Tia's Tips:
"Brown paper packages tied up with strings. These are a few of my favorite things."
-Rogers & Hammerstein. "My Favorite Things". The Sound of Music-1965.
Sponsor: Catherine Pooler Designs: https://shop.catherinepooler.com/
Stamp Sets: (L to R) Chatterbox Background Stamp; Frosty Mornings; Scenic View.
I am a design team member for Passionate Paper Creations and Friends by Rhea. We design for a multitude of creative sponsors like this weeks: Catherine Pooler Designs.
Each week sponsored images are presented by the design team along with generous offers and discounts for our group Facebook Members. Ask to become a member today, share your creations, get inspired by others and save with our awesome sponsors!
The Projects:
I am always excited when we get new sponsors, especially if it is a sponsor I've never worked with before. That was the case with Catherine Pooler Designs. What an amazing store! I'm really looking forward to going back with the group discount and purchasing some of her many, many unique dye-inks!
Once inside her on-line store I again felt like a dog-lover at the pound; I wanted to take everyone home! I had a difficult time pairing down my choices (I do have a deadline), and here are my TOP 3 takeaways! (I have no affiliate links-stamped images are part of the design team/sponsorship relationship).
The Chatterbox Background Stamp:
This large red rubber stamp is the perfect full card stamp at 4.5 x 6 in.! I used my PinkFresh ink cubes for a colorful background! The first card (left) I used inks in yellow, red, orange, green, blue and purple. I clear embossed which made it easier to use a black water-based Tombow marker to fill in the entire page and a few bubbles. The purple turned out darker than I thought and got lost in the background, so I decided to try again with less inks. My 2nd card, I only used yellow, red, green and blue. Embossing with clear powder really makes the colors shine and pop in-person. I think a holiday card using red and green inks would be gorgeous! Or, if you are a foiling person-get some awesome shimmer. I loved how fast these cards came together and I love having lots of "hello" cards to send out!
Frosty Mornings Stamp Set:
I guess the Colorado kid in me was quick to identify with this cute collection of winter hats, mittens, scarf, cocoa mug and snowflakes.
As soon as I saw this set, my mind instantly saw my friends walking to school obscured by snowbanks as tall as them so all you could see were their winter hats! (This was the 1st set to hit my shopping cart!)
I freehand drew and cutout the snow mounds and added some depth with C0 and C1 Copics. On my laptop I created the sentiment to follow my little family traveling through the snow for the holidays! I'm embracing my inner- Christmas in July creator vibe!
COPICS Used: BG01; BG05; BG07; R05; R24; R29; C2; C1; C0; White Gelly Roll pen.
I stayed up late one night with my husband watching T.V. , when the show "Home Improvement" came on. Half way through the episode, I knew I'd be up making another card in the morning!
(*if you haven't seen an episode, you only need to watch one to get this card.)
The background and fence are design papers. For the fence I cutout strips of paper, then trimmed the corners for planks. Two of my planks I lifted up with foam tape. "Wilson & friend" are heads from a Greeting Farm set, trimmed to eyes only. The word bubble is a Frisker's punch and I hand wrote the sentiment.
COPICS Used: YR02; YR04; YR07; YR09; BG01; BG05; BG07; E00; E21
Scenic View Stamp Set:
This stamp set is so beautiful! I got the matching die set and honestly couldn't decide what I wanted to do with it first! The pine-tree ring comes with additional images in the set, like mountains, a bear, a deer and clouds. Additional sets are available to complement this set such as background dies and curved sentiments.
It's been awhile since I got messy with my alcohol inks and since I had already played with dye-inks and paper-why not! I selected alcohol inks (Hobby Lobby Brand) in Raspberry, Mint Green, Midnight Blue and Lavender.
If you haven't used Yuppo-GET IT! It is an synthetic-engineered, tree free paper. It is non-absorbent and is beautiful with watercolors and alcohol inks! Tim Holtz/Ranger has a brand. I get a pack from Legion (legionpaper.com) at my local artist supply store.
With a few drops of ink on Yuppo-paper, I add blender solution and top with another piece of paper and smoosh together. I tend to stop there, but you don't have to! You can add more ink, more blender and keep working/drying/removing/reworking to your hearts content! See Jennifer McGuire video showing you how: https://www.jennifermcguireink.com/2021/12/easy-alcohol-ink-press-technique.html
On my second set of smooshed cards, I saw this circle like moon and stopped! I placed my stamp ring right at the edge of it! The black ink was lost in the vibrant ink background, so I re-stamped and embossed with black embossing powder. I added stars with white acrylic paint and a toothbrush. Sentiment is from a Picket Fence set.
Gotta love a messy hands project every now and again!
It was a busy week! If you are playing 'Christmas In July' and getting started on those holiday cards, or just looking to add something new to your stash-check out Catherine Pooler Designs (but not before you join Passionate Paper Creations and Friends) and use the member's only discount! Thanks for following along! Go create something beautiful!
-Tia