LINDA TRACE DESIGNS

crafty adventures of a makeup loving Japanophile!

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Wednesday 30 April 2014

Simon Says Stamp May Card Kit-DUDE!

Hi friends!

I'm back with another of the cards I made using the Simon Says Stamp Card Kit of the month for May, which is called Play!




http://www.simonsaysstamp.com/product.aspx?id=300809&c=1078


 This is such a fun, boy-themed kit, and its so easy to put together some really cool cards.

Here's mine for today





I took the Simon Says Stamp Stencil STARS AND DOTS and instead of using it as a stencil, I used it as an embossing 'folder'. I ran it through my Big Shot, with a piece of the white cardstock that came in the kit, and one of these embossing mats (instead of using two cutting plates like I'd do for diecutting, I used one cutting plate, and one mat, with the cardstock and the stencil in between).

This gave a really cool raised effect, you can see above.


Next I added some patterned striped paper to the bottom third of the cardstock, and rounded the edges.

After stamping 'thanks' and 'dude' in Memento ink, I coloured them with Copics, making the blue fade into the green. When that was dry I added some stickles to the letters.

I then diecut the sentiment out using a circle die, and added it onto a pinked-edged circle that I'd diecut out of the red cardstock that came in the kit. I popped that onto the card front using dimensional adhesive.  I wanted this to 'slip' off the edge of the card, so I cut the side of it straight, lined up with the edge of the card.

Finally I adhered everything down onto some of the lovely navy cardstock that came in the kit and I was done!


This card was SO quick and easy to make.

I hope I've inspried you to get crafty! The May Card Kit is still available--Go grab one!

See you again soon!
















Sunday 27 April 2014

Playing with texture paste and Simon Says stencils


Hi!

I thought it would be fun to try using a stencil, but to also incorporate colour and texture using the same product.

Take a look



First I used the Falling Hearts stencil, and I swiped some texture paste over it, leaving it a bit thicker than normal, to give some nice texture.

Once the ink was dry, I went over the same stencil  but I inked it up using several different ink colours and small sponge daubers. I also added in a little stickles over each heart.


I diecut the tags from vellum and yellow cardstock using the Simon Says Stamp Medium Tags die, then I heat embossed the 'thanks' sentiment from the Thanks 3x4 set.

The feathers are also a Simon Says Stamp exclusive, and I inked the edges with Memento Luxe inks.

Once I compiled it all onto the cardfront as I liked it, I added that to a cardbase.

That's it! Such a fun card to make. Lots of inking and playing.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See you again soon.


Saturday 26 April 2014

Simon Says Stamp May Card Kit

Hi friends!

I was lucky enough to receive a Simon Says Stamp May Card Kit to play with, and I thought I'd share the cards I made using it, over the next few days!


Today I'm sharing one I made that shows how you can take a very masculine, boy-themed kit, and use elements from it to create something totally girly :)


To create the background, I took some Tim Holtz watercolour cardstock, spritzed it with water and swiped it over my craft sheet, which had Peacock Feathers, Picked Raspberries and Squeezed Lemonade on it (which had also been spritzed with water).

Next I heatset it to dry it.

After cutting it down to size, and adhering it onto some of the kraft cardstock which came in the kit, I stamped the HEY! sentiment (from the card kit stamp set, which is also available seperately).

Next I stamped the cute sneakers onto some Copic-friendly cardstock, and coloured them in. After they were finished and fussy-cut, I added some sparkle with a Zig Wink of Stella brush in clear. (How cute would pink sparkly sneakers be?!

I added them to the cardfront, using dimensional adhesive.


The sparkle in real life, is so fun. I just love the effect.

I hope you'll head over to the Simon Says Stamp store, to check out the kit, it's SO fun.

See you again tomorrow with another card I've made using it:)




Friday 25 April 2014

Simon Says Script Stripes

Hello!

I'm here with a fun card using the lovely Simon Says Stamp Wide Stripes background stamp.


I wanted to use the stripes, but not just 'as they are'. I thought it would be fun to create an interesting, modern pattern using them.

Here's what I made



First I stamped the stripes in Hero Arts Neon Yellow Ink (hellooo gorgeous), on an angle, using a mask to section off a part of the cardbase (where the Navy would be going).

Then I carefully moved the mask, so that I could stamp the Navy part. (also Hero Arts, also gorgeous).

I then took the new Simon Says Stamp Hello Line mask, and used it in a fun way. I traced around it using a journalling pen. I really love how the 'wonky' lettering looks just as an outline.

Next I mounted the entire panel, onto another piece of Neenah White cardstock, which I had coloured with Hero Arts Neon Pink ink (by swiping the inkpad directly onto the paper). I also created a tiny strip of cardstock using the same method, and used this to break the yellow and navy panels up.
This helped the entire piece to look more cohesive.

As you can see here, I added a little glitter, using my clear Wink Of Stella pen, to the hello.


Lastly, I pulled a WWJED (What would Julie Ebersole do). I thought, other than make us smile with that adorable chuckle of hers :) she'd add an element of cute or whimsy.

Enter the Simon Says Stamp Craft Dies Holiday Shapes. These are SO stinking cute.

I diecut them 6 times over, 5 times with white, and once with Woodgrain cardstock, from a Simon Says Stamp Happy Pack  (which has an assortment of cool cardstocks). I then stacked them up so they'd look like dimensional stars, with the woodgrain on top.

I love how these stick up off the card. I also added a little Clear Wink of Stella to them.

That's it! I hope you like this card, it was fun to try something different. I've got lots more ideas for that Wide Stripes Background stamp too.

See you again soon!





Tuesday 22 April 2014

Heartsy Mae

Hellooo!

I'm back with another fun card I made using Some Odd Girl stamps, and this time I also used Simon Says Stamp, and Neat and Tangled!

I saw THIS image on pinterest and really loved the pattern, so I thought I'd give it a try using Neat and Tangled On the Strip 2.

It was a LOT harder than I thought! To do it exactly like the cushion, you'd need to do a lot of masking, to ensure that the lines went 'under and over' appropriately. It'd take a LOT of planning too. So I just had a couple of test runs, then gave it a go 'for real'. I'm happy with the result!

The card uses Heartsy Mae for the main image (ain't she lovely?!) and Simon Says Stamp Sketchy Banner Greetings


Her hair bled a little, because I was trying out a different cardstock to colour on (the Bazzill one), but I don't recommend it. Lovely for stamping and general use, but NOT for Copic Colouring.

That's it!

Hope you liked it!

Don't forget that if you sign up for the newsletter, you'll get sneaky peeks and news ahead of time!

http://www.someoddgirl.com/index.php/newsletter

















Monday 21 April 2014

Some Odd Girl Video Monday: Custom Stamped Lamps!

Hi friends!

I'm so excited to be here today, because it's my first video tutorial for Some Odd Girl!

Please head over to their YouTube channel, to check it out!


Here is a sneak:



I'd love it if you'd leave me a comment and subscribe too :)

Thanks!

Have an amazing STAMPY day!



Sunday 20 April 2014

Neat and Tangled: Thank you and Goodbye

Hello friends.

I'm here with SUCH a hard post today.

It's my last for Neat and Tangled :(

I've been thinking and thinking and thinking about this. I LOVE being a part of the Neat and Tangled team, it's such a fun, supportive, innovative team and the stamps? Well, I love 'em. Plain and Simple.

But it's time. After two years and SO much fun, so many fabulous stamp sets, it's time for me to let the new team (and a few new members who are yet to come), perform their magic with the stamps.

So here is my last card as a Neat and Tangled DT member (but definitely not my last card using Neat and Tangled :))




I wanted to keep it simple, because really, what more is there to say?


Thank you Danielle, for having me, for asking me, for letting me be a part of your dream coming true, it's been an honour.

xoxo


Saturday 19 April 2014

Happy Easter!

Hi lovelies!

Just wanted to pop in with a quick announcement and a fun message !

Firstly the announcement (squee!)

I am BEYOND thrilled to say, that the wonderful talented bunch of ladies at Polly Scrap Kits (the BEST Australian Scrapbooking and PL kit company) have invited me to be on their team.

I can't say what I'll be doing yet (more squeeeing! It's going to be awesome!) but I'm so so excited and feeling VERY blessed and lucky.

And so, from all of us at Polly Scrap, we wanted to wish you a



This group of ladies has welcomed me SO wonderfully, it's seriously amazing.

Hope you all have a happy and safe weekend!



Wednesday 16 April 2014

ABNH Challenge LAYER CAKE!

Hi friends!

It's time for another ABNH challenge, and today we want you to play with the theme:


Using LAYERS! woot!

Remember that we're also playing with some fabulous products from Freckled Fawn, all month!

http://www.freckledfawn.com/
 

Here is my card :)




 I added a little shimmer to her dress and boots, to match her blingy hairbow :)




A huge thank you to our sponsors




who are offering

to one lucky winner!

We hope you'll join us in the challenge! We'd love to see what you make!


See you again really soon!

Tuesday 15 April 2014

Bunny Girl Gwen


Hi again friends!

I'm here with a CUTE card I made using the new Some Odd Girl Bunny Girl Gwen stamp set (released on April 7).





I love how fresh and fun the colours are on this card! Very girly :)

Here's how I put it together.

I started with some patterned paper from the Basic Grey Fresh Cut 6x6 paper pad.  I cut it to size and adhered it to my cardbase.

Next I diecut my panel of white cardstock into a wonky rectangle using my spellbinders die, and partially embossed it using a Lifestyle crafts embossing folder.

Then I stamped my sentiment at the bottom, curving the stamp on  my Fiskars stamp press, so that it would follow the curve of the wonky rectangle.

After stamping my Bunny Girl Gwen, I coloured her in using copic markers, and added some detail to her skirt (the hearts).

I then fussy-cut her, before adhering her to the main panel with dimensional adhesive, so that she would sit up off the card. Some fun dimension there!

Finally I wrapped some Pink Bamboo Twine and tied a bow, before adhering the white panel down to my card base.

That's it! So fun and easy :)

I hope I've inspired you to get stamping!

See you again soon!










Wednesday 9 April 2014

Puppy Gwen

Hi lovelies!

I'm here with a sweet card I made using the Some Odd Girl Puppy Gwen digi image. This is seriously SUCH a cute image!



I'd been thinking about how cool ombre hair can look (especially Christina Perry's in this video!)

I kept mulling on what colour to make the ombre, and decided to stick with the colours I'd most love to try out myself. Dark brown/black, down to a hot pink-red :)

I used Copics to colour her in. The trick with the ombre, is to have the palest version of whichever colour you're working with (in this case, the greys for the black part of her hair, and the pale pinks, for the red part of her hair) as the parts which overlap/fade into each other. I went over this section, alternating between the grey and pink, a couple of times, to really bring the black and reds towards each other. I love that there's almost no 'line', it's really faded nicely.


I used paler blues in her jeans, to make them look warn in and comfy. I added a little Zig Wink of Stella pen, over her bow, for a fun accent. The little hearts are from a Gossamer Blue kit.

Be sure to check out the linky party we're having over at the Some Odd Girl Blog--no rules except use Some Odd Girl stamps! easy peasy!


See you again soon!


Tuesday 8 April 2014

Hip Hop Hooray! Some Odd Girl Release

Hi friends!

I'm back with another card for the April Some Odd Girl Release!

Today it's the gorgeous set Hop Hop Hooray!


Here is my card:



I wanted to keep this card super simple, to make the bunny the star of the show.

For this bunny (who is just so cute!) I coloured him in with Prismacolour Pencils (I made sure to make his nose and 'cheeks' extra pink, as though he's blushing at the thought of his 'bunny love' :).

The embossing folder I used for the card base is from Lifestyle Crafts.

I do hope you'll "hop" on over to the Some Odd Girl Blog, to check out the rest of the design team's creations!! They're egg-sellent :)

The new sets Bunny Girl Gwen, and Hop Hop Hooray, are now available to purchase in the store!
Pssst make sure you check out the new sequins too!

After you've finished checking out the other projects, don't forget to sign up for our Newsletter, or take a look at our Facebook Group! We'd love it if you joined!

Thanks for stopping by!










Monday 7 April 2014

Some Odd Girl April Release: Bunny Girl Gwen

HelloOo!!

I'm SO super excited to be here with my first post as a Some Odd Girl Design Team Member!! Today, it's extra exciting, because there are new goodies!

Today two new sets are being released, Bunny Girl Gwen, and Hop Hop Hooray.

Both are COMPLETELY adorable, and I know you've going to love them as much as I do!

Here is the card I made using today's focus, Bunny Girl Gwen.



I started with a white cardbase, on top of which I layered the blue cardstock, and patterned papers.
I followed a sketch that I saw on Pinterest (I can't find the link right now but when I do, I'll link it up!)

For the main panel, I stamped Bunny Girl Gwen, in Memento ink, then copic-coloured her.  After watching two tutorials by Arabella and Kristy over on the Some Odd Girl Blog, I thought I'd give free-hand drawing and colouring in the clouds. They need practice, but I'm super happy with the results!

I do hope you'll come with me over to the main Some Odd Girl Blog, to take a look at the projects the rest of the Design Team have created, with such an amazingly talented team, they're sure to be fantastic!

After you've finished ogling their creations, be sure to head to the store, to pick up Bunny Girl Gwen, and Hop Hop Hooray (which is super adorable!), and don't forget to check out the new sequins!! Can you say MUST HAVE?!

We also have a heap of inspiration on our Instagram page, and on Pinterest. Why don't you think of following us there too?


See you again tomorrow, when I'll be showcasing a project using Hop Hop Hooray!


Friday 4 April 2014

Happy Birthday Balloons with Simon Says

Hi!

Today I thought I'd share a fun card I made using lots of Simon Says Stamp exclusive products!

Simon Says Stamp have released some AMAZING new cardstock and inks, and these are what I played with to create this card.



I even made a video for you :)






This card was so fun and easy to create! I hope you enjoyed the video and that it inspired you to try making your own project, using some of the delicious new Simon Says Stamp exclusive goodies!

See you again soon!

Thanks so much for stopping by my little piece of the blogosphere! 










--supplies--