Feathered Bird

 

"Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul - and sings the tunes without the words - and never stops at all."
Emily Dickenson

Erin Lee Creative just released an amazing line of products. I fell in love with the Bird Layering Stencil Set and the Bird Die Set, her designs are so trendy and unique! When I first saw the birds, I knew that I could use these colored feathers that I've had in my stash for forever.

I traced the outline of the bird from the stencil in black, splattered some black Izink onto the panel and then adhered feathers onto the bird. I also used the Thank You Script Word Die die cut from the amazing Glossy Black Cardstock.

I drew a wire for the bird to perch on, adhered the sentiment to the panel, and then the panel was affixed to a white card base. 

I have many more ideas planned for this stencil, now just to find the time to create!

Thanks to Erin for offering a give-away on her Instagram page that helped me get some of her amazing products.

Spellbinders:: Sweet Street

It is such a treat to play with products from the Sweet Street by Tina Smith Collection from Spellbinders! The cookies from the Cookie Corner Etched Dies and the cookie box from the Sweet Treat Box are perfect to create just the "sweetest" cards or projects. Can you imagine how cute the cookies would be made out of felt? That is next on my list to make as a gift for a little one! 

My first card features the Cookie Corner Etched Dies. I die cut the cookies from kraft paper and then splattered some brown inks and water over them to create a fun texture look. I then added the cookie toppers-also from the Cookie Corner Etched Dies, with dark brown paper and adhered them to a white card base in a random fashion.

To finish the card, I stamped a sentiment, and die cut the "sweet" word several times from the Sweet Treat Box die set, stacked them together and adhered that to the card. The final touch was a die cut heart from fuzzy red paper, also from Cookie Corner Etched Dies. This design is so versatile that, when the stamped sentiment is switched out, could be used as a thank you, a congratulations for a baby or wedding or just a simple hello card! The cookies are super fun to create.

I created a super simple, super sweet interactive card for another project. The Sweet Treat Box dies make is so easy to create this! I die cut the box from white paper and then inked it up softly with pink ink. I added a die cut sentiment in white, also from  Sweet Treat Box onto the top of of the flap. Before adhering the box to the card base, I tucked in some tissue paper so that I could place the cookies.

The cookies were created using the Cookie Corner Etched Dies. I die cut them with white paper and inked them softly in various inks. I added the details from the die set as well.

After lifting the flap, the recipient sees the cookies and can fold back the tissue paper.

It was so fun to create projects with these two dies. The entire Sweet Street by Tina Smith Collection from Spellbinders line is absolutely fun and adorable.

Thanks, Spellbinders, for letting me share projects made with this super sweet collection.

AECP:: With a Twist

Therese is one of my favorite crafters, I admire her various styles and techniques, yet still how she keeps things clean and simple, and stunning! I'm working my way through the Altenew Educator Certification Program, this entry is for With a Twist. As with all the Altenew classes, this class offered so many tips, and really forced me to go outside my normal cardmaking zone. There was a lesson on unique card base cuts that I'd like to try soon, but my favorite lesson was to create with colors that you don't really reach for and use bold and bright combinations. Although I was mesmerized by Therese's use of orange and pink, I decided to go bold (for me!) with magenta and navy in my card design.

I am very fortunate to have an amazing friend who surprised me with the lovely Build-A-Flower: Stargazer Stamp and Die Set. These flowers are one of my top favorite ever flowers. I created the flowers on my card today with inks from the Red Sunset Collection and the leaves from inks from the Green Fields Collection and then die cut them. Using just two blooms and a few leaves, I cut them apart and arranged them onto a card front. Twice the blooms!

After I arranged the flowers and before adhering to the card base, I splattered the base with After Dark Izink for some added detail and to pull in the black from the stamens. I finished the card with a navy sentiment panel and a white die cut word from the Signature Word Die Set.

I started this card with a light blue card base and then stamped the outline image of the Majestic Bloom Bloom Stamp Set a couple of times in a dark blue ink, and then complimented the image by stamping leaves in a lighter blue ink. I then colored the image with Prismacolor Colored Pencils. Stephanie also mentioned being aware of the arrangement on a card, so my layout was based in the lower left corner and side, and I used the leaves to fill in the gaps and lightly ink blended some blue ink over the final image to create a soft feel. I finished the card with white splatters and a die cut sentiment from Signature Words Die cut and a stamped sentiment from the Sentiment Strips Stamp Set.

Altenew offers many florals in their Build-A-Flower series that is so easy to stamp, Therese has really inspired me to pull out some more bold ink colors and unusual combinations and create stunning projects! This card was part of Level 2 of my journey in the Altenew Educator Certification Program.

Affiliate links are used, I appreciate your support!

Catherine Pooler Designs Ultra Smooth White Cardstock Shop at: CPD	Catherine Pooler Designs Blending Brushes Shop at: CPD	New Mini MISTI Shop at: CPD	Embossing Stamp Pad by Wow Shop at: CPD
Precision Craft Glue by Bearly Arts Shop at: CPD	Altenew Red Sunset Crisp Dye Ink Mini Cube Set Shop at: Altenew	Altenew Green Fields Crisp Dye Ink Mini Cube Set Shop at: Altenew	After Dark IzInk by Seth Apter Shop at: CPD
Altenew Signature Words Die Set Shop at: Altenew	Altenew Build-A-Flower: Stargazer Stamp and Die Bundle Shop at: Altenew

A Rainbow Seahorse

It's been exciting to see the Waves of Happiness Release Mini Collection from Catherine Pooler Designs reach crafter's homes and seeing what is being created! I was intrigued to create a basically white on white look with pops of color, so I tried my hand at it!

I white heat embossed the Coral Garden Background Stamp onto an Ultra Smooth White Cardstock card base. Then I stamped the accessory images from the Ocean Chums Stamp Set and die cut using the coordinating Ocean Chums Dies using a lot of inks in rainbow order. The cute seahorse from Ocean Chums Stamp Set was stamped in black, to provide a focal point.

I finished the card with a stamped sentiment strip from Thoughtful Phrases and some After Dark IZink.

Such a fun way to incorporate a rainbow into a design!

Affiliate links are used, I appreciate your support!

Catherine Pooler Designs Ultra Smooth White Cardstock Shop at: CPD	Catherine Pooler Designs Midnight Ink Shop at: CPD	Catherine Pooler Designs Aquatini Ink Shop at: CPD	Catherine Pooler Designs Limoncello Ink Shop at: CPD
Catherine Pooler Designs Lemongrass Ink Shop at: CPD	Catherine Pooler Designs Samba Ink Shop at: CPD	Catherine Pooler Designs Orange Twist Ink Shop at: CPD	Catherine Pooler Designs Garden Party Ink Shop at: CPD
Catherine Pooler Designs Blending Brushes Shop at: CPD	New Mini MISTI Shop at: CPD	Embossing Stamp Pad by Wow Shop at: CPD	Precision Craft Glue by Bearly Arts Shop at: CPD
Catherine Pooler Designs Pucker Up Ink Shop at: CPD	Catherine Pooler Designs Chiffon Ink Shop at: CPD	Catherine Pooler Designs In The Park Ink Shop at: CPD	Catherine Pooler Designs Cummerbund Ink Shop at: CPD
Catherine Pooler Designs Thoughtful Phrases Stamp Set Shop at: CPD	After Dark IzInk by Seth Apter Shop at: CPD	Catherine Pooler Designs Ocean Chums Stamp Set Shop at: CPD	Catherine Pooler Designs Ocean Chums Dies Shop at: CPD
Catherine Pooler Designs Coral Garden Background Stamp Shop at: CPD

AECP:: In the Mood for Color

I've enjoyed all the classes I've taken as part of the Altenew Educator Certification Program. This entry is for the In the Mood for Color, the class really pushed me to try something different...stick to one color palette and I really love the results! 

Creating a one layer card to make the stamping and coloring shine was a challenge, but I did enjoy the coloring process. Although I know it isn't for everyone, coloring really relaxes me. It also doesn't come easy for me, as I tend to be heavy handed with my darker tones, and have to go back and try to add highlights. I really liked how the instructor, Stephanie, reminded me of this too, as I was really conscience for this creation to keep the white highlights to begin with. 

I started this card with a light blue card base and then stamped the outline image of the Majestic Bloom Bloom Stamp Set a couple of times in a dark blue ink, and then complimented the image by stamping leaves in a lighter blue ink. I then colored the image with Prismacolor Colored Pencils. Stephanie also mentioned being aware of the arrangement on a card, so my layout was based in the lower left corner and side, and I used the leaves to fill in the gaps and lightly ink blended some blue ink over the final image to create a soft feel. I finished the card with white splatters and a die cut sentiment from Signature Words Die cut and a stamped sentiment from the Sentiment Strips Stamp Set.

The class offered many great tips on how to really make review your use of color on cards, and provided support on use colors outside of your comfort zone. This card was part of Level 2 of my journey in the Altenew Educator Certification Program.

Affiliate links are used, I appreciate your support!

Catherine Pooler Designs Ultra Smooth White Cardstock Shop at: CPD	Catherine Pooler Designs Midnight Ink Shop at: CPD	Catherine Pooler Designs Blending Brushes Shop at: CPD	New Mini MISTI Shop at: CPD
Precision Craft Glue by Bearly Arts Shop at: CPD	Altenew Majestic Bloom Stamp Set Shop at: Altenew	Altenew Glacier Caves Crisp Dye Ink Mini Cube Set Shop at: Altenew	Altenew Sentiment Strips Stamp Set Shop at: Altenew
Altenew Signature Words Die Set Shop at: Altenew