Doodlebugs – Valentine Train with Stenciled Background

Choo! Choo! We’re boarding the sweetest train you’ll ever see to the Doodlebugs blog today. It’s mix it up Monday and I’m excited to share my ideas for today’s post.

I was recently playing with the newest Pretty Pink Posh release, coloring this adorable Valentine Train set and brainstorming what I could add to the empty train car. I love that it’s included in the set because it immediately makes this a set for all occasions. Today I was happy to keep with the valentine theme and pull in some adorable Mama Elephant Little Agenda Bears to the mix.

I used the coordinating dies to cut everything out and liquid glue to assemble it all. Then I inked up the new Pretty Pink Posh Half Hearts stencil using Lawn Fawn ballet slippers ink. After the panel was inked, I splattered it with watercolor paints and let it dry.

For assembly, I glued the panel to a white card base and added the train track to the bottom. Then I added the train with foam squares and the puffs of smoke with liquid glue. Last, I popped up my couple of bears in the sky with foam squares too. I placed the card in my MISTI and stamped a sentiment from Pretty Pink Posh Sentiment Strips | Valentine in a light gray ink.

For finishing touches I added black glaze pen to the bears eyes and noses and glossy accents to things like random hearts and train wheels. Not too much but a little shine here and there to go with the shimmer in the watercolor.

Products used:
Pretty Pink Posh Valentine Train stamps and dies
Pretty Pink Posh Half Hearts stencils
Pretty Pink Posh Sentiment Strips | Valentine stamps
Mama Elephant Little Agenda Bears stamps and dies
Sakura black glaze pen
Liquid glue
Blending brushes
Lawn Fawn ink – ballet slippers and narwhal
Glossy accents
LH Colors watercolor – vanilla

I appreciate you sharing your time with me. Have a fabulous day!

Doodlebugs – Birthday Fun

We had another birthday in our family and I’m excited to be able to share the card I made to celebrate the occasion today on the Doodlebugs blog. I’m fairly obsessed with the detail this embossing folder gives and I think it’s such a fabulous backdrop for birthdays and big celebrations, I am reaching for it over and over again!

Today I embossed a panel and then ink blended over the embossing so the ink really grabbed the highs and skipped the lows of the images. I chose Lawn Fawn peach fuzz and butter inks for my background, then splattered it with blue metallic watercolor.

I chose the Mama Elephant Little Line Agenda stamps for my images. I colored those with copic markers and used the coordinating die to cut it out. Then I used the Mama Elephant Easy Sentiments stamps and coordinating die for my sentiment strip.

Now that I have all my elements, I trimmed the embossed panel down to 4×5.25 inches and popped it up on a white card base. Then I popped the line image and sentiment strip up as well. I finished everything off with glossy accents on the critter noses and the bubble balls in front of all the gifts.

This is a really simple design that would be fun and great to recreate for the masses as a gift or to have cards on hand.

Products used:
Mama Elephant Little Line Agenda stamps and dies
Mama Elephant Easy Sentiments stamps and dies
Spellbinders Floating Balloons embossing folder
Foam tape
Glossy accents
Blending brushes
Lawn Fawn ink – butter and peach fuzz
LH Colors watercolor

I appreciate you sharing your time with me. Have a fabulous day!

Doodlebugs – From Me To You

Welcome everyone. I’m so glad you’re here. It’s Mix It Up Monday on the Doodlebugs blog and we’re playing with Spellbinders and Pretty Pink Posh today. I decided to NOT stitch on some glorious stitching dies to show you that you don’t always have to, even if it feels like it.

I tend to be an all or nothing girl and when a die set comes with options, I feel like I need to use them all or I’m not doing something right. However, the stitching portion of this Spellbinders die set is optional…as in, it’s a separate die, and today I didn’t use it. What do you think?

The Spellbinders die set in question is called Kaleidoscope Arch and it happens to have a coordinating stamp set too. Today, instead of cutting the stitching holes, I added some detail with tone-on-tone stamping using the floral image in the stamp set. I cut all the layers from yellow cardstocks in my stash and glued them together with liquid glue, including the sentiment banner. Then I popped the whole thing in my MISTI and stamped the floral image with yellow ink.

Next, I chose orange cardstocks and a good green to die cut all of my floral pieces. These are also included in the Kaleidoscope Arch dies. I used gold metallic paper for the flower centers and adhered everything together with liquid glue. You all know I love my critters, so I went digging and found this sweet koala from Pretty Pink Posh Crafty Critters to color and die cut. When I was playing with placement for the florals and koala I thought it would be cut if he help a flower so I cut another one and glued everything in place…again, liquid glue. I really value that wiggle room time you get with that versus a tape runner that adheres immediately.

For my background, I took a piece of white cardstock cut to 4×5.25 inches and layered the Pretty Pink Posh Deco Leaves stencil at an angle. I blended No. 2 Pencil ink with a blending brush, removed the stencil and added more of the same color focusing on the center and fading out. Then I splattered the panel with gold watercolor and let it dry.

Okay, now that everything is dry we can layer everything together. I added foam tape to the stenciled panel and popped it up on a white card base. Then I added foam squares behind the koala and the flower he is holding but that’s all. Everything else has layers behind so this little bit of foam keeps everything the same height. I removed foam release paper and added liquid glue to everything else and popped my focal image in the center of the card front.

For finishing touches I added Sakura black glaze pen to the koala’s eyes and glossy accents to his nose. Isn’t it the cutest!?!

Products used:
Spellbinders Kaleidoscope Arch stamps and dies
Pretty Pink Posh Crafty Critters stamps and dies
Pretty Pink Posh Deco Leaves stencil
Lawn Fawn No. 2 Pencil ink
Blending brush
Gold watercolor
Foam squares
Glossy accents
Liquid glue
Sakura black glaze pen

I appreciate you sharing your time with me. Have a fabulous day!

Doodlebugs – Mini Valentines Note Cards Make Great Tags

Welcome to Mix it up Monday for the Doodlebugs blog. Once again, we are mixing our favorite companies together on the same projects. Today we’ve got awesome Pretty Pink Posh stencils and dies with a splash of Mama Elephant stamps and dies. I made a trio of mini note cards and turned them into tags. These are fabulous for tying to a goodie bag of treats or to the handle of a gift bag too!

I started this project by stamping and coloring all of the images from Mama Elephant Beary Good Day with my copic markers. I used the coordinating dies to cut the images out and set them aside to cut my note card pieces.

I chose the Pretty Pink Posh Mini Scallop Card for today’s project. I cut the inside square panel from white cardstock three times. Then I took the Pretty Pink Posh Layered Hearts stencil and inked one layer with Lawn Fawn ballet slippers ink and the second layer I spread texture paste through and let it sit to dry. I cut the actual scalloped card from a few different cardstocks in my stash while those were drying.

I used liquid glue to adhere the stenciled panel to the front of each card and then popped the images up on each one with foam squares. Instead of fitting a sentiment on each card somewhere, I chose my favorite one and stamped it on a heart from Mama Elephant’s Heart Pocket dies.

I punched a whole in each card and heart and threaded them together with some baker’s twine. Then I used a Wink of Stella glitter brush pen to add some shimmer to something on each card – flower centers, certain tiny hearts, the sun, a balloon – you get the idea. Then I also added glossy accents to the bear’s noses on each card.

I’m super excited to be gearing up for Valentine’s Day already. I absolutely love giving valentines to everyone I know! It’s so fun.

Products used:
Mama Elephant Heart Pocket dies
Mama Elephant Beary Good Day stamps and dies
Pretty Pink Posh Mini Scallop Card dies
Pretty Pink Posh Layered Hearts stencils
Blending brush
Lawn Fawn ballet slippers ink
Liquid glue
Glossy accents
Texture paste
Wink of Stella glitter brush pen
Stencil pal

I appreciate you sharing your time with me. Have a fabulous day!

Doodlebugs – New Year, Birthday Card Restock

Welcome back everyone and Happy New Year! I’m on the Doodlebugs blog today getting a jump on birthday cards. These Build a Gift dies from Pretty Pink Posh are fantastic for every occasion through the year.

I die cut a bunch of pieces from white, green and teal cardstocks and used liquid glue to assemble them it lots of different combinations. Then, pulling from the gift colors, I blended green distress oxide inks on a white panel and spritzed it with water. Then I used the Spellbinders Floating Balloons 3D embossing folder on it.

I cut a strip of black cardstock to create a floor, glued it to my balloon panel and then started gluing down packages, stacking as I went. It’s so fun!!!

For my sentiment, I hot foiled Happy Birthday from the Spellbinders Giant Party Balloon hot foil and die set. I used the coordinating die to cut it out and glued it in place. Finally, I added foam tape the back and popped it up on a white card base.

What kind of cards do you start stocking up on at the beginning of the year? Birthday and thank you are my top two for sure!

Products used:
Pretty Pink Posh Build a Gift dies
Spellbinders Floating Balloons 3D embossing folder
Spellbinders Giant Party Balloon hot foil and die set
Spellbinder hot foil – silver
Distress Oxide Ink – mowed lawn. twisted citron and shabby shutters
Liquid glue
Foam tape

I appreciate you sharing your time with me. Have a fabulous day!

Doodlebugs – Merry Christmas From Us

I’m over on the Doodlebugs blog today with a Merry Christmas from the Doodlebugs team to all of you! We hope you have a wonderful holiday, spent with those you love.

To create my card, I stamped images from Pretty Pink Posh Holiday Stockings. I used the coordinating dies to cut them out and liquid glue to adhere my stocking gifts in place. I stamped and heat embossed a sentiment and used a Lawn Fawn banner die to cut it out.

Next I used the Spellbinders In the Pines embossing folder on a piece of green cardstock. I trimmed that down to 3.75×5 inches and lightly went over the embossing with a darker green ink to help it show up better.

I took my Lawn Fawn ballet slippers ink pad and drug it across the edges of a white card base, then cut white glitter paper down to 4×5.25 inches and glued it down. I popped the embossed panel up with foam tape and then added my sentiment and stockings with foam squares.

For finishing touches I added glossy accents and stardust Stickles to bits and pieces in all of the stockings.

Products used:
Pretty Pink Posh Holiday Stockings stamps and dies
Spellbinders In the Pines embossing folder
Lawn Fawn Extra Sentiment Banners dies
Embossing powder
VersaMark ink
Anti-static brush
Lawn Fawn Ink – jalapeno and ballet slippers
Liquid glue
Glossy accents
Stickles – stardust

I appreciate you sharing your time with me. Have a fabulous day!

Doodlebugs – Thank You Cards for the Holiday Season, with Two-for-One Backgrounds

Hi there. I’m on the Doodlebugs blog today with an idea for thank you cards using two-for-one backgrounds so you can make more quicker during the holiday season. I know I always need to stock up on thank you cards this time of year so having a similar layout or two-for-one (or more) backgrounds are super helpful!

Today I cut the Mama Elephant TYSM cover die from light green and kraft cardstocks. I took white card bases and glued all the pieces in place with liquid glue.

If you were really in a pinch, you could stop here and just add some splatter or gems for interest and be done, or even leave them as is too. We all know I’m extra so I have a hard time with that.

Instead of stopping, I pulled out the Pretty Pink Posh Winter Drinks stamp set and stamped a bunch of different cups and a couple of the steam image. I used copic markers to color everything and the coordinating dies to cut it all out.

I stamped and heat embossed a sentiment from the set and die cut it with a sentiment strip. I grouped the images together and popped everything up on foam squares and strips over the “sooo” portion of the sentiment. You can still see what it’s saying and I love how the sub-sentiment adds warmth to the card.

For finishing touches I just added white gel pen highlights to the cups.

Products used:
Mama Elephant TYSM cover die
Pretty Pink Posh Winter Drinks stamps and dies
Pretty Pink Posh Sentiment Strips dies
Liquid glue
Foam squares and strips
Sakura Gelly Roll white pen

I appreciate you sharing your time with me. Have a fabulous day!

Doodlebugs – Stretch Your Dies from Christmas through Winter and Beyond

Hi friends! I’m on the Doodlebugs blog today stretching some fabulous Christmas dies into Valentine’s Day and that gave me ideas for all year long too! It’s so nice when products can be used for more than one time a year.

I fell in love with the latest Mama Elephant release and thought this fun mug from Spellbinders would be a great combo for some lovely hot cocoa to share. I used cardstock from my stash to die cut all of the pieces and liquid glue to adhere everything together.

Then, I took a white panel and ink blended peacock feathers and salvaged patina distress oxide inks. I splattered it with water and pearl watercolor. Then glued my cover panel on top and inserted the centers of the Os where they belonged.

I popped the mug up with foam squares toward the bottom of my card. Then I added some more hearts, one holding my sentiment. The smaller ones are from the mug dies and the larger one is from the new Mama Elephant Heart Pocket die set.

I love the shimmer of the watercolor on the background and the sparkle from the glitter paper on the mug. They are simple ways to add a little extra to your card designs.

After I created this love filled mug, I was thinking that it would be easy to add snowflakes through winter and change your sentiment to a thank you. I always need extra thank you cards through the holidays.

Products used:
Mama Elephant Heart Pocket dies
Mama Elephant Beary Good Day stamps
Mama Elephant XOXO Grid Cover die
Spellbinders Merry Mug Creations dies
Liquid glue
Foam squares
Distress Oxide Ink – peacock feathers, salvaged patina
LH Colors watercolor – pearl

I appreciate you sharing your time with me. Have a fabulous day!

Doodlebugs – Truckload of Christmas Wishes

Hey there! Thanks for stopping by today. I’m still full into the Christmas cardmaking/crafting mode. How are you doing on your holiday crafts? It seems the more I finish, the more I add on to the list to do.

Today I had fun with the Pretty Pink Posh Christmas Trees stencil. I inked up the first two layers with Lawn Fawn ink – celery stick and doe, then I spread glitter paste through the last stencil for a subtle glittery background.

While that was drying I stamped and colored images from Mama Elephant Delivery by Truck and Deliver Winter Joy. I used the coordinating dies to cut everything out and a little liquid glue to adhere my truckload and driver. Because of my background panel I also glued the window cutout for the truck back in place so it’s not see-through.

I stamped and heat embossed a sentiment from Pretty Pink Posh Sentiment Strips Christmas and die cut it, plus a background banner using Pretty Pink Posh Sentiment Strip dies. I used liquid glue to adhere these together and then foam squares and strips to pop everything up on my stenciled panel.

After adhering the panel to a card base, I tied jute twine around the top and switched to finishing touches. Today I added glossy accents to the truck lights, penguin beaks and parts of the ornaments. Then I switched to stardust Stickles for the frosting ornaments and penguin’s bowtie.

Products used:
Mama Elephant Delivery by Truck stamps and dies
Mama Elephant Deliver Winter Joy stamps and dies
Pretty Pink Posh Christmas Trees stencil
Pretty Pink Posh Sentiment Strips dies
Pretty Pink Posh Sentiment Strips Christmas stamps
VersaMark ink
Embossing powder – white
Lawn Fawn Ink – doe and celery stick
Blending brushes
Liquid glue
Foam squares and strips

I appreciate you sharing your time with me. Have a fabulous day!

Doodlebugs – Joy & Cheer with Cover Dies

Hi friends! Today I have more Christmas inspiration for you combining some sweet Pretty Pink Posh images with a fabulous Mama Elephant cover die. Don’t forget when you have these awesome dies in your stash because they’re often perfect to mix with images from any company. I love the Mama Elephant covers that are designed for the little agenda series. The repeat shapes are a great base and often give you a two-for-one by keeping the windows that cut out for another card.

Today I cut the Mama Elephant Ornament Grid cover die from white cardstock and the toppers from gold glitter. I used liquid glue to adhere all the pieces and set the panel aside. I inked up another panel with Lawn Fawn peacock ink and splattered it with gold watercolor.

While that was drying I pulled out the Pretty Pink Posh Reindeer Friends stamp set to choose my images. I stamped and colored everything with copic markers and used the coordinating dies to cut them all out. Then I stamped and heat embossed a sentiment from Pretty Pink Posh Sentiment Strips: Christmas and used a sentiment strip die to cut it out.

I used liquid glue to adhere my background panel elements together and to a card base. Then I popped everything else up with foam squares and strips. For finishing touches I just added glossy accents to both reindeer noses.

Products used:
Mama Elephant Ornament Grid cover die
Pretty Pink Posh Reindeer Friends stamps and dies
Pretty Pink Posh Sentiment Strips dies
Pretty Pink Posh Sentiment Strips | Christmas stamps
Lawn Fawn peacock ink
Blending brush
Foam squares and strips
Glossy accents
Liquid glue
Anti-static powder tool
Embossing powder
VersaMark ink
LH Colors gold watercolor

I appreciate you sharing your time with me. Have a fabulous day!