Christmas Reindeer with Mama Elephant

Hello everyone,

I am deep into Christmas creating over here, so I thought I would pop by and share a few cards and tags I made today using the super cute Mama Elephant set that is filled with playful reindeers. The set was released awhile ago, however, I just picked up the stamp and die combo recently, when I saw it on sale.

I started off by stamping a full sheet of Neenah solar white cardstock with the images, using Gina K Designs Amalgam ink, and went to town colouring them with my copics. All the reindeers are coloured similar with E31 and E33, and the hoofs and antlers were E37. The grey is W1. I kept them all fairly simple, with not a ton of shading,as I was trying to get 30 images coloured in one take while the baby was napping.

As for the paper, I used only scraps I had on hand. I have been working hard at using bit and pieces up and not cutting into a new sheet right now. Later in the season, that will come, but for now, there are so many scraps, there is no need. 

I also made 12 Tags. Once again, scrap bits for these cuties. I sell tons and tons of tags at my Christmas shows, and I know these guys will be some of the first to go this year. Or I may just keep them for myself!!

In total, I made 20 cards and 12 tags so far with this set, and I am sure a few more will follow.

I know many crafters are starting their Christmas creations already, so keep going and those that are procrastinating, like I usually do, get on it!  Hopefully you see something that sparks you, and inspires you.

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

 Kim

The Ton Stamps -- Butterfly Love

In today's post, I will be working with these stunning stamps and die from The Ton Stamps.  I own many stamps and inks from them, they are hands down one of my favourite companies out there. The quality of the product is top notch and some of the most visually impressive designs on the market right now. If I am scrolling around on social media, I can always spot The Ton Stamps designs on a card, there is something distinctive about Effie's stamp detail, that makes them pop!

So this July, I got to meet the lovely owner of The Ton Stamps in person, and I was in awe!  She is equal measures of gorgeous, talent and genuine, through and through! I LOVED chatting and hanging out with her, and her mom, as well as taking her phenomenal make and take.  I learned so much about watercolouring!!

Me, giddy to meet this delightful human, named Effie, the owner of The Ton Stamps!!

Like I said earlier, I own several products from The Ton Stamps, however, I only discovered the large pop up dies while they were all spread out in front of me at the make and take. Wow!!  Are they ever neat!  I played around with the peony pop up die there, but knew when I got home, I needed to order the Butterfly one......just so pretty!

I purchased the Monarch Pop-Up Dies and the Beautiful Butterflies 3 Stamp set, and that is what I will be sharing with you today.

I started by creating background paper using the stamps. Using black Versafine, I stamped a random pattern all over the paper, added Hero Arts clear embossing powder and heat set. I kept the colouring of the butterflies super simple, because I wanted to create half a dozen 8x10 sheets, so just a quick bit of orange and yellow went into them, using my Zig markers. At first, I was going to keep the background white, but decided to add colour to one sheet to see if I liked it. Guess what? I did! So I added Distress Ink, in Spiced Pumpkin and Scattered Straw all over the paper, and a few drops of water and ending up loving how it turned out. Sometimes, you just need to play around with things!

  I cut the patterned cardstock I had made, down to my card base size of 5 x 7, and mounted on black. 

I had a specific person in mind while making this card, so added a 'Thinking of You' stamp and die sentiment from Gina K Designs to it. 

Couple of  sequins from Simon Says Stamps in Moonshine, rounds it out for me.

Now to the inside and using the fun pop up die. 

 To start, I took a sheet of watercolour paper and added Distress Inks in the same colours I used before, and covered the entire paper in an orange wash of colour, and set it aside to dry. Then cut out the outline using black 110lb cardstock. Once the watercolour paper was dry, I die cut the back of the wings out. Now it was just a matter of adhering all the pieces together, which was really easy. For this, I used Craft Tacky Glue from Tonic. Once the butterfly was assembled, I simply added him to the card base at the fold.  Found some older Basic Grey patterned paper in my stash and added it in to cover up the tabs that are on the back of the butterfly and to add some more pretty to the whole look. Final touch for this guy, was a few white dots scattered on the orange using a white Copic marker.

I created another butterfly and added him to a large flower I had made earlier, that was sitting atop a wedding gift.

 Nice little take away for the bride, to have.

I loved working with this die set, very easy with impressive results. Can't ask for much more! 

When you get a minute, hop on over to the website and check out Effie's incredible product, you won't be disappointed!  https://www.thetonstamps.com

Now, I better write a message inside to my sweet friend Julie, who is dealing with a tough medical blow right now, and get it into the mail for her. (P.S. Julie, close your eyes, you did not see this card!!)

(Not an affiliated post, just love for The Ton Stamps)

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

 Kim

Love From Lizi Mega Kit

Even though Halloween is not for awhile yet, I recently received the September Mega Kit from Love from Lizi, and began to play with all the amazing goodies in it right away..........and I am in love! Lizi released this mega kit to celebrate her companies 2nd birthday, this September. 

If you haven't heard of Love from Lizi, here is a touch about her company. Lizi is based out of the UK, designs and manufactures many of her own products as well as carries several name brand companies you may be more familiar with in North America. She releases some pretty awesome kits monthly, as well as add on products and ships them just about any where in the world, in pretty fast order might I add! Her pricing is incredible for the kit contents. I was truly blown away with this months kit and its contents, and the price is was sold at. The kits sell out fairly quickly, so shop fast friends!

I had known of  Love From Lizi and own a few of  her products, however, I got to meet her this past July at a retreat in the United States, and adored her immediately. She was along side the lovely Laura Gallimore, who was teaching a class there. We gabbed tons over lunch, at classes and everything in between. I have a deep love for the UK, so of course we talked of that a lot! We joked we were the fellow Commonwealth crafters, as I am Canadian and they are from the UK!

This is us between classes one day at a Stamp Junkies retreat.

 Laura Gallimore on the the left, the lovely Lizi in the middle, and me on the right.

This post will be picture heavy so I can share some of the things I made. In all honesty, I created 22 cards so far, and still have lots of bits and pieces to go, and of course the stamps and dies can be used for ever and a day, because that is the awesome part about stamp and die combos...they stick around!  Most everything I used is from the kit, with few exceptions, mostly I added black cardstock. This kit is so chock full, you don't need to add much. 

This card simply used paper and the flower die cuts from the kit, and I arranged them in the cauldron. 

Added a touch a of sequins and the Nuvo drops to finish off. 

Certainly not Halloweenish, (is that a word??)  but I love it!

This card uses the die cuts and the wood cauldron, which I just added colour to with a black copic marker. Sequins and nuvo are bubbling out to add some fun! She might be my favourite!

For this card, I added colour contrast by using the peel offs that are part of the kit to frame out the tag and card. It is really easy to do, yet adds dimension and sparkle to the card, as well as matches the kit paper perfectly!

Simple use of the awesome wood skulls, and just mounted on a piece of kraft cardstock as is matched so well.

Ok, maybe she is my favourite........I just love them all!  Anyhoo, for this background, I used the included spider web stencil, and inked it with Distress oxide ink and spritz of water. While the paper was still wet, I touched it ever so slightly with leftover Brusho that was on my mat, and I love how it turned out. Bits of blue and orange flecks in there to add interest. To finish off, added another lovely lady and sentiment to the front and called it done. 

For this card, I used the new to me product called Brusho. How fun is that stuff?? I honestly had to Google what to do with it, now I am hooked and need more colours. I sprinkled a touch on the paper added water and magic happened....so cool the backgrounds you can make. Added the sweet witch on her broom, pumpkins, stamped a sentiment and of course bling.

This lovely is just added to a simple oval background and embellished in the corner with flowers and a sentiment. I felt her sweetness called for polka dots, so I made some using the Nuvo drops

This little trio, was using some of my bits and pieces at the end and thinking outside of a traditional card. The kitty card is a shaker card, well because all those sequins screamed for a shaker card, and I made a little pocket inside for a gift card that you pull out using the die cut broom. The owl is sitting pretty with her matching ribbon on a gift bag, and the last is a little box for candy y'all. Wrapped more ribbon around it to look festive and the little green spider was an add on, I had in my stash.

Last but not least, this cutey is hanging with her spider friends. Once again, these are from my stash, but matched the paper so well. I really love this pink paper and how it makes her pop.

So crafty friends, I hope I have inspired you a touch and to start thinking Halloween. Please hop over to Lizi's website and check her kits and products out. You can find her at https://www.lovefromlizi.com/

Happy 2nd Birthday, Love from Lizi.....keep up the great work!

This is all the awesome stuff that comes in the kit! So many goodies

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

 Kim

Penguin Christmas Cards using Wild Rose Studio

I know, it is only the summer, but I am deep into planning and prepping for the Christmas season already. I have even started to create a few cards and tags, so I thought I would share!  Craft show season comes up quick, and these things always get away from me, so better to be extremely early, than not at all!

For these two cards, I worked with Wild Rose Studio Stamps. I have several different stamps from them, and boy, are they cute! This little guy and the owl set, are some of my most beloved stamps.

I have had this penguin stamp for a few years, and he has been used plenty of times, but I pulled him out anyways past all the new stamps I have, and started colouring.  He is so darn cute, I couldn't pass him up on the shelf!

To start off, I got out my Gina K. Designs Artist Choice 110lbs cardstock, and black Amalgam Ink.  As I was not sure if the penguins would be copic coloured or pencil coloured, this awesome ink by Gina K Designs allows me to use any colour medium, once I decide.   I went ahead and stamped a couple dozen, that way they are ready to go for a quick project another time. I decided to use my Copic markers for them.    

                   


Penguin C1, C3, C5, C7 
Feet Y13, Y35, Y38, YR04
Present  BG10, B02, 
Ribbon Y11, E31, E33, R37
Scarf  YR000, R11, R83










Penguin C1, C3, C5, C7 
Feet Y13, Y35, Y38, YR04
Feet Y13, Y35, Y38, YR04
Present YG03,YG63, G94
Ribbon Y11, E31, E33, R37
Scarf  R22, r24, R29, R35





Once these cuties were coloured, I set off on a hunt in my scrap pile for papers that would match. I have such a leftover stash of bits and pieces on my work space right now, I knew it would not be a problem to find matching papers, even if they weren't Christmas patterns per se. I cut the frame using a Lawn Fawn - Stitched Scalloped Die - from Bazzill paper, as well as the the red sentiment from Bazzill. The background  papers are from some very old Poppystamps leftovers, and the red denim is from Recollections...........not bad for a scrap pile offering!

Once the cards found matching papers to hang out with, it was just time to assemble and embellish. For that, I stamped the Merry Christmas sentiment with a Stampabilities stamp using Versafine ink, added sequins with Simon Says Stamp - Assorted Moonshine, and last, but not least, I dug out the bells, twine and wood snow flake from my stash. Of course, Stickles for a touch of glitter on their hats.

The Red and Green card front is popped up on two pieces of craft foam, just to give it a little dimension and to not make the card front bumpy on top of the wrapped twine. 

While I was colouring these guys last week, I put a fun poll on my Instagram account @thecreativecard, asking which colour combo folks liked better. For several days, the pink/teal combo won, but as of today, the red/green has won by a landslide! Sorry pink/teal!

Anyways, hope everyone is enjoying the end of summer and the routine that the fall season often brings. I know in our house, we are looking forward to the schedule of school and work. 

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

 Kim

Sunny Studio Stamps Balloons

Hi everyone. 
Been a little busy these days with lots of unexpected things popping up, and eating away at my already planned tasks and deadlines. Funny how our lives think it has the right to just take over our crafting time!! How rude! lol!!

Anyhoo....today I am sharing a card I made a couple weeks ago and started the matching post, but like I said, life has taken ownership of my time.

I recently bought several new Sunny Studio Stamp sets to play around with. As I make so many birthday cards, one of the them that I bought was the "Birthday Balloon" set. I thought these would be great to add to my collection as the image has so many options for stamping and great little sentiments as well. I just adore the Birthday script in it!

Sunny Studio Stamps Birthday Balloon

I played around with colour combos and ink companies that I really liked. In the end, I settled on Gina K Design inks for them all. Using my Misti stamping tool, I stamped about 50 balloons in all different colours, then used the coodinating die to cut them all out. 

After that, I just started to make card fronts and piled on the balloons! Each were different, some had several and some had a single balloon. In the end, I was able to complete 20 cards and they are ready for my upcoming craft show season.

For the card above, I simply stamped the outline all over a 12 x 12 cardstock sheet, to create a random background, which could be cut up. By having a simpler backround, I then only used three of the detailed, cut out balloons and popped them up with foam. By starting with a large 12" paper, I was then able to quickly cut it up into 4, 5" squares (like this one) and then still have a 2" strip that got cut up into other card fronts. I always think, go big or go home! You have it all out, why just stamp on little piece when you can complete several at once!

Most of the balloons were finished off with a bit of "wink of stella" and/or "Tim Holtz Micro Distress Glaze" to give great sheen to the balloon. I love that glaze, as it gives the balloons another layer of realism, like it truly is reflecting the light source.

I highly recommend this set, as it is easy to create multiple fun cards to have on hand, and such a great price point too!

(Not an affiliated post)

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

 Kim

Valentines Cards

Valentine's Day Cards using 

Valentine Penguins by Gerda Steiner Designs

This past Christmas, I did not make holiday cards to send to all my friends and family. I had made and sold close to 1100 cards for crafts shows and customers, so that thought of making more sent me over the edge! Just wasn't in me. I really did want to send something though, so I thought about Valentines Day. The more I thought I about it, the better it sounded to me. Think about, we often get lots of cards around Christmas time, and then nothing, so I set out to make and surprise lots of folks with Valentine's Day cards.  A nice little treat in the mail, in the thick of winter.

I wasn't sure what I wanted, so I started peaking around at different sets and when I saw Gerda Steiner Valentines Penguins set.....I was in love and knew it would be perfect!

Once they arrived in the mail, I set out to create as many as I could pull off, which happens to be 57! I just stamped in Memento black ink, and kept the colouring very simple with copics. 

I really did not put a lot of planning into them, the goal was to mass produce and keep it as simple as I could. After a ton of little penguins were coloured, I made card bases and gathered several coordinating papers and started assembling them. Making sure all the scraps were used as well. The fact that the penguins themselves were fairly neutral because of the their grey scale, matching papers to them was a breeze.

Each were different to the next, but certainly similar, which helped the production of them all. 

It felt soooooo good to pop them in the mail and then hear from so many of my crafty friends how much they enjoyed receiving them. 

Valentines Day is a day to share how much someone means to you, not just your spouse or partner. We all need to be reminded we are thought of and loved. We all need our friends and our family to get through this hectic, stress filled life, so take a minute and send them a text, a an email or the old fashioned phone call to let them know they are on your mind.  If it takes a day on the calendar to remind you to do that, then all the more reason to tell someone.  

Happy Valentines Day everyone! 


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

 Kim