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Easter Cards: Easy Gel Press Backgrounds

By KariV on March 18, 2021 in Easter, Holidays, Paper Crafting

Hello! Have you ever used a gel press? Today I’m going to show you some fast and easy backgrounds for Easter cards using the Gel Press. These are so fun to make (and you can make a lot of them in just one sitting)!

I had such a great time making these, and I think the easiest way to show you how, is with a video! So watch my instructional video below or in HD on YouTube:

I think you get such a smooth, easy transition of colors with the gel press that you really can’t get any other way! All you need is a Gel Press, a brayer, and some of your favorite Distress Oxide colors.

If you have never used a gel press before, don’t worry: this is just perfect for a beginner! And if you have used one before, I also share some ways to get a more interesting and detailed result!

But be careful: these techniques can get very addicting! Be sure to watch the video for all the details. Happy Easter!

I’m often asked what supplies I use to make my cards and projects, so I’ve put together a list using affiliate links when possible. If you make a purchase with these links I may receive a small commission. These help me to keep up with blog costs and continue bringing you fun projects. Thank you so much for your support!

Thanks for stopping by!

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Shamrock Stencil

By KariV on March 16, 2021 in Holidays, St. Patrick's Day

Hello! Today I have a fun Shamrock Stencil to share, along with a bunch of cards using it. I’m creating with foil, glitter, and ink blending (oh my)! Not to mention, I share the fastest, easiest watercolor technique.

It’s all in the video below, or watch it in HD on YouTube:

I loved creating with this stencil. Lately, I’ve just been making so many cards with the same supplies. If you’ve been watching my videos, you might have noticed that trend: lots of cards in every video! But I love creating cards, and trying to make many ideas with one set of tools.

I think this glittered background is my favorite of the bunch…I love glittery, shiny cards. 🙂

But this one is a close second! I love the look of Kaleidoscope Powder on a dark background. Look how shiny and shimmery they are! This one uses two colors: Neptune and Limewired. I show you how to use it in my video.

Of course, I love an ink blended background and this Perfect Blend paper makes it SO easy!

A little foiled sentiment is always welcome, too! Or even a foiled background, like in the next two cards:

How cute is that little mouse? All these images are watercolored with Zigs, and I share how easy it is in my video, too.

I hope you enjoyed these bright, rainbow, glittery, and inked cards today! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

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Five Cards with 1 Stamp Set: Stretch Your Stamps

By KariV on March 11, 2021 in Holidays, Paper Crafting, St. Patrick's Day

Hello! Today I am happy to share a fun stamp set that I just couldn’t stop creating with! This is the Shamrock Truck from Maker Forte, and I just love it. I knew that there was more ways to use this cute image…not just for St. Patrick’s Day!

I made five cards, and share lots of fun techniques in the video below, or watch in HD on YouTube:

I really hope you find that you love this truck as much as I do. Hear what my husband had to say after I made three cards…and why I was compelled to keep creating! (Lol) I must say, that he heard me when I was doing the voiceover for this video and it made me laugh. He is such a great support, but he does tell it like it is!

I hope you enjoyed! Thanks for stopping by!

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Springtime Gnomes

By KariV on February 24, 2021 in Easter, Holidays, Paper Crafting

Hello! Today I have a sweet Spring card to share with the *New Springtime Gnomes set from Maker Forte. This set has so many awesome Gnome images with eggs and spring characters! Today I chose the Bunny Gnome and paired it with some great patterned paper designed by Alex Syberia.

I thought those big white flowers looked a little like billowy clouds! So I loved it with this scene. I cut the paper down to A2 size (4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″). Then I stamped and colored the gnome with spring colors of Copic Markers.

The sentiment strip is from the Friendship Simple Sayings set. I cut it down to size and colored it with a purple Distress Ink to match the polka dots on the egg. I added a silver glitter paper just beneath the sentiment.

How cute is that little chick?! I added some die-cut grass and then popped up the gnome on top with foam tape.

To finish it off, I added a little Unicorn Stickles to the “clouds.” Then I put it all onto a heavy weight top-folding card base.

Hope you enjoyed! Head on over to the link above to reserve your Gnome stamp set now…this has already sold out once and it goes fast! Thanks for stopping by.

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Color Block Mini Valentines

By KariV on February 10, 2021 in Holidays, Paper Crafting, Valentines

Hello! Today I have a fun Mini Valentines project using some Color Block stamps from Maker Forte. These are the coolest stamps: you can stamp the outline block in one color, and the inside heart in another color creating a very beautiful & graphic Valentine!

I love this set so much! I had a great time combining it with this set for the sentiments, that I stamped in a nice black ink over the top of the colored hearts.

For the blue card, I offset the heart a little, to leave a white shadow. I think this creates a fun, whimsy look!

To make this project so easy, I first cut the heavy weight cardstock into 6″ x 3″ panels. Then I stamped the images using my Misti. It was nice to have a longer panel to hold it down with the magnet.

Once they were stamped, I scored the panel at 3″ and folded it in half to create these mini 3″ Valentines.