One Kit for Cards All Year Long!

 

This is the new Stencils 360 friends edition from Penguin Palace Stamps, the little sister to the original stencils 360 and honestly, I've fallen in love all over again. Watch here to see how this smaller, just-for-cardmakers kit works and how it can take you through the whole card making year! 

Use TJArdyth10 to get 10% off at Technique Junkies!

DO NOT DO THIS to your delicate stencils!

 

I wanted to show you how easy it is to get SO MANY looks with one single basic geometric stencil. And I killed it.....

Happy Birthday

Welcome to this week's LIMES inspiration post!

I chose this card as my inspiration from the gallery of this week's Splitcoaststampers' Featured Stamper!

LIST: Colours (red, yellow, blue, white, green), Techniques (stencil, die cut, stamping, inkblending) Elements (square pattern multi-colour background, parrot, two pink circles, white sentiment strip with red stamping, stickles)

INCLUDE: yellow, blue, white green, stencil, die cut, ink blending, square pattern multi-colour background, stickles
MODIFY: pink instead of red, white die cut sentiment, one pink circle instead of 2
EXCLUDE: parrot
SPIN:

I was absolutely intrigued by the colourful, grid background in my inspiration card. I love geometrics and I love ink blending, so I grabbed a stencil and 4 inks and created my background. 

I added green to my background since I knew I wouldn't be able to add a green parrot and I cut out a circle from the centre. I added Stardust stickles to all the edges for a bit of sparkle.

I inlaid my pink circle and that solid colour helped to make my die cut birthday sentiment stand out.

6 NEW Ideas for Getting More from Stencils

 

Today I'm sharing ways to stretch your stencils and I'm not just talking about spinning, flipping or shifting, either. Let's take a look at 6 NEW ways to get more from these craftroom basics.

Spinning for FUN! Comparing Stencils 360 and Altenew Stampwheel

Just for fun (they're both out of stock right now, anyway! lol!), let's compare the Stencils 360 tool with the Altenew Stampwheel. How does each one work? How do they differ? Can you use them together? (bonus: I also tried out the Gina K Wreath Builder!)

LIMES with Brennan

Today, I'm excited to be introducing you to one of my newest crafty friends, Brennan. He's a talented newcomer on the card making scene and also to YouTube, so I'm excited to introduce you all to him, and show you how 3 of his cards helped me squeeze even more out of LIMES! (you can get a FREE LIMES worksheet here!)

Continuous Stencil Technique (collab with Sasha Reade)

 I made a new friend and I learned a new technique! And then, I had to put my own 'spin' on it, of course! 

Watch my video here and then use the link provided to see Sasha's take on one of my favourite techniques:

Happy Birthday

 

Welcome to this week's LIMES inspiration post!

I chose this card as my inspiration from the gallery of this week's Splitcoaststampers' Featured Stamper!

LIST: Colours (pastel aqua, pink, yellow, blue, white), Techniques (inkblending, stamping, die cutting), Elements (pastel/white background, white die cut sentiment, stamped sentiment, large white frame, silver pearls)

INCLUDE:pastel colours, die cutting, 

MODIFY: technique (gel plate, stencil 'removal' of ink with water)

white die cut with gray die cut sentiment over top, clear gems instead of pearls, portrait instead of landscape orientation

Look how dreamy this inspiration card is! I think it's colours inkblended and then white stamping over top and it's absolutely gorgeous!

I tried a different technique to get a similar feel - I used my Catherine Pooler inks and my gel press to create a background, and then I spritzed water over a stencil to kind of bleach out the colours in the pattern. 

3 Card Making Experiments

Today, I'm sharing the results of 3 cardmaking experiments:

1. how to double your colours with one ink pad
2. how to use a gel plate instead of a sticky mat
3. how to use your stamp positioner for repeat stamping in a completely NEW way!

Are you making these Card Making Mistakes?

Are you ready to rescue your cards? Today I'm talking about some ink-related cardmaking mistakes, plus one of the biggest crafty mistakes I think a lot of us make. PLUS, my friend Ishani has a whole bunch of creative solutions for even more cardmaking mistakes so whatever is going wrong with your cardmaking, I bet we can help! 

PERFECT Layered Prints (with or without a Gel Plate!)

 

Today I'm sharing how I get perfectly layered prints, using lots of my new stencils, to create artistic, mixed-media cards! And if you don't have a gel plate, I've got you covered with an ink-blended alternative!

(DISCOUNT CODE: Use ARDYTH10 for 10% off at A Colorful Life Designs)! When you're finished watching my video, Amy has a video showing how she's using some of her new goodies to make a birthday card for her husband! This is our second collaboration and I'm hoping it will become an annual tradition!

Rainbow Birthday Card

 
There's a new release at Penguin Palace Stamps this week, and I've been lucky enough to be able to play with some of the new round stencils for the Stencils 360 tool!

This one uses the new Gazania stencil set. I used two of the three stencils in the set (I used the 3rd one a couple of days ago on my snowflake wreath, remember?)

Abstract Blossom

There's a new release at Penguin Palace Stamps this week, and I've been lucky enough to be able to play with some of the new round stencils for the Stencils 360 tool!

Today I used the new Abstract Blossom stencil and I turned it just once, to get this beautiful rainbow burst!

Snowy Joy

There's a new release at Penguin Palace Stamps this week, and I've been lucky enough to be able to play with some of the new round stencils for the Stencils 360 tool!

I used 2 separate sets for this card - the Flurry Snowflakes (comes with 2 stencils, I used one) and the Gazania (comes with 3 stencils, I used the small one to make the centre).

LIMES: Ornate Happy Birthday

Welcome to this week's LIMES inspiration post!

I chose this card as my inspiration from the gallery of this week's Splitcoaststampers' Featured Stamper!

LIST: Colours (blue, green, purple, white), Techniques (stamping), Elements (3 squares, multicoloured sentiment in 4th space, dragon fly, leaves, flower, embellishments)

INCLUDE: blue, green, purple, white,  sentiment stamped on card base, embellishments

MODIFY: stencil instead of stamping, 4 squares with circle cut from centre, used more vibrant shades of colour, black sentiment, design element instead of flora/fauna

EXCLUDE: multi-coloured stamping

SPIN: square card, popped up my squares 

I love squares and I love grids, and that's what drew me to this pretty card. I also loved the clever idea of not having a square in the 4th space but I wanted to change it up a little, so I used the 4 squares and cut a circle from the centre. 

I used an element from a new round stencil from Penguin Palace Stamps. These round stencils are designed to be used in the Stencils 360 tool, but there's no reason why you can't use them like regular square stencils. I blended darker shade of each colour through the stencil. 

I temporarily held the 4 squares together and cut a circle from the centre. I popped up the 4 shapes and in the negative I stamped a bold happy birthday sentiment from Avery Elle. 

I finished each design with a clear iridescent sequin and a matching gem.

Mediterranean Stencils available for pre-order here (releasing December 5)

2 Minute Christmas Cards (YES - it's possible!)

2 minute Christmas cards. Impossible? Today I'm sharing 3 quick ideas (PLUS tips for making multiples AND a free printable filled with tips for making cards in a hurry!)

Happy Birthday Dots

Welcome to this week's LIMES inspiration post!

I chose this card as my inspiration from the gallery of this week's Splitcoaststampers' Featured Stamper, Carol!

LIST: Colours (green, yellow, coral, blue, white), Technique (stamping, colouring) Elements (vertical split panel, polka dots, rectangle sentiment strip, birthday theme)

INCLUDE: green, yellow, blue, dots on right side, birthday sentiment with large happy, script 'birthday'

MODIFY: stencil instead of patterned paper, die cut happy, 

EXCLUDE: vertical 'divider'

SPIN:

Anytime I see a layout that is divided in half, I immediately think "2 for 1"! I stenciled my confetti into the centre of a 8.5x6" panel of white cardstock, using similar colours to Carol's dots. I like how they fade out to the edge, to give the left half of the card a cleaner look, similar to my inspiration. I edged the panels with a black copic marker for some subtle definition.

I cut my two layered sentiment/shadow once from white and once from black cardstock, to give me two different looks.

I stamped the script birthday with black ink in some of the clear space where the dots fade out toward the edge.

Mandala Snowflakes (Canada Day Video Hop)

It's time for the 3rd Annual Canada Day Video Hop! We have $1000 in prizes so hop and comment for a chance to win. Some of the sponsors also gave us discount codes to share with you: (video, supply list and full hop list are below discount codes).

Penguin Palace

20% off with code TAKE20CDAY

Valid from June 30th 11pm to July 15th 11pm PST

Ecstasy Crafts

15% off with code ECCAN15

Valid from July 1st to July 15th

The Old Island Stamp Company

15% off with code Canada15

Valid on July 1st only

Pigment Craft Co

20% off with code CELEBRATECANADA

Valid July 1st 9:00am EST to July 5th 11:59pm EST on all products, excluding ink and new release items. Cannot be combined with other offers or used towards shipping.

Scrap ’n Stamp

20% off with code CDV20

Code can only be used once. Valid on instock items only. Not valid with any other sale, promotion or coupon. Expires July 29, 2022

Scrapbook & Cards Today

10% off with code SCTCanada10

This exclusive offer is valid through July 15, 2022 on any online classes, stamps and dies sets and kits on the Scrapbook & Cards Today website. This offer is not valid on events, subscriptions or the SCT Sampler.

Scrapbook Cottage

15% off with code CanadaDayHop

Valid June 25th to July 9th

Your Next Stamp

25% off with code YNS25CD (excluding mystery boxes)

Valid July 1st to 15th

Full hop list:

Emily Leiphart

Ardyth Percy-Robb 

Karen Boyce

Cheryl Espie

Karen Aicken

Candice Richardson

Thanh Vo

Tracey McNeely

Dorothy Guinan 

Allison Cope

Sharon Yeung

Sandi MacIver

Marie-Pierre Capistran

Mari Clarke

Jessica McAfee

Getting More from a Rainbow Stencil!

Just how far can you stretch a rainbow stencil? Watch my video to find out!

 

Masking with Basic Shapes

Masking is one of the best little tricks in any card maker's toolkit; it gives the look of dimension without any added layers! 

Today, I'm using a special type of permanent, reusable mask and simple shapes to make cards, and when you're done watching my video, you can head to Gerry's channel for 5 more ways to use masking in your card making!