Sixth Street Sundries

Emily Midgett

gentle blooms

Stained Glass Dahlias with New Simon Says Stamp!

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

Hi friends! I have a fun project today that is perfect for people who maybe are still working on perfecting their coloring skills: stained glass! I used my new Dahlia Background illustration that was released with the new Friend Like You release to create this elegant and colorful card. When I created this background, I wanted to make something that was fun for people who enjoy coloring but also add enough details to allow it to stand alone as a subtle and elegant background. This project mixes those two concepts with some simple coloring and a vellum overlay. Let’s get started with the details on my project!

*I have gathered links to all of the products used at the bottom of the post for your convenience, using affiliate links. Thank you for shopping with my links! I truly appreciate your support for my work!*

To begin, I used my MISTI to stamp the new Dahlia Background on two panels of cardstock: once on plain white cardstock with Contour Ink, then again on a panel of vellum cardstock with embossing ink, to which I added white embossing powder. I used a half sheet of both vellum and the white cardstock, making sure to place them in the corner of my MISTI so that I stamped the image on exactly the same spot on the cardstock.

After I had stamped and embossed both panels, I used my OLO Markers to do some (very) simple coloring on the stamped panel of white cardstock. I didn’t do anything fancy, as you can see in the photo above, using just one marker color on each individual image without trying to do any shading. I made sure to select colors that were super vibrant that would shine through the vellum overlay, selecting a bright fuchsia, coral, and lilac color palette, adding black in the background of the colorful floral images.

After I had finished coloring, I worked on the focal point die cuts before adhering the vellum overlay to the colorful background to make sure that I could cleanly adhere the vellum to the background. I die cut the new Nuvelli Script Thank You die from some black glitter cardstock, as well as some Gentle Blooms dies cut from some Simon Says Stamp Black Glossy Cardstock. I also die cut an arched frame using the new A2 Arches, nesting two of the dies together to create a delicate frame upon which I could build the focal point. I arranged the die cuts on the vellum panel, adhering them wiht a combination of liquid and foam adhesive. I flipped the vellum panel over and added dots of liquid adhesive to the areas behind the solid die cuts to hide the adhesive and keep the vellum clean, then lined up the embossed panel with the proper spot over the colored background!

After I had adhered the vellum to the colorful card front, I trimmed the edges of the panel down slightly and tucked some thin strips of Simon Says Stamp Black Glossy Cardstock on either side. For some added embellishment, I added a few Opal Pawsitively Dazzling Gems and a thin white silk bow, tucked beneath the dimensional die cut sentiment.

Well, that’s all for my project today! I hope this project shows you that even if coloring isn’t your thing, you can still create a vibrant, colorful background with some very simple coloring and a heat embossed vellum overlay.

Don’t forget to check out the Simon Says Stamp Friend Like You blog hop, happening now! I shared THIS watercolored project during yesterday’s hop for Day 1, and you can get linked up to Day 2 of the hop HERE. Lots of inspiration, prizes, and a freebie are up for grabs!!

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

Shades of Blue with Simon Says Stamp!

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

Hi friends! I am back today with a pair of cards with some unconventional blue peonies. I have been in a blue mood lately; this transition time between winter and spring always seems to bring out my love for different shades of blue, as it can be both icy and cold for winter or fresh and crisp for springtime. I never tire of monochromatic projects, so I pulled out lots of different blue cardstock, my Peony Background, the gorgeous Half Spring Floral Mandala, and some other goodies and got to work creating this coordinating card set!

Navy blue is one of those colors that works well as a neutral nearly all the time. It pairs beautifully with so many different colors, and while I normally would pair this deep blue with magenta or coral, I thought it would unique to have some pale, icy blue peonies!

For my first project, I die cut the totally gorgeous new Half Spring Floral Mandala from Simon Says Stamp’s Holographic Aqua cardstock. This super thick iridescent mirror cardstock die cut this intricate die beautifully. The die cuts a delicately-patterned half circle, so I mounted it on my navy blue A2 card base using liquid glue, then added a thin strip of Midnight Navy Glitter Cardstock, nestling it right along the edge of the intricate die cut. This tone-on-tone glitter cardstock helps to create a visual buffer between the edge of the die cut and the solid blue background so that it’s not just floating in midair.

To embellish my lacy background and frame the greeting, I die cut the Etched Peony Blossom from Sea Glass cardstock and some foliage using the Abundant Leaves dies and some iridescent white foil cardstock. I arranged the flowers and foliage over the seam of the glitter paper strip and the die cut, popping them up with foam adhesive. For the greeting, I white embossed a sentiment from the new Birthday Basics on some cornflower blue cardstock, then die cut the larger sentiment with the coordinating die and popped them up with a double layer of foam adhesive to make them extra visible. Finally, I added a few Pawsitively Dazzling Gems Cool Tones for a bit extra sparkle and shine!

For my second project, I wanted to put the Box & Ribbon Gift Card die to use. I have always loved creating extra special gift packaging, but rarely find the time to dedicate to a specific gift, so I thought it might be a good idea to have some on hand the next time I need something! I wanted to create fancy “wrapping paper,” so I heat embossed my Peony Background illustration on some navy blue cardstock using Hero Arts Iridescent Blue embossing powder, masking off the back part of the gift card holder with some Post-It Notes to keep it nice and clean. This Iridescent Blue embossing powder creates the most beautiful tone-on-tone shimmer on colorful cardstock. Depending on the angle, it can take on a more aqua hue or, when angled the opposite way, can look almost purple. So unique and beautiful! I love that the details from the Peony Background are not lost in the slightest, even with this tone-on-tone project.

To embellish my “gift” gift card holder, I die cut the layered bow included in the Box & Ribbon Gift Card die set from some Midnight Navy Glitter Cardstock. I assembled the bow off to the side of the box, popping the top part up with some foam adhesive squares. (If you assemble the bow in the center of the card, it will fit into an A2 envelope when complete. This one won’t quite fit into an A2 envelope, but fits nicely into an A7!) I die cut some Gentle Blooms dies from Sea Glass cardstock and tucked them beneath the bow and greeting from Lots of Luck. Finally, I added a few coordinating aqua Pawsitively Dazzling Gems Cool Tones for extra sparkle!

Well, that’s all for my projects today! I am so in love with this pair of navy blue projects. Monochromatic blue cards are always a winner in my book! Thanks so much for stopping by today, and have a marvelous day!

Channeling Springtime with Feminine Flowers!

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

Hi friends! Happy Monday! We are starting this week with some bitterly cold temperatures, so I thought I’d share some springy project inspiration using new goodies from Simon Says Stamp’s Sweetheart release! The new Gentle Blooms dies and Leaf Flourish dies are so delicate and lovely, and create the prettiest swag when paired together. I love cutting standalone dies like these from plain white cardstock and using various coloring mediums to add color to them, making the possibilities for color combinations truly endless! Let’s get started with the details on my card.

I began my project by die cutting the new Leaf Flourish die and Gentle Blooms dies three times from Hammermill white cardstock. I pulled out various shades of Copic markers in a lovely pinky lavender and beautiful jade greens and colored the plain white die cuts, using the debossed lines on the die cuts as a guide for where to add shadows and depth.

As a base for my springy floral swag, I first die cut one of the beautiful, feminine frames from the new Ornate Borders and Frames stamp from some vellum. These frame stamps are extremely delicate, and so I have found the best way to make sure that they’re straight is to die cut the image first, then use the negative space with my MISTI to place the stamp perfectly, then replace the die cut in the negative space and do my stamping. I heat embossed this lovely filigree frame using silver embossing powder; I think that the metallic shine on the silver embossing is a perfect foil for the colorful flowers and foliage.

For the greeting, I heat embossed some sentiments from the new Friendship Leafy Cluster stamp, using the coordinating die to cut the flourished “friendship.” Before arranging my die cuts, I ran a panel of Juniper cardstock through my die cut machine using the Blossom Field embossing folder. The delicate floral pattern on this embossing folder was a great way to add subtle texture behind the pretty flowers. I arranged the colored floral die cuts and sentiment on my stamped vellum die cut and adhered them using liquid and foam adhesive. To keep the vellum clean, I flipped the embellished frame die cut over and added more foam adhesive to the back of my frame, hiding it behind the solid die cuts. I added this to the embossed panel, finally adding a few celadon green gems for a touch of sparkle!

Well, that’s all for my project today! I hope you’re keeping warm if you’re experiencing these super cold temps like we are. I won’t lie; I love having an excuse to stay huddled at home under a blanket next to the fireplace. Thanks so much for stopping by today, and have a marvelous day!