TAWS post #73 - New Release Blog Hop!

Greetings Alley Way friends!!  I'm SO glad you're here with me today sharing in this awesome new release blog hop!  You should be arriving here from Marina's lovely blog.  If you'd like to participate in the entire hop please start here! 

Today I'm sharing a project using the newly released Mistletoe Kisses set.  It has a ton of images that are perfect for your Christmas holiday projects!!  Today I've repeat stamped some of my favorite images onto Kraft cardstock.  

I then colored the images with my Prismacolor pencils.  I LOVE the look of pencils on the kraft paper!  Gorgeous!!  I paired my panel with this Die-namics die from MFT.

I used my very favorite Uniball Signo white gel pen to add the dotted accents all around the card for a little extra something.

Thanks again SO much for coming by today!  I hope you enjoy the rest of the hop!  Off you go to N@Ali's blog!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

TAWS post #72 - Peek One - Sweet Thing

Hi Alley Way friends!!  Meredith here with a super bright yet simple card using one of the upcoming sets called Sweet Thing!  If you love big sentiments and/or techniques then you'll LOVE this for sure!!

  For this sample, I've used my Kurtake Watercolor set and some Heidi Swapp paint sprays - this time in gold.  I allowed my background to blend and dry.  I then used my MISTI tool to ensure I got complete coverage on my large sentiment using Hero Arts black dye ink.

I splatter painted the dots using the straw end of my paint mister and added some orange, faceted dots for some texture.

Enjoy the rest of the peek days!  See you for the Alley Way release blog hop!!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

TAWS post #71 - Little Birdie

Hi Friends!  Meredith here with a busy card made using the newly (and CRAZY adorable) set called Flap Happy.  This set has THE cutest and most diverse selection of birds I've ever seen.  I had a great time coloring these cuties using my Prismacolor pencils.

I then masked off the birds and sponged Peacock Feathers and Frayed Burlap Distress Inks for the background.  Once I was done, I added some Heidi Swapp spray color in white using the straw of my sprayer to achieve the look of splatter paint.  I then used Pebbles Inc 6x6 paper pack called Yours Truly for the background panels.

My panels are stitched with red thread to make them pop and I've added a few different Die-namics brand dies (MFT) to embellish the background.  I also added some sparkly silver glitter flat back dots all around in groups.  I added two coatings of glossy accents to the bird's glasses but I find that GA never shows up in photos like it does in real life!  Trust me...it looks SUPER cute!

Thanks for coming by today!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

TAWS post #70 - Picture Perfect

Hi Friends!!  I'm here with a creation using a combination of a few different (and favorite) Alley Way sets.  I've used Tri-Me and Framed for the exterior and Big Chatter for the interior.  I've created this card for friends who are celebrating their 55th wedding anniversary!  I started by creating the background using different shades of blue Hero Arts dye ink.  I then used Delicata gold ink and the triangle outline stamp that comes with the set to add some sparkle and really make the blue tones pop a bit.  I started by stamping the Polaroid frame with Colorbox pigment ink in Harbor onto Canson brand vellum and heat setting this with clear embossing powder.  I then stamped my camera image and did some quick coloring with my Copic markers.  I added a stamped heart, also in the Framed set, in red to the lower right corner.  I slipped a bit during this process but did not want to scrap the entire piece so, using a Micron pen, I loosely drew a heart around the area and made it look more intentional than I meant it to.  I added some red stitching and some die cut tiny hearts to add more texture and shine.

It's been a long time since I've taken the time to create a bit of fun for the interior of a card but this was a very special occasion so I deemed it worthy!  I used my Hero Arts Tide Pool to stamp the Congrats and while it was still a little damp I sprinkled gold embossing powder just on the top of the sentiment.  I then added the words "heart felt" from the same set.  I stamped this using Delicata gold ink.  I added some red stitching to the interior to match what I'd done on the outside.

Thanks so much for coming by today!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

TAWS post #69 - Love!

Hi Friends!  Meredith here with a bright and happy creation using one of my favorite classic Alley Way sets called Tri-Me.  I used a rainbow selection of Distress Inks and pearlized water in a mister bottle to create the fun and bright background.

I cut it out using a large banner die from MFT and added my sentiment with another die from Lawn Fawn.  I used black cardstock heat embossed with black glitter embossing powder for the sentiment.  I coated the black cardstock with Versamark Ink and then coated the whole piece liberally with the powder.  I heat set it and then cut the sentiment out.  I love the texture that the glitter embossing powder provides.

I used my Uniball Signo white gel pen to hand draw faux stitching around the perimeter of the banner on the black cardstock to really make it pop!

I did a second rendition of this as well while I had my supplies out!

This one is on the warmer side and is really so bright and happy!  It makes me smile!

I love how this technique achieved the look of watercolor without using any!  Super simple and quick!

Thanks so much for coming by today!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

TAWS post #68 - Lots of Shimmer!

Greetings Alley Way Friends!!  Thanks for coming by today!  I have a SUPER simple but sweet watercolored creation using this month's "free with $40 or more in product purchase" set called Party Pooper and a newly released set called It's My Party.

I stamped the cute bear with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  Using my Peerless Watercolors and my Wink of Stella brush as my paint brush I painted the image using the WOS liquid which gave the entire image a super shimmery look.

I stitched around the edge and added some flat back, pink, enamel hearts to fill in just a bit of the background.  

Thanks so much for coming by today!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

TAWS post #67 - Birthday Wishes!

Hi!!  Meredith here bringing you a sparkly creation using two sets from the latest Alley Way release called Party Pooper and It's My Party.  The Party Pooper is free this month with a purchase of $40 or more in product (before tax and shipping).  I inked the cute cat and painted him and the background onto watercolor paper and colored him in with my Peerless Watercolors.  I stitched around the edge and added a smattering of sequins to add some texture and visual interest.

I like how there's an element of a Halloween vibe to this card.  Just a touch as I'm not ready to think about October yet!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

TAWS post #66 - Hugs!

Hi Friends!  Popping in today to bring you another heat embossed resist technique like I showed you on Friday.  Today I'm using The Alley Way sets called BIG Time and Star of the Show.

I stamped my sentiment first with Hero Arts dye ink in Navy (it looks black in the photo) using my MISTI tool.  I then stamped over top using Versamark Ink.  I coated my sentiment with clear embossing powder and heat set it.  I then stamped my background image over the entire panel - sentiment included, using Picked Raspberry Distress Ink.  I used a little Perfect Pearls mixed with water in a mister bottle to make the Distress Ink move around a little bit to soften up the background a little.  The Versamark over the sentiment resisted the Distress Ink and Perfect Pearlized water and I simply wiped any excess off with a paper towel.  I added a strip of glitter cardstock and some star embellishments to finish it off. 

Thanks SO much for coming by today!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

TAWS post #65 - Smile!

Hi Alley Way Friends!  I'm here to show you a simple yet fun technique that works so well with the new set Big Time!  As a background I used a wonderful set called Love Knots.  I stamped my image first with Hero Arts dye ink in Pale Tomato using my MISTI tool.  I then stamped over top using Versamark Ink.  I coated my sentiment with clear embossing powder and heat set it.  I then stamped my background image over the entire panel - sentiment included, using Peacock Feathers Distress Ink.  The Versamark over the sentiment resisted the Distress Ink and I simply wiped any excess off with a paper towel.  I added a strip of glitter cardstock and some faceted embellishments to finish it off.

One of my favorite things about the Love Knots background stamp are the adorable hearts that are drawn into the wood grain pattern.  Total adorableness!!

Thanks so much for coming by today!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

For those of you interested...

I just wanted to let y'all know that I've started another blog specifically for chronicling our homeschool adventures.  Things here got way to intermingled as time went on so if you are interested in following our adventures in homeschooling c'mon over here: 

 http://myverysuburbanfarmlife.blogspot.com/

I look forward to seeing you over there!

Warmly-
Meredith