Light Up Christmas Card with i-crafter Dies and Pear Blossom Press Halo Lights

 Hello again friends,

It's Rachel here showing off my take on the new i-crafter Christmas Treat Lantern Add-On die set! I wanted to light this die set up since I first saw it. Since I just did a light up lantern, I thought it would be fun to create a Christmas card instead this time. 

I started with the i-crafters's Buffalo Plaid Stencil and used Catherine Pooler's Cranberry Fizz ink over a vanilla cardstock. Next, I used the lights die from the Christmas Treat Lantern Add-On die set in the bottom center of the panel that I stenciled on. Used Catherine Pooler's Deck the Halls ink on the vanilla cardstock and ink smooshed the pad directly onto the cardstock, then used the lights die again to get the center pieces of the image. To create a yellow glow for the lights, I ink smooshed Catherine Pooler's Chiffon, a bright yellow ink onto vellum and glued it the back of the plaid panel. Once that was glued down, I added the green center pieces back into the image.

 I used the "Merry & Bright" word dies and the snowflake from the i-crafters's Holiday Dovetail Card die set to decorate the card. Again, I ink smooshed Catherine Pooler's Juniper Mist ink directly onto the vanilla cardstock. I cut out the words and five snowflakes. I cut two down so that I could position them on the edges.

I then took the holly and berries from the i-crafters's Christmas Treat Lantern Add-On die set and positioned them over the button to my Pear Blossom Press Halo Lights, which is what I used to light up the card. I should have taken a picture of the back of the panel before I glued it down. I wanted something quick and easy and the Pear Blossom Press Halo Lights were perfect, they have 4 built in LED lights. I positioned the lights so they hit the corners of the box instead of positioning it straight up and down.

You cane see how perfectly the lights from the Pear Blossom Press Halo Lights worked with the box when it's lit up.

I couldn't be happier with how it turned out!

Here is a short video with the card in action! I hope that you enjoy it as much as I do!

If you’d like to see more of my projects, you can follow me here: Instagram, and Facebook page.

 

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!

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

Dashed Circles, i-crafter May Release

Hi again friends!

It's i-crafter's Release Day and I am so excited to share the new Dashed Circles dies. This set is super versatile and allows you to use your other i-crafter products (and every other company's products) in even more fun ways! The dies cut dashes on two sides of the cut circle creating a positive and negative space that can be used on your projects. I have 3 cards to show you today with fun ways to create using this great new set.

My first two projects use paper from Echo Park's Perfect Princess paper pad. I have two adorable little girls that are getting a package from me soon and I wanted to include some cards for them. 

The first card, I folded my card base out of a dark gray, and took the die to the very edge of the fold. By placing the cutting circle just over the fold, I was able to cut *almost* a full circle card base. My cutting machine didn't fully cut the bottom circle's dashes, I could have recut or used a shim to help it, but decided that I liked the look and kept it as is.

Next, I picked my patterned papers from the Perfect Princess pad, and die cut two Dashed Circles from it, the larger of the two circles is the princesses, the smaller is a sentiment that says "little girls have a magic of their own, princess." 

I added a medium sized Dashed Circle in a bright yellow to contrast with the gray and create space between the two patterned papers. This was popped-up on a thin foam tape, then the smallest Dashed Circle was added to it. I finished the card with 3 light purple heart embellishments from HAI Supply

The second card, I used the same paper pad, but wanted to show off a few more tricks the Dashed Circles die set can do! I started with a blue-green card base then cut down another piece of the yellow to add on top of that. I cut out various pieces of the patterned paper that I wanted to include. Next, I took a medium sized Dashed Circle die, and added the die one size smaller in the center of it. I cut both of these at the same time, creating a frame for my unicorns (I lined up the outer circle dashes on both the unicorns and the frame) and a back layer for my crowns.

After playing with the layout of the 4 patterns, I turned my attention to the sentiment circle "You're a princess". In order to highlight this circle, I positioned the smallest Dashed Circle die in the top left of the yellow layer, creating a negative space that opened up to the blue-green base. I added foam tap to the back of the sentiment to give it more depth. I finished this card off with some Raspberry DoubleClick Skittles.

My last card is super shiny! I stared with a black card base to make the Holographic Cardstock pop more, in the center of this shiny layer, I used second from the smallest Dashed Circle die and cut a negative space. I used this to line up the location for my Halo Lights. I added the center cut piece of the Holographic Cardstock to help the light reflect upwards more (black tends to absorb light so this helped more go upward.) I also used a metallic blue marker to fill in the rest of the black, thinking I would be using vellum to fill the negative space, which I later decided against.

Next, I cut out 2 partial Dashed Circles from a striped pink cardstock scrap. I grabbed the scraps of my yellow cardstock from earlier and cut out "Shine on" for the top circle, and "like a" for the bottom circle with i-crafter's Carly alphabet dies. For "diamond" and to fill the negative space in the center, I used Light Blue Metallic Paper.

I finished the card off with Diamond Clear Jewels from HAI and by writing in "Push" since I failed to stamp it before I glued everything together! Here is a short video show off card all lit up!

Head over to i-crafter to get the new Dashed Circles die set, and check out the other wonderful new release items too! Be sure to join the i-crafter Facebook Fan Club, then follow us on Instagram, and Pinterest too! We love seeing all of your creations using the i-crafter products.

Until next time,

R. Winn

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

En Pointe!

Hello again friends! 

I'm so excited to show you the light up box card that I made using Kindred Stamps new "En Pointe" stamp set! This set is full of the cutest little critters doing ballet!

I started by coloring up the ballerinas in realistic colors using Copics. I gave them each their own colored tutus, and for the unicorn, I went with bright bold colors. After they were colored I used Ink on 3 Liquid Pixie Dust painted on with a small paintbrush to accent their tutus, headbands and shoes.

I decided that I wanted to make a box card using The Stamp Doctor's A2 Card in a Box #2 die set to make a stage for my dancing cuties.  I started with a tan cardstock and cut 3 of the panels for the card using it. Then I cut the 4th out of black cardstock.

I built my card and used a champagne bokeh (I think that's how it's spelled!) scrapbook paper to create panels on the 3 outward facing tan panels. For the front top panel I stamped the "Dance Your Heart Out" sentiment from "En Pointe."

For the inside, I used the Kindred Stamps Woodgrain Stencil, I ink blended Catherine Pooler Sand Castle and Over Coffee inks to create a wood floor for the stage. I did this on the 3 tan panels for their inner facing side. I added the same scrapbook paper to the 3 inner facing tan panels too. I used the stencil on the 3 strips I was  placing my ballerinas on too.

For the back of the stage, I sprayed Tonic Nuvo Mica Mist in Fog on the black cardstock. After the card was built, I decided I wanted to make it light up so I took a second layer of the black card stock and sprayed it. Then I used a star hole punch and punched out a few stars in the second layer. 

I used Pear Blossom Press EZ Lights that come pre-wired with 3 led lights. I chose where to put the lights and fed them through the back of the box securing them with glue dots and the wires with washi tape. The Power Pack battery holder and button for the EZ-Lights is secured in the bottom of the back half of the card using larger glue dots. I covered this with another panel of the tan woodgrain stenciled cardstock. I marked the button with a "Press here" stamp from Heffy Doodle's Interactively Yours stamp set.

For the back, I cut down a piece of white cardstock and used i-crafter Candy Coated ink to stamp the "I hope your birthday is" and "en pointe" sentiments from "En Pointe" leaving space for the card to be written on as well.

The entire Kindred Stamps April release will be available Friday, April 24 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!!

Until next time,

~R. Winn