Birthday Wishes

How was your weekend? Ours was pretty good.  It’s been pretty rainy and icky here lately so it was a good weekend to just bake some cookies, hang out as a family, watch a movie, and play a board game . . . a great relaxing weekend.  Hope your weekend was too!

I have this card to share today featuring an absolutely adorable little image from Lili of the Valley called Maisie Two Balloons.  I just love this little cutie!  I used some patterned papers from My Mind’s Eye’s Just Dreamy 2 line.

I stamped the image on copic x-press it cardstock using tuxedo black memento ink and colored it with copic markers.  I used these maker colors: E000, E00, E11, E13, R12, R14, R17, R27, R46, R89, E33, E35, E37, E29, C4, C6, C8, BG11, BG32, BG34, colorless blender.  I added some baker’s twine from my etsy shop and used some glossy accents on the balloons to make them nice and shiny.  That great sentiment is from Catslife Press.

If you’ve never ordered from Lili of the Valley, they are a great company with great customer service.  I was a very happy customer before I got the opportunity to design for them (and absolutely love getting to design for them!).  They offer free worldwide shipping on orders over L25 which is about $40 and I always got my order in about a week (from the UK to the US).

Hope you have a great week!

Niki

Waltzingmouse Stamps October Release Day Three

Welcome to Day Three of the Waltzingmouse Stamps October release!  Today, the design team is sharing sneak peeks of the new 2011 Holiday Ornaments stamp set and the Santa's Coming to Town stamp set.  Both sets feature ornaments that coordinate with the Ornament dies that Spellbinders just released.  The new sets will all be available for purchase on October 15th.

I absolutely love this release!  Every set is a must have set (in my opinion).  My cards today were so much fun to create!  I had so much fun playing with inks and stamps and trying a new technique that I hadn't tried before.  My set of cards was created with kraft cardstock, white cardstock, white embossing powder, stamps, and an assortment of inks (no copic markers even!).

My background papers were created by sponging various Tim Holtz distress inks on white cardstock using foam applicators and foam applicator refills from Ranger.  I cut my white cardstock to size.  Then, I sponged the inks on the cardstock and flicked water on the cardstock to create the great background.  (I did all my inking and water flicking on one of the Ranger Craft Sheets.  They make clean up so easy as everything just wipes right off.)  It is such a fun technique and one I can't wait to play around with more!  I love the look that it creates!  (Sorry for all the exclaimation points, but I had so much fun creating this card set and love how they turned out. *wink*)

For this card, I started by inking my white cardstock with fired brick distress ink.  I added many layers until I got a beautiful dark red.  Then, I added some pumice stone distress ink and a little walnut stain distress ink around the edge.  After flicking a little water on the piece, you can see the great look it creates when the ink pools a bit.  I stitched around the edge before adhering the piece to my kraft card base.

I stamped that gorgeous doily from the Dainty Doilies 2 Small stamp set with a Big & Bossy embossing ink pad from Ranger.  (My pad is all clear embossing ink.  The one I'm linking to has a black pad and a clear pad in one.  The Ranger embossing pad is by far the best embossing ink I have ever tried.  It completely blows a versamark pad out of the water! It's definitely my favorite embossing ink.)  Then, I embossed the doily with white embossing powder.  I hand cut around the doily and adhered it to my card with foam adhesive.

Last, I stamped that beautiful ornament from the new 2011 Holiday Ornaments set twice on white cardstock using tuxedo black memento ink.  I cut the ornment out and sponged it with shabby shutters distress ink and a little peeled paint distress ink around the edges.  I cut just the sentiment out of the second stamped ornament and sponged it with antique linen and tea dye distress inks.  Then, I layered the sentiment over my first stamped ornament and adhered it with foam adhesive.

I created the other cards using the same techniques as the first just with different ink colors and stamps.  For this card, I created my background by layering shabby shutters distress ink, peeled paint distress ink, and a little walnut stain distress ink around the edges.  Since I had more than one color of green distress ink, the water flicking created a really neat look.  (I think I need another dark red distress ink so the red is more dramatic, too!)

For my sentiment on this card, I used one of the great sentiments from the new Seasonal Remedies stamp set which will also be available on October 15th.  Again, I stamped the image twice on white cardstock with tuxedo black memento ink.  I cut out one and sponged it with fired brick and walnut stain distress inks. Then, I cut just the sentiments out on the second one and sponged it with antique linen and tea dye distress inks.

For my third card, I used worn lipstick and fired brick distress inks along with a little pumice stone and walnut stain distress inks around the edges.  This sentiment is also from Seasonal Remedies.  I stamped it twice again and cut it out.  The first piece was sponged with shabby shutters and peeled paint distress inks and the sentiment was sponged with antique linen and tea dye distress inks.

I also sprayed each of my background pieces with Pearl Glimmer Mist to give it a beautiful shimmer that is really difficult to pick up in a photo, but so pretty in person.  (They reformulated the glimmer mists and I think they spray much more evenly now.  I really like the shimmer it added.)

Okay, it's time to hop around to the rest of the designers' blogs to see what they created with the new sets:

Anya Schrier
Becca Feeken
Belinda Chang Langner
Clare Buswell
Julia Aston
Jennifer Holmes
Kate Whelan
Kelly Schirmer
Laurie Schmidlin
Lynn Mercurio
Mona Pendleton
Sandie Dunne
Tosha Leyendekker
Claire Brennan (Owner)

Have a great day!

Niki

Waltzingmouse Stamps October Release Day One

This is my second post for today.  Please scroll down (or click HERE) to see my Swimming for Katie Blog Hop post!

Welcome to Day One of the Waltzingmouse Stamps October release!  There are some really neat sets releasing this month and the design team can't wait to share some sneak peeks.  (I have to tell you this is one of my all time favorite releases so far!!)  The new sets will be available for purchase on October 15th.

Today, we are sharing sneak peeks of the new Seasonal Remedies stamp set.  I absolutely love this set!!  The typography makes it so easy to create beautiful cards.  The way Claire designs stamps is just amazing and I love seeing what she comes up with next.

For my card, I started by rounding the corners of my patterned paper and card base and then, stitching a couple pieces of patterned paper together (Basic Grey Jovial paper pad).  Then, I stamped my sentiment using tuxedo black memento ink on cream cardstock and sponged antique linen and tea dye distress inks around the edges of my sentiment and patterned papers (over the stitching to darken it as well).  I finished off my card with a gold filigree corner and some taupe roses from Wild Orchid Crafts.

Now, it's time to hop around to the other designers' blogs to see what they created with the new set:

Anya Schrier

Becca FeekanBelinda Chang Langner

Claire Brennan (owner)

Jennifer Holmes

Julia Aston

Kate Whelan

Kelly Schirmer 

Laurie Schmidlin 

Lynn Mercurio

Mona Pendleton

Sandie Dunne

Sarah Martina Parker

Tosha Leyendekker 

(Be sure to scroll down to for my Swimming for Katie Blog Hop post.)  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Niki

Swimming for Katie Blog Hop

From October 10-12 some of the best stampers are joining together to support and encourage our friend and fellow stamper, Katie Renz, who is currently battling inoperable gastric cancer.  If you're not familiar with her, Katie’s cancer story started just before Christmas last year.  This young, beautiful, healthy, vibrant mother of 3 with her infectious smile was suddenly diagnosed with an inoperable cancer, virtually overnight.  A few tummy aches and then stage 4 gastric cancer.  Her first post about it is here.  The idea of “Swimming for Katie” came from her recent post here.

This exclusive stamp used in my sample, designed by Becky Oehlers is available as a clear stamp, as well as a digis or a dig and SVG cut file.  100% of the profits go to Katie's fund to help her and her young family.  Her husband Kevin and her three young children need our help and support.  In addition to the Keep Swimming Octopus, Marianne Walker and True =D Doodle Designs both also donated digis that are for sale.  Direct donations are also being accepted.  Information central is HERE.  This is a permanent page that will stay active at i {heart} papers with current information and the full 3 day blog hop listing, as well as the donation button. 

Here are all the items available for sale.

Keep Swimming Octopus Peachy Clear stamp $5.50 with free shipping

Keep Swimming Octopus DIGIstamp $3.00 with instant download

Keep Swimming Octopus DIGIstamp with SVG cut file $3.50 with instant download

Keep Swimming Mermaid DIGIstamp $3.50 with instant download

Keep Swimming Ribbon Fish DIGIstamp and DIGIpapers $5.00 with instant download

And we have a  HUGE prize that was just gifted yesterday!!
To help raise money for Katie, Creating for Causes (www.creatingforcauses.org) has generously donated a FREE ticket (value: $249.95) to one of their upcoming 3-day Scrap & Stamp Retreats.

The winner of the free ticket will enjoy 3 days of non-stop fun and creativity with fellow scrappers, stampers and paper crafters, and can choose between the Charlotte, NC Scrap & Stamp Ritzy Retreat at The Ritz-Carlton on October 21-23 or the Orlando, FL Scrap & Stamp Retreat at the Marriott World Center on November 4-6. Both retreats promise to spoil you and provide 48-straight hours of creating, camaraderie and fun!

To learn more about the events, please visit: http://www.creatingforcauses.org/our-events/scrapbook-events/. 

Not only will you be raising money for Katie by making a donation, you get a chance to win a wonderful weekend getaway for yourself! And, because all of Creating for Causes' events are charity events that raise money for local charities, you'll be giving back twice!
Here's how it works:
Simply make a $33 donation (or more) for Katie and indicate that you want to be entered in the Creating for Causes Retreat ticket drawing. Everyone who makes a qualifying donation will be entered into the drawing and one lucky person will be attending this 3-day retreat for FREE! That lucky person could just be you! (If you have already donated and wish to be included, just email kate(at) iheartpapers (dot) com)

DEADLINE TO ENTER FOR THIS GIVEAWAY IS FRIDAY 9PM EST, although other donations will be accepted for weeks to come.

I hope you will join me in supporting Katie through a purchase or donation.  The following is a list of everyone who has projects posted today.  I hope you will be inspired by them and moved to purchase or donate.  If you would like to send Katie a card, her mailing address is:

Katie Renz
PO Box 5913
Bellingham, WA 98227-5913

Here is the list of all of the designers joining in the hop today:

Amy Heller Jackie Pedro Julie Masse Kecia Waters Sandie Dunne Susan Liles Latisha Yoast Laurie Schmidlin Lisa Arana Lisa Henke Lisa Silver Lydia Fiedler Lyn Bernatovich Lynette Maria Gurnsey Meg Craig Melissa Bickford Michelle Woerner Mona Pendleton Niki Estes Robyn Weatherspoon Sarah Jay Sarah Martina Parker Savannah O'Gwynn Stephanie Washburn Susanna Boyd Tobi Crawford Julie Lacey Kim Kesti Shemaine Smith Danielle Lounds Debbie Carriere DoBea A. Fran Gumprecht Geny Cassady Gina K. Holly McMillen Jak Heath Javablustamper/Jacquie Kimberly Crawford Jeanne Streiff Trudy Sjolander

Thank you!

Niki

Best Witches

I'm having a hard time believing how quickly this month is flying by (the whole year really).  I figured I better pull out this cute little witch image from Stampavie (called Magical Meg) because Halloween will be here before I know it!  She was part of the Christmas release this summer that also had a few Halloween and fall images thrown in.

I colored her with copic markers (sorry I didn't write down the markers today) and cut her out with a rectangle nestability die.  I sponged some antique linen, tea dye, and walnut stain distress inks around the edges while the image was still in the die.  I used some patterned papers from Echo Park's Halloween line from last year and that great sentiment is from Catslife Press (part of their recent release).

Have a great Monday and thanks for stopping by!

Niki

it's the little things

Last week, I had the chance to create a couple cards using some images from Lili of the Valley.  I shared the little girl card last week and have this little teddy bear card to share today.  I just love this adorable image!  It’s called Little Lorry Bear.  I used some patterned papers from the Lime Twist: Fly a Kite patterned paper pad from My Mind’s Eye.

I stamped the image on copic x-press it cardstock with tuxedo black memento ink and colored it with copic markers.  I used these marker colors: R24, R27, R29, R46, R89, Y35, YR04, YR07, YG05, E53, E55, E57, E31, E33, E35, E37, W3, BG000, BG01, BG32, BG53, colorless blender.

I die cut my image with a circle nestability die before using my air compressor and some copic markers to spray the background.  I added some glossy accents to the balloon to make it shiny.  After stitching my layers, I wrapped some red grosgrain ribbon and some baker’s twine around my patterned paper layers before adhering them to my card base.  Then, I used foam adhesive to adhere my image and sentiment (from Catslife Press).  I finished off my card with some corrugated stars from Close to My Heart and some red buttons stitched with baker’s twine.

Have a great weekend!

Niki

warmest wishes

Hi Everyone!  I have a card to share using the adorable Milly Cuddle Time image from Lili of the Valley.  Milly is so cute and I just love her little pets!  The sentiment is from the A5 Verses stamp set.

I stamped the image with tuxedo black memento ink on copic x-press it cardstock and colored her with copic markers.  I used these marker colors: E55, R11, R12, R14, W1, W3, W5, W7, W9, E53, E55, E43, R30, BG32, BG34, E23, E25, E27, E29, E31, E33, E35, E37, E000, E00, E11, E13, BG0000, BG000, colorless blender.

I cut the image out with a labels eight nestability die and used some patterned papers from the Lime Twist: Life of the Party paper pad from My Mind’s Eye.  I finished off my card with some hemp twine from CTMH, some baker’s twine from my etsy shop, and a couple sparkly pink buttons.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Niki