27 June 2018

Happy mail with happy bears


Hi Everyone,

Today I am sharing with you two cards I made recently - both with adorable bears, and so I thought I could post about them at the same time :o)

The first card features the sweet Kobi Bear by Studio Katia. The stamp set was a gift from a crafty friend (it was also my first Studio Katia stamp set at that time - that has changed since!), and I was delighted with it, especially that I have a few kiddy birthdays coming up, and I thought he would be perfect for the occasion. It's such a clever set with the numbers as candles for the cake - just like in real life! Yes, coordinating dies would probably be pretty helpful with these, but truth be told - I don't mind fussy cutting, and I think I did a pretty good job with it. 

When I started colouring the images, I didn't have much of an idea in terms of what I wanted the final result to look like - I just had fun during the Daily Marker 30 Day Colouring Challenge! I must say, though, I was absolutely delighted with the end result - it's such a vibrant and happy card!

The images were coloured with my beloved ZIG markers, and the background was ink blended with Distress Inks - I combined my two favourite colouring mediums... :o) There's also lots of sparkle and shine thanks to glitter pens and Glossy Accents, and - as the final touch - I added some Irridescent Crystals by Studio Katia. They were the perfect match for this card, don't you think? 

Some of the images are popped up on foam tape for additional interest and dimension.

Oh, I'd love to keep this card in my stash for ever! But I had a sweet little girl in mind when I was making the card, so it will have to go to her. I just hope she enjoys it:







The second card features another adorable bear I've had in my stash - this time, from Create a Smile Stamps. It was one of those stamp sets that I snatched up the second it was released (which, in fairness, I do rather rarely, so big compliments to the set!), I just found it absolutely irresistible. 

I was in the mood for making a summery card, and I also wanted to do some paper piecing, since this was the theme of a Create a Smile challenge. I came up with this fun design, where all the little colourful parcels and the bear's clothes got paper pieced... Just don't ask me why this bear is wearing a hat in the middle of summer - some of my crafty friends suggested that maybe he's a hipster bear?! They might be on to something... LOL

Again, surprisingly, I was really pleased with the end result (believe me, that doesn't happen very often, I'm super critical in relation to my cards!). In fact, I liked it so much that I decided to send it to Christine, the owner of Create a Smile Stamps. She's having a mail call, and wants to receive some cards featuring her stamp sets and products to make her office a happy place, and I thought it would be a cheerful addition to her collection - I hope she thinks so, too!

This time, the background was also ink blended (I used the emboss resist technique), but the images were paper pieced and/or coloured with my alcohol markers. 


And here's the result:





Aren't both bears absolutely adorable? Which one do you like more?

Have a great day,
Mirella

SUPPLY LIST (please see affiliate disclaimer & essential supplies info here):

FIRST CARD:


Studio Katia KOBI THE BIRTHDAY BEAR Clear Stamps STKS022 Studio Katia IRIDESCENT CLEAR Crystals SK2415  Zig CLEAN COLOR 48 SET Real Brush RB6000AT48V Pentel AQUASH BRUSH MEDIUM Fine Point 226537 Tombow N15 BLACK Dual Brush Marker 56621 Tim Holtz Distress Mini Ink Pad TWISTED CITRON Ranger TDP47322 Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad MOWED LAWN Ranger TIM35008 Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Ink Pad PEACOCK FEATHERS Ranger TDO56102 Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad SALTY OCEAN Ranger TIM35015 Ranger MINI ROUND INK BLENDING TOOLS IBT40965 Ranger Perfect Pearls PERFECT PEARL Individual Pigment Powder PPP17714 Ranger Inkssentials MINI GLOSSY ACCENTS Glue Adhesive .5oz GAC27898 Crafter's Companion CLEAR OVERLAY Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pens SPECNSPACLE3 Uni-Ball Pen Signo Gel WHITE UM-153 Sakura BLACK GLAZE GEL PENS Pen 2 Pack 38495 Copic Multiliner SP 0.3 BLACK Ink Marker

SECOND CARD:

Alpha stickers - by SNAP, but you can find similar ones in the Create a Smile shop
Patterned papers for paper piecing - mostly by Lawn Fawn, scraps


Create A Smile BEARMAIL Clear Stamps clcs64 Create A Smile MANDALA Cling Stamp CGCS1 Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad WILD HONEY Ranger TIM27201 Tim Holtz Distress Mini Ink Pad MUSTARD SEED Ranger TDP40040 Tim Holtz Distress Mini Ink Pad SQUEEZED LEMONADE Ranger TDP40200 Ranger MINI ROUND INK BLENDING TOOLS IBT40965 Tsukineko Versamark EMBOSS INK PAD Watermark VM-001 Brutus Monroe ALABASTER Ultra Fine Embossing Powder BRU2470 Ranger EUROPEAN VOLTAGE HEAT IT CRAFT TOOL HIT27089 Uni-Ball Pen Signo Gel WHITE UM-153 Tombow N15 BLACK Dual Brush Marker 56621 Sakura BLACK GLAZE GEL PENS Pen 2 Pack 38495 Simon Says Stamp Sequins SUNSHINE MIX SSSYLW01 Ranger Perfect Pearls PERFECT PEARL Individual Pigment Powder PPP17714


BOTH CARDS:


"Neenah Classic Crest 80 LB SMOOTH SOLAR WHITE Paper Pack 25 Sheets Neenah Classic Crest 80 LB SMOOTH SOLAR WHITE Paper Pack 40 Sheets NH80LB40 Neenah Classic Crest 80 LB REAM Smooth Solar White Paper Pack 250 Sheets" Tsukineko VersaFine ONYX BLACK Ink Pad VF-82 My Favorite Things BLACK LICORICE Hybrid Ink Pad MFT Ranger .5 Oz. MINI MULTI MEDIUM MATTE Glue Adhesive Paint INK41511 Quilled Creations PRECISION TIP Empty Applicator Bottle 317 Lawn Fawn STAMP SHAMMY Cleaner LF1045 MISTI PRECISION STAMPER Stamping Tool Kit Tonic Studios 6 x 12 INCH GUILLOTINE PAPER TRIMMER T453 EK Success CUTTER BEE Scissors EKCB01

18 June 2018

Forgot someone's birthday? Blah bunny to the rescue!

Hello Everyone,

Today, I would like to share with you a fun belated birthday card. We all surely have forgotten about someone's birthday at least once, right? And even if you never have, I suppose having one or two belated birthday cards in our stash is always a good thing - for that exceptional circumstance... 

I've had the "Blah bunny" and "Blah blah blah" stamp sets in my stash since the day they released - there was something in these sets that I just couldn't resist. Yet, strangely, I have not used them... until now. I had no idea where I was going with the card design when I started colouring the image, but as I kept creating, this fun idea started clarifying in my mind... 

For some reason, I kept giggling throughout the whole process of putting this card together - the sentiments are just so fun to play with, and their versatility allowed me to go along with my plan - to make a long sentiment in rainbow colours. 

The end result is pretty much uni-sex, I believe, which is a great thing - as I struggle with cards appropriate for guys. For sure, it's not a card you'd send to anyone, but for this friend  or family member who has a bit of sense of humour - it will be perfect! 

I hope you like it as much as I do:



I am entering this into the following challenge:
SSSWChallenge - Frame it

Well, what do you think? :o)

Have a great week ahead,

Mirella

SUPPLY LIST (please see affiliate disclaimer & essential supplies info here):

VELLUM - by Crafter's Companion
PATTERNED PAPER - old paper pad by Papermania


Honey Bee BLAH BUNNY Clear Stamp Set HBST59 Honey Bee BLAH BLAH BLAH Clear Stamp Set HBST60 Mama Elephant FEMME FRAMES Creative Cuts Steel Dies Studio Katia SATIN RAINBOW Confetti sk2706 Marvy Uchida JEWEL PICKER Tool 91GRC My Favorite Things BLACK LICORICE Hybrid Ink Pad MFT Tsukineko VersaFine ONYX BLACK Ink Pad VF-82 Tombow N15 BLACK Dual Brush Marker 56621 Uni-Ball Pen Signo Gel WHITE UM-153 Ranger .5 Oz. MINI MULTI MEDIUM MATTE Glue Adhesive Paint INK41511 Quilled Creations PRECISION TIP Empty Applicator Bottle 317 Lawn Fawn STAMP SHAMMY Cleaner LF1045 Tonic Studios 6 x 12 INCH GUILLOTINE PAPER TRIMMER T453 EK Success CUTTER BEE Scissors EKCB01