A-Haunting We Will Glow!

Welcome to the A-Haunting We Will Glow Collab Hop with i-crafter and Pear Blossom Press! We're sharing spooky sweet projects for Halloween. Featuring interactive dies from i-crafter, and with help from Pear Blossom Press, they all really light up! Be sure to hop along with us for lots of inspiration; we’ve come up with some brilliant cards. Let me show you mine...

I started with the i-crafter Halloween Treat Lantern dies and a Graphic 45 Halloween Paper Pad. I decided the purple paper would work nicely for my lantern. I used the spiderweb insert for the i-crafter Halloween Treat Lantern and then cut a piece of 2.25"x2.25" piece of vellum to back the spiderweb with. I lightly covered the exterior of the frame and the web strings with Art Glitter Glue to attach the vellum. 

Next, I added the haunted house from the i-crafter Tunnel Card, Halloween Add-On die set cut out of black cardstock. I trimmed it down so that it fit to in the lantern and added it behind the vellum, again attaching it with Art Glitter Glue. I knew that I wanted the lights to shine through the windows so I pried the shutters back into the lantern a bit. After I had the haunted house attached, I flipped it over and used Pear Blossom Press's White Essential Gel Pen to write "Press Me" and drew an arrow to where I planned to place the button for my EZ-Lights to light up my project.

I used a Large Zots to secure the Power Pack of the EZ-Lights to the back of the Lantern, then used Small Zots to position my lights. 

To give me a little more control of the placement, I first wrapped the Zot around the wire just below the LED light, then positioned the light above the window or door, and firmly pressed down to secure the light's position. This allowed me better control of where the light was pointed than simply placing the light on the Zots like I have in the past. 

I used the same technique to secure the wires as they traveled down the back of the haunted house to the Power Pack. Typically I do this with washi tape since I have so much of it on hand, but in order to have a lower chance of them showing the Zots seemed to be a better choice to me.

Finally, to secure the extra length of wire on each string, I gathered it all up and used washi tape to secure it to the Power Pack of the EZ-Lights.

 It was hard to get a good picture of these "guts" because my camera kept trying to focus on one piece or another!

I decorated the front of the lantern last, I die cut the pumpkin from the i-crafter Tunnel Card, Halloween Add-On die set out of orange glitter cardstock and backed it with a small piece of black cardstock. I glued this over the button on the EZ-Lights.

The last piece was the ghost from the Tunnel Card, Halloween Add-On die set, I die cut it out of a White Flock Sheet backed with Foam Adhesive. I backed the ghost's face with a small piece of black cardstock as well. I used a black jewelry cord to create a loop that would allow me to hang this from a door knob or hook.

I love the finished look. It's really neat both unlit and lit up!

Here is a short video showing it light up as well!

Now, be sure you keep hopping to be inspired further by the i-crafter Inspiration Team and the wonderful ladies joining us from Pear Blossom Press. Here is the hop line up:

I-crafter

Amanda Wilcox

Niccole Kulig

Nancy May

Lauren Zertuche

Jeannie Lieu

Marcia Caradinta

Rachel Winn (You are here)

Cassie Trask (Next Stop)

Jenn Gross

Pear Blossom Press

Every good hop has prizes, right? So i-crafter, and Pear Blossom Press are each giving away a $25 store credit! Comment on this post by October 4, 2021 to be entered to win. Winners will be announced on October 8th. Ready for more inspiration? Amanda from Pear Blossom Press will be live on YouTube today, and Lynda from i-crafter will be live on Facebook today at 11:00am. Be sure to tune in!

Thanks for stopping by,

R. Winn

For more inspiration, updates, and news make sure to check out these awesome places!

i-crafter

i-crafter Instagram

i-crafter Art Facebook Page

i-crafter Pinterest

i-crafter YouTube

Thank you so much for stopping by today!

Christmas in July Light-Up Box Pops Card

Hello again friends!

I am so excited to share with you the Christmas in July Light-Up Box Pops Card that I created today! I played with i-crafter's Box Pops, Holiday Truck Add-On die set and decided that I wanted to do something a little different by lighting it up with EZ-Lights.

I started by die cutting white shimmery cardstock using the Box Pops, Oval Base twice. Once cut, I placed one piece into my MISTI 2.0 and covered it with my Fern Berries stencil. I used Catherine Pooler Cranberry Fizz ink and ink blended it onto the base front and bottom sections of my Oval Base using my red i-Brush Blender Brush. I love these brushes, especially for fine, detailed stencils like this one. Next, I stamped the "Have yourself a merry little Christmas" sentiment from the Christmas Sentiments stamp set to one of the halves, making it my front half.

Next, I cut out the pieces for my truck and trees from the Holiday Truck Add-On set. For my truck, I used a black base and then used a thin shiny paper (almost wrapping paper in thinness that I picked up secondhand) for the bumpers and tire hub caps. The tree that I wanted to light up, I backed with vellum that I colored with Copics because we like colored lights in our house!

 

I glued my colored vellum to the back of one of the three green Christmas trees that I had cut out. I added some Narrow Double Thick Foam Tape to the back of this tree to trap my light in when I built my card.

I was a bit silly and did the next steps in the wrong order, in order to avoid confusion I am going to tell you what I should have done rather than what I did. I should have creased all of the fold lines on my Oval Base pieces using my i-Press, then glued the individual pieces together so that I had my two halves of the base. I should have added the little stand piece that would eventually hold the two front trees that I hid my EZ-Lights base/switch piece in. 

Next, I should have glued my Holiday Truck die cut to the front half of my base and punch hole in the bottom so that I could weave my lights through. I had already punched a hole in the tree on top of the truck. I got snow happy and used a Snow Marker too early so ignore that for now, I promise to come back to it!

I slid my three LED lights from my EZ-Lights through the front slit, then pulled them through the hole punched in the bottom back and back to the front through the hole punched in the tree. Most of my wires hid in the bottom half of the card. 

I cut out two extra trees from the truck outline and simply cut them off the truck. I tested to see where to position them in order to allow me to hide the battery holder/switch on them. Once my wires were threaded, I mounted the battery holder to my tree backs using glue dots. Then I glued the two halves of the base together.

I then backed the two additional trees that I had cut out previously with more green cardstock since I didn't want to add lights to these. Once I had built them, I glued them together and used more Narrow Double Thick Foam Tape to adhere them to the two black glued together trees and the battery holder/switch.

I positioned my EZ-Lights LEDs to the tree on the truck using glue dots. I covered this with my original tree backed with colored vellum. 

This is when I should have broke out my Snow Marker and went snow happy. I hit the base, several parts of the truck and even the trees with my Snow Marker. There were sections that I added snow to after the fact, I had to be super careful so that my EZ-Lights didn't get affected or melted.

Now, the only downfall to this card is that because of how close to the base I put the EZ-Light battery/switch the card does not fold up, so it's more of a home decor piece than it is a card. Otherwise, I am completely obsessed with how this card came out and was pleasantly surprised with how few hick-ups I had creating it, even with doing several things out of order so to speak!

You can see here that I used black foam adhesive squares to bump the tires out from the truck body.

This side angle shows how much Snow Marker I really did use (I'm obsessed). It does mask the white of the foam tape nicely as well.

To add a frosted look to the truck windows, I added a small vellum piece to the back side of the truck.

Here she is all lit up! I like to take these pictures in the dark to really show how well the lights shine.

Here is a short clip of the card lit up in the light and in the dark!

I hope that you’ve enjoyed my cards and that you feel inspired to go create! Be sure to join the i-crafter Facebook Fan Club! We love seeing all of your creations using the i-crafter products so don’t forget to tag us or use #icrafter when you share!

Until next time,

Rachel

For more inspiration, updates, and news make sure to check out these awesome places!

i-crafter

i-crafter Instagram

i-crafter Art Facebook Page

i-crafter Pinterest

i-crafter YouTube

Thank you so much for stopping by today!

Lighting Up the Sky with Fairy Magic!

Welcome to the Scrappy Tails and Pear Blossom Press Collab Hop!

Today, we’re sharing lots of whimsical cards that will really brighten your day. They feature dreamy new stamps and dies from Scrappy Tails, and with a little help from Pear Blossom Press, they all light up! Be sure to hop along with us for lots of inspiration; our designers have come up with some stunning cards...

Now, for my card! I am so obsessed with this card you guys.

The entire June release from Scrappy Tails is really magical but I selected the Fairy Girl to begin my card with. I stamped her using my MISTI 2.0 onto watercolor paper. I used two different yellows on her hair (these were given to me and I'm not sure of the brand.). For her skin, I used Crayola Colors of the World Markers, I scribbled these on my palette then used them as watercolors. For her wings, I broke out these AMAZING watercolors from HydraColour on Etsy the blue of the wings is Scarab, with a bit of Poseidon over top in certain places, the purplish color is Fantasia. Her shirt is the Purple from HydraColour's Neon Pan Dot Card.

I mixed a few dark blue and dark purple watercolors together and did a quick wash of the color on a sheet of watercolor paper for the background. Next, I used Deco Foil Foam Adhesive and a White Latte Flock Sheet to create the cloud border with Scrappy Tails' Cloud Frame Cover Plate.

I came back to my watercolored indigo background and placed my Fairy Girl and Cloud Frame to see where I wanted my Crescent Moon die (which was an incentive die from the June release). I cut the moon out of the watercolored background, then used a gold cardstock scrap to die cut my moon. To create the holes in the background under the wings, I used a cloud die from the Scrappy Tails' Cloud Frame Cover Plate set that was the perfect size to create a hole that filled most of the center of the wings.

Next, I flipped the card over and backed the hole in vellum. I decided to use 2 EZ-Lights so that each hole had 2 LED lights since they were rather large spaces. I use glue dots to attach the top of the EZ-Light to the back of the card front, then used washi tape to wrangle the wires and position the LEDs. My next task was lining the back of my card front with Crystal Clear Double Thick Foam Tape before I could flip it back over to finish the front.

 

I used a few stars from the Scrappy Tails' Cloud Frame Cover Plate in the gold as the moon for embellishment. The largest star, I wrote "Push" on and placed in the "sweet spot" that if it's pushed on just right will activate both EZ-Lights.

 

Now, I very rarely put sentiments on the inside of my cards, but I just loved this sentiment from Scrappy Tails' Fairy Friends stamp set. I stamped it using Catherine Pooler's Juniper Mist Ink and my MISTI.

This card is honestly one of my new favorites and in the dark it's even more stunning, all lit up.

Here is a little video of it in action!

Be sure to visit are blog to get more inspiration and more entries into the giveaways!

Scrappy Tails

Carol Hintermeier

Jackie Pasko

Rachel Winn (You are here!)

Teresa Plunkett (Your next stop!)

Natasha Davies

Carrie Rhoades

Tanna LoHouse

Ilina Crouse

Pear Blossom Press (Su-Queen Teo)

We’d love to see what you would create with these lovely new products, so we’re giving some away! Scrappy Tails and Pear Blossom Press are each giving away a $25 store credit! Comment on this post by July 9, 2021 to be entered to win. Winners will be announced on July 12th.

Thank you for stopping bye and I will see you soon!

R. Winn

EZ-Lights Creating Bright Days with Catherine Pooler

Hello friends,

Welcome to the Catherine Pooler Designs x Pear Blossom Press Collab Hop! We're sharing fun, interactive cards to brighten your day! They feature awesome new stamps and dies from Catherine Pooler Designs, and with help from Pear Blossom Press, they all really light up! Be sure to hop along with us for loads of inspiration; our designers have come up with some brilliant cards.

We got to play with Pear Blossom Press EZ-Lights with the new Catherine Pooler Bright Days stamp and die set. I think they are a match made in crafty heaven! I created a mini slimline for the hop. I started by stamping the light fixture and light switch out using Midnight Ink on to Catherine Pooler Premium Paper.

Next, I used a Tombow Blender Pen to watercolor the light fixture using Limoncello ink for the light bulb, Cove Blue ink for the top and bottom pieces of the fixture, and Tranquil ink for the glass. The light switch was also colored with a Tombow Blender Pen, for the plate I used Sea Glass ink, for the switch I used Bay Breeze ink. I added some of the illumination lines from the Bright Days stamp to the light bulb and the wall in the Limoncello ink.

I used the light fixture die to cut a hole in the Happy Hearts Patterned Paper that I selected, I wanted it to look like it could be a wall and I thought the pretty diamond grid pattern could be used for that. Once the hole was cut, I fit my colored piece into it and flipped it over to add my EZ-Lights. I used the Narrow Double Thick Foam Tape carried by Pear Blossom Press to create a pocket around the lights (which I gathered at the center of the light bulb) to trap the light in the area I wanted it to be seen. I added the foam tape all over the back of the card, using washi tape to wrangle the wires and glue dots to adhere the lights to the paper.

I added some light blue glittery ribbon to the bottom of the card where I wanted to place my sentiment, then adhered the card front to my card base. Then I got to start building the card front! I added the light switch over the power button for my EZ-Lights, I thought it was clever. The final piece was the sentiment, I selected the yellow hearts Happy Hearts Patterned Paper to stamp on. I love the sentiments in this stamp set and selected the "thank you for brightening my day" to stamp in Bay Breeze ink and used a die cut from my stash to cut in out in a pretty shape. I popped this up on a thin foam tape and centered it over my ribbon.

Here is a short video showing my card "in action".

Every good hop has prizes, right? So Catherine Pooler Designs, and Pear Blossom Press are each giving away a $25 store credit! Comment on this post by June 25, 202 to be entered to win. Winners will be announced on June 28th. Be sure to continue hopping for additional inspiration and entries into the giveaway!

Your next stop on the hop is:

Ilina Crouse

Here is the full line up if you missed anyone:

Catherine Pooler Designs

Cassie Trask

Ashlee McGregor

Laura Volpes

Chrissie Tobas

Marcia Caradinta

Allison Cope

Jen Carter

Rachel Winn (You are here)

Ilina Crouse

Ali Farmer

Karen BakerPear Blossom Press (Mona Toth)

Thank you for stopping by today!

Until next time,

R. Winn

Love Wins Instagram Hop - Guest Designer for Sassy and Crafty

Hello friends,

Today, Sassy and Crafty is participating in the Love Wins Instagram Hop. I am honored to be guest designing for Sassy and Crafty for this hop.

We want to invite you to head over to Instagram to hop along with us to celebrate Pride month and our LGBTQIA+ crafty friends and allies. Today is Purple, this color represents Spirit.

Pride originated from the early morning of June 28th, 1969, when LGBT community members rioted following a police raid on the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich Village. The first parade was on the first anniversary of this riot. It's important to celebrate Pride today because there are still many rights and privileges not afforded to the LGBTQIA community. I celebrate Pride in honor of the friends, family, and adopted family that I have in the LGBTQIA community. My story is not my own, but one of the amazing people in this community who have shown me the true meaning of loving yourself, of finding the magic within, and of showing kindness to others when you have nothing else to give.

My first card is in honor of my nibbling (the child of my sibling), Aries, who is an amazing non-binary adult. They were the first interaction that I had with the LGBTQIA community that impacted my life personally. Watching them become the wonderful person that they are is one of the true joys in my life. There have been highs and lows in their young life, but they have grown to be an advocate for other LGBTQIA community members, children, and people with disabilities. Their strength inspires me and their spirit is beautiful beyond measure.

For this card, I used the Sassy Girls - Kiss Stamp, I love this image and the blue eyed beauty reminded me of Aries (although they wouldn't ever wear anything that low cut.) I colored the couple using Copic markers, I made sure that I did the shorter hair as blue since that tends to be a color Aries gravitates towards.

For the background, I used a holographic purple cardstock from a past Hero Arts monthly kit (I may need to hunt down more of it because it's super pretty!). Behind the purple, I used a sheet from DCWV's Zodiac paper stack, it's black with tiny silver foiled dots all over it.

The amazing sentiment is from the new Find Yourself Stamp and is foiled with Deco Foil Transfer Sheets, Rainbow. I fussy cut around the sentiment, then added some tiny floral embellishments from my stash. My second card was inspired by the LGBTQIA community as a whole! I saw this image from the Never Let Go Stamp and thought it would be beautiful lit up with EZ-Lights!

First, I colored the hands using Copics, then used my Scan 'n' Cut to cut the center of the heart out and fussy cut the outside of the hands. To create the Pride Flag Heart, I stamped the hands onto vellum, and divided the heart into mostly even sections using a straight edge, and a pencil. Once I had my straight lines, I used Copics to color in the colors of the flag. I found that the chisel tip worked best to avoid a bunch of streaks and uneven color.

For the background, I used a white cardstock that had a little shimmer to it, then used a stencil from Layered Comic Book Stencil and Purple Paper Glaze to create a focal point for the hands and sentiment.

I added the "love you forever" die from Erin Lee Creative in purple and added holographic silver behind it, then I fussy cut a base layer behind it. I cut out half a heart from the holographic silver and used a black Copic to write "Press Here" for the EZ-Lights button. To finish the card off, I used a few embellishments from Unicorn Galore Shimmerz by Buttons Galore.

Now, if you haven't already, join the hop over on Instagram to show the LGBTQIA community, and be entered to win amazing prizes from these fantastic sponsors!

Thank you for stopping by,

Rachel

Ink! Pink 2020

 Hello Friends!

I am honored to guest blogging on the Pear Blossom Press blog for today's Ink! Pink 2020 Cardmakers for a Cause Instagram Hop. Head over to see all the details about my card and learn how you can join the hop now.

I am really proud of this card and love the solidarity found in this hop.

~R. Winn

Pear Blossom Press & Pink & Main Collaboration

 

Today's card is part of a collaboration with Pear Blossom Press and Pink & Main! I am superrrrrr excited to share my card!

I started by stamping out the mugs on Pink & Main's Need to Venti stamp set and cutting them out with the matching die set. I stamped with Ink On 3 Black Out ink and colored with Copic markers.

Next, I used the Pink & Main Leafy Slim Line Die with a Sparkle Sheet in Construction, I backed this with vellum. I also cut the Leafy Slim Line die out with a deep blue card stock, I filled in the exterior pieces surrounding the leaves with these.

After that, I worked on getting the "guts" built. I started by laying out the EZ-Lights, I back them and the Power Pack base with Glue Dots. In order to keep the wires from showing through the vellum, I used a black washi tape to mute the colors and secure the wires, of course! 

I used the Double Thick Foam Tape that Pear Blossom Press carries (life changing!) to back the card, normally I use it as is, but because the lines of this die are SO thin, I cut it down into super skinny strips. In order to kinda trap the light in the areas I wanted them, I also enclosed each area so that no light escaped.

Next, I stamped the little leaves from Need to Venti out in a dark yellow ink, on a lighter yellow cardstock and die but them. I also stamped out the sentiment "Thanks a latte" (so cute!) on The Stamp Doctor's Tag #1 Stitched Dies in a brown ink. I stamped out "Push Here" from a Lawn Fawn stamp set on the yellow cardstock and used one of the small leaf dies to cut it out too!

Tada! I'm obsessed!

Lit up with the lights on!

Lit up with the lights off!

I move the card part way through the video so I apologize!

Thank you for hopping along with us for the Pink and Main & Pear Blossom Press Collab Hop! For more inspiration, check out all of the stops in the hop!

Annette Allen

Niccole Kulig

Kathy Schweinfurth

Renee Moran

Amanda Wilcox

Carol Hintermeier

Ilina Crouse

Cassie Trask

Lynnea Hollendonner

Rachel Winn (You are here!)

Pear Blossom Press

~R. Winn