There is something so wonderful about swinging. I still love it! This image by Phyllis Harris captures the carefree energy with the girl’s pigtails in motion!

I created this card using kraft for my card front measuting 4″ x 5.25″. I stamped the image in Versafine black ink and colored her in using Prismacolor watercolor pencils.

Color pencils on kraft bring out so much vibrancy especially in the light colors. I love how the yellow and green top stands out. These pencils are also great for layering color. they blend efforlessly when water is applied. I stamped the sentiment and tied burlap string right above it. Then I glued the card front onto a bright yellow base.

Inside the card I stamped “happy birthday” on white paper adhered with a patterned washit tape at the top to finish the card. When the recipient receives the card, they can remove this piece and reuse it!

Very few supplies were used for this card. Usually my craft table is overflowing. This is nice!

Super fun angle.

Until tomorrow, have a great day and please comment for a chance to win one of two gift certificates from Unity Stamp Company. Winners will be randomly selected at the end of the week. Thanks for swinging by!

What inspires you? Welcome to our May blog hop! The cue is to create a card about something that inspires….There are so many things that fall into this category, I can’t possibly think of them all right here…. so I chose a few.

Card #1- All the Flowers

Inspired by what was once believed folklore is the Himalayan Blue Poppy. Somewhere in Tibet and Nepal these can be seen in their true habitat. Years ago, I was on a walk in my neighborhood and saw this brilliant blue flower that took my breath away. I stopped and asked where this variety came from. It was specially ordered. Only ten percent of plants have blue flowers.

I probably have mentioned many times how much I love all shades of blue. This color naturally occurring in nature paired with gardening, takes me over the top with joy and happiness! Of course cardmaking is right up there too. This beautiful image was created by Angie Blom for Unity.

If you get a chance to see a photo of this flower, the middle is a bit brighter yellow and the petals probably a shade different than my painting. I think mixing white with blue might make it a little closer to the true blue color. I added dark shades of paint for depth. A watered down version for the background. Bright green as in nature for the stems. All the colors came from a mix of Prismacolor watercolor pencils, Tim Holtz distress and oxide inks and Mozart Komorebi paints. The gold hot foil sentiment and die are by Poppystamps.

Card #2 – A Summer Breeze

Summer is my favorite time of year and a warm breeze makes it that much better. This image by Phyllis Harris is extra special to me as it was how I first discovered Unity Stamp Company. It caught my eye on Pinterest and the rest is history. I am so inspired by this image of carefree days, warm summer breezes and an image that takes me to a good place.

Creating pure sunshine on this card, I went heavy on the yellow! Fun is painting a colorful pattern on the dress. And it is also a perfect shape for paper piecing. A mix of distress and oxide inks is what I used to color it. A die cut with a fancy stitched edge adhered to a pink card base finishes the card.

I love this sentiment. It reminds me that all our potential lies within us, we just need to discover, recognize and allow it to be welcome and present!

Card #3 – In the Midst of Chaos

I am inspired by this beautiful image by Angie Blom and the sentiment is most powerful. It reminds me that…Life is not always how we envision it to be. I grew up and found there are lots of ups and downs–working through bumps and hurdles along the journey. Making the best of every situation, finding something positive, and hoping to come out a better, stronger person with a new understanding–maybe like this angel. The sentiment reminds me of one of my all-time favorite quotes. “In the midst of winter, I have found in me an invincible summer.” by Albert Camus.

I colored the angel with Prismacolor watercolor pencils. I added Stickles glitter glue on the wings. The background is a mix of Sharpie markers and rubbing alcohol on vellum. Amber, in the hop, introduced me to this technique!

So the background could represent chaos, but also looks beautiful and ever-changing to me. I see potential, adventure and many paths in which to lead or follow. I hope it looks dramatic to you and evokes emotion. I could have added embellishments but was very satisfied with the card as is.

These are the stamps I used for the hop! They are all available at http://www.unitystampco.com. There are thousands of images to choose from.

Please continue on the hop with the next creative friend on the list below. Comment at each stop for a chance to win a “thank you” gift. The winner will be randomly chosen and announced here at the June Blog Hop. And now for the winner of the May Blog Hop is …..Sharon Cherry! Congratulations Sharon, please message me your mailing address!

Crystal

Bobbie Sue

Gaylynn

Jane

Alaine

Tammy

Colleen

Rachel (me)

Kim

Joyce

Amber

Gardens, summer and beautiful quotes continue to uplift and inspire me. I hope you felt a little of what I am trying to convey. Thank you for hopping with me and I can’t wait to see you next month. Until then, take care and be inspired by everything in some kind of way!

Stay safe, creative, and curious ~

Rachel

Please follow me on Instagram and TikTok @cardartbyrachel for more cards and short videos!

Hello and welcome to a sun-shiny day! The Poppystamps “Whittle Snails and Whittle Bird” are awake and ready to start their daily activities. These critters are everywhere in my neck of the woods! Do they inhabit your home? 

This card makes me happy.  I created it to depict my love of spring and spending time out in the backyard. I watercolored the Whittle die cuts, stamped a sentiment, and created a stencil with a background die. Creating a stencil is a great way to get extra use out of a die.

Steps to create this card.
1. Die cut the large frame from the “Whittle Wood Picture Frames”, “Whittle Snails”, and the small bird from the “Whittle Birds” dies in medium white cardstock.

2. Watercolor the pieces with colors in browns, yellow and red. For the shells, dip a fan shaped brush in watered down brown and lightly apply paint from the center and stroke out.
3. Cut a piece of medium white cardstock to 4.25″ x 4.5″ and using a scissor’s edge, rough up the edges.

4. Die cut the Poppystamps “Sunbeam Frame”. This will act as a stencil.
5. Place the stencil with the sun in the upper left corner. Blend yellow ink over the stencil allowing the ink to fade out.

6. Paint a wash of teal in the lower third of where the frame will be placed. Add subtle brown tones in the background.

7. Adhere the cardfront to a creme cardbase. 
8. Adhere the frame, snails and bird to the cardfront.
9. Stamp “Hello Sunshine” from the “Whittle Sealife Sentiments” in charcoal grey.
10. Splatter watered down brown ink in random areas of the card for character and interest!

I had the best time creating this scene. I hope you enjoyed the fun! Make sure you take a look at all the Poppystamps “Whittles” dies @poppystamps.com they are the best! Thanks for stopping in and see you next time.

Hi, I am here to bring you a bright and happy seaside card for the Popppystamps April Challenge -“Cute Critters”. You can find the challenge on the website @www.poppystamps.com and click on “challenge” to link up your critter project, tag, or card. Use one Poppystamps die to be eligible to win. I hope you get a chance to create a project.
White capped waves and the “Whittle Sunshine” die makes the most perfect setting for a “Whittle Shark” and “Whittle Dolphin” playdate.

Steps to create this card.
1. Swoosh teal distress ink unevenly over the lower portion of a piece of white cardstock measuring 4.5″ x 3.25″.
2. Add very small amounts of grey or black ink to distress paste and roughly apply to tops of the teal swooshes.

3. Die cut the Poppystamps “Whittle Sunshine”, “Whittle Shark”, “Whittle Dolphin”, “Double Scalloped Stitched Frames”(largest frame) and “Birthday Wishes Moonlight Script” in white cardstock.

4. Blend orange and yellow distress ink over the sun, blue ink over the shark, and grey over the dolphin.
5. Blend varying colors of blue and grey over the sentiment.
6. Arrange the ocean scene and glue the sentiment onto the cardfront.
7. Using grey ink, stamp a sentiment of your choice from the “Whittle Sealife Sentiments”. There are so many good ones, it was hard to decide which to use!

8. Glue the cardfront on a white A2 cardbase
9. Glue the frame over the cardfront scene.
10. Glue the sun, shark and dolphin onto the card overlapping the frame.
11. Add “Clear Fairy Drops” to mimick bubbles to finish the card!

Come aboard and join the challenge with your Poppystamps cute critters creation. Don’t forget to link it up on thePoppystamps blog in the challenge section. Also, please take a look at this month’s guest designer, Traci Jenkins. Traci is a very talented cardmaker and shared an awesome critter card! I won’t give it away, but it is adorable!
Until next time, keep on crafting and “Seas” the day!

Welcome! It’s officially spring and what better theme than “Butterflies”?! I can already hear the morning birds chirping and the warm sunshine peeking out of the clouds to say that we made it through the winter. Butterflies will be here but not soon enough. In my part of the world, I see mostly beautiful creamy white small butterflies and on a special day, a yellow and black Tiger Swallowtail. There is no shortage of butterfly images to share from my Unity Stamp Company stash so let’s go!

Card #1 ~ Wish Big

Soft and subtle is this butterfly from Unity Stamp Company’s November 2020 Kit of the Month called “warm toes happy heart”. Super clean and simple, I adore the lifted wings as if it just landed on the card. As I begin to type, I realize this might not be a butterfly, but a dragonfly. I asked my better half and got a confident “yes, that is a butterfly”. In any case I learned that dragonflies (odinata) and butterflies (lepidoptera) belong to different orders yet share the same kingdom, phylum and class. I always enjoy a little extra information as I make my cards!

Steps to create this card.

1. Stamp the image twice using Encore! Ultimate Metallic “Champagne” ink on white card stock. Once on card stock measuring 4.5″ x 3.25″ and the other on scraps because the wings are the only part needed.
2. Blend Tim Holtz Ranger Distress ink “Old Paper” over the wings on the scrap image.
3. Fussy-cut colored wings.
4. Using two Bic fine point markers–color the body in “Tiki Hut Tan” and the eyes in “Cloud Nine Grey”.

5. Die cut the Poppystamps “Double Scalloped Stitched Frames” in the same white cardstock as the butterfly images.
6. Glue and center the cardfront on an A2 buttercream cardbase.
8. Glue the frame to the image.
9. Stamp the sentiment under the butterfly. This sentiment is from an old Stampin’ Up stamp but any small sentiment will work just fine.
10. Add a Hero Arts “Hero Hues” enamel sticker in clear.

Card #2 ~ You Are So Amazing

Glitter and shine belongs on this gorgeous butterfly card! It is called “Falling into Place” by Sandhya Iyer for Unity Stamp Company. I think someone would love to receive a card to tell them how amazing they are! Also, I can’t get enough of the hot foil craze that has hit the cardmaking industry. Are you into hot foiling, it is so much fun! And then to add more interest, I adhered the butterfly off the edge of the card on a textured background.

Steps to create this card.
1. Stamp the Unity Stamp Company butterfly image on white cardstock.
2. Color the image with Prismacolor Watercolor Pencils and use a waterbrush for blending.
3. Fussy-cut the image. To cover white edges, go over them with a black sharpie.
4. Using a Stampin’ Up 3D embossing folder “Painted Texture”, emboss a black card panel. Make it slightly smaller than an A2 card.
5. Hot foil the Poppystamps “Modest Banner Greetings Hot Foil Plate and Craft Die” sentiment in fuschia foil on lavender cardstock.
6. Hot foil the reverse scrap using a solid metal plate.

7. Adhere the dry embossed cardfront onto a black base.
8. Adhere the butterfly off the page and trim flush with the outside edge.
9. Adhere the two sentiment pieces askew over the butterfly.
10. Add Hero Arts lacquer glitter pen.

Card #3 ~ always have Hope

A continuous brushstroke of color washes through the image and the entire length of the card, The focal point, the butterfly, rests gently on the flower swag. Bright color gives the card energy and the fine, orange splatters softens the image. The stamp kit, created by Lisa Arana for Unity Stamp Company, is called “hope is a beautiful thing”. I had this on my wishlist for a long time. It is a kit full of phrases with “Hope” sentiments and of course, this wonderful image.

Steps to create this card.

1. Stamp the Unity Stamp Company image on off-white card stock.
2. Using Prismacolor Watercolor Pencils, yellow and lime, color in a wavy line through the butterfly. Blend with a water pen.
3. Using same colored pencils, color the butterfly adding oranges and reds.

4. Cut and stamp a 3/4″ strip of same off-white card stock.
5. Stamp sentiment on the strip.
6. On the cardfront, die cut a scalloped stitched edge at the bottom.
7. Paste the cardfront onto an off-white card base.
8. Paste the strip on the top of the card leaving 1/8” at the top. The lower empty space below the scalloped edge is about 1/4″.
9. Using a fan-shaped brush, splatter fine orange ink over the card.
10. Embellish the card with off-white burlap twine and celadon jewels.
11. Trim the card to approximately 4.5″ wide and 4 1/8″ high.

Card #4 ~ Thanks for always being there

Fantastic butterflies create a centerpiece on this card. I love how this image is the opposite of a border stamp and not quite a background stamp. The image comes from the latest Unity Stamp Company Kit of the Month ~ March 2023, “a good man and some butterflies”.

Steps to create this card.

1.Create a distressed background. Blend Tim Holtz Distress Inks in “Tea dye, Walnut Stain and Salvaged Patina”. Spritz with water.
2. Cut to 4″ x 5.25″ (slightly smaller than an A2 size card)
3. Stamp the butterflies with black Versafine ink.
4. Glue the cardfront to a black A2 cardbase.

5. Place washi tape down the left side of the card.
6. Tie burlap string is over the washi tape.
7. Stamp sentiment on the right side.
8. Black Nuvo drops finish the card!

Thank you for stopping in. I hope you have butterfly stamps that are already being imagined on a card! Please leave a comment and I will randomly choose a person to win a “thank you” prize! The winner will be announced at the May hop. And now for the winner of March….Sue D.! Congratulations Sue D., please message me your mailing address so I can get your prize out to you!

Below is a list of all the friends on the blog hop. Tons of inspiration await you!

Crystal

Kim

Tammy

Amber

Jane

Colleen

Gaylynn

Bobbie Sue

Rachel (me)

Eileen

Have a wonderful, fluttery day in the best sense of the meaning and I can’t wait to see your butterfly cards on the “Unity Show and Tell” Facebook page. Please don’t hesitate to ask me any questions. I love to talk cardmaking and more.

You can find me on Instagram and TikTok @cardartbyrachel

Hi there, it’s Rachel. I can’t tell you how thrilled I was to see the latest Poppystamps release and the “Basic Junk Journal Set” –so many ideas swirled in my mind! A junk journal is definitely a must, for now I created a unique “thank you” card with a delightful vintage vibe.

Before we get started, these are the fantastic Poppystamps dies and embellishments I used to create this card.

I began by collecting scraps of cream and off-white card stock. To create the cover, I die cut the file-shaped die. Next I blended distress and oxide inks in teals, pinks and browns. I misted the inks with a light spray of water. Then I stamped “You Make the World Better” sentiment from the “Say It Big” set. What a great sentiment! I misted it again and then added lots of fun Poppystamps embellishments, a torn strip on the left, embroidery thread and a Fairy Jewel.

The mini envelope and fan shaped shell are cut using the “Basic Junk Journal Set”.  The heart is from the “Heart Jumble” die, sprinkled with silver foil from a hot foil scrap. The butterfly and teardrop embellishments are from the “Teardrop Butterflies”.

When you open the card, there is a pocket. I cut a card die from the set and it fits perfectly in the pocket. Perhaps the best part is that most gift cards do too! Also, the pocket can be folded to be used on either side of the file. 

To decorate the card,  I tore the surface creating a tattered, old appearance.  I ink blended same colors over it to accentuate the torn areas. 

The sentiment “Thanks for being kind” is from the Poppystamps “Modest Banner Greetings Hot Foil Plate”…another great sentiment. The foil adds a special touch to go with the silver hearts throughout the project.

Behind the card, I added subtle interest with ink splatters, running a brush lightly down the surface. 

More pieces on the pocket included in the “Basic Junk Journal Set”. Wow, so much goodness is packed in this set! The Fairy Jewels are pretty too.

So now the card gets tucked back in the pocket, but before that, don’t forget to write a sweet message in it! 

On to the next side…These beautiful tulips are from the Poppystamps “Layered Tulips” dies. Ink blended with same colors, they are the focal point of the card. I just love them!  Using leftover hot foil leftover pieces, I die cut the stems. The pocket holding the flowers are from the “Basic Junk Journal Set.”  I adhered the tulips to a card die cut for added thickness and reinforcement. 

And now for the back…. it gets decorated too! Ink blending, splatters, mists of water, embellishments and so much fun!

I am intrigued and obsessed with the notion of junk journals. Next time I am going to create pages so I can decorate even more.  I hope you love this unique card as much as I do. Please take a look at the Poppystamps latest release. It does not disappoint!

Until next post, one person’s junk is another person’s treasure. Have a great day!

Hi crafty friends! It’s Rachel here hoping to bring a little spring to you. My card today is full of lovely butterflies in shades of teal. I am using the Poppystamps “Pointy Lattice Plate” and the “Deco Diamond Stencil Set” from the latest incredible release. These pieces coordinate together but can also be used alone. Hot foil and glitter lend its hand to the soft, yet energetic movement this card projects.

Steps to create this card.
1. Die cut the Poppystamps “Pointy Lattice Plate” in white card stock.
2. Using the “Deco Diamond Stencil Set” blend Distress Oxide Ink Shabby Shutters over the stencil panel with the largest squares onto a white A2 size card front. Vary the intensity of the inks.
3. Match up the next panel with the medium size squares to the card front. Tape will keep it from moving. Blend Cracked Pistachio Oxide Ink over the stencil.
4. This time match up the panel with the smallest squares and blend Mermaid Lagoon Oxide Ink over it. 

5. Hot foil and then die cut the Happy Birthday sentiment in silver from the Poppystamps “Birthday Wishes Poe Script” foil and cut die set. 
6. Hot foil and die cut the With Love sentiment in rainbow foil from the Poppystamps “Modest Greetings 2” foil and cut die set.
7. Die cut the “Teardrop Butterflies” two times using the Memory Box “Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad” in pale blue and white.
8. Blend Mermaid Lagoon Distress Oxide Ink unevenly over an area of white cardstock large enough to cover the “Teardrop Butterflies” die, then die cut.
9. Adhere the lattice frame onto the stenciled panel and onto a white card base.

10. Arrange the sentiments and the butterflies on the card front. 
11. Adhere the pieces down. Leave the wings unglued on the tips. Turn up the edges for a fun effect.
12. Use Stickles Crystal glitter glue on the darkest butterfly.
12. Adhere Open Studio “Fairy Drops” in choice places for the finishing touch!

Another close-up — I love the rainbow hot foil and the beautiful glitter. The fairy drops are gorgeous too. 

This color palette of teals and lime are one of my favorite combinations.  I can’t wait to try many color groups and flowers in place of butterflies. There are so many possibilities!

May you have a dreamy and relaxing day today. Please be sure to let me know if you have any questions. I love to talk about cardmaking.

Until next post, wishing you butterflies with love!

“What day is it?” asked Pooh. “It’s today,” squeaked Piglet. “My favourite day,” said Pooh.

Welcome to The Friends of Unity Blog Hop. It’s March already, I can’t believe it. The theme is none other than Winnie the Pooh! The quotes by Pooh are beautiful. I am just now realizing how many great ones there are. Intrigued, I am going to take some time to refamiliarize myself with the Hundred Acre Woods!

I took out my Pooh stamps, grabbed two types of watercolor paper, and stamped away! I had the best time coloring these adorable images and before I knew it I had seven card fronts to make into cards. I used Mozart Komorebi paints for all the cards except for one in which I used Prismacolor watercolor pencils. I am sharing them all with you. Honestly no worries if you want to just quickly scan the pictures. This is more than I meant to post. Thank you for coming along the way.

Card #1 – “Oh Dear”

I love how tiny Pooh is in this image. The tree is beautiful and I picture it being so large it touches the sky.
After I watercolored it, I added a hot foil sentiment “so proud of you” by Poppystamps. I thought it was fitting! I framed the card front in white and adhered it to a kraft card base.

Card #2 – “Pooh just knew”

Even though I am scared of heights and the anticipation of balloons popping, I think this image of Pooh and Piglet is so festive and fun.
I painted generous rows of color for the rainbow background. Each color blended into the next. I stamped the balloon three times, painted one, cut them out and glued them together for dimension.The “Happy Birthday”is a Poppystamps hot foiled sentiment in rainbow colors. I finished the card using Stickles glitter glue on the butterfly and cut out the card front with a Gina Marie border die.

This festive stamp set is called “Pooh just knew” by Sandhya Iyer for Unity Stamp Company.

Card #3 – “How do you spell love?”

As I watercolored this image I was thinking about my childhood… blowing and scattering dandelion seeds all over the place with no cares or thoughts. I also spent endless hours sitting on our lush green grass with my friend every chance we could get!
I cut the image out using a Spellbinders die and then framed it in teal. I lightly washed white over the edges to soften the bright color. The letters are the Heather lowercase alphabet by Pinkfresh Studios. Burlap twin and shiny embroidery thread tied at the top and sparkly Stickles on the dandelions finish the card. Also, I stamped a sentiment inside the card. You can see the inside pictured below in the post.

This sweet set is called “How do you spell love?” by Sandhya Iyer for Unity Stamp company.

Card #4 – “Thought of You Today”

Pooh is so intent on writing a letter to someone special. I find this image industrious and charming.
I colored this image with Prismacolor watercolor pencils. They are great for reaching small areas. When water hits the color, the pencils blend like butter. I used a background stamp in red with writings by Rumi, a Poppystamps hot foil sentiment in silver and Tim Holtz oxide ink blended around the border. Nuvo drops, and red glittery string finish the card. I almost forgot –the feather pen is covered in Stickles over blue marker for a special touch.

This wonderful Pooh stamp set is called “Thought of You Today” and the timeless background set is “Love & Wisdom Background” by Sandhya Iyer for Unity Stamp Company. It is a beautiful writing by Rumi.

Cards #5, #6, #7, “Making Memories with Pooh Bear” by Sandhya Iyer for Unity Stamp Company

This image definitely has a story to tell. It brings so many fun memories of lazy summer days to my mind. I grew up in a tiny faming town and canals were a familiar sight to irrigate crops in the fields.
I didn’t have a plan for these cards, so I stamped the image three times deciding to just play and enjoy the time. Then I started thinking about how I could make each one a little bit different by changing the color palette, intensity and adding elements. Below I break down each card in a little more detail. The picturesque stamp set is by Sandhya Iyer for Unity Stamp company.

Card #5 – “Morning is the best time of day”

Morning is the best time of day for me. I love getting up before light and drinking coffee as the sun wakes up. This card is mostly about the pastel sky and the sights, smells and sounds of the beginning of the day.
I began with a wash of very little color. Slowly I worked in more color on the images up close to create depth. Watercoloring is forgiving, I painted many areas again and again. I dabbed a paper towel in the places I thought were too bright and intense. It actually erases most of the color, awesome!

I left the front of this card blank because I wanted to keep the sky untouched. Inside the card is the sentiment the set came with. (it is pictured towards the end of this post)

Card #6 – “Just the 3 of us”

I was thinking about black and white, possibly vintage like an old photograph where a few of the images might be colored in. I remember when this was very popular years back. It gives me a feeling of nostalgia…of yesterday revisited.
I created a focal point using minimal color on this card, similar to a spotlight technique. Stickles in frosted lace for a subtle embellishment and a birthday sentiment die cut by Poppystamps. I framed the sides with a thin hint of black and adhered it to a cream card.

I love the yellow, black and white color combination. This is the only card where I left Christropher Robin’s shorts white. Painting the shorts a traditional blue might take away from the overall mood of the card.

Card #7 – “A Rainbow Connection”

In this scene, a storm has come and gone leaving a beautiful, unconventional rainbow.
My idea for this card was a rainbow and bright, intense color. . I organized my palette and then without thinking, I painted the swooshes of color over the sky. I realized the colors were upside down as I looked at photographs of rainbows! “Oh bother!” I thought and I left it for a few hours but bother me it did. A thought popped in my head…I will repeat the rainbow in the other direction–red became the middle and an unconventional rainbow appeared! Does it work? I hope so!

These a few of the many amazing Winnie the Pooh stamps available at Unity Stamp Company. The background stamp in the upper left corner I used for the “Thought of You Today” card. It is actual text by Rumi, so beautiful! Also I have Eeyore stamps on my wishlist and I heard Tigger will be introduced in a year or so… I can’t wait!

The first four cards together in one picture.

Phew! That’s it. I hope you are still with me. Thank you for taking the time to visit. Here are the friends on the hop. Please comment on each blog for a chance to win a “thank you” prize.

Crystal

Amber

Bobbie Sue

Gaylynn

Rachel (me)

Colleen

Kim

Eileen

Joyce

Alaine

And now for the winner of last month’s hop is….. Brenda Katrein! Congratulations Brenda, please message me your mailing address and I will send you your prize!

Have a wonderful day today and always. If you happen on a “blustery” day in March, I hope you get crafty and creative indoors waiting for the storm to pass..

Until next month, stay safe and happy!

Rachel

Please follow me on Instagram and TikTok @cardartbyrachel to see about short, fun videos for cardmaking enthusiasts.

“Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.” – Winnie the Pooh

Hi, it’s Rachel and I am here in the midst of Panda-monium! The birthday balloons are a bit out of control but the party is just getting started. 

 I am super excited about the new Poppystamps February release! When I saw the “Whittle Panda Pickup Kit” I couldn’t wait to create a card. It comes with four pandas and lots more, wow!

I used solid colors straight out of the packs, giving it a child-like quality. I did not ink blend or paint any of the pieces. Instead, I gathered a palette of yellows and greens with a blue background.

Have you tried the paper stacks? The color assortment, variety of gorgeous glitter and foiled finishes are second to none! The additional dies I used were the Poppystamps “Word Balloons” and the “Whittle Spinner Background”.

Steps to create this card.
1. Die cut a card front measuring 4 x 5.25 from the Memory Box Stormy Blue paper pack.
2. Place the “Whittle Spinner Background” die over the upper part of the card front and run through die cutting machine.
3. Die cut the panda bear two times, once out of black and another time out of white card stock. There are four pandas to choose from!
4. Using a small scissor for fussy-cutting, cut out the black eyes, ears, nose, and paws. Glue them onto the white panda. 
5. Die cut the wheels for the truck in black and the fenders and hub caps in brown or grey.
6. Die cut the truck in yellow from the Memory Box Sunset Orange paper pack.
7. Using three shades of green from the Memory Box Lush Green paper pack, die cut three stalks of bamboo.

8. Choose six shades of green and yellow paper and die cut balloons. 
9. Tape embroidery thread to the back of each balloon.
10. Die cut the speech bubble in black card stock from the Poppystamps “Word Balloons” die.
11. Heat emboss the sentiment in white powder.

12. Adhere the pieces onto the card front.
13. Finally, adhere the card front onto a charcoal card base.

Thanks for stopping by the party. I hope you had a blast. Please take a look at the new Poppystamps February release @www.Poppystamps.com.There are so many fun things just waiting to be crafted! Have a wonderful day!

Hello and welcome! Inspired by conversation candy hearts, I made this card for the February Poppystamps Challenge ~ Me & You. 

Soft, pearlescent hearts surround the Poppystamps “Sending Love Poe Script” craft die over a dreamy watercolor background. Please join us @www.poppystamps.com with a project, valentine or card showcasing something you love doing together like munching on candy hearts with a childhood friend.

Steps to create this card.
1. Beginning with a beautiful textured Open Studio watercolor paper (listed below), I loosely washed patches of distress inks over the entire panel. Allow colors to flow into one another and dry.

2. Die cut the Poppystamps “Sending Love Poe Script” craft die in the warm, pearlescent, platinum color from the Memory Box “Vintage Pastel Mirror Pad”.

3. Die cut the hearts in assorted colors using the “Heartfelt Pinpoint Frame” die and the Memory Box “Vintage Pastel Mirror Pad”.

Supplies I used can be found on the Poppystamps site. Not pictured is the watercolor paper.

4. Adhere the card front to a white A2 card base.
5. Using scrap paper, die cut the “Heartfelt Pinpoint Frame”. 
6. Lay the above die cut over the card front and place the hearts in the open areas to assure they are spaced evenly.
7. Adhere the sentiment and the hearts to the card front. Tip–Vary the colors of the hearts around the card, especially the white hearts to create balance.

I just love the gorgeous luster of the pearlescent shine when the light hits the platinum sentiment. I love the texture of the watercolor paper and the pastel colors are light yet vivid and lucid.

Please let me know if you have any questions about this card or the Poppystamps challenge. Click on the “Challenge” image @www.Poppystamps.com for more details. It would be great to have you join in the fun. Have an awesome day!