fly A Kite from the most recent release.



This card started with a panel of white cardstock.  I used one of  my cloud stencils and Distress Oxide Ink in Peacock Feathers to stencil/ink blend the background.  I also die cut another white panel twice with the Grassy Knoll Die and ink blended with Distress Oxide Ink in Spun Sugar.  Each piece was then simply die cut to provide the faux stitched edge.



I backed the grass pieces with a combination of tape runner tape and dimensional foam tape and adhered them to the cloud background and in turn adhered that to a sturdy 110lb white cardstock base and set it to one side.



I stamped my images from Fly A Kite onto Strathmore Bristol Smooth cardstock using Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil.  I watercolour painted everything using the following limited palette of Kuretake Zigs in Light Pink, Gray Brown, Beige, Natural Gray and Turquoise Green.  Points were highlighted with a white gel pen and then they were die cut, backed with foam tape and applied to the scene.



The sentiment was stamped using the same Potting Soil Ink onto a die cut sentiment strip from the Tag Builder Die set, backed with foam tape and adhered.  The card was simply finished with some flat cup sequins by Pretty Pink Posh.

Hope you enjoyed the card, I'll be back tomorrow with a new one!!

Nicky x

Lunar Animals Infinity Shaker - Mama Elephant

It's been a little while since I made one of my infinity shaker cards but when I saw the Big Happy Birthday Die by Mama Elephant that I'd probably be making a few of them.  I love a bold sentiment like this and I decided to go back and show Lunar Animals some love!



For my card I cut an A2 panel of Bristol Smooth cardstock.  I ink blended it using Festive Berries Distress Ink making it slightly darker at the top and fading it gradually towards the bottom.  I then laid over a starry stencil I have (you could use anything you like and through that I applied white pigment ink.  I removed the stencil and once dry I die cut my panel using the die from Mama Elephant's Cloud 9.



I then took a stamp storage pocket  and slid the 5 1/2 inch length of my background panel into the 5 1/2 width of the storage pocket.  Now, you want and need for this to be a very snug fit but obviously you don't want the panel to bend.  Take your time and ease it in carefully all the way to the bottom of the pocket.  If it is not very snug you will lose some shaker contents around the back of the panel.



I then flex the storage pocket open, slightly bending the panel so that I can accurately pour in my shaker contents.  I keep adding and checking my quantities until I have the right look and quantity.  You can use anything you like including micro beads seed beads, sequins and other shaker fillers.  Once I'm happy I then lay the unit flat on the my craft table and firmly wrap the other 50% of the storage pocket around the back of the panel ... doubling it back on itself and I stick it down with generous amounts of my Scotch Tape Runner tape.  I then adhere the pocket to my A2 card base.  I recommend 110lb cardstock because the base has to support some weight.

All of the rest of decoration of this card is on top of the storage pocket.  I die cut the sentiment twice, sticking one layer to the next and then I adhered that to the front and the Lunar Animals were stamped with Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil on Bristol Smooth.  They were watercolour painted using the following Kuretake Zigs, Yellow, Orange, Light Pink, Light Carmine, Carmine Red, Light Gray, Mid Gray, Dark Gray, Beige, Oatmeal and Brown.  They were die cut and also applied after adding their little party hats.  Points were highlighted with a white gel pen and with that, another card is complete!



I think this card would be loved for kids and big kids alike!  The contents move about freely and make a satisfying noise - using seed beads as part of the mix particularly helps with this and they help to move the sequin mix around.

See you next time!

Nicky x

Mother's Day - Pretty Pink Posh

I have a new card for Pretty Pink Posh today that uses the new mini stamp set called 'Mother's Day'  together with the beautiful new cover plate die called 'Lattice Background Die'.



I ink blended a panel with a focal point in Shaded Lilac and Dusty Concord.  I applied this to a 110lb white cardstock base.

I then cut a panel of white cardstock using the Lattice Background Die and adhered it to the ink blended panel.



On Bristol Smooth cardstock the image from Mother's Day was stamped using Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil.  It was watercolour painted using Kuretake Zigs in Cobalt Blue, May Green, Bright Yellow, Pink, Orange, Light Pink and Deep Red.  The image was die cut, backed with dimensional foam tape and applied.  The sentiment was stamped using the same ink on a little strip of cardstock which was also backed with foam tape.



Finishing touches included highlighting a few points using a white gel pen, the application of several Sparkling Clear Sequins by Pretty Pink Posh and a thick layer of Glossy Accents was applied to the vase making it shiny and highly dimensional.  Inside the card the pretty 'scripty' Happy Mother's Day Sentiment was stamped.

Thanks for coming by to read today, I appreciate it!

Nicky x

Sunny Meadow Fair - Purple Onion Designs

This is my third card this month for the Purple Onion Designs brand new release Summer Meadow Fair as illustrated by Stacey Yacula.  This card is a more CAS design that might appeal to those who can't or don't want to go tooo crazy!



I prepared an A2 panel of kraft cardstock and stamped the Large Fair Tent image using Versamark Ink and heat embossed in white.  I then die cut the panel using the Cloud 9 die by Mama Elephant for a fun decorative edge.



On Strathmore Bristol Smooth cardstock the images were stamped using Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil.  The image on the left is Pinky (Pig with Cotton Candy/Ice Cream) and the image to the right is Clown (Bunny Clown)    I watercolour painted them using Kuretake Zigs in Flesh Colour, Pale Pink, Light Pink, Carmine Red, Yellow and Light Blue and they were fussy cut, backed with dimensional foam tape and applied to the scene.  I love how they POP against a kraft background!  Points were highlighted with a white gel pen.

The sentiment was stamped using Memento Ink in Dandelion using my Misti (so that I could repeat the stamping for a strong colour.  The Woo Hoo sentiment forms part of a blurbs sentiment set associated with the new release.  The clouds are found here and are from a former release.  They were also backed with foam and applied.



Finally, I embellished by find toning jewels by Pretty Pink Posh and applying with Ranger Multi Medium Matte.

Thank you for coming by my blog today, I'll be back very soon with a new project.

Nicky x

Sunny Meadow Fair - Purple Onion Designs

I'm back today with another card for Purple Onion Design's brand new release of the Stacey Yacula illustrated 'Summer Meadow Fair'.  Clicking the link provided takes you to the bundled entire release at a 30% savings which is valid until the 14th May only.  A 30% savings for 24 stamps and 30 images.  My card today is a slimline card with dimensions of 8 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches.



I prepared a panel of cardstock by masking off the edges with washi tape and I ink blended with Clarity Stencil Brushes using Broken China and Mowed Lawn.  I also loosened up a little white acrylic paint with a spot of water and splattered it all over and set the panel aside to dry having removed the wash tape mask.



On Strathmore Bristol Smooth the characters and other images were stamped using Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil.  They were watercolour painted using Kuretake Zigs in the following colours - Dark Brown, Flesh Colour, Pale Pink, Light Pink, Mustard, Oatmeal, Mid Gray, Carmine Red, Light Blue, Yellow, Cool Gray (1) and Warm Grey (2).

From left to right the images are - Misty (Horse),  Dusty (Mouse With Ball), Wooley (Lamb), Dolly (Mouse With First Prize Ribbon), Billy (Goat), Cotton Candy Cart and Pink (Pig With Cotton Candy/Ice Cream).

All images were fussy cut, backed with dimensional foam tape and adhered into position on the prepared panel.



I stamped the sentiments from the new Carnival/ Fair Blurb Set in my Misti using a toning pink ink and repeated the stamping so the pink had great coverage.  They were backed with foam tape and applied.

Finally I used a few sparkling clear sequins by Pretty Pink Posh for accents.

I hope you check out the new release!

See you soon with another card for Purple Onion!

Nicky x

Pretty Pink Posh New Release Blog Hop - Animal Signs

Hi and welcome to my blog!  I imagine you are hopping along through the list of designers participating in the hop that celebrates the new Pretty Pink Posh release.  My card uses the new Animal Signs stamp set.

Before I go any further it's important to point out that there are 4 $25 gift certificates up for grabs with two winners each day of this blog hop.  Winners will be randomly picked but be sure to leave your comments on each blog post by 11.59pm PST on 5/8/19 at to be eligible to win.  Winners will be announced on the Pretty Pink Posh blog.   Good luck everybody!



My card also uses the new Lattice Background Die, although I used it as a stencil.  I made a die cut then ink blended through that onto white cardstock with Distress Inks in Spun Sugar and Worn Lipstick.  This panel was adhered to the card base.  I used one of the dies from the Stitched Border 1 set to make the zig zag edge on the pink cardstock.  I backed that with dimensional foam tape and applied it.



On Strathmore Bristol Smooth I stamped my animal images using Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil.  I watercolour painted the images using Kuretake Zigs in Mustard, Mid Gray, Blue Gray, Light Pink, Light Carmine and Warm Gray (2).  Points were highlighted with a white gel pen and they were die cut.

I used Versamark Ink and stamped the sentiments and heat embossed in gold.  They were backed with more of the foam tape and adhered.



The final touch was to adhere a scattering of gold flat cup sequins to tone with the gold sentiments and because I love pink and gold together!

Many many thanks for stopping by today, please click on the next person on the list below to be taken to the next inspiring designer.

Nicky x

Pretty Pink Posh blog 
Angelica Conrad
Megan Quinn
Ardyth Percy- Robb
Sharna Waksmulski
Nicky Meek (you are here)
Eloise Blue
Jacquie Dean
Alix Davis
Joni Nina Andaya
Mindy Baxter
Rina Galit
Yoonsun Hur  

Peek-A-Boo Pets - Avery Elle

Hi!  I'm sharing a cute card featuring the Peek-A-Boo Pets stamp set and coordinating Elle-ments by Avery Elle and it also features a sentiment from their So Kind stamp set.  The frame you see here is the Arrow Mat Die from Avery Elle.



To make this card I first ink blended two panels of cardstock so that they matched (loosely speaking).  I used Distress Oxide in Shaded Lilac and Distress Ink in Tattered Rose and I splashed on some water and blotted it up then splattered a little Shaded Lilac using a wet paintbrush.   One panel was attached to my card base and the second was die cut using the Arrow Mat Die.



I applied the frame to the card base backed with dimensional foam tape to lift it up.  The negative cut was stamped with the sentiment from So Kind using Versamark Ink and heat embossed in white.  Since I used my Misti and this is a chunky sentiment I like the ultra embossed look and so I re-stamped and heat embossed so it stood out even more - you could even go back a third time!   I adhered this panel back through the space in the frame.

On Bristol Smooth cardstock I stamped my images from Peek-A-Boo Pets using Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil.  I watercolour painted the cuties using Kuretake Zigs in the following colours - Oatmeal 064,  Mid Gray 096, Flesh Color 071, Light Pink 026, Pale Pink 028, Warm Gray(2) 900 and finally Pale Orange 054.  Each image was then die cut.  They were applied to the scene with more dimensional foam tape.



Points on the pets were highlighted using a Uni-ball Signo White gel pen and I found some toning jewel embellishments to dot around the scene which I adhered with Ranger Multi Medium Matte.

Hope you like the card and I look forward to seeing you next time with something new!

Nicky x

Sunny Meadow Fair - Purple Onion Designs New Release

I'm so very excited to be sharing this card today which is made using a whole new theme release illustrated by Stacey Yacula for Purple Onion Designs.  It's a big release and it is called Sunny Meadow Fair.



You can buy the whole release HERE at a 30% discount but only for the first two weeks it is offered for sale starting from today.  There are 24 stamps and 30 images and will be $108.  My card today uses the Fairgrounds Background and the two characters at the front are Billy The Goat and Clown (Bunny Clown).

I stamped the Fairgrounds Background using Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil onto Strathmore Bristol Smooth cardstock.  I stamped the Bunny Clown and Goat the same way.



I watercolour painted my images using the following  - Tombow ABT in 723 and Kuretake Zigs in Light Green, Orange, Oatmeal, Green Gray, Bright Yellow and Light Blue.  Points were highlighted with a white gel pen.  The two characters were fussy cut, backed with dimensional foam tape and adhered to the scenic background which in turn was adhered to a 110lb white cardstock base.

To finish off the card I die cut a skinny frame using a pretty blue cardstock called Sno Cone by MFT Stamps.  I also used a little strip of the same cardstock and using Versamark Ink I stamped the Hooray! sentiment and heat embossed with a light pink opaque embossing powder from Wow!



Both the frame and sentiment were backed with dimensional foam tape and added to the card.  Last by not least a few sparkling clear sequins by Pretty Pink Posh were glued using Ranger Multi Medium Matte glue.

Card complete!

I made several cards for this wonderful new release and will be back very soon with another.

Thanks for coming by to read today.

Nicky x