Coffee Lovers Bloghop – My Crafts are Like a Box of Chocolates

Winter Elegance Coffee Card

December 7, 2018December 7, 2018 beccreates1

I had such fun creating a card for the Winter Coffee Lover’s Bloghop, that I decided to make 2 more cards! I’ve had trouble in the past with link up thingies if I’m trying to add multiple cards so I’m going to create 3 different blog posts. Hope that doesn’t drive anyone crazy!

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For my first card, I used an Echo Park paper pad from a year or two ago, Bundled Up. Aren’t the colours gorgeous?! I just bought an older set of Spellbinders dies that matched some Nestabling I won. Remember Nestabling? If you are new to crafting, you’ve probably never seen it. It’s pearls or rhinestones shaped perfectly to fit the Spellbinders Labels dies. Buying the dies second is kind of backwards I know! I don’t know if they make it anymore. It used to be that Spellbinders was the only game in town for low-profile dies so a lot of companies matched stamps and embellishments to them. Now with so many dies on the market and stamp companies making their own dies, there’s no need for these products or they are redundant.

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The focal image is from the die cut pack that matches the paper pack. But you could argue that the snowflake embellishment is the focus of the card! I took dies from MFT, Stylized Snowflakes and Layered Snowflakes, no idea which dies are which because I store them all jammed together on a magnet sheet! The blue layer was coloured with Copic markers and the silver one was coloured with a silver paint marker. The brad is also a matching embellishment.

Enjoy, Rebecca

Cards

Fall/Winter 2018 Coffee Lover’s Bloghop

December 1, 2018December 1, 2018 beccreates1

I always feel like a bit of a fraud when I join the Coffee Lovers bloghop because I don’t drink coffee! Even when I get a mocha, I ask for 1 shot of espresso instead of 2! But I LOVE coffee themed images so I think that means I’m qualified to join!

Oh, don’t those mittens look warm!? I created a fun shaker card for my card, yep, I know, I’m addicted to shakers. They are so fun, why not? (At least that’s what I think when I’m making my 3rd in a week!!)

The sketch is from the Paper Players but sadly the deadline has passed for entering. I think I’ll save it though because it is perfect for using lots of gorgeous patterned paper. My shaker was made with a die set from MFT, snowflake window I think. Inside is a mix of huge mylar glitter flakes, fine white iridescent glitter and clear micro beads. It make a great noise when it shakes. The background was stenciled with Nuvo Mousse in Platinum with a snowfall stencil by Simon Says. The mug, snowflake and marshmallows dies as well as the sentiment are also by MFT. I used Copic markers to add colour to the die cuts. I especially love how the mug turned out. In case you were wondering, the marshmallows are coloured that way to mimic how marshmallows always fall into the cocoa but then pop back up with cocoa on them. You know what I mean right?

TIP: If you want to pop up an intricate die cut, too intricate for foam, but you also don’t want to layer it, here’s a tip. Turn your die cut upside down and apply tiny drops of glossy accents anywhere that is thick enough to support the drops. I don’t recommend other brands of dimensional adhesive unless they are very thick. Mine is even thicker than usual because it’s getting low. Allow the glossy accents to set up then apply more drops on top of the drying ones. Repeat until you have achieved the desired height letting it dry completely after the last layer. Then add only a tiny bit more glossy accents just to work as adhesive because you’ve allowed the others to dry so they aren’t sticky anymore. Now you have a popped up die cut that looks lacy and delicate!

The papers are all by Carta Bella Bundled Up paper from last year. For the cute little scallops at the bottom, I used dies by Sunny Studio. The sentiment tag is by Concord & 9th but I couldn’t decide what fiber, twine or ribbon to use in the hole so I left it plain. I added gems from Studio Katia which sparkle so beautifully and a bit of lace to dress up the card. I hope you join as there are a TON of fab prizes! I’m off to enter this card so I’ll see ya later!

Enjoy, Rebecca

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Eiffel Tower Tea Set Card

July 9, 2018 beccreates1

I’ve got to admit, I’ve been holding out on you guys. I often post my cards to Instagram and forget to post them here. Sometimes I don’t even remember to take a photo of them with my good camera and all I have is an iPhone pic! So this summer, I am resolved to find all the cards I’ve made in the last while, about 6 months I think and post them all! We shall see how long this particular resolution lasts!

This card was for the spring Coffee Lovers Bloghop. The Eiffel Tower is by Hero Arts, (I’m so used to Instagram that I almost typed #heroarts!) which I airbrushed in tan to get as close to the colour of the real tower as possible. Did you know that it is painted in an ombre of tan? But metallic tan of course. To save time, I die cut the tea pot and cup (dies by Poppy Stamps) with coaster board so I wouldn’t have to layer so many die cuts. Just snag a few every time you go out to a restaurant or bar! Most die cutters will get through it in just a couple of passes with a shim.

The background is text paper from PTI but it looked too plain so I airbrushed some of the colours from the patterned paper on it. At the bottom I added a fabric doily; sadly most of it was covered by the flowers. I finished the card with some crystals, silk and paper flowers along with some die cut flourishes.

I wonder if some of you are curious as to why so few of my cards are my usual shabby chic style. There are a couple of reasons. First, many of the stamps I get in my Hero Arts and Simon Says Stamp kits don’t lend themselves to shabby designs. I wish I was like Melissa Philips and I could make a shabby card out of nearly any stamp set! But alas, I lack that particular talent. Also, I’ve been trying to sell my cards and the over-the-top shabby ones I love to make don’t sell very well. I will always be a shabby and elegant designer at heart but I have been enjoying making some cards that aren’t as ornate and girlie. Oh, I guess there is another reason. I’ve been colouring a lot and not finishing those cards! Especially since I’ve participated in the last couple of Kathy Rascoosin’s 30 day colouring challenges. That’s another goal of mine, to turn those coloured panels and backgrounds into cards!

Enjoy, Rebecca

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Winter Coffee Lovers Bloghop!

December 10, 2017 beccreates1

Today I have a card that does double duty! It’s my Coffee Lovers bloghop card AND it’s my Crazy 4 Challenges card. The last challenge of the year as we break for the holidays.

Our Crazy 4 Challenges theme was to use a previous 2017 sketch. I was super happy because sketches are my favourite! I chose the one from May which worked perfectly with the coffee cup I decided to use.

The paper is by Bo Bunny from a year or two ago. I pulled out an older Simon Says Stamp kit (do you guys use your kits up right away? I never do) but decided to go with a new coffee set rather than the one that came with the kit. The stamps are by Neat & Tangled, the Perfect Blend stamps and dies, which are on sale right now. If you like them get them soon as they are retiring.

The background was already stunning but I decided to add some stenciled Nuvo glitter paste swirls. The green/aqua iridescence is very prominent in this paste. It wasn’t looking quite as amazing at the top as it did at the bottom. So, Copic to the rescue! I added some purple marker over the glitter paste, using the side of the brush tip, which made the glitter match the paper much better. The stencil is by Echo Park and the die cut under the coffee cup is the Quinn Flourish by Memory box. I’m noticing this really needs some more sparkle (can you ever have too much??) so I will add some sequins and maybe some shimmer spray.

Enjoy, Rebecca

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Fall Coffee Lovers Bloghop!

September 21, 2017 beccreates1

Hi! Welcome to my small part of this awesome blog hop!

I’ll be honest, I don’t really like the fall. Well, it’s ok but it means the cold weather is approaching. I’m pretty much allergic to the cold. Not literally but I do have a health condition which means I can’t be out in the cold. But, I do enjoy making fun fall cards! So here is my early fall card. I know daisies aren’t out much anymore but they reminded me of mums which are all over in the fall.

The banner was stamped with Weathered White Antiquities embossing powder by Ranger using a stamp from the Bunting Stamp by Avery Elle. I needed 4 layers to get it opaque enough but I like the textured look it gives. It didn’t stand out quite well enough so I used a Copic marker around the edge to darken it slightly and provide more contrast.

The cup is from the Perfect Blend stamp set by Neat & Tangled. It’s a slightly funky set I really enjoy. The Smile sentiment is from Honey Bee stamps. It includes the one large smile sentiment and lots of smaller add on words and phrases.

Enjoy, Rebecca

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Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

June 30, 2017 beccreates1

Welcome to my entry for this season’s Coffee Lover’s Blog Hop. As usual, I went for a shabby theme this time.

I started by choosing a paper pack, the Bloom collection by Maggie Holmes from Crate Paper. She is one of my favourite designers EVER! The gorgeous paper I used for the background has been calling my name for along time but it is VERY busy! So I spread some gesso over the middle 3/4 of the paper. Some of the pattern shows through but not all. Over that I added some light embossing paste through a Prima stencil. They make the best shabby embellishments EVER! I added glitter and embossing powder to the paste. That’s the gold roses you see in the background.

Next I layered a bunch of embellishments and my focal tea cup and saucer (Altenew). Most of the paper pieces are Maggie Holmes embellies, the trims are from my stash, the washi is from Recollections. I hand calligraphed the sentiment with Dr Ph Martins iridescent ink. Last I added a bit of shimmer with a Wink of Stella pen and some gems from Lucy’s Little Things.

Enjoy, Rebecca

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Spring 2017 Coffee Lovers Bloghop!

April 1, 2017 beccreates1

I am just under the wire for posting this! I love making cards for this bloghop that is held once each season, 4 times per year.

I’ve been doing way too many CAS cards lately for my shabby loving heart to be satisfied. So lately I’ve been working my way back to bows, flowers and fancy die cuts.

Isn’t this totally me? I paper pieced the cups using the Simon Says Coffee and Tea stamp set. The lids are Copic coloured to help them match the cups and labels. I added some coloured leaves, flowers, a couple of wood embellies and a little shaped paper clip. Some twine and a sentiment stamped in cute colours (thank you Mme. MISTI) completes this shabby card. Oh and I tucked in an epoxy brad too. It was a bit aged from the sun (I have tons of light in my craft room) but since I was using vintage papers with ivory undertones, it all worked out just fine.

Enjoy, Rebecca

Entered In: Coffee Lovers Bloghop