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Hi Madame Kitty!

by Colleen Balija on Jan 10 2025

Hi friends! Boy, have I got a fun card for you today, and there's LOTS of steps to this mixed media piece, so let's not waste time and get started, shall we? We'll be using Madame Kitty stamp, Velvet Blackboard Paper Glaze, Let's Paint stencil, Swanky Sentiments: Salutations, Pearls in Neon Blue & Charcoal Grey, and A2: Stamps Cover Plate with Postmark dies! As I said, there are many steps to this card, but it is really quite easy! The first step was to find a colorful background to use because I planned to stamp the Kitty image over it in black. I grabbed one from my stash of pre-made backgrounds and then stamped the Madame Kitty right in the center, embossing it with black powder so she would stand out! Next, I die cut around her using the half circle die from the A2: Stamps Cover Plate with Postmark dies! I inked up the edges in black ink to grunge it up a bit and frame the kitty. Next, I stenciled two of the corners on the card panel with Let's Paint stencil and Charcoal Black Paper Glaze. When that dried, I applied gold paste over it and around a few spots on the edge of the card panel. Then, I decided to add dimension and depth by using 2 of the smaller postmark dies and die cutting right through the finished panel! Yikes, right? Well stay with mem because it turns out wonderfully! I inked up the edges of the dies in black ink, similar to the edge of the card panel, added foam tape to the back of each die, and then placed it back on the card panel. In looking at the photo above, you can see how the dies pop off the page, but they don't interrupt the kitty focal point! This is a great mixed media technique to use on your projects! I got the idea from my dear friend Natasha Vacca! Lastly, I added the sentiment "Hi" in the lower left corner and placed the entire panel over an A2 sized black card base. This card has so much fun going on, and what started the creative process was Madame Kitty! She deserved to have a place of honor on a mixed media piece! Thanks for stopping by today! To shop the items used in this post, click on the description to be taken to the PFS shop!

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Life Is Better With A Friend

by Brenda Noelke on Dec 16 2024

Hello, crafty friends and happy Monday!! I hope you had a wonderful weekend!! Brenda here today sharing a card featuring the adorable pup in the You Hold My Heart In Your Paw Stamp Set from Saturday's December release!! I began by stamping the pup from the You Hold My Heart In Your Paw Stamp Set onto white cardstock with Momento Espresso Truffle ink. I colored it with Copic markers, then fussy cut it out. I used a white gel pen to brighten the white highlights on the eyes and nose. For the background, I stenciled the Fetch Stencil Set onto a panel of white cardstock. Cream Puff Paper Glaze Glass from the Felines Sampler was applied through the bones layer and Chocolate Frosting Paper Glaze Luxe from the Canines Sampler was used with the paw print stencil. Once dry, the panel was die-cut with the third largest deckle edge die in the Beyond Basics: A2 Vintage Rectangle and Cover Plate Die Set. A panel of burnt orange cardstock was die-cut with the largest die in the Beyond Basics: A2 Rectangle and Cover Plate Die Set. I used the largest rectangle die in the Beyond Basics: A2 Stamp Cover Plate with Postmarks Dies to cut the bottom layer from brown cardstock. All the layers were layered and adhered together using liquid glue. The pup was also adhered with liquid glue, letting the ear hang off the top of the card. The sentiment, from the Life Is Better With A Furry Friend Stamp Set, was stamped onto white cardstock with yellow and orange dye ink. It was die-cut with the second largest oval die in the Basic Die Cutting Die Set 1 and popped up with foam tape. A trio of hearts from the Pick Me Sequin Mix finishes off the card. That does it for me today!! Be sure to check out the rest of the December release in the shop!! Have a great week!! Brenda

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Nothing But Blue Skies Await!

by Colleen Balija on Dec 02 2024

Hi friends! I have a colorful, shiny, and simple card to share with you today using Hot Air Balloons Sighting stamp, Freckle Friends: Climbing Calliope, On a Cloudy Day stencil, Paper Glaze in Twinkle Lights Silver, blue die inks, and A2 Lots of Thanks die plate set! First, I die cut a white card panel using the A2 Lots of Thanks die set. I love this set because it includes layering dies in awesome shades and a WONDERFUL Thank You sentiment die that dies 3 unique Thank you sentiments!!! I applied the Paper Glaze Twinkle Lights Silver onto the outer white frame and set it aside to dry. Using the inner part of the die, I applied 3 shades of teal ink over it to create an ombre effect. I applied the darkest ink over everything using the On a Cloudy Day stencil. Then I stamped the image from Hot Air Balloons Sighting over the inked-up panel a few times using permanent black ink. I adhered the stencil back over the card panel and applied Twinkle Lights Silver paper glaze in just a few places to added texture and shine. Can you see it in the photo above? Once everything was fully dried from the paper glaze (about 15 minutes is all it takes to dry), I adhered the finished card panel and the outer frame onto an A2 sized black card base. Then I stamped a sentiment from Freckled Friends: Climbing Calliope, adhered it over a piece of black cardstock, and added that to the card panel along with 3 birds from that same stamp set! I really enjoy playing with color, texture, and shine. And this card's got it all! Thanks for joining me today! To shop the products used in this post, click on the description to be taken to the PFS shop!

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I Care About You, Friend!

by Colleen Balija on Oct 29 2024

Hey friends! I have a fun mixed media card to share with you today that is PERFECT for any occasion! I'll be using Wreath Building: Christmas Friends stamp, Friend stack word die, Let's Paint stencil, Liquid Splatters, and Pearl mixes! I'll be doing an ink schmooshing technique, so let's get messy! First step was to create a colorful background to compliment the focal point, which will be the Friend stacked word die! I wanted that die to stand out, so a colorful background was the perfect complement to it! Grabbing Liquid Splatters in Opaque Black, Kiwi Lime, Purple Tulip, and Blue Turquoise along with some teal, purple, and lime green reactive inks, I started to build color by placing first the ink onto a glass media matt, spraying it with water, and then "schmooshing" a piece of watercolor paper, sized 5.5x4.25, over the ink. I continued to build color using the various inks and drying between layers to keep each color vibrant. Once that was finished, I went back in with the liquid splatters and continued to build more color! I also splattered the color around with a paint brush to create interest and depth. Then I stenciled Let's Paint with the Liquid Pearls Opaque Black. I removed a bit of the black color with a paper towel so black wasn't so intense. I also used the stencil to remove color from the background I had created by placing the stencil over the background and going over it with a baby white. If you look in the upper left corner in the photo below, you will see how the color was removed! Once the ink schmooshing process was done and the card panel was fully dry, I grabbed 2 rectangle dies and die cut through the middle of the colored card panel and through a piece of black cardstock. Before I adhered all the layers back together, I had to add my sentiment! I die cut the outer layer of the sentiment into the colored card panel (the center piece). Then I die cut the word "friend" onto a piece of black cardstock and adhered it over the out layer. Now I was ready to adhere everything onto a 5.5x4.25 card base! The sentiment was adhered using foam tape so that it popped off the page a bit! Finally, I added a sentiment that said "I care about you" along with 2 cocktails that are included in the Wreath Building: Christmas Friends and placed those over the sentiment die! I thought that was perfect for a friendship card! Then I added a few pearls from the Bright Blue & Soft Violet set, and this card was finished! I'm so happy you stopped by today! To shop the items used in this post, click on the description to be taken to the PFS shop!

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Friend - A Peony of Contrast

by Brenda Noelke on Oct 22 2024

Hello, friends and happy Tuesday!! Brenda here with a friendship card featuring the stunning A Peony of Contrast Stamp Set!! This is definitely one of my faves from the October release!! I began by stamping the A Peony of Contrast Stamp Set onto white cardstock with pale tan ink for some no-line coloring. I colored it with Copic markers and colored pencils, then fussy cut it out. For the background, I spread Huckleberry Blue Paper Glaze onto a panel of navy cardstock through the Frame of Mind 6x8 Stencil with a palette knife. (I turned the stencil at an angle slightly for a little more interest.) Once it was totally dry, it was die-cut with the largest die in the Beyond Basics: A2 Rectangle and Cover Plate Die Set. The peony was adhered with liquid glue. I also spread the Huckleberry Blue Paper Glaze onto a small piece of navy cardstock. Once that was dry, "friend" was die-cut from it using the Cheers My Friend Word Die Set, along with three more layers from navy cardstock. They were stacked and adhered together with liquid glue, then added to the front of the card. I decided to forgo any sequins or gems and let the beautiful bloom shine. I can't wait to color this stamp set with all the mediums!! Thank you so much for stopping by today!! Have a wonderful week!! Brenda