Foiling with Ocean Royalty!

Hello all!

I am so excited to share my project for today with you! Our Kindred Stamps team is teaming up with the Therm-O-Web team to show off how beautifully our products work together. I'm showing off the new Kindred Stamps "Ocean Royalty" and using a few different Therm-O-Web products with it.

Now, I don't normally do step-by-step photos, but our fans in the Kindred Stamps Fan Club, said they like the breakdown of how a card is made, so... here's my attempt for you.

I started with the "Long Hair" stencil and the coveted Purple Tape. I love this low tack tape that allows me to position stencils, dies, etc without ruining my projects by tearing the cardstock!

Next, I used the AMAZING Stencil Pal to spread the Deco Foil Transfer Gel over the stencil. Before I move on, I have to tell you, the Stencil Pal is a game changer. I always struggle to get a smooth even coverage with any stencil medium, with some mediums it's not such a problem, but when you're foiling, you want a nice smooth coverage so your foil doesn't pit or look cracked. You use a palette knife to put a little on the edge and then it's easy-peasy form there!

I had already watercolored my characters using a Tombow Blender and Stampin' Up Stamp 'n' Write markers. I wanted to give my mermaid a shiny tale, so I added Ink On 3's Liquid Pixie Dust on a detailing paintbrush to really make her shine.

 While I added that sparkly, I ran my stencil through my laminating machine, covered with the Deco Foil Lapis Watercolor Transfer Sheet and some parchment paper. This is one foil that I have been dying to get my hands on, I loveeee how perfect the blue and silver played with the "Long Hair" stencil from Kindred Stamps.

Now, I wasn't in love with the white behind the foil since I was going for a water scene. I decided to try ink blending over the already foiled stencil. I used Distress Oxide Broken China and a makeup brush, then wiped it down with a microfiber cloth. I'm pleased to say, IT WORKED!

My next step was to create a beach for the gentleman to stand on. I mixed some DecoArt Media Texture Sand Paste with the Deco Foil Mextallix Gel - Champagne Mist. 

I got to see the Metallix Gel at Creativation for the first time, and I LOVE how smooth this product is, but for this project, I just needed it to have a bit more texture. I'm super happy with how well it mixed.

My next step was using the Metallix White Pearl Gel, with a small amount of Pinata Black Alcohol ink. I LOVE the color of the white pearl but I needed a bit of a rock color so I went ahead and mixed it up. 

I used this mix to create a small rock on the left side of the background. I wanted it to be rough looking so I made sure not to smooth it out too much.

Next, I used Ink On 3's Detail Ink to stamp out my sentiment on a scrap of paper. 

I used my Cut A Line from My Sweet Petunia and a Pen Blade to cut it down to a nice size. I love that I can reduce my waste and end up with a nice looking sentiment using the Cut A Line.

Next, I started to build my card. I used Therm-O-Web's Memory Tape Runner XL to add my background to a blue cardstock. I glued the mermaid and prince in place using foam tape on their upper bodies and iCraft Ultra Bond Adhesive on their lower bodies so they stuck to my rock and beach.

I finished the card off by adding my sentiment with a bit of foam tape, and a few shell sequins to the beach using Therm-O-Web Zots Bling. 

I hope that you've enjoyed my process and can't wait to see what YOU make using some Therm-O-Web products and Kindred Stamps! Make sure you check back to the Kindred Stamps Blog each day for more amazing projects from both our team and the Therm-O-Web team.

~R. Winn

Playing with Power Packs! Long Hair, Don't Care

Holy cow, I have the coolest thing to share today! My good friend Amanda from Pear Blossom Press is launching a fantastic new item called a "Power Pack," this is a way to safely and easily create your own light up cards and is compatible with Chibitronics leds! I'm going to share my card, and then you have an awesome chance to win some amazing prizes by hopping our Mega Blog Hop... Amanda is doing it a neat way to enter, each time you comment on a blog, you're entered, because 20 blogs is a TON... but also, we are all excited about this product.

I decided to use the Kindred Stamps "Long Hair, Don't Care" stamp set... because this needed to be lit up! I created my circuit to light up a single lantern that was hand-carved by Audra years ago. After my circuit was created I started to build my card face. I used navy cardstock, then took the Kindred Stamps "Moon and Stars" stencil, and some silver Cosmic Shimmer Gliding Wax to create the background. I chose a small square die cut to create a hole in that background for the LED to shine through. I added a stitched border using The Stamp Doctor A2 Stitch Dies.

I couldn't locate my grass die cut, so I used my Scan 'n Cut to cut a layer of grass on a dark mossy colored cardstock. Then placed 3 of the characters from "Long Hair, Don't Care" front and center! These were colored using Copic markers. 

Next,,, I stamped my lantern on vellum using a Stamp 'n Write marker from Stampin' Up, then hand cut it. I glued it onto my background using a liquid adhesive from Thermoweb, I shy away from vellum because it's tricky to get to stick without showing lines. If I was doing it over, I would probably still use this adhesive, but cover the lantern's back more fully so that it was less splotchy.

Next, I used a dark grey cardstock (the same color that my circuit was built on) to put my sentiment on, I decided to emboss with Ink On 3's Embossing Ink and some beautiful WOW Gold Pearl Embossing Powder that I got from Kraftgali. I used some foam adhesive to pop the sentiment up. My last touch was adding a "Push Me" button to the card. I used Stampin' Up die cuts for both the sentiment and this button. Since I don't have any stamps that say it, I used a gold Sharpie to write it out.  I finished the card by mounting the card face and circuit to a card base that was trimmed in gold.

My tips after making my first light up card? 

• Definitely watch one of Amanda's videos on the Pear Blossom Press YouTube channel BEFORE you start your card, building one of these cards takes a little bit of pre-planning  (my kryptonite!)
• Draw out the circuit like she recommends in the video, visualizing it is only half the battle.
• Don't smooth the copper tape too much on the Power Pack corners, it may crack causing issues with getting it to light.
• Press firmly, the better the pressure, the better the light shines!

The last little bit from me, before I share some important info about these nifty little Power Packs, is a 30 second video. Be kind, I don't typically do videos, and hearing my own voice weirds me out, but I felt like it was necessary to get the full effect of this product!

To get a great introduction of the Power Pack, check out the first blog on the hop from Pear Blossom Press. Amanda and Micah have worked hard to create an amazing product and I could not be more honored that they asked me to join this hop, or more excited about how easy they are to use. 

The Power Packs are available three ways:

• Power Pack Kit (set of 3 power packs, batteries, copper tape, and 3 LED stickers) retail $15.99 USD
• Power Pack (3 units) (3 power packs with batteries only - perfect for people who already have Chibitronics kits, but don't want to make paper switches and battery holders) retail $9.99 USD
• Power Pack (single unit) (1 power pack with a battery) retail 4.99 USD

Deals Just For You:

Customers in the US can enter the code FREEUSA to receive free shipping on orders over $9 until May 11, 2019

International customers can enter the code INTL5 for $5 off International shipping until May 11, 2019.

Customers in Canada will be able to order kits from my amazing friend Kim Brown-Blyleven's Etsy shop here https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheCreativeCard/. You won't be able to use the coupons above, but you'll also avoid any pesky Customs charges.

MEGA BLOG HOP BELOW 

 Remember, for each comment you make, on the blogs and YouTube videos below, you will be entered into the drawing for 10 Power Packs, and Kindred Stamps is also offering a couple fantastic prizes to support Amanda and Micah in this new venture, so get commenting!

Pear Blossom Press

Koren Wiskman

Lynda Kanase

Jessica Shier

Lynnea Hollendonner

Kim Brown-Blyleven

Niccole Kulig

Annalisa Gibson

Marie Heiderscheit

Beth Duff

Mary Polanco

Rachel Winn (You are here)

Marcia Caradinta

Katrina Bertelsen

Daisie Hanson

Jessica Francisco

Samantha Klaebe

Jessica McAfee

Lesley Oman

Tania Cordie

Thank you for visiting me today, and please join me in congratulating Amanda and Micah on making their dream a reality, and wishing them the best of luck on their new venture!

~R. Winn

Throwing it Back to a Time Of Peace and Love

Hi friends! I have a couple groovy cards to share with you today! I'm showing off the cards I designed using the newest Kindred Stamps set, "Peace and Love". 

My first card shows is a no-line "faux" watercolor version of the van that is in this set. It's literally my favorite piece of this set. I used Ink On 3's Fade Out Ink to stamp, then watercolored using Catherine Pooler Inks, and a Tombow Blender marker.

Next, I stamped out the lava lamp and the peace sign using more Catherine Pooler inks to create a patterned paper strip. I layered both the van and my patterned paper onto some black cardstock to really have those colors POP! I added a few gem flowers to the side after stacking these panels.

To finish the card, I used a set of layered banner die cuts, and stamped out the sentiment. 

My second card, I remembered making a gatefold card a few years back that I thought would be really fun to use for this idea. I colored my little hippie girl out, again, no-line, I used a light tan Memento ink this time since it's what I had on me, I prefer the Ink On 3 Fade Out ink, but made due. I used Copics to color this time. Next, I decided to put her in a frame from a Lawn Fawn die cut set that I had picked up from Kraftgali a while back. Behind her, I used a kind of wallpaper feeling patterned paper, and for the frame, I used a light grey distressed looking patterned paper. 

To build the card itself, I kinda just winged it. I played with measurements of the sides until I was happy, then layered panels I created using Catherine Pooler Be Mine ink and the Kindred Stamps "Basket Weaver".  I added the framed hippie, and a few peace signs to "embellish", then placed the sentiment going vertically up the card.  To close the card, I used a couple of banner "flags" and a heart die that I placed so they closed interlocked, then a piece of pink twine was added for good measure!

I have been trying to create more birthday and celebration cards, and my mom complained that my cards don't have sentiments inside, so I added a second sentiment from the "Peace and Love" set to the inside with the same Lime Rickey ink from Catherine Pooler that I used for the peace signs. Tada! Birthday card for the stash!

The entire Kindred Stamps April release will be available Friday, April 26th at 8am PST/11am EST. Be sure to subscribe to the Kindred Stamps blog to see a daily line up of sneak peeks from our amazing Design Team and see the full product release on Friday! Come join the Fan Club and release event to be part of the release fun, and you may just win some Kindred Stamps credit!!

I hope you've enjoyed my cards, and make sure you check out my teammates' work as well for more inspiration.

~R. Winn

Doggy Kisses and Puppy Love

I got to play with some of the cutest stamps yesterday, Art Impression's Doggy Kisses, that I got from Kraftgali! I love how thin the lines on these stamps are, it's almost like doing no-line when your brain needs the lines. (HA!) 

My first card is using a wrapped up wiener dog! My best friend has three of these little loves, and this one reminds me of Pretzel, he has a long body and at times high centers on things.  So I colored him a chocolaty brown that reminded me of Mr. Pretzel. His bandages I colored in light earth tones and varied every other one. 

I used paper from Sunny Studios that I also got at Kraftgali for the bottom of the card, and a scrap of purple for the top. I received some beautiful sequins in a package from a crafty friend and felt like they matched this rainbow theme. For the sentiment, I chose "Heard It's Been Ruff" since I thought it worked well for mental health and physical health too! I stamped on a scalloped oval by Stampin' Up in Catherine Pooler's Be Mine ink.

My next card also uses the Art Impressions set from Kraftgali. I used the puppy with his teddy, because, well it's adorable. He was colored using Copics. I used a pale purple base to match the pup's slippers, then layered Stampin' Up's Brown Sugar Cardstock on top.

I had some LDRS Creative daisy cardstock that was a little smaller so I decided to center it with extra space on the top and bottom to change up the layout of my card. I used foam tape and popped it up. I glued the pup to the bottom and hung him off the edge of the patterned paper. Next, I placed a Stampin' Up heart patterned paper a in the center and to the right of the card. 

For the sentiment, I chose "Sit... Stay... Heal." I stamped it in Catherine Pooler's Fiesta Blue on a tag, I trimmed the tag down a bit and added some white & pink twine and popped it up on more foam tape.To embellish the card,  I used a shaker pack from Kindred Stamps,  I finished the card off with the band-aid on the Art Impression stamp set from Kraftgali, I thought placing it on the corner of the tag so it kind of bent of the sides was perfect. 

I hope you enjoyed my cards, make sure you check out Kraftgali's new in stock items, she has so many fabulous things we saw at Creativation!

~R. Winn