Sixth Street Sundries

Emily Midgett

fancy peace

Simon Says Stamp Joy For You Blog Hop- Day 1!

This post was sponsored by Simon Says Stamp. Thanks, Simon! *I have gathered links to all of the products used at the bottom of the post for your convenience, using affiliate links at no extra cost to you. Thank you for shopping with my links! I truly appreciate your support for my work!*

Hi friends! I am hopping along with Simon Says Stamp today to celebrate their  Joy For You release (click HERE to see the full release!). You should have arrived here from Barbara Tarayao, and your next stop is Nicky Meek. You can see the entire hop list over on the Simon Says Stamp Blog. I have created a bevy of holiday projects using these fabulous new products, and for today’s project I used one of my favorite images and color palettes for the holidays. Cardinals have always symbolized peace to me; after I lost my grandparents, I have always felt so much comfort when I see them and hear them chirping outside my window. Their ruby red feathers are absolutely spectacular against the wintry landscape, and so I tried to capture that bold contrast with today’s shaped A7 card. Let’s get started with the details on my project!

The new Pine Cone Cardinal embossing folder and die set features a beautifully illustrated cardinal with lots of exquisite texture perched on a pine branch. It also comes with a die for the cardinal, so you can die cut and emboss the shape in a different color of cardstock or other technique. Whenever I am working with embossed die cuts, I die cut the image first, then run the die cut piece through the machine with the embossing folder so that all of the textured details stay crisp. I then used my OLO Markers to add vivid color to the cardinal. Adding detailed coloring to these super textured die cuts just makes them look so realistic!!

After I had colored the standalone cardinal, I die cut a medium arch from white cardstock using the older A7 Arches nesting die set. I then placed it in the Pine Cone Cardinal embossing folder and ran it through my die cutting machine, adding lovely texture to the panel and creating a serene little scene upon which my vibrant cardinal could perch! I adhered the standalone cardinal to the embossed die cut with thin foam adhesive, then die cut a second, slightly larger A7 arch from shimmering white glitter cardstock and mounted the embossed piece in the center with thin foam adhesive. I also used that same larger A7 Arch die to die cut a shaped card base, making sure that the fold of the card was within the lines of the die so that it did not cut.

For the greeting, I die cut the Fancy Peace detail layer from the same white glitter cardstock and backed it with a vellum shadow layer, adhering the two pieces with liquid adhesive. I also die cut the Christmastime EZ Strips sentiment cards with the EZ Strips Banners. I arranged the sentiments next to the die cut cardinal, adhering them with more thin foam adhesive. I die cut some iridescent white foil cardstock using the new Fresh Pine Sprigs dies, then tucked them behind the cardinal and the sentiment pieces, which creates a lush bough of pines in which the cardinal can nestle! Finally, I added a few Opal Pawsitively Dazzling Gems for a touch more sparkle. I just love how the vibrant cardinal pops from the layers of white texture. Such a festive way to let the cardinal be the star of the show!

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

Simon Says Stamp is giving away a $25 coupon to every stop on the hop, with each winner selected from each blog’s comment section. Winners will be selected and then posted on the Simon Says Stamp blog; be sure to check there to find out if you won and how to redeem your prize!

Simon Says Stamp is also offering a fun gift-with-purchase promotion over the weekend: the adorable Joy of Snow stamp set (not yet released!) will be automatically added to your cart for free with *any* purchase from the Joy For You release  (click HERE to see the full release!).

Your next stop on the hop is Nicky Meek. Thanks so much for stopping by today, and happy hopping!

More Gilded Embossing Folder Holiday Cards with New Simon Says Stamp!

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

Hi friends! I posted a card and video yesterday featuring a “gilding” technique to use embossing folders and glittering watercolors to create truly elegant and magical holiday cards (click HERE to see the video!). I used that same technique to create today’s project featuring more new goodies from the Simon Says Stamp Sweet Wishes release. I am a huge fan of adding as much sparkle as I can to holiday cards, and sparkling watercolors add shimmer and shine to embossed projects without adding bulk to the card. The beautiful botanical imagery looks wonderful with a little additional sparkle. Let’s get started with the details on my project!

To start, I embossed the Rustic Pinecone Wreath Embossing Folder on an A2 panel of Midnight Green cardstock, which is a rich, deep shade of emerald green that is perfect for Christmas cards. After embossing, I used a blending brush to blend Rainbow Splash Emerald ink around the edges, which helps to enhance the exquisite details of the embossed image. To further enhance these embossed details, I used metallic watercolors to add sparkling details to the individual images, then splattered some around the edges, keeping the center clean to add my sentiment.

After I had finished watercoloring, I die cut the detail layer of the new Fancy Peace die from some coordinating deep brown glitter cardstock and the shadow layer from some heavyweight vellum. I adhered the two layers together with liquid adhesive. I also heat embossed a sentiment from the Holiday Typewriter stamp set, embossing rose gold embossing powder onto a thin strip of the same Midnight Green cardstock.

I popped the greeting pieces up on the shimmering, textured background using thin strips of foam adhesive. To add some extra texture to the card, I added a double twine bow, tucking it next to the sentiment pieces with some liquid adhesive. Finally, I added some new Gold Pawsitively Dazzling Gems for one final element of shimmering texture!

Well, that’s all for my project today. I really encourage you to add some shimmer to your embossed panels if you’ve not tried it yet. It adds such a festive and elegant air to the finished card! Thanks so much for stopping by today, and have a marvelous day!

Altenew Eclectic Vibes Stamps/Dies/Stencils/Embossing Folders Collection Release Blog Hop + Giveaway

Good morning! I’m popping in quickly from vacation again to share my projects for the July Altenew Eclectic Vibes release! You should have arrived here from Verity Biddlecombe, and your next stop is Jenny Colacicco. You can also start back at the Altenew Blog if you get lost! I have three projects for you today, so let’s get started with the details.

For my first project, I created a muted happy birthday card with lots of texture using the new Gardenia Duo and Just A Number die set paired with the older Deck Planks 3D embossing folder. I heat embossed the Gardenia Duo onto some watercolor paper, then watercolored the images using the Artists’ Watercolor 24 Pan set.

I embossed a gray background using the Deck Planks 3D embossing folder, then blended some Lava Rock ink around the edges to give it a really weathered look. I adhered the watercolored magnolias using Instant Dimension Foam Tape, as well as the greeting die cut from Just A Number die set from black and white card stock. Finally, I added some iridescent white pearls for some extra texture!

My next project features a sympathy card with a chalkboard look using the new Pressed Flowers 3D embossing folder. I began by running an A2 panel of black cardstock through my die cutting machine using the Pressed Flowers 3D embossing folder. I then used a foam blender to brush some white pigment ink over the raised areas on the embossed panel. I love the subtle chalkboard effect it creates! I also splattered some white paint for added texture.

I cut the Fancy Peace die twice from white cardstock and adhered them together to create a dimensional die cut. I also white embossed a greeting from Thinking Of You onto a strip of black cardstock, then popped it up with some more Instant Dimension Foam Tape. A few more white iridescent pearls finished it off.

My final project continues the black and white color scheme, but with a pop of vivid pink using the new Watercolor Extravaganza stamps. I stamped a variety of blooms using the pink inks from the Spring Bouquet ink set, then die cut them with their coordinating dies. I also die cut the new Thank You For Being My Friend die from black and white cardstocks, layering them together with liquid adhesive.

For the background, I die cut a white Layered Plaid B die cut, then cut a circle from the center using the Create A Wreath die set. I also die cut a plain wreath using the same die so that I could inlay the circle frame within the plaid. I added the flowers and sentiment die cut using Instant Dimension Foam Tape, then added a few hot pink gems for sparkle!

Well, that’s all for my projects today! Now, as always, Altenew has some wonderful giveaways to celebrate this latest release!

$300 in total prizes! To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $50 gift certificate to 2 lucky winners and a $25 gift certificate to 8 winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog and/or each designer’s blog post on the blog hop list below by 07/11/2021 for a chance to win. Altenew will draw 10 random winners from the comments left on each stop of this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew Winners Page on 07/13/2021.

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