Bright and Colourful Birthday cards with Taylor

Ohh its that crazy time of the year when all my virtual events happen, this weekend is what I call my big box event with Scrapbook and Cards Today and they call Crop and Create Delivered (Fall 2023).

My friend Sarah and I tried so hard at the Spring event 6 months ago to do it all and it was too stressful. So we thought this time we're going slow and enjoying the process and it's 6 months until the next one if we decide to do it. This event they have also given each teacher a 2-hour teaching slot to teach their 3 cards and an hour break, so a much more relaxed pace so it maybe possible to do them all. 

Unfortunately I can never do first day as it's babysitting day and now my crafting buddy Sarah is actually quite sick so I maybe going very slow.

There are at least 16 classes plus at least 3 mini classes showing new products plus the finale always with Jennifer McGuire which is card after card ideas she creates mixing up all the products we received from the sponsors / companies involved with the event. So expect me to blogging about the event for awhile.

I'm starting off with the Taylored Expressions cards taught by Taylor herself. The TE class is normally one of my highlights but I was aghast when I saw the colour palate she was teaching. I really like the TE inks and have been shouting myself the inkpads she uses each event to extend my range but this time I worked with what I had and tweaked the colours and used bright colours but not TOO BRIGHT.

We received in our kit from TE the Cake Walk 4-piece stencil, matching dies and coordinating stamp set; at the end of the 4-stage stenciling we had 4 images to work with. As 2 of the images were cake stands we had 3 images after our stenciling to make 3 different cards. She also gave everyone one of her fab embossing buddy tools, which I actually already owned and loved.

I'll share the sneak peek we were provided with which made me grimace. I did not like Cookie Monster, Blue Raspberry and Dragonfruit as a combo.

I decided I would swap the 2 blues for 2 pinks; one light and one bright but not in your face dark pink. Plus I thought we still needed a blue so I was trying to work out which blue was the right tone to go with the inks so I ended up going for Tahitian Tide (SU!). 

I'm actually happy with my cards and they're bright and cheery plus colourful too. The card below we used ink to make a base for the cake stand plus cake to sit upon. The sentiment inside the cake layers  is a one piece sentiment which has been white embossed. My cake stand is to the left as I must have had a bit of blue ink on my finger after blending the base. The gem stickers are Honey Bees Love Letter  and they matched the honeysuckle ink and cardstock I have used IMO. I have to say I don't like how this sentiment stamps the exclamation point. I also have a faulty other sentiment in this set which is sort of cut so my whole stamp set may be faulty but I 'll fill in the form once I've tested all 16 sets to get it replaced.

For the card below we have scored a piece of coloured card stock at 1/4" increments to add a bit of interest plus some Blossom glitter drops on the stand (PFS).

Some simple ink-blending and then splattered with white ink/paint. It almost looks like a sky.

The inside had an interesting fold but I added my wee strip of Pink Lemonade card stock to the wrong edge but I had added a wee circle of Pink Lemonade as I didn't have a big enough stitched circle diecut so it all worked out.

Well in the end that was a nice easy introduction to what is to follow from the "big box".

✿ Karen ✿

Mix it up with Jennifer McGuire and Kristina Werner

Now doesn't that sound like a perfect pairing. I've only done two Pinkfresh Create and Connects before and for both of those Jennifer McGuire does the last class mixing everything we get in our swag. That was the plan for this event too but she had some surgery scheduled for the day before her live class so she passed the reins onto her craftie bestie Kristina to teach her designs. 

Now I shouldn't be happy that Jen couldn't make it but being Kristina's no. 1 fan I was happy to take a class under her tutelage, she seems very quiet teaching since her marriage. All products used are Pinkfresh Studios apart from the card stock which came from my stash as I couldn't get any card stock from The Stamp Market but my colour matches are just about bang on. I used Pink Lemonade from Concord and 9 and Teal Topaz from Spellbinders. Also this is a sneak peek of Glacier glitter paper which will be eventually released from Pinkfresh Studios.

Now I am really struggling with taking photos for this class as its been a really grey and wet week here so I'll start off with the official photo of what we were aiming to create and in all honesty I think I nailed it pretty good as here's my cards, side by side:

Both cards used the new interactive slider die we received as part of our kits. 

TEAL CARD: The envelope die was part of the Holiday Gifts die set (Carissa Wiley's class), plus we also used the Ornaments and Foliage stamp set and die (Channin Pellitier's class) and the sentiments came from various stamp sets we received. Obviously I wouldn't use Winter Greetings as its summertime here at Christmas.

With the ink blending for these Jennifer wanted to show the power of grey to change the colours. The top sentiment stamps like that on purpose (I don't like it), it's weird it has thicker and thinner letters and I would use another sentiment from my stash in future. All colouring has been done through the matching stencil for the ornaments and foliage and arranged and yah this was a quick card.

PINK CARD: The Folk Snowflake was part of Heather Hoffman's class kit. It also had a matching stencil and OMG I love stenciling on the light glitter paper, why didn't I think of that it was so effective and sparkly. We also received another essential die Ornate Rectangle Frames which is framing it all.

Now this time Jennifer has the mechanism having a mat for a gift card to be attached to when you pull which is a great idea but I just love my snowflake even though I don't do snow I do, do glitter. Again a pretty quick card to create (we had die cut everything for the slider card beforehand).

I love this card and think I'll just make some A2 cards with the ink-blended snowflakes. So Jennifer being the GOAT she is showed us how to do magic with the slider die, she also used the other essential die we received and used THREE class supplies in her "Mix It Up" which was taught fabulously by Kristina. As Kristina was thrown in the deep end at the last moment she had just learnt to teach the cards so she was really good at explaining what stumped her a bit so that helped heaps.

Well my plan originally was to finish this event before the Big Box Event starts with Scrapbook and Cards Today tomorrow but in all honesty I did my holiday event with Pinkfresh the first weekend of October in 2022 the weekend after the Big Box one so I'm just happy I am a third done so I have lots more fab and fun Christmas cards to recreate at both events.

#pfcreateandconnect

✿ Karen ✿

More Festive Foliage with Amy

The last card design taught by Amy Yingling at my recent #pfcreateandconnect was her make n' take and finally a mass producible card.

Interestingly her stamp set Festive Foliage and coordinating dies came with a stencil which I was wondering what it was for, after the make n' take I now know what it was for. Apart from the sentiment and the white embossed ornament the rest of this card has been created with blending through the stencil or adding stencil paste.

The card on the left is the card Amy taught, the card on the right is me tweaking it a bit.

My colours used are Tidepool (light aqua - C9), Olive (PFS) and Ballet Slipper (C9) as these were a pretty good match to TSM inks and card Amy was using. For the stenciled ornament we have blended our light pink ink , then leaving our stencil in place I've added Hero Arts paste and then sprinkled it all with a crystalline glitter; I've used Distress Rock Candy glitter (RNG). I really liked it but thought I'd try different greens and a brighter pink card and embossing paste. I've added Pinkfresh Studio Champagne glitter drops for my bling.

This time I have used 2 Pinkfresh Studio green inks that I love; Mint and Meadow for my foliage. I've gone for a brighter pink card stock from Concord and 9; Pink Lemonade and the white embossing pops much better on the brighter card. I wish I had created the other ornament as above but thought I'd try one of my pale pink embossing pastes by Cosmic Shimmer (Stellar Flamingo Luna Paste) and it's a great match colour-wise but doesn't have as much depth. Bling this time is Studio Katia's Majestic Confetti.

In all honesty both are fabulous and could be created in all sorts of colours, my only piece of advice is to use a post it note or a smaller blending brush when stenciling.

WOW I have loved all 3 cards I made with Amy from The Stamp Market and look forward to seeing what gorgeous stamps and dies she comes up with in the future. 

This is the set I received for my class kit and limited numbers will be released soon with her Holiday Release. I'm guessing that they made enough for the cut-off of 1500 plus a few spares if any faulty and as 1380 of us were clever stampers and registered for the event, there will be very small numbers available at release.

Well I have really enjoyed making such fabulous and pretty cards which were totally out of my comfort zone.

#pfcreateandconnect

✿ Karen ✿

Amy's Beautiful Easel Card

This is another fab card I created at the Pinkfresh Create and Connect event with Amy Yingling from The Stamp Market. I blogged Amy's first card HERE and I'm really happy to report that this card was much quicker to put together.

We made an easel card for our 2nd projects but there's lots of little added details which really make this card fab. I love how she layers her letters from the coordinating die to have card stock, glitter paper, cardstock; it really adds a punch to the letters. I also love her landing place for the easel to sit behind. We have used 1/8" strips of the 4 card stocks used in this card and adhered to a 4-1/4" x 1/2" white strip and then popped up even higher with a piece of foam. It's just a really nice detail.

To create the easel take a 11" x 4-1/4" piece of card, fold in half at 5-1/2; then on one side make a mountain fold at 1-3/4". We attach to the front of the panel our stitched rectangle frame. Now attaching the panel to the easel was always the problem as you could only add adhesive to the bottom of the panel. The way Amy did it was to add 2 strips of foam tape directly to the base so there was no way glue/adhesive could be in the wrong place. I am also pleased my stitched rectangle was bigger than Amy's as there's a lot going on.

The stamp set with coordinating dies is called Festive Foliage (TSM). I love how detailed the dies and the empty framed holly leaves are just so gorgeous and perfect in the glitter cardstock. There was no stamping apart from the sentiment again which is a font I love. 

Card stock used by me were:

• Evergreen (C9 - darkest green)
• Noble Fir (LF - mid-green)
• Granny Apple Green (SU!)
• Tidepool sponged white leaves (C9 ink) and Tidepool card also in 1/8" strip (C9)
• Glacier glitter paper (PFS - not available to purchase just yet but coming and I LOVE IT)
• Ballet Slipper (C9)
• Crushed Curry (SU!)
• Hammermill White (1001b)

I have used Studio Katia Majestic Confetti as my sequins as that was the closest match in my stash to TSM Crystal Confetti

Amy says that this set was an exclusive for the event but they had a few extras (I think PFS has a cut-off of 1500 registrants and 1380 registered, so I could be wrong but there maybe 120 sets to buy when she does her Christmas release, so limited number but they probably do a few more in case any set is faulty too). But if you like it I would sign up for their newsletter at The Stamp Market.

It is funny that I am doing a Pinkfresh Create and Connect and my first cards are from the partner company doing the event with them but I do assure you there are 5 PFS classes to share once I do them, they do use TSM coloured cardstock in those classes as well. 

Why I started with Amy's class was that it was at a time I was awake; my 10am on the first day. The time difference is always a problem with Virtual events they happen live whilst I am sleeping but the videos are there for a long time and as long as I attend a few live classes I feel like I am connecting. I think her cards may be the fiddliest but I love, love them and Christmas is a magical time and I'm hoping whoever gets these appreciate the work that went into them, saying that they might look quite good on my mantle piece too ;)

#pfcreateandconnect

✿ Karen ✿

First introduction to "The Stamp Market"

Yah it's that fab time of the year when Pinkfresh Studios has their Holiday Cards virtual event and this year they have invited Amy Yingling from The Stamp Market (TSM) to join in as well.  TSM has provided a kit for one of our 6 classes using their stamps and dies and the tutors from PFS are often using TSM cardstock. The possibility of getting cardstock from the States for me to use was not even something I considered as it was unlikely to arrive in time and the cost of shipping would be horrific, so I'm making do with what I have on my craft shelves. Amy was also working with the TSM inks which I don't own but have used similar colour in my own stash.

The wreath card was interesting its a 11" x 4-1/4" piece of card stock scored at 2-3/4" each end and then circle dies to make frames and openings plus layers of fab leaves, some stamped, some created by adding glitter to the cardstock. She had a good point  regarding making your own glitter leaves as you see all the details of the die cut rather than using glitter card stock which would only give you the outline. We've smeared some Bearly Art glue around and I've used my Ranger Distress Rock Candy for my glitter.

Supply List:
Stamps: Festive Foliage and matching dies (TSM)

Ink: Tidepool (C9), Granny Apple Green (SU!), Olive (PFS)

Paper: Neenah  #110 and Hammermill White, Crushed Curry (SU!), Ballet Slipper (C9), Glacier glitter (PFS)

Other: Champagne glitter drops (PFS), Rose Gold EP (ALT), Rock Candy glitter (RNG), foam (Scotch), circle dies (HB sweet stacks)

We were supposed to stamp inside after constructing my wreath but I cheated and stamped on a circle die cut and used some left over lefts for embellishments.

#pfcreateandconnect

✿ Karen ✿

Blast off

AAA cards latest challenge is really cool and I had quite a few ideas for it, sometimes too many ideas can not be a good thing but in the end I've tried to emulate the colours and make my own planet (maybe Earth) with a small round watercolor shape stamp and some distress inks plus a wee rocket too which I've Copic coloured and then fussy cut out. 

I also hand stamped the sentiment which made me laugh as I was concentrating hard as it's been such a long time since I've hand stamped a sentiment directly to card and not use my MISTI.

Supply List:
Stamps: Stellar Birthday (SU!), Watercolor Shapes (SU!)

Ink: Cracked Pistachio (RNG), Salty Ocean (RNG), Wilted Violet (RNG), Memento Tuxedo Black, Granite (HA), Charcoal (HA)

Paper: Neenah White #110, Xpress IT blending

Other: Nuvo Crystal Glaze, white Gelli Roll 10 pen, 1mm foam squares (SP), Copic markers

Challenge: AAA#249

Copics used: C3, C5, BG11, Y15, YR16, R29, R35, R59

I've tried to use this colour combo for the rocket which I learnt at Jenn Shurkus's Copic 101 class. I thought the hint of yellow with the red would be perfect for my rocket.

Well another great challenge from the team at AAA and I must be totally confused with what day of the week it is whilst prepping and getting ready for my 2 virtual events I have coming up as I am a week late for this one and it closes in a few days time but do check out all the other great ideas/cards if you have time. I'm going to be brave and put my hand up for their DT call too as it has been such a long time since I've been on a DT and I really enjoy AAA challenges so wish me luck!!!

EDITED 8/10: My wee rocket card was chosen in the top 3

✿ Karen ✿

More Unicorns

I made a unicorn tiny gift box with the unicorn and horse add-on for Lawn Fawn's tiny gift box. I've made a white box with the base die and then used Memory Box's Fairy Sugar 6x6" glitter paper pad for the add on bits.

Let me assure even though the box is tiny it sure takes a lot of tiny M+M's!!

EDITED the following day: I made a few horse boxes for the 2 boys that are partying with her too.

✿ Karen ✿

Magical Birthday

It's my granddaughter's 4th birthday this coming Friday so I wanted to make her a very special card as she is a very special girl.

I'm rapt how the card turned out now all I need is to be able to work out how to take a decent picture of a platform pop-up card. All products used are Lawn Fawn apart from Spun Sugar distress oxide ink to sponge my clouds, Copic markers to colour, Xpress IT blending card stock to Copic colour on, Quickie glue pen to attach all the glitter plus the 2 black inks, Versafine and Memento.

 

I've used two Lawn Fawn sets with unicorns and fairies : Unicorn Picnic and Stay Magical, the sentiments came from Unicorn Picnic (magical) and Coaster Critters (have a, birthday). Stay Magical was a set I received in one of my big box events from SCT for the Lawn Fawn class and it is a flip flop of one of the unicorns and one of the fairies, plus it had the awesome (coloured) rainbow stamp too, the die-cut rainbow on the side is also part of the Cloud Wrap Around and I just used scraps of Spiffy Speckles to make my rainbow. I've used chunky glitter on the edge of my cloud wrap around and the DSP for the wrap and the pop-up platform are both from Spiffy Speckles. I've added Prisma glitter to the unicorn horns and tails plus the fairy wand.

The platform pop-up die from Lawn Fawn is true genius and it does create magic and I'd highly recommend getting one. The card actually folds down and fits in an A2 envelope (but not if you stick a rainbow on it at the top). It's also one of Lawn Fawn's easiest interactive die IMO.

Copics used: RV00, RV13, RV21, YR16, Y11, Y15, Y17, Y21, YG05, YG21, BG10, BG11, BG13, V12, V15, E21, T4

Just sharing the snap below as its kind of "artsy" with the magic appearing out of the darkness ;)

Well I hope everyone's day is magical and thanks for popping in. I've been quiet lately as 2 big virtual card making events over the next 2 weekends so been prepping and trying to tidy up my KRafty space.

✿ Karen ✿

Craft along with Pinkfresh

This is the second card (finally KReated) from the August Pinkfresh Craft Alon, taught by Heather Hoffman. I blogged my first card and all the details HERE.

I'd already had the Dotted Chevron coverplate die on my wish list and it finally was in stock at my local supplier so I decided to wait and use it for the card, the same as Heather.

I really like this card with the coloured flowers and the "white" flowers mixed up, this could certainly be a repeated technique for all sorts of cards. I also like the lightly blended dotted chevron panels.

I've substituted my Farm Fresh stamp set from Pinkfresh for this card too. The only thing I would do differently next time is make sure I leave more gaps in my stamping foam so I can tuck the flowers in easier and LOL looking at the class example I was supposed to add some yellow hearts. So will add them tomorrow if I like the look of them.

Supply List:
Stamp set/dies/stencil: Farm Fresh (PFS)

Paper: Hammermill White, Chamomile (SP)

PFS Ink: Sweet Mustard, Clementine, Meadow, Grassy Knoll

Other ink: Versafine Clair Nocturne 
Other: Dotted chevron coverplate (PFS), Shaker Tag Book die set (PFS), stamping foam, gold glitter gems (Trinity Stamps), clear embossing powder

EDITED the next day: I die cut out the 2 heart shapes using the shaker tag book die as Heather did and I may prefer it clean, i.e. no hearts but this is a much better reflection of the card colours, it was obviously too dark when I snapped the other photos.

✿ Karen ✿