Sixth Street Sundries

Emily Midgett

snowy greetings

Steel Cardstock Spotlight #3: Rose Gold and Mixing Neutrals!

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

Hi friends! I am back with one final project on my Steel Cardstock spotlight, this time pairing the neutral medium gray cardstock from Simon Says Stamp with another neutral cardstock with some metallic flair. I think this combination demonstrates the versatility of the Steel cardstock, for it pairs beautifully with so many different color palettes. I had several images released before Christmas that I didn’t get a chance to use for holiday cards, but I wanted to see if I could use them to create a wintry birthday card with some leftover rose gold snowflakes. Let’s get started with the details on my projects!

*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!*

When working with the DieCember products, I had created THESE projects using the beautiful Snowflake Sensation dies, focusing on the outline images created with the dies and SSS Rose Gold Metallic cardstock. I had several snowflakes leftover, and so for today’s project I decided to use these delicate snowflake die cuts to create a snowy background and had enough left to create a little tag, probably to save for next Christmas.

For my card, I began by stamping the sweet snowman from the Cozy Together stamp set using Altenew’s Permanent Mist Gray ink onto some white Hammermill cardstock, then used my OLO markers to add some subtle shadows to the snowman, ensuring a smooth transition from the pale gray alcohol marker to the white of the cardstock by softening the edge of the colored areas with the Zero marker, aka OLO’s colorless blender marker. I also added some metallic copper stripes to the snowman’s scarf and twirling dust using a metallic acrylic marker and some details to his face with a fine-tipped black pigment marker. I die cut the finished snowman with the coordinating die.

After I had finished the main focal point, I began to put the background together. I first blended some Earl Pawsitively Saturated Ink on one edge of the Steel A2 card front, then splattered it with some rose gold metallic glitter watercolor to add extra whimsy and texture to the background. Once the watercolor had dried, I used the leftover rose gold snowflake die cuts to create a pretty snowflake pattern on the blended and splattered areas, adhering them with liquid adhesive. For the greeting, I die cut the detail layer of the Snowy Greetings word die set from some more Metallic Rose Gold cardstock, then adhered it to a vellum shadow layer with liquid adhesive. I added a pearlescent silver die cut oval frame to the snowflake background with some foam adhesive, then enhanced the die cut sentiment with an embossed greeting from Snow Buddies, adhering all of the different die cuts with foam adhesive. Finally, I added a few Peachy Pawsitively Dazzling Gems for a bit of added sparkle!

I had a couple of rose gold snowflake die cuts leftover, so I decided to layer them to create a simple, pretty tag! I die cut two Label Tag dies from some more Steel cardstock, adhering the two pieces together with the scratched sides facing each other, which ensures that each side of the tag is clean and smooth. I adhered the two snowflake die cuts in the center of the tag die cut, rotating the top snowflake so that it created a beautifully full snowflake. Finally, I added a white silk ribbon loop to the top of the tag and a few more Peachy Pawsitively Dazzling Gems on the snowflakes for added sparkle!

Well, that’s all for my projects today! I hope you’ve enjoyed this spotlight on Simon Says Stamp’s Steel Cardstock. It is fun to direct my creative focus on one unsung hero and give it a little extra love. The shade of gray is a true neutral, and it makes it perfect for so many different applications. Thanks so much for stopping by today, and have a marvelous day!

Snowy Greetings with New Inks from Simon Says Stamp!

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

Hi friends! The Sweetheart release from Simon Says Stamp featured a trio of absolutely gorgeous new teal inks that I have been swooning over for weeks! As soon as I saw the new Pawsitively Saturated Ink Trio 26, I knew that I wanted to create an ink blended background featuring those gorgeous shades of teal. Rather than my usual ombré down the card front, I thought I would switch things up with a diagonal blend, almost creating the look of a tiger’s eye gemstone. I paired the blended background with a new embossing folder, as well: Tessellating Snowflakes. Let’s get started with the details!

I began my project by blending Mist, Dew, Raindrop Pawsitively Saturated Ink from corner to corner on my panel of A2 sized Hammermill white cardstock. I think this blending orientation is so fun and different from the typical top-down light-to-dark blending that I normally use, and it’s definitely going to be put into my rotation to use again!

After I’d finished blending, I ran the panel through my die cutting machine using the Tessellating Snowflakes embossing folder. To enhance the delicate embossed snowflake pattern, I lightly brushed a white pigment ink pad over the top of the raised areas. I also splattered the entire panel with some shimmering holographic glitter watercolors from my stash. Such a sparkly, colorful, textured background!

In keeping with the diagonal orientation of the ink blending, I die cut the Sensational Snowflake dies from some white glitter cardstock and arranged them on the card front, concentrating the snowflakes in the center of the lightest ink shade, on the diagonal from top left to bottom right. I die cut a greeting using the Snowy Greetings die, cutting the detail layer from Simon Says Stamp’s Aqua holographic cardstock and the shadow layer from vellum. I adhered the sentiment to the snowflake background using tiny dots of liquid adhesive. Finally, I added a few shimmering aquamarine gems for one last touch of sparkle!

Well, that’s all for my project today! It is so bitterly cold outside that this card felt appropriate for today. I hope you’re keeping warm (or cool, if you’re in the southern hemisphere!)!! Thanks so much for stopping by today, and have a marvelous day!

Warm Hands, Warm Heart!

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

Hi friends! I have a sweet project for you today using some of the new products from the Simon Says Stamp Season of Wonder release from last week. The new Winter Mitten die is super sweet and so generously sized that it can easily create a focal point for your project! I chose to keep things icy with aqua and iridescent white color palette to enhance the frosty feelings on my project. Let’s get started with the details!

I started by die cutting the detail layer of the Winter Mitten die from Sea Glass cardstock and the background and cuff from Pawsitively Velvet Snow White cardstock. Before adhering the die cut pieces together, I blended Pawsitively Saturated Tidepool ink lightly around the edges of the mitten using a blending brush to add a little extra dimension to the image. I adhered all of the die cut components together using liquid adhesive.

For the background, I lightly blended the Pawsitively Saturated Tidepool ink around the edge of my white A2 card front, keeping the color very light and allowing the center of the card front to remain completely white, creating an icy effect. I also splattered the background with some sparkling watercolors for extra shimmer. Next, I die cut the gorgeous new Willow Snowflake from some shimmering iridescent white mirror cardstock. I trimmed one of the snowflakes in half and butted them right against the edge of my blended and splattered panel, adhering all three pieces with my Precision Glue Press. (That thing is amazing! It’s out of stock right now, but be sure to sign up for notifications for when it comes back in!)

I die cut the detail layer of the Snowy Greetings die set from some aqua glitter paper, cutting the background layer from some vellum to keep things nice and light. I also stamped a greeting from Simple Holiday Greetings once from Tidepool ink and then again (using my MISTI for perfect placement) using sticky embossing ink, covering it with White Satin Pearl embossing powder for extra shimmer and a custom-embossed greeting. I popped up the mitten die cut, adding the sentiment pieces with another layer of foam adhesive for a double layer to allow them to really pop. Finally, I added some Milk Glass rhinestones and snowflake confetti for lots of different sizes of “snowflake”!

Well, that’s all for my project today! I am so enjoying sitting in my new office with my holiday Pandora station and working with all of these gorgeous holiday products from Simon Says Stamp. If you haven’t started your holiday crafting yet, what are you waiting for? We are less than eleven weeks away from the big day!! Thanks so much for stopping by today, and have a marvelous day!

Songs of the Season, August 2023: Silent Night

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

Hi friends! I am back with another installment of my Songs of the Season holiday series, where I use Christmas songs throughout the year as inspiration for a holiday card! This is a great way to get ahead on my holiday cardmaking by building up a little stash throughout the year so that the long list of names to whom I will send a card doesn’t seem quite so daunting come December! This month, I was inspired by that most classic of holiday songs: Silent Night. I jokingly said a few years ago, when my little boys were still babies and still up multiple times a night, that all I wanted for Christmas was a silent night. (I didn’t receive it, haha!) But the mental imagery that that song provides, of a peaceful, deep blue night sky with snowflakes gently falling to the ground, gave me some serene inspiration for today’s project. Let’s get started with the details!

One of my favorite ways to create unique projects is by stamping, or in this case die cutting, my own completely custom patterned backgrounds. I have been moving my craft room to a new space recently, and so have been “shopping” in some of my un- or under-used supplies, and I found a stash of gorgeous pearlescent colored cardstocks, including this stunning peacock teal cardstock. Tip: pearlescent or foil cardstocks die cut beautifully, especially with intricate dies like these snowflake dies for today’s project! I die cut Simon Says Stamp’s Sophie snowflake, Kate snowflake, Alicia snowflake, and Daphne snowflake dies from that pearlescent peacock teal cardstock, then turned my attention to the card base.

To create my vivid, peaceful blue background, I started by trimming down an A2 panel of Island Blue cardstock. I then blended Island Blue ink around the edges, keeping the center clean, then lightly blended some Galaxy Pawsitively Saturated Ink around the edges, keeping this dark blue area fairly subtle and right up against the edge. The combination of these two ink colors on this super saturated colored cardstock creates the most gorgeous glow! I also splattered some handmade glittery watercolors to add some shimmer to the blended background. Once my card front was dry, I began arranging my snowflake pattern, beginning with the largest snowflake die cuts, turning them so that they were falling at different angles, and trying to keep the spacing random so that the pattern would not look forced. I trimmed off the overhang, then used those leftover bits and bobs to fill in some of the edges of the card front. The combination of these steps helps to make the pattern look cohesive and continuous!

Finally, I die cut the Snowy Greetings die from some glittery turquoise cardstock. I chose this lighter shade of turquoise as a bit less saturated version of the peacock teal pearlescent cardstock, in order to ensure that it would stand out from the super vibrant background. I heat embossed a coordinating greeting from the Simple Holiday Greetings stamps using silver embossing powder on a strip of more Island Blue cardstock. I popped up the sentiment pieces with foam adhesive, then added a smattering of iridescent gems for some sparkle!

Well, that’s all for this month’s Songs of the Season post! I hope you will try using your favorite Christmas songs and carols as inspiration for your holiday cardmaking. It’s such a fun way to incorporate more music into your life, and it even gives you an excuse to listen to Christmas music all year long! Thanks so much for stopping by today, and have a marvelous day!

More Simon Says Stamp Holiday Sparkle!

Hi there! Today, I have a couple more projects using the new Holiday Sparkle release from Simon Says Stamp, both featuring tons of texture and layers. I may have started as a stamper, but die cutting is one of my most favorite ways to create these days. Standalone dies just have so many ways to that you can customize them to make them truly unique from project to project! One of my favorite ways to make dies extra exciting is to add lots of texture using different types of fancy papers. The new Pawsitively Velvet cardstock from Simon Says Stamp is the perfect way to add some luxurious texture to your card front without adding a ton of extra bulk! I have two projects to share with you today using these new papers, so let’s get started with the details!

Both of my projects feature an icy color palette using some beautiful Bazzill Icy Mint cardstock as the starting point. I love super pale colored cardstock; it’s just a hair off of white cardstock, but adds that hint of color to a crisp card or tag project!

For my first project, I used the green Pawsitively Velvet cardstock to die cut the Etched Berry Branch die. Because this die cut is very delicate, I also die cut the same branch from some black cardstock and adhered it to the velvet die cut to add some stability while I determined the rest of my card front. I used the white Pawsitively Velvet cardstock to die cut the base layer for the Layered Warbler bird die, adding some details with Icy Mint and Granite cardstock.

For the background, I trimmed a panel of white cardstock down to A2 size, then ran it through my die cut machine using the Exotic Vines embossing folder. I love how classy and elegant this folder is. The vines and berries help to give it a bit of a botanical feel to work well with my bird and berries!

To ground my bird and branch, I die cut the A2 Thin Frames dies from some white glitter cardstock. (Tip: keep your rectangle dies together in order to have double the amount of frames from one pass through your die cut machine!) I selected a very thin frame and smaller, but thicker, frame, then saved the rest for another project. I backed the smaller frame with some vellum to soften the area behind it a bit. This provides a clean canvas for my bird, branch, and sentiment.

I die cut the detail layer of the Snowy Greetings die set from some more Granite cardstock. I also heat embossed a greeting from a set that seems to be retired (whoops!), just to flesh out the greeting a bit. I adhered the thin frame around the edge of the embossed panel, then arranged the remaining die cuts on the vellum rectangle. The final touch was to add a few coordinating blue pearls as “berries” for the foliage die cut.

My second project is a simple tag to adorn a holiday gift! I die cut one of the Large Tag Dies from some more Icy Mint cardstock , then lightly blended some Winter Sky ink around the edge using a blending brush. I splattered the blended tag using some pearlescent watercolors to create some wintry shimmer.

I die cut a few individual snowflakes from the new Sparkling Snowflake Frame and Trio die set using the white velvet from the Pawsitively Velvet cardstock pack. I arranged them on the blended tag, snipping off the overhanging edges. I love the texture that this creates on this simple tag! I added a “for you” greeting, customized by snipping off the “here” from the CZ Design Here For You die. I popped up the glittery greeting using some very thin strips of foam adheisve and added a simple white raffia loop to make for easy attachment to a gift!

Well, that’s all for my projects today! The Pawsitively Velvet cardstock adds such a luxurious textural element to your holiday projects, and so inexpensively. Love that! Thanks so much for stopping by today, and have a marvelous day!