My Paper Creations

My Girl: Whimsy August Release Showcase Day 3

Hi Everyone!  Welcome to the Whimsy August Release Showcase Day 3 blog hop! On Wednesday (22 August) Whimsy Stamps released this month's new rubber designs, new Shapeology dies, new digital papers and new Shape EZ by TLC.

From then until 28 August the Whimsy Stamps DT and Special Guests are showcasing these fabulous new goodies with a daily mini blog hop and I am part of today’s hop! Each mini blog hop has a new release prize hidden somewhere along the way and you have 24hrs to enter each prize draw. To be entered into today's mini blog hop prize draw, be sure to leave a comment on ALL of the DT's posts listed below by 12.00PM EST tomorrow. All winners will be announced on the Whimsy blog on 29 August.

 
My daughter chose one of the new images for her keepsake box I created for her.  (You can see the box I created for my oldest son here.)  This little cutie is called  Summer Fairy and was drawn by illustrator Sylvia Zet for her Wee Stamps line.  My daughter loves pink so I had to paint her box pink.  I chose an assortment of patterned papers from several different companies.  After trimming them to the size I wanted, I stitched them together and added a paper doily.  I wrapped some lace from Wild Orchid Crafts and some seam binding around the papers before adhering them with mod podge to the box.

I stamped the image on copic x-press it cardstock with tuxedo black memento ink and colored her with copic markers.  (I will list the colors below.)  I added an assortment of flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts.  Before adding them, I added some stardust stickles to the flowers and let them dry.  (I'm also playing along with the current Wild Orchid Crafts Challenge which is Summer Flowers.)

I added a sentiment from Lili of the Valley's For Her Sentiments set.  The "love you" is from October Afternoon's Farmhouse flower sack.  The silver filigree corners and 5mm white pearls are from Wild Orchid Crafts and the butterfly is a mistable canvas piece from Prima.  I sprayed it with some mister huey's and added some star dust stickles to it.  After it was dry, I wrapped some black thread around the center and created some antenae by coating the thread with glossy accents.  Once it was dry, the antenae were stiff and stayed in place.

I stitched some layered buttons to the center of my bow using denim baker's twine.  (Buttons are from My Favorite Thing's Bubblegum button pack.)  I also added a little heart charm.

I added some Silver Sunrise Thickers along the bottom along with some more pearls and a 40mm classic sweet baby pink rose and some 40mm rose leaves along with more 5mm pearls.

I lined the inside of the box with a piece of pink patterned paper that my daughter chose.  To take a peek at today's fabulous new release creations, please click on the links below...

Ellie Stover
Erin Bailey
Niki Estes  (you're here)
Heidy Blom
Tammy Louise Cunliffe
Lori Pachkowsky

Remember that the entire new release is available to buy right now from the Whimsy Stamps store along with all your Whimsy favorites.

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to pop back to the Whimsy blog tomorrow for more new release creations!

Have a great weekend!

Niki

my girl keepsake box supplies:
Stamps: Summer Fairy (Whimsy Stamps)
Cardstock: X-Press It (Copic), dark blue
Patterned Paper: Willow Path - Woodland Park, stripes - Cakewalk (October Afternoon), Malibu - Shoreline (American Crafts), Thermos - PB & J (Basic Grey), Little Lady - Just Dreamy 2, Dilly Dally Adventures - Miss Caroline (My Mind's Eye), Vintage Fans - This & That (Echo Park)
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento (Tsukineko)
Embellishments: 5mm white pearls, baby pink aster daidies, 4mm baby pink closed rose buds, 40mm rose leasves, 2 tone baby pink 15mm open roses, 25mm wild roses, 2 tone baby pink 40mm classic sweet baby pink roses, silver filigree corners, white lace (Wild Orchid Crafts), denim twine (The Twinery), canvas butterfly (Prima), silver sunrise thickers (American Crafts), doily, seam binding
Copic Markers:
skin: E000, E00, E11, R00, R20
dress/shoes: B91, B93, B95, B97, B99
hair: E31, E33, E35, E37, E29
wings: R00, R20, R21, R22
sky: BG0000, BG000
grass: YG61, YG63, YG67, G29

love you to the moon and back

Hi Everyone!  I'm really excited to share this project with you today.  My kids love my cards.  They often ask me to give them some of the cards I create and I make cards for them on their birthdays and other occassions.  So, they have quite a few cards laying around.  My youngest likes to write on the cards or tear the buttons off when the older kids leave them down for him to get and they get really upset. 

So, I've been thinking about creating a box for each of them to hold some of their cards.  We picked out some images to use for the project earlier this summer and I've been thinking about how I wanted to decorate the boxes for a while now.  Well, last week, Lili of the Valley put a challenge up on their blog to create Anything But a Card.  That was just the push I needed to get started on this project.

For my oldest son's box, he chose this adorable Astronaut stamp from Lili of the Valley.  It can be difficult sometimes to find cute boy images, but Lili of the Valley has lots of really cute ones!  When he picked the image, I knew the Rocket Age patterned papers and embellishments from October Afternoon would be perfect.

First, I took the box apart and painted it blue on the outside and tan on the inside.  After it was dry and I reassembled it, I stitched my patterned paper layers together before adhering them to my box with mod podge.

I stamped the image on copic x-press it cardstock with tuxedo black memento ink.  Then, I colored it with copic markers (colors listed below in the supply list).  I masked the image and sprayed the floor and wall using copic markers and my air compressor.

I added some Glossy Accents to their helmets and let it dry while I worked on the rest of the box (stitching papers, adhering them, etc).  I added a red cardstock mat and tied some Denim baker's twine around the bottom of the image before adhering it to my box with foam adhesive.  The corrugated stars are from Close to My Heart and the buttons, flash card, and tickets are from October Afternoon.

This saying is one of my favorites and I thought it would be perfect on my son's box.  I used Thickers for the letters and the stamped part of the saying comes from the Half Pint Heroes stamp set from Waltzingmouse Stamps.  The label and rocket are from October Afternoon, too.

I didn't want to add a lot to the inside so their would be room for his cards he collects so I just added a piece of patterned paper from October Afternoon.   He loved the constellations on it.

I barely got photos of it before he took it off to his room.  He's really excited about it and it makes me happy knowing how much he loves it!  Now, I need to get started on one for my daughter. :)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Niki

love you astronaut box supplies:
Stamps: Astronaut (Lili of the Valley), Half Pint Heroes (Waltzingmouse Stamps)
Cardstock: X-Press It (Copic), red
Patterned Paper: Rocket Age (October Afternoon)
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento (Tsukineko)
Embellishments: Rocket Age buttons, Rocket Age Miscellany, Rocket Age Rubber Charms (October Afternoon), denim baker's twine (The Twinery), corrugated stars (Close to My Heart)
Copic Markers
hair: E33, E35, E37, E29
skin: E000, E00, E11, E13
helmets/pants: C0, C2, C4, C6
shirt: YR12, YR15, YR16, YR18, T7
boots: B93, B95, B97, B99, T5, T7, T9
bear: E11, E13, E15, E17, E18
rocket: B93, B95, B97, B99, R27, R46, R89, T9
box: E53, E55, E57
bunny: E30
flag: E31, R27, R46, R89, T9
floor: E25
wall: custom marker (1/2 YR30 & 1/2 YR31)

Case Study Anniversary Blog Hop: Blooming Great Day

Hi Everyone!  I'm excited to be playing along with the Case Study 2nd Anniversary blog hop today.  The Case Study design team (along with past muses) is having a blog hop to celebrate the second aniversary of this fun challenge blog.  I hear there are some fun prizes if you decide to play along, too.  Leave a comment on each blog along the hop to be entered to win.   You can find all the information to join along in the challenge over on the Case Study blog. 

This week's challenge is Signature Style or create something that best reflects your style.  You should have come from Eva Dobilas' blog.  If not, hop on over to the Case Study blog to start the blog hop at the beginning.

I was so honored last year when Iwona asked me to be the muse for the challenges one month and am excited that I get to play along again.  I love the concept of the challenge where designers inspire each other in their creations.

This week's challenge of Signature Style is definitely an easy one.  I've been creating lots of cards this year with colored images.  Hey, I'm sometimes a kid at heart and still love to color. :)

I decided to use this adorable little bear image from Lili of the Valley called Blooming Lovely.  It's been too long since I played with my adorable Lili of the Valley stamps (I miss working for LOTV!  More on that another day. . .) and I had to get the cute little bears when they released them in June.  The stamp comes with the sentiment I used on my card.

I colored the image with copic markers on copic x-press it cardstock.  (Marker colors listed below.)  I used some patterned paper from Studio Calico's Heyday paper pad.  I added lots of stitching and some buttons and capuccino baker's twine.  I also used an assortment of flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts.  I am playing along with the current Wild Orchid Crafts challenge which is Round in Circles (or use circles on your card).  I used a doily and buttons so hopefully that is enough! lol


I didn't have any rose buds in the right shade so I lightly colored the tips with a copic marker.  Then, I used my copic blender marker to make the color bleed down the petals.  They turned out pretty darn close to the color of my cherry blossoms.  I also added some stickles to the butterfly, bee's wings, and hearts, but it's kind of hard to see in the photos.

Okay, time to hop along to Andrea Ewen's blog and see what beautiful things she has created.  Thank you again to Iwona for inviting me to play along.  I am truly honored to get to play along with such amazingly, talented designers.

Happy Hopping!

Niki

Blooming Great Day card supplies:
Stamps: Blooming Lovely (Lili of the Valley)
Cardstock: X-Press It (Copic), off white
Patterned Paper: Heyday (Studio Calico)
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento (Tsukineko)
Dies: petite oval nestability die (Spellbinders)
Embellishments: 4mm white rosebuds, 15mm cream open roses, 2 tone cherry blossoms (Wild Orchid Crafts), cappuccino baker's twine, paper doily, aqua buttons
Copic Markers:
bear:E23, E25, E27, E29
nose/ears/butterfly/hearts: R00
flower: custom marker (1.2 YR30, 1/2 YR31), YR31, Y35, Y38, E53, E55, E57, E59
leaves/stem: G40, G43, G46
bee: Y35
tags: E31
pot: E13, E15, E17, E19, E18
sky: BG0000, BG000

Moonlight Wishes

Can you believe Christmas is less than a month away?!  I can’t believe how quickly the year is speeding by.  Since my kiddos started school, it seems like I blink and another month is gone!  I’m hoping to get a few more Christmas cards made before I need to get them mailed out.

Today, I thought I would share a card that I made with one of the Lili of the Valley Christmas images called Moonlight Wishes.  This was one of my favorite images from the Christmas releases this past summer.

 

There is just something so sweet about this image!  I stamped the image on copic x-press it cardstock with tuxedo black memento ink.  Then, I colored it with  these copic markers: YG93, YG95, YG97, R24, R27, R46, R89, W1, W3, Y15, Y17, E35, YG17, YG67, E000, E00, E11, E13, R00, R02, colorless blender.  I created a mask with eclipse masking tape.  Then, I used a BG72 copic marker and my air compressor to spray the sky.  I added some glitter to the moon and stars and some white fun flock the the ball on her cap.

I used some patterned papers from October Afternoon’s new Holiday Style paper pad.  I added some crocheted lace from May Arts and some baker’s twine from my etsy shop.  The sentiment is from Lili of the Valley’s Grunge Christmas Postmarks stamp set.

Have a great day!

Niki

Merry Christmas

Hi Everyone!  I made this card earlier this month to share over on the Stampavie blog.  I had to choose an image to use first.  (There are so many adorable Stampavie images that it can be hard to choose which one to use next!)  I decided to pull out this adorable Penguin and Tree image by Gillian Roberts.

I just love cute little penguin stamps and this one is definitely cute!  I used some patterned paper from Echo Park’s Season’s Greetings paper pad.  I added some bells and a silver filigree corner from Wild Orchid Crafts and some baker’s twine from my etsy shop.

I stamped the image on copic x-press it cardstock with tuxedo black memento ink.  I colored it using these copic markers: C6, W1, W3, W5, W7, W9, T5, E31, E33, Y35, Y38, YR18, E23, E25, E27, E29, BG53, R27, R46, R89, BG0000, BG000, colorless blender.  I die cut the image using a rectangle nestability die and then stitched it to a red cardstock layer.  I added some white fun flock to the penguin’s cap and some polar white flower soft below the image.  I also used some spica pens to add some glitter to the ornaments and star on the Christmas tree.  The sentiment is from Lili of the Valley's Grunge Christmas Postmarks stamp set.

Have a great day!

Niki

Summer Daydream

Hi Everyone!  I have another card to share featuring one of the new images from Lili of the Valley.  (The new stamps will be available on November 10th.)  This image is called Daydream and features the new Summer character.  The image comes with the sentiment I used on my card.

I used some patterned papers from My Mind’s Eye’s Stella & Rose paper pad.  I stitched my layers and die cut the image with a rectangle nestability die and the sentiment with a petite oval nestability die.  I added some pink pearls and a couple white buttons.  I finished off my card with these flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts: 25mm pink tone open roses set b, 4mm baby pink closed rose buds, 15mm pink tone open roses set b, and 15mm white open roses.

I colored the image on copic x-press it cardstock with copic markers.  I used these markers: BG000, G82, G85, BG01, BG09, R20, R21, R22, E000, E00, E11, E13, R00, R02, E31, E33, E35, E37, E29, colorless blender.  (Sorry for the fuzzy photo.  It was the best of the lot.)

I used a pink copic marker to fill in the letters in the sentiment that comes with the image.

Have a great day!

Niki

All Our Dreams

Have you all been keeping up with all the sneak peeks (over on the Ideas to Inspire Blog) of the new images releasing next week from Lili of the Valley?  Do you have any favorites yet?  There are so many adorable new images to choose from that I don’t think I could pick a favorite.  I always love the LOTV babies, though, so I’m really excited to see some new ones.

My card today has the new All Our Dreams image along with the sentiment that comes with the image.  I absolutely love this adorable image!  I used some patterned paper from the Stella & Rose paper pad from My Mind’s Eye.  After coloring my image, I stitched all my patterned papers.  Then, I added some baker’s twine and stitched on some buttons.

I colored the image with copic markers on copic x-press it cardstock.  I used these markers:
skin: E000, E00, E11, R00, R02
hair: E33, E35, E37
baby blanket: B34, B37
jammies: W1, W3, G82, G85
bunny: BG10, BG11, BG13
swing: YR04, YR07
leaves: YG93, YG95, YG97, YG99
hearts: R29
sky: BG000
colorless blender

Happy Stamping!

Niki

Birthday Wishes

How was your weekend? Ours was pretty good.  It’s been pretty rainy and icky here lately so it was a good weekend to just bake some cookies, hang out as a family, watch a movie, and play a board game . . . a great relaxing weekend.  Hope your weekend was too!

I have this card to share today featuring an absolutely adorable little image from Lili of the Valley called Maisie Two Balloons.  I just love this little cutie!  I used some patterned papers from My Mind’s Eye’s Just Dreamy 2 line.

I stamped the image on copic x-press it cardstock using tuxedo black memento ink and colored it with copic markers.  I used these maker colors: E000, E00, E11, E13, R12, R14, R17, R27, R46, R89, E33, E35, E37, E29, C4, C6, C8, BG11, BG32, BG34, colorless blender.  I added some baker’s twine from my etsy shop and used some glossy accents on the balloons to make them nice and shiny.  That great sentiment is from Catslife Press.

If you’ve never ordered from Lili of the Valley, they are a great company with great customer service.  I was a very happy customer before I got the opportunity to design for them (and absolutely love getting to design for them!).  They offer free worldwide shipping on orders over L25 which is about $40 and I always got my order in about a week (from the UK to the US).

Hope you have a great week!

Niki

it’s the little things

Last week, I had the chance to create a couple cards using some images from Lili of the Valley.  I shared the little girl card last week and have this little teddy bear card to share today.  I just love this adorable image!  It’s called Little Lorry Bear.  I used some patterned papers from the Lime Twist: Fly a Kite patterned paper pad from My Mind’s Eye. 

I stamped the image on copic x-press it cardstock with tuxedo black memento ink and colored it with copic markers.  I used these marker colors: R24, R27, R29, R46, R89, Y35, YR04, YR07, YG05, E53, E55, E57, E31, E33, E35, E37, W3, BG000, BG01, BG32, BG53, colorless blender.

I die cut my image with a circle nestability die before using my air compressor and some copic markers to spray the background.  I added some glossy accents to the balloon to make it shiny.  After stitching my layers, I wrapped some red grosgrain ribbon and some baker’s twine around my patterned paper layers before adhering them to my card base.  Then, I used foam adhesive to adhere my image and sentiment (from Catslife Press).  I finished off my card with some corrugated stars from Close to My Heart and some red buttons stitched with baker’s twine.

Have a great weekend!

Niki

warmest wishes

Hi Everyone!  I have a card to share using the adorable Milly Cuddle Time image from Lili of the Valley.  Milly is so cute and I just love her little pets!  The sentiment is from the A5 Verses stamp set.

I stamped the image with tuxedo black memento ink on copic x-press it cardstock and colored her with copic markers.  I used these marker colors: E55, R11, R12, R14, W1, W3, W5, W7, W9, E53, E55, E43, R30, BG32, BG34, E23, E25, E27, E29, E31, E33, E35, E37, E000, E00, E11, E13, BG0000, BG000, colorless blender.

I cut the image out with a labels eight nestability die and used some patterned papers from the Lime Twist: Life of the Party paper pad from My Mind’s Eye.  I finished off my card with some hemp twine from CTMH, some baker’s twine from my etsy shop, and a couple sparkly pink buttons.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Niki