Snow Play - Hello Bluebird

Hi,  I have a card using Hello Bluebird Stamps 'Snow Play' stamp set for you today!



My card started with a panel of Neenah 110lb white cardstock.  I took the Hill & Dale die and arranged several of the 'hills' across my panel and cut it.  I then ink blended each hill with Distress Oxide Ink in Peacock Feathers.  I adhered them back together on the reverse, added white craft foam and applied this to the card base. 



I'm all about the dimension with my cards and with that in mind I die cut another A2 panel of white cardstock with the Gallery Frame 3 Die, using only the outer cut I backed this with dimensional foam tape and applied it to the background panel.  

On Bristol Smooth cardstock I stamped my images from Snow Play.  I watercolour painted them using my Kuretake Zigs and then die cut each penguin.  I also stamped the sentiments in light grey ink and die cut those too.  I adhered them to the scene using more foam tape.



The finishing touches were all that was left to do now so I used a littles Stickles glitter in 'Crystal' to frost up the snowballs and I used white Nuvo drops on the pompom of each penguin's Santa hat.  Finally I glued on a scattering of toning 'jewel' embellishments.

Another Christmas card complete!  I appreciate you coming by to read today, see you next time hopefully!

Nicky x

Three Hearts Die - Avery Elle

Hey there!   I'm sharing a card I've made using the lovely new and ever so useful 'Three Hearts Die' from Avery Elle's newest release.  This die will make your Valentine's cards incredibly easy!

For this card I called upon an old favourite stamp set Woodland Wonders.  I fancied this card as a love card from parent to younger child and so I imagined it like a children's book.

The card starts with a panel of white cardstock which I die cut using the Large Pierced Scallops Elle-ments die.  I then ink blended the edge softly using Distress Oxide Ink in Tumbled Glass.   I then die cut the Three Hearts Die.  I ink blended the negative heart cuts  with more of the Tumbled Glass and also with Cracked Pistachio and stamped a few tufts of grass from Woodland Wonders.

I stamped the sentiment 'LOVE you' in the top right hand corner using the new 'And Then' sentiment set then applied dimensional foam tape to the back of the panel and applied it to a Kraft cardstock base.  I applied adhesive to the back of each ink blended heart and recessed them carefully through the openings.  On Bristol Smooth cardstock I stamped the characters from Woodland Wonders, I then watercolour painted them then die cut and applied them with more dimensional foam tape.

To finish out this card I applied some toning sequins and then created a white paper writing insert inside the card (80lb weight) and stamped that with another sentiment from the 'And Then' sentiment set which reads:  You Make My Heart Happy.

I appreciate you stopping by to read about this card today, I hope you are a little inspired - happy crafting!

Nicky x

25 Days of Christmas Tags - Pretty Pink Posh

Hi, I'm excited to be participating this year in the big 25 Days of Christmas Tags event hosted by Tracey McNeely.  All month long designers from a plethora of stamp companies who are sponsoring this fun event, hope to inspire you with handmade gift tags for the Christmas season.  Today I am proud to be representing Pretty Pink Posh with this trio of pastel tags.



Products used in the making of these tags are - Scallop Square Tags for the dies.  Pink tag uses stamps from Winter Woodland.  Blue tag uses stamps from Winter Wonderland and the Green tag uses stamps from Holiday Pals for the background and the little girl is from Winter Woodland again.



As you can see from the image above for each tag I die cut the smaller tag 3 times.  They might be small but they are mighty!   I softly ink blended each die cut both front and back because you can see in the side.  The top die cut was stamped and heat embossed in white for the snowfall and then I used the little hinged flap die included in the set to die cut an opening.



Each little tag was stamped with its own Pretty Pink Posh sentiment - the one above is from the Winter Wonderland stamp set.  This was stamped on to one of the solid die cuts, making sure it would nicely align with the flap opening.   Each die cut was then adhered to the next, layered up on dimensional foam tape, providing such a pleasing affect when viewed from the side.



To finish each tag I stamped my images on to Bristol Smooth cardstock with Ranger Archival Ink in black,  I watercolour painted the images using Kuretake Zigs and highlighted a few points with a Uniball Signo White gel pen.  I then die cut them and applied them with more foam tape making sure the flap would still open up to reveal the sentiment inside.

The final touch was the addition of Pretty Pink Posh sequins and I used some cream and silver baker's twine tied through the top.

Such a fun little project!  Thank you for coming by my blog to read.

Nicky x

Rooftop Reindeer - Hello Bluebird Stamps

Hey there, I'm back with another card for Hello Bluebird Stamps and once again I'm using Rooftop Reindeer .... without the roof this time!



A pretty simple card by any measure - I grabbed an A2 panel of Bristol Smooth cardstock and ink blended it using Distress Ink in Tattered Rose.  I splashed the panel with water and blotted it up a few seconds later.  I then placed the panel in my Misti and stamped the Tis The Season sentiment with Versamark Ink and heat embossed in Copper.  I repeated this process twice more to make the sentiment super bold and raised.   I die cut the panel to provide the simple faux stitched edge.   I then grabbed one of the dies from Hill and Dale and die cut a snowy hill then die cut that hill with a matching faux stitched edge.  I adhered this to the card base with foam tape.



Next I then stamped the second part of the sentiment 'TO BE JOLLY' on a strip of cardstock with more Versamark Ink and again heat embossed in Copper.  I love everything in the rose gold to copper variety - so pretty and warm and luxurious looking.  I applied the little sentiment with foam tape.

On Bristol Smooth I stamped my reindeer duo with Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil.  I watercolour painted them using Kuretake Zigs and highlighted some points with a Uni-Ball Signo white gel pen.  I die cut the the images using the coordinating dies then adhered them with more foam tape.



Look at that metallic copper sentiment!  I just love that colour!

The card was finished out by adding 'snow' by way of white Nuvo drops in random sized droplets and then I set it aside to fully dry for a couple of hours before applying the card panel to the 110lb Neenah white cardstock base.

Card complete!  Thanks for stopping by for the details - use the comments section if you wish to ask any questions I will always be happy to help you!

Nicky x

Ornament Shaker with Penguin Pals - Pretty Pink Posh

Hi, I hope you've been enjoying the Pretty Pink Posh's Design Team's reveals of all the wonderful new products which you can already buy in the shop.   My card today features the new Ornament Shaker die together with the adorable Penguin Pals (you might have caught my card a few days ago that also used Penguin Pals - use the search function to find that card too)!



I had to make this card slightly oversized to fit all those chubby penguins into the scene.  I cut a slightly smaller panel of Bristol Smooth cardstock and ink blended it using Distress Ink in Pumice Stone.  I then used an embossing buddy to prep the surface for the stamping and heat embossing of a variety of snowflakes from the Pretty Pink Posh - Winter Wonderland stamp set.  I backed the panel with white craft foam and adhered it to the card base.



Next, I made four die cuts using the Ornament Shaker die.  Three from white cardstock and one from grey cardstock.  I snipped out the 'jolly' word from the centre since I didn't need it, but I kept it for a future card!   I stacked the remaining parts up adhering one to the next and die cut the trim piece for the top from glittery silver cardstock.  I threaded cream/silver baker's twine through the top and glued the ornament to the centre of the card.



On Bristol Smooth cardstock I stamped my penguins and their hats using Ranger Archival Ink in black.  I watercolour painted them using my Kuretake Zigs and highlighted some points with a Uni-Ball Signo white gel pen.  I glued their hats on and then added dimensional foam tape tot he back of each, decided on who would go where and stuck them down.



The final touches were the addition of the jewels from the new Starry Sky Mix, I only applied these within the bauble focal point and then I used Stickles in 'Crystal'  to glitter up some points on my penguins.  The sentiment was stamped on the inside of this card only.

Another Christmas card complete - on to the next!  Thank you for coming by to read.

Nicky x

Blog Hop - Peacock by Avery Elle

Hello everybody, I'm happy to be hopping along with my fellow design team friends for Avery Elle's new release.  I'm introducing Peacock a new mini stamp set that comes with a co-ordinating die.



For this card I took a panel of Bristol Smooth cardstock and I ink blended it to a soft ombré affect using Distress Oxide Ink in Worn Lipstick (seemed appropriate)!!!  I then splashed some water onto it and blotted it up a few seconds later to slightly distress the background.



I made sure the panel was good and dry by using my heat gun on it and then I thoroughly wiped it with my Embossing Buddy.  I randomly stamped my Peacock image using Versamark Ink to form a wallpaper pattern.  I then heat embossed in Antique Gold.  Further adding to the Valentine's Day theme I grabbed a trio of hearts from an older Avery Elle stamp set called 'Sending You' and I used them to stamp and heat emboss in some of the spaces.



The completed panel was then simply die cut to provide the faux stitched edge affect and then applied to the 110lb white cardstock base by Neenah.  Finally I stamped the sentiment on a strip of cardstock using Versamark Ink again and then heat embossed in Antique Gold also.  This was applied with some Scotch Foam Tape.

Thank you for stopping by my blog today, have fun hopping along to see all the new goodies from the rest of the Avery Elle Design Team.

Nicky x

Products Used:-
Peacock Stamp
Peacock Die

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

Nicky Meek

To celebrate our Winter 2018 Release Blog Hop, Avery Elle is giving away a $25 Gift Certificate to one random winner.  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, 4, 5 or all 6 of the following to increase your chances of winning. You have until midnight Sunday, Novebmer 11th to enter.  The winner will be announced on the Avery Elle Blog on Monday, November 12th .  All products are available for purchase in the Avery Elle store right now.
To enter to win you can do 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or all 6 of the following to increase your chances:

1. Comment on any of the design team's posts and/or here on the Avery Elle Blog
2. Follow us on Twitter and tweet the contest (we are @averyellestamps )
3. Follow us on Facebook (we are www.facebook.com/AveryElle ) and share us with your friends - make sure they tell us you sent them.
4. Follow us on Pinterest
5. Become a blog follower through email (comment on the Avery Elle blog if you already follow us)
6. Join our Flickr group (comment on the Avery Elle blog if you already belong)

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

Layered Tree Die with Caroling Critters - Pretty Pink Posh

Hello, thank you for coming by to read about my latest card for Pretty Pink Posh.  This card introduces you to the wonderful new Layered Tree die which I think will become a fast favourite for quick cards and scene building.  I've paired it with the Caroling Critters I have previously created a card with and blogged here (use search function to find that post).



For this card I created a background panel and gave it a faux stitched edge and stamped it repeatedly with a little snowflake die from another Pretty Pink Posh stamp set.  I've used Distress Oxide Ink in Peacock Feathers for this stamping and each snowflake was a second generation stamp so that it wasn't too bold.  I adhered this panel to the 110lb Neenah cardstock base.



On more white cardstock I die cut the 4 portions of each tree, three times each.  I ink blended the portions I wanted to add colour to (not the top portion) using Peacock Feathers again and adhered each layer to the next.  Once dry I arranged the three trees on the card base, the top tree has dimensional foam tape underneath it in order to lift it up and sort of thrust it forwards in the scene.



On Bristol Smooth cardstock I hand stamped the Caroling Critters image using Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil.  I watercolour painted the characters with my Kuretake Zigs and highlighted some points with a Uni-Ball Signo white gel pen.  In order to make it appear that they are standing on a snow bank I fussy cut only the top of the image and then I die cut the bottom to match the faux stitched edge to match the background panel.  I adhered the Caroling Critters to the card with more adhesive foam tape.

The final touch was the addition of a generous quantity of 'jewels' which I took from the new Starry Sky Mix.  I added them to the tips of the trees and through the background.  I chose to only stamp a sentiment  on the inside of the card - which I did using Peacock Feathers again so that it all linked up!

If you need me I'll be at my craft table making another card!  Thank you for coming by, see you next time!

Nicky x