Happy Halloween feat. Catherine Pooler

My son hasn't participating in Halloween in many years so I was going to skip it almost entirely this year but then I decided I couldn't. It was fun going through all my old Halloween posts and being inspired to create a very colourful card with some Catherine Pooler products, including Hey Pumpkin and Jack-o-Lantern.

I used the Color Wheel Download to choose my colours and ended up with Clay Mask (with Polished), Whipped Honey (with Shea Butter), Tranquil (with Stone Blue) and Lilac (with Royal Treatment). I stamped the three pumpkins with Shea Butter, Lilac and Clay Mask. The faces were stamped with Slate, the stems were stamped with Stone Blue and the leaves with Polished. 

I stamped extra leaves in all of the colours and created a pile, which I then picked up with a sheet of Glad Press 'n Seal. I set the pile aside and stamped the Old Oak Tree using Pebble, Hoodie and Slate using sponge daubers to create an ombre effect. I love how it gives it that foggy, spooky effect.

I used blending brushes to add Tranquil, Stone Blue, Lilac and Royal Treatment with a tiny bit of Polished to the background. Then I used liquid glue to adhere all the leaves, save a couple where I used glue dots. To finish, I added the pumpkins with foam tape.

For more Halloween inspiration at any time of the year, just click on my Halloween Label in the sidebar for a trip back in time!

I hope you enjoyed today's project. 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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Uplifting Friendship Cards feat. Taylored Expressions

Hello, crafty friends! As you know, I love making sets of cards using the same colour scheme and you may recall when I posted an Instagram reel a week ago showing all these die cuts. Well, I finally got a chance to assemble these cards and I want to make more of them because the colours are so lovely and perfect for uplifting card themes!

Someone I met recently asked me to make an encouragement card for her friend and I immediately thought of the More Signature Sentiments set from Taylored Expressions. Since I received the Coneflowers as a gift with purchase back in August 2022 and hadn't used them yet, I decided now was the perfect time to do it! The great news is, you can now buy these gorgeous dies in the Taylored Expressions shop. ;)

I used the Mini Slim Top-Fold Cards - Sugar Cube as the base for these two horizontal cards so they open from the right and stand nicely on the mantle or wherever the recipient chooses to display them.

The colours I chose for the flowers are Taylored Expressions Lavender Glaze, Bazzill Pale Rose and Lawn Fawn Fog, plus Concord & 9th Sprout for the leaves.

I also used Taylored Expressions Salt Water Taffy for the Stitched Mini Slim Stacklets and Frame in Frame 2 and Frame in Frame 3 Cutting Plates.

Other papers featured are the glitter silver cardstock from the Sizzix Silver Opulent Cardstock Pack, which I used with the Petite Scallop Mini Slim Stacklets, Frame in Frame 3 Cutting Plates and Spellbinders Color Block Scenic Scape Dies.

I wanted a contrast for the soft pastels so I snuck in some black and white stripes from My Favorite Things Black & White Stripes Paper Pad on the two A2 cards.

On this second A2 card, I featured a sentiment from Beautiful Soul because this stamp set features some of my favourite uplifting sentiments. I really wish there were coordinating dies for this set. Taylor, if you're reading this, please release dies for these awesome sentiments!

(click on any photo to enlarge)

When I was creating these cards, I looked for my Taylored Expressions Build a Scene - Rolling Hills Dies but couldn't find them. I'm sure they'll turn up somewhere at some point but, in case you have these in your stash, they're a great way to create depth in similar garden scenes.

All of the panels and frames were glued flat to the card bases. I used small and large foam squares on the left side of the flowers and leaves, and liquid glue on the right side of the leaves and stems to create dimension and visual interest.

All of the sentiments were stamped using VersaFine Clair - Morning Mist pigment ink. I used black ink first as a test but it was too stark against the pretty pastels so I switched to a slightly softer shade and it was a great match.

I hope you enjoyed today's project. 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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Holiday Tag Set feat. Spellbinders 3D Embossing Folder of the Month | October 2023

Today is the last day to grab the Spellbinders October 2023 Club Kits and today's projects are a set of holiday tags featuring the 3D Embossing Folder of the Month - Flowering Christmas Tree Burst, along with the Glimmer Hot Foil Kit of the Month -- Bouquet Full of Joy. 

The Flowering Christmas Tree Burst embossing folder has floral Christmas trees all over it and I decided to make tree tags using the Fluted Classic Rectangles. I love that there are three sizes with both inside and outside rectangles. I used the medium size for these tags and cut them from Alabaster, Rainforest, Fern and Glacier cardstock.

I used my distress sprayer to mist all the cardstock panels before running them through my Platinum 6 with Universal Plate System to get the most detailed impression of the Flowering Christmas Tree Burst. I love how different it looks in the four different cardstock colours.

Next, I used the Glimmer Hot Foil Kit of the Month -- Bouquet Full of Joy with Aura Hot Foil on Rainforest and Fern cardstock; and Pewter Hot Foil on Alabaster and Glacier cardstock. Then I distributed the bows and tags on the embossed backgrounds so that all four cardstock colours were featured on each card.

(click on any photo to enlarge)

I attached each round tag to the bows with a glue dot and popped each pair on their respective tags with a foam square. Next, I used a slot punch at the top of each tag to attach black and white chevron ribbon with gold metallic cord.

These tags came to gather so quickly and I think next time I would add an extra layer at the back of the tag to strengthen it for the ribbon and even allow it to open for an inside message, versus writing one on the back.

Be sure to check out all of the amazing deals during Spellbinders Scary Good Sale, now through October 31, 2023. There are many items on my wish list that are 50% off!

Here's a list of monthly club kits I share, as well as some of the value kits offered by Spellbinders:

Stitching Die of the Month

(this month's inspiration post)

Glimmer Hot Foil Kit of the Month

(this month's inspiration post)

3D Embossing Folder of the Month

(this month's inspiration post)

Die & Stamp Addict Club

Glimmer 'n Cut Value Club

The Perfect Package Club

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Supplies: 

Warm Wishes feat. Spellbinders Glimmer Hot Foil Kit of the Month | October 2023

Today's featured product is Spellbinders October 2023 Glimmer Hot Foil Kit of the Month -- Bouquet Full of Joy. I instantly fell in love with that bow because how could I not? Of course, I couldn't resist doubling it up in two colours.

My colour palette for this card is Rose Water, Raspberry Sorbet, Gumball, Sweet Basil and Blue Corn. I meant to use Blueberry instead of Blue Corn but my two colour combos got mixed together. Thankfully, this works, too. Otherwise, I would've had to start over. ;)

I started by using Matte Silver Hot Foil on all four colours of cardstock, then die cutting them and setting them aside. I also cut two panels of Sweet Basil and Blue Corn cardstock using the Precision Layering A2 A Etched Dies. Between the two layers, I cut a piece of striped patterned paper from the Picket Fences 6x6 Paper Pad, which was included with the April 2023 Card Kit of the Month.

I was only going to embellish the heat foiled bouquet just a little bit but I couldn't resist adding all the poinsettia and foliage in coordinating colours. It looks so beautiful, doesn't it? I cut the poinsettia, leaves and evergreens from Christmas Blooms Etched Dies in Raspberry Sorbet and Gumball cardstock, respectively.

The two thin sprigs, berry spring and berries were die cut from Garden Builder Etched Dies from Gumball and Blue Corn cardstock, respectively. I altered the berries using textured versus plain dies to give it visual interest.

(click on any photo to enlarge)

All of the pieces were attached to the foiled bouquet using liquid glue and glue dots. To finish, I embellished the centres of the poinsettias and bouquet images with Bella Pearl Dots, which are a nice complement to the striped patterned paper.

Be sure to check out all of the amazing deals during Spellbinders Scary Good Sale, now through October 31, 2023. There are many items on my wish list that are 50% off!

Here's a list of monthly club kits I share, as well as some of the value kits offered by Spellbinders:

Stitching Die of the Month

(this month's inspiration post)

Glimmer Hot Foil Kit of the Month

(this month's inspiration post)

3D Embossing Folder of the Month

Die & Stamp Addict Club

Glimmer 'n Cut Value Club

The Perfect Package Club

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Supplies: 

Happy Holidays feat. Spellbinders Stitching Die of the Month | October 2023

Believe it or not, this is my first Christmas card of the year and it feels good to have made one! I've really missed using stitching dies and the Spellbinders Club Kits are always so good. This card features the October 2023 Stitching Die of the Month -- I'll Be Home for Christmas. Isn't it beautiful?

As always, choosing a colour palette is my favourite part and there are just so many possibilities for this die! The base red was cut from retired Taylored Expressions Red Pepper cardstock but I've linked to both Hero Arts Cranberry and Concord & 9th Cranberry which are pretty much the exact same colour, although different weights and textures. If you prefer a heavier, textured cardstock, then I recommend the Hero Arts Cranberry, especially for stitching.

Behind the red cardstock, I placed a sheet of Spellbinders black glitter cardstock and I've offset the ornaments and top layer of the sentiment so there's a sparkly shadow for each of those elements. The colours of the ornaments include retired Taylored Expressions Avocado cardstock (my suggested substitute is Concord & 9th Stardust), Simon Says Stamp Midnight Green and Taylored Expressions Poppy Seed cardstock.

The tree was die cut from Taylored Expressions Sea Salt cardstock and all of the stitching was done with DMC Diamant Grande Light Silver Thread and a tapestry needle. I die cut the caps for the ornaments from Mirror Silver Cardstock and popped on all the pieces with foam squares. To finish, I decorated the tree with Oyster Pearls.

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

Supplies: 

Grateful for You feat. Taylored Expressions

Many months ago, when I posted a bunch of Taylored Expressions sympathy cards with this same colour palette, I set this stencilled Autumn Array aside because remnants of Poppy Seed ink had muddied the Candy Corn flowers. Normally, I would've said goodbye and tossed it in my recycling bin but now I'm glad I kept it. It didn't look good to me in the spring but now that it's fall, it has a nice rustic look to it.

Having purchased it late last fall, I hadn't yet inked up Grateful Greetings so I stamped the sentiment with Poppy Seed ink and die cut it using its coordinating dies. I absolutely love the way the die cuts around all the letters, allowing everything in the background to show.

(click on any photo to enlarge)

I covered the card base with an A2-sized panel of Poppy Seed cardstock, then die cut the medium Frame in Frame 2 from Gumball cardstock. I also cut the same frame from Sugar Cube cardstock and added texture using the Diamonds Piercing Plate.

One small detail I added was a small strip of Candy Corn cardstock cut from the 1/8" Easy Strips Die, which helps tie in with and balances out the colours in the bouquet. I glued two extra panels of cardstock behind the frame before attaching it to the base panel. Then I popped up the bouquet and sentiment with foam squares. To finish, I added Star Dust Stickles to the centres of the seven blue flowers which adds the perfect bit of sparkle in real life! You can click on each photo to enlarge them for a closer look.

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

Supplies: 

Bouquet Trio feat. The Stamp Market and Taylored Expressions with Catherine Pooler Inks

Do you ever buy stuff and let it sit in your craft room, sometimes for years until it retires? I hate to admit but that happens to me a little too often. Over the years, I've been getting better at avoiding impulse buying but I still have a long way to go. LOL

If you've been following me for a while, you'll know that I have an obsession with any stamp or die set that includes hands. Chances are, if there's a set with hands, I'll want it. Heck, chances are high that I'll own it! There are still a few sets out there that I still have my eye on but that's another story. Shhh!

Anyway, that's what happened with this beautiful set from The Stamp Market called Oh So Lovely, which is just as good as having someone hand you a gorgeous bouquet of flowers! Seriously though, when I finally used it this week, I was asking myself why I never used it 'til now. Why, why, why?

Before I started stamping, I choose a colour palette from my Catherine Pooler ink swatches and they were loosely based on my friend Nat's favourite colours since one of them is her birthday card. I colours I used in rotation for all three cards are It's a Girl, Be Mine, Apricot, Whipped Honey, Lime Rickey, Grass Skirt, Cummerbund and Slate.

The only part that differ from card to card are the backgrounds and sentiments, which are from a Taylored Expressions stamp set called Daisy Dreams and its coordinating dies. All of the sentiments were stamped with Slate ink.

The background for this first card uses a Concord & 9th die called Stitched Stripe Card Front. It's so versatile and works with pretty much everything! Each card features all three cards but with the colours rotated between the three types of flowers.

All of the cards also feature Pretty Pink Posh's Marshmallow Pearls which are probably my most-used embellishment ever. They have the prettiest shine and are so easy to use. This particular card features the pearls outside of the bouquet but the other two cards feature them in the centres of the biggest flowers.

This one is the only bouquet to feature a ribbon tying the stems together because it was an afterthought and I really wish I had thought of it before I attached the hand to the other cards. I would love to try a looser and thinner metallic thread but this white silk ribbon looks so cute!

This particular background features the Spellbinders Love Stripes embossing folder. However, this one is now retired so I've linked to one of the newest ones, Peppermint Stripes, which is currently in my shopping cart. It's a classic and will be well-loved!

When I stamped the stems, I created an ombre effect using Lime Rickey and Grass Skirt. Then I glued those stamps directly on to the textured mats. The hands were second generation stamped with Apricot ink for skintone as close to mine as I could get. I suppose I could've second generation stamped it twice but I didn't want it to get too complicated.

Both the pink (Be Mine) and blue (Cummerbund) flowers were stamped a single time but the yellow flowers were stamped twice. All grey parts, including the outline of the hand, striped sleeves and sentiments were stamped a single time. The only time light pink (It's a Girl) was used was on one of the hearts on the birthday card.

I'm sure it's very obvious that there are many different dimensional layers on these cards. Obviously the stems are glued flat but the hands hearts and some of the tulips were attached using glue dots. The rest of the flowers were attached using foam squares and the sentiments were adhered with foam strips.

The Pigment Craft die featured on this last card is the Dashed Diamonds II Cover Plate and I love that it doesn't compete with the bouquet as much as a few of the other plates I tried. There were quite a few mishaps so I wasted quite a few bouquets because I was foolish enough to glue them on before making sure it wasn't too busy. Sigh.

Do you like this idea of making a whole set of cards using one colour palette? It's definitely convenient and easy if you don't waste a lot of stamped pieces like I did! Let me know if you (still) own this set and whether or not I've inspired you to get it out and use it (again). LOL I've definitely enjoyed mixing and matching so many different brands on this trio and hope to do it again soon.

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

Supplies: