pinkfresh studio stamp + die release blog hop

Hi all!  Welcome to my part in the Pinkfresh Studio Stamp & Die Release Blog Hop.  You've probably arrived from Amy's blog and we're just warming up!  I've got some fun, simple stamping projects for you, and a chance to win a huge stamp & die prize pack, just for leaving a comment*!  Be sure to read all the way through, and visit all the blogs, leaving comments along the way.  Everyone's worked really hard on their projects, so there is much to see!

I'm starting out with one of my favorite techniques--creating your own gift wrap with stamps.  The Semi-Circle Patterns set by Inna Moreva is probably my favorite set in this release (though it's pretty hard to pick a favorite in this mix ;), so I definitely wanted to use it in a fun way.  I thought modern gift wrap was the way to go.

I started out with plain white printer paper (in bright white!).  If I'm wrapping a small gift, this is my favorite paper to use for creating my own stamped paper.  I started by stamping a simple pattern with 3 different half circles, in 3 different colors.

I repeated the pattern until my entire 8.5" x 11" sheet was covered.

Then I wrapped my 4" x 4" white box.

I made a little matching card to go with it next.  The card is a 2.75" square and features one set of the colored shapes.  Because the pink is very pale, I was able to clearly stamp "make a wish" over it; you can find the sentiment in the Playful Animal Friends 2 set.  I made a simple open square 3" envelope from vellum and tucked the card inside.

I tied it to the top of my box with some silver-white tinsel twine, and a pink fringe bow.  It was all so simple, but the fantastic images and color scheme make it modern and eye-catching.

Up next is another simple card, though this one was something I don't actually think I've tried before.  Using another of Inna Moreva's sets, Shine, I first covered my card base in 'Transform' paper from the Escape the Ordinary 6x6 paper pad.  After that, I bravely used the matching Shine die, and cut a lightbulb out of the front of my card.  I say bravely, because this sort of permanent mark or cut always makes me anxious ;)

But it worked!  After a sigh of relief, I stamped the black band of the bulb on the inside of the card, using the cut-out front as my guide. The next stamp was "you brighten my day" which I also stamped on the inside of the card using the same technique.



I wrapped some black baker's twine around the right side of the card as a finishing touch.  The stamp set has so many pretty images and sweet sentiments that I'll be using it often and doing a little bit more die cutting on the front of my card!





We're getting festive in my last project!  I'm so excited to start thinking about the holidays!  Mind you, I'm not wishing away fall (no way!), I'm not looking forward to the holiday madness, and I'm in no rush to put up my Christmas tree or decorate my house.  As a crafter, though, I AM eager to think about making holiday cards and tags, and what sort of gift wrap I'll be doing this year.

By chance, when I went to begin my projects for this blog hop, I had a piece of plain vellum sitting on top of some blush pink card stock.  As I looked through the stamp sets, eyeing all the fun and pretty holiday stamps in the mix, I had an idea for an all over pattern on the vellum with a simple sentiment stamped on the blush card.  Kind of like a frosty window.



It's fitting then, that I chose "Joy and Cheer" with the tiny ice crystal images to make my pattern, and then decided on this same set for my sentiment.  (The matching die comes with the window to make the cutest little scene!)



To begin, I stamped the message in red ink in the center of my card.



I lay a sheet of 8.5" x 11" vellum over it and began stamping away, choosing a holiday green for my ink color.  I was careful not to stamp too close to my message, as I didn't want it to be covered up.  I put the trio of ice crystals on the same stamp block for quicker stamping.



I ended up covering the entire sheet with the green pattern, having an idea for the leftover bit later on in the project. I allowed it to dry thoroughly, so that the ink wouldn't smudge when touched.





Then I aligned it with my card, marked where it needed to be trimmed to fit over top of it, and cut.  The card size is 4" x 8", and the vellum is just slightly taller, taking into account what might happen when I folded the two pieces.  I didn't want the vellum to be shorter than the card stock.



Once the vellum was trimmed, I stitched it to the card at the top crease.



The card was complete, but I still had a sizable piece of stamped vellum to use, which I thought would make a pretty envelope liner.  You can find liner templates all over the internet, and full disclosure: I wish I had used one of them! I just eyeballed mine and while it turned out decent in the end, it would have been much easier to go off of a template.



A bit of glue and the liner sits in place in a matching blush pink envelope.  And I like the traditional red and green mixed with the soft blush, so I just might do a few more holiday projects in those colors this year...





Well, I hope this post gave you a few things to think about...I imagine you'll have an endless supply of ideas from all the girls when you've completed the hop!



Have a look at the prize pack up for grabs:



That's right, you will receive the ENTIRE release!  That's a whole lot of stamps and dies!  To be eligible to win, please leave a comment on every blog in the hop.  There will be 1 winner, randomly selected; winner will be announced on the Pinkfresh Studio blog on October 9th.  Comments close at 11:59 CST on Monday, October 2nd, 2017.  Good luck!

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope to see you back here soon!  Elena's up next so be sure and say 'Hello' to her :)

~Rebecca xo

Full Blog Hop Lineup:

Pinkfresh Studio

Amy Tsuruta

Rebecca Luminarias - That's me!

Elena Roussakis

Isha Gupta

Laura Bassen

May Sukyoung Park

Julia Stainton

Amy Kolling

Carly Teeminner