Are you ready to add a touch of winter magic to your card-making? In today’s video, I will guide you step-by-step through the enchanting process of creating shimmery snowflake backgrounds that will leave everyone in awe!
If you are having trouble viewing the video, click HERE to watch on YouTube.
WOW, WOW, WOW! I LOVE Spellbinder’s September Stitching Die of the Month Kit! This sunflower is so gorgeous that I decided to make a 4 x 6″ framed art piece for my guest bedroom. I have all the details below.
Stitched Sunflower Art | Tips and Tricks
I started by die cutting my Stitching Kit pieces with my Platinum 6 die cutting machine. This month’s kit has 15 dies. I die cut the flower petals and brown center twice and glued them together for easier stitching.
Spellbinders has a nice selection of stitching accessories in their shop that you can find HERE. Today, I used metallic gold floss on the center and 3 shades of DMC floss for the flower. I have been buying and collecting floss for decades, so some of these are vintage.
When I started stitching, I took two strands of floss, separated them one at a time, brought them together and then stroked and lengthened them until they seemed tame and ready to use.
I used thin double sided tape to secure my floss to the die cuts. I like that this tape is easy to hide behind the die cuts and I don’t even bother to take the top release paper off the tape.
Remember to keep your floss taught as you stitch.
When I move from one area to the next, I run the floss through the just finished stitched area to keep the thread secure. This gives a nice look on the finished project.
Don’t stitch with threads that are too long or they are likely to knot.
When I was done, I added a bit of Bearly Glue to the ends so that they would stay in place.
I assembled my piece with Bearly Glue and foam squares.
Last, I popped my sunflower in a 4″ x 6″ frame and set it on the bedside table.
Club members can cancel, upgrade or change clubs from the 1st-5th of each month. Popular Clubs frequently sell out during this period so club members get first dibs on everything.
NEW for 2024: Club Members get EARLY access to new releases on the 6th!
On the 6th, Clubs become available to non-members.
On the 27th, Club registration closes for the current month.
If a club did not sell out, you can buy under “Shop Past Clubs”. Past kits are available on the 10th of the FOLLOWING month.
Halloween is creeping around the corner, and it’s the perfect time to brew up some crafty magic with die-cut Halloween scene cards! The September Hero Studio Release is bursting with fun new products + an exciting Blog Hop, so hop along and gather tons of inspiration from some incredibly talented crafters. Let’s dive into the cauldron of creativity and get started!
Witch’s Kitchen | Monthly Mini Clear Stamp and Die Set
Next, I stamped all the stamp elements, colored with alcohol markers and then die cut. Then, I played around with layouts until I liked my spooky little scene. A little magic potion anyone???
I started by ink blending my background with Taffy, Thistle and Purple Galaxy inks. On a different white card panel I stamped my elements using Intense Black ink. I stamped the black several times for a dark silhouette. I stamped the moon with Lemon Drop and Creamsicle, blending a bit on the stamp before stamping. To “light” my windows, I used a yellow and pale orange alcohol marker. After I completed my little scene, I decided my card needed a frame, so I die cut one from Pitch Black cardstock using my Wood Frame Infinity Dies.
$46 with Subscription + FREE SHIPPING $49.99 One-Time Purchase While Supplies Last
5 Wonderful Kit Options:
For this blog post, I created with two kits and two Extraordinary Extras, but there there are 5 kits plus 5 Extras available. You can also buy the Whole Studio, which includes all 5 kits at a wonderful savings.
The Whole Studio ($120 with subscription or $138.95 one-time purchase price)
Now it’s time for the Blog Hop! What’s a Blog Hop, you ask? It’s a fun, crafty event where you can hop from one blog to another, gathering inspiration, tips, and tricks from different crafters. Each blog in the hop will feature a Halloween project (or two or three!), so you’re sure to leave with your cauldron overflowing with ideas!
Hero Arts will give away a $50 gift card, drawn from the comments left across the hop. Enter by Sunday, September 8th at 11:59pm Pacific, and the winner will be announced on the Hero Arts blog the following week.
Here’s how to join:
Visit the Next Blog in the Hop: Check out the list of participating blogs (links below), and hop to the next one – Lydia Fiedler – to see what spooky creation she has brewed up!
Leave a Comment: Show some love to your fellow crafters by leaving a comment on their posts. It’s a great way to connect and share the Halloween spirit!
Creating die-cut Halloween scene cards is a fang-tastic way to get into the spooky spirit and share some handmade love with friends and family. Plus, participating in a Blog Hop is the perfect way to find inspiration and connect with the crafting community. So, grab your dies, fire up your die-cutting machine, and let’s make this Halloween a crafty one to remember!
Happy crafting, and don’t forget to join the Blog Hop! 🎃👻
Hello Crafty Friends! Today, we’re diving into the delightful world of scene cards by creating a cozy little card featuring a house, a tree, and a swing. Spellbinders just released a new Storytelling Collection and I used Home Sweet Home for this card.
This project is perfect for those moments when you want to escape into a serene, idyllic scene—no matter what’s going on outside your window. So, grab your crafting supplies, and let’s swing into some creative fun!
Why a Scene Card?
Scene cards are like mini stories captured in paper. They allow you to create a complete world on a small canvas, bringing warmth, nostalgia, and a touch of whimsy to whoever receives it. Plus, you can evoke that peaceful, happy feeling of home, making this card perfect for any occasion.
I love creating scene cards, so I combined some of my favorite die sets on this card.
Creating scene cards is such a rewarding way to let your imagination run wild. This card, with its quaint house, sturdy tree, and gently swinging swing, is like a little escape to a peaceful place every time you look at it. So, grab your crafting supplies and start creating your own mini world on a card!
Happy crafting, and may your creative journey be as joyful as a swing on a sunny day! 🌞🌳
Who is ready to start creating for the holidays? Hero Arts Holiday Catalog is just full of wonderfulness and I am so excited to share cards I created with these new products.
Autumn is a season of breathtaking beauty, with its vibrant foliage and crisp air. It’s the perfect time to channel that inspiration into crafting handmade cards. A die cut card featuring fall leaves is a wonderful way to capture the essence of the season and share it with your loved ones.
My Process for Creating This Autum Foliage Die Cut Card:
Without removing the Fall Pattern clear stamps from the plastic panel, place the stamps on the sticky mat of StampWheel stamp positioner. Tape Watercolor Paper to the top StampWheel Plexiglass cover. This will stamp your images so they perfectly align with the cover die.
Tape panel to hardboard, brush water onto the embossed watercolor paper and loosely drop in liquid watercolors. I mixed my own custom colors in a watercolor palette using: Leaf, Orange,Dandelion and Strawberry liquid watercolors. Messy is good when doing this! I let my panel dry on the hardboard.
Lightly ink blend along the edges of the die cut cover panel with Fawn and Root Beer ink to lightly distress your cover panel. This adds a bit of dimension and keeps your panel from looking flat.
Glue your die cut panel to your watercolored base and add your sentiment.
Winter Mail Critters: The Definition of Cuteness!
I really love my third card! The Winter Mail Critter stamps are the cutest! I have a few pics + directions on how I created this card below, so keep scrolling…..
The background was so easy! I rubbed on the fun Twas the Night Before lettering from the White Holiday Collage Hero Transfers (RT121) with a bone folder and all the writing transfered to the paper perfectly on the first try. The card background is Paradise cardstock.
I wanted a pop of red, so I stamped and die cut a Merry Christmas Wax Seal using Crimson Core Ink. I also put a dab of Hero Wax Gold to add a little depth and shine to the “photo tape”
I assembled my card with foam tape and it is ready to send.
Copic Colors Used:
Browns: E27, E15, E13, E11, E5
Reds: R27, R39
Pink: RV11
Blue: B00
Blog Hop Info:
Hero Arts will give away TWO $50 gift cards, drawn from the comments left across the hop. Enter by Wednesday, August 28th at 11:59pm PT. The winners will be announced on the Hero Arts blog.
Today I used a bunch of lovely new products from Hero Arts 2024 Holiday Catalog but there are so many other great additions that I know you will love. Thanks for stopping by today and “hopping” with Hero Arts.
I have something very exciting to share with you today! Spellbinders is releasing their 2024 Crafty Advent Calendar for cardmakers. There are 24 crafty surprises especially designed for cardmakers and you can expect to find dies, stamps, embossing folders, stencils and embellishments inside.
Halloween is just around the corner, and what better way to get into the spirit than by creating some spooky yet charming Halloween cards? Spellbinders has just released an adorable collection called Happy Haunting that is SO fun! I created two cards today that I am going to send to my daughters. I used Witchin” Heels (S3-525) and Woof or Treat (S3-521).
Spooky (and Cute!) Card Designs
For a simple yet delightful card, I created a dramatic sunset background to contrast with my sparkly witchy silhouette. I love using Liquid Watercolors because they are so vivid.
My Design Process:
I started my design process by creating two bold backgrounds using liquid watercolors.
Witchin’ Heels background: I brushed water onto a watercolor paper panel and then used the Dandelion Yellow Liquid Watercolor eye-dropper to drop color onto the paper. I added yellow at the top and bottom of the panel and dropped Orange in the middle. I then used my mini-mister sprayer to add water to the colors, tilting different directions so that the colors blended and flowed. I repeated this process a couple of times.
Woof or Treat backgound: I repeated the process for my purple panel using Indigo and Neon Brights Pink Liquid Watercolors. Since I didn’t have purple watercolor I created my own by dropping a big blob of Indigo ink and then putting a smaller drop of pink in the center. I spitzed with water and then tilted to move the ink. I added several layers for an intense color.
I used my heat tool to speed up the drying process.
Below, you can see a photo of my completed backgrounds.
Die cutting was next. I used Black Glitter Paper for the Witch and added purple accents die cut from my purple watercolor panel. For my ghostly pup, I used khaki and added a hint of shading with a blending brush.
To frame my little trick-or-treater, I used my Scallop Label Infinity Dies. I also added a little dimension with foam squares and craft foam.
I feel like each of these cards has a little bit of seasonal magic combined with crafty love. I adore the bold colors acheived with liquid watercolors.
I hope you found some inspiration today. Thanks for stopping by!
Hello lovely crafters! Karen Brown here and today I am excited to share with you a simple yet stunning way to create a floral background with a gorgeous new cling stamp called Orchids.
I started by making two background panels. I took a Clear Acetate Window Card Panel, dabbed Reactive Ink on the acetate and then spritzed with water. Some spots were watery and others were a bit dryer, and think I think this combination adds more character to backgrounds.
I turned the acetate over, bent it so that it touched just a portion of my background, and applied a section of the diluted ink onto Luxe Watercolor Paper. I continued adding different colors until I liked the look of my panel. I wanted contrast so I made sure to leave some white space. You can see my process photo below.
I let my backgrounds dry overnight but you could speed things up with a heat tool.
I find I get a better result if I season my cling stamps prior to stamping my project. I inked up the Orchids stamp and stamped on plain computer paper and then discarded this test paper.
I put my ink smoosh background and cling stamp in my stamp positioner and stamped three times with Intense Black Ink. I wanted a nice dark impression that really penetrated the paper.
I am so excited that it is Launch Day for Hero Studio’s playful August jungle theme release. I can’t wait to show you some of Hero Arts GORGEOUS new products, so kick back and hop along with the Creative Team.
Hero will give away a $50 gift card, drawn from the comments left across the hop. Enter by Sunday, August 11th at 11:59pm Pacific, and the winner will be announced on the Hero Arts blog the following week. Links to all the Hop Participants is below.
Create Your Own Jungle | Studio Card Kit of the Month
The August Card Kit of the Month is so playful with tons of wonderful elements to incorporate into your papercrafting projects. For my first card, I used the Heroscape stamp set to create a “wild” birthday card. I think the Nesting Postage Stamp Dies give an exotic travel feel to my card.
KIT INCLUDES: • Jungle HeroScape Clear Stamp Set, 6″ x 8″ • 12 Coordinating Dies • 5 Fancy Dies • Jungle Scenics Stencil, 6″ x 6″ • Olive Hero Wax • White Plastic Palette Knife • 3 Reactive Ink Cubes (Key Lime Fizz, Green Apple, Fruit Punch) • 2 Reactive Glitz Ink Pads (French Pink, Byzantine Green) • 5 Printed Sticker Sheets, 6″ x 6″
Kit Cost:
$46 with Subscription + FREE SHIPPING $49.99 One-Time Purchase While Supplies Last
5 Wonderful Kit Options:
For this blog post, I created with two kits and 1 Extraordinary Extra, but there there are 5 kits plus 5 Extras available. You can also buy the Whole Studio, which includes all 5 kits at a wonderful savings.
The Whole Studio ($120 with subscription or $138.95 one-time purchase price)
I used my favorite blues and greens for this cool and calm Jungle Serenity card. I stamped my images, colored with alcohol markers and layered my backdrop using my Rounded Rectangle Infinity Dies.
PRO TIP: There is a small die in the lower left corner that is easy to overlook when you are snipping your dies apart. Be sure to separate that piece before die cutting.
I ink blended my background and then continued the foliage theme by adding die cuts and a sentiment from my August Card Kit of the Month. I love how the kit themes for each month all work together….endless possibilites!
Hello crafters! Karen Brown here and I am delighted to be back on the Spellbinders Blog with some ideas for streamlining your creative cardmaking process. Lately, I have been incorporating a lot of pre-printed elements into my cardmaking and I love how this allows me to focus on the joy of designing. Today I have a “sneak peek” of one of my cards, but you can read my entire blog post HERE on the Spellbinders Blog.
kennyscards.com 