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Sixth Street Sundries

Emily Midgett

galaxy

Hero Arts February 2022 My Monthly Hero Release+Giveaway!

Hi there! Today, Hero Arts is releasing their fabulous new My Monthly Hero collection for February 2022, and we’re celebrating with a blog hop! You should have arrived here from Debi Adams, and your next stop is Ilina Crouse. Here’s a peek at this month’s tribute to the masters of Surrealism:

This month’s kit includes: 6” x 8” Clear Stamp Set, 15 Coordinating Frame Cuts, 2 Sheets of Black Watercolor Paper (5.5″ x 8.5″), Watercolor Dot Dream Palette (18 Dots), and Water Flow Brush. The total retail value is $74, but the kit is yours for only $34.99! These kits frequently sell out quickly, so if you’d like to be guaranteed to receive a kit each month, you can subscribe here! Each of the individual images in this kit are so wonderful and can be used for so many different themes. I’ve chosen to use the lovely beribboned moon to create some shimmery metallic baby cards with a celestial twist. Let’s get started with the details!

The Daniel Smith dot card and black watercolor paper that are included in this kit are absolutely marvelous. I began by gold heat embossing the beribboned moon on some of the black watercolor paper, then used the Duochrome Hibiscus, Iridescent Sapphire, and Iridescent Gold paints to the images. The Duochrome Hibiscus changes shades depending on the angle at which you’re looking at the image! So neat! I die cut the watercolored images with the coordinating dies and turned my attention to the backgrounds. I used the metallic shades included on the dot card to create a celestial aurora borealis sky for one background, then splattered metallic gold “stars” on the background of both A2 backgrounds. Those metallic watercolors pop so beautifully on the black watercolor paper!

For the first card, I used the new Cloud Window Fancy Die to die cut some clouds from Pitch Black cardstock, then trimmed it down to fit only the bottom portion of the metallic watercolored background. I popped it up with some foam tape to help it stand out a bit more, then added the metallic moon die cut and a gold embossed sentiment. (This kit has seriously some of the best sentiments-so many occasions and the fonts are so pretty!) I added a couple of shiny metallic gold jewels for even more added texture.

For the second project, I had the phrase “hung the moon” in my head. I conveyed that by combining the splattered starry night background with a glittering gold frame, cut using the Wood Frame Infinity Dies and some gold glitter paper. I popped the frame up with some foam adhesive and added the die cut moon and gold embossed sentiment. (Seriously, the sentiments in this month’s kit are amazing!!) The metallics pop so beautifully from the black paper. Such a fun and unique kit.

My second card uses the new You Sparkle to create this monochrome birthday card! I began by white embossing several of the images from You Sparkle on to some Pitch Black cardstock, then cut them out using the coordinating Frame Cuts.

Next, I cut the Star Confetti cover plate from some more Pitch Black cardstock and backed it with some white iridescent glittery cardstock. To create a more neutral backdrop for the black and white die cuts, I trimmed down a rectangle of Hero Arts’s Heavyweight Vellum. This semi-sheer paper creates a solid backdrop for the shooting star and clouds, while also softening the busy, glittery star background.

I adhered the You Sparkle die cuts to the vellum rectangle with Precision Glue, then flipped it over and added foam tape to the back of the solid die cuts. This hides the adhesive so that you can’t see it behind the sheer vellum! I adhered the vellum and die cut piece to the starry background, then added a few iridescent jewels to add some more sparkle.

Well, that’s all for my projects today! Now, Hero Arts is sponsoring a fun giveaway to celebrate this new release:

Hero Arts is giving away a $50 gift card, drawn from the comments left across the hop. Enter by Sunday, February 13th at 11:59pm Pacific, and the winner will be announced on the Hero Arts blog the following week.

Your next stop on the hop is Ilina Crouse. Thanks so much for stopping by, and happy hopping!

Colorado Craft Company October 3rd Blog Hop + Giveaway!

Hi there! Today, I’m hopping along with my friends at Colorado Craft Company to help celebrate their October 3rd Release! It’s full of Halloween-y fun, both spooky and whimsical. You should have arrived here from Daniel West, and your next stop is Kassi Hulet. You can check out the entire hop list at the Colorado Craft Company blog! I have a cheeky, vibrant project for you today, so let’s get started with the details!

I have had a long love affair with the Big and Bold line from Colorado Craft Company, the obsession for which started with their spectacular floral designs. (Me and flowers, big shocker-right?) But their Big and Bold stamp line has way more than just flowers! This month, they added the Big and Bold-Witch’s Broom to their lineup, and the cheeky sentiments are just so darn fun! Some people are all about Halloween, and it can be hard for me to get too excited about blood and guts and being terrified (sorry, not sorry), but I can definitely get behind some snarky, clever sentiments!

I wanted to create a magical, vibrant night’s sky behind the Big and Bold-Witch’s Broom. Aurora Borealis-esque, but a bit more magical and almost unnatural. I began by heat embossing the main image from Big and Bold-Witch’s Broom using some brass embossing powder onto a panel of Arches Cold Press watercolor paper. I then taped the panel down to my watercolor board and used my Holbein watercolors to create this vibrant night sky behind it! The trick to creating this vibrant celestial sky is to lay down your colorful areas first, using lots of pigment and lots of water, then allowing it to dry completely before coming back in with intense black watercolor. I used lots of water and pigment to allow the black to move around fluidly, trying to keep things organic but still allow the magical vibrant colors to shine through. Isn’t watercolor such an incredibly versatile medium? I allowed the watercolor to dry completely (so that the next layer wouldn’t bleed), then covered my watercolored broom with Post-It notes and splattered some metallic “stars” in the sky.

I used the same Brass embossing powder to emboss the super cheeky sentiment from Big and Bold-Witch’s Broom onto a strip of black cardstock. I trimmed it down, then removed my now-dry watercolored panel from my watercolor board and trimmed it down a bit, as well. I mounted the watercolored panel to a black, A2 card front using foam adhesive, then added the sentiment over the top with more foam adhesive for lots of dimension. I absolutely love how vibrant and unique this non-traditional Halloween card came out!

To celebrate this latest release, Colorado Craft Company is giving away one of each of their new stamp sets to one commenter along the hop! To be entered to win, simply leave a comment at each stop on the hop, both on the blogs and on Instagram for maximum chances. Colorado Craft Company will select winners on Wednesday, October 6th, and announce them on the Colorado Craft Company blog on October 7, 2021.

Well, that’s all for my project today! Check out the Colorado Craft Company blog for all of the hop participants. Your next stop is Kassi Hulet. Thanks so much for stopping by today, and happy hopping!

Essentials By Ellen September Blog Hop!

Hi there! Happy Sunday… and happy Essentials By Ellen release day!! The Design Ambassadors are hopping today (with a few special guests) to show off the new goodies from the September Essentials By Ellen release! You should have arrived here from Ardyth Percy-Robb’s blog, and your next stop is Kelly Griglione’s blog. We have a ton of fun new products for you this month, from rocket ships to dinosaurs to vintage candy jars! I have two projects to share with you today, so let’s get started with the details.

For my first project, I used the absolutely darling new Space Out stamps and dies. I love the sentiments in this stamp set; they’re great for so many occasions. I was thinking this particular card would be perfect for a graduation! I began by stamping the rocket ship and fire using Intensified Black Ink from Hero Arts, then coloring it with my Copic markers. I also stamped the greeting from Space Out on a small rectangle of white cardstock.

For the galaxy background for my rocket ship, I did a bit of a cheater’s galaxy by using colored cardstock to simplify things! I cut the older Star Trail die on some deep purple cardstock several times, then used the Life Changing Blending Brushes to blend some Navy ink in between the stars to create a midnight sky. I backed the stars with some silver glitter paper. I also used a Circle Infinity die to die cut a white moon, blending first some lavender and then gray around the edges to create some depth and moon dust. After I’d finished my background and blending, I adhered all of the die cuts to the card front using foam adhesive. Then, for extra sparkle, I added some iridescent star jewels from Studio Katia to add even more shine and dimension!

For my second project, I create a cute little bear all ready to go trick-or-treating! I am not a massive fan of orange, which can be problematic around this time of year, but I absolutely adore it when paired with magenta. I began by stamping the bear from All Inside using Intensified Black Ink, as well as her accessories from the brand new Dress Up Days stamp set. I colored them with my Copic markers, as well, and die cut the images using the coordinating dies.

I kept the background for my little witch fairly simple, using some Post-It Notes to mask a rectangle in the center of my white A2 card front. I then blended Raspberry Jam ink on the unmasked area, adding some glittery autumn leaves using an autumn leaf stencil and some Raspberry Rhodolite Glimmer Paste.

After I’d finished my blending and glitter-paste-ing, I removed the masks and allowed the white panel to dry completely before trimming it down and adding it to a mat of Papaya cardstock. I used the same shade of orange cardstock to cut “treat” three times from the new Boo and Treat die set, adhering the three die cuts together to create a dimensional die cut. I added a sentiment strip from Booyah, as well as the remaining die cuts, using dimensional foam adhesive.

Well, that’s all for me today! Aren’t these new stamp sets just darling? I had so much fun playing with them and creating these little scenes! Now, for some giveaway information:

We’ve got super fun prizes!!! One random & lucky commenter will win $25 to the EH shop and one will win the whole September Essentials by Ellen release!!! To enter for a chance to win, make sure to leave comments at each stop along the hop! Comment before Sunday, September 15th at 11:59pm PST. Winners will be notified by email.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Your next stop on the hop is Kelly Griglione. Happy hopping!

Honey Bee Stamps Autumn Blessings Blog Hop-Day 2!

Hi there! Welcome to the Honey Bee Stamps Autumn Blessings Blog Hop, Day 2! We have lots of fun inspiration using the latest Autumn Blessings release. You should have arrived here from my talented friend Vera Yates’s blog, and your next stop is my wonderfully colorful and talented friend Carly Tee Minner’s blog. We have some prizes up for grabs, so be sure to read all the way to the bottom of the post to find out how to win!

For my first project, I wanted to use the adorable new Camp Trailer Card die set. I die cut the different components from some turquoise, white, teal, and silver foil cardstock. I also folded a horizontal A2 card base and die cut the main card die from the folded card base.

After adhering all of the components to the card base, I used the new Journey stamp set and Journey dies to create a sentiment for the card front.

After I’d finished the card front, I used the Wild and Free stamp set to add a sentiment to the interior of the card. I think this would be a great card for a graduation! Insert a little money inside and send the graduate on their new adventures!

For my second project today, I used the fantastic new Lost Without You stamp set to create this fun, colorful galaxy card! I began by using the Prima Watercolors to create a galaxy background. After I had finished the background and let it dry sufficiently, I splattered some white paint on the galaxy to create some stars.

Next, I stamped the unique compass image from Lost Without You on black cardstock and die cut it with the coordinating honey cuts. I used some gold glitter cardstock and some more black cardstock to create a compass. (Aren’t these dies just so cool?)

After I’d finished the compass, I used the Explore stamp and die set to create a greeting. I added a few gems from the Raw Honey Gem Crystals to create some twinkling stars.

Well, that’s all for me today! We have some fun giveaway information for you! Honey Bee Stamps is giving away a prize package of new stamps worth $50. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on each stop on the hop. The more comments you leave, the more chances you have to win! Your next stop on the hop is Carly Tee Minner.

Thanks so much for stopping by today, and have a marvelous weekend!