BE TRUE TO WHO YOU ARE/A CHERRY ON TOP

Good morning, friends. Nicole here with another handmade card I created using Pinkfresh Studio's Be Fearless stamps, stencils, and metal dies. I have been in the mood to play with my layered stencils...and I have so many beautiful stamps and stencils that I have yet to play with...they were just sitting on my shelf... I tend to buy pretty stamps and stencils and not use them... I'm just waiting for the right time, you know?

To begin, I stamped the flowers using black ink onto white cardstock using my Misti. Next, I used the Be Fearless layered stencils to color in the images. I used Peach Fuzz, Coral Reef, Passion Fruit, Grassy Knolls, and Key Lime ink. After that, I used the metal die to cut out the flowers using my Big Shot machine.

I used the Stitched Circle metal panel to create a fun background and inked around the edges using the Grassy knoll ink. Next, I mounted down the flowers using foam and layered the "Be true to who you are" sentiment onto the card using foam strips.

To complete the card, I added a few gold glitter drops and ribbon. This card was so much fun to make. I totally enjoyed the process...I just love playing with layered stencils! Shop for products through my affiliate link, here. Click here to watch the full process video for more tips and techniques and thank you for visiting today!

Nicole 

BIRTHDAY HUGS CARD/A CHERRY ON TOP

 

Good morning, friends! I spent this past weekend making birthday cards, and I cannot wait to mail these out to my friends and family members for upcoming birthdays! I mass produced several cards using the same product, but different colors. This card came together fairly quickly and I'm excited to share my process with you!

To begin, I placed a piece of white cardstock inside my Misti and then I placed the Nothing but the Best stamp onto the cardstock to get the image lined up. Next, I used black ink to stamp the floral images onto the cardstock. After that, I used a the Nothing but the Best stencils, blending brushes and ink to color in the images.

I used created a fun medallion background using a metal panel. Also, to add dimension to the card, I popped the flowers and Birthday Hugs sentiment up using foam. Then, I added the glitter drops to complete the card. I just love how beautiful this card turned out. I especially love the airy look to this card. 

Check out my process video here for more tips and techniques on how this beautiful card came today. Please click here to shop for products used through my affiliate link. Thank you so much for visiting today!

Nicole

How to Make a Thinking of You Card/Perfect Paints

Good morning, friends! Nicole here with two mixed media cards I created using the newest polishing plasters in the shop! Loving the new additions!! The colors are beautiful. I've been meaning to send a friend a "thinking of you" card for sometime now and thought I would make one to send to her this week. And I just love how pretty they turned out...and mostly, they were super simple to make!

To begin, I cut two panels from watercolor paper to measure 4x6. Next, I taped the panel down on the glass mat to prevent the paper from moving. After that, I taped the stencil over the panel. Then, I used a palette knife to pull the Sangria and Boho Blue Polishing Plaster through the stencil-one at a time.

I let the polishing plaster dry before mounting the card down on the A2 card base. I did need to trim the panel down a bit to fit on the panel. I decorated the card with ribbon, die cuts and gems. I just love how pretty and simple this looks.

After I created this card, I decided to make another one using the Nature's Patina and Clover Honey Polishing Plaster.

Are you ready to make a few mixed media cards of your own? I'm sure your friends will love receiving a handmade card in the mail. It would be a nice surprise. Thank you for visiting today!

Nicole

MIXED MEDIA BIRTHDAY CARDS/PERFECT PAINTS

Good morning, friends! Nicole here with five gorgeous cards I massed produced using a variety of Polishing Plasters, Shimmering Matte Acrylics, and a stencil. It's that time of the year when I make birthday cards to get me through the next few months. I like to make my own cards... it's more special that way. Wouldn't you agree? Handmade cards are so gorgeous.

To begin, I taped down watercolor paper and then I taped down the 12x12 quad stencil using tape to prevent the stencil from slipping. Next, I grabbed a palette knife to pull the Organic Sugar Polishing Plaster through the stencil. After that, I applied the Jack Frost Polishing Plaster sparingly, along with the Gilded Azure Polishing Plaster. I love mixing Polishing Plaster together on my projects to create fun and unique backgrounds for my projects. The texture is absolutely stunning!

After I finished applying the Polishing Plaster, I let it sit for about five minutes. Then, I grabbed some spray ink and sprayed a light brown ink all over the design. I did not like the white steeping through. I think the ink adds a touch of vintage to the design and I just love it! Once it was completely dry, I cut the paper following the quad lines.

Finally, I cut a variety of butterflies from white cards stock using metal dies and painted them using the Vintage Mecury, Bohemian Blue, and Beehive Shimmering Matte Acryics. The butterflies turned out so beautifully.

I let the butterflies sit overnight before glueing down the embellishments to all four cards. Aren't these cards lovely? I can't wait to give them to my friends and family for their birthday.

I hope you found these cards inspiring! I think it's much easier to mass produce cards all at once than creating individual cards...it saves me so much time and it's less stressful getting them done ahead of time, rather than waiting until the last minute to whip up a birthday card. Thank you so much for visiting today!

Nicole

MAKE A WISH/PERFECT PAINTS

Good morning, friends! MAKE A WISH! What's on your wish list for Polishing Plasters? It's no surprise this is my favorite mixed media medium to play with these days. I'm excited to share another birthday card using Basic Greys' Boho collection from way back as inspiration for my color inspiration for this pretty card! There's something about the Whipped Caramel Polishing Plaster paired with the Organic Sugar, and Mexican Turquoise. What do you think?

To begin, I placed the stencil over top of the card panel and taped them both to the glass matt. Next, I grabbed a palette knife to pull the Whipped Caramel Polishing Plaster through the stencil. After the stencil was fully covered, I grabbed my scraper to pull it straight down the card to remove the excess Polishing Plaster. I needed a smooth surface to apply the next layer...

I waited overnight for this to dry since I do most of my scrapping at night...Once it was completely dry, I taped the second butterfly stencil over the first layer. Next, I grabbed a palette knife to pull the Mexican Turquoise Polishing Plasterthrough the stencil. I wiped the palette knife and added little spots of the Organic Sugar to the butterflies. Then, I used the scraper to remove the exess Polishing Plaster so I would have a nice and clean design.

I removed the tape carefully, not to tear the paper, and let it dry completely before completing the card with a larger butterfly to the center with tiny Pool Twinkle Stardust Rhinestones. I added to the center of each butterfly. I heat embossed the "make a wish" sentiment using a rubber stamp and gold embossing powder.

Thank you for visiting today, and i hope you were inspired! I really love this color combination. It's different! Be sure to check out all the gorgeous colors, here.



Nicole

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY/PERFECT PAINTS

Shouting HAPPY BIRTHDAY to those of you who are celebrating, and getting older! I have been making cards to send to my friends. Making cards for my friends gives me so much joy. I love receiving their text that they received their "beautiful" card and that I made their day. It's why I love this hobby.

To begin, I selected a few floral die cuts, decorative brads, tag, stencil, and two Polishing Plasters in the colors of Jack Frost and Organic Sugar. I chose these colors because they are light colors and I thought they would blend nicely together. Next, I taped down the stencil over watercolor paper. I like to use watercolor paper instead of cardstock because it has a nice texture and it's thicker. However, you can use regular cardstock with Polishing Plaster and it will not bulk up.

I used a palette knife to apply the Organic Sugar Polishing Plaster down first. Then, I used Simon's scraping tool to make the Polishing Plaster even...this is a great tool to remove the excess Polishing Plaster and the end result is a smooth surface! And you can put all that excess Polishing Plaster back in your jar for another project!

After that, I repeated the same steps using the Jack Frost Polishing Plaster. I just added little dabs all over so that I could blend some of the green through the stencil.

I love this stencil set from Taylor Expressions because I can save myself time by making two card backgrounds at once! All I need to do is cut it in half once it is fully dried...and I have two mixed media card bases!

Once the card is fully dry, I embellished it with paper, die cuts, decorative brads, and an embossed sentiment in gold.

Doesn't the polishing plaster look beautiful in the background?! I just love it so much. It's kind of subtle and I love it! Thank you so much for visiting today!

Nic

HAPPY BIRTHDAY/PERFECT PAINTS

Good morning! Nicole here with a birthday card I created using Polishing Plaster. I have a few birthdays coming up so I figured, I better try to get ahead of schedule for once and get these cards done so I can get them ready in time.

To begin, I selected a few birthday die cuts I may use, a stencil, and two Polishing Plasters in the colors of Jack Frost and Organic Sugar. I chose these colors because they are light colors and I thought they would blend nicely together.

Next, I taped down the stencil over watercolor paper. I like to use watercolor paper instead of cardstock because it has a nice texture and it's thicker. However, you can use regular cardstock with Polishing Plaster and it will not bulk up.

I used a palette knife to apply the Organic Sugar Polishing Plaster down first. Then, I used Simon's scraping tool to make the Polishing Plaster even...this is a great tool to remove the excess Polishing Plaster and the end result is a smooth surface! And you can put all that excess Polishing Plaster back in your jar for another project!

After that, I repeated the same steps using the Jack Frost Polishing Plaster. I just added little dabs all over so that I could blend some of the green through the stencil.

I always get excited when it's time to lift the stencil... Isn't this beautiful? It's the look I was going for. LOVE when my projects turn out the way I initial envision.

Now the fun part... I took time to glue tiny Pool Twinkle Stardust Rhinestones to the center of the sparkles and I just love how it makes the card pop... simple, but yet stunning! Sometimes, a little goes a long way. Would you agree? Thank you so much for visiting today! I hope you found this card inspiring.

Nic

TIME FLIES ABSTRACT CARD/STUDIO FORTY

Good morning, friends! Nicole here with a fun mixed media card I created using the Abstract Stamp set. I love this stamp so much! This card came together quickly once I figured out the colors I wanted to use.

I usually have a difficult time playing with stamps of different geometric shapes because I fuss over where to put the images...but not with these stamps. It was an absolute breeze.

I mounted the stickers onto cardstock and cut them out so I could use them as die cuts, rather than use them as stickers.

To create this card, I created a A2 size card panel. Next, I used a light blue ink to stamp the lines across the top and bottom of the card. After that, I used the same ink to stamp the cloud-like images. I turned them so they nested together nicely. After that, I stamped the circles within the cloud-like images using a mustard yellow ink. I used a light pink ink to stamp the tiny cluster of dots and then used a black ink to stamp the scribbles.

At the last minute, I decided to trim off some of the edges so I could add a little border at the sides with the mustard yellow ink. I added the stickers and some ribbon and I was done!

What do you think? Isn't this adorable with all the geometric shapes and colors? I just love it so much! Cheers, and I hope you have a fabulous New Year! 

MIXED MEDIA CARDS/TAYLOR EXPRESSIONS

Happy Monday, friends! The word party layered stencil from Taylor Expressions has been sitting on my desk for too long! I finally used them on two sets of cards and both sets are so different from one another. When I subscribed to their Quad club, I told myself I would not put the stencils away until I use them so I'm not buying stuff and not using it! So far, I'm doing good with that motto. LOL

I have to admit...at first I did not like this color combo at all. In fact, I almost through the first set away...but then I got an idea... to splatter some spray ink all over it and trace the stencils with a black pen, adding some doodling to see how that would look and I absolutely LOVE it!!

I heat embossed the "Let Your Light Shine" sentiment with Raven embossing powder from Brutus Monroe. Their embossing powders are fantastic!! The inks used are from The Stamp Market. I used Blush, Mellon, and Gravel.

Here's another card I created...adding the embossed sentiment in gold with more doodling. I used a foam strip to pop up the sentiment. It took awhile to trace all the images with the black pilot pen, but oh it was so worth it!

By the time I got to the Thanks card, I decided to keep it simple and left it as is. :)

Here are the other cards I created using the same stencil, but with inks from Catherine Pooler to create monochromatic cards with Glitter Glaze. Brutus Monroe has some awesome Glitter Glaze if you wanted to add some shimmer to your projects.

This set took longer to create because after I inked each layer, I applied glitter glaze. Then I had to wait for that layer to dry before adding the next stencil and glaze etc... but it's so shimmery and pretty!

I must admit, I have a box of embossed sediments already done to make my card making go along faster! Whenever I need a sentiment, all I have to do is look through my box.  Taylor Expressions makes some great stamps with metal dies that makes creating sentiments easy!! If you are new to stamping...check out their website. They are my favorite stamping store these days. And their products are so cute!

I added some gems and a sentiment in white... you can't see it really well in the photo but it says "you are my favorite people."

And here's another one I created with the white on white sentiment. It says, "your strength is inspiring."

And since I am always needing birthday cards... A few birthday cards!

I hope you found these cards inspiring. They were so much fun to make! Thank you for visiting today.

-Nic