Card Making

Joyeux Anniversaire!

October 14, 2015October 13, 2015 Diana SanchezLeave a comment

Bonjour everyone! Today I am sharing a new card I made for a friend. She wanted to give this card to her grandmother for her 96th birthday. I decided to do some watercoloring for this card because I had so much fun with my Halloween cards, but I wanted to try a difference technique.

My friend wanted the card to say “Happy Birthday” in french along with her name. I thought this might be a little hard since I don’t own any stamp sets that have french sentiments but I was able to download a pretty font and I just printed it out instead.

I used Mama Elephant’s Freestyle Florals stamp set and made a pattern on Canson watercolor paper. I stamped the flowers and leaves with my Versamark Emboss Ink Pad and used clear embossing powder from Simon Says Stamp.

For the colors, I used my Peerless “Complete Edition” and “Pretty in Pink” watercolor sets.

I was very happy with how the flowers popped once I colored in the background in blue. I also love the way the watercoloring looked once it was completely dry. I highly recommend getting Peerless watercolors if watercoloring is something you’re interested in but don’t want to spend too much money on because you are a beginner.

I hope my friend’s grandmother had a great birthday and enjoyed the card and I hope you guys enjoyed it as well! Au revoir!

Items used:
Stamps: Mama Elephant Freestyle Florals
Ink: Tsukineko Versamark Emboss Ink Pad
Paper: Canson Watercolor Paper, Papertrey Ink White Card Set, Papertrey Ink Summer Sunrise Cardstock
Other: Simon Says Stamp Clear Embossing Powder, Peerless Watercolors, Peerless Watercolors Pretty in Pink, Ranger Water Brush

Card Making

Hello Beautiful Girl

June 27, 2015June 27, 2015 Diana SanchezLeave a comment

Hi everybody! I have a couple of things to share today. First, I have decided to start a monthly Project Life album. I will be blogging my layouts and I’m really excited because I love photography and journaling. I haven’t done any journaling in years but I’m ready to get back into it, plus I get to do stamping on top of that! Taking random pictures and creating stuff on Photoshop is pretty much all I have done this past week and I am eagerly trying to put everything together. I’m starting off on a monthly basis (most people do weekly) because I know I tend to get overwhelmed and impatient easily so I figured a month gives me enough time to get my pictures and layout right. Can’t wait to share!!!

And now on to the next, I’d like to share my new card!

I just recently ordered Mama Elephant’s new Charmed stamp set and i wanted to watercolor the fox. I really didn’t know what type of card I was going to try to make or if I was even going to make one, I just really wanted to practice coloring with my Peerless watercolors. So I’m pretty much going to declare it now, Peerless is my favorite coloring medium! I would’ve never thought I’d like to watercolor, and I know I still need practice, but it’s now on my permanent stash. Also, Archival Ink, where have you been all my life? Best. Black Ink. Ever. (This is where I throw my imaginary mic down. Yeah, it’s that good!)

I colored my fox and die cut it using Mama Elephant’s Sew Fancy die set, it’s so fancy, you already know. (Sorry guys, I had a lot of coffee this morning!)

I then got the bright idea to use the Freestyle Florals set because I needed a reason to use the Lemongrass ink pad. This just happens to be the best color ever!!! I’ve been stuck on black/gray since I could first see colors and then lemongrass was introduced into my life. I’m obsessed!

I decided to try to “age” the die-cut circle with my Vintage Photo distress ink by rubbing the edge with a blending tool. Definitely need to practice that technique some more.

I added the ribbon with the Blush ink pad and heat embossed it and the leaves. I then stamped the sentiment with my PTI Dark Chocolate Brown ink pad. I made the card base out of PTI’s Limeade Ice cardstock because it matched really well with the Lemongrass leaves and I really like that pop of color when you open the card.I love how this card came together at the end and I think this card would be an awesome baby shower card.

I would like to end by saying this card is dedicated to the fox my friend Angela ran over this past week. I like to believe all animals go to heaven (except for sharks)! (Ha ha, I just had to give her a hard time, she was really upset because it was a total accident.)

See you guys later!

Supplies used:

InLinkz.com

My Favorites

May ’15 Top 5

May 31, 2015October 31, 2015 Diana SanchezLeave a comment

Hey guys! It’s the end of May, I feel like I just posted my Top 5 for April! Time is going by way too fast. I am now the parent of a sixth grader (whaaaaat?!).

I wanted to show you guys what I’ve been practicing. I’ve been working on collecting embroidery threads and other accessories. This is my first try at embroidery. I stamped the Love You Tons stamp set from Lawn Fawn with Mama Elephant’s Blush Pigment Ink Pad. I’m really going to try to practice some more and try different techniques.

And now, on to the top 5!

1. Hero Arts Stylish Letter Upper Case Woodblock Set

By now you know I love a good alphabet stamp set and I just happened to get this awesome set at such a good deal. I found it at Hobby Lobby for about $15 and then used my 40% off coupon. This is going to be perfect for future Project Life layouts. Plus, who doesn’t love old fashion wooden stamps?

2. Kellie Stamps
So number 2 is Kellie Stamps, period. Not just one stamp set, all of Kellie Stamps. I LOOOOVE all her sets and I can’t pick just one. I went on her online store and bought whatever she had in stock. These sets are fun and different and you can use them for cards, scrapbook or Project Life layouts. My favorite? If I must pick one I’d go with “Does BAE = Bacon and Eggs? Cause I love BAE”.

3. Peerless Water ColorsSo I wanted to get in with the water coloring fad but I didn’t want to spend too much money (because I can’t even color with markers) and I read about Peerless Water Colors. The colors are so vibrant and I love how they come in sheets plus they are super affordable. I cut each sheet to a 1″ long by 2.5″ wide rectangle and glued them to a Strathmore watercolor book. I’m definitely looking forward to using these during the next The Daily Marker’s 30 Day Coloring Challenge starting tomorrow!

4. We R Memory Keepers Fuse Tool

So the fuse tool was all the rage this month and I can see why after playing with it. It is so easy to use and it’s just so cool! I made this little sequin pocket in no time!

5. Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 CameraI was so excited to get this camera! It’s been so long since I had an instant camera. It comes in many different colors and I chose yellow because of Lucky (our pet duck) and had I waited a couple of weeks, I would’ve ended up with a white one instead. I’ve been stingy with the roll of film because only 10 come in a roll, but I’m ready to start taking some pictures for some scrapbook layouts. Also, I bought this at Michael’s Craft Store and was able to use my 40% off coupon!!!

I hope you guys enjoyed this month’s Top 5! I have so much fun picking my favorite supplies each month and I can’t believe it’s already been five Top 5s!

Thanks for stopping by!

Items Mentioned:

InLinkz.com

Link to Kellie’s Stamps: http://kelliestamps.bigcartel.com/category/clear-stamps

Card Making

Owl Miss You

May 6, 2015May 6, 2015 Diana Sanchez6 Comments

Hi there! I’m back with a new card I made for the Lawnscaping Challenge. The theme for this challenge is watercolors.

I wanted to use a Lawn Fawn stamp set for this card that I had never used before. I get so mad at myself for having so many sets that go unused for so long, so I’m challenging myself to use every set I have. I also ended up coming up with my own sentiment. I don’t know how but I just thought of “Owl Miss You” as I was getting everything ready for the card.

I made a watercolor background using Lawn Fawn’s Cranberry ink pad and my Ranger water brush. I went ahead and colored a big enough space for my sentiment and for the owl.

Whenever I decide to die cut words, I align them with a ruler and then add washi tape to the back and run it though my die-cutting machine.

I added paper from the Simon Says Stamp kits I received for the months of February and March. I wanted to use fun colors and patterns. I used Lawn Fawn’s Stitched Scalloped Border dies on one of the papers, and I sewed across the top with my sewing machine in a zig zag pattern.

I wanted the owl to have a matching look to the paper so I colored it in soft colors with my Copics and I cut out the scarf with matching paper. I added a couple of sequins to finish it off.

I’m glad I finally used my owl, I definitely went through an owl phase a while back. I think I’ve had this for a year and hadn’t used it! And of course, right now I’m in my duck phase and I’m definitely on the lookout for some duck stamps.

That’s it for now, I hope you guys enjoyed!

Supplies used:

InLinkz.com

Additional Supplies:
6 x 6 papers from Crate Paper’s Kiss Kiss collection
6 x 6 papers from Authentique’s Classique Beauty collection
Cartwright’s Pale Peach 6mm Slightly Cupped Opaque Sequins

My Favorites

February ’15 Top 5

March 1, 2015October 31, 2015 Diana SanchezLeave a comment

Hi everyone! I’m back with my top 5 favorite supplies for the month of February. Even though this month was fast and very cold, it was still a good month. Not much happened other than I turned 32 and won my first challenge! Also, I got brave and made Valentine chocolate lollipops, which is the first time ever I give away something edible that I made.

View this post on Instagram

Success! My first set of chocolate lip lollipops for #valentinesday!

A post shared by Diana Sanchez•The Lovely Pear (@thelovelypear) on Feb 12, 2015 at 4:40pm PST

Not too bad for my first try!

And now, on to my top 5:

1. Brother XL2600I Sew Advance Sew Affordable 25-Stitch Free-Arm Sewing Machine

This was my birthday present from the hubby. I had been wanting this since I first saw it on Jennifer McGuire’s video My Favorite Crafty Things 2014 – Crafting Tools. My mom taught me how to sew when I was real young but I hadn’t touched a sewing machine since I was about 12 so I was a little nervous about sewing again, but this is real easy to use. I haven’t used it that much but I plan to change that soon.

2. Canson Cold Press 140lb Watercolor Paper

I’ve been trying to get more into watercoloring and I found this paper at Michael’s Craft Store. I bought this because it was a little cheaper than the Strathmore paper I had purchased previously and I have been real happy with it. Below is a picture of some watercolor airplanes I made (I used PTI’s Fly Away stamp and die set).3. WPlus9 Sunshine Layers Die

I added quite a few things to my WPlus9 collection this month and they just have the most awesome stamps and dies. This die comes with the matching stamp set, which I don’t have yet, but this can pretty much be used by itself. It has borders, a sentiment, and cute shapes. I love the stitched look, look at those clouds!

4. WPlus9 Unforgettable Stamp Set
Ok, how freaking adorable are those elephants?! I’m on an elephant kick right now, I also had another elephant stamp set on January’s top 5. Not only are the elephants great but the sentiments are also! Plus you get other little shapes in this set, not to mention, you can stamp your elephant to carry the balloon or flower, it can also wear a little bow or party hat. How do they come up with this stuff?!

5. Copic Multiliner Fine, Black, 4PC Set

I love cards that have doodling on them. Usually I only see lines drawn to frame a card but recently I saw this card on instagram and thought “I must doodle more!” I definitely need to practice some more with different doodles. I bought a Zig Millennium pen to play around with but then decided to splurge on this Copic set. I can’t help it, I’m addicted to anything Copic!

Well there you have it! I hope you guys keep checking back on my top 5 for each month, it’s a lot of fun trying to decide what to pick. I already ordered more stuff that I’m sure will make it into March’s list!

Item’s Mentioned: