A blog about cardmaking and papercrafting.
Hello and thanks for stopping by! I was in a mood to use my paper scraps again. My old square paper punch was out of whack so I purchased a new one and put it to use cutting squares from leftover colorful gel press scraps. I LOVE this bold rainbow hued look! I die cut an extra large sentiment: Altenew’s Mega Hello to finish the card.
Thanks for popping by!
Karen
Hello friends! It’s reveal day for Spellbinders September Club Kits and I am excited to share four cards with you. My projects feature the Large Die of the Month, Small Die of the Month and Embossing Folder of the Month and as you can see, the new kits are so fun!
Its harvest time and I love the veggies and adorable tractor included with this month’s Large Die of the Month kit called Thankful Tractor! The kit is large so I made a substantial 5 x 7″ card. I used bright bold green, yellow and orange cardstock for my focal elements. To set the stage I embossed my background with the September Embossing Folder of the Month. Next, I tore a piece of kraft cardstock and then lightly ink blended my “dirt”. I assembled my project with glue and foam tape. I found using a sticky mat helped with the die cut assembly.
I love the vegetables so much that I made a second card. I again embossed the background with the September Embossing Folder of the Month. The basket was die cut from Frosted Silver Mirror Cardstock using last month’s Large Die Kit of the Month called “Strawberry Patch”.
I added a sentiment (retired) and flowers from the kit that were embellished with Crystal Mix Gems (SCS-128) and then used a Spellbinders A2 Top Fold Card Base.
This month’s Small Die of the Month has loads of beautiful stitched leaves with coordinating shadows plus two word sentiments (hello fall). For my first card, I wanted to showcase the elegant simplicity of just one leaf. The stitching went very quickly and I kept the rest of the card clean and simple.
I used the included hello sentiment die. This is a beautiful yet delicate die and I’ve found it works well if you attach a sheet of double sided adhesive paper to the cardstock prior to die cutting. After you die cut, just pull away the backing paper and apply!
Wouldn’t it be fun to make a series of these as a gift?
Products Used:
The leaf dies in the September Small Die of the Month kit are so fun that I wanted to make a card without stitching. To keep the theme, I mounted the leaf and shadow on a panel die-cut with one of my favorites, Essential Rectangles Dies. I love how this keeps the unstitched card theme. The gold details are achieved using Brushed Gold Cardstock and I mounted the panel with foam tape on an A2 Top Fold Cardbase. I find the result is a fresh clean card.
I think the September kits are sure to be favorites…what do you think?
Karen
Masculine cards can be tricky, but I think using bold gel press prints with a mega sentiment works well for the men in our lives.
I sorted through my gel press prints looking for colorful pages that would work well together. I then tore them into strips and pieces and added some doodling with gel pens and Posca pens.
Products Used:
I am so glad you popped by!
Karen
Wow, this Timeless Tulips stamp set is fabulous! Two BIG, Bold beautiful stamps with a Graphic Art Vibe and wonderful sentiments that will work for so many occasions. I could see it for Mother’s Day, a Get Well Card, Ballet Recital, Birthday, Valentine’s Day….lots of possibilites.
Both cards came together quickly because I used the coordinating coloring stencils. I started by stamping with black pigment ink. Once the ink was dry, I lined up my stencils and started coloring. I used Altenew Crisp Dye Inks in Coral Berry, Ruby Red, Paper Bag, Firefly, Green Fields and Evergreen. The image was easy to die cut and the sentiment is included with this stamp set. I used a Kraft Card base and then ink blended some Paper Bag Crisp Dye Ink along the edges to tie the card panel and base together.
Products Used on Card #1:
I used the coloring stencils on card #2 also. For this card, I ink blended a coordinating background using Coral Berry into Ocean Waves.
Products Used on Card #2:
Giveaway Prizes
$300 in total prizes! To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $50 gift certificate to 2 lucky winners and a $25 gift certificate to 8 winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog and/or each designer’s blog post on the blog hop list below by 08/28/2022 for a chance to win.
Altenew will draw 10 random winners from the comments left on each stop of this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew Winners Page on 08/29/2022.
BLOG HOP ORDER
Reiko Tsuchida ***Note: Due to strict regulations in Japan, you might not be able to leave a comment on her blog post.
I can’t decide which card I like better.
I am so pleased you stopped by!
Karen
Hello and welcome! Every month, I look forward to Altenew’s Craft-A-Flower Subscription Release and this Open Peony may be my new favorite! This card is beautiful but it actually came together very quickly. My inspiration was a photograph of a Coral Charm Peony.
I started by die cutting the floral elements from pale pink cardstock and then I ink blended Altenew’s Crisp Dye Inks on each piece. I concentrated the color around the edges. For layers #1 and #2, I used Coral Berry. Layer #3 was Coral Berry + Orange Cream. With layer #1, I added just a bit of ink and I used a heavier hand as I progressed to the top layers. Layer #4 (around the flower center) was Cotton Candy and Layer # 5 (top layer) was Crimson. I ink blended the last overlay that would go around the edges, but decided I liked the Peony without them.
For the leaves, I started with a medium green cardstock and then ink blended Mountain Pine Crisp Dye Ink around the edges. For the flower center I started with yellow cardstock and then added Warm Sunshine and Espresso ink blending.
The Peony is so beautiful that I kept the background simple. The sentiment is from Paint-A-Flower Clematis and I added three New Day Enamel Dots.
Altenew has five wonderful monthly subscription kits that you can see HERE.
Giveaway Prizes
$300 in total prizes! To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $50 gift certificate to 2 lucky winners and a $25 gift certificate to 8 winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog and/or each designer’s blog post on the blog hop list below by 08/18/2022 for a chance to win. Altenew will draw 10 random winners from the comments left on each stop of this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew Winners Page on 08/20/2022.
Blog Hop Order
Reiko Tsuchida ***Note: Due to strict regulations in Japan, you might not be able to leave a comment on her blog post.
Karen Brown You Are Here!
I really enjoyed making this card and I know I will be pulling this kit out in the future.
Hello and welcome to Altenew’s August Blog Hop! I am so excited about the beautiful and fresh products that Altenew is releasing this month.
I thought I would start with the Precious Doodles Bundle. When “doodles” is in the title, I know it is going to be a favorite of mine!
Precious Doodles is a happy little stamp layering set and I used Altenew Crisp Dye Inks: Cotton Candy + Coral Berry, Ocean Waves + Dusk, Parrot + Shadow Creek and Firefly + Green Fields. Once my Doodles were stamped, I embellished with Enamel Dots, die cut a frame, added the darling bee and die cut the sentiment.
Products Used on Card #1
Card #2 was quick and easy! I stamped and die cut four flowers, embellished with enamel dots and mounted on a simple background defined by washi tape.
Products Used on Card #2:
The Arch of Flowers Bundle is such a fun and creative kit! For my first card, I used the stamp, coloring stencil and die. The die is gorgeous and very detailed which really adds to its beauty! The coloring stencil was very easy to line up and use and I love the effect. The stamp set also has great sentiments included, which is always a big plus! To finish the card I just added enamel dots to the flower centers.
Products Used on Card #1:
I also wanted to make a quick casual hello card with the stamp and coloring stencil. I angled the stamp and then quickly colored in the sunny little flower scene. Don’t the flowers look like they are reaching for the sun?
Products Used on Card #2:
I think this would make a cute stationary set or get well card too.
FREE GIFT OFFER!
To celebrate the release, we are running a free gift promotion. Feel free to share the promotion info with your followers.
Altenew will draw 10 winners randomly from the comments left on each stop of this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew Winners Page on 08/11/2022.
Blog Hop Order
Altenew Blog
Virginia Lu
Kari VanNoy
Laurie Willison
Caly Person
Erum Tasneem
Jenny Martin
Agnieszka Małyszek
Bobby Hagen
Mindy Eggen
Teri Wilson
Jaycee Gaspar
Terri Koszler
Annemarie Caister
Nichol Spohr
Therese Calvird
Angela Brennan
Lorena Brougher
Tenia Nelson
Nicole Watt
Lilith Eeckels
Mugdha Gujarathi
LauraJane
Maryám Pérez
Teresa Litchfield
Michelle Short
Bridget Casey
Nathalie DeSousa
Michelle Burnier
Jenny Colacicco
Fiona Duff
Svitlana Shayevich
Karen Brown You are here!
Laurie Patterson
Linda Westfall
Reiko Tsuchida ***Note: Due to strict regulations in Japan, you might not be able to leave a comment on her blog post.
Penny Pynnonen
Tania Ahmed
Dana Joy
Thanks for stopping by! I’d love to hear your thoughts on these cards.
Karen
I LOVE the Spellbinders August Embossing Folder of the Month! It is called Intertwined Lattice, is very versatile and will work with so many designs. For my baby card, I “debossed” my panel which means the design is pressed below the paper’s surface. I then paired my debossed panel with one of my new favorites: Balloon Party Animal (S3-450). The blue print background is from Spellbinders Cheerful Occasions Paper Pad and I used Craft Foam under the top panel for dimension.
I think this is an adorable baby card.
For my second card, I used the “embossed” side of the panel. Embossing means the design is raised above the panel. The August embossing folder is beautiful embossed (below) and debossed (card #1 above)
I love the texture that the embossing adds to cards. For this card I used three of Spellbinders August 2022 Subscription Kits: Large Die of the Month called Strawberry Patch, Small Die of the Month and Embossing Folder of the Month. The sentiment was die-cut from Brushed Gold Cardstock using Outlined Sentiments dies and I love the bit of glow it adds to the card.
Thanks for stopping by!
Karen
I am always looking for new fresh interesting sentiments so I was so excited to see this month’s Spellbinders Small Die of the Month Kit called Outlined Sentiments. Besides the “for” and “you” I used above, the kit includes Cheers (see card below), Thanks, Congrats and Hello (see card below) plus coordinating shadow dies that line up perfectly! There is also a cute flower, greenery and leaves in the kit.
The die cuts are beautifully delicate so I used an extra metal shim when die-cutting the sentiments and they cut great. Before die cutting, I attached adhessive sheets to the cardstock and this made sentiment placement so easy!
For my background, I used my paper trimmer to cut strips of paper in varying widths. I didn’t measure, I just eyeballed it. I started with Waterfall, Pink Sand, Watermelon Fusion (retired), white and Cosmic Sky. It didn’t look quite right so I added Kraft cardstock and then I was happy with my color scheme. I think it is bright and cheerful with a bit of a beach vibe. I trimmed my background down to 3 1/2″ x 4 3/4″ and mounted on an A2 base with kraft foam.
I die cut my sentiments and shadows, added three strawberry blossoms from the August Large Die of the Month Kit, placed enamel dots on the flower centers and then adhered to the background with foam tape.
I am happy with this cheery little card.
For my second card, I die cut my two sentiments, Outlined Sentiments, from Brush Gold cardstock and I love the simple elegance it adds.
I used three of Spellbinders August 2022 Subscription Kits on this card: Large Die of the Month, Small Die of the Month and Embossing Folder of the Month.
My last card is a bit more clean and simple, but I love the effect of the delicate die cut sentiment.
With Taylored Expressions Square Window Masking Stencil, I ink blended Grass Fields, Warm Sunshine and Peacock Feathers for my background. Using the August 2022 Large Die of the Month kit, I selected and die cut cardstock scraps so that each of the three berries would be a different shade of red. I die cut the Cheers sentiment (Spellbinder’s August 2022 Small Die of the Month Kit) from metallic black cardstock. I first adhered adhessive paper to the back of the cardstock and then die cut the sentiment which made placement so easy.
I think these sentiment dies are the perfect finishing touch for cards. Thanks for stopping by!
Karen
The Spellbinders August 2022 Large Die of the Month Strawberry Patch kit is just perfect for summer! I made three cards and I can’t decide which I like best. The first one I made for my daughter and her husband to go with a housewarming gift. Doesn’t the strawberry plant look like it’s dancing? I think it is so lively and cheerful!
The dies are big and beautiful so my first card is 4 1/4″ x 6 1/2″. I wanted variations in my reds and greens so I dove into my paper scrap stash and pulled out some pretty cardstock leftovers. The basket is die cut from Brush Gold Cardstock.
Don’t you just love the pretty little strawberry blossoms? I know I will be using these on future cards because they are so fresh and happy.
The die cut strawberries are so animated and joyful that I thought it would be fun to spotlight three berries with blooms on card #2. Once again, I die cut the strawberries with Spellbinders August 2022 Large Die of the Month Kit called Strawberry Patch. I used Taylored Expressions Square Window Masking Stencil and then blended Grass Fields, Warm Sunshine and Peacock Feathers for my background. I again used cardstock scraps so that each of the three berries would be a different shade of red.
The “Cheers” sentiment is from Spellbinders August Small Die of the Month kit, which is filled with great delicate sentiment dies and coordinating sentiment shadows. Before die cutting, I attached adhessive sheets to the cardstock which made sentiment placement so easy!
For my final card, I combined three August 2022 Spellbinders Kits: Large Die of the Month (Strawberry Patch), Small Die of the Month (sentiments) and Embossing Folder of the Month. I think they all work so well together.
I die cut the two sentiments from Brush Gold Cardstock. Prior to die-cutting, I attached adhessive sheets to the cardstock and this made sentiment placement so easy! I also matted the embossed panel with red patterned paper.
Thanks for stopping by! I’d love to hear what you think about the cards.
Karen
Hello friends! Did you know it is World Watercolor Month? To celebrate, Altenew is hosting a grand Blog Hop with LOTS of prizes and inspiration.
I LOVE Altenew’s watercolor products and I used them on my framed project. I started with the Poppy from Altenew’s Coloring Book and I painted it with the 36 Pan Set and Artists Brushes.
The coloring book is such a great idea! There are 12 designs…24 printed pages on good quality watercolor paper. Each design has a black outline and a “no-line” outline. I am going on vacation soon and this coloring book will be making the trip as it is so packable. Grab the book, brushes and watercolors and I am set for hours of creating. I also think this would make a great gift!
I went slow while I painted and added layer upon layer of color. For me, this is the secret to watercolor painting. Add color and blend with a damp brush with clean water, let dry and repeat. The quality of the paper in the coloring book allowed me to add lots of layers without any worry about the paper breaking down.
This no-line Poppy was loads of fun to paint! I didn’t mix the paints but used the color right out of the pans. Lovely and feminine. I did add a few accents to the flower’s center with a black pen and white gel pen.
Giveaway Prizes
$300 in total prizes! To celebrate this special blog hop, Altenew is giving away a $50 gift certificate to 2 lucky winners and a $25 gift certificate to 8 winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog and/or each designer’s blog post on the blog hop list below by 08/05/2022 for a chance to win. Altenew will draw 10 random winners from the comments left on each stop of this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew Winners Page on 08/09/2022.
Blog Hop Order
As always, I am so very happy that you stopped by!
Karen
Kenny's Cards 