Hello crafty friends! If you are new to this hop, it’s that once a month where us squirrel sisters get together and create projects using stuff from our stash that we have “squirreled” away! It really helps us revisit our stash and bash the stuff that are gathering dust or haven’t seen the light of day in a very long time!
This month’s theme is LOVE/FRIENDSHIP & INK BLENDING. We wanted to start the year with a simple theme and an easy technique. We have a lot of stuff going on in our lives now so the simpler the better!
I created two cards using the products from the newest release of Hero Arts, I know, I know not exactly bashing my stash here BUT I did use some elements in my cards that was from my hoarded stash.
For the first card, I used the Heart Shaped Daisy cling stamp and used Unicorn pigment ink to heat embossed it with white detail embossing powder. Then I ink blended the heat embossed panel on top of the Stripe Stencil using the inks from the Sunshine reactive mini ink cube set, starting with Lemon Drop , then Creamsicle for the middle and Fruit Punch for the bottom.
After ink blending, I sprayed the panel with a light mist of water and then laid down a piece of cardstock on top to allow the ink to transfer to the cardstock. Then I will set it aside to use later on my second card.
I cut down the heat embossed panel to a size a little smaller than an A2 size card. I took one of the Heart dies from the Heart nesting infinity die set and die cut an opening on the card panel. I added vellum behind the opening, then added foam tape before adhering it to the stripey background panel.
For the sentiment “You Won My Heart”, I took the same inks and ink blended it on the stamp to create an ombre effect then I used the coordinating die to die cut it out. The sentiment is from the You’re Mine stamp & die set.
I finished off the card by adding some red iridescent gems. These iridescent gems I’ve had in my stash for quite awhile and I haven’t really used them much thinking it didn’t really go well with anything. I was so wrong! I love it so much that you will see I will be using it a lot!
For th second card, I used the same Heart Shaped Daisy cling stamp but this time I ink blended the inks directly on the cling stamp. This gave it a smoother transition between colors as I stamped it onto a piece of white cardstock. I decided to create an infinity shaker card but instead of using clear acetate, I used vellum.
Then I took a piece of vellum about half an inch bigger that the cardstock panel. I placed the panel upside down onto the vellum, mitered the edges and folded it in and glued it onto the back of the panel but not before adding lots of gold sequins. These gold sequins have a story behind it..
About 4 years ago, early into my cardmaking journey, I had this bright idea of creating my own shaker mixes. I went to a place about an hour from where I live where they sell wholesale embellishments like beads, buttons, bows mainly for dressmakers. It was located in an area where they sold fabrics in bulk. Anyway, that store had a HUGE and I mean a HUGE selection of sequins in all shapes and sizes. I went nuts! They only sold them in huge packs of half a kilo of each color and quite cheap too. I walked out of there with 6 big packs of sequins – more than I could ever use in a lifetime! Me and my bright ideas! Now I don’t know what to do with all those sequins!
For the sentiment, L.O.V.E., I used the Hugs & Kisses Hero Transfer Sheets. I “transfered” it onto the die cut heart using the sharp end of a bone folder. Then I adhered the heart to the middle of the shaker card with liquid glue.
Hope this inspired you to bash your stash or at the very least, use those embellishments in your stash that you haven’t used in awhile! Head on over to the lovely Karen’s blog for more crafty inspiration!
’til next time!
❤️
Anna
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Hop List:
Anna – you are here!
Bory – skipping this month
Products used:
Craftyanna Studio 
Beautiful cards, Anna! And the warm color palette is just what I needed on this frigid day in Georgia! I especially love the ombre sentiment 😍 Your sequin story reminds me of I purchase I made as a preteen. I had saved up my birthday money from several relatives and blew it all in one go at a craft store that sold “friendship beads”, Y shaped beads that interlocked. I had never been in a craft store before, and I was wooed by all the colors of the rainbow. For a couple months I spent hours making bracelets in different color combos… but there were 2 big flaws in my purchase. I had only 1 real friend at the time to gift the bracelets to, and the fad passed not long after I blew all that money. I ended up getting rid of them years later, but there was a time a few years back I was kicking myself that I hadn’t saved them! 😄 But truly, I’m thankful I didn’t move those beads around with me for 40 years waiting for another chance to use them!!! I’m glad you are making use of your mega sequin purchase, even if it is only a handful at a time. 1 kilo is a metric crap-ton of sequins!!! 🤣
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Oh I love your story and I can totally identify! I guess we have all been there at some point in our lives 😀 Stay warm my friend!!
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I love your cards, Anna! The warm colors make me feel all toasty…which is good, because I am FREEZING right now! The infinity shaker is so soft and pretty with the vellum. Your first card has so much texture and interest to it, too. 🙂
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Thank you my sweet friend! 💕
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They look so beautiful Anna !!! And now I imagine you with your big bags full of sequins :p
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Haha! More than I could ever need!! Thank you so much!
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Anna, these are so gorgeous! I love the cheerful colors, particularly since I’m surrounded by cold and negative temps right now! And I absolutely loved your sequin story. I feel like we’ve all been there! 🙂 Beautiful work as always!
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Thank you V!! 💕
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