Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Skyline Scenes

Today I have a card to share using a new die that I really like!  I don't know what it is about houses, buildings & skylines but I really like using them on cards and when I see them they draw me in! When I saw the new San Francisco Cityscape die (available May 1st) from Frantic Stamper I knew I wanted to use it right away!

Jen Carter FS Skyline 1

For this card I first die cut a square out of my card front to make a window.  I then die cut three cuts of the San Francisco Cityscape die in different colors of black/gray.  I lined each of the cityscape pieces up so that they overlapped and trimmed off the tops of a few of the buildings so that they would look a little different from each other.  I then adhered the Sunburst Card Panel Die behind those three pieces.  

Jen Carter FS Skyline Closeup 1

I popped the entire card front up with dimensionals and layered some gold metallic dotted paper (On Trend by My Mind's Eye) behind the piece for an extra pop.  The sentiment is from Lawn Fawn's Sophie's Sentiments set.



Thanks for stopping by today!  Have a great day!

Monday, April 27, 2015

Petal Card Die Four Ways + Video Tutorial

Hello everyone!  I hope you had a wonderful weekend.  They tend to go so fast don't they!?  

Today I have a few projects to share with you using products from Lil' Inker Designs newest release and I have a video to show you how to put together the projects!  

Here's a sampling of the projects in the video.  I'll show more up close photos below.

Jen Carter Petal Card Die Group

In the video I will show you how to make four projects using the Petal Card die from Lil' Inker Designs.  I haven't made many videos, so I feel like I need to say that this isn't perfect, but it's a start.  :)  I'm learning as I go!


Along with the traditional Petal Card (Idea #1), there are 3 other project ideas shown in the video.  Here's some still shots of the projects featured in the video along with the ideas of different ways to use the Petal Card die.

Jen Carter Petal Card Die Envelope 1

Idea #2: Pocket Card
This box requires one cut from the Petal Card die.

Jen Carter Petal Card Die Envelope Closeup

Lil' Inker Designs Dies Used:
Petal Card die
Perky Posies Die Set

Jen Carter Petal Card Die Box 2

Idea #3: Small Gift Box
This box requires two cuts from the Petal Card die.

Jen Carter Petal Card Die Box Closeup

Lil' Inker Designs Dies Used:
Petal Card die
Boxed Up Birthday Greetings Die
Balloon Dies
Stitched Mats: Dual Stitched Squares

Jen Carter Petal Card Die Fox Box 1

Idea #4: Large Petal Top Box
This box requires four cuts from the Petal Card die.

Jen Carter Petal Card Die Fox Box Above

Lil' Inker Designs Dies Used:
Petal Card die
Hey, Foxy Dies

Tip #1:  The Petal Card die is PERFECT for using up your stash of older papers!  That is how these projects started out!  I got into my drawer FULL of papers that I hadn't used and I just started cutting & cutting & cutting!  I wanted to use up papers I like but don't use anymore!  You can make LOTS of  boxes and you'll never even miss the paper because it's in your "older" pile! :)  I bet I cut 40 - 50 petal cards out with this challenge to myself in mind!  The paper featured in this video is paper I've had for several years and is called Sweet Girl from Echo Park by Lori Whitlock.  

Tip #2:  Try to use papers with a pattern on both sides so that you have visual interest on both the outside & inside of your projects!

I'm going to enter the last box in the Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes Monday Challenge!

Thank you for visiting my blog!  I hope you enjoy this video!  Let me know if you have any questions!  I hope your day is full of blessings!

Friday, April 24, 2015

Four Cards: One Main Die


Last week I shared two cards that I had made using one die.  Today I am sharing two more using the same die and one of them uses left over pieces from the first two cards.

Jen Carter Frantic Stamper Circle Hugs

For this card I used the circle pieces that were left over after cutting cardstock using the Frantic Stamper Circle Cross Card Panel die.  I shared these two cards that I also made using the pink patterned paper from the same cut earlier.  For this card I also die cut the Circle Cross Card Panel die with teal, navy & aqua cardstocks. 

Jen Carter Frantic Stamper Circle Hugs Closeup

To make sure I positioned the circle pieces evenly I used one of the left over "grids" after diecutting and placed it on my cardstock as a guide.  After each triangle circle piece was glued into place I carefully removed the grid.  I added the hugs sentiments from the Accessory #3 die set and a few sequins (doubled up) to finish the card off.

Jen Carter Frantic Stamper Circle Fantastic

Since I ended up die cutting the Circle Cross Card Panel die three more times, I used two of the grids on this card.  I just positioned them slightly off center from each other to form a shadow when I placed them on my cardfront.

Jen Carter Frantic Stamper Circle Fantastic Closeup

I die cut the Fantastic word die with patterned paper and then attached it to a piece of polka dotted vellum.  Again, I added a few enamel dots to finish the card off.  

So there you have it, four cards with one main die!

Jen Carter Frantic Stamper Circle Thank You Jen Carter Frantic Stamper Circle Smiles

Jen Carter Frantic Stamper Circle Hugs Jen Carter Frantic Stamper Circle Fantastic

I hope you enjoyed these ideas! Thanks for visiting!

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Happy, Happy Birthday!


Hey everyone!  Today I have a card to share that I started months & months ago!  It originally didn't turn out how I wanted it to and then I was stuck so I set it aside.  Recently I finally figured out how to finish it! :)

Jen Carter Whimsy Bday Color 1.2

When the Birthday Large Word die from Clearly Whimsy first came out one of the first things I did was cut it a whole bunch of times in different colored cardstock.  My idea was then to cover it with vellum and add sequins to make a shaker panel.  And it looked really cool!  BUT...I made my vellum all wrinkled by the time I sewed all of the way to the end.  :(  I was SO sad that I had spent all of that time on the card for it to be wrecked.  I pulled the vellum off and was left with no ideas to finish it.

Jen Carter Whimsy Bday Color Closeup 1.1

When I went back to it a few weeks ago, I ended up kind of liking how the vellum was torn around the edges, almost like a present had been unwrapped so I kept that part of the card intact.  Later I went in and added the little flags that I stamped the sentiment and decorations on from the Birthday Balloon set.  I finished it off by adding some enamel dots in fun colors.

So sometimes a card can be salvaged even when it feels hopeless! :)  

Thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Lil' Inker Designs April Release Wrap Up


Welcome back to day 3 of the Lil' Inker Designs release!  If you are following along in the blog hop you should have come from Lea Lawson's blog There are three $15 gift certificates to the LID store up for grabs, so the more blogs you comment on, the better your chances are of winning!  

Jen Carter Just Sayin' Hello 11 wm

For my first project I have to admit to being inspired by my fellow teammate and good friend Amy!  She used the Cover Up Die: Pointelle with white cardstock and it made me swoon! :)  I cut the cover up die out of white cardstock and then popped it up over a light pink cardstock.  It's hard to see it peeking through in the picture but it is really pretty in real life, it has such a nice soft feel to it!  

Jen Carter Just Sayin' Hello Closeup 1.1

For the focal point, I die cut two of the new Speech Bubbles 2 shapes and layered them on top of each other so one was just slightly peeking under the bottom of the white.  I stamped the hello (LOVE that font!) from the Just Sayin' Stamp set on the white bubble. I die cut two of the leaf shapes from the new Vintage Ink dies and then stamped the coordinating leaf images from the Vintage Ink stamp set on top to layer around the Speech Bubbles.

Jen Carter Petal Card 12 wm

This last project was a lot of fun! I love this new Petal Card Die!! I'm especially excited about this one because it was an idea I presented to Laura a few months back.  It is so cute and it is stitched!!  You can also order Glassine Mini Envelopes that fit this die perfectly!

Jen Carter Petal Card Closeup 1.1

I cut my Petal Card Die with a double sided patterned paper so that when you open it up, the other side will also have a pattern on it.  This paper (because I know you'll ask, heehee) is Fancy That & On Trend from My Mind's Eye.  The flowers, cut with the Perky Posies Die Set, are adhered on to one corner.  

Jen Carter Petal Card Open

When you open the card, the recipient will find the Boxed Up Birthday Greetings Die in the center.  

If you're thinking about making cards for Teacher Appreciation Week the Petal Card Die would be perfect!  How cute would a set be as a gift in different colors, maybe in a thank you theme, tucked into a little basket!? Hmmm...I feel another project coming on! :)

New Products Used Today:
Cover Up Die: Pointelle
Thank you so much for visiting this week!  Don't forget to leave a comment to win!  The more blogs you comment on, the better your chances are of winning!  There's plenty more inspiration to see using these sets today!  Your next stop on the hop is over to Heather Hoffman's blog.  You can also see ALL of the new release items here!

Monday, April 20, 2015

Lil' Inker Designs Release Day 2


Hello again and welcome to Day 2 of the Lil' Inker Designs Release!  All of the products being shown today are currently available in the Lil' Inker Designs store!  If you are following along in the blog hop you should have come from Heather Hoffman's blog and if you'd like to start at the beginning, visit Laura's blog! There are three $15 gift certificates to the LID store up for grabs, so the more blogs you comment on, the better your chances are of winning! 

Jen Carter Happy Birthday Pastel vs3

First up today is a floral card.  I used two new products on this card.  I started by cutting the Boxed Up Birthday Greetings Die and layering it on a piece of vellum cut slightly larger than the square.  I really love how this die also has a stitched edge!  I then cut some of the flowers from the Perky Posies Die set and layered them on top of the boxed greeting. Don't you love these flowers with STITCHES in them!  I love that detail!

Jen Carter Happy Birthday Pastel Closeup 11

The stitching in the background is a die that has been previously released but it is so beautiful!  I cut that with the Quilted Swirl Stitched Pattern die (on Heidi Swapp patterned paper).  If you don't have this die yet, you should seriously consider adding it to your collection!  It looks just as cool on patterned paper as it does on plain cardstock!

Jen Carter Sweetest Little One 11 wm

Keeping with the floral theme for today, I put together a very simple card that would be easy to mass produce.  I used the Stitched Mats: Dual Stitched Squares dies to create the cut out in the middle (the patterned paper is Fancy Pants Office Suite).

Jen Carter Sweetest Little One Closeup 1.1

The sentiment & little stamped decoration is made with the super sweet Send Pretty Greetings Stamps.  This set has so many cute elements in it and I love the fonts!  This set can be used for many different occasions too! 

Thanks for stopping by today!  We'll be showcasing more products tomorrow! Don't forget to leave a comment to win!  The more blogs you comment on, the better your chances are of winning!  
New Products Used:
Boxed Up Birthday Greetings Die
Perky Posies Die set
Send Pretty Greetings Stamps
Stitched Mats: Dual Stitched Squares
Previously Released Products:
Quilted Swirl Stitched Pattern Die

There's plenty more inspiration to see using these sets today!  Your next stop on the hop is over to Sarah Jay's blog!  To see ALL of the new release items, click here!

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Dancing Elephants: Lil' Inker Designs Release Day 1


Hello and welcome to another exciting release from Lil' Inker Designs!  The new products are already available in the store!  If you are following along in the blog hop you should have come from my dear friend Amy Kolling's blog and if you'd like to start at the beginning, visit Laura's blog! There are three $15 gift certificates to the LID store up for grabs, so the more blogs you comment on, the better your chances are of winning! 

Jen Carter Birthday Celebration Pachyderm 5 wm

Elephants are trending right now, have you noticed?  Right along with that trend comes this SUPER FUN new set called Party Pachyderms.  I LOVE that this is a solid stamp set!!  I think you'll fall in love with it if you haven't already! :)  AND...it is perfect for use in both kid & adult cards!! 

I started by creating the rectangle background.  I put one of the dies from the MUST HAVE Stitched Mats: Dual Stitched Rectangles dies at an angle and cut (on Doodlebug Hello Sunshine patterned paper).  Then, I also used the same size for the striped background paper from the same pack.  I popped the solid pink cardstock up with dimensionals to create a window for my dancing elephant.

Jen Carter Birthday Celebration Pachyderm Closeup 1.3

I stamped the elephant from the Party Pachyderms stamp set and then cut him out.  I used the previously released Mini Party Dies to create the hat & to add the party balloon!  Such a perfect sized die set for this new stamp set!  The flag was die cut with the also previously released Sentiment Flag Die Original where I stamped a sentiment from the Party Pachyderms stamp set.  

Jen Carter Connected Circle Flowers 11 wm

This card features two more new stamp sets and the Stitched Mats: Dual Stitched Rectangles dies.  To create the flower I embossed one of the circle clusters in white from the new We Connect stamp set.  Then, I got out my cheap watercolor paints and started painting.  I really like how it turned out!  For the stems, I used the stem from the previously released Sketched Floral stamps and then used the leaves from the new (and awesome!!) Awesome Blossoms stamp set.  

Jen Carter Connected Circle Flowers Closeup 1.1

The sentiment is also from the Awesome Blossoms stamp set!  Love!!  

I have one last card to share today.

Jen Carter Awesome Blossom Birthday Wishes WM

You are looking at a card now that uses my favorite Lil' Inker Designs flower stamp set ever called Awesome Blossoms!! I LOVE this set!! I love the flower shapes in this set!  

Jen Carter Awesome Blossom Birthday Wishes Closeup1

I masked off the portion of the card where the flowers didn't stamp with post it note tape and then randomly started to stamp the flowers from the set.  I die cut one of the flowers & leaf shapes with the Awesome Blossoms Die Set from watercolor paper to give it a textured look.  Then I stamped the flower, which can be stamped in one step or three depending on how you'd like it to look.  I stamped the base, the highlights and the center in different colored inks.  The sentiment is also from the Awesome Blossoms stamp set.  Seriously love this set! :)

Well, that's all for me today!  All of the Lil' Inker products that I've used are linked below.  Your next stop on the hop is over to the Lil' Inker Designs store to check out all of the new products!

Come back tomorrow for another round of inspiration and don't forget to leave a comment to win!  The more blogs you comment on, the better your chances are of winning!  There's plenty more inspiration to see using these new products!

Party Pachyderms
Awesome Blossoms
Awesome Blossoms Die Set
We Connect
Stitched Mats: Dual Stitched Rectangles

Previously Released Products:

Sketched Floral
Mini Party Dies
Sentiment Flag Die Original
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