VIDEO | Taylored Expressions | Stitched Easy Strips Dies feat. NEW Colours and Maps

Hello, crafty friends! I hope you're all excited for the new colour release from Taylored Expressions! I'm always thrilled to have new colours in my collection because colour always jumpstarts my creative mojo. I can look at older products in a new way, just by using different colour combinations. There are seven new colours and I'll be using six of those -- Dragon Fruit, Mango, Kiwi, Dill Pickle, Cotton Candy and Snow Cone -- with the new Stitched Easy Strips 1/8", 1/4" and 1/2" Dies and Easy Strips Maps Vol. 2.

At the start of my video, I also share the new True Colors - May 2023 mini stamp set, True Colors Swatch Squares and True Colours Ink-spiration Cards - In Halves. Together, these are a fun way to create and record colour combinations that you can reach for at any time.

I created three cards for this video, all using patterns from Easy Strips Maps Vol. 2. This one use Dragon Fruit, Mango and Snow Cone, which I feel are the tropical versions of the traditional primary colours. I love how much they pop, especially with the 1/2" Stitched Easy Strips. The colours are so bright, they almost look fluorescent!

After cutting out all the strips and glueing them directly onto the map, I trimmed off the overhanging pieces and attached the panel to a Sugar Cube card base. All of the sentiments are from the Hello Lovely stamp set and they were stamped with VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink on Sugar Cube cardstock. 

I added a shadow behind the sentiment using Black Licorice cardstock and popped it on to the panel with foam squares. For the embellishments, I cut out the small blossom from the Garden Variety Dies in both Sea Salt and Oyster cardstock. I glued the two layers together and attached them to the card with glue dots. To finish, I added black enamel dots in the centres.

My second card uses the simplest map and it's my favourite one! In fact, I made my own version of this map when the original plain Easy Strips were released and you can watch that video HERE.

I decided to mix the original 1/4" Easy Strips with the new Stitched 1/4" Easy Strips and I love the contrast, as well as the way they intersect. Those little details really pack a punch and give this card its wow factor.

Just as with the previous card, the sentiment from the Hello Lovely stamp set was stamped with VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink on Sugar Cube cardstock. A shadow was added behind it with a Black Licorice cardstock die cut, then popped on to the panel with foam squares. 

My third and final card uses one of the more complex maps. This time, I wanted to use the two new greens and two new blues -- Kiwi (my favourite of the seven new colours), Dill Pickle, Cotton Candy and Snow Cone. This time, I used the original 1/2" Easy Strips and cut those from Kiwi and Cotton Candy. Then I used the new Stitched 1/8" Easy Strips and cut those from Dill Pickle and Snow Cone cardstock.

This background took some time to assemble but the results were definitely worth it! I love the combination of colours, as well as the detail on the Stitched 1/8" Easy Strips! As with the other two cards, this sentiment from Hello Lovely is really striking. I added one of the Subtle Sprigs cut from Poppy Seed cardstock and embellished it with Silver Matte Metallic Enamel Dots.

I appreciate you stopping by and, if you're inspired, please shop my affiliate links below. Thanks so much for your continued support!

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Spellbinders | For the Love of Purple

Hello, crafty friends! This is a small catch-up post since my father passed away in April and I haven't felt very creative, not have I had the time or desire to craft much. I needed a few birthday cards so I wanted to give these products from the Spellbinders April Club Kits and Warehouse Sale a proper feature.

I needed a birthday card for my cousin's daughter and her favourite colours are black and purple. I've never liked the colour purple and I would never wear it but my love for purple in cardmaking has grown immensely in the last couple of years.

This card base features the April 2023 3D Embossing Folder of the Month "3D Patchwork" which may still become available in a few months. The April 2023 Stitching Die of the Month "Stitched Fanfare" uses DMC Floss 52 Variegated Violet from the Variegated Floss Bundle on Lavender, Lilac Blossom and Eggplant cardstock.

The centre panel was cut from Mirror Gold cardstock. The numbers from a retired set called Birthday Wishes for Everyone were cut from Lavender and Eggplant cardstock. I suggest the new Stitched Numbers Dies if you're looking for an alternative.

The sentiment from Mini Everyday Sentiments was heat foiled with Speckled Aura Hot Foil on Pitch Black cardstock. I used a combination of liquid glue, double-sided tape and black foam squares to attach all the pieces to the card base.

Since I cut all three Stitched Fanfare pieces from all three shades of purple cardstock, I wanted to use them and also create a lighter card. This time, I used the Argyle Socks Embossing Folder on white linen cardstock for the base panel.

This time, I used DMC 3821 Light Gold from the Essential Metallics Thread Bundle on the stitching dies. For the sentiment that comes with the Stitched Fanfare set, I cut the background for the letters from Mirror Gold cardstock and the letters from Eggplant cardstock.

I wanted to add some brighter colours so I cut Mini Blooms and Sprigs from Beeswax and Peridot, then added gold metallic pearls in the centres. I ended up gifting this card to my cousin with a bottle of wine as their house-warming gift.

I loved making dark and light versions of this card. They look so different and yet they're both equally dramatic. This stitching die was one of the easiest to use so I loved how quickly they came together.

I ended up gifting this version of the birthday card to my cousin's daughter after playing with the Sweet & Savory Dies, which I never used 'til now. I cut three sets of donuts from Lavender, Lilac Blossom and Eggplant cardstock, then layered them in various combinations.

I "drew" the sprinkles with liquid glue, then topped it with sparkle glitter and set them aside to dry completely. I created the background using the Optical Arches Embossing Folder on Pitch Black cardstock.

Next, I adhered all of the donuts to the embossed panel using black foam squares. Both sentiment strips were created using the Mini Everyday Sentiments, which were heat foiled using Matte Silver Hot Foil on Eggplant cardstock.

To finish, I embellished the donuts with three shades of purple enamel hearts. If you had a choice between the two black and purple birthday cards, which would you have chosen? It was a very tough choice for me, even as the giver. ;)

I appreciate you stopping by and, if you're inspired, please shop my affiliate links below. Thanks so much for your continued support!

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Spellbinders | Seahorse Kisses Collection + Warehouse Sale

Hello, crafty friends! I'm on the Spellbinders Blog with three vibrant aquatic cards featuring the new Seahorse Kisses Collection by Dawn Woleslagle. This collection includes hot foil images and sentiments, photopolymer stamps and sentiments, and my new favourite 3D embossing folder. Whether you're into aquatic themes or not, you're sure to fall in love with these new products.

Affiliated product links are listed below at no extra cost to you. Details on how I made each card and more photos are on the Spellbinders Blog.

Don't forget to grab all the deals during Spellbinders Spring Cleaning Warehouse Sale, on now through April 28, 2023. Thanks so much for stopping by! 

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