Florals for Babcia

My Babcia (grandmother) loves all flowers and art work with florals.  As with all grandmothers, she is one of my biggest cheerleaders.  She encourages me to be the best me possible and to always stand up for what I love.  The following card set is for my Babcia for Christmas.  I will box them up with some postage stamps, envelopes, and a fancy new pen so she can send them on their way. Merry Christmas Babcia!

Altenew: Build-A-Garden Lovely Rose Peony

Project One: Lovely Rose Peonies

The Altenew Build-a-Garden Lovely Rose Peony stamp, stencil, and die set made this set of cards a breeze.  Because I struggle with impatience, to let any ink dry, I stamped the florals and vases in Sandy Beach ink from Gina K Designs with my Stampwheel.   By doing so, if I don’t line my stencils up exactly when blending the black ink will cover my overhang and an added bonus of it not smearing when I apply the ink. Again, this is because I am impatient (insert eye roll).

The rose peonies were ink blended with Gina K Designs Light Orchid and Medium Orchid with the heaviest application at the center of the floral and the lightest at the tip. The centers were filled with one of my favorite yellows Gina K Designs Sweet Corn.  Finally the leaves were blended with Gina K Designs Light Spruce and Medium Spruce with the deepest concentration of color at the base of the leaves.  The vases were inked with various intensity of Gina K Designs Stormy Skies ink.

With the ink blending completed, I placed my images back into the Stampwheel with the stamps and paper in the same spot that I originally stamped the images.  Utilizing Altenew Obsidian Black Pigment Ink, I re-stamped the ink blended images and the flowers came to life.

I wanted a simple background for the florals to rest upon.  To achieve the texture I was looking for I utilized Trinity Stamps Retro Plaid Pattern stencil set on a piece of Spellbinders Waterfall Color Essentials Card Stock.  The stencil was ink blended with Gina K Designs Ocean Mist and Gina K Designs White pigment ink for a tonal pattern.  I trimmed a quarter inch from the back panel on the vertical side to add a little dimension to the card panel.

For the sentiment, I choose a simple yet elegant sentiment from the stamp set.  Then finally accented the image with a sprinkling of Gina K Designs Micro Disco Balls.

Card Size: A2 (5.5 x 4.25 inches)

Gina K Designs: Wishful Floral Bundle & Wishful Florals Layering Stencil

Project Two: Wishful Florals

Gina K Designs Wishful Floral Bundle and Wishful Florals Layering Stencil provide the base for the second set of cards for my Babcia.  The background was started first to allow for dry time.  Master Layouts II has the perfect boarder for my floral backdrop.  The shadow layer was die cut from black card stock.  A white panel was cut with the stitched panel die.  Digging out my Perfect Pearls in gold I added a spattering of gold on the panel.

While the panel dried I inked up a floral cluster and the small 3 floral bunch from the stamp set with Gina K Designs Black Onyx ink.  The stencil lined up so easily that I was able to apply the color in no time at all.  The florals were blended with Gina K Designs Light Carnation and Medium Carnation.  I did the base color on each of the stencils with the lightest color and then deepened the center with the darker color.  The leaves were inked with Gina K Designs Jelly Bean Green for both stencils, one with a light hand, the second with a heavier hand to give the tonal look.  The sentiment were stamped in the same Black Onyx ink and then die cut with the bundle dies.

The floral arrangement was adhered to the spattered background in the top left corner and the sentiment to the lower right with the images extending over the framed boarders.

Card Size: A2 (5.5 x 4.25 inches)

Kindred Stamps October 2024 Release: Nativity Play

Nostalgia overload here with the new Nativity Play stamps from Kindred Stamps.  When I saw this set, I knew I had to have it.  As a child the magic of the holidays fills your entire being.  The awe of the lights, the sparkle of the trees, and then the traditions.  One tradition in our family was setting up our nativity scene and listening to my Opa read from the Bible.  The warmth of family, love, joy, and hope for the future topped with the sparkle of lights, singing of carols, and hot chocolate to this day still fill me up every holiday.  The projects I made with this set echo the feeling of childhood.  You just had to believe in Christmas! The Kindred Stamps release is on October 25th, 2024. You can nab up some nostalgia for yourself!

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Nativity Play, Kindred Stamps

Project One: Joy. Hope. Love. Peace. Believe.

Showcasing the amazing typography in the sentiments of the Nativity Play set, this simple gradient provides a graceful Christmas card.  The card base was cut with the Cards Basic Die set after the ink blending to ensure a smooth transition.  This simple ink blend utilized one color, Grape Crush (Catherine Pooler) with the repeated application pulling the blending down from the top of the paper with lessoned application towards the bottom of the card front.  The sentiment is the star of the show on this card and was heat embossed with silver.  The panel was adhered to a matte silver card stock with some foam tape to give that fancy dimension that makes handmade cards pop.  If you want to bling it up you sure can!

Card Size: A2 top folding card (5.5 inches x 4.25 inches). Easily converted to any size card.

Nativity Play, Kindred Stamps

Project Two: O Holy Night

A simple glass cloche is a perfect way to set the scene for this special family on their debut night.

The family from Nativity Play were colored with Olo Markers and fussy cut out (someday I will learn to use the expensive machine I bought to do it for me- insert eye roll).  Colors will be listed at the end of this post.

The cloche was made with a simple oval die with the bottom cut off.  Bringing in some blue ink with a very light hand gives the illusion of glass (Juniper Mist Catherine Pooler).  While ink blending was drying, I drew a base on a piece of scrap paper and fussy cut it out.  To make the illusion of a wood base, I used Altenew Artist Markers (Y932/Y762) with random lines and flicks.  While laying out my little family to see where I wanted to place my sentiment, I noticed my family was floating.  I mean, I know they are special and all, but they definitely needed to be grounded.  I made a mask with a post-it note and ink blended some brown ink( Altenew  Espresso) and then some texture with the same marker family from Altenew.  Now my family had some solid ground to stand on.

Cloche base

The sentiment “O Holy Night” matched the simplicity of the cloche and serine scene.  This was heat embossed in white. Every Christmas card needs some sparkle, its a law.  So I added some iridescent Stickles as twinkle stars inside my cloche.  The British Invasion Paper Pack had just the right amount of texture and contrast to make the cloche be front and center.  This was cut to cover the entire card front.

Card Size: A2 top folding card (5.5 inches x 4.25 inches)

Nativity Play, Kindred Stamps

Project 3: The Weary World Rejoices

Nativity Play stamp set screams “ACTION” on first glance.  As soon as I saw it I knew there would be a single layer card on stage!  Each cast member made it to this full panel A7 card with masking to create the set design.

With the magic of masking paper, the scene was laid out and cast member were stamped in alcohol safe ink.  Some simple hand sketching of a back stage line added the grounding for the cast.  Utilizing the Curtain Die, I cut out one topper to provide me the swooping curtains I was looking for.  Freehand drawing of swoop lines to give the toppers texture.

The cast was colored with Olo and Altenew Artist markers (colors listed below).  The stage floor,  backdrop and curtain toppers were colored with Altenew Artist Markers (respectively: WG05/ WG03; S; R318/ R335).

Once the panel was dry (yes alcohol markers need to dry completely- ask me how I know…) I heat embossed in white “the weary world rejoices” in front of the new family.

Card Size: A7 (5 inches by 7 inches) Landscape

Nativity Play, Kindred Stamps

Project 4: Nativity Ornaments

Nostalgia ran full force through my body when I saw the Nativity Play stamp set.  The warmth I felt made me think of sitting in front of the Christmas tree with some hot chocolate (or chocolate martini… either warm your soul) and gazing at the twinkling lights and ornaments.  The Nativity Play works perfectly as ornaments.   By the time you are reading this, the tree will be set up in my studio, and I may or may not have a hot chocolate or chocolate martini in hand enjoying the twinkling lights and ornaments.

Nativity Play, Kindred Stamps

Each of the designs were stamped in alcohol safe ink and then colored with Olo and Altenew Artist Markers.  Colors are list at the end of this blog.  Then fussy cut out and foam tape applied to the back for added dimension.

Nativity Play, Kindred Stamps

Using circle dies the frame and bases were cut out for each ornament (2 bases and 4 frames for each design).  One of the bases will act as the background for the design to be centered on.  A little gradient ink blending with one color (Altenew Dessert Night) and then spatters of Distress Mica Spray in Frosted Fog and Distress Spritz in Peacock Feathers to give the shimmer and shine. Because you can never have enough sparkle, bring on the Stickles!

Nativity Play, Kindred Stamps

The second base was heat embossed with silver with the 3 large sentiments from the Nativity Play stamp set.  The dried inky shimmery base was adhered to the clean embossed base for stability and to hide the mucky muck on the back of the colored base.  The frames were stacked up and topped with holographic paper to up the reflectivity.  Each design was placed in the center.  Added a topper for the ornaments to hang.  Now I’m set to dig out my little silver tree for my studio and enjoy a soul warming beverage and admire my twinkly lights and shiny ornaments.

Nativity Play, Kindred Stamps

Nativity Play, Kindred Stamps

Project 5: Curtain Up

Raise the curtain to show the royalty of Nativity Play stamp set.  This interactive card utilizes no speciality dies.  If you plan ahead you could even make this card to be sent through the mail without extra postage unlike me.  I did not plan ahead.  I used the images that were already colored and fussy cut out.  Learn from my mistakes.  Or be cool like me and hand deliver this thick card!

The images were colored with Olo and Altenew Artist Markers.  Colors listed at the end of this blog.

Using nesting A2 dies, I made a frame.  With the largest die of the frame, I cut one solid base, this will be the base of the stage background.  With the same large die, I cut one piece of acetate with a piece of copy paper behind the acetate.  This will help the die cut cleaner and then you will not loose the acetate on your table.  Or am the only one??  Finally, with the inner die of the frame, I cut one piece of card stock for the pull out curtain.  Why not use the piece that came out of my original frame cut?  You can take that up with my dog.  He’s faster then me and then thought it was a game of keep away.  Again, don’t be like me, don’t drop your stuff.

Since I was die cutting, I pulled out some rich red card stock and cut out the Curtain Die.  2 right curtains, 2 left curtains, 3 curtain toppers, and finally 2 sets of tiebacks out of a matte gold card stock.

The stage background was up first.  Using colored card stock in light gray and a deeper gray I glued down the stage floor and background.  Trimmed with some scissors (I was done with die cutting at this point and no one is going to see it).  Tada!  That was the easiest assembly ever.

Next up was the ink blending station.  The curtains and curtain toppers got a dusting of brown ink to deepen the shadows and give a little dimension.  To prep the pull up curtain piece, I did simple ink blending on the inside frame cut out to match my curtain color.  I then cut a quarter inch off each right and left side of the landscape piece.

While the pieces were drying, frame assembly began.  The frame was colored in a black alcohol marker.  Because I just happened to have 2 frames (thank you Oscar, said dog), I sandwiched the acetate between the two frames.  I adhered one set of the curtain sides to either side of the front facing frame.  I then layered the second set of curtain sides inset on the back side of the acetate.  This gave the illusion of depth on the stage.  Two of the curtain topper were attached to the top of the frame.  The stage was coming to life.

To allow the curtain to raise up, there has to be a gap between the top curtain frame and the base.  To accommodate for the space foam tape was placed on the right, left, and bottom of framed panel. Do not put foam across the top or you will not be able to pull the curtain up.  Now, as we identified early on, if I would have planned ahead, I could have stamped the royalty using masking paper as a single layer for my background.  I did not, so I had to adapt.  I added a second layer of foam to ensure that the curtain would clear of any uneven speed bumps from the fussy cut images.

With the frame complete, I can now visually see where to place my royals.  I lined up the stage base with the foam lined frames and was able to get my royals in just the right spot and glued down edge to edge (again, trying to avoid the curtain catching on the images).  Once they were positioned I was able to focus on the where to put my sentiment on my curtain pullout.  Using my stamping platform and a sticky mat I lined up the internal curtain and the foam lined frame. Centered my sentiment on top of the acetate. I was able to pick up the stamp from the acetate with ease and remove the frame from the stamping platform. After prepping with an antistatic tool,  “Joy to the world” stamped in embossing ink and heat embossed in gold onto the curtain pullout.

The frame and the stage base assembly was next up.  The foam tape holds the two layers together.  Because the frame and base sizes match, it was easy to line them up.  If you struggle with lining up the elements, you can use any cornered object to aid in your alignment (stamping platform/ score tool/ box lid).  Place one piece in the corner snuggly and use the same corner to snug your next piece into place.

To make the curtain pullout, I used a piece of scrap paper a smidge thinner than the last curtain topper that was diecut.  To make sure that the paper would not get stuck on my royals, I positioned the paper to the base of the pullout leaving a long tail that I will cut off later.  With the insert in place, I used a strip of thin foam tape to act as a stopper at the top ledge of the stage and to adhere the top edge of our last topper.  This allows the curtain topper to over lay the other toppers.  I stamped “pull here” and trimmed the excess paper off of the curtain pullout.

The stage needs to be lit up, so I embellished the card with some pearls as my lights.  I pulled out my A2 card base, and ummmmm nope.  Well crud, this designing on the fly was not my friend…. A6 Card to the rescue!  I layered the same deep red card stock to the card base and then centered my stage.  TADA!  It worked and the royals are center stage.  Don’t be like me… plan ahead.

Card Base: A6 (4.5 inches by 6.25 inches) Landscape

The entire Kindred Stamps release will be available this Friday at 8am PST/11am EST. Be sure to subscribe to the Kindred Stamps blog to see a daily line up of sneak peeks from our amazing Design Team! Come join the Fan Club and release event to be part of the release fun, and you may just win some Kindred Stamps credit!!

Coloring Guide:

New Father:

Headpiece/ Robe: Olo R1.7/ R1.5

Shirt/ Socks: Olo Y2.2/Y2.3

Shoes: Olo CG0/ CG1

Skin: Olo OR4.4/ OR4.2/ OR4.2

New Mother:

Headpiece/ Dress: Olo B0.5/ B0.3

Shoes: Olo CG9/ CG7

Hair: Olo B/ CG9/ CG7

Skin: Olo OR4.4/ OR4.2/ OR4.1

Baby:

Body: Olo Y2.2/ Y2.3

Blanket: Olo BG2.3/ BG 2.1

Manger: Olo O7.7/ O7.8

Hay: Olo YO2.5/ Yo2.7

Drummer Boy:

Headpiece: Olo G1.7/ G1.5

Drum: Olo R1.5/G1.5/ YO2.0/ O7.3

Body: Olo CG1/ CG0

Ears/ Spot: Olo CG9/ CG7

Collar: Olo CG7

Shepard:

Headpiece: Olo B0.2/ BO0.3

Shirt: Olo R0.6/ R0.5

Pants: Olo CG9/ CG7

Shoes: Olo O7.7/ O7.8

Skin: Olo OR4.4/ OR4.2/ OR4.1

Staph: Olo O7.7/ O7.8

King 1:

Crown/ Container: Altenew Artist Marker C014/ C013; Olo R0.6/ R0.5

Hair: Olo YO2.5/ Y2.3/ Y2.2

Skin: Olo OR4.4/ OR4.2/ OR4.1

Gown: Olo BV2.6/ BV2.3

Sash/ Shawl: Olo CG0/ CG1

Shoes: Olo O7.7/ O7.8

King 2:

Crown: Olo WG1/ WG3/ BV4.2/ BV4.4

Robe: Olo O1.3/ O1.2

Gown: Olo BV4.5/ BV4.4

Hair: Olo CG7/CG9

Skin: Olo OR3.7/ OR3.8/ OR3.4

Shoes: Olo O1.3/ O1.2/ CG0/ CG1

Container: Altenew Artist Markers C014/ C013

King 3:

Crown/ Container: Altenew Artist Markers C014/ C013

Headpiece/ Gown: Olo YG8.3/ YG8.5/ YG8.7

Shoes: Olo WG5/ WG3

Skin: OR4.4/ OR4.2/ OR4.1

Dirt: Olo O4.6/ O4.3

Angel:

Crown: Olo WG1 or metallic ink pen

Hair: Olo YO2.5/ Y2.3/ Y2.2

Skin: Olo OR4.4/ OR4.2/ OR4.1

Dress: Olo R2.2/ R2.4

Wings: Olo CG0/ CG1

Socks: Olo R2.4

Shoes: Olo CG0 CG1

Horn: Altenew Artist Markers C014/ C013

NA NA NA NA BIRTHDAY

This pop-up requires no speciality dies but makes an impact!

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Let’s talk background first. To have a nice boarder to frame the card, die cut a card panel. I used the Card Basic Die from Kindred Stamps, because I don’t know about you but I can not cut a straight line no matter what the tool is. I knew I wanted a deep night scene to have my callout lay against. Utilizing Altenew Cool Summer Night ink collection in the multiple depths of blue with a little Altenew Jet Black I got the deep tone I wanted.

Doing a dive into my colored card stock scraps I found the perfect yellow. On one piece of scrap I die cut a circle frame from the Kindred Stamps Nesting Circle dies to get a circle without stitching. The bat came from Spellbinders Boo-Licious Cupcake die set. Using my circle as my guide, I got out that trusty ruler and extended lines gradually to make a cone. The cone was adhered flat to the card panel and the circle die was popped up with a little foam tape.

Now that the inky background was dry, I was able to stamp the sentiment from Kindred Stamps Bad Guys Have More Fun stamp set and emboss with Snowfall embossing powder from Kindred Stamps.

The Kindred Stamps Cityscape die was cut out once to get the base die cut on some black card stock and then a second time with the same Card Basic Die to have the stitching be continuous. With the leftover yellow scraps, I filled in the windows. The Cityscape was adhered to the card panel flat.

The Kindred Stamps Drive In Memory Dec die set provided the base for the car. The die cut was colored with Altenew Artist Markers and the license plate was colored and stamped with a bat from my stash (unknown). No car is completed without the main character and his side kick. This combo was stamped from Kindred Stamps Bad Guys Have More Fun stamp set. Colored in Altenew Artist Markers and Olo Markers. I inserted the combo into the windshield and secured them in place.

Finally, here is where the pop-up mechanism comes in to play! To make my combo pop from the scene I utilized a piece of black card stock with accordion folds on either side to pop the car off the page. To measure for the mechanism, I measured the length of my final die cut and deducted a 0.25 inches. I also validated the height of the die cut to ensure the card stock would not show through the windshield. Prior to cutting my piece of paper I added 1.5 inches to each side of my desired length. This allowed me to score at 0.5 inches, 1 inch, and 1.5 inches on both sides of the strip. I accordion folded the ends. Once I had my strip adhered to the car die cut, I was able to adhere the lower tabs of the accordion mechanism to the base. Now my car pops off the page but folds flat to mail. The card panel was attached to an A2 top folding card base.

Final Dimensions: 5.5 x 4.25 inches

Marker Colors:

Car: Altenew TG07/ TG05/ TG03/ TG02/ Y205

Main Guy: Altenew TG07/ TG05/TG03/TG02 Olo OR4.4/ OR4.1/OR4.2/OR1.0

Sidekick: Olo OR4.4/ OR4.1/OR4.2/OR1.0 Altenew Y762/Y932/ Y204/ C004/ R056/ Y932/ G935/G825/R318/R335