Encouraging Matchbox Stories

Hello again friends!

I am excited to share two projects I created pairing i-crafter's Ribbon Rosette Funny Add-On dies & Matchbox Stories dies! The idea behind the Matchbox Stories is that you can give a little pocket-sized message to someone, or keep it for yourself.

 

My first Matchbox, I pulled out some origami paper that I picked up at Dasio in Seattle forever ago to create a sweet outer sleeve for the box. I then used the Ribbon Rosette, Funny Add-On die that says "did my BEST" to cut a sparkly cardstock from a friend's wedding invite. It was way too pretty to just toss! I used the negative letters instead of the full circle. These were glued to the top of the sleeve.

For the base of the Matchbox, I cut out a pretty raspberry pink. I added another piece of the origami paper to the bottom interior of the box. Last, I added a few acrylic roses that have sat in my stash for years.

This box is for me, to help me remember that no matter what life throws my way, I am doing my best, and to try to stay positive in the face of adversity!

My next Matchbox, seems a bit snarky, but I promise, it's filled with so much love. One of my favorite people in the whole world, has a lot of social anxiety. That being said, they push the boundaries of their comfort zone for the people they love often and have to cope at social gatherings despite the fact that they'd rather be home crafting.

She is self-proclaimed as "Socially Awkward" so the Ribbon Rosette, Funny Add-On for this box was really easy to pick! After cutting the words out, I used the oval die from the Matchbox Stories set to cut out the topper for this box.

I used Catherine Pooler's Happy Hearts Slimline Patterned Paper pack for the sleeve purple sleeve and yellow box base. My friend LOVES color and these heart filled papers just make me smile. Once my Matchbox was built, I added small crystal pieces that are intended to encourage positive energy, protection, health, love, and confidence. This will be easy for her slip into her pocket or purse for those uncomfortable social situations.

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 so don't forget to tag us or use #icrafter when you share!

Until next time,

Rachel Winn

Roll With Me!

Ok, so Beth Duff Designs released some absolutely fantastic sets last month, including this cute sushi set, Roll With Me. I absolutely love it.  The images (who doesn't thing a shrimp roll is adorable when it's smiling at you?), the fun sentiments, the cute fonts... it's all fantastic!

After the hustle and bustle of the release, I wanted to make some simple, cute cards with the No-Line Technique (yeah, I'm obsessed). These images are perfect for a beginner in this technique since they are nice and big and clean.

I broke out the Copic and Chameleon markers again for the no-line coloring with my InkOn3 Fade-Out ink. I was worried about being able to color the seaweed wrap and the eggs for the sushi but overall I am pretty pleased with it! I think my biggest suggestion for starting this technique is go slowly. The chopsticks were colored in skin tone colors.

For the background, I broke out some origami paper that I bought at Dasio a few months ago, because it was too pretty to leave behind. HA!

My next card was the same concept, cute images, origami paper, fun sentiment. I decided to make the soy sauce bottle have room in the bottle. In order to make them have the faces, I used my MISTI, lined up the stamp with my colored in image and used a black marker to get the faces stamped. 

I really wanted the shrimp to have the lines so I layered the colors on and then used my blender marker to blend them all together and have the clear/white portion of the shrimp exist.  I really wanted the sentiment to POP, so I chose a yellow from my Altenew quad to stamp onto a precut strip. 

I hope you all enjoyed my quick, simple cards and I can't wait to see what YOU make with these adorable stamps!

~R. Winn

Something a Little Different!

Hey all!! This month's Kindred Stamps release is already here!! I'm EXTREMELY excited about this set and decided to try something a little different this month! 

First, I found a very neat Step Card Tutorial on Pinterest and knew it was right for Kindred Stamps new set, "Yo Ho"! I decided to create a dock for the pirate to stand on using a retired Stampin' Up Woodgrain background stamp on kraft paper. I cut small strips of the large block and drew on small back "nails" on the ends to make the wood planks.  I colored the pirate using various Copics and StyleFile Markers from Brutus Monroe.

Next, I used my new favorite, shiny origami paper to create the layers of water, the layer closer to the dock I left smooth. For the back layer to add more of a choppy waves feeling, I crumpled the paper up and added texture, then cut the top into a rolling wave look.  My base was made from retired Stampin' Up chalkboard paper, I am not sure what I'm going to do when I run out of this stuff, I love the thickness and weight of it!  

I wanted to create a kind of stormy sky to contrast with the pretty blue water. To do this, I smudged Tim Holtz Distress Oxide in Antique Linen over the black paper. After that dried I used Brilliance white ink and a dauber to create the clouds. I finished it off with a simple "Yo Ho" sentiment!  The back of the card can have a piece of white cardstock added to leave space for writing on.

My next card also features Kindred Stamps' "Yo Ho", I used Lawn Fawn's Shadow Box Card Die to created a light blue base. This die cut was VERY easy to use and created an awesome look!  I chose not to use any sort of sentiment on this one, but colored in the pretty lady and the ship again. 

I wanted the water to be a little different this time, I retrofitted the hills that come in the die kit with Wave CutUps from The Cat's Pajamas, I chose to do layers to add depth and add the ship to it.  I just got this amazing Cosmic Shimmer Glitter Kiss in Sahara Gold and decided it would be excellent to create a beach for pretty lady to stand on!  This brand comes with a built in sponge and so I dabbed it on and left it rough, it created a pretty, glittery, sandy beach.  Lastly, I finished the background off with clouds using a Lawn Fawn die! 

I hope you've all enjoyed my "something a little different" attempts this month.  Our release this month is much smaller than the past but personally I think the sets are fantastic! We've also got new Shaker Packs, and maybe another surprise up our sleeves, I can't wait for you to see!

As always, we have a blog hop going on for this release, to be entered you must comment on each blog. The winner will be chosen at 9:00PM EST on 2/14/18 and will win a $10 credit to the shop!

Kindred Stamps

Fanciful Spaces

R. Winn Creates (You are here!)

Mad Crafters Tea Party

The Frolicking Fairy

Dagg Designs

Thank you all for visiting!

~R. Winn