Bring on the Sunshine!!!

Hello there inky friends!  Today I'm sharing a fun inky card I created using some awesome Richard Garay Designs products.  I wanted to use the fun stamp set that is on sale this month called "Good Girls"...in particular, the lady with the umbrella.  I thought the image was inspiring and encouraging and wanted to highlight the umbrella as the sunshine that comes after the storm.  Sooo...I colored up the image with Copics and fussy cut the image to set it aside.  

Next, I started working on the background by using some Powdered Sugar Sugar Stock and the RG Call Gel Press mini plates (I used the thought bubble that resembles a cloud).  I applied media mixer and Sour Crush ink onto the Gel plate and then brayered it on to create a nice blend of color.  I pressed the plate onto the paper and lifted it to release the ink.  I did this several times overlapping the pressed images with color to create a nice layer of blue/white color.  

After that, I splattered some Dazzling Pat (as well as Dazzling Pat mixed with Sour Mist Sugar Drops) to the paint and it created a nice water splattered effect- similar to the effects of Distress Inks with water...but...It has shimmer!

Next, I used a piece of mesh from some veggies I got from the grocery store and applied the Gel plate over that (brayered with the Media Mixer and Sour Crush Sugar Drops) and lifte it to reveal a fun textured look. 

 You can see where the mesh created a scale-like effect in the corner.

After finishing up the pressed panel, I cut the panel out to my liking and used machine stitching around the edges to help contain the design as well as finish it off.  After that, I started assembling the card (placing foam squares on the "girl").  I decided to add the bug car to the edge to coordinate more with the sentiment. 

 To finish the card off, I splattered some watered down white acrylic ink onto the panel and tucked the sentiment under the bug.  I mounted this panel onto a Powdered Sugar layer and then mounted the panel onto a Sour Pineapple card base. 

So fun!  There are just a few more days to take advantage of the June special so make sure to hop over to the shop and pick up your sets HERE before they are gone.  Remember, If your order is $50 or more, you'll receive the fun Music On Digi set for FREE!  

Coffee Lovers Spring/Summer Blog Hop Day 3, Part Deux!

Hey there coffee loving crafters!  It's Kerry here and I'm back with another fun project for the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop.  This time, I'm featuring FUN IN THE SUN with COCONUT CONCOCTIONS and FRESH SQUEEZED LEMONADE and SUN TEA!!  Thanks to Super Sponsor RG Avenue for supporting the hop and I hope you enjoy this fun and festive card!  

This fun in the sun card was creating using a ton of summer sun images in the "Summer Vibes" set.  I also used the fun "Bold Burst "die to create the sun rays in the background. I also created a fun coordinating tag to attach to a summer fun gift bucket.  This will be a great gift for a special person in my family, I think!

Isn't it fun?  I just LOVE all the fun Summer images in this set!!!  This time on the tag, I incorporated a few glasses of Sun Tea,  fun red/white/blue ice pop, a slice of ripe and juicy watermelon, a fresh strawberry, some lemons to add to the sun tea!  No sugar please!

And oh yeah...It's just so shiny and sparkly!  Dontcha just want to take a bite/sip?!  Yummy!

To create my card I started out by diecutting the Bold Burst die onto some bright yellow cardstock and then, using the diecut negative as a stencil, I glued down the pieces to a white cardstock panel to create the rays.  I flicked some white acrylic paint onto the panel and let it dry for a fun water kissed effect.

After that, I machine stitched around this panel and then started coloring all the fun summertime images with Copic markers.  After coloring, I fussy cut them and applied some foam squares.  I attached the white panel to a blue card base that matched some of my colors and then mounted all the fun little images.

Dontcha just love that lemonade?  It has some cute little cherries hanging from the side.  Also...Gotta love the blue Hawaiian in the coconut!  NOM NOM!  To finish everything off, I added some glaze and then sprinkled some microfine glitter before flicking some Dazzling Pat onto the card to make it shimmer and shine.  That's it!  FUN IN THE SUN!  

Thanks for hopping over to check out my card.  RG Avenue is having a quick sale this long weekend so now's the time to pick up this fun set...remember...When you purchase ANY RG Avenue stamp sets, you receive the digital version FREE! 

RG Avenue Sale!

RG Ave STAY MAGICAL! Free digi set!!!

Hello there inky friends!  Today I'm sharing this sweet little rainbow card featuring the brand new incentive set called "STAY MAGICAL!".  You can get this digital set FREE with any $50 order from RG Avenue!!!  This promotion is available through the month of May!  

To create this fun card, I digitally colored the hollow rainbow image and even added an additional "bow" in the rainbow so that I could have almost all of the rainbow colors.  I colored the sentiment and inset it into the cute little cloud.  

I really love Digital stamps and the potential for editing, coloring, and embellishing!  It's also fun to just play on the computer and make things come to life!!!  After making the rainbow background, I cut and mounted it onto black taffy cardstock and then attached some black satin ribbon.  After that, I mounted the "sentiment" near the bow with two foam squares.  Next, I splattered some Dazzling Pat onto the card and added some sparkly sequins before mounting this panel onto a Tangy Gum card base.  

Thanks for hopping over to check out my card!  I will be sending it to someone special very soon.  Could it be YOU? 

See you again soon! 

Note:  I used Silhouette Studio:  Designer's Edition to manage and manipulate the digital images in this set.  :)

Conchas...Coffee and Community!

Have you seen the new digi sets "Concha Life and Concha Icons" by RG Avenue? Oh my!  RG and fellow crafty peeps on IG will be having a fun IG Live craft-hop and I can't wait to watch along! Check out the RG Avenue IG page HERE.

Then, on Monday, RG will have a FREE Online Class and you're invited!  You can also pick up a little digi set to help you enjoy a bit of Concha love.

When I saw this "Concha Life" digi set I literally started drooling.  I LOVE Conchas and I love having them with coffee.  I usually pick them up at my local grocery store...but you know what's happening now and there are NO CONCHAS on the shelves!  GASP!  So...I thought, heck.  I'm up for a challenge.  I have all the ingredients at home (even the Mexican vanilla) so lemme just get my game-face on and MAKE MY OWN!

Before turning on the oven, I sat down at my computer and created a card using the images in this set.  Hmmm...What color topping should I use?  I thought about my favorites and started coloring the concha images to suit my tastes.  Of course, since my favorite color is blue, I colored the coffee cup a sweet blue too.

I took some liberties with the sentiments- cutting a few words from here and there to create the perfect statement on my card. A FRESH BAKED Concha and a cup of coffee...I mean really, there's nothing better, right?  I used the So Boxy dies to be a backdrop to the conchas.  :)

So after creating my card, I popped onto Youtube and watched my favorite Mexican-American Youtuber Steph (and her sister) "Views on the Road".  Yep, Steph had a few Concha recipes so I decided to watch THIS ONE and take notes.  If you don't follow and subscribe to her channel, I highly recommend it.  She's so talented, funny, has an awesome personality and makes some yummy foods/drinks! 

After watching- and listening to Steph chat it up with her sister, I got my ingredients out and started working.  I ground my own cinnamon and used Mexican vanilla too!  Go me!  Chippy and I sat by the oven window and watched them bake.  FOR REAL!  ha ha.  They turned out so delicious!  I can call them my little Easter eggs too!  I wish I could share some with you.  They are so moist, have a light sweetness and an oh so yummy cinnamon flavor...and of course, the crust is just divine!  They're mighty tasty right out of the oven too!

So, I hope you enjoyed this little taste of goodness today!  Make sure you hop on over to RG Avenue and pick up your own Concha Life and Concha Icons sets.  While you're at it, grab the freebie and join the fun for a Concha fest next Monday...Live on RGAvenue's Youtube channel!  You're gonna love it!  

Flowers do the trick! RG AvenueBirthday Poppy

Hello inky friends!  Today I'm sharing a pretty floral card I created using a gorgeous stamp set from RG Avenue.  Birthday Poppy is a set of several florals and three sentiments, perfect for birthdays, encouragement or just a happy hello!  It's also a great set to get that WOW quickly and easily!  

To create my card, I started out by stamping the tall floral stem onto Powdered Sugar cardstock (it's sooo thick and allows for some fun watercoloring without the wrinkly effects thinner paper produces).  I stamped with Versafine Clair Nocturne ink and heat set it so that I could create a beautiful watercolor effect without bleed- and without the need for embossing.  Next, I used a clear stamp sheet (the one that peels off my stamp set) and added one drop of Tangy Apple and one drop of Sweet Banana to the clear sheet then added some water to dilute and mix the colors.  I applied this ink onto the "greenery" area in a quick/fluid motion- not worrying about accuracy.  I then added one drop of Sweet Pink, Sour Guava and Sweet Banana to the sheet and added some water to really water it down.  I applied that to the florals in the same manner.  After "painting" the flowers, I splattered a few drops of the green and the pink-ish color to my image panel to help bring everything together. 

Next, I started working on the fringe element on the edge.  I wanted to incorporate this week's color focus (our Basic Confectionery Cubes) by adding this fun little fringe element on the edge.  I cut a few pieces of the colors in this family and attached them to a strip of white paper and then attached that to the underside of my stamped panel.  Once attached, I used my scissors to cut the fringe edge.  

To finish things off, I wrapped some Black Taffy Twine onto the edge added a pearl (that I color matched) and mounted the stamped panel onto a Sweet Cane panel with pop-dots before mounting onto a Powdered Sugar card base. 

Thanks for hopping over and I hope you enjoy this card.  Make sure to stop over to the RG Avenue shop to check out all the products I used in creating this pretty little card!  :). Have a great day and stay safe!

Stamps:  Birthday Poppy

Inks:  Versafine Clair Nocturne (Heatset)
Cardstock:  Powdered Sugar, Vanilla Cream, Gray Stuff, Nectar Stone, Black Taffy, Sweet Cane
Reinkers:  Green, Pink, Yellow (Tangy Apple, Sweet Pink, Sour Guava, Sweet Banana)-used as watercolors
Dazzling Pat
Black Taffy Twine

Coffee Love....Happy Valentine's WEEK!

Hello there inky friends! Today I'm sharing a few cards I created using the fun brand new stamp sets from RG Avenue. Heart Day (digital only) and Awesome Thoughts (stamp and digi options) are perfect for this season of LOVE!  

To create my first card, I edited the images to my liking and then cut them out. I colored the images with Copic markers. I then brushed white acrylic paint onto a Gelli Plate and then dropped one drop of Sour Mist onto it then brushed it together to blend. I laid a piece of Powdered Sugar cardstock onto the plate and pressed the ink on. After that, I applied some sprinkles of RG Avenue Gold embossing powder onto the paint and then heat set it (from the underside) until it melted. Next I started assembling the collage.  

When designing the cup, I opted to remove the whimsical heart and apply the "Hugs and Kisses" sentiment and a sketchy heart from the "Hello Beautiful" sentiment in the Awesome Thoughts set. I love this sketchy heart and it works perfectly for this design. 

My second card was created in a similar manner however, I chose to use Rich Cherry and Sour Guava mixed with white acrylic ink (on my Gelli Plate). I then added RG Avenue Silver embossing powder in the same manner as before then added some flicks of black acrylic paint.  

Again, I chose to remove the whimsical heart and instead added the fun sketchy heart onto each to-go cup. After coloring and cutting out the printed images, I assembled them onto a piece of ribbon with foam squares. I also applied black twine to the background to add to the movement of this card.  

 I really love how both cards turned out and I can't wait to share them with someone special this year.  :)

Happy February! Love/Smitten by RG Avenue

Hello there inky friends!  It's the first day of Feburary and that means it is the first day of the onslaught of lovey-dovey creations!  Are you ready?  LOL!  Today I'm sharing the first of my LOVE collection.  It's a card I created with the Love/Smitten and the Gain Balance stamp sets from RG Avenue. 

To create my card, I used some Sour Watermelon cardstock and stamped the background using Sour Watermelon and Black Licorice ink.  After that, I started creating the decorative layered piece for the top.  I cut some striped paper into a pennant shape and attached a little golden candy wrapper to the back.  I then attached some crocheted lace.  I stamped some hearts (onto Rich Cherry cardstock) with Simple Syrup ink and applied some Gold Embossing powder.  I then stamped the little leafy things from the Gain Balance set) with Nectar Stone ink and fussy cut all of the pieces before assembling them together. 

I finished off the card by attching the LOVE sentiment and the natural thread, some pearls and some diecut hearts from the So Smitten die. 

Splatter a little black ink and then mount the panel onto Sweet Cane cardstock before mounting it onto a Powdered Sugar card base.  DONE! 

Thanks for hopping over to check out my creation!  I hope you have a fab. weekend!  See you soon!

Prepping my Planner Calendar...February vibes

Hello there inky friends!  This past weekend I decided to use some free time to prep my February Calendar.  I recently received this gorgeous leather TN from RG Avenue that coordinates with my planner notebooks and I just LOVE LOVE LOVE them.  I'm planning on doing a monthly calendar to lead off my weekly/daily planning.  That way, I'll have something pretty to look at as I prepare for the month ahead. 

To create my February calendar spread, I started out by disassembling the stapled notebook so that I could have just one page spread to work with at my craft table.  Since it doesn't fit like a signature anymore, I plan on doing this monthly and laying the current spread smack dab as I open the planner...Perfectly, perfect positioning, I think. 

Anyway, I started by stamping the large floral image in Sour Guava and then moved on to the medium floral in Sweet Pink and then finally the small floral in Sour Mist.  Next, I stamped the leaves (from the Stunning Crowns set) using two different greens:  Tangy Apple and Rich Cactus.  

After stamping the florals and leaves, I stamped some coordinating sprigs in Black Taffy ink to overlay the florals.  I then traced around the big florals in black microfine ink so that they would blend nicely with the arrangement.  I stippled some dots in the center of these flowers too. 

Next, I flicked some Black acrylic paint onto the panel so that I could merge both sides of the spread together.  I stamped the "LOVE" heart from the "Love Wreath" set in black on Sweet Cane Cardstock and then fussy cut that out so that I could attach it to the decorated panel.  I also added a bow of twine. 

To finish off my Calendar spread, I wrote the dates on each box (I didn't realize this FEB is a leap year...Gimme back all my lost time!  HA HA!  I also stamped a sentiment "All you need is Love" from the stamp set "Song Lyrics". 

So there you have it...My February calendar is ready for the pen (and to fill up!  :)  Happy crafting!  

Happy New Year! Let's UNI-BRATE!

Hello there inky friends!  Happy New Year!  I hope you've made a fabulously easy transition to 2020 and I pray that your 2020 is just as amazing as you hope it to be!  I'm looking forward to a happy and healthy 2020 with lots of opportunities to travel, visit, play and CREATE! 

Today I'm sharing this fun new ALL DIGITAL bundle that is sooo adorable!  This bundle aptly named "Magical Decade Bundle" is available at RG Avenue until July 31 so you'll want to scoop it up before it goes away forever.  Click on the photo to go directly to the digi sale!  I hope the little unies will make an appearance again in future sets...and especially in some stamp set versions!  Crossing fingers!!!

I created this fun little card to ring in the new year with a magical touch!  I selected two of the little unicorns that I felt would be very versatile even AFTER the new year.  I think I'll be able to create some fun birthday cards and Fourth of July projects with it too! 

When you purchase this digital collection, you'll not only receive the designs for three sets featured above, you'll also receive the digital cut files and a variety of formats so that you can design with them as you wish.  I elected to use the PDF version and cut/pasted the image into an MS Word file so that I could enlarge them, print them and color them with Copics.  

After coloring the unicorns, I fussy cut them (it's relaxing) and added some foam squares.  I added a little bit of cloud action in the background by tearing a piece of cardstock and using it as a mask, then blending some ink onto the card base.  

To finish off the design, I added some glitter to the stars and popped them onto the card with glue.  It is a CAS delight! 

Such cuties 'eh?  Don't you agree that these little unies need to make another appearance in a new stamp design?  How about a Uni collection???  I say YEAH!  

Thanks for hopping over to check out my card!  Hope you have a fabulous day!  

Coffee Lovers Blog Hop Day 4: Super Sponsor RG Avenue!

Hello there coffee loving crafters!  It's Day 4 of the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop and I'm hopping every day!  Today, I'm featuring Super Sponsor RG Avenue!  RG Avenue is offering a SWEET prize for some lucky hoppers and I get to share with you some yummy inspiration!  

While late night crafting with my friends at RG Avenue Convention, I played around with the yummy new RG Avenue exclusive Gel Press Petite set called "RG PLAN".  This mini Gel Press collection includes three Gel Press shapes:  a lightbulb, Arrow and coffee cup!...Yes, you read that right, a COFFEE CUP!  RG's Gel Press Petite sets (he has three! were first debuted at Creativation and were sold out to retail distributors and online.  Now, RG is offering them exclusively in the RG Avenue shop!  Check them out here:  

RG Plan: (lightbulb, arrow, coffee cup)

RG Call (three different callout bubbles)

RG Love (heart, lips, mustache)

RG is offering two winners a stamp set and Gel Press Petite of their choice!  Sooo...Good luck and hop along for a chance to win!

So while playing with the coffee cup, I inked up the cup with some Tangy Apple and Rich Cactus ink (directly onto the plate) and then splattered some Black Taffy reinker onto the plate and then applied the plate to some Powdered Sugar cardstock.  Next, I cut out the image and used a paint brush to apply some Media Mixer and some Vanilla Cream and some Black Taffy sugar drops reinker along the edges of the cup.  After that, I just flicked some Rich Cactus sugar drops reinker and some Dazzling Pat onto the cup to finish it off before overstamping the design.  

Since it was a few days before Halloween, I decided to grab the pretty and appropriate images from the new Life Celebration set called "Boho Skull".  It matched perfectly to a ceramic tumbler I have in my pottery collection from the amazing potter/artist/teacher named Tony Young (@youngy_03 on Instagram).

I stamped the skull on the cup then distressed the paper a bit with Black Taffy ink.  I then dripped a few droppers of Rich Cherry reinker down the side to create some "bloody drips".  I also added some flicks of black acrylic paint and media mixer/rich red reinker onto the cup before coloring the flowers. 

 I colored the flowers with Copic Markers and then I fussy cut them and rubbed a bit of black ink over them with a blending brush before attaching them to the cup. 

To finish off the card, I applied the sentiment and flicked some reinker on the white panel before attaching the flowers and mounting it onto Nectar Stone cardstock and then mounting it onto a powdered Sugar card base.  I also added a few blingy bits here and there and of course, had to add some ribbon! 

Thanks for hopping over!  I hope my card inspired you and got you dreaming about some yummy fun you could have with these gel plates!  See you tomorrow!!