Hi everyone and welcome to February’s hop. This month the focus is on the sentiment, not the image. I took the challenge literally and you will see I have next to no images on my cards! The difficult part was weeding out stamps I would use for this theme. I have always loved quotes and sentiments. When my kids were teenagers, I posted sentiments on our refridgerator that I thought were either inspiring, humorous or thoughtful. I’m not sure if it was useful to them, but sometimes there is more meaning in a wonderful sentiment than a full conversation. Also, being that this month is home to Valentine’s Day, I included a “heart” on each creation! I am curious to get your feedback. Without images, I feel they are a little unfinished, yet I find them insightful and the sentiment gets the attention it deserves!

Card #1 ~ Love

This card was meant to have a rainbow of concentric hearts in the background. (The picture of the supplies I used portray this) While cards do not turn out the way it is envisioned in my mind, I love the unexpected outcomes!

Steps to create this card.
1. Die cut card stock with a fancy stitched square die.
2. Stamp sentiment on the square using Versamark ink and heat emboss with clear powder.
3. Watercolor a heart loosley over the center of the square.
4. Continue painting hearts within the first heart and so on.
5. Lightly mist with water.
6. Blend Festive Berries Distress Oxide ink over the heart.
7. Blend Victorian Velvet Distress Oxide ink around the border.
8. Lightly wipe away the ink off the sentiment and mist with water.
9. Mount card front on a white square card base.

A close-up and the supplies. “Loved with a Love” Itty bitty by Joslyn Nielson for Unity Stamp Company

This is such a beautiful quote by Edgar Allan Poe. The repetition of the word “Love” is powerful. Iridescent sparkles might complement this design handsomely.

Card #2 ~ You Got This, Love!

A little bit sassy, a little bit fun and yet a whole lot of encouragement! I imagine a close friend giving her friend a pep-talk in an effort to make a trying situation less serious and gloomy. Leave it to Elizabeth Taylor to say it in style! This is a very simple card. I added a diamond embellishment at the bottom right for a fancy accent.

Steps to create this card.
1. Stamp the sentiment in black Versafine Ink on white card stock.
2. Paint the images.
3. Border the image in black.
4. Emboss a red card front with a polka dot embossing folder.
5. Trim the card front just enough to allow a fine border to show on the grey card base.
6. Adhere a diamond embellishment on the lower right corner.

A close-up and supplies. “Put on your Lipstick” by Lisa Arana for Unity Stamp Company.

The sentiment is sharp in black and white. I used red to add energy and match the red lipstick. A great addition would be to add 3D Crystal Laquer to the wine glass and sparkles to the lipstick. In the past, I have washed a streak of grey over the sentiment.

Card #3 ~ Heartsong

A few years ago, I made this card using different colors. Immediately I thought of recreating it for this month’s theme. I was inspired by an old world feel.

Steps to create this card.
1. Lightly blend distress inks on a card front.
2. Stamp the sentiment in the center using Versafine ink.
3. Tape a fancy-shaped die over the card front and blend ink around the edges.
4. Mist with water if desired.
5. Dry emboss the card front using a Darice border folder.
6. Splatter pink and brown distress ink over the card.
7. Splatter brown and black ink over the corners for framing effects.
8. Trim the card front on the sides to create a quarter inch border.
9. Wrap embroidery thread around the card front and tie in a bow.
10. Mount on a black card base.

A close-up. Supplies I used, I received this stamp in a grab bag and I just love it!

I have a musical notes stencil that would have been a wonderful addition to this card. Also copper embellishments would enhance the old world feel.

Card #4 ~ Just Sayin!

How does one choose a single sentiment for a card?! I couldn’t. So I envisioned a few ways I might be able to pull this off. This card reminds me of graffiti or modern art resembling a poster-like quality. Let me know what you think about this design!

Steps to create this card.
1. Stamp the sentiments in black Versafine ink on a cream card base. Tip — For the most part I kept the sentiments spaced evenly.
2. Die cut or punch squares and rectangles out of card stock to create a stencil for applying ink.
3. Lay the stencil on the sentiment, blend ink over it and repeat. Tip — I placed colors next to one another that were contrasting to keep it balanced. Also I tried to keep the color blocks as straight as possible except for the one sentiment that is angled. Tip — On the upper right, I kept the blue color shorter than it’s sentiment to have more “white” space for asthetics.
4. Mount the card front to a black card base leaving a fine border on all sides.

Stamped sentiments before I added blocks of color. A fun picture of my craft table and the mess I created while making this card. All sentiments are from grab bags I have acquired over the years! On the top right, you can see the stencils I used. A close-up view.

I am excited to try this again using texture with embossing glazes and torn paper pieces. A more grungy take would be with borders, splatters, circle stencils and uneven lines!

I hope a few of these cards spark an idea for a card creation. Thank you so much for hopping and below you will find the next friend to visit on the hop. Please comment to enter to win a “thank you” prize. The winner will be randomly chosen and announced on the March hop. And now for the winner from the January hop is…..betsgreene! Congratulations, please message me your mailing address and thanks again for your comment, I appreciate it!

Crystal

Amber

Bobbie Sue

April

Rachel (me)

Kim

Dawn F.

Colleen

Gaylynn

Joyce

Happy hearts to you this month. May your have a lovely day today and always. Until March, stay safe and wishing you lots of crafting time ’til your heart’s content!

Rachel

Hello, I am here to share another Poppystamps heart card but this time with a little more color and a twist from the typical Valentine hues!

I gave it an elegant, emerald-teal shimmering background paired with a rich burgundy organza ribbon. The candlelit gold and magenta mirrored accents bring it all together…. and big hugs too! This Poppystamps valentine is for someone very special.

Steps to create this card.
1. Hot foil the “Big Hugs” sentiment from the Poppystamps “you are Amazing Poe Script Greetings” hot foil and cut die set. Use rainbow foil on white. This sentiment will not be used on the card, so save it for another one.
2. Using the scrap of used foil from above, place on a solid metal plate and foil the negative view.
3. Die cut it out using the matching frame from the set. Die cut a second layer for extra height and interest if desired.
4. Using pale markers in yellow, pink and lavender, fill in the words to give the sentiment a warm candlelit glow.

5. Die cut the top heart from the Poppystamps “Vintage Scalloped Heart” dies in dark red card stock.
6. Blend two shades of brown oxide ink around the border leaving the center red. The lightest brown goes first and further toward the center, the darker brown around the outside edge to finish the look.
7. Die cut the scalloped heart in warm metallic hold from the Memory Box “Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad”.

8. Using the Poppystamps “Heartfelt Pinpoint Frame”, cut hearts in the colors as follows.
a. Shiny magenta pink hearts – die cut a 1.5″ strip of metallic magenta pink card stock from the Memory Box “Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad”.
b. Chocolate brown hearts – die cut a strip of chocolate brown card stock.
c. Brown and gold hearts – smudge embossing ink on a strip of brown card stock. Sprinkle gold embossing powder over the strip and heat emboss. Die cut the strip for beautiful two-toned hearts!
d. Dark red hearts – Splatter watered down white acrylic paint on a strip of dark red card stock. Run the strip through the cutting machine and collect the speckled hearts!

9. Make a square card base measuring 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 out of heavyweight dark gray card stock.
10. Cut a square measuring 4 1/8 x 4 1/8 from the Memory Box “Festive Glitter Pad” shimmering cardstock in emerald teal.
11. Tie a small ribbon with burgundy organza ribbon.
12. Adhere the pieces together. Double sided tape works best to adhere the glitter front to the base.
13. Arrange the hearts and adhere using glue dots. Create balance by spreading out the colored hearts in a natural, organic way yet keeping the chocolate and red speckled hearts layered under the magenta and gold ones. These showstoppers should be front and forward!

Big hugs and lots of hearts to you. Have an enchanting day today until we meet again. (In a few weeks!) Please check out the Poppystamps site for all the supplies @www.poppystamps.com.

Rachel
I am on Instagram and TikTok @cardartbyrachel with short videos on how I make my cards!

Hi everyone! I hope you are doing great and enjoying 2023 so far. I am here to share with you a box of chocolates!

I was absolutely thrilled when I saw the Poppystamps “Vintage Scalloped Heart” die. Immediately a heart-shaped tin full of decadent chocolates came to mind. I imagined rich, vibrant papers complete with sparkle and shine to create a delicious card. Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, here is my Valentine’s Day card for you!

Steps to create this card.
1. Die cut the scalloped heart from the Poppystamps “Vintage Scalloped Heart” die from the Memory Box “Vintage Pastel Mirror Pad”.
2. Die cut the heart with the sunburst accents using metallic red cardstock from the Memory Box “Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad”.
3. Die cut the Poppystamps “Sending Love Poe Script” sentiment in antique gold glitter paper from the Memory Box “Festive Glitter Pad”. (Save the heart)

4. Using dark brown, die cut the Poppystamps “Heartfelt Pinpoint Frame” background die. (Save the little heart for another card)
5. Using a medium brown, cut an A2 size card front.
6. Finally, glue the pieces together. Don’t forget the glitter heart!
7. Adhere to a black card base or any color of your choice!

Pictured are the amazing Poppystamps dies I used from the Valentine’s release.

I hope you love this Valentine as much as I do. It reminds me so much of sweet memories involving chocolate surprises! Fabulous glitter and beautiful shiny red paired with two shades of rich chocolate brown are just enough to add a warm sentimental glow. The dies and the paper I mentioned can be purchased at http://www.Poppystamps.com.

May you have a beautiful day today. See you very soon, Until then, sending much love your way!

Rachel
Please follow me @cardartbyrachel on Instagram and TikTok for video shorts on how I make my cards.

Happy New Year! Hope you are looking ahead to a fresh start in 2023 and lots of good things coming your way. I know I am. And “Birthdays” is such a fitting theme for January. I love making birthday cards, though I have to say my cards often do not say “happy birthday” on them. Here’s a question — when making a birthday card, do you put the words “happy birthday” on the front? I am so curious to find out what you do.

Card #1 ~ Little Mouse with a Big Wish

On this card, I am combining a few leftover New Year’s fireworks with a birthday celebration. A blend of colored pencils for the mouse is a fun play of color.

Steps to create this card.
1. Stamp the mouse in black Versafine ink on a purple card front slightly smaller than an A2.
2. Color the mouse and balloon with Prismacolor pencils.
3. Run the Darice firework embossing folder through your embossing machine making sure the mouse and balloon are not embossed.
4. Cover the mouse with a scrap of paper and splatter watered-down white acrylic paint over the embossed fireworks.
5. Die cut the birthday die in lavender and white.
6. Using purple distress ink, blend ink unevenly on the white die cut.
7. Adhere the lavender die cut on the card front and then the blended die cut slightly askew over the lavender one.
8. Heat emboss “Best Wishes” on black card stock in gold. Trim and adhere.
9. Add 3D Crystal Lacquer to the balloon for a glossy finish.
10. Glue card front onto a black card base.

Supplies I used. Word dies and “A Little Mousy” by Unity Stamp Company

Card #2 ~ Birthday Wishes

Carefree and the wind blowing in her hair, is in my mind, a wonderful way to spend a birthday! It doesn’t need to be a fancy celebration but a day to relax, unwind and just be free.

Steps create this card.
1. Using an A2 card base, unfold and run the Darice “photo” embossing folder through the machine.
2. Stamp the image on white card stock with brown Memento ink.
3. Blend distress ink and oxide inks with a blender brush on the hair, sky and grass.
4. Using Copic markers, color the sash in green and the arms and legs in skin tone hues..
5. Stamp the sentiment with brown Memento ink.
6. Adhere a button that matches the sash color.
7. Tie burlap string on the fold of the card.
8. Die cut glasses and camera, lightly coloring with like colors and adhere to card.

Supplies I used. …”keep wishing” by Phyllis Harris for Unity Stamp Company

Card #3 ~ A Lifetime of Celebration

Birthdays are a lifetime celebration. Celebrating the days we were born and the years that follow. The highs and lows we face to get through each and every year. Life is short, but beautiful… I love this sentiment ” live. every. moment.”

Steps to create this card.
1. On watercolor paper slightly smaller than an A2 card front, stamp the front facing image to the right.
2. Stamp the profile on the left. I made sure the tiniest bit of the eyebrow showed to ground the image. Also, I like that the curve of the nose is fully visible as well.
3. Stamp the figure of the girl on the lower third of the card.
4. Using a limited color palette, loosely paint the images.
5. Stamp the sentiment on a scrap of watercolor paper.
6. Cut a second piece to frame the sentiment. Blend watered-down Fired Brick Distress ink unevenly on this piece to use as a border.
7. Glue the pieces together and adhere to card front.
8. Adhere card front to a pale pink card base.

A few close-up views with a limited palette. I love the dimension this card has with the overlapping images. Instead of masking, I contrasted dark and light paint to create depth.

Supplies I used. “Off in the distance – Large” and “Anastasia (believes)” by Donna Downey, and “….keep wishing by Phyllis Harris for Unity Stamp Company

Card #4 ~ Classic Birthday

A birthday card for someone who loves automobiles! My thoughts were to keep it loose… I envisioned spots of bright lights and shadowy darks to create movement and interest.

Steps to create this card.
1. Stamp the background image in Versafine Onyx Ink on white.
2. Die cut the card front with a Gina Marie stitched rectangular die.
3. Beginning with Mustard Seed Distress ink, blend ink over each car.
4. Blend blues mostly around the perimeter and spots of orange in random places.
5. With a paint brush, apply paint loosely around the edges and lines of the various images.
6. Stamp the sentiment on black card stock with Versamark ink, and heat emboss it with antique gold powder.
7. Punch a hole on the left side.
8. Tie a metal spiral embellishment with burlap string through the sentiment.
9. Adhere the sentiment with a foam square to keep it level with the left side.

Supplies I used and “Vroom” background stamp by Angie Blom for Unity Stamp Company!

Let’s keep the celebrating going! Here is the list of all the friends sharing their creations. Please visit and comment on each blog for a chance to win a “thank you” prize! The winner will be announced on my February post.

Crystal

Amber

Bobbie Sue

Gaylynn

April

Dawn F.

Rachel (me)

Joyce

Colleen

Alaine

Kim

Thank you so much for taking the time to hop. There are so many inspiring ideas and crafty thoughts along the way! Birthday cards are so much fun to make and truly the sky is the limit. Almost any card can be used for a birthday, just stamp a happy birthday sentiment inside. It is also a blast to personalize birthday cards to fit the person’s interests and hobbies. Fun, fun, fun!

Please follow me on Instagram and TikTok @cardartbyrachel. I post video shorts showing how I make my cards and a few other fun things.

Happy New Year, can’t wait to see you in February!

Rachel

“When you become comfortable with uncertainty, infinite possibilities open up in your life.” Eckart Tolle

Wishing you joy this holiday season! Hi, I am here to share two cards I made using the Popppystamps “Stacked Joy” craft die. This die is such a wonderful focal point. I cut it out in shimmering red glitter paper… leaving me with pieces to create two festive and fun cards! How awesome is that?!

A close up because the Open Studio “Fairy Jewels” are hard to see yet beautiful displayed on the wreath. The shimmering red glitter paper from the Memory Box “Glitzy Glitter Pad” is truly amazing!

These are the supplies I used.

Steps to create this card.
1. Die cut the Poppystamps “Stacked Joy” using shimmering red cardstock from the “Glitzy Glitter Pad” and die cut it again in heavyweight white cardstock. (set aside the extra pieces for the next card)
2. Die cut the Poppystamps “Wintertime Snowflake Frame” in medium weight white cardstock.
3. Cut a dark gray A2 size card front from the Memory Box “Earth Neutral Collection”.
4. Blend Distress Oxide and distress inks in shades of green on a white piece of cardstock. Mist with water. Let dry. (save the extra green paper for the next card)
5. Die cut the Poppystamps “Pine Needle Shoots” die four to five times using the green blended paper from step four.|
6. Adhere the snowflake frame to the gray card front and then to a white card base.

7. Arrange the pine needles around the “O” in Joy. Trace a fine pencil line around the “O” for placement. Glue the needles down keeping the ends free. Save a few extra needles to overlap the sentiment.
8. Adhere Joy to the center.
9. Tie a bow using baker’s twine, string or ribbon and glue to the top of the “O”.
10. Adhere Open Studio “Fairy Jewel” to the wreath.
11. Trim the ends of the pine needle shoots. Curl up the ends for texture and character.

One more look, it was super fun to give the wreath a hair cut!

Transitioning into the second card – here are the two cards side by side using the positive and negative pieces!

I love a card on kraft. It gives me a cozy warm feeling inside!

Steps to create this card.
1. Use the die cuts from the first card in step one. (“Stacked Joy” cut from red glitter paper and heavy white cardstock.)
2. Die cut three layers of the snowflake in the Poppystamps “Snowflake Loop” die from white card stock.
3. Die cut the Poppystamps “Iced Pine Trees” using the leftover blended green paper in step four of the first card.
4. Die cut the “Iced Pine Trees” again in white cardstock for the snow caps and adhere to tree on random branches.

5. Using a brown marker, color the tree bases.
6. Cut an A2 size piece of kraft card stock.
7. Blend brown distress ink lightly around the edges.
8. Adhere pieces to card front and then to kraft card base.
9. Add a gold jewel from the Open Studio “Fairy Jewels” embellishment pack and red string to complete the card.

Additional supplies used to add to the ones used in the first card. The Poppystamps “Whittle Polar Bears” die? Scroll to the next frame to see where I used one of them!

10. Glue the little bear inside the card for a fun surprise to the recipient. This completes the card…I love little surprises!

Have a joy-filled day today. Thank you so much for your visit. Please let me know if you have any questions about how I made these cards. Take care and see you soon!

Supplies at http://www.poppystamps.com.

I am on Instagram and TikTok @cardartbyrachel.

Let’s take a stroll down Snowflake Lane! Hi, I am here to share a few wintery cards I made using the Poppystamps “Snowflake Loop” die and the Poppystamps “Stacked Joy” die. Our first snowfall came and went but I love how bright and gorgeous the snow is as it glistens in the sunlight. Needless to say, I was inspired, so I cut out a few snow-themed shapes to play around with. The faintest of blue on white for my palette, I created these cards.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! I love the natural look of the paint splatters covering the sentiment. Shimmering snowflakes are falling off the edge. Pale blue accents create a peaceful and calm mood.

Steps to create this card.
1. Die cut the Poppystamps “Snowflake Loop” die out of an A2 size piece of heavy white cardstock. (Set aside the die cut for another card)
2. Die cut three snowflakes from the “Snowflake Loop” die using the platinum shimmering cardstock from the Memory Box Festive Glitter Pad. (Save the tiny diamonds on the ends of the snowflakes for a future card).

3. Lay down the card front from (step 1) for reference and stamp the sentiment from the Poppystamps “Christmas Sparkle” clear stamp set with Versafine Claire Morning Mist ink.
4. Die cut a snowflake in heavy cardstock. Using the negative piece of the die as a stencil, place it around the sentiment and lightly blend ink over it.

5. Adhere the card front to the card base.
6. Adhere the platinum snowflakes around the card to your liking and trim off the ends that run off the edges.
7. Splatter ink and watered-down white acrylic paint around the card. Easy, fun and gorgeous!

Supplies I used

This card is quick and simple, yet beautiful and elegant.

Here are the steps.
1. Using watered down Blueprint Sketch Distress Oxide ink, lightly and loosely paint brushstrokes over the middle area.
2. Splatter ink.
3. Die cut the Poppystamps “Stacked Joy” two times and the snowflake from the Poppystamps “Snowflake Loop” dies three times.
4. Adhere the pieces together and then to the card front. That’s it!

This card is created using pieces from the first card. I love having almost zero waste!
1. Place the “Snowflake Loop” die cut from the first card on an A2 card base to measure where the sentiment will be stamped.
2. Stamp the sentiment using charcoal gray ink.
3. Using the snowflake stencil created in the first card, blend Blueprint Sketch Distress Oxide ink over the snowflake in three places surrounding the sentiment.
4. Lightly and loosely splatter watered-down ink unevenly over the card.
5. Adhere the “Snowflake Loop” die on the card.

6. Using the platinum diamonds from the snowflake cut out in card 1, embellish the card for the finishing touch!

One more card. I hope I haven’t lost you! Another super quick creation.

Steps
1. On an A2 card base, stamp the sentiment from the Poppystamps “Christmas Sparkle” set with Versamark Claire Morning Mist ink and heat emboss with clear powder.
2. Using the stencil from the previous card, stencil snowflake around the entire card front to create a soft background.
3. Lightly splatter ink on the card front.

4. Die cut the Poppystamps snowflake from the “Snowflake Loop” die 2-3 times in white
5. Rub an embossing dauber over the top and heat emboss with gold glitter embossing powder.
6. Add a gold Autumn Fairy Jewel by Open Studio on the center of the snowflake.

One more look!

I hope you love these cards as much as I do. If you get a chance to make them, please let me know how they turned out. Fantastic, I.m sure!
Enjoy this time of year and I can’t wait to be back with another Poppystamps card. You can find the Poppystamps supplies at http://www.Poppystamps.com.

Thanks for stopping by!

I am also on Instagram and TikTok with short videos @cardartbyrachel on how I make my cards.

Welcome to the hop, thanks for joining us. Let’s bring on the Glitter, Glitz, Sparkle and Shine!!! I love it all. Especially this time of year, there can never be too many holiday lights, illuminating the sky, filling the air with energy and emotion. I hope my cards reflect some of these feels of the season. I had a wonderful time creating them. Taking photos was a bit of a challenge getting the right angle to see the sparkle, but I believe I captured some of the magic!

Card #1 – Illumination~Keep Shining Bright

Metallic watercolor paint is brilliant as color shifts and dances when meeting up with light. I’ve always been fascinated by iridescent objects. I love crystal, opal, and even the sight of rainbows in fine layers of oil on a roadway. This card reminds me of these sights. I am so excited to share it with you.

How to create this card:
1. Stamp the image on black watercolor paper with Versafine ink (heavy black cardstock is fine too).
2. Heat emboss with pearl embossing powder.
3. Watercolor the image with metallic watercolor paints.
4. Die cut the image with a fancy-shaped die, I used a Spellbinders die.
5. Create the background panel painting with silver, blue and a good amount of water. Let the colors flow into one another and keep in mind empty space gives the background depth.
6. Cut the background to 3.75″ x 5.5″.
7. Dry emboss the panel using a Tim Holtz Sizzix snowfall embossing folder. (optional)
8. Adhere to an A2 black card base.
9. To finish the card, wrap silver thread around the left side and tie in a bow close to the top!

I couldn’t decide which pictures to share so I narrowed it down to these. With every tilt of the card, it gave a different view. I can’t say enough about metallic paint and its spectacular display of color.

Some of the supplies I used. The watercolor paints are by Komorebi Mozart. The set comes with metallic and neon paints as well as great other colors. The quality of the color movement is amazing.

Ornament stamp from the Kit of the Month-10/17 “Conspiracy of Love” by Unity Stamp Company

This metallic paint reminds me of moonlight. The effect paints have on dark paper is extraordinary.

Card #2 – A Santa Portrait

A minty green, a true red, brown and sprinkles of gold make up this Santa card. There is a saying that “less is more” but in this case I went against that thought and I say “more is more!” This creation reminds me a little bit of what Santa’s workshop might look like as I dug out all the crafty goodness I could find. Sometimes it is amazing how many supplies it takes to create one card!

How to create this card.
1. Stamp Santa on heavy white card stock with Versamark ink and heat emboss.
2. Paint Santa focusing mainly on his face. The suit will be covered in glitter.
3. Fussy cut out Santa.
4. Using an embossing dabber, apply embossing ink on Santa’s suit. sprinkle embossing glitter over the ink and heat set. Be careful not to overheat as the glitter will get to hot and lose its sparkle.
5. Apply Liquid Pearls and Stickles frosted lace to Santas hat and coat.
6. Adhere jewels for buttons on Santa’s coat.
7. Ink blend Tim Holtz Salvaged Patina on a 6″ x 3.75″ card front.
8. Stamp the background with embossing ink and heat set it with glitter gold embossing powder.
9. Blend distress and distress oxide inks in salvaged patina and various browns around the edge of an A2 card base. You can mist with water for a desired effect.
10. Die cut a wood grain frame by Hero Arts in kraft.
11. Dab embossing ink unevenly on the frame and heat with gold embossing powder.
12. Using Tim Holtz distress texture paste, apply on frame where desired. A grungy option is to emboss gold on parts of the snow.
13. Stamp the sentiment on a scalloped die cut. Distress the edges with brown ink and add Stickles around the border.
14. Assemble the pieces to complete the card. Begin with the card base, next the card front, next Santa (do not glue down the pompom on Santa’s hat), then the frame and last the sentiment. Add additional card stock to back of part of the sentiment to pop it up. Whew, that’s it!

The picture on the left is the original card before I added more glitter and red jewels for the buttons. I was going to call it Santa Grunge. I kept the picture in my post because it really shows off the glitter, gold embossing and liquid pearls.

Then I decided to fill in the empty spots (pic.2), still grungy but I felt compelled to change the name!

Supplies I used.

“Christmas All Around Background” by Graciellie Design and “Jolly Ol’ Santa” by Angie Blom for Unity Stamp Company.

Notice the gingerbread man and the tree on the pocket are barely visible. They got lost in the sparkle. Pointing out mistakes are not necessary, because no one has to know it wasn’t intentional, right?! Let’s just say I was keeping along with the grunge look. Also I applied the snow and it came out very uneven and perhaps messy. I have to admit the paste was a bit thick and it didn’t go on the card as smoothly as I intended…. happy accidents because overall, I love this Santa card!

Card #3 – Festive in Pink!

I see so many beautiful holiday cards with a pink color scheme. I love her warm, soft, pink winter coat. I’m a fan of green and pink together. It brings out the tree, the focal point. I may not have captured the sparkle of the ornaments on the tree and the shine of the gold foiled sentiment. Below I produced a close-up to show off the bling!

Steps to create this card are as follows ~
1. Stamp the image on watercolor paper with Versafine Ink.
2. Next using watered down distress ink, paint the images.
3. Hot foil the Poppystamps sentiment and blend inks over the strip on each end.
4. Die cut the card front out using a Gina Marie Designs border die and adhere to light pink card base.
5. Randomly place dots of Stickles glitter glue in red, gold and white on the tree. Lots of fun!
6. Thank adhere the sentiment strip to the card and adhere an iridescent sequin on it.
7. Finally, stamp a second sentiment above the strip with Versafine green ink to finish the card!

The tree makes me happy when I look at it. I can imagine this might be a young lady’s first Christmas tree in her new apartment. It takes me back to memories of my first place when a friend delivered a real tree to my back porch with a stand. All I had to do was decorate it. What a great surprise!

Also loving the hot foil sentiment gives just the right amount of shine. Using ink other than black is something I am trying to do more often. The green ink is a fun, easy extra!

Supplies I used.

Image from The KOTM 10/17 “Conspiracy of Love” by Unity Stamp Company

The “With Love” sentiment strip was hot foiled on white card stock. Not planned was the green to pink gradient color, I was pleasantly surprised how it turned out! I will be using this technique for more sentiment strips.

Card #4 – A Season of Joy

A soft palette with lit candles, this card depicts a holiday season of dear memories we hold close. The sentiment “Joy” encompasses so much more meaning than what meets the eye. Full of wonderment and anticipation– we hope to gather and reconnect with loved ones this year.

Steps to create this card.
1. Stamp the image with Versafine Ink.
2. Color the image with Copic markers. Keep in mind the coloring will be covered up with Stickles glitter glue so coloring does not need to be precise. For the candles, I colored around the image lines, leaving the blank spaces white.
3. Die cut the image with a fancy stitched circle die.
4. Cover the entire image with coordinating Stickles.
5. Using light weight watercolor paper, create a background with a wash of purple, blue and green Tim Holts distress inks. Spritz with water for reactive effect.
6. Trim to fit an A2 card base. (5.25 x 4″)
7.Die cut the Poppystamps “joy” die using silver card stock. Mine is actually a lid from a “to go” box! Die cut it again on white card stock to make it extra sturdy.
8. Adhere all the pieces beginning with the watercolor background, next the image and last the sentiment.
9. Adhere iridescent sequins around the image.
10. Organza ribbon in white, tied on the card, adds a special finishing touch!

The “joy” sentiment is die cut from a thick silver covering for a “to go” box from an Italian restaurant! It was perfect and I love using found/recycled products for cards.

Supplies I used.

“Shiny Holidays” by Joslyn Nielson for Unity Stamp Company

Organza ribbon always sets the tone for an extra special occasion.

Card #5 – An Elegant Christmas

Simple, yet elegant, this Christmas tree is complete with glorious multi-colored lights on rich gold limbs. The sentiment and bordering edge are made up of sparkling black embossing glitter. Set on a dark background, the tree glows handsomely.

Following are the steps to create this card.
1. Stamp the tree on black card stock with Versamark ink and heat emboss with gold powder.
2. Cut another piece of black card stock leaving about a quarter of an inch border.
3. Next rub an embossing dabber along the edge of the black card stock.
4. Heat emboss with Ranger black sparkle embossing powder.
5. Stamp the sentiment on a blue card base using Versamark ink and heat emboss with black sparkle embossing powder.
6. Adhere the tree image to the black sparkle border.
7. Using Stickles, randomly dot glitter glue on the tree, leaving round spots of light! After it starts to dry, add more glitter if necessary!

Supplies I used.

Christmas tree image from The KOTM 10/17 “Conspiracy of Love” by Unity Stamp Company

The tree is lit, “Hope and Peace” goes out to all the world!

Unity Stamp Company is celebrating our 5th anniversary of hopping and is giving away (3) $25 gift cards!
Thank you to Unity Stamp Company for your generous support! Winners will be chosen from those that comment on every blog. You will have until Dec. 10th to comment. Winners will be announced on Crystal’s blog and in the “Unity Show and Tell” Facebook page on the 11th. Good luck and thank you for your comments, we appreciate it so much!

Now to announce my winner from last month’s hop is Cathy Preissing! Congratulations Cathy! Please message me your address and I will send your prize in the mail. Thank you so much for your comments, we appreciate you!

Let’s keep the “Glitter and Glitz” going! Just click on each friend’s name and you will transport directly to their wonderful creations!

Crystal

Eileen

Amber

Dawn B.

Gaylynn

Rachel (me)

Dawn F.

April

Joyce

Alaine

Kim

Thank you for hopping during the hustle and bustle of this busy time of year. May your days be merry and bright…just like the cards this month! Until 2023, have a safe and beautiful holiday season!

Rachel

Please follow me on Instagram and TikTok @cardartbyrachel for short videos on how I make these cards. Videos are posted throughout the month on these social platforms.

(A snapshot of my Christmas tree!)

“Nothing can dim the light that shines from within.” Maya Angelou

Hi from one of my favorite places to be — the forest. Can you smell the sweet fragrance of pine? I can, even as I write this! The Poppystamps “‘Iced Pine Trees” craft dies are beautiful. Let’s make a card with a grove of snow-covered trees.

Following are the steps to create this card.
1. Using the Poppystamps “Leaf and Tendril” foil plate, hot foil the backfround on white cardstock with silver foil.
2. Blend red distress ink over the entire background
3. Cut out an oval from heavy vellum.

4. Using white cardstock, blend two green distress inks unevenly over an area large enough to die cut three sets of the “Iced Pine Trees” craft die.
5. Next die cut the “Iced Pine Trees” three times from this paper.
6. Repeat die cutting the “Iced Pine Trees” three times on white cardstock for the layered snow pieces.

7. Adhere the snow to the trees. Some of the layers can be left without the snow. This gives the trees some variation.

8. On black card stock, stamp the sentiment from the Poppystamps “Christmas Sparkle” clear stamp set with embossing ink.
9. Heat emboss with white powder.

10. Trim the background to fit an A2 card leaving room for a thin border around the card base.
11. Arrange the card–lay the bellum down, but do not glue yet. Group the trees in a desired arrangement. (tape on the back of the trees help)
12. Take a photo of the display to refer back to. Glue trees and sentiment on the vellum.
13. Turn the vellulm over and add glue only on the areas covered by the trees and sentiment. The glue will not be visible
14. Adhere card front on the card base.

The silver foil is gorgeous. One more step might be to add glitter to the snow pieces.

How about white and silver acrylic paint splatters?!

I hope you enjoyed the adventure in the forest! Thanks for joining me and please take a look at the “Iced Pine Trees” craft die, the “Leaf and Tendril” foil plate, and the “Christmas Sparkle” stamp set at http://www.Poppystamps.com. Creating holiday/winter scenes with these Poppystamps are so much fun, have a wonderful day!

Hi there! I am sharing a few cards using the “Whittle Fish Trio” craft die. These are a splash to create!

I die cut the fish on heavy watercolor paper.
Next I choose three colors and just splotch on paint!
On a white card base, I stamped the greeting in the center.
With an embossing dauber, I ran it across the middle of the card similar to brush strokes.
I sprinkled distress embossing glaze over the sentiment and brush strokes.
I heated the powder with the heat gun!
I glued the fish on surrounding the sentiment.
Finally I splattered specks of the mossy green color for an extra touch.

The glossy shine from the embossing glaze mimics water and maybe gives the card a “wow” factor!

The fish can be arranged in so many ways. Adhering some at an angle, creates motion and interest. Have fun deciding how you want the fish to swim!

On this card, I used a few different colors of embossing glaze. On the fish I added beautiful gold embossed powder to give the fish a little richness! I loved how they turned out.

For this card, I painted the fish in a different, brighter color palette. Oranges, yellow greens and rust.

This card has a fun, grungy feel. More intense color to pack a punch with splatters of gold embossed patches. The fish are painted in bright orange, red and moss. A fine red sentiment in red finishes the card.

On all the cards, I doubled and tripled the thickness of the fish by gluing layers together.

It is so much fun to use one die and create completely different moods by choice of color intensity.

A small sampling of cards I made with the Poppystamps “Whittle Fish Trio” craft die! Poppystamps.com ~ click to see the many “Whittle ” dies available! I just love them all!
Have a great day…Fish on!

Joy in the morning is a hot cup of coffee! Add a little bit of “Whittle Cocoa with Whip” Poppystamps dies and the day is off to a great start. I am an avid coffee drinker who cannot go a day without a few cups. I am super excited to share this fun, dimensional card created with real coffee!

Step by step instructions.
1. Begin with a watercolor card front measuring approximately 4×5.25.
2. Pour yourself a cup of coffee and spill a small bit on your crafting space. No cream or sugar, thanks!
3. Set your mug on the coffee spill and then place it on your card front. Repeat as many times as you like.
4. Using a paintbrush, splatter coffee on the card front.

5. Die cut the Poppystamps “Whittle Cocoa with Whip” mug using a sheet from the Memory Box “Jolly Christmas” plaid paper stack.
6. Die cut two whip cream pieces with creamy white colored paper.
7. Die cut the Poppystamps “Flowing Curves” using a light gray
8. Die cut the “Joy Freestyle Script” using the darkest shade from the “Berry Red Collection” paper stack.
9. Die cut the outline with the same watercolor paper to be used for the background.

10. Cut the swirls to fit the look you desire. Adhere the pieces to the card front.
11. Paint the whip with coffee.
12. Glue the card front to a light gray card base.
13. Adhere an Open Studio “Autumn Fairy Crystal” in red to the card front for an extra touch.
Finished? Not necessarily, scroll down for a fun addition to the card!

How about giving the whip some texture?!
1. Apply Texture Paste on the die cut with a toothpick.
2. Paint coffee on the lower portions of the swirls for depth.
3. Allow to dry and adhere to the card.

A close-up view of the finished cup of coziness!

Options for this card might be to ink blend around the edges to give it a distressed look. A sentiment strip could fill in the empty space below the “joy” script. Perhaps more splatters too. This time I chose to keep it just like it is, I love it!

These Poppystamps dies are incredible and will be used all year round at my home. I hope you enjoyed this card.
May the joy of the season surround you ~ see you again very soon!
Check out these products at http://www.poppystamps.com

I am excited to link up to the 2022 Fall/Winter /Coffee Lovers Blog Hop. Here is the link: Link to CLC Hop
#fallwinter2022clh
I am on Instagram and TikTok @cardartbyrachel. I post short videos of how I make my cards.