Cut n' Color Stamps and Dies...Floral Banner

It's that time of year when we all start longing for spring and look of a pop of fresh color to brighten the long days of winter. 

I've got a banner project today that you are going to love.  It's bright, cheery and sure to chase away the winter blues!

 And, I am super excited about it because I got to try out something brand new! I've got some new coordinating stamp and die sets that were launched in January, and I am just now getting a chance to create something with them. 

They're called Cut n' Color Stamps and Dies, they're specially designed for coloring, and cutting! Whether you color with markers, colored pencils, watercolor pencils, or Color Burst, these sets are great! And, after you've colored 'til your heart's content...

 

You can cut out your coloring creation with a coordinating die template. I love how these sets are going to let me take something I already love (water) coloring...and do something completely new with it. 

So I stamped up a few images with the Poppy Mandala stamp, I stamped them on my new Water Media Papers from Canvas Corp.  

 

And cut them out with the matching die.  I stamped first, then die cut...and saved the coloring for last.

I gotta tell you...I am in love with this Poppy Mandala set.  The images are perfect for coloring.

After, I'd cut out all the stamped images, I colored them with some of the newest Color Burst colors, Turquoise, Tangerine, and Chartreuse...it's a color combination that will make you forget all about winter!

Are you with me? The color combination is luscious.

 

I colored 5 mandalas and 5 backgrounds. 

After I'd colored all the stamped images, I teamed them up with my new Water Media Banner Kit.  I colored each of the banner pieces with Fuchsia Color Burst, 

And attached a little yellow crepe paper that I'd accordion folded with hot glue, then used mini clothes pins to create the banner.  

This little banner just added that pop of spring color that I needed over my fireplace...it had looked a little barren since I'd taken down my wreath after the holidays.

I can't wait for you to try these stamps and dies, but here's the deal, they're not shipping until April, so ask your local scrapbook shop or stamp shop to pre-order them for you! You'll be sure to get them then in time for spring.

Here's a quick look at the other stamps and dies in the assortment....the butterfly is really cool, and the individual flowers are going to be great for spring cards!

Thank you for stopping by today...make sure to pre-order the stamps and dies with your local shop...if you like coloring, and like die cutting...I know you're going to love them! 

Stick It, The New Adhesive with the Funny Name...Here's How it Works!

You may have heard of Stick It...it's a new adhesive that I've been working on...and I've got to tell you it's really cool.  Stick It, is a micro-thin adhesive sheet, that is specially formulated for die cutting.

It's perfect for thin metal dies, platform dies, it works with any machine (or punch) that you already have, AND, you can use it with your electronic die cutting system too! It's amazing.

Here's how it works:

So, I wanted to test it with one of the most intricate dies I could find.  I selected a new die from Tonic Studios called Dragonfly Delight. This die has every feature of an intricate die that you love, but that can also make gluing to card stock a challenging proposition...for me,  all the swirls, flourishes, and beautiful lattice cuts are a little tricky when applying adhesive.  And, invariably I either get too much glue on one area, and none on another. Stick It, let's you glue an intricately die cut piece of paper, easily and quickly.  There's no more muss and fuss like with glue pens or liquid glue...and there's no adhesive residue.  It's the perfect solution.

I created a simple card just to demonstrate how beautifully Stick It really works.  Each swirl, every flourish, every single piece of that wonderful lattice is glued perfectly in place.  This is the first adhesive sheet that's been specially formulated just for intricate die cut paper.

Stick It is acid free, archival, water-based and FSC certified, so you know it's green, safe and non-toxic.  Now, it's only been on the market for about 1 week in the U.K. and just started shipping in the US today...It's available for wholesale exclusively at Product Performers in the US...and at Craft Obsessions in the UK.  It's shipping out this week to retail shops and online retailers.  Ask for it at your local scrapbook store.  

I am telling you, this is going to change the way you make cards!

  Here's another little bit of awesome sauce...there's a free pack of Stick It for every guest who's coming to Art at the Edge on October 25th...I've had a special shipment from the UK sent directly to me just for everybody who'll be at Art at the Edge with me!