Tag: Valentine

cardmaking · Mixed Media · papercrafting

Spellbinders | The Best of 2022

Karen Brown2 Comments

LINK TO MY INSTAGRAM

At the end of the year, I enjoy looking back through my projects and this year I decided to write a post about my most popular Spellbinders projects. I loved so many of my creations, but these are the crowd favorites for 2022.

Spellbinders Layered Floral Card Creator

This first card was my most popular card on Instagram, was my most “pinned” card on Pinterest and my most read blog post! I used the November Small Die of the Month Club Kit called Layered Floral Card Creator. This set was so popular that it is sold out. Because of this, I suggest that you join the club of your choice as club members are guaranteed to receive each month’s kit. Of course, you can cancel at any time. You can see all the subscription kit options HERE.

If you would like to read my original post, you can find it HERE. I also have four other cards that were very well received in that post.

Christmas card from Spellbinders Winter Tales Collection designed by Zsoka Marko.  Magical Deer: S4-1215.

My most popular Christmas card was from the Winter Tales Collection that was designed by the talented Zsoka Marko. I was instantly attracted to this die kit called Magical Deer: S4-1215. I love the Nordic look and used Scandanavian red and blue as accent colors to give the neutrals some pop.

You can read my original blog post HERE.

Spelllbinders Fan Motif Embossing Folder

Embossing folders have become so popular, and this Fan Motif was much loved by my readers and followers.

 You can read my original post HERE.

Patchwork Petals Quilt die from Becca Feekens Quilted Ccollection.

Becca Feeken’s Quilted Collection was just released this month but was wildly popular! There are so many possibilities and combinations and I think the dies really speak to papercrafters. On this card, I used the Stained Glass Inlay Technique with the Patchwork Petals Quilt Die Kit: S5-537

You can read my original post and see 3 other cards HERE.

Spellbinders Quilted Heart Valentine

The Blooming Heart kit has been so popular on my blog, Instagram and Pinterest.

You can read my original post HERE.

Spellbinders Strawberry Patch die kit

This Strawberry Patch die kit can be used for so many occasions and makes such a bright happy card!

I created three cards using this set that you can see in my original post HERE.

Spellbinders Stitched Ornament kit 34-1231

Stitched cards were crazy popular this year and this Stitched Ornament Kit # S4-1231, continues to be pinned and liked.

You can read my original post HERE.

Susan Tierney-Cockburn's Letter Box from The Winter Garden Collection.

The Winter Garden Collection by Susan Tierney-Cockburn was so fun and this  Letter Box is so versatile….you can use the mailbox by itself….add Christamas gifts or letters….or turn it into a birthday card by changing the colors and sentiment. 

You can read my original post HERE.

Spellbinders Stitched Fall Leaves

Here is another very popular stitched kit called Stitched Fall Leaves. The leaves are gorgeous stitched or unstitched.

You can read my original post HERE.

Spellbinders Stylized Floral Kaleidscope Slimline Kit

The Stylized Floral Kaleidscope Slimline Kit is gorgeous!

I have three cards made with this kit in my original post HERE.

Spellbindders Balloon Party Animal Die kit: S3-450

This card was so well received! I used the following products:

You can see my original post HERE. One of my closest friends loved this card and asked me to make one for her daughter-in-laws baby shower, so I have a 2nd card HERE.

Shabby Chic Christmas Tags + Cathe Holden's Christmas Flea Market Finds

These tags win the “Most Fun to Create” award. I wanted a vintage shabby chic vibe and used Cathe Holden’s  Christmas Flea Market Finds. 

You can find my original post HERE.

I love that you stopped by today and would love to hear which is YOUR favorite creation.

I hope to see you soon!

Karen

cardmaking · papercrafting

Spellbinders | December 2022 Club Kits

Karen Brown3 Comments
Die Cut Rainbow Heart Valentine Card using Spellbinders December 2022 Large Die of the Month Club Kit.

Rainbow Heart Die-Cut Valentine

Who is ready for Valentine’s Day? The Spellbinders December Club Kits are live and there are so many fresh ideas for Valentines Day and beyond. I am excited to show you the cards I made. I started with the Large Die of the Month called “Blooming Heart”.

I made this colorful card for my husband and I am so pleased with it! I started by cutting 20 1/4″ strips from leftover card stock scraps. The only color I repeated is the green that shows on both edges. Using a dot-liner glue runner, I added adhessive to cardstock and then I adhered each strip. This goes much more quickly than you think. Next, I die cut the heart from a 5 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ panel. Using foam tape, I attached the heart to the background panel. For me, the most difficult part was selecting a sentiment. I tried a bunch but eventually decided on this simple hot foiled sentiment from Spellbinders Mini Everday Sentiments set: GLP-260. It expresses my feelings without drawing the eye away from the rainbow heart.

Using 1/4" strips of paper to make a rainbow colored die cut heart valentine card,

December 2022 Large Die of the Month: “Blooming Heart”.

Spellbinders December 2022 Large Die of the Month Kit: Blooming Heart.

The December Large Die of Month kit (Blooming Heart) is stunning and oh so fun! I die cut all my pieces using an additional metal shim for precise cutting. I then assembled the heart with liquid glue. Using foam tape, I attached the heart to a mushroom colored background and then adhered it to an A2 card base. The sentiment is again hot foiled using Spellbinders Mini Everday Sentiments set: GLP-260.

Die Cut Floral Heart Valentine card.

Embossing Folder of the Month: Heart Blooms

Spellbinders December 2022 Embossing Folder of the Month: Heart Blooms Valentine Card.

Don’t you just love the texture on this gorgeous embossing folder? It is called Heart Blooms and I wanted it to be the star of this card. I embossed a panel of mushroom colored cardstock. I then added a hot foiled sentiment to a 2″ strip of cardstock and then embellished with die-cut flowers from this month’s Large Die of the Month and greenery from a previous release.

Supplies Used:

Handmade valentine using Spellbinders December 2022 Club Kits.

Small Die of the Month: Stitched Heart Card Front

Spellbinders December 2022 Small Die of the Month: Stitched Heart Card Front "stitched valentine".

This stitched valentine kit is so pretty….the card just glows in person! I started by die cutting the diamond backdrop in salmon and brushed gold cardstock and then I stacked them. You don’t really notice the bottom layer but it adds nice dimension. I glued the two delicate pieces together with E6000 spray glue, which is perfect for this type of die cut.

The background is lovely but simple and I know I’ll be using it a lot on future cards. I cut one white panel and two from brushed gold. I assembled by scooting one of the gold panels slightly above the white and one slightly below so there is a pretty band of gold at the top and bottom. The sentiment is included in the kit.

I die cut the heart from white cardstock and then did my stitching in front of a fire in our hearth. I used DMC gold floss. I added some white enamel dots for embellishment and attached to an A2 Top Fold Card Base. I made this card for my mom.

Products Used:

"Stitched" Valentine in gold thread using Spellbinders December 2022 Small Die of the Month: Stitched Heart Card Front

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

cardmaking · papercrafting

Making Valentine Card’s With My Xyron Sticker Maker

Karen Brown4 Comments

My daughter bought me a Xyron Sticker Maker for Christmas and I thought it would be fun to make valentines using my new toy.

Easy DIY Valentines

DIY Mixed Media Valentine with die cut hearts using my Xyron Create A Sticker machine

I started by sorting through my Gel Press Prints looking for bright happy Valentine colors. I used my gel prints but you could easily use designer paper too.

Creating Valentines with my Xyron Create a Sticker machine.

Using a variety of sizes, I die cut a bunch of hearts and then ran them through my Xyron and found it both fun and easy.

I then cut the stickers apart and laid them out on my card panel.

Making stickers with my Xyron Create A Sticker machine

I wanted the placement balanced in terms of varying the colors and sizes of hearts. Then I just peeled off the stickers and applied! I trimmed off the portion hanging over the edge of the panel and then adhered to an A2card base. This would be so fun to do with kids too.

Easy DIY Mixed Media Valentine using handmade heart stickers + great to make with kids.

I finished off the card by adding a simple heat embossed sentiment.

I enjoyed the sticker making process and will definitely be using my new Xyron again soon. Thanks for stopping by!

Xyron Create-a-Sticker, 5″, Sticker Maker, Machine, Permanent Adhesive (0501-05-10A)

Karen

cardmaking · papercrafting

Mixed Media Collage Style Valentine Cards Made With Gel Press Prints

Karen Brown4 Comments
Mixed Media Gel Press Collage Valentine with die cut hearts

Valentine’s Day is coming up so I thought it was time to get busy and start creating. I love making gel press prints and thought this year it would be fun to make a batch of collage style valentines. Each one is embellished with die cut hearts.

Valentine made with Gel Press Prints + Die Cut Hearts

My process was the same for each card:

  • I flipped through my gel press prints and pulled out some fun, busy, messy designs.
  • I added paint splatters and stamping to some of the gel prints.
  • I also used some book pages and added stamping and ink blending with stencils.
  • I tore pieces off the prints and played around with layouts. For each, I left the top left corner for my sentiment.
  • I used UHU glue stics to adhere the torn pieces to cardstock. This glue works great! It dries quickly and fully adheres so there was no need for liquid glue.
  • Using my silicone shaper brush, I applied a thin layer of gesso to the top left corner of the card and along the seams of the torn prints. I also added a watercolor wash to these areas.
  • I die cut hearts in a variety of sizes from brightly colored gel prints and then distressed the edges with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink and a finger dauber. I glued these down to my panel.
  • I added +s, dashes and doodles with Inktense pencils, Gel Pens, Posca Acrylic Pens and distressed the edge of the card panel with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink and a finger dauber.
  • I added a quick stamped sentiment, framed with black cardstock and added to an A2 card base.

Masculine Valentine made with gel press prints and die cut hearts.

The card above has more neutrals which I thought would be perfect for my husband.

Mixed Media Valentine with die cut hearts

I like the two stencils I used on the gel press prints for the card above.

DIY Mixed Media Valentine card ideas
My Valentine Quartet

These collage style valentines were SO fun to make! And, since they have a messy casual look, mistakes actually add to the appeal.

I’ve linked to some of the products I used below:

Uni Posca PC-5M Black Colour Paint Marker Pens 2.5mm Medium Bullet Tip Nib Writes On Any Surface Metal Glass Wood Fabric Plastic Stone (Pack of 1)

Uni Posca PC-5M White Colour Paint Marker Pens 2.5mm Medium Bullet Tip Nib Writes On Any Surface Metal Wood Plastic Fabric Glass Stone (Pack of 1)

Gel Press Gel Printing Plate 5″x7″ 10810

UHU Stic – 0.29 oz / 8.2g Clear Glue Stick – Pack of 3

Derwent Inktense Pencils 24/Pkg, Colors may vary

Liquitex 104004 BASICS Gesso Surface Prep Medium Tube, 8.45-oz

Sakura 38369 10-Piece Blister Card Glaze 3-Dimensional Glossy Ink Pen Set, Assorted Color

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad, Frayed Burlap

Barvotti Silicone Color Shaper Brush (Mottler) – a Flat Sharp-Edged Flexible Tool to Apply, Move and Remove Acrylic Paints and Water Based Medium with Precision – A Studio Essential 1 Inch Wide

Bachmore Drawing Pad 9X12”(98lb/160g) 100 Sheets Mixed Media, Watercolor, Acrylic Art Pad for Sketching, Ink Sketchbook, Coloring in Multi-Media Top Spiral Notebook, Micro-Perforated, Heavy Weighted

Acrylic Paint Set, Caliart 52 Vivid Colors (22 ml/0.74 oz) Craft Paints Supplies for Artists Kids Students Beginners, Canvas Ceramic Wood Fabric Rock Painting Supplies, Rich Pigments Non Toxic Paints

Tombow 62191 MONO Multi Liquid Glue, 0.88 Ounce, 1-Pack. Multi-Purpose Glue with Dual Tip Dispenser for Precise to Full Coverage Application

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Karen

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Altenew Love & Friendship Stamps/Dies/Stencils/Embossing Folders Collection Release Blog Hop + Giveaway

Karen Brown36 Comments

Altenew Love and Friendship Blog Hop

Hello and welcome!  I am so excited to be hopping along with Altenew for their February 2021 Release!  They have so many beautiful new products!  I was very inspired by this Collection and I think you will be too.

I would love to show you three projects…so keep scrolling.  There are also loads of prizes so check the details below and start hopping!

Masculine Valentine

Altenew Tall Foliage Stamp, Die and Coloring Stencil

The first card is a valentine that I made for my husband using The Tall Foliage Bundle.  I positioned the two die cuts so that to me, they looked like they were dancing.  I ink blended a slimline panel using Altenew\’s Large Ink Blending Tool.  While that panel was drying, I stamped and colored the two elements using the coordinating coloring stencil and Small Ink Blending Tool.   I love the Lagoon leaves (The Rainbow Mini Cube Set) against the green background. The \”So Glad I Found You\” sentiment is included in this stamp set.

TIP:  The first thing I did was make a stamp guide template.  I die cut each element out of sturdy cardstock and then used this as a template to layout my stamp so that everything lined up well.  The stamp is tall and this method worked well for me.  You only have to make the template once and then I just store it with my bundle.  

The The Tall Foliage bundle is gorgeous and  includes the stamps along with loads of sentiments, the coordinating dies, the coloring stencil and I used all three on my two cards.  Altenew also included a multipanel inspiration guide that was very helpful. These two stamps are large…the tall foliage is 7 3/4\” tall and the flower is 6 3/4\” and adds a lot of impact to your projects.

For my second card, I wanted a dramatic background to contrast with the white and green folliage,  so I used the \”direct to paper\” inking method.  I selected 8 different colors of ink pads in shades from turqouise to dark blue.  I rubbed each color in sections of the cardstock and I kept the middle softer and the edges darker.  At first, the background looked like a terrible mess but as you add layers it turns into a bold and complex panel. 

I used the coloring stencil,  Small Ink Blending Tool and  Green Valley Mini Ink Cube Set (Shadow Creek) to shade parts of the leaves.  The sentiment is from the  Inked Lotus Bundle.


I wanted to make a coordinating background for my roses and found the The Organic Linen 3D Embossing Folder from this release was perfect!  The end result was a subtle textured background with a hint of color in the valleys of the panel. 

Organic Linen 3D Embossing Folder

I dabbed a generous amount of pink pigment ink on my work surface and then ran a brayer across the ink.  I then ran the brayer across the embossing folder, placed a sheet of cardstock in and then closed.  I found that I liked the result best when I inked the embossing folder side with the sticker.  Either, side works, but I liked that pattern the best. The sandwich I used was one embossing plate + embossing folder + magnetic shim  + plastic shim.  Note, I only used ONE embossing plate, not two.  This sandwich was recommended by Jennifer McGuire in a video I watched last year.   I did make some other panels using dye ink that I will use in a future blog post. 

3D embossing folder with pink pigment ink.

The roses are from The Bellaroma Hybrid Tea Rose  BUILD A  FLOWER that was released last week.     I wanted to make a valentine for my mom,  so I chose pink for the blooms and  vivid green for leaves.  I used The Green Valley Mini Ink Cube Set.  and used the middle two colors, Green Fields and Shadow Creek.   I added a small piece of Painted Grid Washi Tape to the top of my sentiment for a little added interest.  

Here is a  Link to Altenew\’s Love and Friendship Blog Hop.        


Click HERE to see the entire Love and Friendship Collection.                             

                                                GIVEAWAY:


$300 in total prizes! To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $50 gift certificate to 2 lucky winners and a $20 gift certificate to 10 winners! Please leave a comment on theAltenew Card Blog and/or each designer’s blog post on the blog hop list below by 02/08/2021 for a chance to win. Altenew will draw 12 random winners from the comments left on each stop of this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew Winners Page on 02/11/2021.

  

Altenew is also running a free gift promotion:


                                                BLOG HOP:


Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

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WWC258 – Marsha\’s Challenge: All About Occasions

Karen Brown15 Comments
Hello and welcome!  This week is all about occasions at the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge Website and Marsha is our hostess.
I wanted to make a CAS watercolor valentine for my husband this year.  With pencil, I drew a heart shape in the bottom right corner of a Brutus Monroe Aqua Pigment panel.  Next, with a brush,  I filled the heart in with clean water and then dropped Kuretake watercolors into the heart.  I wanted the pinks and purples to blend.  After the panel was dry, I heat embossed the sentiment (My Monthly Hero,  January 2019).  I erased the pencil lines, trimmed with a stitched rectangle die and mounted onto a top folding A2 card that I had made.
I am very pleased with the valentine and hope Mark likes it too!

I am entering this valentine in:
Clean and Simple on Friday: #173 Love  I made this card for my husband.
Casology #361: Sweetheart I made this card for my sweetheart…my husband.
AAA Cards #158: Up to 1/3 + Optional Hearts I added the optional twist of a heart.
The Card Concept: Be Mine Valentine My card is a CAS/Clean and Graphic valentine.  I was inspired by the heart theme and the large \”love\” sign.
A Place to Start – Masculine Card I made this valentine for my husband
Allsorts – Add a Heart A heart plus a simple sentiment

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

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WWC257 – Heidi\’s Challenge: Anything Goes With a Feminine Twist

Karen Brown19 Comments
 Hello and welcome! This week we are making feminine cards at the Watercooler Challenge and Heidi is our hostess. 
xoxo hugs and kisses from Hero Arts Year Round Sentiments.
I had a lot of fun making this valentine for my daughter.  I started with a piece of wet watercolor paper and then I applied pink, purple, red and a hint of yellow Kuretake watercolors to the panel.  I swirled, blended and then heat dried the paint and then repeated the process so I wound up with layer upon layer.  Because I added several layers, the watercolor appears much more vibrant than most watercolors I have done in the past.  After the panel was nice and dry I die cut a bunch of hearts in three sizes.  I stamped the sentiment, played with the layout and came up with this random pattern that I liked.  I adhered the hearts with foam tape so there is lots of dimension to the card.  

Supplies:
Kuretake Watercolors
Brutus Monroe Aqua Pigment Paper
Sentiment:  Hero Arts Year Round Sentiments
Gemini \”Loving Tags\” dies
Kuretake watercolors

I am entering this card in the following:

Inspired By Challenge: XOXOXO 

The Paper Players: PP476 

Make My Monday: I Heart You 

The Rainbow Card Challenge #14 – Fiercely Fuschia

UPDATE:  I am so pleased that this card was chosen as \”A Cut Above\” by The Paper Players Challenge!!!

I am so pleased that you stopped by!
Karen
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Humorous But Masculine Valentine

Karen Brown8 Comments

I wanted to create a valentine that would appeal to men and thought a cute \”scene\” card featuring two dogs trying to get together in a florist shop would be fun.  One dog is peering out over the window sill as the other dog is using a crate to try and climb inside.

Humorous Masculine Valentine

To create my scene, I combined the January 2019 My Monthly Hero kit with two pups from MFT\’s Lucky Dog stamp set.    I love both sets! First I created a background using Tim Holtz Stamper\’s Anonymous Bricked Layering Stencil and Simon Says Stamp Hybrid Stone ink.  The stencil was not quite wide enough for the full card so I stenciled the right side and blended toward the middle, then stenciled the left side blending so that my A2 card was fully covered.  I think the bricks turned out well.

Next I stamped (on Xpress It paper), colored (with Copics) and die cut the images with my new Gemini Junior.  I then embossed the sentiment on the window.  Using foam tape, I adhered my scene to the background.                                                                                                                                   

Simon Says Stamp Hybrid Stone Ink
Update: 
  •  I am very pleased that this card was selected “Top 5” in the Allsorts Challenge:

Have you been in our top 5?
  • And Pile It On Sweet Sprinkles Award.

Pile It On
I think this is a fun card and I am excited to enter it in the following challenges:
A Blog Named Hero Crafter\’s Choice Challenge I received my January Hero Arts Kit this week and couldn\’t wait to start playing with it!  I tried to attach the graphic but I received an error message. 
Addicted to Stamps Challenge #325 I was inspired by the Love theme, the hearts & flowers and the colors green, pink and red.
 
Cards In Envy Love Me or My Pets Challenge Love and Pets…what could be a better theme?
Allsorts Make it Masculine Challenge  This is my first time to enter this challenge.  This is the valentine I made for my husband.
Pile it On \”Land Animals\” Challenge
I hope you enjoy the card…I sure had fun making it!
Karen


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WWC205 – Donna\’s "All About Holidays" Challenge

Karen Brown3 Comments

Handmade Valentine\’s are such a nice gift and today at Watercooler Wednesday we are creating projects for the holidays.  I came up with a pastel pink Valentine design for my mother.  I feel extremely lucky to still have my 83 year old mom.  She lives a mile away and we see each other often.

Handmade card embellished with Studio Katia Clear Drops, Nuvo Crystal Drops and Nuvo Aqua Shimmer.
Add caption

I designed a wreath using the fun elements in SSS\’s Hello Friends Stamp set. I lightly drew a circle where I wanted the wreath placed and then hand stamped all the cute little elements.  The sentiment is from Forever in Time – Sentiments.  I colored with Copic Markers:  RV04, RV21, RV23, YG01, YG03.  And because my mom likes lots of sparkle, I brushed the flowers with Nuvo Aqua Shimmer, added Nuvo Crystal Drops to the circles and heart and placed three Studio Katia Clear drops on the wreath.

Hop on over to see what the other Watercooler Artists created this week for All About the Holidays.  I hope you will link your creation too.

I am entering my card in: Just us Girls \”Pastel\” Challenge  I was inspired by the color theme \”pastels\”.

Addicted to Stamps and More #325  I was inspired by the \”love\” and \”pink and green\” color themes.

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

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Square Valentine with Octagonal Insert

Karen Brown8 Comments

I bought the Gina K Wreath Builder template a while back and thought it would be fun to use for a valentine.  Instead of rotating an 1/8th of a turn each time, I skipped and did quarter turns.  I started by stamping the cute birds from Photoplay Thinking of You. Then, in the areas in between the birds,  I used the template again and stamped hearts and butterflies from a stamp set I received for Christmas (Inkblot Shop This & That).  This card is for my mother-in-law and she loves birds and butterflies. 

Handmade card featuring butterflies and hearts from Inkblot Shop\'s This & That Stamp set.

After coloring with Copic markers, I was very happy with the panel, but I wondered how it would look with the four corners clipped.  I was a bit nervous but went ahead and loved the octagonal result.   I mounted on a square 4\” x 4\” hot pink card base.  I wanted a vintage feel like the small valentines we used to exchange as kids.

Copic colors used:  RV 4, RV 23, Y06, Y08, R35 and BG11.

I am entering my valentine in the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps and More Holiday Challenge  This week I made two valentine\’s and Addicted so Stamps Holiday Challenge called to my designs. 

Time Out Loving Challenge This week I was ready to work on Valentine\’s so the \”loving\” theme was perfect for me.

The Card Concept Pink Party Challenge   I was inspired by the gorgeous hot pink, white and black color scheme and the butterflies on the table runner. 

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen