pinkfresh studio spring release blog hop

Hello all!  It's time for another Pinkfresh Studio Blog Hop!  This time we're celebrating the awesome Spring Stamp and Die release featuring lots of really cute sets!  If you're hopping along, you've reached me from Zsoka Marko's blog, and I know she had some gorgeous cards because I caught some sneaks of them!  Be sure to scroll all the way through my blog to the end because that's where the giveaway details are!

But first, let's focus on some cards and one of the new die sets, shall we?

All 3 of my cards today feature the die collection called "Love with Botanicals."  It's a great collection for card makers and I'll show you a couple different ways I used it.  The "love" is spelled out vertically so when you use the negative from the cut out letters, it fits perfectly onto a vertical A2 card (4.25" x 5.5").  That's how I've used it for my first 2 cards.

The word LOVE can obviously be tied to so many occasions and sentiments, but for these cards, I chose to make some fun wedding/anniversary themed cards by adding the sentiment STORY.  The Pinkfresh paper/scrapbook collection Let Your Heart Decide has quite a few embellishments with that word on them and I thought it would be a really sweet pairing to celebrate those special occasions.

I used paper from the 6x6 paper pads to create the card fronts, out of which I cut the Love die.  The first card features Flawsome from A Case of the Blahs.  I like the simplicity of black and white script paper, which I then paired with brightly colored embellishments.  The scene stealer is the colorful wood "STORY" from LYHD.  Behind it I've layered fabric and leatherette strips from the Be You collection, as well as a black and white striped epoxy heart.  Lastly, I added a tassel bow, also from Be You.

My LOVE cutout is left stark white to add a bold, but still soft, contrast.

The second 'Love Story' card features the same sketch design, but the elements and patterns are very different.  This card has an allover colorful floral pattern (Impulse from LYHD).  To avoid the LOVE cutout from getting lost in it all, I matted a pretty orange/coral stripe paper (Instinct from LYHD) behind it.

I then created a layered line of LYHD epoxy heart stickers in different patterns and colors that spread horizontally across the card.  These are backed with some gold metallic thread for a delicate shine.  You'll notice that the orange heart says "story" on it in gold script.

For my last card, I went in a much different direction, using the l-o-v-e letters themselves, and I displayed them horizontally instead of vertically--I love dies that allow you to have this kind of versatility.

I took all 8 letters that were cut out from my previous 2 cards, in Impulse and Flawsome papers, and matted them together with the floral pattern on top.  I adhered the scripted letters offset to the right so that they will still be seen.  Doing it that way also adds dimension.

I then added cuts from one of the botanical dies, trimmed from the Flawsome ACOTB paper, to the L and the E.  The floral has a longer stem that I snipped off before attaching to the letters.  The botanical dies are so dainty and I love them for how delicate they are!  They make a nice contrast to the blocky letters in the "love" die.

To assemble the card, I chose the-can't-go-wrong sentiment "love always", spelling out the latter word with rose gold Be You alphas.  I then added some soft texture with a strip of pale pink tulle that runs across the length of the card and even hangs over a bit on both sides.  Then I placed my LOVE letters, opting to pop them out with some dimensional foam dots.

Out of the trio today, this last one just might be my favorite, as I find myself drawn more and more to minimal cards with lots of white space.

That's all for me today, but there are still many more stops on your Pinkfresh Studio Spring Release tour.  In fact, the tremendously talented and sweet Julia Stainton is up next!

Before you head there, though, here's a briefing on the Blog Hop giveaway...

There is one Grand Prize winner who will win the entire Spring Stamp and Die release.  To be entered to win this, please leave a comment on the PINKFRESH STUDIO BLOG POST!

Each stop on the blog hop will be giving away a $25.00 Gift Certificate to the Pinkfresh shop.  To be entered to win these, please leave a comment at the blogs on the hop.

All winners will be announced on the Pinkfresh blog on Saturday, April 28th.  Comments close Friday, April 27 at 5pm CST.

There's also a promo happening in the Pinkfresh Studio shop:

You can pick up a FREE Party Animal stamp set with a $50 purchase using code FREEPARTYWITH50.  (That's one of my very favorite PF stamp sets!)

This code is valid from 4/23 at 12:01am through 4/29 at 11:59pm CST.  For the code to be valid, you must add $50+ to your cart, then the PARTY ANIMAL stamp set.  Your cart total will be $65+; then you will enter the coupon code at checkout.  (For questions about this, please contact Pinkfresh Studio Customer Service.)

Happy Spring and Happy Crafting!

Spellbinders February 19th Blog Hop

Hi and welcome to the Spellbinders February 19th Blog Hop!  I'm so excited to be a guest this month and participate in the hop, using the Stephanie Low "Handmade" stamps and dies.  There's a giveaway today, too, so be sure to play along for the chance to win a $50 Spellbinders gift certificate.  (Details below!)

I hope you've joined me today by way of the wonderfully talented Hussena Calcuttawala, but if you haven't and you'd like to start the hop from the beginning, just head to the Spellbinders blog for the full lineup.

I have a couple small gifts that I made up featuring the Kitchen and Handcrafted sets.  I love the baking set with that gorgeous floral rolling pin and knew I had to break out some blender pens to do it justice.  On a large tag, I stamped it repeatedly in a yellowish-green and then colored it in the with peachy-pink inks.  To add some texture, I put a scrap of lace and ruffle trim along the lower part of the tag.

I stamped the cupcake next and then filled that in with similar colors.  I die cut it out and attached it to a glittery tag with foam dots for dimension.

For the gift wrap itself, I covered a 4" x 4" box with peach crepe paper, more lace, and some bronze shimmer twine.  I like a lot of different textures!  I slipped the rolling pin tag under the twine and the cupcake and glitter tag over it.

For my second package, I used the Handcrafted and Yarn sets, beginning with another large tag.  I stamped a repetitive pattern of the pretty floral included in the set.  I stamped it in a navy blue, then colored it in with a turquoise bloom and slightly purplish leaves.

Next, I stamped and die cut the scissor and paint brushes image, found in the Handcrafted set.  I also stamped and die cut "hand made for you" which is from the Yarn set.  I actually stacked 2 of these together for a thicker look, and then added it to the lower left corner of the stamped floral tag.

I aimed to create a layered tag, with the scissor/brush die cut as the top and the large tag on the bottom.  Sandwiched in between the two is a handful of trims--lace, sequins, and ribbon.

This time for the gift wrap, I used the floral stamp to create my own patterned paper, stamping repeatedly on bright white printer paper.  It's one of my favorite techniques when I have small packages to wrap.  I didn't use any extra trims here aside from what I included on the tag set itself.  I adhered it all to the package with a mini clothespin.

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog today!  I hope you enjoyed my take on these amazing sets from Stephanie Low and Spellbinders.  Be sure to check out all the other girls participating in the hop.  The awesome Emily Leiphart is up next so definitely don't miss her!  Here is the full lineup of participants, for your convenience:

Spellbinders  -  Stephanie Beck Low  -  Nichol Spohr  -  Yana Smakula  -  Vanessa Menhorn  -  Hussena Calcuttawala  -  Rebecca Luminarias  -   Emily Leiphart  -   Erum Tasneem  -  Michelle Short

Now for the giveaway details:

To celebrate this release, Spellbinders is giving away a $50 gift certificate to THREE lucky winners. Please leave a comment on the Spellbinders blog by Wednesday, February 21st 11:59 pm EDT for a chance to win. The winners will be announced in the blog hop post on the Spellbinders blog the following day.

Have fun and be inspired!

xoxo

Pinkfresh Studio February Stamp & Die Release Blog Hop

Welcome to the Pinkfresh Studio Blog Hop!  The Cards Team is showcasing all kinds of new stamps and dies so you're definitely in for some fun today!  You should have arrived from the lovely Amy Tsuruta's blog and she always has awesome projects to share.  After me, you'll be heading to May Sukyong Park's corner.  If you get lost during the hop, just head back to the Pinkfresh blog and find your way again.

I have a trio of cards for all different occasions.  While I plan to send each of these cards out to friends, I thought that the set could also be a useful gift.  The cards weren't terribly time-consuming to create so I can definitely make up a few batches for giving.

I can't give away these cards as a set without some cute packaging, though!  I stamped a little scene on a 4" x 6" muslin bag.  "Happy Everything" was the perfect stamp to convey all the occasions of the cards.  Next up, 2 little tags: the bottom tag features a birdie and some dots from the Bird With Flowers set, and the smaller tag says "you are one of a kind."  The final touches were some matching trims and a yarn pom pom.

Onto the cards--let's begin with something celebratory!  I used a couple of different stamp sets to create a balloon bouquet--Birds & Bows and Tealightful Day.  I was able to turn a flower stem from the set Bird With Flowers into a balloon string, too!  I then built a bow in pink and black inks, also from the Birds & Bows set.

My sentiment came from Inna Moreva's Magical Unicorn (her lettering is so beautiful!).  I added some gold sequins to punch up the festive feeling a little and add some sparkle.

On the next card, I only used one stamp, but I incorporated patterned papers and die cuts to create a scene and I'm really happy with the way it turned out.  My papers are from Escape the Ordinary (Dare, Transform, & Chase).  I used dies that coordinate with Susan Driscoll's Fleur 2 stamp set.

The "thankful" stamp can be found in the Word Series: Thanks set.  The finishing touch is a little lace hand-stitched to the edge of card.

The last card is all stamping.  This card is for a family friend going through a difficult time.  The idea here is that the raindrops (symbolizing her rough patch) at the top of the card are stopped by the heartfelt sentiment in the middle of the card.  And below that, a subdued floral pattern.  The sentiment and flowers offer hope for better times, or at the very least, her knowing I am here with a shoulder when she needs it so she can get through the difficult time.

There are so many options for stamps and dies in this release!  I've shown you a few ideas for different occasions--even making a gift set out of all 3 cards!  Your next stop is May Sukyong Park and she is an absolute stamping genius!

Don't rush off too quick, though...I have to tell you about the contest!  Simply leave a comment at each stop on the hop and you may be 1 of 4 lucky folks who will receive a $25.00 gift certificate to the Pinkfresh Studio store!  That's right--FOUR winners! Comments close at 11:59 PM CST on February 8, 2018.  Winner will be announced on the Pinkfresh Studio blog on February 10th.  Good luck and thanks so much for stopping by!

pti :: good tidings packaging kit :: lovely labels

It's December 6th, and that means you can find a new Packaging Ambassador post from me on the Papertrey Ink blog.  (And I made videos, you guys.)  Also this month, you'll find a NEW Papertrey Ink BLOG!  It's bittersweet, since it meant saying farewell to our beloved leader at PTI, Nichole Heady.  It feels like the end of an era with her gone, as she's been such a driving, supportive, expert force at PTI, and in the papercrafting community as a whole.  But as we pick up the pieces of her sad departure (sad for us, happy for Nichole who can begin a new adventure), the Design Team is also excited for a new beginning...

As for me, I'm hoping to step up my designing game in 2018, and offer a few more fun packaging-centric items for all of the other gift wrap nuts like myself out there (I know there are a lot of you!  Don't be shy--raise your hand!).  But before we look too far ahead, let's have a current look at what I'm doing with my Good Tidings Holiday Packaging kits:

First of all, you can visit the PTI blog for my Packaging post which is dedicated to gift card holders this month.  There's a die for that in the Good Tidings Main kit and I'm showing you how to cut, assemble, and embellish it--in mostly video format.  Have a look after you finish here...

On this side of things, I'm making and using adhesive labels!  These were a fun addition to the Main kit because even though the majority of them are pre-designed for quick use, we also included 6 sheets of blank labels for you to create your own--36 stickers in all.  I'm sharing a quick look at a few of the ones that I made the other day, as well as a simple way to use the labels that are pre-made.

You can use ink and stamps to make any design you want (that will fit on a 1 3/4" circle, of course), but I designed the Good Tidings stamps to include small-sized images and sentiments, too, partly because of these labels.  What good are they if you can't do anything with them because all the stamps are too big?

I've used the tiny pine tree stamps, the bows, little 3-leaf flourishes, and pine branches to liven up each of the labels, pairing an image with a bite-sized sentiment.  Sticking with 2 or 3 colors will give you contrast, without overwhelming your project.

I stayed with the color scheme of the Good Tidings kit here, but in the future, I'll branch out a bit and incorporate more colors.  For now, though, I chose these hues because those are the colors I'm partial to this year.  With the red and green buffalo check craze that's happening all over the internet, I think a lot of folks are feeling that way.  But I did have to throw in some pink and a little orangey-yellow for a some unexpected fun :)

Just a little trick I thought I'd share...There's a curved stamp sentiment ('tis the season for giving) and while the actual curve is wider than these labels allow, I manipulated the stamp to fit.

One of the best uses for these stickers is simply wrapped little boxes.  I have a few samples here, using a strip of ribbon or the copper foil tape (both available in the Good Tidings Trimmings Add-on kit).  The small packages look like they're sealed--this is particularly a clever way to wrap gifts that need to be mailed (and I have many of those!).  You still get to dress up the gift, but there's nothing loose or bulky to make piling the presents into a shipping box awkward.

Decorate your holiday table with small favors wrapped this way; it can be modern...

...or it can be elegant.

If you haven't ordered your Good Tidings kit(s) yet, you still have time to get it (them) before the holidays arrive!  Make your wrappings a cinch this season with everything you need for packaging your presents (except the paper!), all curated into a festive and coordinating ensemble.

Please join me back here this weekend for another look at some Good Tidings wrappings, and don't forget to check out the PTI blog for my gift card holder tutorials!

Happy wrappings, friends!