Kindred Stamps and Sassy & Crafty Under Water

Hello friends!

I'm excited to show off a few projects using Kindred Stamps "Seas The Day" stamp set and Sassy and Crafty's "Salty but Sweet" stamp set. 

I started by stamping out each of the seahorses from "Seas The Day" and the mermaid from "Salty but Sweet" and then several of the seashells from each set. I colored them up with Copic Markers. For the mermaid, I covered her tail in Liquid Pixie Dust from Ink on 3 to give her an extra magical finish.

For the background, I used a Gel Press and alcohol inks with Sassy and Crafty's Mermaid Tails Stencil.  It took me a few times to get be happy with the results, this was really only the second time I've used my Gel Press! When I was happy, I used the Kindred Stamps Waves Craft Die on two of my prints and a light blue scrap paper to create 3 layers of waves for my seahorses and mermaid to swim in.

Next, I used a combination of DecoArt Texture Sand, Picket Fence Studios Brown Dahlia Paper Glaze, and Deco Foil White Pearl Metallix Gel on the bottom layer of the waves to create an ocean floor. I added a ton of  my colored up shells and included just a few starfish from an old embellishment pack. 

The end result is fun, and makes me happy to just look at!

I did manage a second "bonus card" using the Kindred Stamps "Seas The Day" stamp set and the Sassy and Crafty's "Salty but Sweet" stamp set too! I took the left over shells, and a Sassy and Crafty's Mermaid Tails Stencil "mess" up Gel Press print, and created a 3"x3" card. 

"Salty but Sweet" has these fun sentiments that can be build-able, or stand-alone. I stamped the "what the shell" sentiment on to the Gel Press print using Stazon Pigment ink to start the card. 

Then I added my shells that I had covered in Ink On 3's Liquid Pixie Dust and topped with Nuvo Crystal Glaze to add extra dimension to the shells. I sprinkled them across the card front, and mixing them with the shellfish embellishments. 

Again, the end result makes me smile, and they both could be used for a variety of occasions!

Be sure to head over to the Kindred Stamps blog to see the rest of the projects created by these two talented teams! Follow these links to grab the awesome stamp sets, (and lots of other goodies too): 

Kindred Stamps "Seas The Day" stamp set 

Sassy and Crafty's "Salty but Sweet" stamp set

Until next time,

~R. Winn

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

Beach, Please...

I'm backkkkkk! HAHA, you guys can't get rid of me. I am super excited to announce that my friend Beth is launching her own line of stamps, Beth Duff Designs!  She has asked me to join her as her Creative Team Lead, and I couldn't be more excited about it.  Our first release is going to be mid-April, and will feature eight adorable sets that I cannot wait to play with...

In the meantime, she has shared a few digis with those of us that answered her Creative Team Call, and Jr Design Team Call. The one that called to me? Obviously, the mermaid! I loved coloring the individual scales on her tail, and her hair... OH MAN, it was fun! I colored her using my Copic Markers.  I couldn't decide on a color for her top so I tried paper piercing for the first time, a technique where you use patterned paper for part of image, I hadn't done it before and wanted to start small. The paper I chose is retired DSP from Stampin' Up that had adorable little flowers on it. Her tail, I finished with a clear Wink of Stella.

The brilliant background that Beth included for us was a little too much for my hands to color, especially since I used colored pencils (SO MUCH WORK!)  I wanted a water feel to it and used multiple shades of blue and then cut down a panel to accent the card with. I layered it on top of some retired shimmer white cardstock from Stampin' Up. I used a second strip of the shimmer cs and used a bit of dark blue Firework spray (ok... maybe more than a bit) to change it into a color close to the darkest colored pencil.  I framed the sentiment with the blue strip.  I finished the card off by using a pretty shimmery gold card stock for the background.

The picture doesn't do the shimmer and glitter justice, and I loved trying new things with this card.  I am beyond excited about this new team, and can't wait to share more with all of you!

The Jr Design Team is something I haven't seen before, and I am excited to announce that my little sister, Addison is on it! She loves Beth, and was SO excited to have a "job" that she worked on projects with the digis all weekend. I think my favorite project she completed was using the Dinos that Beth is offering for her Challenge this month! The challenge is about Snarky Sentiments, but Addison likes to write out her own sentiments and what she wrote about always having a friend really touched my heart.

Addison has a stockpile of primary colored card bases (she knows how to make her own, but sometimes measurements are a little difficult for a 10 year old... ok, sometimes they're difficult for a 30 year old! Precut card bases make both of our lives easier.) 

She used Crayola Twistables to color the dinos, she said the big guy looked sad so she added a few tears.  The little guy's words were a bit too big for his speech bubble which made me love it even more.  She knows how to use several types of adhesive, and typically prefers a snail runner, but we were having issues with her's and for this card she used Tombow clear liquid glue.  She makes me so proud and even set up and took her own picture, using her pencil box as a background!

You will see more creations from Addison, and myself using Beth Duff Designs soon.  Thank you all for stopping by.

~R. Winn