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Hello readers! As we are getting closer and closer to Easter this coming Sunday, I have resigned to the fact that I didn't send any Easter cards out. In my defense, I sent out both St. Patrick's Day AND Valentine's Day cards this year, so I feel like that evens things out! However, last weekend I did find the time to put a couple cards together to share with you for some spring and Easter inspiration this week.  Card details:*A full list of supplies is located at the end of this post. The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I created the background using Adirondack alcohol inks in the colors Sherbet, Lemonade and Watermelon. Using the Altenew Watercolor Stripes Cover Die, I die cut the frame from white cardstock. I stamped the tulip layers in a variety of orange, yellow and pink inks to really show the depth and dimension of this beautiful layering stamp set. I also stamped the leaves in varying shades of greens. I die cut both the leaves, steps and tulips using the coordinating Triumph Tulips dies and adhered them to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. I stamped the sentiment in the lower right corner using Memento Tuxedo black ink. Lastly, I added a coat of Clear Wink of Stella to the tulips for added sparkle.     Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day! XO, CrystalList of supplies:
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Hello readers and welcome back from the weekend! I hope you found a little time to do something crafty. Last week was my "off" shift from work and I would love to tell you that I spent a lot of time crafting, but in reality I have been doing nothing but home improvement projects! We have done everything from cleaning out closets and the attic to painting, landscaping and installing new kitchen countertops! This has been a very costly quarantine! Today I am sharing another card that I made for the Newton's Nook Inky Paws Challenge #125. This week we have a color challenge to inspire you. Our challenges run for two weeks, thereby giving you more time to create, so I have designed a second card to share with you this week that was still inspired by the same image seen below:  Here is the card I created using the colors from this week's challenge:  Card details:A full list of supplies (with clickable links) is located at the end of this post. The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I cut a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of scrap yellow polka dot paper for the first layer. Using the Gina Marie Designs Scalloped Stitched Nesting Rectangle dies, I die cut a 4" rectangle from white cardstock. I stamped the sentiment in the lower right corner in Memento Tuxedo Black ink. Using Memento Tuxedo Black ink, I stamped the three lemons from the Newton's Nook Lemon Twist stamp set on white scrap paper and colored them in using Copic markers. I used the coordinating Lemon Twist dies to cut the lemons out. I adhered three lemons down the left side of the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. Lastly, I added a coat of Clear Wink of Stella to the lemons and leaves for added sparkle.     Will these colors inspire YOU to create? Are you ready to get your paws inky with us and play along for a chance to win?! We will randomly select one linked entry to receive a $20 store credit to the Newton's Nook Designs online shop! We will also highlight our favorites from each challenge the following Monday, so that all entries have a chance to be featured on the Newton's Nook Designs blog. Please make sure you review the challenge rules page before you link up your project! The deadline to enter is Friday, June 19th, at midnight CST. XO, CrystalList of supplies:
Hello readers and welcome back from the weekend! I hope you found a little time to do something crafty. Today we have a new challenge to share with you at Newton's Nook Inky Paws Challenge #125. Using the colors shown in the image below, share with us YOUR creations! Here is the card that I created inspired by this week's color challenge:  Card details:A full list of supplies (with clickable links) is located at the end of this post. The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I cut a frame from white cardstock using the Altenew Watercolor Stripes Cover die. I lined the area behind the frame with a yellow polka dot paper. I stamped the Newton's Nook Sunflower Days stamp set twice in Memento Tuxedo black ink on white cardstock. I colored in both sunflowers with the colors from the challenge (orange, green, yellow and turquoise). I cut both of the sunflowers using the coordinating Sunflower Days die. I die cut a 3" circle from vellum cardstock and stamped the sentiment in black Staz-On ink. I adhered the vellum circle to the center of the card and added the two bouquets of sunflowers as though they were cascading down the card. Lastly I added a coat of Clear Wink of Stella to the sunflowers for added sparkle.     Are you ready to get your paws inky with us and play along to win a prize? We will chose a RANDOM entry to win a $20 store credit to our Newton's Nook Design online shop! We will also highlight our favorites from each challenge the following Monday so all entries have a chance to be featured on this blog! You have TWO WEEKS to play along - Deadline to enter is Friday, June 19, 2020 at Midnight CST. The winners will be announced on the Newton's Nook blog the following Monday. Are you ready to play along and get your paws inky? Make sure you check the challenge rules page before you link up your project. XO, CrystalList of supplies:
Last week I spent an entire day restocking my own card supply. I was running low on both birthday and get well cards, so I decided to mass produce in large(ish) quantities to help replenish my stock. This is not something I do very often because, hello BOREDOM! But, making multiples of a card is actually faster than you might think. I make one sample, write down all the measurements, cut and stamp everything I need and then begin an assembly line of production! Within a few short hours, I had made 32 of these beautiful floral cards in a wide variety of colors using the Build A Flower: Peruvian Lily stamp set by Altenew. I should also add that given Mother's Day will be here soon, this card would also work well for that occasion. So many of the cards I make tend to be very feminine and/or floral themed, so if you ARE looking for more Mother's Day inspiration, you can always look at my card gallery HERE.   Card details:Both of these A2 sized cards were made the same way, I just used different ink colors and cardstock. The base of each card is made from 80 lb Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I cut a 5" x 3 3/4" piece of Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock that was dry embossed using a retired leafy vine embossing folder by Stampin' UP! I matted this dry embossed sheet of paper with either a blue or pink mat before adhering both to the card base. The Peruvian Lily stamp by Altenew is a multi-layered set, so I stamped each layer multiples times in a variety of blue or pink inks. Then I used the coordinating die to cut the lilies out. I die cut multiple leaves from Pear Pizzazz cardstock for each card. I adhered the leaves to the card first using a Tombow dot runner. I adhered two lilies on each card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. I stamped the "happy birthday" sentiment in either pink or blue ink on Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock and fussy cut the sentiment out. I adhered the sentiment to the card using small strips of 3M foam adhesive. Lastly, I added a couple of color coordinated rhinestones to each card for added sparkle.   Here is the Peruvian Lily stamp set by Altenew that I used to create today's cards:      Thank you for visiting and enjoy your day! XO, Crystal
You guuuysssss, I am overexcited to share today's card with you! I think I made my very favorite Christmas card last weekend! During the holidays, I have always decorated the living room of our house in silver, blues and white. Every year I find these beautiful blue dyed poinsettia's at my local Agway store and it would just help complete the room. No, don't worry, I haven't started decorating yet - I'm a wait until after Thanksgiving girl! But, that color scheme inspired me to create a card using the Altenew Poinsettia & Pine stamp set, and I think it came out simply gorgeous.
Card details:
The base of this A2 sized card is made from Blueberry Bushel cardstock. I cut a piece of 5 1/4" x 4" gold foil paper and adhered it to the base of the card at an angle. The gold foil paper is key in making this card sparkle with a touch of elegance. I cut a 5" x 3 3/4" piece of Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock and stamped the berries, branches and leaves in Blueberry Bushel and Marina Mist inks. I heat embossed the sentiment in the lower right corner using gold embossing powder. On a scrap piece each of Blueberry Bushel and Marina Mist cardstock I stamped the large poinsettia in Versamark ink and heat embossed it in white embossing powder. Using the coordinating dies, I die cut the poinsettia and adhered it to the center of the card using 3M foam adhesive. I also stamped the pine cone in Versamark ink on kraft cardstock and die cut it out adhering it behind the poinsettias. Lastly, I added some blue rhinestones around the card for added sparkle.
Here is the Altenew Poinsettia & Pine stamp set (with coordinating dies) that I used to create today's card:
And, just in case you like things a little more traditional, I also made the same card in red, green and pink. This one is equally as pretty too, but, the blue is still my favorite!
I hope you have enjoyed today's cards. Do you prefer one color over the other?
Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day! XO, Crystal
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Hello crafty friends and welcome back from the weekend! I don't know about you, but considering I worked the past three days at the Scrapbook Expo in Marlborough, Massachusetts, I'm exhausted and need a weekend to recover from my weekend!
Today I'd like to talk about my love/hate relationship with a stamping platform. There are many various types of stamping platforms on the market, from the original Misti, to the Tim Holtz Tonic Studios, Hampton Arts, etc. All of these serve the same general idea of helping to line up your stamps for the most precise and consistent result. This is not a review of any of these products, just a personal confession of my own struggles with mine. I currently own the Stamparatus from Stampin' UP! simply from my former time as a demonstrator. I say love/hate relationship, but what I really mean is that I'm just not comfortable using it yet, mostly because I just don't use it enough. Okay, like never, really! I like to think that I'm fairly good at lining stamps up just by "eyeballing" them, but when I used this Baby Balloon stamp set recently from Altenew, my eyeballing scenario was off. WAY off. So, I forced myself to bring out my stamping platform and use it. As it turns out, if you don't really know how to use it, it doesn't work so well.
There was a lot of frustration, a lot of paper that went into the trash, a LOT of ink everywhere and a lot of time spent watching YouTube tutorials. None of it was very fun for me! But, after enough trial and error and ink stained fingers I did learn enough to complete my first two cards using my Stamparatus and while they are not perfect, they ARE better lined up than they would have been without it. Essentially I learned that with practice comes a level of comfort and I need to spend significantly more time practicing. At the very least, I would like to have a "like" relationship with my stamp platform, but I'm not there just yet. . .
Card details:
The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. Using the Scalloped Stitched Rectangle Nesting dies by Gina Marie Designs, I created a frame from Lovely Lipstick cardstock. Next I cut a 5" x 3 3/4" piece of white cardstock and layered it directly over the scalloped frame. I stamped the balloons in Lovely Lipstick ink, Blushing Bride ink and Mango Melody ink. I die cut the balloons using the coordinating die and adhered them to the card with 3M foam adhesive. On a scrap sheet of white cardstock, I stamped the banner and sentiment and die cut those before adhering the banner over the balloons using more foam adhesive.
Card details:
The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. Using the Scalloped Stitched Rectangle Nesting dies by Gina Marie Designs, I created a frame from Island Indigo cardstock (retired). Next I cut a 5" x 3 3/4" piece of white cardstock and layered it directly over the scalloped frame. I stamped the balloons in Island Indigo ink (retired), Night of Navy ink and Pool Party ink. I die cut the balloons using the coordinating die and adhered them to the card with 3M foam adhesive. On a scrap sheet of white cardstock, I stamped the banner and sentiment and die cut those before adhering the banner over the balloons using more foam adhesive.
I'd love to know YOUR thoughts on a stamping platform? Do you use one? And, if so, how frequently
and what for? For instance, I know that my mother uses hers just to line her sentiment stamps up straight, but for really no other reason. What about you? Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day! XO, Crystal
Hello friends and happy Thursday! I hope you are having a good week so far. Today I'm sharing the first of my fall floral cards using this beautiful Altenew Sunflower Daisy stamp set. If you're a regular follower of mine then you will know that I love the Altenew color-layering floral stamp sets! But, one of my botany knowledgeable readers might have to explain to me, is this actually a sunflower or a daisy? Is it both? I'm slightly confused by the name of this stamp set! Either way, the end result of this color layering stamp is simply gorgeous no matter what colors you use.
Card details:
The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. From Rich Razzleberry cardstock, I die cut the frame using the Altenew Watercolor Stripes cover die. Next I stamped each of the sunflower daisies in Sahara Sand ink, Daffodil Delight ink, Rich Razzleberry ink and Blackberry Bliss ink. I die cut each flower using the coordinating dies. I stamped each leaf in Sahara Sand ink and Rich Razzleberry ink. I die cut the leaves and began to assemble the flowers onto the card using 3M foam adhesive. I stamped the sentiment in Rich Razzleberry ink on white cardstock and notched both ends before adhering it to the card. Lastly, I put a coat of Clear Wink of Stella on the flowers for added sparkle.
Today's cards were created using the Altenew Sunflower Daisy stamp set and coordinating dies:
I hope you have enjoyed today's first fall floral cards!
Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day! XO, Crystal
Hello crafty friends and happy Friday! TGIF! I hope you have fun things planned for the weekend ahead. Speaking of crafty friends, and before we get to today's crafty friends cards, I would like to give a little shout out to my newly found again friend, Carla! You see Carla used to follow me on the Super Stamp Girl website and then when I transitioned, I forgot to email her about the change. Oops! Then on a random whim, Ink Road Stamps announced that Carla was their winner of a recent Instagram contest, so I reconnected with her again. I'm happy to have you following along again, Carla! And, a big thank you to all the other readers who visit my website regularly as well! I hope to continue to inspire and entertain you while you are here.
As for my weekend plans. . . I have a stamp camp to teach on Saturday and then on Sunday I've got lots of designing to do for my upcoming fall classes. LOTS! But, I'm excited because that means I can finally start to play with all the fun Halloween products! 
Card details:
The base of this A2 sized card is made from Crumb Cake cardstock. Using the Gina Marie Stitched Rectangle dies, I die cut a sheet of Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. Next I heat embossed a whole bunch of the crafty sentiments onto a variety of cardstock using white embossing powder. From top to bottom, the cardstock colors are: Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz, Marina Mist (retired), Pool Party, Blushing Bride and Highland Heather. I trimmed each sentiment into a small strip and notched both ends. I adhered all the sentiment strips to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.
Both of today's cards were created used the Crafty Friends stamp set from Altenew:
Card details:
The base of this A2 sized card is made from Basic Black cardstock. Using the Gina Marie Stitched Rectangle dies, I die cut a piece of Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock for the first layer. I stamped the sentiment in Memento Tuxedo black ink. I heat embossed the Lawn Fawn Mailbox (retired) on Real Red cardstock in white embossing powder and cut it using the coordinating die. I adhered the mailbox to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. Next I stamped each small envelope in Lovely Lipstick ink, Pumpkin Pie ink, Daffodil Delight ink, Pear Pizzazz ink, Tempting Turquoise ink (retired) and Highland Heather ink. I fussy cut each stamped envelope and adhered it to the card using 3M foam adhesive.
Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a crafty fun weekend too!
XO, Crystal
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Hi friends and happy Fri-YAY! I hope you have fun (and cool) plans for the weekend ahead considering it will be 10,000 degrees outside here in Massachusetts! Okay, maybe I added two extra zero's on that temperature, but you get it, it's gonna be H-O-T hot! I have a craft room with central air calling my name!
Yesterday I shared with you how to create a beach scene with two different color layering stamp sets from Hero Arts. Today we are going to focus on just those beautiful color layering clouds from the Color Layering Sea and Sky stamp set that I used to create a sympathy card. 
Card details:
The base of this A2 sized card is made from Basic Gray cardstock. Using the Gina Marie Designs Scalloped Stitches Nesting Rectangles, I cut the largest rectangle from Balmy Blue cardstock. I cut a 5" x 3 3/4" piece of Neenah Solar White cardstock and stamped the sentiment in Basic Gray ink. I stamped the raindrops in Balmy Blue ink using the Sunny Studio Stamp called rain showers. On a separate sheet of white cardstock, I stamped the layering clouds in Balmy Blue ink and Basic Gray ink. I die cut the clouds and adhered them to the card using 3M foam adhesive. Lastly, I added a coat of Clear Wink of Stella to the clouds for added sparkle.
Here is the Color Layering Sea and Sky stamp set and coordinating dies from Hero Arts that I used for today's cards:
Hero Arts Color Layering Sea & Sky
Here is the second card I created using the color layering clouds:
Card details:
The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock. On a 5 " x 3 3/4" sheet of Basic Black cardstock. I stamped the sentiment and burst of stars in Versamark ink and heat embossed it with gold embossing powder. I mounted this stamped image onto a piece of Goil Foil paper before adhering it to the card front. On a separate sheet of Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock, I stamped the layering clouds in both Smoky Slate ink and Basic Gray ink. I die cut the clouds and adhered them to the card using 3M foam adhesive. Lastly, I added a coat of Clear Wink of Stella to the clouds for added sparkle.
I hope you have enjoyed seeing different ways to use this stamp set, both to create a serene beach scene and a peaceful sympathy card. Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!
XO, Crystal
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Hello readers and welcome back from hopefully a long holiday weekend (Yay, 4 days weekends are even better than 3-day weekends!) Ugh! But, then Monday's are so tough. . . So, today we are going to fight the ugly Monday's like a ninja! I'm not going to lie, I completed invested in this $45.00 Ninja Invasion stamp and die set from Altenew simply because of that one sentiment, "Crafty by day, deadly ninja by night." How fun is that?! I just LOVE it! I have created a few different cards for you using this ninja stamp set and some vivid alcohol ink backgrounds.
Because I am not currently creating video content and tutorials on my website, I highly recommend checking out this Easy Alcohol Ink Background Tutorial by Jennifer McGuire. She has created a very simple introduction to working with alcohol inks to create some basic backgrounds. This was the first video I watched after purchasing my alcohol inks and then I just spent time playing around with them! The great thing is there is no right or wrong when it comes to art. You just have fun (and usually make a mess) with it! *My only tip would be that you don't need to spend your money purchasing polysynthetic Yupo Paper at nearly $1.00 per sheet. You can use the reverse side of any high quality photo paper (like this one by Kirkland) and achieve the same results! 
Here is the "Ninja Invasion" stamp set by Altenew that I used to create today's cards:
Alcohol Ink colors used: Ranger Adirondack Valencia, Cherry and Lemonade
Card details:
The base of all these cards are A2 in size and made from Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock. I put a 5 1/4" x 4" sheet of Basic Black cardstock behind each alcohol ink background. The sentiments were all stamped in Versamark ink and heat embossed with black embossing powder. Because photo paper (or Yupo paper) is glossy, heat embossing works even better than using a solvent ink like Staz-On.
Alcohol inks used: Ranger Adirondack Limeade and Citrus
Alcohol ink colors used: Ranger Adirondack Flamingo, Valencia, Lemonade, Citrus, Sail Boat Blue and Amethyst
I hope you have enjoyed today's colorful ninja cards! I felt like a crafty ninja making them! : )
Thanks for visiting and have a great day! XO, Crystal
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