Perfect Poinsettia

Yes, it may only be the beginning of October according to the calendar, however, Christmas is well under way on the crafting calendar!  Us makers, are always working well ahead. From this point on, my house has glitter trails everywhere as I am always working away on something to get ready for the Christmas craft show season.

I don't plan on buying too many new stamps/dies this year, as I did purchase many new ones last year, and never really got to use them all, so I will be selective this year. But, hey, it is early and I could be eating my words after seeing all the new stuff that will be released shortly by the companies!  One new one I have already picked up is from Gina K Designs, and it is called Perfect Poinsettia. It is a layering stamp and I just love it! I found it very easy to line up and get great results quickly. I have not played too much with different colour combinations yet, but I will as I create more and more Christmas cards. I know most people think of poinsettias as red flowers, but they do grow them in white and pink as well. When I was florist, pinks were always my favourite. I loved to see a mass of the pink flowers accented with gold decor, it was just so classy I thought.

Using my MISTI, I started off stamping using Gina K Design white pigment ink onto Gina K Design layering white paper. I used pigment ink first, as I find I can get a different look, when using dye inks as the layering colours on top. It also keeps the colours much brighter, once they all dry. Once I stamped the white layer, I give the same stamp a quick wipe to get the pigment off, then ink it up the 'Innocent Pink'. This is where the fun happens as you can see the dye ink sitting atop the pigment because it can't soak in right away, so it creates a bit of a beading or mottled look.

I continued to stamp out the next three layers, lining up the center each time. I found this set very easy for aligning the layers. I focused on one cut out area each time and was just fine for placement. You can see in the picture which little notch I used!

The outline layer was done in 'Kraft', the next layer was 'Dusty Rose' and the final detail layer was 'Red Velvet'.  Leaves were done in Dandelion, Jelly Bean Green and Grass Green.

After all the stamping was done, I fussy cut out the leaves and two flowers as I wanted layers and depth for the card front.

To create the card, I embossed the green layer of paper with a swiss dot pattern and then started adhering all the pieces. A quick sentiment and some enamel dots and card was complete!

I look forward to making many more cards with this set and seeing all the possibilities it has. For now, I hope this one has inspired you to start creating some Christmas cards or maybe complete some you already have underway. Remember to check out Gina K Designs for this set and other new ones that will be released shortly.


(This is not a product affiliated post.....I just share what I buy and love)

Remember...be creative, think of others and kindness always matters.

 Kim

Birthday Card

card created by The Creative Card

Popping in with a card I just finished up today. I love this "Happy Day" set from Concord & 9th, and find myself coming back to it often.  You can use the cake image for lots of different occasions, and even though it tends to be a bit more classic in its design, you can just as easily make it bold and modern with the right colours.

As you can see here, I went with the classy colours as it is for an 80th birthday and this lady is class all the way! 

Can be purchased at www.concordand9th.com

I started by stamping with Versamark, on Gina K. Designs Artist's Choice 110lb White Card Stock and heat embossed with gold powder from Stampendous. Then onto the colouring with my copics. I actually used very few different colours, as I don't have a large collection, I just kept colouring over the shaded areas to darken up the colour to show highlight and shading. 
The copics I used are:  Leaves -Y11, YG03, YG63, Flowers -YR000, R83, R85, Cake - YR000, E31,E33, and the platter is E31 and E37

Once I was happy with the coloured cake, I cut out with he coordinating die.

I had this scrap of paper, by Lost & Found, on my desk from another card and I just loved it with the cake. So a touch of foam behind the cake to mount it and done!  Ok, well not yet, but close!  I stamped and cut the happy birthday banner from the same set and attached it to the card front. Drew two little lines to look like sticks holding up the banner. The set actually has a stick stamp in it, but figured I would mess it up as the pieces were already attached to the card. Drawing was a safer bet!

To finish up, I added Versamark and the same gold embossing powder to chipboard numbers and adhered them to the cake. Of course we needed a touch of bling.....so a few sequins from Pretty Pink Posh completes the card.

Hope you like my card inspiration for today!!

(This is not a product affiliated post.....I just share what I buy and love)

Remember...be creative, think of others and kindness always matters.
-Kim

Lotus Flowers

Cardmaking....... totally a travel inspired blog post today!

Recently, my husband and I traveled to South Korea. While there, I saw so many things that awed and inspired me. The stunning lush mountain ranges, the silence in so many spots that calmed my mind amidst the busy cities , the vibrant colours that called to me every where we went, the delicious food on every corner, the wicked coffee, the welcoming and loving folks I met all over the country, the juxtaposition of modern and ancient side by side, the heat.....oh the intense summer heat, not really sure what it did for me, other than exhaust me!  To say the least, the trip stirred many a thing in me, that will stay with me for a long time to come. My creative soul has had an incredible awakening since taking it all in.

So what is that I am blogging about....the lotus, of course and how it has inspired 2 dozen cards since I have been home!  I have always loved the lotus flower, and being Canadian, they are not a very common flower around here, so when I was in Korea, and saw them everywhere, I came home a little obsessed!!  The lotus flower was in its peak growing season while we were there, so they were easy to spy and some were as tall as 5 feet, so you could not miss them. Some of the temples had whole sections that were lotus, as far as your eyes could see, it could see a sea of blooms. Yes, as my husband said, I had my 'giddy on' taking it all in.

Me standing in a lotus patch and trying to take a selfie with a giant Nikon.....not easy! Honestly, I was happy, despite the scowl on my face!


So literally the night I got home and could not sleep due to time change, I set out to find a lotus stamp set. My first thought was Altenew, and of course they came through! Not only was it exactly what I was looking for, but as I read their description of the stamp set, it stated the design had been inspired by their recent travels to Seoul, South Korea. Well, well...this was meant to be! In my shopping cart it went, and I waited impatiently until the mail man delivered it.

I started creating right away while the bright colours were still so clear in my mind.

I used an assortment of mediums to add colour to each flower. I ended up making over 2 dozen cards, each different to the next. So here is a small assortment of some of them.

Copic coloured flowers and Distress Oxide inks in the background

Prisma pencils used for colouring on this one, and Zigs for the background

Zig brushes for the flowers and background

This set of darker cards was created as a masculine Thank You design, so I intentionally kept them simpler and not as detailed as the others. I simply stamped them, and then blurred the image slightly by spritzing with water and a few drops of bleach. It gives it a very ethereal effect I love to use. The paper in the background is handmade Korean paper called, hanji. I absolutely loved all the paper stores I visited there and brought a ridiculous amount home. It is such an art to watch them make it.

Hanji, Korean handmade paper. It is sold in giant sheets, nothing like you would see here

Anyways,  I was very excited to share some of these cards with you, and hope that something inspires you to create like the lotus did for me. No, it does not have to be half way around the world like this experience was for me, as it can be right outside your door. Just open your eyes, look around and take things in differently.

I have a great love for South Korea, for a few different reasons, and I look forward to returning for many reasons. I can honestly say, I look forward to the next lotus festival, as it has captured me and taken me in, and given me one more reason so love this country!

Quick Zig Color Pen cards

Good Morning Card makers!

After a much need break from work and life, that included an amazing trip to Korea, I am back in the game and full of inspiration  from all my travel.

Upon arrival home, I was in need of 6 cards almost right away, so to maximize my time, I used one of my favourite stamp sets "Hello Lovely" from Concord & 9th for all of them, but just changed them up a bit as I went.

I stamped each one with Versamark onto watercolour paper, then heat set with clear embossing powder. Then the fun began.....colouring!! While in Korea, I picked up more Zig Clean Color pens as they were so inexpensive there.....as in 80 cents each inexpensive!!  I coloured each one differently, yet brightly. I know some may find my choice of bright flowers on a sympathy card odd, but I have never been a believer that everything to do with funerals and death need to be black, calm or sedate, and that was only reaffirmed in Korea when we saw a funeral procession and all the flowers where white or vivid pink or yellow. They celebrate the happy that once was, not the darkness you already feel with their passing. Anyhow, you can see bright ruled here, no mater what the sentiment it was reflecting.

As for sentiments, they are both from Gina K designs. The 'Thank You' is from the Bold & Blooming Set and the 'Sympathy from the Sentimental Calla Lily set. Both fairly new releases, that I absolutely adore and use often.

Once done all that, I felt they needed a little something more, so I mixed a touch of the grey and black Zigs together with more water and splashed it on with a paint brush, some cards richer in depth than others. Each finished off with complimentary nuvo drops.

Once they were dry, I mounted onto 6" x 6" card bases and personalized the insides and envelopes.

So far now, a few more cards are caught up personally, but several orders await my attention, but I will focus the next few days on getting sleep, hanging out with our son who we were away from, and the mountain of laundry that is piling up!

Remember...be creative, think of others and kindness always matters.

 Kim

Masculine cards

Good morning,

Today I thought I would share a few masculine cards with you. I have created these over the last several months. Hopefully you can find some inspiration to create your own "guy"cards. I know many often say they struggle with masculine cards, but I kind of enjoy the change from the floral designs we so often use for many other card fronts.

Stampin' Up set Lovely as a Tree

Stamp by Deep Red Stamp

Inks and lighthouse stamp by Gina K. Designs

Set if from Stampin' Up Sail Away

Remember...be creative, think of others and kindness always matters.
 Kim

Foxy Plaid

I wanted to share this cute card with everyone today, because these little foxes from Pretty Pink Posh are some of my favourites. They are just so stinkin cute!!

I already had the plaid on the go and was colouring my foxes when I decided to use a solid background behind them. I had a scrap of paper from another card where I had used Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Inks, so added a bit more pink and water......and magic....it all came together. Love the plaid and the polka dot backdrop together!

Hope you like my sweet little foxy friends as much as I do!

Remember...be creative, think of others and kindness always matters.
 Kim

Beautiful new Gina K Desgins

Good Morning! The other day,  I finally had time to play around with some new Gina K. Design products I received a few weeks ago while I was at an incredible Stamp Junkies weekend held in her retail store. This floral stamp and die set it not for sale yet, but will be shortly.....make sure you grab one when they become available, as it is a wonderful and versatile set.

To create the 12 cards I kept them all relatively the same, and just assembled as I went, after I had mass produced the flowers, backgrounds and layered up the card bases. The flowers and butterflies were heat embossed, some in clear, others in white.

The card bases are white, layered with Innocent Pink paper, topped with another layer of white that I rounded the corners of. The background is a stunning die that can be used for so many occasions, I just love it when a stamp or die can be used for so many things.....stretches our crafting dollar!

After I die cut all the backgrounds, I did a simple sweep of colour over each one with a sponge and blended as I went. For this I used Innocent Pink, Ocean Mist, Jelly Bean Green and Lovely Lavender. After they were done I moved onto the flowers and butterflies, and did the same technique to add a pop of colour. Simple, yet effective for adding colour to many pieces in a short amount of time.

Once everything was coloured, the fun part of building up the card front began!  Like I said earlier, they were all slightly different, but certainly a common thread to each. Some had just flowers others had flowers and butterflies. Each were finished off with a coordinating embellishment and a touch of sparkle using a Wink of Stella pen.

Overall, the 12 cards took just over an hour and I was thrilled how they turned out!

Hope you enjoyed my take using these two wonderful sets by Gina K. Designs

Gina K. Designs, LLC
Remember...be creative, think of others and kindness always matters.
 Kim

Getting Started

Well here I go again!  Back into the blogging world I stepped away from several years ago. I have been dragging my heels to get this underway again,  for some time now, but it is like so much in life, we just need to take the first step. 

I have chosen to go back into blogging to simply offer a different venue to share my cardmaking with folks. Some times it will merely be a finished product and a supply list, but other times I might get wild and crazy and share a how to. 

To get started I thought I would just share a selection of some of the work I have created over the years......so picture heavy for this post!  In my 15 years of cardmaking and selling, I have made thousands of cards. I certainly don't take pictures of them all, but I offer just a little sample.

So go easy on me as I get my feet wet and figure out just what I want to do in this little bit of internet space The Creative Card will call their own.

Remember...be creative, think of others and kindness always matters.

Kim

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