Fly With Me - Mama Elephant

Hi!  Few things are more fun than creating new baby cards!  My extended family have just welcomed a new baby girl and so I set about making the perfect card!  I have used Fly With Me by Mama Elephant.



Finished card dimensions are 3 1/2" wide x 8 1/2".  From an A4 sheet of cardstock cut the length at 7 inches then score and fold in half (4 bar).  My panel is cut from the remainder of the A4 sheet and the dimensions are 3.2" x 8.2".  Worth writing those down for future reference!  For your coordinating envelopes just Google 'slimline envelopes' (this search yields the best results).  Sometimes they are referred to as 'invitation envelopes' and also '#9 envelopes' or even 'Size 9 envelopes'.



I masked off the edges of my panel and ink blended it using a Clarity Stencil Brush in Spun Sugar Distress Ink.  I then squished a little Worn Lipstick Distress Ink onto my acrylic block, spritzed a tiny bit of water next to it, mixed it and then splashed it randomly.  I removed the masking and stamped the sentiment from New Family using Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil and set the panel to one side.



On Bristol Smooth cardstock I stamped my images again using Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil.  I watercolour my images using Kuretake Zigs and Tombows.  The following colours were used.  Elephants are Zig in Blue Gray.  Balloons are Zig in Light Pink and Tombow  020.   Blushing cheeks, ears and hair bows also done with Zig in Light Pink.

I die cut the images and applied them to the scene using dimensional foam tape then attached the panel to the card base with a piece of white craft foam behind it to lift it up.



The final embellishing touches were to add Nuvo Crystal Drops.  The colours I've used are Simply White,  Buttermilk and Bubblegum Blush.

I was so happy with how this card turned out and I love the height of it which helped me play with having the elephants floating through the sky.

I'm fighting the urge to make this card all over again in a baby boy theme - it may very well happen!

Happy crafting everybody!

Nicky x

Bee Friends - Pretty Pink Posh

Hello, I have a new card today for Pretty Pink Posh and I'm enjoying what might be my favourite stamp set of theirs - Bee Friends.



This congratulations card features a panel that was Ink blended with Distress Oxide Ink in Spun Sugar then embossed with a subtle hexagon design - perfect for Bumble Bees here!  Using Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil I stamped the two sentiments which are from Everyday Greetings.



Using Bristol Smooth cardstock I stamped my Bee Friends characters.  I fussy cut the images then watercolour painted them using the following colours - Tombow ABT 020 and Kuretake Zigs in Haze Blue 302, Light Pink 026 and Gray 090.  Areas were highlighted with a Uni-ball Signo white gel pen.

I decided on a layout for them on my background panel and then stamped their 'buzzy trails' using more Potting Soil ink.  Next, I applied the bees with dimensional foam tape.



At this point I was enjoying the sweet simplicity of this card and decided no other embellishment was necessary other than to glitter up the bee's wings using Stickles in 'Crystal'.

The decorative panel was applied to a shimmering white cardstock card base.  Card complete!

Happy crafting everybody and I'll see you next time!

Nicky x

Avery Elle New Release Blog Hop!

Hello and thank you for joining in the fun on the Avery Elle Blog Hop as we celebrate a big new release!  My card today features the brand new Easter Chicks mini stamp set that comes with coordinating dies.



My card consists of a panel of Bristol Smooth cardstock that was repeatedly and randomly stamped using all the elements from the mini stamp set using Distress Ink in Antique Linen.  I watercolour painted all images using the following ...... Kuretake Zigs in Oatmeal 064, Pale Orange 054, Pale Pink 028, Pale Yellow 055, Green Shadow 049 and Haze Blue 302.  Butterflies were done with an Arteza Real Brush Pen in Ice Blue/A173 and cheeks were blushed with a Tombow ABT in  shade 761.  Phew!  That was quite the list today!!

I love to do background cards, especially when images are as cute as these are.  Had I just stamped the three chicks once each I'd have been left craving to colour them more and more - so doing what I did was pure self indulgence!



I have this lovely cardstock in my collection that is right on the cusp of where pale pink meets pale beige and I love the subtlety of it and I thought it worked well with the egg shells.  I framed my panel using the Reverse Pinked Die because the inner edge echoed the broken eggshell image and applied it with dimensional foam tape.  I then applied all of that to a panel with a basic stitched edge in the same pink cardstock since I knew the stitched edge would still show.

From the negative cut I had remaining after die cutting the frame I made the Wonky Bow.  Now ..... the United States Postal Service will iron this bow flat for the bargain price of a 1st class stamp!!!!  Ultimately that is not the look I'm going for, I want my bow 'pert' and to help keep its shape I use some extra thick dimensional foam tape, I cut a piece that will disappear inside the loops of the bow.  I adhered the bottom down but I leave the peel away paper on the top side, that way, when the card is compressed 'ironed' it will bounce back up (I do hope that is clearer than mud)?  The good news is that I know what I mean and that's half the battle, much like making yourself laugh!



I adhered the bow into position and then using one final piece of the pink cardstock I stamped the sentiment from the Easter Chicks stamp set with Versamark Ink and heat embossed with silver embossing powder!  This was adhered with a double layer of foam tape.  I attached the entire decorative panel to a 110lb white cardstock base which is super sturdy and hey presto, card complete!

Thanks for stopping by to read today, hope you enjoyed my card, please keep scrolling to find the next designer on the the hop to click on.

Nicky x

Avery Elle  
Caryn Davies
Heather Campbell
Yainea
Melania Deasy
Katie Gehring 
Amy Kolling 
Ashley Marcu
Elena Roussakis
Nicky Meek (you are here)
Betsy Veldman

To celebrate our Spring 2019 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, February 10th to enter.  The winner will be announced on the Avery Elle Blog on Monday, February 11th .  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, 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. Follow us on Instagram (we are https://www.instagram.com/averyellestamps/).

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

Cupcake Critters - Pretty Pink Posh

Hi!  I couldn't wait to use the Cupcake Critters from Pretty Pink Posh again and re-imagine them in different colours!



For this card I ink blended a panel of Bristol Smooth cardstock using Distress Ink in Peacock Feathers and Squeezed Lemonade.   I stamped the sentiment in Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil and adhered the panel to my card base.

From another panel of white cardstock I die cut the stitched frame using the Stitched Notes Die, I backed the frame with dimensional foam tape and applied it to the panel.



All of the Cake Critters images were stamped on to Bristol Smooth cardstock again using the Archival Ink in Potting Soil.  The images were die cut then watercolour painted using the following - Tombow ABT in 020 and Kuretake Zigs in Beige 072, Mid Gray 096, Light Pink 026, Bright Yellow 052, Orange 070, Light Blue 036 and Cobalt Blue 031.  Points were highlighted with a Uni-ball Signo white gel pen and I then decided on a layout and adhered them with more foam tape.



I kept my finishing embellishments to a minimum and added a little Stickles sparkle in gold around the candles and used a few gold jewel embellishments by Pretty Pink Posh to accent.

I appreciate you stopping by to read about this project, see you next time!

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

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

North Pole Littles - Hello Bluebird

Hey everyone, I have a new card for Hello Bluebird Stamps to share with you today featuring the super cute North Pole Littles stamps and dies.  They are set in a scene created by using the 'essential' (in my humble opinion) Spooky Scene die!



First things first .... I softly ink blended an A2 panel of Bristol Smooth cardstock using Distress Oxide Ink in Spun Sugar.  I dotted in some falling snow by hand, using a Uniball Signo White Gel Pen and adhered the panel to my card base and set it to one side.



Next, I took the Spooky Scene die and die cut a white cardstock A2 size panel.  I ink blended the trees using Distress Ink in Pumice Stone.   Now, when you die cut the Spooky Scene you get some negative cuts that you'd perhaps ordinarily throw away or use as scrap.   The centre negative cut is really quite large and I decided to grab a hill die from Hill and Dale and cut a second hill which of course will perfectly match the line of the ground from the Spooky Scene cut.  I then took a Versamark Ink Pad and inked up certain areas of the trees and ground and then sprinkled on some Wow! White Puff Twinkle Embossing Glitter and heat embossed .... this stuff is wonderful, can't say enough good about it! I then adhered all the parts of my Spooky Scene back together on the reverse to hold them in place then applied foam tape and added it to the card base.



Now to add some fun colour!  I stamped my North Pole Littles using Ranger Archival Ink in 'Coffee'.  I watercolour painted them using Kuretake Zigs in Light Beige 074, Flesh Colour 071 and Pale Pink 028 to shade their faces with Light Pink 026 for their cheeks and some of the parcels and ornaments.  The deeper red is Carmine Red 022.  Points of creamy yellow are done with a Tombow Dual Brush marker 020.  Hair is done with either Tombow in shade 912 and the other in 969.  The green colour used is an Arteza Real Brush Pen in Mint Green A177.



Cheeks and other points were highlighted with the Uniball Signo gel pen and then die cut and added to the scene with more foam tape.  The sentiment was stamped on a strip of cardstock and similarly applied.  Pretty adorable right?

Thanks for stopping by to read, I hope to see you next time and if you don't want to miss anything do sign up for emails from this blog.

Nicky x