Video: Tonic Studios Patterns & Prints Release & Giveaway!

Hello everyone! I'm so happy you're here because it is release week for Tonic Studios Stamp Club and this month's set is one of my absolute favorites! This month's bundle is called Patterns & Prints and it is an amazing bundle for adding all kinds of visual texture and bold sentiments to your projects. Guess what?! I have more good news! Backgrounds & Borders (sold out in less than 24 hours) is back for a second round and it coordinates so well with the new Patterns & Prints set. So, two awesome bundles that work well together-it doesn't get much better than that!

Today's post is part of a blog hop with tons of inspiration so make sure to click to the next blogger when you hit the bottom of my post. We've also got two great giveaways for you today! First, we are giving away this Patterns & Prints bundle and a $50 gift card to Tonic so make sure to enter below. Second, everyone who orders the Patterns & Prints bundle will receive a FREE stamp in their order (check out the free stamp at the bottom of my post). On top of all that I also have a VIDEO for you today so make sure to check that out too (below).

Now, I just couldn't put this bundle down so I ended up making nine cards to share with you today. You can see all of them in the video or cruise through this blog post for more details. 

Before I get to my first card here is that video I promised you!

 

If you are having trouble watching this video please click here to view it on YouTube.

For my first card I started out with a background that I had made using Dina Wakley Gloss Sprays. Then I used three of the stamps from the Patterns & Prints set to stamp the background. I used a combination of gray ink, blue pigment ink and white puff embossing powder.

   

Then, I layered my word dies on top of the crosshatch die so that my sentiment was anchored in as a focal point.  

  

For my next card I started out with a watercolored background and then I used multiple stamps to stamp on top of that adding a lot of texture.

I heat embossed almost every layer of this card in clear embossing powder and the texture when you run your fingers over the background is amazing! The magic maker for this background is Sand embossing powder from Hero Arts.

I finished this card off by adding a custom sentiment that I created from the dies.

This next card was so easy to make but it sure is eye candy!

I started out by using my Nuvo Shimmer Powders in Blue Blitz and Storm Cloud. I sprinkled them lightly onto water color paper and then spritzed with water. The pigment exploded into this gorgeous mess of color and I let it air dry.

Once it air dried added my sentiments in black and white to keep with a fairly monochromatic look.

This next card began with a purple and pink watercolored background.

Then I added a lot of stamping in different colors and different heat embossed finishes. I stamped the circles in gray and then heat embossed in clear. When I heat embossed the little scratches in bronze some of that embossing powder stuck to the clear EP and melted into it creating a swirly gold mess.  I love when unplanned things like this happen!

After that I added the die cut sentiments but this time I added the detailed die in gold so that it matched the heat embossing on the background.

My next card started out with an alcohol ink background. I used the script stamp with some alcohol lift ink to create some texture on the background. It is hard to see but it is there.

Then I cut the hexagon die multiple time out of gold foil (leaving it attached between cuts) and added that to my background. 

To finish my card off I added sunflowers and a sentiment from the Sunshine & Sunflowers bundle.

This is the card that I made in my video...

I love how easy it is to create easy and colorful cards with this Patterns & Prints bundle.

I added a gold glitter sentiment with foam tape to easily finish off this card.

The hexagon pieces that come out of the honeycomb die cut are so fun and are perfect to use in your shaker cards. So I stamped the background of this card and used a little bit of gold nuvo mousse on some of the edges.

Next, I used an A2 sized shaker pocket to create a shaker card. The guts were a combination of the hexagon die cuts from the honey comb die (leftover from the sunflower card), some champagne sequins and some gold chunky glitter.

I glued my sentiment right on top of the shaker pouch with my Nuvo Deluxe adhesive.

This card is so simple but so eye catching. The dies from this bundle make it so easy to make a card from those beautiful backgrounds you have lying around but haven't yet figured out what to do with. For this card I used an alcohol ink background that's full of gorgeous purples, blues and gold.

I added the sentiment straight to the card with glue, no foam tape or dimension on this one. I love that it will be easy to mail.

I also love pretty and delicate these script word dies are when used without the shadow background.

My last card is another simple one but it's an eye catching one too. I started out with a watercolored background piece. Then I used the "Hello" die cut three times on a piece of white cardstock.

It was easy to line the die up since it is shaped in a rectangle.

I added strips of foam tape to the back of the die cut panel and adhered it to my card base... that was it! I did think about making this a shaker card but I like the clean simplicity of it the way it is.

Now here's a look at the whole Patterns & Prints bundle...

And, here is a look at the Happy Birthday stamp that you will receive with your purchase of the Patterns & Prints bundle.

Ok you guys that is all for today! But before I go please remember to enter the giveaway below and join us for this awesome blog hop!

Have an awesome day!

Maria

GIVEAWAY:

-One lucky winner will win a £50/$50 Giftcard to Tonic Studios and the Patterns & Prints bundle!

-To enter comment on every blog in the hop by 11:59pm PST on August 4, 2021/ 7:59am GST on August 5, 2021

-Winner will be announced on August 6th, 2021 on IG and FB so make sure you're following all of the Tonic Studios social media accounts!

BLOG HOP LIST:

Maria Willis: You are Here.

Ilda Dias: Next.

Jen Kray

Debi Adams

Kulbir Kirkland

Amber Rain Davis

Janette Simmons

Erica Andersson Burke

Channin Pelletier

Sandi MacIver

PRODUCT SUPPLY LIST (Affiliate links may be used at no extra cost to you):

Hero Arts Countdown to Creativity: I Love You!

Hey everybody! It's almost time for the August Hero Arts My Monthly Hero release and this month's kit is absolutely gorgeous!

But first, if you aren't familiar with the My Monthly Hero kit, it's a kit that is released by Hero Arts on the first Monday of every month. It always has a fun, themed collection of stamps, dies and other goodies. The cost is just $34.99/month and the value is always much greater! 

You have the option to subscribe (subscribing now means your first kit will be the September release), or, to buy your favorite kits as one-off purchases. Be aware that once these kits sell out they are gone for good. If you see a kit you like make sure to snatch it up quickly!

Today is Day One of the Countdown to Creativity and I've got a sneak peek of this month's kit to share with you. One of the things that is really exciting to me about this kit is the inclusion of three of the Hero Arts Liquid Watercolors. I absolutely love these watercolors and the colors that are included in the kit are three of my favorites (Pink, Dandelion and Indigo). I used the liquid watercolors to create my own sprays (I'm planning to have a video on how to do this up on Monday so stay tuned) and they can be used to create the most stunning backgrounds!

After spraying myself a gorgeous background and letting it dry I splattered it with White Glimmer Metallic Ink to give it a galaxy look.

Then, I used one die and one stamp to create a sentiment in black. I love using black with bright colors as it just seems to make everything pop!

Ok, that's it for today you guys! I can't wait until Monday when we get to spill the beans on this whole release because it is so much fun and has so many great elements to it!

While you wait for Monday to roll around make sure you enter to win a kit before you can buy it! Head on over to the Hero Arts Blog to enter.

Bye for now but I'll see you back here soon!

Maria

PRODUCT SUPPLY LIST (Affiliate links may be used at no extra cost to you):

Hero Arts Galaxy Tree: Gel Press!

Hello, everyone! Happy Monday to you all! I made this card a while back and forgot to share it so I'm happy to get to share it today. I used the Tree With Roots Fancy Die from Hero Arts and a gel press to create this colorful and happy tree. I used acrylic paints from Ranger Ink (Dina Wakley collection) to add color to my gel press. Then I picked up all of that gorgeous paint with a piece of white copy paper creating a beautiful print. I used the Tree With Roots die to cut a tree out of the print. I love the way it came out!

Now, if you're interested in watching me put together some cards using this die here's a video for you!

 

If you're having trouble viewing this video you can click HERE to watch it.

I splattered my Pitch Black cardstock with Glimmer metallic ink in white and gold. It looks like a dreamy galaxy behind that colorful tree.

I heat embossed my sentiment in gold onto vellum and glued that down before adding my tree. I wanted my tree to have a lot of dimension so I cut three extra trees out and glued them together behind my colorful tree. That gave me a tree that was four pieces of cardstock thick and very sturdy. 

I used Hero Arts precision glue to adhere my tree to my card base and that was it!

I hope you all have the very best week! Bye for now!

Maria 

Froget Your Troubles

Hi everybody! How is your weekend going? Mine has been busy so far but I'm hoping tomorrow I'll have time to do some work in my backyard. I love doing yard work. I can lose myself for hours as I trim my roses or dig in the dirt... basically, I forget everything and enjoy the moment that I'm living in. That's what today's card is all about- Frogetting your troubles! Lol. 

I used the Hoppy Day stamp set from Hero Arts to make this kicked back card. I stamped the flower twice and the frog once and colored everything up with my copic markers. I do have the dies for this stamp set but I wanted the frog to look like he was laying on the flower so I decided to cut my images out by hand so there wouldn't be a white border.

I ink blended my background panel in Splash and Blue Hawaii Reactive inks. Then I splattered it with Blue Hawaii and spritzed it with White Iridescent Shimmer Mist to add a little magic. I heat embossed a dragonfly up in the right corner.

I heat embossed my sentiment in white onto Pitch Black cardstock and then splattered that with white acrylic paint. I adhered this to my ink-blended panel and then added my fussy cut images to the card to finish it off.

I mounted all of that onto a white A2 sized cardbase and I was done! Well, it's nearing 1am here in California so I am headed off to bed! I hope you are all enjoying your weekends and finding many reasons to smile!

Have an awesome day!

Maria

PRODUCT SUPPLY LIST (Affiliate links earn me a small commission and may be used at no extra cost to you. Thank you!):

Gina K Designs July 2021 Release: Absolutely Autumn!

Happy Monday everybody! It is release day for Gina K Designs and I've got a colorful "thank you" card to share with you today. I've combined the brand new Absolutely Autumn stamp set with a sentiment from the Beautiful Butterflies 2 stamp set. 

I started out by making some watercolor washes on watercolor paper. I used a combination of my Hero Arts Liquid Watercolors and Nuvo Shimmer Powders from Tonic Studios. When that was dry I stamped a whole bunch of the images from the Absolutely Autumn set in black ink right on top of my shimmery watercolored cardstock. I cut all of the images out by hand because I don't have the coordinating dies. It took a little while but was totally worth it so I could play around with the images and have some fun with them.

Next, I inkblended a white card panel with a little bit of Splash Reactive ink. Then I glued on a circle frame die cut in gold glimmer paper. I heat embossed a sentiment from the Beautiful Butterflies 2 set into the center of the circle. Then, I used the left side of the circle as a guide to place my leaves.

After that all I had to do was splatter the background with my Glitter Gloss pen and then add some Nuvo drops in Mustard Gold.

And, just like that, this card was done... I hope you all enjoy the new release from Gina K Designs! Have an amazing week and I'll catch you back here soon!

Maria

PRODUCT SUPPLY LIST (affiliate links may be used at no extra cost to you):

Starry Clouds & Fairy Kisses

Hey everybody! I hope you're having an awesome day! I'm just dropping by to let you guys know that I'm up on the Hero Arts blog today sharing this sweet fairy card. You can head over there for all of the details!

I don't want to leave you totally hanging on the details though so... I made my galaxy background using Reactive inks (listed below), Shimmer Mist and White Glimmer Metallic ink.

I topped that off with a black frame cut using the new Starry Clouds Infinity Dies. After that all I had to do was add a copic colored fairy and a heat embosssed vellum sentiment from the Fairy Kisses stamp set.

Ok, that is it for today you guys! For more details please head on over to the Hero Arts blog!

Have an awesome day!

Maria

PRODUCT SUPPLY LIST (Affiliate links may be used at no extra cost to you):

Hero Arts My Monthly Hero Release, Blog Hop and Giveaway!

Hi everybody and happy Hero Arts release day! The July My Monthly Hero Kit is here and it is such a magical kit! 

If you aren't familiar with the My Monthly Hero kit, it's a kit that is released by Hero Arts on the first Monday of every month. It always has a fun, themed collection of stamps, dies and other goodies. The cost is just $34.99/month and the value is always much greater! This month's kit is valued at $72!

You have the option to subscribe (subscribing now means your first kit will be the August release), or, to buy your favorite kits as a one-off purchases. Be aware that once these kits sell out they are gone for good. If you see a kit you like make sure to snatch it up quickly! There are also always a ton of fantastic add-on products offered. You can choose to buy your favorites or buy them all at a discounted rate.

We also have an awesome GIVEAWAY and a BLOG HOP with tons of inspiration going on so please make sure to check the info for those at the bottom of my post!

Ok, on to my first card! This kit is full of small images that are really great for scene building. The second I saw the little gnome in a hammock I knew I wanted to stick him on a tropical beach somewhere. I stamped him onto white cardstock with copic friendly black ink.

Then I used my copic markers to color him in, added sand below, and an ocean (or maybe the Caribbean Sea) behind him. I inkblended the background using my reactive inks and then heat embossed my sentiment. 

The final touch was to add a black mat and pop the whole thing up on a kraft card base. 

My next card was made using three of this month's add-ons. The add-ons this month are so awesome and I had a lot of fun making this card. I started out by creating a colorful galaxy background using my Nuvo Shimmer Powders and applying them to watercolor paper. 

Next, I used the Starry Clouds Infinity Dies (the second largest die) to cut a gorgeous frame for my card out of Pitch Black Cardstock. I splattered this with Midas Touch Shimmer Pen for some subtle but gorgeous shimmer.

I heat embossed the fairies from the Meadow HeroScape set in gold onto black and added those in with foam tape. Finally, I added a sentiment from the Magical Forest set and embellished with some gems.

In case you missed it the other day, here's another look at the card I made for the Countdown to today's launch. You can learn more about how I put this card together by clicking here to head my original blog post.

Before I go I want to give you a look at what's included in this month's kit. Check out this picture to see everything you'll receive when this July My Monthly Hero kit lands on your doorstep...

Ok, you guys, that's all I've got for today! Please make sure to check out the GIVEAWAY info below and continue on with the blog hop to see some amazing creativity and tons of inspiration with this release!

Have an awesome day!

Maria

GIVEAWAY:

Hero Arts will give away one $50 gift card, drawn from the comments left across the hop. Enter by Sunday, July 11th at 11:59pm pacific, and the winner will be announced on the Hero Arts blog the following week.

BLOG HOP LIST:

Hero Arts
Channin Pelletier
Dana Joy
Daniel West
Debi Adams
Ilina Crouse
Jessica Frost-Ballas
Lydia Fiedler
Maria Willis: YOU ARE HERE.
Michelle Short: NEXT.
Mindy Eggen
Seeka
Jennifer Kotas
Jennier McGuire
Meg Brooks
Nichol Spohr
Rebecca Keppel

PRODUCT SUPPLY LIST (Includes affiliate links which may be used at no extra cost to you):

Easy Background Technique using Pigment Inks! Rainbow Hop Giveaway Winners Announcement!

Hello everyone! I am just popping in for a quick post today because it's time to announce the winners from the Rainbow Themed YouTube Hop that my friend Erica and I hosted a few weeks back. 

I've got a new video up today sharing a really easy and incredibly shiny background technique for putting together some easy cards. This new video also lists all of the winners from our Rainbow themed YouTube hop so make sure to check it out!

 

If you are having trouble watching this video please click here to watch it on YouTube.

My video today features the Hero Arts Pigment Inks and a really easy way to use them to create gorgeous, shiny backgrounds.

To see how I made this card using only a few products and my Magnetic Platform from Tonic Studios please head over to my YouTube channel to watch the video.

I have this card and two others to share in today's video. They all use this amazing Birthday Message Coverplate from Hero Arts. When combined with Pitch Black cardstock (back in stock- yeay!) this bold die makes such a great contrast against the colorful background!

Ok, to check out today's video and find out who the winners are please CLICK HERE!

If you missed the original video hop you can check that out by CLICKING HERE.  If you love a good rainbow then I suggest having a look because there are some terrific videos in the hop!

I want to send a gigantic THANK YOU out to our generous sponsors! Without the support of these wonderful companies (and humans) and their generous donations we could never have pulled off such a fun hop. If you have a chance to support these amazing companies I know they'd all greatly appreciate having you as part of their communities!

WINNERS (winners announced here):

To claim your prize please: 

-Email me or Erica by July 10 at 11:59pm Pacific. After this time all prizes will be forfeited. 

-Please be sure to add "RAINBOW HOP WINNER" to your subject line.

Maria's Email: mariawillis@hotmail.com

Erica's Email: erica1cacacraft@gmail.com

Now, I know Erica has made some gorgeous cards for today's winner's announcement. You can head over to her BLOG  and/or YouTube channel to see the beautiful things she's made to share!

Ok, that's all for today folks! I hope you're having an amazing day and if you are here in the US have a fun and safe holiday weekend!

PRODUCT SUPPLY LIST:

Hero Arts Countdown to Creativity: You're One of a Kind!

Hey everybody! It's almost time for the July Hero Arts My Monthly Hero release and this month's kit is like gnome other... Sorry, that was awful but I couldn't help it!

But first, if you aren't familiar with the My Monthly Hero kit, it's a kit that is released by Hero Arts on the first Monday of every month. It always has a fun, themed collection of stamps, dies and other goodies. The cost is just $34.99/month and the value is always much greater! 

NOTE: This month's kit will go live on Tuesday, July 6th because of the Fourth of July holiday here in the US.

You have the option to subscribe (subscribing now means your first kit will be the July release), or, to buy your favorite kits as one-off purchases. Be aware that once these kits sell out they are gone for good. If you see a kit you like make sure to snatch it up quickly!

Today is Day One of the Countdown to Creativity and I've got a sneak peek of this month's kit to share with you. I picked a few different stamps from the kit and did a little bit of masking, coloring and inkblending to build a fun little scene.

The tree stump and flowers are stamped onto the card face and the little house and gnome climbing the ladder were colored separately, die cut and and then adhered onto the card face. 

The trickiest part was the gnome on the ladder. After I die cut him and added him to the card there was a lot of white space between the ladder rungs that blocked the tree stump. Since I had masked the first images onto the background and there was no white space I thought the ladder's white space looked off stylistically. I got out my fine tip sharpie and went to work drawing in the lines of the tree stump onto my ladder die cut. When I was done I colored the hand-drawn scene between the ladder rungs in with matching copic markers. It was easier than I thought it would be and I was happy that it pulled the card together for a more cohesive look.

To catch more sneak peeks of this month's kit head on over to the Hero Arts blog where you can find the rest of the Day One sneaks as well as enter the giveaway to win a kit before you can buy it!

We will catch you on Tuesday, July 6th for the full release!

Have an amazing day!

Maria

PRODUCT SUPPLY LIST: