love you to the moon and back

Hi Everyone!  I'm really excited to share this project with you today.  My kids love my cards.  They often ask me to give them some of the cards I create and I make cards for them on their birthdays and other occassions.  So, they have quite a few cards laying around.  My youngest likes to write on the cards or tear the buttons off when the older kids leave them down for him to get and they get really upset.

So, I've been thinking about creating a box for each of them to hold some of their cards.  We picked out some images to use for the project earlier this summer and I've been thinking about how I wanted to decorate the boxes for a while now.  Well, last week, Lili of the Valley put a challenge up on their blog to create Anything But a Card.  That was just the push I needed to get started on this project.

For my oldest son's box, he chose this adorable Astronaut stamp from Lili of the Valley.  It can be difficult sometimes to find cute boy images, but Lili of the Valley has lots of really cute ones!  When he picked the image, I knew the Rocket Age patterned papers and embellishments from October Afternoon would be perfect.

First, I took the box apart and painted it blue on the outside and tan on the inside.  After it was dry and I reassembled it, I stitched my patterned paper layers together before adhering them to my box with mod podge.

I stamped the image on copic x-press it cardstock with tuxedo black memento ink.  Then, I colored it with copic markers (colors listed below in the supply list).  I masked the image and sprayed the floor and wall using copic markers and my air compressor.

I added some Glossy Accents to their helmets and let it dry while I worked on the rest of the box (stitching papers, adhering them, etc).  I added a red cardstock mat and tied some Denim baker's twine around the bottom of the image before adhering it to my box with foam adhesive.  The corrugated stars are from Close to My Heart and the buttons, flash card, and tickets are from October Afternoon.

This saying is one of my favorites and I thought it would be perfect on my son's box.  I used Thickers for the letters and the stamped part of the saying comes from the Half Pint Heroes stamp set from Waltzingmouse Stamps.  The label and rocket are from October Afternoon, too.

I didn't want to add a lot to the inside so their would be room for his cards he collects so I just added a piece of patterned paper from October Afternoon.   He loved the constellations on it.

I barely got photos of it before he took it off to his room.  He's really excited about it and it makes me happy knowing how much he loves it!  Now, I need to get started on one for my daughter. :)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Niki

love you astronaut box supplies:
Stamps: Astronaut (Lili of the Valley), Half Pint Heroes (Waltzingmouse Stamps)
Cardstock: X-Press It (Copic), red
Patterned Paper: Rocket Age (October Afternoon)
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento (Tsukineko)
Embellishments: Rocket Age buttons, Rocket Age Miscellany, Rocket Age Rubber Charms (October Afternoon), denim baker's twine (The Twinery), corrugated stars (Close to My Heart)
Copic Markers
hair: E33, E35, E37, E29
skin: E000, E00, E11, E13
helmets/pants: C0, C2, C4, C6
shirt: YR12, YR15, YR16, YR18, T7
boots: B93, B95, B97, B99, T5, T7, T9
bear: E11, E13, E15, E17, E18
rocket: B93, B95, B97, B99, R27, R46, R89, T9
box: E53, E55, E57
bunny: E30
flag: E31, R27, R46, R89, T9
floor: E25
wall: custom marker (1/2 YR30 & 1/2 YR31)

monkey birthday

Hi Everyone!  I'm back to share another card I created a week or so ago.   Since I'm not designing for many companies right now, I've had a chance to finally pull out some of the stamps that I've been collecting, but haven't been using because things were so busy with design team stuff.  It's been fun to use some stamps for a variety of companies that I love.

This adorable little monkey is from CC Designs.  His name is Monkey Zoo and he comes with the funny sentiment I used on my card.   Isn't he so adorable?!  You can get him here at Stamp and Create.  (Always great customer service from Lacey!)

The card itself is actually easier to create than it might look at first.  That great patterned paper is from the new October Afternoon Cakewalk paper pad.  It's a great sunburst design with lots of different patterns that are stitched together.  (In other words, no stitching from me, but it looks like it if you don't look too closely!)  I simply cut my patterned paper, stitched some buttons on the edge, and adhered it to my black card base.

I colored the cute monkey and present with copic markers.  Sorry, I didn't write the colors down this time.  I used a pear green promarker for the ribbon on the present.  (I really need Copic to add some pear greens in this shade to the line up!!  Maybe I should email them and beg them! lol)  Then, I added a black mat.  I wrapped some charcoal baker's twine around and stitched another green button in place before adhering the image with some foam adhesive.

Have a wonderful day!

Niki

Monkey Birthday card supplies:
Stamps: Monkey Zoo (CC Designs)
Cardstock: X-Press It (Copic), black
Patterned Paper: Cakewalk (October Afternoon)
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento (Tsukineko)
Embellishments: Cakewalk buttons (October Afternoon), charcoal baker's twine
Copic Markers

Case Study Anniversary Blog Hop: Blooming Great Day

Hi Everyone!  I'm excited to be playing along with the Case Study 2nd Anniversary blog hop today.  The Case Study design team (along with past muses) is having a blog hop to celebrate the second aniversary of this fun challenge blog.  I hear there are some fun prizes if you decide to play along, too.  Leave a comment on each blog along the hop to be entered to win.   You can find all the information to join along in the challenge over on the Case Study blog.

This week's challenge is Signature Style or create something that best reflects your style.  You should have come from Eva Dobilas' blog.  If not, hop on over to the Case Study blog to start the blog hop at the beginning.

I was so honored last year when Iwona asked me to be the muse for the challenges one month and am excited that I get to play along again.  I love the concept of the challenge where designers inspire each other in their creations.

This week's challenge of Signature Style is definitely an easy one.  I've been creating lots of cards this year with colored images.  Hey, I'm sometimes a kid at heart and still love to color. :)

I decided to use this adorable little bear image from Lili of the Valley called Blooming Lovely.  It's been too long since I played with my adorable Lili of the Valley stamps (I miss working for LOTV!  More on that another day. . .) and I had to get the cute little bears when they released them in June.  The stamp comes with the sentiment I used on my card.

I colored the image with copic markers on copic x-press it cardstock.  (Marker colors listed below.)  I used some patterned paper from Studio Calico's Heyday paper pad.  I added lots of stitching and some buttons and capuccino baker's twine.  I also used an assortment of flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts.  I am playing along with the current Wild Orchid Crafts challenge which is Round in Circles (or use circles on your card).  I used a doily and buttons so hopefully that is enough! lol

I didn't have any rose buds in the right shade so I lightly colored the tips with a copic marker.  Then, I used my copic blender marker to make the color bleed down the petals.  They turned out pretty darn close to the color of my cherry blossoms.  I also added some stickles to the butterfly, bee's wings, and hearts, but it's kind of hard to see in the photos.

Okay, time to hop along to Andrea Ewen's blog and see what beautiful things she has created.  Thank you again to Iwona for inviting me to play along.  I am truly honored to get to play along with such amazingly, talented designers.

Happy Hopping!

Niki

Blooming Great Day card supplies:
Stamps: Blooming Lovely (Lili of the Valley)
Cardstock: X-Press It (Copic), off white
Patterned Paper: Heyday (Studio Calico)
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento (Tsukineko)
Dies: petite oval nestability die (Spellbinders)
Embellishments: 4mm white rosebuds, 15mm cream open roses, 2 tone cherry blossoms (Wild Orchid Crafts), cappuccino baker's twine, paper doily, aqua buttons
Copic Markers:
bear:E23, E25, E27, E29
nose/ears/butterfly/hearts: R00
flower: custom marker (1.2 YR30, 1/2 YR31), YR31, Y35, Y38, E53, E55, E57, E59
leaves/stem: G40, G43, G46
bee: Y35
tags: E31
pot: E13, E15, E17, E19, E18
sky: BG0000, BG000

hello there

Hi Everyone!  It's been a while since I shared a card (or even created a card for that matter).  I've been creating mainly cards with colored images this year so I decided to create one with just stamping instead.

I recently discovered Studio Calico stamps which I use mainly for scrapbooking, but I wanted to create this card using some of the stamps as well. I used the little hexagon image from the Summer Stamp school (an online class they did).  Honestly, the stamp set was really all I got out of the class.  I hate saying that, but it was really a waste of money except for the stamp set and I will think twice before taking another one of their class.  (Geez, I feel mean typing that, but I just don't want my readers to think I loved the class and sign up based on that when I really didn't.)

Anyway, back to the card.  I stamped the hexagon images using different colored inks from CTMH and cut them out.  Then, I arranged them to create the background, trimmed the edge, and added a white border.  The brown patterned paper is from an Echo Park This & That Graceful paper pad.  The sentiment is from the Studio Calico Heyday Sentiments stamp set.  The twine is Caribbean from The Twinery.  (I plan to do a preorder of twine from The Twinery some time this month.)

Have a great week!

Niki

Happy Birthday: Whimsy June Release Showcase Day 7

Hi Everyone!  Today is the last day of the showcase by the design team and special guests featuring the newly released stamps, dies, and templates.  Each day of the mini hop has a prize hidden somewhere on one of the blogs so be sure to leave comments along the way.

(you can click on the photos for a larger version)

For my card today, I pulled out the cute Fluffy Hanging in There image from Sylvia Zet's Wee Stamps line.  I colored the image with copic markers and used some patterned papers from October Afternoon's Fly a Kite paper pad.  It's an older line, but still one of my favorites.  I added lots of stitching, some crocheted lace, carribean teal twine, and some paper roses from Wild Orchid Crafts.  See that great scalloped circle behind the image.  That's the Double Scallop Doily Die from Whimsy.  (I begged Ann to create a die like this and I just love it!!)  I'm also playing along witht the current Wild Orchid Crafts challenge which is Punch It Out (use punches or dies while creating your card).  The sentiment is from the Treasured Moments Tickets stamp set.

Tomorrow there will be a release round up post over on the Whimsy Blog.  Be sure to pop in to see if you're one of the lucky winners.  To be entered into today's mini blog hop prize draw, be sure to leave a comment on ALL of the DT posts listed below by 12:00PM EST tomorrow:

Ann Vento
Erin Bailey
Iris Wiechmann
Lori Pachkowsky
Niki Estes (you're here)
Stephanne Maraver
Tammy Louise Cunliffe
Michele Roos - Special Guest

Thanks for stopping by!  Hope you all have a great week!

Niki

Happy Birthday card supplies:
Stamps: Fluffy Hanging in There, Treasured Moments Tickets (Whimsy Stamps)
Cardstock: X-Press It (Copic), cream
Patterned Paper: Fly a Kite (October Afternoon)
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento (Tsukineko)
Dies: circle nestability die (Spellbinders), Double Scallop Doily Die (Whimsy Stamps)
Embellishments: 8mm baby pink rosebuds, 4mm baby pink rose buds, aqua roses (Wild Orchid Crafts), carribean teal baker's twine, crocheted lace, pink button
Copic Markers:
squirell: E31, E33, E35, E37, E29, R01, R02
basket: E23, E25, E27
flowers: R20, R22, R46
sky: BG000

Fairy Happy Birthday: Whimsy Stamps June Release

Hi Everyone!  I can't believe how long it's been since I posted last.  Things have been busy with family stuff and I haven't been creating cards much lately.  I did get a chance yesterday to sit down and create a card to share one of the new Whimsy Stamps images.  Such cute new images!

Today, Whimsy Stamps is releasing 19 new rubber stamp images, 5 Shapeology Dies, and a Shape EZ files.  All the new stamps are available for purchase in the Whimsy Store.   You can see the entire release over on the Whimsy blog.

From today until June 26, the Whimsy DT and Special Guests will be showcasing these wonderful new stamps and dies with a daily mini blog hop. Each mini blog hop has a new release prize hidden somewhere along the way and you will have 24hrs to enter each prize draw by leaving a comment on every blog listed for that day.

(you can click on the photos for a larger version)

For my card, I used the new Mountain Lily image from Sylvia Zet's Wee Stamps line.  It's such a beautiful image and so much fun to color!  I used patterned papers from My Mind's Eye's Stella Rose paper pad and colored the image with copic markers (listed below).  The sentiment is from the Magical Mini Letter Seals set.  I used flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts.  (I'm playing along with the Wild Orchid Crafts Challenge which is Anything Goes.)

At the end of release week (Wednesday June 27th), we will post a Release Round-Up on the Whimsy blog. This will include a selection of DT work from the new release week together with a complete list of winners from the daily mini blog hops. To be entered into today's mini blog hop prize draw, be sure to leave a comment on ALL of the DT posts listed below by 12:00PM EST tomorrow:

Colleen Schaan (Special Guest)
Heidy Blom
Iris Wiechmann
Niki Estes (you're here)
Stephanne Maraver
Tammy Louise Cunliffe
Zoe McGrath (Special Guest)

Remember that the entire new release is available to buy right now from the Whimsy Stamps store along with all your Whimsy favorites.

Whimsy Stamps is very excited to announce that they have decided to release the Whimsy Stamps Inspirations Magazine in PRINT! The first issue is on sale as a pre-order from TODAY! Here is a peek of the cover together with some info about what you will find within...

 Whimsy Stamps Inspirations Magazine: Tips & Tutorials, Volume I For this issue, we have gathered some of our favorite tutorials from previous online publications and packed them into an exciting 86-page bound book. We will guide you through how to color using various mediums (Copics, Tim Holtz® Distress Inks, colored pencils, etc.), how to create unique embellishments for your creations (flowers, trinket pins, stamped charms, etc.) and how to create fancy cards (book cards, criss cross cards, flip cards, etc.) that will be sure to impress the recipient. Grab up this issue and and let your creativity flow!


Available to pre-order NOW from the Whimsy Stamps store!

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to pop back to the Whimsy blog tomorrow to find out if you're a winner!

Hope you all have a great week!

Niki

Fairy Happy Birthday card supplies:
Stamps: Mountain Lily, Magical Mini Letter Seals (Whimsy Stamps)
Cardstock: X-Press It (Copic), white
Patterned Paper: Stella and Rose (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento (Tsukineko)
Dies: oval nestability dies, scalloped oval nestability dies (Spellbinders)
Embellishments: 2 tone baby pink sweetheart blossoms, baby pink cherry blossoms (Wild Orchid Crafts), clear rhimestones (Adro), orange rhinestones (Kaiser), orange flowers, lace tape (Love My Tapes), ribbon
Copic Markers:
skin: Eooo, Eoo, E11, E13, R00, R20
hair: E43, E44, E47, E49
shirt: R30, R32, R35, R37
vest: BG70, (custom blend 3/4 BG70 / 1/4 BG72), BG72, BG75, BG78, N1, N3, N5
pants: YG93, YG95, YG97
shoes: E31, E33, E35
wings: YR01, YR12, YR15, YR16, YR18, BG70, (custom blend 3/4 BG70 / 1/4 BG72), BG72, BG75, BG78, R00, R30, R32, R35, R37
flower: YR01, YR12, YR15, YR16, YR18, YG93, YG95, YG97
grass: YG61, YG63, YG67, G28
sky: B000

Dream the Impossible: Whimsy May Release Showcase Day 4

Hi Everyone!  Welcome to Day 4 of the Whimsy Stamps May Release Showcase!  On May 23rd, Whimsy Stamps is released 20 new rubber stamp images, 5 Shapeology Dies, and 3 Shape EZ files.  All the new stamps are available for purchase in the Whimsy Store.   You can see the entire release over on the Whimsy blog.

From May 23rd until May29th, the Whimsy DT and Special Guests will be showcasing the new stamps and dies with a daily mini blog hop. Each mini blog hop has a new release prize hidden somewhere along the way and you will have 24hrs to enter each prize draw by leaving a comment on every blog listed for that day.

I used the absolutely gorgeous Hopeful image from Sylvia Zet's Wee Stamps line.    It think this might be one of my all time favorite images.  It's just beautiful!

I colored the image with copic markers (listed below) and used some patterned papers from My Mind's Eye's Dolled Up paper pad.  I used a sentiment from the Magical Mini Letter Seals set and flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts.  (I'm also playing along with the current Wild Orchid Crafts challenge which is Anything Goes.)

At the end of release week (Wednesday 30 May) we will post a Release Round-Up on the Whimsy blog. This will include a selection of DT work from the new release week together with a complete list of winners from the daily mini blog hops. To be entered into today's mini blog hop prize draw, be sure to leave a comment on ALL of the DT posts listed below by 12:00PM EST tomorrow:

Michele Roos - Special Guest
Niki Estes (you're here)
Stephanne Maraver
Tammy Louise Cunliffe

Remember that the entire new release is available to buy right now from the Whimsy Stamps store along with all your Whimsy favorites.

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to pop back to the Whimsy blog tomorrow to find out if you're a winner!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Niki

Dream the Impossible card supplies:
Stamps: Hopeful, Magical Mini Letter Seals (Whimsy Stamps)
Cardstock: X-Press It (Copic), pink
Patterned Paper: Dolled Up (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento (Tsukineko)
Dies: labels 8 nestability dies (Spellbinders)
Embellishments: 8mm baby pink open roses, 2 tone baby pink sweetheart blossoms, 20mm baby pink open roses, 5mm white pearls (Wild Orchid Crafts), stick pins, paper doily, pink ribbon
Copic Markers:
skin: E000, E00, E11, E13, R00, R20
hair: E42, E44, E47, E49
pants: BG70, (3/4 BG70 & 1/4 BG72 custom marker), BG72, BG75, R83, R85, R89shirt: R11, R12, R14, C1, C3
belt: E51, E53, E55, E57
necklace: Y35, BG70, (3/4 BG70 & 1/4 BG72 custom marker), BG72
candle: C1, C3, E51, E53, E55, E57
flowers: R81, R85
sky: B0000, B000
grass: YG61, YG63, YG67