Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Once Upon A Nap

Hi daydreamers! I've got a few fantastic cards using Kindred Stamps new "Once Upon A Nap" stamp set. I absolutely adore this set and had tons of ideas right away.

I started with the princess and her fairy godmothers. I colored them with Copics, for the princess I colored her twice so I could have her dress change colors. I used a Stampin' Up Flip Card die for the base and back cardstock. Then I layered the left panel with paper from Echo Park's Princess paper pad. I put the green fairy on the blue panel and added a few sequins around her. 

My princess in pink went on the flip, with Wink of Stella to add some glittery magic behind her. I then moved to the right panel and put the pink and blue fairies with sequins around them. My sentiment was stamped in Catherine Pooler "Lime Rickey" ink.  I had a boo-boo to cover up, so I added a few flowers that I punched out of adhesive backed paper. 


Next, I opened the card and added the blue princess backed with blue Wink of Stella for magic. 


I added more paper from the Echo Park Princess paper pad to the back, and white to the other panel for a space to write in.


Next, I used the villain for make a simple, but kinda fantastic card. I colored her in Copics, and added some Nuvo Glossy Drops to the ball and her collar. 

I used a frame die and Gold Mirror Paper from The Stamp Doctor to create a mirror frame. I used Silver Mirror Paper for the mirror surface. I just got the new Stazon Pigment inks and used the purple to stamp on the shiny surface. In order to protect the mirror surface I added a layer of acetate behind the frame. I also used a light grey distress oxide brushed onto the frame to distress and age it a bit.


I finished the card by adding the villain to the bottom right. Simple but awesome right? 

My last card, I used the prince! This guy is dapper and super fun to color. I used the Navy Metallic Paper from The Stamp Doctor for the background. I wanted to create a cloud background so I used the Memory Box Mini Cloud stencil that I picked up from Kraftgali. I used Nuvo Embellishing Mousse in Mother of Pearl and my Stencil Pal from Therm O Web to put the clouds on the cardstock. 


I added a die cut cloud edge to the bottom of the card and stamped my sentiment in the red Stazon Pigment. I finished the card by adding my prince.

I get to give one lucky fan who comments on my blog a $10 store credit to Kindred Stamps! In order to enter, tell me what your favorite ways to use a stencil. I will draw a winner on May 28th after 8AM, make sure your email address is either in the comments, or attached to your comment (if you are logged into your Google account that works!)

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

Thank you for visiting me today!

~R. Winn

Tuesday, April 30, 2019

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

Saturday, April 27, 2019

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!

Rachel Winn (You are here)

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