A Childhood Favorite: Frosty the Snowman with Flower Stamps?

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Remember the Christmas Movie Frosty The Snowman? Every year, he’d come back to life with a cool winter’s breeze and storm, and the first thing he’d say….Happy Birthday! Today’s project is my take on that childhood classic.

To create this fun Frosty the Snowman project, You’ll want to do a little Kissing Technique with two of the background stamps in this new collection – Buffalo Plaid and F as in… , along with three of the circles from the Just Wonderful Floral Stamp set to create your Frosty the Snowman.

His arms are twigs and one of the flowers are on his hat! Isn’t he just so cute. He’s stamped in the new Sage Green Ink– just one of the new four amazing colors in the Urban Oasis collection – part of the Spa Collection. The title and flower are in the new Rouge Ink with a little Icing on the Cake at the bottom too. The corners of the scene have a light ink blend of darker blues and the new Queen for a Day.

Frosty the Snowman Birthday Card

To complete your Frosty the Snowman scene, you’ll want to stamp your trees in Stone Blue Ink and lightly ink blend some snow drifts in It’s a Boy Ink with the life changing brushes. If you want to learn how to do that – I have a great video tutorial HERE.

I created this card for the Catherine Pooler Storybook Collection Instagram Hop. Be sure to visit my Instagram Profile to follow the Instagram hop and comment along the way to be entered in for prizes too! It starts Wednesday Morning 5/8 at 9 am sharp!

Here’s the New Release: It’s available at 9 am on Wednesday here!

Storybook Collection: I Want It All…
[ CTH ]
Full Ink Collection: Ink Pad Bundle…
[ CTH ]
Spa Collection: Ink Pad Bundle 20 Colors
[ CTH ]
Spa Collection: Ink Pads & Refills…
[ CTH ]
Spa Collection: Refills Bundle 20 Colors
[ CTH ]
Spa Collection: Urban Oasis Ink Pads…
[ CTH ]
Spa Collection: Urban Oasis Ink Pads…
[ CTH ]
Spa Collection: Urban Oasis Refills…
[ CTH ]
Enchanted Forest Bundle
[ CTH ]
Forest Foliage Stamp Set
[ CTH ]
Forest Foliage Dies
[ CTH ]
Fluttering Friends Stamp Set
[ CTH ]
Fluttering Friends Dies
[ CTH ]
Buffalo Plaid Background Stamp
[ CTH ]
Just Wonderful Floral Stamp Set
[ CTH ]
Just Wonderful Floral Dies
[ CTH ]
Father’s Day Bundle
[ CTH ]
Wild About You Stamp Set
[ CTH ]
Wild About You Dies
[ CTH ]
Hey, Mister Stamp Set
[ CTH ]
Wood Slice Dies
[ CTH ]
F as in… Background Stamp
[ CTH ]
Lumberjack Patterned Paper
[ CTH ]
Motor City Sequin Mix
[ CTH ]
A Page from the Book Bundle
[ CTH ]
Poignant Poppies Stamp Set
[ CTH ]
Poignant Poppies Dies
[ CTH ]
Never Forget Fern Stamp Set
[ CTH ]
Be Strong Word Die
[ CTH ]
Have Courage Word Die
[ CTH ]
Take Courage Stamp Set
[ CTH ]
Take Courage Dies
[ CTH ]

Be sure to stop by my YouTube channel on Friday for a video featuring some of the new collection, and three easy tips on how to improve your cards! Till then –

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7 Ways to Use Gelatos

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7 ways to use gelatos

Gelatos by Faber-Castell, are powerfully pigmented creamy sticks that pack a punch. Do you have some sitting in a drawer or in a bin somewhere? My hope is that you will be inspired to break out those awesome pigmented creamy sticks and get creating. Here are 7 Ways you can use Gelatos on your projects!

Let’s dive right in!!

I have three amazing projects to share with you today. To get started, you’ll want to spread some gesso onto an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of white cardstock. For gelatos to spread properly, they need a base to spread easily. Without that, it can be a challenge!

If you haven’t already – please subscribe to my newsletter (you’ll get an exclusive video series), instagram, youtube channel, and blog (subscribe in the sidebar on the right)!!

I filmed a video for you, but have each one detailed below as well in photos and instructions. Be sure to leave me a comment on the youtube channel too with which one you loved the most!

Click here to watch over on YT.

#1 – Gelato Blending Technique

Our first Gelatos technique is the most basic of them all – blending. You will want to choose colors that go well together and scribble them all over your paper – no need to worry about being neat – the water and that ever so special tool (your fingers) will do all the heavy lifting!

A tool that helps with blending Gelatos is the Ranger spritzer. You will first want to mist your surface lightly by squeezing quickly on your Ranger Spritzer. To blend those amazing colored pigments together, use your fingers or a damp towel, to get the coverage you love. Dry with a heat tool, or set aside and cut up into a few card fronts. I split mine in 1/2 – 5.5 x 8.5. For the card fronts, I cut one into two, and one I cut into a 5″ square and 3.5 x 5.5 with a 1/2″ strip left over. That will give you 4 backgrounds to create with – not bad!

gelato blended backgrounds

#2 – Disappearing Gelato Technique

Next, line up your favorite stencil over one of your panels. I’m using the Quadrilaterals Stencil by AALL & Create which has some great space to work with. Grab a Baby Wipe or wet paper towel and twist your wipe through the stencil to wipe away the color – what?!!

Yes, you’re going to remove the gelatos color easily through your stencil. The key – keep alternating to a clean spot on your wipe/towel. I intentionally only removed the color in spots, to give an organic look to my project. The end result gives you an artsy stenciled look!

baby wipe gelatos technique

Add some splatters and edge your piece and all that’s left is to mat it onto a base and use a simple word die. Don’t take away from the background – the disappearing gelatos piece is the star!

#3 – Gelato Colored Paste Technique

Did you know that you can shave off some pigments and do loads of techniques with them?!! Here’s just one of many – Coloring Paste. Now keep in mind – you can do this with just about any medium too!

Use a palette knife to scrape off some pigment (a little goes a long way) and mix with some white embossing paste and a palette knife. Mix your gelatos and paste thoroughly. I mixed four gelato colors, each with a tiny amount of paste. Add each color, a small amount at a time, directly through the stencil with a palette knife.

tinting mediums with gelatos

In this project, you’ll notice that I intentionally left some spots without paste. That was so that the rockin’ background can shine through. It makes for some interesting breaks in your project.

Try overlapping your colors a bit too – that creates new ones! Just keep the color wheel in mind – leave complimentary colors apart – blue/orange, red/green, etc… Doesn’t that look stunning through the Quadrilaterals Stencil?!!

stenciling mediums with gelatos

Again, a simple word die and some fun matting and you’re all set. Now I did stamp the Eclectica Tracy Scott 25 stamp set onto the card base in embossing ink and embossed it in Wanderlust Embossing Glitter for a little interest. To keep adding a little sparkle, highlight the awesome word die with a sparkle pen.

#4 Gelato Dripping Technique

This technique is probably a fan favorite of many! You can try this on plain or colored backgrounds. I decided to add more of the same to one of the existing panels. Keep color theory in mind, when using this technique. Gelatos have fugitive properties, so try and stay away from complimentary colors in order to avoid making mud.

Here’s the skinny – rub some gelatos at the top of your panel – nice and concentrated. Spritz or add water with a paint brush and watch the drips!! It’s a very cool look.

The dripping technique gave an awesome depth to the background of our third project – a real mixed media card. This is just he beginning!!

gelatos dripping backgrounds

#5 Gelato Layering Technique

One of the properties of Gelatos is that it is always live and reactive. To set them, you’ll need to seal it. You can use a spray, or if you’d like to flex your mixed media muscles a bit – try matte medium! Pour a little over your background to set those colors.

This helps in two ways – one locks that colored goodness in place, and two – you can layer ANY colors on top of each other!! To use Matte Medium – drip a little onto your project and carefully spread with a palette knife or silicone spatula. Be careful not wipe all that colored goodness away – you are adding a liquid to it! You will find that it is better to start with a little of the matte medium in one place, just until you get the hang of using it. You want only a thin layer. Dry naturally, or with a heat tool.

how to seal gelatos

Gelatos are vibrant in color. To allow the second layer of color to pop, you will need to first lay down a layer of white gelato to give your second layer a neutral base. I used Coconut as a white base underneath a few pops of color in my second layer. I added purple right onto yellow and blue right over orange – normally that would be a muddy mess. Not with Gelato layering!!

That brings us to #6…

#6 Gelato Stenciling Technique

Since Gelatos are SO super creamy and pigmented, I like to avoid rubbing them directly onto my stencil. That way too much pigment doesn’t get stuck in the nooks and crannies of my stencil. Instead, use a makeup sponge!

Scribble some gelato pigment onto your craft mat or a palette and sponge through your stencil onto your project. This way you have a smooth application and can be quite deliberate in where you want to add color. On your Mixed Media card – add a little Stardust, Galaxy and Blue Moon for a nice little accent in both corners. The Quadrilaterals Stencil adds a little lattice look to the corners, don’t you think?

stenciling with gelatos

I love the dark popping off the bright base. None of which would show up without locking the layers and adding the white underneath.

#7 Gelato Coloring Technique

And last, but certainly not least, add color to all your embellishments with Gelatos! A unique way to add color to an embellishment, is to stamp your piece in Archival ink onto Tissue Paper and use the gelatos to color from behind!

On tissue paper, the gelatos blended super easily. No need for Gesso. Add as much pigment as you’d like – you want it to pop from the other side. I added Aqua Dolce, Nebula and Blue Moon for a fun blue flower. The background has some good orange tones from blending the Blood Orange Gelato over Guava. Can you see the Blood Orange drips on the left side? The blue would be the perfect pop to the project in a complimentary color…

coloring tissue paper with gelatos

To help the blue flower pop even more, hold your fussy cut flower onto your project, lift the edges, and add a little white gelato underneath. Seal the stenciled corners and white flower with some matte medium, giving your flower a base to grab onto. Add matte medium over the top too and dry your entire piece.

Pulling it All Together

To complete your flower, add a little Pistachio green for some leaves and rub it into shape with your fingers. Next add some black charcoal pencil for shading, rub in with your finger, and add some Black Big Brush Pen accents too. Rub and add white where needed. Add a little matte medium over your green leaves and add some finishing touches.

For a sentiment, I used a sticker from Small Talk collection by Tim Holtz Ideology. To help it to stand out, edge your sticker with a Pitt Pen. I love the end result, and now I want to create a two page spread like this in my art journal – it’s TOO pretty!!

Mixed Media Cards using Gelatos

Whoever receives this card in the mail, is certain to cherish it.

Which of the 7 Ways to Use Gelatos is your favorite? Have you tried any? Tell me in the comments!! I’d love to know which projects you liked too! Want to see more with Gelatos?

Did You Know?

I popped all the supplies I used in the list below. This post was written for a fun hop celebrating Top Flight Stamps and their 2nd anniersary. Have you had a chance to check out Topflight Stamps yet? If you have not checked it out yet, then you MUST pop over. It’s one of the best collections of artsy stamps and stencils I’ve seen.

Topflight Stamps differs from most online retailers. You will find an incredibly diverse collection of artistic stamp products from around the world – all under one roof. Don’t you just love the two products I used today, and hope you enjoyed seeing a few ways you too could use them!

7 ways to use Gelatos - easy techniques

But first, keep hopping along. Be sure to leave comments all along the way. There are some INCREDIBLE crafters in this hop – seriously – I’m so honored to have been asked to be a small part of it. So thanks for hanging with my novel of a post. If you haven’t already – please subscribe to my newsletter, blog (subscribe in the sidebar on the right), instagram and youtube channels!!

Till next time, keep those fingers inky…

Blog Hop List

Supplies

To make finding the supplies I used in these projects a bit easier for you, here are a few clickable links. Compensated Affiliate Links are used when possible. Click here for disclosure. Happy Shopping!

Filed Under: Flowers, Mixed Media, One Layer Card, Stencils, Techniques, Uncategorized Tagged: , , , ,

Tropical Treasures Release

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Tropical Treasures Blog Hop with Catherine Pooler Designs

Do you love fun tropical stamps? Well, who wouldn’t…right?!! You’re in the right place then. Today I have some fun projects for you, one that’s quite tropical, and another that has a wintry twist to it! It’s the Catherine Pooler Tropical Treasures Release Blog Hop!

If you’re hopping over from Daniel West’s blog – welcome! He’s one super talented guy! I hope to keep inspiring you along the hop today. Let’s jump right into it.

If you haven’t already nabbed some of the snazzy cool new products from this release, be sure to check them out here:

The products went on sale Tuesday to Catherine’s StampNation members and to the public yesterday. Today I’m going to be using a few of my favorites from the release, so let’s get crafty, shall we?

If you hopped along in the Instagram hop yesterday, you may have seen me use the Pineapple from Pineapple and Smiles…well, as I promised you – I have another project with that beauty today.

NOTE – Did you also notice that I have a new Instagram channel – @thecgstudio (click this link to see)? It’s dedicated to paper crafts, so be sure you hit that follow button to keep seeing more! My old channel is becoming a personal one. 😉 Oh, and if you didn’t hop along yesterday, be sure to do so and leave comments along the way to win more prizes!!

Project One – Sending Smiles

Have you ever made a card and can’t stop staring at it? Tell me in the comments below!! I can’t possibly be the only one…lol. This one is that for me.

If you’d like to see a video on this project – please tell me too, and I’ll definitely do that for you! I’ve been adding things to my youtube channel, and would love to know what YOU want to see.

To create this beauty, you’ll want to stamp the pineappple onto Chocolate Cardstock in White Pigment Ink. That will give you a light base so that your colored pencils will pop!

Color your images in with the desired colored pencils of your choosing using a flicking motion – and don’t forget to work in a little white pencil too!

I wanted a little closer edging to my pineapple, so I chose to fussy cut it out to get that groovy curved edge. TIP – You can also cut it out with the Pineapple & Bits die. Just do that first before stamping. Then lay it back into the larger piece and run a piece of tape over the back to keep it in place while you color. That way you have the correct placement and don’t have to fussy cut!

For the base, ink blend Shea Butter and Limoncello – mostly Shea Butter from the bottom right corner outward. Feather it so that you have a light transition to white. Use the limoncello ink to give it a little pop – but not too much, you don’t want it to overpower your project.

Next, secure your Wonky Triangle stencil over your project and ink blend using Sauna ink. You want this to be an accent, so keep it somewhat light. No need to press super hard or do too many layers. I used the Life Changing Brushes, but the Ink Blending Tool works perfectly too!

Stamp your sentiment in Icing on the cake and you’re good to go!! I did a little stamp surgery first for ease of stamp positioning, but if that makes you cringe, mask your sentiment when you ink. Are you a stamp surgery person too? I’d love to know.

Project Two – Happy Thursday

My in-laws live in upstate NY, and the forcast for this second day of spring is possible snow showers, so this one is for them…lol! And any of you still braving Winter today…. It also would be a great Christmas card – just sayin’!!

The moment I saw Lisa Kirkbride’s design for the To the Point Cover Plate, this card popped into my head. HOW perfect is it that Shawna Clingerman designed that incredible Wild Thing background stamp – it’s the perfect snowy backdrop!

Cut up your die cut Cover Plate to give you the amount of trees you’re looking for. I trimmed up the sides and bottom edge too.

Cut out a mask out of a post it note or Masking Paper. Cut and reserve both pieces. Cover the part where the trees are going on your card front with your mask.

Ink blend your sky, keeping a little bit of the center white. This can help give you a snowy effect, keep your project from getting too dark, or give the illusion of misty clouds.

Start with your lightest color – It’s a Boy. By the way – it really is a boy in our family!!! Our youngest delivered our newest grand baby – Reid Owen about 36 hours ago!!! Exciting, right!! Everyone is happy and healthy. Sorry, just had to share with my crafty family!!

Okay – I got sidetracked….lol!

Once you have a nice foundation of It’s a Boy, add a little Fiesta Blue to the upper portion. Try not to bring it in as far, so you have a natural progression of color. Add an even slighter semi circle to the top in Something Blue and then follow it up with It’s a Boy to blend it all together.

Ink blend your trees in Eucalyptus ink. I used the Life Changing Brushes to ink blend. Have you tried them yet. I’ve been using them since last fall, and I’m a complete convert!

Leave your mask on, and ink up the Wild Thing background stamp in embossing ink. Stamp onto your panel and emboss in Opaque White by WOW! TIP – Be sure your sky is dry first. I zapped mine with a heat tool and then added my de-static tool, just to be sure!

Emboss your card base with your sentiment as well in white. I stamped Thursday from the Canvo Bullet Journal line of stamps – The Daily Plan. Don’t you just love using stamp sets in multiple ways?!! The Happy is from the Winterhaven stamp set – and it’s PERFECT. I love the font and the size.

I hope you enjoyed that one!!! I know you love it when I give you some out of the box ideas – and if you’ve followed me for a while, you know I love to turn anything I can into a Christmas card!

Speaking of….stop by tomorrow for just about the easiest and quickest Christmas card you can make with the Wonky Triangle Stencil….again, masking to the rescue here!!

Thanks so much for stopping by today, I hope you enjoyed all the projects! Details for commenting to win and the hop list are below! Enjoy the hop!

Who loves prizes?!! There are some $25 gift certificates up for grabs! All you have to do is comment on the hops! Yesterday was the Instagram hop, today the blog hop, and tomorrow the Video hop! Leave some love and hopefully you’ll win!! Catherine will announce the winners on her blog on April 1st – no joke!! Here’s the hop list:

  1. Catherine Your NEXT stop on the hop!!!
  2. Jen Carter
  3. Kristie Goulet
  4. Susan Powell
  5. Tracie Pond
  6. Nanette Tracy
  7. Erica Andersson
  8. Deepti Stephens
  9. Lisa Harrolle
  10. Karen Baker
  11. Ilina Crouse
  12. Daniel West
  13. Ingrid Blackburn – That’s me, lucky 13!!!

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How to Color Embossing Paste

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This tutorial is a great DIY tip for how to color embossing paste quickly and easily on your cards and mixed media projects. I think you will be blown away with how easy it really is!

Here’s a video showing you exactly how to color embossing paste – and once you start, I guarantee you won’t want to stop…lol!

Click Here to watch it on YouTube in HD

And when you watch this over on YouTube – I’d LOVE for you to subscribe to my channel too! Don’t forget to click the notification bell as well. I’ll be doing some lives and premieres, and I’d LOVE to have you there as well.

So what did you think? Tell me in the comment section if you’ve ever done this? And have you tried multiple colors too? Don’t you love how they easily overlap in color to create their own? Which one is your favorite?

How to Color Embossing Paste Tutorial

In a nutshell, you’ll want to blend your medium with a color source. In this video I used foam ink pads by Catherine Pooler. The colors are great, and her ink pads release quite a bit of ink. You can always use ink refills or something else like gelatos, etc…

You’ll also want to use a palette knife. I personally like using metal knives vs. the plastic ones. It’s a personal preference.

DIY how to color embossing paste

Your colored paste will really go far, so do a little at a time. How much color you add, will directly result in the depth of color in your medium. When using something like whipped spackle, that one always ends up lighter in color, so I have to add more ink.

Here’s my final project. I didn’t explain really how I colored in this little chick, so here you go!

Since I used Sand Dunes cardstock by Catherine Pooler for my base, I needed to make my chickie white. Did you know that I commonly greet my friends with hey chickie all the time!!! That’s why I got the Foul Play stamp set in the first place….lol. But these little chick images totally ROCK.

how to color embossing paste tutorial

To make her white, I used a zig blender pen and Hero Arts Unicorn white pigment ink. Don’t think those pens are just for dye inks – use whatever you have!!! Just be sure to clean it thoroughly in between.

The hello die (my all time favorite hello die) also by Stamplorations is embossed with clear embossing powder by WOW! That way it really stands apart from the rockin’ background. I found without that, it just wasn’t popping.

The hello die and chickie (embossed in white on Chocolate cardstock), are glued directly to my card, the Chick is popped up with foam tape.

I hope you enjoyed this! Just like I said in the video – don’t forget to tag me with your creations over on Instagram with my new IG handle – @thecgstudio. I’d LOVE to see what you make.

Have a great day!!

Filed Under: Stencils, Techniques, Uncategorized, Videos Tagged: , ,

Catherine Pooler Welcome Home Release + Giveaway

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Welcome Home Release

It’s the Welcome Home Release! You’ve probably arrived from Daniel Wests’ blog – Welcome! Today I have some fun quick little projects for you using some of my favorite pieces from the Catherine Pooler Welcome Home collection. Let’s jump right in!

This collection first premiered at the Creativation show in Arizona. And I have been just waiting to show you some of these amazing pieces.

Here are the new Stamps and Dies that are in the Welcome Home Collection:

PLUS…these amazing new must have products:

I’ve been using the Life Changing Brushes for a few months now. I thought it would be fun if we played with the Carnivale minis as well today. Let’s see how they work with some of the stamps and dies in action…

Welcome Home Release – Project No 1

Nothing makes an impact like the Interlocked Die. To say I was over the moon excited the first time I saw this die by Julie Mogford is putting it mildly! This is not your average cover plate – this die measures 5 1/8″ around, and today we’re going to use it as a stencil.

That’s what I love about Cover Plates – using them as stencils! So that you can get as much use from yours as possible, cut it out of heavy weight cardstock and embossed it in clear on both sides. You can also seal it with gel medium.

To get that light airy look in a quick way – you’ll definitely want to try out the Life Changing Brushes. Last November I purchased some of the inexpensive make up brush counterparts, and let me tell you – the Life Changing Brushes are the real deal. They are made for Paper Crafting. Let me say that again – that’s the biggest difference – these are made for Paper Crafting! They are designed to release ink without soaking the ink up.

Another big difference is that with the Life Changing Brushes, I have not had the little hairs come loose, unlike their cheaper counterparts. You do get what you pay for! Just like anything else in life. So which size do you need? Definitely the larger four, and if you want to use them with stencils and get a bit more precise, you may want the Full 10 set. That way you can get into the nooks and crannies of those intricate stencils or background stamps.

So I wanted a fun masculine feel to my card today. I quickly layered some It’s a boy down, keeping my pressure light as I went outward. To get the full stenciled effect of this amazing die, be sure to go beyond the edge of the Interlocked Die. For some pop – use Limoncello (CP Minis – Carnivale Collection), from the center outward – just look at this AMAZING green it creates!!

So that your sentiment from the Happy Place stamp set makes an impact, emboss it in WOW Black Embossing Powder. I also ran my WOW Embossing Pad along the corners and added a little powder there too – it’s a bit hard to tell, with the card front adhered to the Midnight cardstock, but you really notice it in real life (shiny vs. the matte cardstock).

This card was so quick to make, you can really made several in the whole rainbow and literally use any sentiment on it! Do you use dies as stencils ever? If so, tell me in the comments what your favorite is?!!

Project No 2 (and 3)

Next up we’re going to use the same Life Changing Brushes to get a flawless look, but over an embossed image – the Cottage Garden Background Stamp.

Emboss your image in Opaque Bright White Embossing Powder on CPD 100# Bright White Cardstock. Did you know that WOW! puts antistatic product right into their powders? On an intricate image like the Cottage Garden Background, that really matters! It helps so that your powders don’t stick to the non-embossed parts.

I embossed one card front panel – 5 1/2 x 4 1/4″, and then blended Limoncello, Coral Cabana, a little Be Mine and some Samba inks from the CP Minis – Carnivale Collection. That’s what is so great about Catherine Pooler ink – the amount of ink it releases. Even Picket Fence Studios who designed the Life Changing Brushes recommends CPD ink for it’s brushes!

The key to getting a light blended look on your project is the same as with the Ranger Mini Sponge Tools – light even pressure. The difference between the tools – there is no rounded edge, so you’re more likely to get a smoother application with the brushes. And they are ergonomic in design – quite flexible and easy to hold. All that makes a difference if you love to ink blend.

I recommend having a brush dedicated to a color family – that way you don’t have to constantly clean them. But you will want to clean them from time to time – just rinse in the sink with soap (any will do) and let air dry. Do not use a heat tool – the little hairs are made of a plastic material!

Once you have your background how you want it, cut a 1 3/4″ section off from the top or bottom (I chose the part with mostly flowers). This card is relatively simple to put together.

First ink blend a background using your Interlocked Die as a stencil with Icing on the Cake on the card base for the skinnier piece. On the other – stamp the brick border from the Strolling Borders Stamp Set in Icing on the Cake.

Adhere your backgrounds to the bottom and top third of your folded card base. Cut out the Ways to Say Hey Dies for your sentiments out of Chocolate cardstock with your die cutting machine and glue both your sentiments to the bottom – just off the edge (to the card base), but with the sentiment part on your background.

That’s it! Quick and easy, and the best part – you get two cards from every Background. I love how they look and mixing the fun, vibrant nature of the Carnivale inks with the deep dark Icing on the Cake ink and Chocolate cardstock. What do you think? What would YOUR color choices be?

Now it’s time for you to be inspired! Hop along the hop – and be sure to leave comments along the way to be entered in for some gift certificates! Definitely let Julie Mogford know when you get to her stop if you love her Interlocked Die!! Be sure to stop by my Instagram channel too on Wednesday for another inspiring hop as well. Have an awesome day!

Catherine Pooler – Hop Here Next!!
Tracie Pond
Jen Carter
Karen Baker
Susan Powell
Kristie Goulet
Ilina Crouse
Lisa Harrolle
Nanette Tracy
Kelly Martin
Maureen Merritt
Julie Mogford
Daniel West
Ingrid Blackburn – You’re HERE!

Keep those fingers inky!! Below you’ll find a supply list for each project.

Filed Under: Blog Hop, Catherine Pooler Designs, Clean and Simple, Stencils, Techniques, Uncategorized

Catherine Pooler Designs Winter 2018 Release Blog Hop

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Welcome to the Catherine Pooler Designs Winter 2018 Blog Hop! I hope to inspire you with some out of the box creations today using a mix of the Smitten and Snowy Day collections.

This week Catherine released three new bundles – a flurry of product if you will. If you’ve missed it, something big and heavy was probably pinning you down! I hope these two cards give you some unique and creative ways to use some of the products. 

First off, thank you for always stopping by my little blog, YouTube channel and instagram home. I appreciate each and every one of you. I read every comment and lots of time leave you one as well!

This is a hop – so be sure to leave comments all along (um…prizes!!). AND, tell me which of these two projects is your favorite! Did you see how to use these products this way too? I want to know…

Each release, I know you expect me to come up with some unique ways to use the products…so I hope I didn’t disappoint! Here we go…

Project No 1 – Christmas Hearts

DIY Christmas Tree Cards

Don’t you just love to use stamps in unexpected ways? The first time I saw the double hearts stamp from the Say it with Love stamp set, I thought – Christmas!! Who wouldn’t, right?!! Maybe it’s just my whacky mind and how it thinks…lol.

DIY Christmas Cards

Look at that detail on the card base! The Geometric Snowflakes Cover Plate Die is AWESOME to use as a stencil for subtle shading. It was the perfect accent to this cute little Christmas scene. Don’t you think? Here’s a close up…

DIY Christmas Cards - Unique

Can you see the sparkly addition of a Spectrum Noir Glitter Pen? On the snow bank and inner hearts? Little touches and things like the Glacier Bay Sequin Mix make the card. I sure hope you like it!

Project No 2 – Faux One Layer Card

This was a fun one. There are SO many details – it’s hard to miss, I hope the photos captured it for you. My thought originally was to do a simple in-laid strip across the bottom…channeling my inner Kristie Goulet. Well, we all know I’m not the best at keeping it uber simple, so it naturally evolved….lol. That’s Kristie’s gift, she says SO much with her immaculate Clean & Simple designs, right? I swear there isn’t a card of hers I don’t love.

Rainbow Clean and Simple DIY cards

Back to this one. SO, I did the inlaid part – then just HAD to emboss some white on white hearts in the middle strip – see them here?

DIY Clean and SImple Cards

So, to create this faux one layered card, You’ll sponge some rainbow colors of CPD ink on two scraps. I did the bottom of one 5.5 x 4.25″ panel in Limoncello, Samba and Coral Cabana. See how beautifully the colors blend? That’s cause they are SO translucent.

Flip your card over and do the same on the top portion using Flirty Fuchsia, Suede Shoes, and Fiesta Blue. Cut and position behind a trimmed down Geometrics Snowflake Die cut in Midnight cardstock. 

Rainbow Clean and Simple DIY cards

I used two 1/2″ strips at the top/bottom. The key was to adhere my rainbow base layer to the Card Base. Then the top strip. Next the small panel. Then the white middle (2 1/8″ high), next the larger panel, finishing off with another 1/2″ strip. That’s it!

I sure do hope you enjoyed those projects! This release is truly varied and has something for everyone. If you haven’t seen it yet, just click here.

Now be sure to hop along and see all the incredible inspiration! Don’t forget to comment along the way to win a $25 gift certificate. And visit my Instagram post here to hop along there as well! PLUS, stop by Catherine’s YouTube channel for a great little hop too. You know the drill…leave comments all along the way to be entered to win!

Next stop – Laurel Beard’s blog HERE

Here’s the hop list…

  1. Catherine  
  2. Kelly Martin
  3. Jen Carter  
  4. Maureen Merritt 
  5. Lisa Harrolle 
  6. Kristie Goulet  
  7. Karen Baker  
  8. Tracie Pond 
  9. Susan Powell 
  10. Ardyth Percy-Robb 
  11. Ilina Crouse  
  12. Ingrid Blackburn 
  13. Laurel Beard 

Thanks again for stopping by. I hope each and every one of you has a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!! Keep those fingers inky – 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Butterflies and Remembering a Good Friend

Written by 6 Comments

Our crafty world is such an amazing, inspiring and wonderful community. I’m blessed to have been a part of this community since 1994, and online since 1998. Over the years, I have gotten to know thousands of you, made more friendships than I can count and every now and then actually get to meet and know people in person. So many of us participate as watchers, teachers, and friends. Earlier this month, we suddenly lost one of those crafty spirits, Melissa Lane. Melissa inspired us, motivated and taught us how to pull the best out in what we do – usually in an unexpected and colorful way.

I had the first got to know Melissa as a team mate on the Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge Team and then really well on the Mixed Media Team. I was living in the Black Forest in Germany at the time, and was shocked that on a world wide team put together by Kylie Purtell, a few of my team mates lived just 45 minutes from me. Isn’t it funny, that in this big huge world – three of us were so close in geographically? Especially put together by a leader who lived in Australia, and two of us being American and living in a foreign country!

Melissa, Tanya Kabel & myself vowed one day to get together to flex our crafty muscles to just stamp with a friend. In this day and age, we all get to know about each other from blogs, instagram, facebook and youtube accounts – but when do you actually get to stamp LIVE and in person? I was no longer alone!! Sadly, Tanya ended up not being to make it that day, but Melissa and I had the rare opportunity to spend the entire day crafting, chatting and we even had dinner together with the family. It truly was a perfect day.

You can’t go empty handed, right? I brought my famous apple/raspberry German crumb cake for the family, since I towed all my craft supplies along with me like a little kid just excited to play with a good friend…lol. I think I had all my stencils (I had quickly been accumulating several Artplorations stencils), a gel plate, acrylic paints, nearly all my stamps, inks and anything else I could think of with me.

Melissa quickly grabbed my gel plate, and made several backgrounds with this very mask I used today. I remember borrowing it and she borrowed several of my stencils that she didn’t have as she was new on the Stamplorations Design Team – and I seemed to have almost all of them…lol. We ink blended, watercolored, got out the pastes and were just two kids in a candy store showing each other our favorite techniques and playing with mediums. We very quickly made a mess in her cute little crafting corner of the house – and the kids kept peeking in on us to see what we were creating. It was SO much fun.

I had also brought several cards with me, and we flipped though each others little works of art, don’t you just love doing that? Cards after all look SO much better in real life than in a photo. We took a break, walked through the garden, talked about art, and I became mesmerized with her father’s gorgeous watercolor artwork. Later we enjoyed a fabulous dinner, made by her beautiful family. Shortly thereafter, I moved back to the states, so we didn’t get a chance to stamp together again, but we remained good friends for years.

Melissa was not just an incredible artist, but she was a Christian, a military wife to her high school sweetheart Chris, loved homes educating her four children, avid gardener, cook and photographer. She had a zest for life and lived every day to the fullest. I loved chatting with her, Melissa knew who she was and loved her family fiercely. We will all miss her.

My life is richer for knowing you Melissa, first and foremost as a person, but also as an artist. I loved visiting your blog and seeing your creations on social media always put a smile on my face – especially when you used butterflies – your love for butterflies made such an impression on me that day. You loved color and butterflies.

It’s only fitting that I create today in your honor, what else – a rainbow of butterflies. I always thought of you when I saw this stencil, and every butterfly I saw. I don’t think that will ever change.

If you’re interested in knowing how I created this piece in Melissa’s honor, brayer a rainbow of acrylic color onto a gel plate, add your Shower of Flutters mask, sponge or brayer over with black paint, take a pull, and trim down. Emboss your greeting in gold, add hearts using the Row of Hearts stencil, embossed in clear embossing powder over your entire card.

Stamp the butterflies from the set Blossom like a Butterfly in Catherine Pooler Midnight Archival ink onto colorful monoprinted backgrounds (Melissa loved red), fussy cut and add some gold embossing powder details. Pop up the wings, and emboss the edges of your card base. This card is sized 5 x 7″. That’s it!

I know you’re watching over us Melissa, but I miss you all the same. You were an inspiration to so many of us, and we’re better crafters for having known you.

To read more about Melissa, see her artwork and the outpouring of love from our community, visit the Stamplorations blog post here.

Much love my friend,

Ingrid Blackburn - The Creative Grove

 

Filed Under: Brayer, Cards, Mixed Media, Personal, Stencils

Easy DIY Mixed Media Christmas Cards + Video

Written by 3 Comments

Save the Crafty YouTuber Video Hop

Have you ever wanted to quickly produce some fun and artistic Mixed Media Christmas Cards? Are you tired of sending bulky cards that require extra postage? What if I gave you the formula for how to create a whole stack of cards that have layered texture and character to them, but are pretty much flat, easy to put together and will have all your friends and family thinking you are quite the artist?!! Interested?

Now what if on top of that I told you that you could have a chance to win over 100 prizes – bet THAT sold ya!

Mixed Media Christmas Cards Video Tutorial

It’s that time of year again – my good friend Justine Hovey has organized the second Save the Crafty YouTuber Video Hop, and I decided to play along with 90 of my crafty friends – mixed media style! And I even have my OWN giveaway that I’m doing….so be sure to actually WATCH the video. I give the details along the way…

Click HERE to watch in HD on my YouTube Channel

Aren’t they FUN and super simple cards to make?!! Seriously – I’m going to be teaching this exact project (and so much more) in person in a few weeks in the Orlando, Florida area. If you’d like to come learn from me in person – be sure to email me at ingrid (at) thecreativegrove.com and I’ll send you all the details!!

For the specifics and Details to be entered for over 100 prizes – seriously…it’s more like 125+ prizes….GOOD ones too – read about those on my YouTube Channel in the section below the video!

The Save the Crafty YouTuber Video hop is a celebration of cardmaking video tutorials created by a group of talented crafters of all different styles and levels. We are coming together over 5 days to give our viewers a chance to discover other amazing cardmakers and help reach monetization goals!

Mixed Media Christmas Cards

All you have to do is watch, like the video, consider subscribing, and click the link in the video description below to hop to the next video. Let yourself be inspired! Don’t forget to comment (on the video hop over at YouTube) because we have tons of prizes to give away. Please indicate if you are located in the USA or International so that prizes can be awarded appropriately as some prizes (not all!) have restrictions on them.

To be entered in for MY giveaway (closed) – watch the video – I give details on what you need to put in the comment section (USA only for that one).

Monoprinting Christmas Cards

Don’t forget to check back every day this week since there are 5 themed days of video hops! You never know when you’ll discover your next favourite YouTuber! Hop Links are below.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. Here are a few close up photos for you and the supply list. Be sure to come back to this post on November 10th to see who won the prize pack – I’m giving away Dies, Stencils and ink pads – it’s worth over $40!!! That Merry Christmas Die is one of them!!! 🙂 Happy Hopping!!!

Mixed Media Monoprint Christmas

Aren’t those the prettiest cards?!! These photos do not do them justice!! Interested in seeing more Mixed Media Christmas Card possibilities? Check out this tutorial – just adjust for the Christmas Season

Sponsors & Hop Links (Giveaways closed)

Here are all those sponsors….and SO many channels in each of the five hops are giving away additional prizes – this is an AWESOME hop!

Here are links to all five hop days:

  1. Day One Hop Beginning
  2. Day Two Hop Beginning
  3. Day Three – Start on MY YouTube Channel
  4. Day Four Hop Beginning
  5. Day Five Hop Beginning

Good luck on winning all those great prizes – over 100!!! Leave me a comment below if you liked these cards – I’d LOVE to know.

Thanks for watching – till next time…

Supply List

Affiliate Links used if available

Mixed Media Christmas Cards

Hailey’s Shower Photo Supply List – https://ldli.co/e/jpxx6p

Filed Under: Art, Blog Hop, Brayer, Christmas, Clean and Simple, Masculine, Mixed Media, Stencils, Techniques, Uncategorized, Videos Tagged: , , ,
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