What “Inkspires” You! Card Hop

| @popsofpaper

Hi Friends! Hope you are having a wonderful week and enjoying the Handmade Happiness What Inkspires You Card Hop. If this is your first time stopping by, I’m so glad you are here and big Welcome!! You can find the entire card hop at the end of this post.

Not only are we sharing our Inkspirations but we’re also celebrating my friend Courtney Kreeber’s Create and Inkspire business launch! Make sure you stop by and have a look as I hear there might be an amazing card kit launching a July 15th.

My Inkspiration

When the cardmaking/stamping bug hit, I was in need of a creative outlet to stay centered. What truly inspires me is the creative process and how my mind can escape for a little while as I take an image, a sentiment, a color palette or a new crafty tool and pull all those elements together to create a bright and cheerful smile on paper and in my soul. When I create my cards, I not only get joy from the process but it’s common for me to create fun little stories in my mind about the images or to reflect on the sentiments or the person I’m making the card for.  It helps me to be mindful to giggle and remember how important it is to play as an adult.

So today, I’m sharing a slimline card using the Take a Leap Stamp Set from Evelin T Designs. Evelin’s stamps and storybook designs are my perfect creative getaway. Don’t these little critters look like they are having the best day ever!! Bouncing on the trampoline with arms stretched wide embracing all the fun and joy of a carefree day.

The Card Making Process:

Creating the Critters: I stamped all of the critter images with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink to white card stock. Then I colored the images with different Copic markers in browns and grays. To add a little whimsy to a couple of the critters, I added little hearts on their belly. The bunny with a gel pen heart and the kitty with a colorless blender heart belly —after I colored the kitty with my Copics I used my colorless blender to remove some of the ink to create the heart pattern. After coloring, I fussy cut the images and set them aside for my final card assembly.

Creating the Slimline Card Panel: My overall goal for a slimline card is to fit into a Business/#10 Envelope. The white card panel for the background design was cut to 8.5 x 3.5 inches. The aqua card base is approximately 8.75 x 3.75 inches.

  • I stamped the tree and trampoline directly to the card panel and colored with copics and white gel pen along with the grassy ground cover.
  • Then I used a stitched heart from Trinity Stamps Slimline Series Die Set to create the heart background elements. Originally, I was going to make a shaker but instead decided to ink blended the heart die cuts using blending brushes and The Stamp Market Inks and then adhered the colorful hearts back into the stitched heart “frames”. I really love the extra pop this color combo brings to the card design. 

The Final Assembly: To complete the card, I adhered the critters to their hearts using thin foam adhesives and added the “Keep your spirits high” sentiment with VersaFine Clair Nocturne Ink. 

So there we are friends, a happy slimline card that’s jumping for joy. I hope this project Inkspires you to enjoy the full creative process to create a fun, playful smile on paper. Thank you so much for stopping by and be sure to join the talented card makers along the card hop. 

The Card Hop

Courtney (You Tube)

Pennie (You Tube)

Michele (You Tube)

Emily (you are here)

Amanda (You Tube)

Amalia (You Tube)

Cyn (You Tube)

LeeAnn (Blog)

Laura (You Tube)

Terra (You Tube)

Maria (You Tube)

Karen (Blog)

Jennifer (You Tube)

Keionna (You Tube)

Mary Ellen (You Tube)

Christi (Blog)

A few of the Supplies:

Affiliate links provided at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your kindness and support! Big Hugs!

Summer of Stamping: Brandi Kincaid EBE Release Blog Hop

| @popsofpaper

Hello Friends and welcome to Pops of Paper! Today, I’m joining several of the EH Design Ambassadors on a Blog Hop celebrating Ellen Hutson’s Second Summer of Stamping New Release. 

The release includes two Gorgeous 4×6 floral stamp sets (Mondo Pansy and You Should Know) and the Thank you for Being a Friend 3×4 Stamp all designed by the amazing Brandi Kincaid. There’s also a combo of all three sets!

What I love most about this release are the sentiments. They’re like little paper pep talks and reminders of how special and important we are for each other and to ourselves.

My first project features the You Should Know Stamp Set and coloring with Prismacolor Pencils on both color cardstock (mossy green) and white cardstock. I love it when you can use the exact same coloring supplies and get two completely different (but both very pretty) results. List of the pencil colors: Poppy Red, Pale Vermillion, Process Red, Blush Pink, Pink, Peach, Mulberry, Parma Violet, Lilac, Violet, Yellowed Orange, Spanish Orange, Canary Yellow, Lemon Yellow, Apple Green, Grass Green, Colourless Blender.

You are doing better than you think: Stamped and heat embossed with white embossing powder. Colored with Prismacolor pencils; blended with a Prismacolor blender pencil and little pops of white gel pen polka dots for extra dimension. I added  pretty sparkly sequins for the flower center. For a little more pop, an Essentials Rectangle White Frame Border and black and white sentiment block popped up with foam tape.

We’re in it together: Stamped with Versafine Clair Ink in Green Oasis and heat embossed with clear embossing powder. Colored with Prismacolor pencils; blended with a Prismacolor blender pencil and pretty sparkly sequins for the flower centers. To finish the card, I stamped the sentiments with Nocturne Versafine Clair Ink and added a skinny strip of polka dot washi tape. 

My second project features the Mondo Pansy Stamp Set. Wow, this set is amazing to color! I stamped and masked the image to cover the bottom of the card panel with pansy stems and flowers. Then I heat embossed my images with clear embossing powder.  I colored the florals with Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers in the following colors: Pink-025, Peach Pink-202, Yellow-050, Lemon Yellow-051, Bright Yellow-052, Turquoise Green-042, Persian Green-033, Light Violet-081, Lilac-083, English Lavendar-803.

Then I added white gel pen stipple dots and shading to the florals. For the sentiment, I used the EBE Big Scripty Hello with a vellum shadow piece and stacked black cardstock “hello”. To finish the card, I added clear sparkly sequins and sparkly Stickles . 

Tip: To pop-up your vellum sentiments without foam, after stacking your sentiment on the vellum, turn your sentiment over and adhere several sentiments on the underside of the layered piece. Then add adhesive along the sentiment and adhere to your card panel for no-show glue or foam spots with extra dimension.

So there we are friends, three floral cards using the new Essentials by Ellen release. I hope you enjoyed my projects today. Be sure to stop by and take a look at the entire release and all of the amazing inspiration from the talented EH Ambassadors on the Blog Hop…details below!

BLOG HOP PRIZE DETAILS

We’ve got a super fun prize!!! One random & lucky commenter will win $25 to the EH shop!!! To enter for a chance to win, make sure to leave comments at each stop along the hop! And don’t forget to comment here too for a bonus entry! Comment before Saturday, July 18th at 11:59pm PDT. The winner will be notified by email.

BLOG HOP:

EH Blog 

Jessica Frost-Ballas 

Adelina Starace 

Lisa Spangler 

Michele Ferguson 

Ashlea Cornell 

Carissa Wiley 

Carly Tee Minner 

Laurel Beard 

Emily Mydlowski (You are Here)

Julie Ebersole 

Additional Supplies:

Affiliate links provided at no additional cost to you. Thank you so much for your kindness & support.

One Stamp Three Ways with Trinity Stamps: Shellabration Stamp Set

| @popsofpaper

Hi Friends and Welcome to Pops of Paper. I hope you had a great weekend and off to great start into the new week. I’m over on the Trinity Stamps Blog sharing three cards using the ADORABLE 4×8 Shellabration Stamp Set.

Birthday Fishes to You!

For my first card, I created a colorful slimline using the super sweet Octopus who barely has a leg empty with all his party favors. I colored all of the images with Spectrum Noir Tri-Blend Markers and then fussy cut the images…you can also save yourself a ton of time by using the Coordinating dies.

I used the Stitched Waves Die Set to create the background. If you have a collection or starting a collection of seaside/ocean stamps, the stitched waves is a great set to add quick dimension to your scenes or CAS cards. 

To attach the balloons, I used glue dots to adhere DMC floss in pink, blue or purple to the back of each balloon. Then I taped all of the strands to the back of the Octopus image and snipped any extra threads. After I attached the Octopus (with foam tape) to the card panel, I then positioned the balloons and strings in place. To finish the card, I added some yummy Candy Confetti Embellishments and polka dot washi tape to the bottom of the card panel. 

Let’s Shellebrate!

Oh, my goodness this crab just cracks me up. He is having the time of his life with his strawberry sorbet and yellow balloon that’s as big as the sun. For the palm tree and sandy beach background, I used the Layered Palm Tree Stencil with Distress Oxide Inks and my blending buddies. Because you can’t have a palm tree without coconuts, I added two glitter resin embellishments. To finish the card, I added the sentiment and a few Sunset Beach Shell Confetti embellishments.

Happy Birthday Balloon Bonus Card

While the Party Crab and Octopus are the main feature of this adorable stamp set, I do love a basic balloon celebration card. I stamped and colored the balloons in cheerful rainbow colors. Then I layered the balloons and adhered them to a white card panel. 

Tip: For ease of layering and adhering all the balloons in the exact place I originally arranged them, I use Glad Press N Seal method (as seen on Jennifer McGuire’s Blog) to place and pick up all the images at once, then add my glue and apply all the image to the card panel at once.  

For extra pop, I added my favorite Holographic Star embellishments and a Happy Birthday banner sentiment. 

So there we are friends, three Celebration Cards using the ADORABLE Shellabration Stamp Set. I hope you enjoyed my project today and it inspires you to stretch your stamps in fun new ways. 

Big Paper Hugs!

Emily

Creating an Alice-Themed Bookmark Collection with Miss Ink Stamps

| @popsofpaper

Hi Friends! Hope you’re having a wonderful start to the week. Today, I’m on the Miss Ink Stamps blog with a collection of bookmarks highlighting Alice’s adventures.

There are so many wonderful Alice scenes to bookmark so I used all four Alice images from the Alice Images to create my bookmarks.

All of the Alice images were colored using Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers in Cobalt Blue-031, Blue-030, Yellow-050, Light Brown-061, Flesh Colour-071, Pink Haze-201, Black-010. 

The background images were stamped with VersaFine Clair Morning Mist. For the stenciled rabbit hole design, I used Weathered Wood Distress Oxide Ink.

To create the bookmarks, I die cut four bookmarks using the narrow bookmark die from Trinity Stamps. Then I stamped or stenciled the gray backgrounds and adhered the Alice images in place using Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive. For the tassel, I combined several blue, gray and yellow strands of bakers twine. 

So there we are friends! A set of Alice-themed bookmarks for your favorite book lover. I hope you enjoyed my projects today and it inspires you to stretch your stamps and stencils in fun new ways.

Stamps & Stencil Supplies:

Alice

Smokin’ Caterpillars

Queen’s Castle

Forest Path

Rabbit Hole Stencil

Big Paper Hugs!

Emily

Creating a layered CAS card with Evelin T Designs Best Friends Fur-Ever! Stamp Set

| @popsofpaper

Hi Friends! Hope you are all having a great week. Today, I’m sharing a simple way to add layers to a Clean and Simple (CAS) card design using a newly released stamp set from Evelin T Designs.

When I saw the Best Friends Fur-Ever! stamp set from Evelin T Designs, I knew I wanted to create a fun reading inspired card for my tween daughter. My daughter has always been an avid-reader with a wild imagination that I attribute to the portable magic she *always* carries with her. And of course, the monsters in this set are absolutely ADORABLE that they had to have a home in my stamp collection.

To create the card, I stamped all of the images with Memento Tuxedo ink and then colored the images with one of my favorite color combo (Purple & Greens). Then I fussy cut the images. 

Copic Colors: Monster: BG10/11/13, Bunny: N0/1/2, R30 Folliage: BV00/04, V06, V01, YG23/25, G16/19, Jeans & Shirt: B91/93, Hair: Y31/26, E31 

For a extra depth and to create a “silhouette effect” in the background, I stamped the foliage with VersaFine Clair Ink in Monarch on my card panel. Then I layered the colored images (tucking the monster and bunny behind the foliage) using thin foam tape and Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive. I stamped the sentiment with VersaFine Clair Nocturne Ink and added little star embellishments for extra pop. 

So there we are friends, a layered clean and simple design using the ADORABLE stamps from Best Friends Fur-Ever!. Thanks for stopping by and Big Paper Hugs!

Supplies Used:
(Affiliate links provided at not cost to you. Thank you so much for your kind support!)

Hero Arts and Ink Blot Shop Partner Release Blog Hop

| @popsofpaper

Hi Friends! Welcome to Pops of Paper. I’m thrilled to be part of the Hero Arts & Ink Blot Shop Blog Hop!! Please scroll to the bottom of the post for all the blog hop details (hop list and giveaway details). 

The wonderful Tifany from Ink Blot Shop has partnered with Hero Arts to create the Please Deliver 6×8 Collaborative Stamp Set that is perfect for  cardmaking and decorating your envelopes. Adding a stamped image to an envelope that will carry your handmade card across the miles  is one of my favorite Happy Mail last touch details. 

Today, I’m sharing two card & matching envelope sets along with a bonus card to share with you today. With all the different border stamps in this set, it’s so quick and easy to create cheerful cards and envelopes. One stamp impression, fun coloring and you have yourself a great card set.

Missing You Card and Matching Envelope

For my first project, I used the envelope border stamp to create a full card panel background by repeat stamping the image. I added little heart stamps into spaces between the envelope border images. To help finish the full background effect, I added small pink polka dots in the nooks and crannies. Then I colored all the hearts with Tombow Dual Brush Markers and a layered sentiment square using the Ink Blot Shop Greetings to You 4×6 Stamp Set. 

For the matching envelope, I first stamped the address lines and the please deliver to: sentiment. Then I stamped around the address lines using the envelope border stamp. Then for total cuteness, I added a heart envelope on the back of the envelope flap. 

Tip: When coloring envelopes, I slip a piece of scrap cardstock into the envelope to prevent any ink blending. 

Thank You, Teacher!

While school might be out of session, it’s always nice to have extra Thank You cards for my kiddo’s teacher on hand for the next school year. The pencil border stamp in the set was perfect for my teacher-inspired cards. I used the Ink Blot Shop Greetings to You 4×6 Stamp Set for the rainbow pencil set and the Big Block Alpha and Sentiment Label Blocks for the No. 2 Yellow Pencil Card. 

So there we are friends, a few card sets using the new Please Deliver Collaborative Stamp Set from Hero Arts & Ink Blot Shop. I hope you enjoyed my projects today and it inspires you to decorate your envelopes and stretch your stamps in fun new ways!

Big Paper Hugs!
Emily

BLOG HOP DETAILS

Giveaway Details: We will give away TWO $50 shopping sprees during this hop – one to the Hero Arts store, and one to Ink Blot Shop! Winners will be drawn from the comments left across the hop – comment on more blogs for more chances to win! Enter by Sunday, July 5th at 11:59pm pacific, and the winner will be announced on the Hero Arts blog the following week.

THE BLOG HOP

Hero Arts

Tifany DeGough / Ink Blot Shop

Channin Pelletier

Daniel West

Debi Adams

Emily Mydlowski (You are Here)

Ilina Crouse

Janette Kausen

Jessica Frost-Ballas

Kelly Latevola

Libby Hickson

Michelle Short

Quick 4-Bar Card for a Serious Celebration

| @popsofpaper

Hi Friends! Today I’m sharing a quick and easy way to create a 4-Bar Celebration Card with one stamp from Trinity Stamps.

4-Bar cards are the perfect size (3-1/2 x 4-7/8) for sending little thank you notes, save the dates and RSVPs but I love adding them to celebration packages. It’s such a cute size and because it’s small…it’s quick and easy to create stamped cards with big impact. I like creating 4-Bar cards “on-the-fly” so I can match the colors & theme of the paper/gift bag that I used to wrap the gift.

Trinity Stamps carries a fantastic line of 3×4 word art stamps by Love, Dani that are absolutely perfect for the cute 4-Bar size. I’m using the newly released Serious Celebration stamp set.

To create my card, I stamped and colored with Copic Markers inspired by this week’s Color Throwdown Challenge which coincidently is the Trinity Stamps Brand Colors.

For a little extra pop, I added white gel pen markings to the letters and stars. After coloring the image, I die cut the stitched edge using the 4-Bar Die set. Then I adhered my decorated card panel to a blue card base.

So there we are friends a quick and easy Celebration 4-Bar card. I hope you enjoyed my post today and it inspires you to try the fun 4-Bar size for your next cardmaking project.

Big Paper Hugs!
Emily

Supplies Used (affiliate links at no cost to you. Thank you so much for your support!):

Welcome Little One: A Baby Shower Blog Hop for Carly!

| @popsofpaper

The Ellen Hutson team is having a Surprise Baby Shower Blog Hop in honor of the amazing and talented Carly Tee who is expecting a baby boy! You can see the rest of the team’s cards on the Ellen Hutson Blog here. 

Today, I’m sharing a sweet Dinomite BABY card because it’s so darn cute when you can replace a letter in a word with a fun little critter and the Dinosaur is the perfect fit for the letter A!

Using the Pretty Pink Posh Baby Stamps & Dies, I stamped and colored the baby word images with Copic Markers in aqua, yellow, blues and hints of gray. After my coloring was complete, I used the coordinating die to create stand-alone letters. I also cut a second set of BABY letters from aqua cardstock and layered them with the BABY word art letters for a shadow effect. 

Using the EBE Dinomite Halloween Stamp Set, I stamped, colored and die-cut the dino with the coordinating die. I added a cute little baby bottle from the PPP Baby Stamp Set & Coordinating Die and tucked it into his arms. 

Using a thick ruler as my base, I positioned and adhered the letters in a straight line across the card panel. Then I placed and adhered the Dinosaur with foam tape to take the place of the letter A. To complete the card, I stamped and colored three yellow stars and heat embossed the mini “It’s a Boy” sentiment on the aqua cardstock. 

Congratulations, Carly! I’m so excited for you and sending BIG DINOMITE Hugs your way!

Supplies:

Layered Slimline Floral & Foliage Frame Card with Trinity Stamps

| @popsofpaper

Hi Friends! Trinity Stamps is celebrating their 2nd Birthday with a fun new release on June 26th. There are so many great stand-alone dies, stamps and stencils in this new release. I had the opportunity to work with the new Slimline Series: Foliage Frame Stand-Alone Die along with the Wallflower stamp set which is a great new set of floral images. The Foliage Frame is so beautiful and with one pass through the die cutting machine you have a beautiful card element. New release links will be ready for purchase in the Trinity Stamps shop on June 26th.

Here’s how my project came together:

  1. Die cut the Slimline Series Foliage Frame Die (new release) from white card stock. 
  2. Cut a piece of vellum into a slimline panel (3.5 x 8.5).
  3. Add anti-static powder to the vellum to prep for heat embossing. 
  4. Add layers of florals from the Wallflower stamp set (new release) to the vellum with VersaMark Ink. 
  5. Add White Embossing powder and heat set with a heating tool. Make sure you run your heating tool for a minute so it’s nice and hot and can melt the embossing powder quickly without burning the delicate vellum. 
  6. Turn the vellum over and add your favorite distress oxide inks with a blending brush.
  7. Glue the Foliage Frame die cut to the ink blended, vellum embossing panel. 
  8. For extra pop, add your favorite sparkly gems. I used the gorgeous Rainbow Reflection Multi-Sized Rainbow Rhinestone Mix. 
  9. The sentiment is from the Wallflowers stamp set which I heat embossed with white embossing powder on a layered sentiment strip. 

Be sure to stop by the Trinity Stamp’s Instagram Feed for more inspiration from the amazing Trinity Stamps Design Team as we celebrate the new release with a 3-Day Instagram Hop.

Big Paper Hugs!

Emily