caran d'ache

Bold and Colorful with Pinkfresh Studio!

October 8, 2019

Hi there! Today, I am over on the Pinkfresh Studio blog sharing some inspiration using the latest release from Pinkfresh Studio! One of my favorite parts about holiday crafting is trying to use unique and non-traditional color combinations with pretty holiday stamps and dies. The latest release featured some beautiful botanical holiday illustrations, and I’ve paired them with a striking sparkling gold and deep teal color scheme to make them pop. Let’s get started with the details!

For my first project, I paired the fabulous Delicate Wreath stamps and dies with a frame from Pretty Frames and a die cut sentiment from the brand new Classic Holiday Words dies. I began by heat embossing the main image from Delicate Wreath onto some deep teal cardstock using gold sparkle embossing powder. I die cut it with the coordinating dies.

I also die cut a frame using the Pretty Frames dies from some gold foil cardstock. I love the Pretty Frames dies (both the original and Pretty Frames 2) because the cut several individual frames that are great used together or separately! I adhered one of the gold foil frames to the deep teal card base, then layered the gold and teal wreath over the top of it with dimensional foam adhesive. I also die cut a Be Merry from Classic Holiday Words from the same teal cardstock and gold foil (I wanted to try to keep to the gold and teal color scheme as much as possible.) and adhered it using foam tape. The final touch was to add a few gems from the Essentials Jewels Mix.

For the second card, I used the same basic color scheme, this time pairing it with some colored pencil coloring. I heat embossed the Cozy Christmas Wishes stamp set using some more gold sparkle embossing powder on another panel of deep teal cardstock. I then used my Caran D’Ache colored pencils to add color to the individual images.

Once I had finished coloring the images, I added the largest outer frame from the Pretty Frames die cut that I had cut previously from gold foil cardstock.

One of my goals for Christmas cards is to make them super easy to mail, and this one definitely fits the bill! Just add a message inside, throw it in an envelope with a stamp, and put it in the mail box. Easy Peasy!

Well, that’s all for my projects today. I hope you’re enjoying the inspiration with the newest release. There are so many beautiful new products to play with! Thanks so much for stopping by today, and have a marvelous day!

Hero Arts and Pinkfresh Studio Collaboration Celebration Blog Hop!

August 15, 2019

Hi there! Today, I’m super excited to be taking part in another fabulous blog hop featuring a collaborative effort from two of my favorite stamp companies: Hero Arts and Pinkfresh Studios! I am lucky enough to serve on the design teams for both of these fantastic companies, so I was extra thrilled when I heard that they were going to be working together for a collaborative stamp set! This beautiful new set features a gorgeous floral frame, as well as some fantastic sentiments drawn by my friend Caly Person. You should have arrived here from Cathy Zielske’s blog, and your next stop is Heather Hoffman’s blog.

The stamp set, called You Make A Difference (you can see it here on the Hero Arts website as well as here on the Pinkfresh Studios website), features such beautiful, poignant sentiments in addition to that gorgeous floral frame. A must-have, to be sure! I’ve paired it with my Caran D’Ache colored pencils for a hand-drawn look. Let’s get started with the details!

I began by stamping the beautiful floral image from the stamp set on an A2 panel of Pebble card stock using Unicorn White pigment ink. I then used a variety of plum, blue, and fuchsia pencils to add color to the beautifully detailed image, coloring directly over the top of the stamped images.

After I’d finished my pencil coloring, I used Wet Cement ink and the Life Changing Blender Brushes from Picket Fence Studios to blend a bit of a halo around the edges of the panel. The gray ended up picking up a bit of the green from the foliage as I blended, but I really liked the effect! It reminded me of a mystical glen or something. (Ha, that’s stretching it a bit, Emily…)

After I’d finished with my card base, I die cut the Love Stamp and Cut from Hero Arts three times using Plum card stock and adhered them together to create a dimensional die cut. I also white embossed the coordinating greeting, also from the Love Stamp and Cut, on some strips of Pebble card stock. I popped them up with a bit of foam tape for extra dimension.

Well, that’s all for my project today! Now, I’ve got some fun giveaway information for you!

3 different prizes are up for grabs, drawn from comments left across the blog hop:
One winner will receive the stamp set!
One winner will receive a $25 shopping spree at Pinkfresh Studio
One winner will receive a $25 shopping spree at Hero Arts

The more comments you leave, the more chances you have to win!

Your next stop on the hop is Heather Hoffman. You can also head back to the Hero Arts blog to start at the beginning if you get lost. Thanks so much for stopping by today, and have a marvelous day!

Just A Little Lovely with Pinkfresh Studios!

August 6, 2019

Hi there! I just wanted to pop in and share a couple of projects that I have up on the Pinkfresh Studios blog today. I have a pair of cards using the new Just A Little Lovely paper and embellishment packs as my jumping off point. I love patterned paper (and tend to hoard it as such), but I’ve found so many gorgeous patterns in my stash that I just hate for them to sit unloved- particularly the new Just A Little Lovely stack. I used one sheet today as my color combination guide for my projects. Let’s get started with the details!

I began by trimming one of the beautiful floral patterns from Just A Little Lovely down to an A2 sized panel. It has a charming pink, plum, and gray floral motif. I die cut the Hello negative die from a panel of plum card stock, then backed it with the patterned panel so that the pattern was just peeking through the die cut letters.

Once I had created my main focal point using the patterned panel beneath the die cut panel, I added a few puffy floral embellishments from the coordinating embellishment packs, as well as a few color coordinated enamel dots. A simple and elegant card, made even easier by using the embellishments from the Just A Little Lovely collection!

For my second project today, I wanted to create something a little more involved, but still utilizing that beautiful pink, gray, and plum color combination from the first project. I began by die cutting the goooorgeous Geo Floral cover plate from some dove gray card stock, then layering it over another A2 panel of the plum card stock. Such a pretty combination that shows off the detail of that fabulous cover plate so well!

Next, I stamped one of the bouquets from the Blooming Bouquet stamp set on some more dove gray card stock using some sparkle embossing powder. I then used my Caran D’ache colored pencils to color the images and add some pops of color. I die cut the finished image using the coordinating die.

After I’d cut the floral image, I layered it over the top of the card base using foam adhesive. I then added the “lovely” puffy sticker from the Just A Little Lovely embellishment packs, along with a few coordinating enamel dots and some jewels.

Well, that’s all for my projects today! I hope you’ll be inspired to actually use some of that beautiful patterned paper that you surely have hiding in your craft room instead of squirreling it away for a rainy day! Thanks so much for stopping by today, and have a marvelous day!

Altenew July Stencil Release Blog Hop+ Giveaway!

July 23, 2019

Hi there! Today, I’m thrilled to be taking part in another fabulous Altenew Stencil Release and blog hop. You should have arrived here from Maryam Perez’s blog, and your next stop is Angieszka Malyszek. You can also check out the Altenew Card Blog to get the full hop list. Today’s release is all about stencils. Stencils are such a fantastically versatile tool to have in your arsenal; you can use them in countless ways, with so many different tools and mediums. I have two projects to show you today, so let’s get started with the details! Be sure to read all the way to the end to get the fabulous giveaway information!

I’ve been all about making card sets that “coordinate” of late… Color has always been my starting point for creating; my brain sees the color combination first, and so I try to apply that color combination to a variety of styles and products. For today’s stencil release, I’ve created two projects using a beautiful fuchsia, amethyst, and muted gray color scheme, combining the new Diamond Builder stencil and the Doily Frame stencil with some older Altenew favorites. Let’s get started with the details!

For this super graphic and bold project, I began by blending the multi-layered Diamond Builder stencil using Moon Rock, Ultraviolet, Lavender Fields, and Magenta on some Pebble card stock from Hero Arts. This stencil creates such a unique background. By simply turning the stencil and flipping it over, you create a fun, super graphic pattern. It did take me a few practice runs to get the exact right combination of flips and turns, but I had such fun that I didn’t even mind! It was like magic watching the pattern come to life! After I’d finished blending the background pattern using blending brushes, I put together some bold (and somewhat unnatural-looking haha) flowers using the Wild Rose layered dies and some coordinating colored card stock.

I arranged the flowers and foliage in a little swag, then die cut a large Hello from some black glitter paper, adhering it to a rectangle of vellum to help soften the bold pattern behind it. I popped up all of the die cuts using foam adhesive, then added a few gems to add a bit of sparkle.

For my second project, I kept to the same color purple, pink, and gray color scheme, this time with a much more subtle pattern. I began by placing the new Doily Frame stencil and the interior insert on an A2 panel of Pebble card stock, then blended Moon Rock and Ultraviolet inks using blending brushes to create a muted purple. I also stamped a rose swag from the recently released Always and Forever stamp set using white ink, again on Pebble card stock. I wanted to stay true to my chosen color scheme, not wanting to have that annoying white border that comes with having your image on white card stock. Coloring the beautiful rose image using colored pencils on the gray card stock helped to seamlessly add the die cut image to my card front without compromising my color scheme!

After I’d finished coloring the image with my Luminance colored pencils, I die cut the swag with the coordinating dies, then trimmed it in half. I also trimmed a bit off the edge of my stenciled panel, then added a strip of charcoal and a strip of pink glitter paper to the edge to add some extra contrast. I mounted the penciled die cut on the doily using foam tape, along with a sentiment from the Sentiment Strips stamp set that I’d heat embossed on a strip of purple card stock. The final touch was to add some gems for sparkle!

stamp set that I’d heat embossed on a strip of purple card stock. The final touch was to add some gems for sparkle!

Well, that’s all for my projects today. Now, to share some fun giveaway information with you!

To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $30 gift certificate to 6 lucky winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog and/or Altenew Scrapbook Blog by 7/28/2019 for a chance to win.

We’ll also draw a winner to receive a $15 gift certificate from the comments left on each designer’s blog on the blog hop list below. All winners will be announced on the Altenew blogs on 7/30/2019. The more comments you leave, the more chances you have to win!

Pinkfresh Studio May Essentials Release Blog Hop+Giveaway!

May 20, 2019

Hi there! Happy Monday! Today, Pinkfresh Studio is having a blog hop to celebrate their newest Essentials release. You should have arrived here from Cathy Zielske’s blog, and your next stop on the hop is Enza Gudor’s blog. These “essentials” releases are comprised of items that are truly essential to the papercrafting process, with the added bonus of having a little extra Pinkfresh “flair” to make them even more unique and versatile! This month, in addition to a plethora of fabulous dies, we also are releasing some gorgeous new jewels and crystals, perfect for adding that extra touch of sparkle to your projects! To celebrate their newest release, Pinkfresh is offering multiple giveaways, a freebie, and a shipping promotion. Read all the way to the end for all of the details! I have two projects for you today, so let’s get started with the details.

For my first project, I wanted to showcase the beautiful details in the new Braided Circles die set. I began by die cutting just the detailed cutout portion of the dies from a panel of black A2 card stock, backing it with some bright purple foil card stock to flash and shimmer through the negative spaces. I also stamped the lovely floral spring from the recently-released Folk Hummingbird stamp set using white ink on some more black card stock.

I used my C’aran D’Ache Luminance colored pencils to do some no-line coloring on the black card stock; it’s amazing how vibrant the Luminance colors are, even on black card stock! I die cut the finished penciled image using the coordinating dies, then layered it over the circular window of the Braided Circles panel. I added a white die cut Hello from the Essentials Words die set for the greeting and a few new jewels for some sparkle!

(I highly encourage you to check out the new jewels and crystals… each embellishment pack comes with a huge variety of colors, and the storage is absolutely perfect. No need to find your own method of storing these sparklies; they come in their own storage containers!! Genius!)

For my second project, I am showcasing the absolutely gorgeous new Pretty Frame 2 die! I had a leftover floral bouquet from a previous Pinkfresh Liquid Watercolors painting session (you can see the other projects in this blog post), and I thought that the pretty, feminine colors in the bouquet matched the beautiful feminine details in the new Pretty Frame 2 die! I die cut the new Pretty Frame 2 die from some black card stock, then layered it over some beautiful bright amethyst card stock, the contrast of which allowed for those gorgeous detailed cutouts from the new die to really pop.

I layered the watercolored bouquet over the die cut frame using foam tape, then added a sentiment (from Abstract Builder and black embossed on a strip of amethyst card stock) with more foam tape. The final touch was some of the new jewels to add a bit of sparkle.

Now for some fun promotions and giveaway information!

Each order on the Pinkfresh Studio website will receive a free XO die with purchase. There is no code necessary… the die will automatically load into your cart!

We will also be offering free/discounted shipping from May 20-26th on orders $50+. You must use the code MAYESSFREESHIP50. Shipping is free in the USA, and $5.50 off for our International friends.

In addition, Pinkfresh Studio is also hosting a few giveaways…

We will be giving away the full April Essentials release on the Pinkfresh blog, and on our IG feed!

Pinkfresh Studio has also generously given each stop on the blog hop a $25 gift certificate to give away! All you have to do to enter each of the giveaways is leave a comment on the blogs. The winners will be chosen and posted on Monday, May 27th on our GIVEAWAY PAGE. You must check that page & claim your prize within 2 weeks.

Your next stop on the hop is Enza Gudor’s blog. Here’s the rest of the blog hop list in case you get lost:

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