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Sixth Street Sundries

Emily Midgett

christmas card

Joyful in Red and White!

This post was sponsored by Simon Says Stamp. Thanks, Simon!

If you’re an email subscriber, a draft of this post might have been sent out inadvertently. My apologies for clogging your email!

Hi friends! I have a festive holiday project to share with you today using some of the new products from the Simon Says Stamp All the Joy release. I rarely seem to use red outside of holiday crafting, but when I get started, I just can’t seem to stop! I love pairing interesting papers to create tone-on-tone backgrounds, and the new Dazzling Ornament Plate provided the perfect opportunity to pair cherry red cardstock with some gorgeous Rich Red Matte Metallic cardstock from Simon Says Stamp. Let’s get started with the details!

To begin, I die cut the Dazzling Ornament Plate twice: once from Cherry cardstock and once from Rich Red Matte Metallic cardstock. I covered the front of a card base with Tear-rific Tape and removed the release paper. Once I had created my sticky “canvas,” I adhered the negative space around the ornament die cuts from the plain cardstock piece to the card front, then added the Rich Red Matte Metallic cardstock die cuts to create a luxurious monochromatic background with tons of beautiful texture and interest!

For the greeting, I die cut the detail layer of the new Joyful die from some White Glossy cardstock, then adhered it to the solid background layer, cut from some heavyweight vellum. To make a more complete sentiment, I trimmed down a greeting from the Typed Christmas sentiment cards set.

After I had adhered the greeting pieces to the brilliant red card front using foam adhesive, I wanted to add some botanical accents with the new Bountiful Berries die. I die cut the berries from some red glitter cardstock and the foliage from two different shades of green from my stash, then tucked them behind the die cut greeting with some more foam adhesive. Finally, I added a few crisp white Something New pearls from Trinity Stamps. So many different textures and types of shine and sparkle!

Well, that’s all for my project today! I am definitely getting my fill of vibrant cherry red this season. I hope you don’t mind! Thanks so much for stopping by today, and have a marvelous day!

Fancy Ornaments in Rose Gold!

This post was sponsored by Simon Says Stamp. Thanks, Simon!

Hi friends! How do you feel about rose gold? I personally don’t really love rose gold jewelry for myself, but I absolutely adore it for crafting… especially holiday crafting. Traditional holiday color schemes are always acceptable and festive, but sometimes I like to switch it up and use something totally unique and super elegant, like this monochromatic blush and rose gold project today using goodies from the new Simon Says Stamp All the Joy release. Let’s get started on the details!

To start, I die cut a panel of pale blush cardstock using a large die from the Nested Domed Arches die set. I then ran that arched die cut through my die cutting machine using the Fancy Ornaments embossing folder. The detail on this embossing folder is absolutely scrumptious, and you can do so many marvelous techniques with it to enhance the details. I chose to keep things a little simple, though, and let the details just add some subtle texture to the backdrop by adding some Cheeky Pawsitively Saturated blending around the edges of the arched die cut. I also splattered some rose gold handmade metallic watercolors on the background to add extra shimmer!

If you haven’t tried using embossing folders with metallic cardstock, this is your signal to try it out ASAP. The details from these 3D embossing folders become even more spectacular when using metallic mirror cardstock like the Rose Gold metallic cardstock from Simon Says Stamp. I die cut each of the different ornament shapes from the Fancy Ornaments set using the Rose Gold mirror cardstock and ran them through the embossing folder to add the textured details.

For the greeting, I die cut the detail layer of the Monoline Merry Christmas die set from some coordinating blush foil cardstock in the Memory Box Vintage Pastel paper pad, then adhered it to the background layer cut from vellum. I arranged the embossed mirror ornament die cuts and die cut sentiment on the embossed arch and adhered them with some foam adhesive. I also added sparkling rose gold twine to each ornament to allow them to “hang” on the card front. I popped up the die cut arch on a panel of peachy rose gold glitter cardstock that I found in my stash. I love how the different metallic textures add interest to the monochromatic card! I added a few sparkling gems for one last touch of shimmer.

Well, that’s all for my project today! Embossing on metallic foil cardstock is such a unique way to add some incredible texture and luxury to your holiday cards without adding a bunch of extra time to your project. Thanks so much for stopping by today, and have a marvelous day!

Floral Winter Wishes with Simon Says Stamp!

This post was sponsored by Simon Says Stamp. Thanks, Simon!

Hi friends! I am having such fun playing with all of the new goodies from the new All the Joy release from Simon Says Stamp. Christmas cards are my favorite kind of cards to create, and the new All the Joy release is filled with some exceptionally beautiful new products. I particularly loved the Winter Wishes set; it reminded me very much of Rifle Paper Company designs with the simplistic, but elegant, nature of the flowers and lots of options for foliage. I have created two cards to share with you today, so let’s get started with the details!

For both of my projects, I kept the color scheme simple and Christmas-y, with pinky reds and soft greens. When I’m working with layered stamps like this or when I know I will be using a lot of ink colors on one project, I like to pull out my ink cubes to keep things simple and to help me keep track of what colors I used on my projects! For both of today’s projects, I used the Red Berries and Green Trees ink cubes.

To start, I created a background using the stencils from the Ornament Masks set, blending each ornament a different shade of red using blending brushes onto some white Hammermill cardstock. While the stencils were still in place, I stamped the floral patterns using individual stamps from the Winter Wishes set with the Red Berries and Green Trees ink cubes. This was truly magical to see the patterns come alive on the ornaments; removing the stencils was such fun!!

Once I had finished stamping the patterns, I removed the stencils and placed the masks over the top of the blended and stamped ornaments, adhering them with some low-tack tape.I then placed the stencils around the edges of the red ornaments and blended some Sage ink from the Green Trees ink cube set. Keeping the masks in place, I also blended around the edges of the card front using Aspen ink. The tone-on-tone blending for the background reminds me of bokeh; it allows those red ornaments to be the star of the show! I also splattered the background with some shimmering handmade watercolors while the masks were still adhered, then dotted the flower centers with some dark gray shimmer paints, just to add a little extra sparkle to the card front.

Once I had created my background panel, I die cut the A2 Thin Frames from some deep green cardstock and adhered one to my patterned A2 panel using liquid adhesive. I heat embossed a greeting from Winter Wishes using Obsidian pigment ink and adding some White Satin Pearl embossing powder over the top to keep the greeting a little more muted than a stark black sentiment and add a touch of pearlescent shimmer. After die cutting the greeting using the coordinating die, I used the residual ink left on my blending brush to blend around the edges, making the sentiment die cut a coordinating soft green. I popped the greeting up with some foam adhesive, then added a few shimmering gems for one last touch of sparkle!

For my second card, I used the flowers from the Winter Wishes set to accent one of the large greetings included in the set. I stamped lots of flowers, foliage, and berries using the Red Berries and Green Trees ink cubes onto more Hammermill, then die cut them with the coordinating dies. I also stamped a couple of the large greetings from the Winter Wishes set using Obsidian pigment ink and adding some White Satin Pearl embossing powder over the top. I think this pearlescent charcoal is such a lovely and elegant alternative to the usual black sentiment!

After I had stamped and die cut all of the elements from the Winter Wishes set, I trimmed down a panel of white cardstock to 3.75 x 5″ and ran it through my die cut machine using the Burst Snowflakes EF. I thought this snowflake pattern looked beautifully lacy and feminine, the perfect backdrop for the bright flowers and foliage! I popped the embossed panel up with some foam adhesive, then arranged the greeting and floral die cuts, adhering them with both liquid and foam adhesive, finally finishing the project off with some shimmering gems. So simple, but so elegant, I think!

Well, that’s all for my projects today! I can’t wait to share more of my projects from the new All the Joy release with you. Thanks so much for stopping by today, and have a marvelous day!

November 2023 Hero Arts My Monthly Hero Release Blog Hop + Giveaway!

Hi friends! Today, I’m hopping along with Hero Arts to help introduce their November My Monthly Hero Collection! You should have arrived here from Dana Joy, and your next stop is Ilina Crouse. You can also start back at the beginning at the Hero Arts Blog if you get lost!

This month’s Classic Kit is absolutely spectacular, particularly if you are a Harry Potter fan or just love owls! Owls are such majestic birds, surrounded by a hint of magic and mystery, and this new kit shows them in so many different ways, and if you’re a Harry Potter fan, you might be able to imagine them as Hedwig or Pigwidgeon or another post owl! Here’s a peek at the Classic Kit:

And here’s a peek at the Premium Kit, which includes all of the elements of the Classic Kit with some amazing additions that work beautifully with the Classic Kit:

These kits are valued at more than double their purchase price, so not only are you getting fabulous crafty products, you’re also getting a fabulous deal! These kits frequently sell out very quickly and will not be restocked, so don’t hesitate to get them if you are loving what you see. You can also check out the subscription HERE. Hero Arts also offers the Premium Elements for sale separately, so that you can purchase those extras without having to become a subscription member. So many fun options to get your craft on!

For my projects today, I created a dramatic winter card using my colored pencils and my favorite Pitch Black cardstock, as well as a coordinating envelope using the layering stencils included with the Premium Kit. My projects today feature an homage to layering stencils, using the new Color Layering Holiday Neighborhood Stencils to create a pinkalicious holiday neighborhood of which even Cindy Lou Who would be proud! Let’s get started with the details.

To start, I stamped several of the images from the Classic Kit onto some Pitch Black cardstock using Unicorn White pigment ink. I love to use Unicorn White pigment ink when working with colored pencils on colored cardstock. I feel like the pigment ink blends beautifully into the colored pencil because it sits on top of the cardstock rather than sinking down into the cardstock, so it can be “folded in” (Schitt’s Creek reference, anyone?) when working with the colored pencils. I used my Caran D’Ache colored pencils to add traditional red and apple green, creating a majestic barn owl complete with cozy red scarf. After I had finished coloring all of the images, I used the coordinating Frame Cuts dies included in the Classic Kit to cut out each individual piece.

To create the wintry background, I first used a blending brush to lightly blend some Unicorn White pigment ink around the edges of a Pitch Black cardstock A2 card front, then used white gouache mixed with a bit of water to splatter some snowflakes on the background. Once my gouache had dried completely, I used a white gel pen to add some more defined snowflakes to the background. I also white embossed a few of the snowflakes included in the Classic Kit onto some more black cardstock and cut them out using the coordinating frame cuts. When creating a snowy backdrop, I like to vary the sizes of the snowflakes, from tiny gouache dots to medium sized gel pen snowflakes with more definition to the larger, more detailed embossed die cut snowflakes. I think that these three sizes scattered throughout the background help to add even more interest to the card!

After my background was dry, I arranged the mailbox, owl, and her parcel on the snowy backdrop, adhering them using black foam adhesive squares. To add some “snow” to the mailbox, I placed some “glue” from the the Sparkle Lacquer Pen where I wanted my sparkling snow, then sprinkled some Icicle Pure White Glitter over the top, pressing down lightly to make sure that it was really stuck into the lacquer. Finally, I added a white embossed greeting from the Classic Kit, also popped up using foam adhesive. The white blending around the edge adds a wintry feel to the card but also creates a little vignette to draw your eye to the focal point in the center of the card!

I also used the Layering Stencils included in the Premium Kit to create this coordinating envelope. I first blended the larger snowflake layer using Cherry Core Ink and the detail layer using the darker Cranberry Core Ink. Once I had completed both layers, I spritzed some Iridescent White Shimmer Mist over the first stencil, adding some subtle shimmer to the snowflake pattern. I also added some delicate white dots using the white gel pen to create a pretty pattern on the snowflake. Who wouldn’t want to receive a card in such a pretty envelope?

For my second project, I paired the new Color Layering Holiday Neighborhood Stencils with Pale Tomato, Cherry, and Cranberry inks and Peony cardstock to create this tone-on-tone background! After using blending brushes to blend each layer of ink on the pale pink background, I trimmed the panel down slightly and lightly blended some more Pale Tomato ink around the edges. I also used the Karin Star Spark Deco Gel pens to add some shimmering details to the neighborhood and kick the festive feelings up a notch!

For the greeting, I used the Christmas Holiday Stamp-n-Cut XL to create a tone-on-tone sentiment. I die cut the detail layer of the Happy Holidays sentiment from some shimmering ruby red glitter paper, adhering it to the die cut vellum background layer to help it stand out from the busy stenciled background. I also stamped a coordinating greeting (which I thought worked perfectly with the little houses in the neighborhood background!) on a strip of Peony cardstock using Cranberry ink, then stamped it again using clear embossing ink and sprinkled clear embossing powder over the top. The little extra step of adding the clear embossing powder over the top of the red sentiment makes the tone-on-tone sentiment pop a bit from the pink background. I adhered the sentiment strip to a slightly larger strip of red glitter cardstock to add another element of shimmer and shine.

To assemble the card, I added the stenciled layer to a full size A2 layer of Cherry cardstock, creating a thin red frame around the edge of my stenciled background. I popped up the greeting pieces using some foam tape for a simple and eye catching holiday card. I think this card definitely reminds me of Rifle Paper Co holiday designs. So classic with just a touch of modern whimsy!

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

We will give away a $50 gift card, drawn from the comments left across the hop. Enter by Sunday, November 12th at 11:59pm Pacific, and the winner will be announced on the Hero Arts blog the following week.

Your next stop is Ilina. Thanks so much for stopping by today, and happy hopping!

Festive Bouquets in Technicolor!

This post was sponsored by Simon Says Stamp. Thanks, Simon!

Hi friends! The utterly amazing new All the Joy release from Simon Says Stamp is live and I have so many cards to share with you. I was incredibly inspired with nearly everything in this release, but I was so excited to work with my newest stamp designs that I want to share those with you first! Last night, I shared a project using my new Joyful Anemone background stamp, and today I have a pair of technicolor projects using one of the bouquet images from the Festive Bouquets stamp set. This stamp set comes with two different floral arrangements using some traditional and non-traditional holiday florals, as well as a ton of different sentiments. (Did you see that the coordinating die set cuts out the sentiments as well as the large floral bouquets? SO awesome!)

When I was at my crafty retreat a few weeks ago, I stamped and colored these two floral bouquets from Festive Bouquets using my OLO Markers, drawing the vivid color palette from Shiny Brite vintage ornaments, featuring candy apple red anemones, deep royal purple hellebores, cotton candy pink berries, and three different shades of vivid green foliage. The colorful slimline bokeh background from THIS post actually was originally created to use these two floral bouquets, but I couldn’t quite get the arrangement right, so I decided to use that background for a different project and instead create two different coordinating cards, each with that same vibrant color palette!

To coordinate perfectly with the super colorful floral bouquets, I searched amongst my Pawsitively Saturated ink collection and pulled Sprout, Lucky, Ocean, Amethyst, Sweets, Cherry inks. For this first card, I wanted to create an intensely colorful blended background to accent the beautiful colors in the bouquet, so I blended the colors in ROYGBIV order down the front of my A2 card front using blending brushes. I am so in love with how this turned out and am just itching to use the color scheme on another project!!

To accent the floral corner and draw the eye towards the greeting, I die cut some white glitter A2 Thin Frames dies, two of which I layered on a slightly larger piece of vellum. The vellum allows the colors of the background to still be somewhat visible without adding bulk or any additional color to the card. I placed the colorful bouquet in the corner of the die cut rectangles, accenting the arrangement with some iridescent white foil die cuts created using the Forest Border Frame die. You know how those white edges on the die cuts bother me, but the white accents (frame, leaf die cuts) help to counter act that visual annoyance. I stamped and embossed some greeting pieces from the Festive Bouquets using Obsidian pigment ink and clear embossing powder, then popped them up using some foam tape. The final touch was to add a few super sparkly iridescent gems!

My second project uses the same ink colors, this time using the residual ink left over on the ink blending brushes to create this super soft, almost glowing background for my colorful floral arrangement! I simply blended the Sprout, Lucky, Ocean, Amethyst, Sweets, and Cherry ink that was left over on my blending brushes from the previous project. I tried to keep the colors that would blend nicely together near each other so as not to create a muddy mess (think of your color theory). After I had finished blending the background, I spritzed some Iridescent White Shimmer Spray from Hero Arts over the new Stylized Mandala Stencil. It’s difficult to capture the subtle sparkle in photos, but it looks so lovely in real life!

I arranged the floral bouquet and some more iridescent white die cuts from the Forest Border Frame die over the top of the blended and stenciled background, popping the bouquet up with some foam adhesive for extra dimension. I stamped and heat embossed some more greetings from the Festive Bouquets set using Obsidian pigment ink and clear embossing powder, then cut them out with the coordinating dies. (I absolutely love the sentiment dies included in these new sets… they make the finished card look so polished and neat!) A few more iridescent gems finished it off!!

Well, that’s all for today’s projects. I am working my way through the huge pile of cards that I created for this release, so stay tuned, because I have tons more to share with you! Be sure to come back tomorrow for Day 1 of the All the Joy blog hop. We will have prizes and other fun stuff, along with a veritable smorgasbord of inspiration to jumpstart your crafting!! Thanks so much for stopping by today, and have a marvelous day!