Floating Wishes

Hi, this is Nicky back with you today, this time I'm sharing a card using Floating Wishes from the new summer release together with a coordinating die set.



I created a card panel of smooth watercolour cardstock, ink blended it with distress ink and then distressed it with water and paint splashes.   I stamped the thank you sentiment from the set 4 times to create the illusion of ribbons that spell out words.  The panel was then die cut using Postage Stamp Elle-ments and the two cuts were reassembled, adhered together on the reverse side then applied to the card base with a layer of craft foam sandwiched in between.



The four heart balloons were stamped with archival ink onto more smooth watercolour cardstock and watercolour painted then applied with dimensional foam tape.  The whole scene was finished out with a selection of toning sequins.



Thanks for stopping by to read, see you next time!

Nicky x

Banner & Wreath

Such a pretty stamp set, I just wanted to share this simple card with you for a classic but sweet anniversary card featuring Banner & Wreath but Avery Elle.



The card base is made of 2 die cuts using Large Pierced Scallops Elle-ments by Avery Elle.  I scored near the top of the back panel and adhered it at the top to the other panel so that it would self stand.



I cut a smaller panel of white cardstock and adhered it to the base with a layer of craft foam in between.  On Strathmore Bristol Smooth Watercolor Cardstock I stamped all the images with Ranger Archival Ink in black.  I watercolor painted everything with my Kuretake Zigs and then die cut everything out.  I stamped the sentiment onto the banner and adhered everything to the panel with varying amounts of dimensional foam tape.



I finished out the card with a few crystal clear sequins by Pretty Pink Posh and voila! ... a simple and pretty timeless anniversary card.



Thank for coming along to read today, see you next time!

Nicky x

Friend Birthday - Happy Hedgehogs by MFT

Hello everybody, thank you so much for stopping by the blog today to read about this latest card of mine using Happy Hedgehogs by My Favorite Things which has become one of my all time favourite stamp sets!



Here's a little run down of how this card was made.  The card starts with a white 110lb Neenah cardstock base.  I then ink blended a panel of Strathmore Bristol Smooth using Distress Ink and faded it to an ombré type finish.  I then splattered on some water and blotted it dry about 30 seconds later and next splashed around some of the same Distress Ink mixed with a tiny bit of water for vivid splashes.  The panel was then die cut using Stitched Wonky Rectangles by MFT. 



On yet more Strathmore Bristol Smooth I stamped all of the images from the set that I needed, I then die cut and watercolour painted them using my Kuretake Zig Clean Color Markers and highlighted some points with my Uni-ball Signo White.  I have an Archival Ink black pen that I used to play up the spikes on the hedgehogs.  I turned the tree limb and the tree stump into a seesaw and made the card very playful.  All components were attached with varying amounts of dimensional foam tape for depth and the sentiment was stamped in the upper right using my Misti.  Again using the Archival Pen I put in the 'whoosh' marks to help show the movement of both the upper and lower hedgehog.  The final touch was the addition of 3 wooden stars by Studio Calico (love these).



There you have it and as I often like to do, I adhered the card panel to the card base with a layer of white craft foam sandwiched in between to both lift it up and it adds a substantial feel to the card and they just survive the rigours of the mail system when you do this too!

Thank you for stopping by and I'll have another card for you very soon.

Nicky x

I Love you - Bee Friends

I recently shared this card across social media but since I'm fleshing out my blog and because it was a popular post I thought I'd quickly share my method here with you all.  The card uses Bee Friends from Pretty Pink Posh.

I love Bee Friends because who can resist a chubby and cheerful bumble bee?  They also are one of those mini stamp sets and very reasonably price and you can work them in with your floral cards etc.

The card started with Neenah 110lb solar white cardstock.  I then stencil ink-blended a honeycomb design that I have for the background.  I did this very softly and I used my Clarity Stencil Brushes for the job.  I think a cloud stencil or something similar would work equally well for a dreamy backdrop!  I then die-cut the panel with a stitched edge and applied it to the base with a layer of craft foam sandwiched in between which lifts it up and makes the card feel more substantial and since I sell most of my cards, it is important to me that they ship in good condition and this craft foam really helps.

I then die cut one of the 'Storybook' dies from Pretty Pink Posh, any of them would do or something similar to re-create this scene, they really help tie everything together!  It was applied popped up on dimensional foam tape to build depth.  I used one of the negative cuts to stamp the sentiment and I centred it and adhered it.  All of the bees and hearts were stamped in archival ink, they were watercolour painted using my Kuretake Zigs and then die cut and adhered them with more foam tape.  I highlighted some points on the bees  using my Uni-ball Signo white pen (wouldn't be without it)!  The scene was finished out with toning jewel embellishments also by Pretty Pink Posh.

If there is one thing that is very important to me in card making it is that my projects are highly dimensional and as you can see here this card is no exception, it is a look I really love!

Thanks for stopping by the blog today and if you have any questions or comments please don't hesitate to contact me because I'd love to help you out!

Nicky x