Sending Good Thoughts Your Way!

 Hello, friends!  I am back to share another card that I had the pleasure of creating with the gorgeous Brighter Days Ahead Stamp Set from Prickley Pear Stamps!

Similarly, to the last card that I created, I stamped the image at the base of a vertical panel and I colored the image in with Copic markers.  I used the same mask that I used on the last card and I covered the stamped and colored image so that I could ink blend a beautiful daytime sky with Distress Oxide inks. 

Once I was happy with the sky, I heat embossed the sentiment on a coral panel of card stock and backed it with yellow.  I layered my landscape on the same colors and adhered them to the card base.  Just before adding my sentiment panel to the card, I added a loopy nest of gold thread behind it with mini glue dots.  Lastly, I popped the sentiment panel up with foam dots.

I really love how easy it is to change the look of this stamp set just by changing the color palette.

I hope you love this card as much as I do!  Please make sure and head to the shop to check it out! 

Thank you so much for spending a few minutes with me today!

Xoxo, Kim

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Let's Sleep Under the Stars!

Happy Monday, friends!  I hope your week is off to a great start.  I am so excited to share a card that I made for the brand-new release from Keep It Simple Paper Crafts - Lumberjack!  I seriously keep thinking that they couldn't do better, but each release just blows my mind!  This one is my favorite without a doubt!

When I saw the tents in the Lumberjack Collection Die-Cut Pieces and the sentiment, I knew that I wanted to ink blend a night sky and create a scene.  I don't know about you, but I have always struggled with ink blending.  I have never been happy with my finished result.  I have tried tons of different bases, but still never loved the result.  A short time ago, I saw a random post on Facebook about using Bristol Smooth Cardstock and how amazing the result it, so I headed out to my local craft store and picked some up.  Truly a game changer!  

I started out with a base of Bristol Smooth and I lightly blended Black Soot Distress Oxide Ink over the entire panel.  Next, I blended a band of Wilted Violet Distress Oxide Ink through the middle of the panel in a wave shape and added some Fossilized Amber to the upper right corner.  I blended some Faded Jeans along the bottom, but I wasn't happy with the color, so I blended Chipped Sapphire over the top of that.  Lastly, I went over the upper left corner with more Black Soot to make it stand out. 

I spritzed the panel with water, let it sit for about a minute, and laid a tea towel over the panel, using very light pressure to lift the water.  I did this about four times from different angles, and the last time, I zapped it with my heat gun.  I pulled out my splatter box and splattered some watered down Stampin' Up White Shimmer Paint over the panel and set it aside to dry. 

I die-cut some grass strips from green paper and then I added some flicks with my Copic markers for added texture.  I also trimmed down some of the die-cut embellishments so that there wasn't quite as much white border.  I added some flicks using the same Copics to the base of the fox and rabbit.  

I layered the ink-blended panel over a holographic cardstock panel (I LOVE THAT CARDSTOCK) and adhered them both to a navy-blue card base.  I arranged my scene and then adhered the elements down to the ink-blended panel. Lastly, I embossed the sentiment from the Lumberjack Camping stamp set in silver on navy card stock, layered it on holographic cardstock, trimmed the ends and adhered to the card front, followed by a loopy bow of navy and silver thread. 

I hope that you love this card as much as I do!  Head over to Keep it Simple Paper Crafts and check out the new Lumberjack Collection!  I promise that you will fall in love with it!  The Design Team will be sharing projects all week long, and you won't want to miss a single one, so you can come join us in the Keep It Simple Paper - Inspiration Facebook Group to be sure to catch them all! 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  

Xoxo, Kim

 

Halloween Card - Salem Sisters from Kindred Stamps

 Good morning, crafty friends!  I have been going crazy making Halloween cards.  I don't normally do much for Halloween, because we live in a rural area, so we NEVER get Trick-or-Treaters. 

When I saw the August release from Kindred Stamps, I nearly lost my mind!  I knew that I just had to have the Salem Sisters stamp set to make cards for my staff!   Who doesn't love these ladies?!?!

I started by stamping the images and coloring them in with my alcohol markers.  Once done with he coloring, I fussy cut the images and set them aside.  For my background, I smooshed Distress Oxide Inks directly on to my crafting mat and then spayed water liberally onto the ink.  I smooshed a panel of Tim Holtz Distress White Heavystock directly into the wet ink.  Using my heat tool, I dried the panel and repeated this process, adding multiple layers of ink, until I was satisfied with the saturation and intensity of the colors.  I then splattered some water over the panel to add some additional texture spots.  Because the water was sprayed directly on the ink, this step isn't really necessary, but I liked the added texture.  Important to note:  I highly recommend this particular paper for this technique (watercolor card stock would probably also work well), as it can handle the volume of liquid, and you also don't lose the vibrancy of the colors.  I tried this on Solar White card stock and it did not work well.  The colors were very muted and the card stock was heavily warped.  

I die-cut the fabulous web and spider from black card stock and "painted" it with much Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pen.  Once my background panel was dry, I added some metallic splatters to it and set it aside.

I heat embossed my sentiment twice - first in white and then a second time using Lawn Fawn Glow in the Dark embossing powder, and die-cut the banner. 

Once I had all my elements together, I adhered my background to a black card base and then arranged the elements.   

I just love this card, and I know it will bring a smile to the faces of my super hard-working staff!  Please make sure to leave me a comment.  I would love to know what your favorite Halloween tradition is!  Thanks so much for stopping by!