New Guest Designer for Creative Escape Papercrafting, February Fully Loaded Kit- My first 3 cards

Welcome friends and crafters, thank you in helping me celebrate my new position as a Guest Designer for Creative Escape Papercrafting!  They specialize in making monthly kits to make cards, scrapbook layouts, or any number of creative projects.  They also sell other crafty stuff that mesh well with their kits or can be used for other projects.  For me, I'll primarily be making cards, 'cuz that's what I love!!  Anyhow, I've made 3 cards (so far) from a kit designed to make 10+ cards.  I thought I'd divide my blog posts up, otherwise this post could get VERY long.  I don't think blog posts should be too long as people naturally lose interest.  My posts are long enough!  I struggle with being concise.  That being said, let's move along to the kit.  I've decided to use the February "Fully Loaded" Kit which is released every other month.  It has lots of goodies, but too many for me to list individually for you. (I did link it to the store).  I will mention each piece I use and identify add-on products or other non-kit items that I use.

February 2018 Fully Loaded Kit

Here is the kit I received.  I did exchange the original embossing powder (because I already owned it).  I got instead, Lawn Fawn's Rose Gold embossing powder.  It's hard to see all that's there in the kit, but it is very generous.  I'll point out each product I use.  I did opt for a couple additional products from the store that complement the kit.  I chose the matching die to the Altenew stamp set and a plaid stencil from Carta Bella.

Card #1

As you can see, I used the Altenew stamp in all three cards, just in different ways.  In card #1 I stamped the image with Versamark on some watercolor paper, then used Lawn Fawn's Rose Gold Embossing powder and heat set it.  I colored the image using my Color Bursts by Ken Oliver Crafts (Orchid and Ultramarine Blue) and Liquid Metals (Metallic Jade and Platinum).  I then die cut it out once it was dry.   For the white background paper, I dry embossed the Carta Bella Plaid stencil by running it through my Big Shot (like an embossing folder).  The pattern is subtle and I highlighted it by using some rose gold pigment ink with a mini ink blending tool along the edges and slightly inward.  I then sprayed some DIY shimmer spray over it (I use 70% alcohol + silver mica powder, or Perfect Pearls works great, too.)

I then cut the kit's doily in half and adhered all the card layers (I used dimensional adhesive under the floral die cut).  Next I stamped and embossed the "Mom" onto the doily.  Lastly, I added the Bling!  I used both light purple and medium purple gems.

For card #2 I stamped the floral image on the provided vellum and then used the WOW! Turkish Nights embossing powder that originally came in the kit.  It's a quite lovely glittery rose-gold color.  I then die cut out the image.  I scanned through the 12 sheets of 6x6 double-sided specialty paper from the Couture Creations "Hearts Ease" collection and picked out this lovely sage green plaid with leaves and music printed softly along the edges.  This would be my background paper.  In my die collection, I have this Avery Elle die that I love to use.  I chose to keep it simple by just using the white cardstock provided (I wanted all the focus on the beautiful flowers).

I then tediously placed thin strips of Scotch 3M foam adhesive tape all along the back side of the die cut to give the card a lot of dimension. 









                                                 Card #2
                         
I used glue dots strategically placed on the vellum so as not to show.  I considered a handmade sentiment, but decided to cut out this sentiment from the specialty paper, as it coordinated so well.  I used dimensional adhesive to pop it up.  Lastly, I adhered the Bling!  Both the pink and light purple gems.

Card #3

For card #3 I wanted a monochromatic look to the card.  I chose my background specialty paper, trimmed it down to 4"x 5.5" to allow my white card base edges to show.  I used some of my white embossing powder and stamped the floral image directly onto the paper.  I slightly distressed the specialty paper by sponging on some Distress Oxide Ink along the edges in similar color tones (Antique Linen and Frayed Burlap).  Next I used the Kaisercraft Butterfly die in the kit and die cut 3 butterflies.  I used 2 different specialty papers as 1 just didn't look right.  I felt the flowers needed a little green as well, so I pulled out my Spectrum Noir Metallic Pencils and lightly colored the center of the flowers and drew in a little veining as well.  I didn't have green gemstones in the kit, so I improvised.  I used the pale purple gems from the kit and used 2 colors of Copic markers to color-correct the gems (I used y19 and B02).  I placed the medium sized gems on the butterflies and 2 small gems on the flowers.  I adhered the butterflies with glue dots positioned off to one side so that I could lift up one side for a more natural and dimensional look.

 I stamped the sentiment from the Altenew stamp set in my Versafine CLAIR ink, in Shady Lane.  It was the first time I used that ink and I just love it!  I bought about 10 colors, and if you are a fan of Versafine Black Onyx Ink (as I am), you'll love them too.  They stamp very crisp and clean, especially better on clear stamps, where dye inks can sometimes fail to stamp completely.  But that is for another blog post! 

As you can see, card #3 is quite simple and quick to make.  I may repeat this card design, just in another color scheme.

This concludes my 3 card blog post (long, I know!).  Please forgive me.  I will continue making cards from this kit and posting them, however... the April kit is due to arrive this coming week, so I gotta hurry!!

If you enjoyed these cards, please visit our Facebook page and company blog and see all the wonderful creations from the other designers, watch card kit unboxing videos, as well as 10 cards 1 Kit videos.  See all the extra information (such as kit contents) and announcements as well.  If you'd like to see more of my work, visit me on Instagram as jktaylor911.

Thank you so much for visiting my blog.  I hope that I've shown what amazing cards can be made from these kits and to familiarize you just a bit with Creative Escape Papercrafting.  Don't forget to visit their store!!

Happy Crafting,

Jill ✂

Splendid Birthday Roses (for Kennedy Grace Creations) February Mood Board

Welcoming you back to my blog with a card I made for Kennedy Grace Creations February Mood Board.  This month's board is gorgeous, with some of my favorite colors (see below).  My card, of course inspired by it, uses the stamp sets Splendid Roses for the main image and Beautiful Blooms - Sweet Rose for the sentiment.  I used 2 KGCs sequin mixes on my card, Cotton Candy and Enchanted Evening. 

This month, as soon as I saw the mood board I knew what I wanted to do.  I recently received the Splendid Roses stamp set from Kennedy Grace Creations, and was itching to use it.  I also recently bought an Avery Elle cover die called Horizontal Stripes.  It has a lovely circle cut out in the middle of the stripes (perfect for my roses!).  The two in my mind were meant to be together.

February Mood Board

I first stamped the roses image onto a NSW 80# cardstock (superior for blending Copics) with Hero Arts Intense Black Ink.  I colored the images with my Copics (colors listed below) then lightly colored YR20 around the center background area, blending it softly out from the middle. Wanting a bit of sheen to my flowers, I decided to use a product fairly new to me, Ken Oliver Crafts Liquid Metal.  It comes out dropper style, so I used a paint brush and applied Metallic Rose to the roses and Metallic Jade to the leaves.  These did intensify the colors a bit and I wanted even more sheen, so after drying, I applied the Platinum color to the roses only.  This is pure sheen and beautiful!

With my cover die cut in hand (NSW 110# cardstock) I wanted my roses to spill over the sides of the die cut circle a bit, so I lightly traced a circle larger than the cover die circle around my image and decided which areas were going to go beyond the circle.  Those areas I fussy cut out.

Next I placed some liquid adhesive on the back side of the cover die's circle to adhere my roses in the proper place.  Once adequately dry, I flipped the entire piece over and applied lots of 3M Scotch foam adhesive tape so that the cover die had some dimension and sturdiness over my white cardstock base.

Once adhered to the cardbase, I white heat-embossed the Happy Birthday sentiment from Beautiful Blooms- Sweet Rose using WOW! Super Fine, Opaque Bright White Embossing Powder on some black cardstock and cut it to size.  Wanting some sparkle on the card, I cut 2 strips of white prism glitter paper from my stash and placed one under the black sentiment banner and one along the bottom edge of my top folding card.  Lastly, I used some gorgeous sequins from Kennedy Grace Creations in pink and green tones from the Cotton Candy mix and the Enchanted Evening mix.

I really enjoyed making this card, and I hope you enjoyed it too!  I hope it inspires you in your next floral card adventure.


**I've linked all Kennedy Grace Creations products in the body of the blog to the store for your convenience.  If you like my card and want to see more, please visit me on Instagram for the most comprehensive collection of my cards and projects (jktaylor911).

Happy crafting my friends,
Jill

Products used:

Kennedy Grace Creations Products:  Splendid Rose and Beautiful Blooms- Sweet Rose stamps, Sequin Mixes Cotton Candy and Enchanted Evening.
Neenah Solar White cardstock 80#/110#
Hero Arts Intense Black Ink
Copic Sketch Markers RV00, RV02, RV04, RV06, R22, YG23, YG25, YG97 and YR20
Ken Oliver Crafts Liquid Metals in Metallic Rose, Metallic Jade, and Platinum
3M Scotch Foam Adhesive Tape
Versamark Ink
WOW! Embossing Powder in Opaque Bright White, Super Fine
White Prism Glitter paper
Black cardstock
Ranger Multi Medium Matte Liquid Adhesive

Please be sure to follow the Kennedy Grace Creations blog, facebook, twitter, instagram and pinterest. Our Design Team has great projects to inspire you with our great stamp sets.