Hello Sunshine ~ Pool Hair Days ~ Polka Dot Orchard

 Hey there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing a bit of sunshine with the fun Pool Hair Days digi stamp from Polka Dot Orchard! I am loving this beautiful summer inspired digi stamp set! Paired up with a fun summer color combo and it's perfect!! It doesn't hurt that the Mojo Monday sketch is a fun slimline sketch... I couldn't resist using it!

So fun & cheerful! It just makes me smile to look at it!

I started by preparing my background which is actually the piece I cut off of the full white sheet of card stock when I cut the slimline base of 7 x 8-1/2". I scored the base a 3-1/2" and set it aside. I was left with a 4 x 8-1/2" piece of white card stock to blend my background on. 

I used the Cloud & Wave stencil from Unity Stamp Co. and blended Kitsch Flamingo, Squeezed Lemonade and Spiced Marmalade over the stencil that I had to reposition with each color to cover the whole background piece. The pattern in the waves is repetitive though so it was easy to line up the stencil and blend the next color. I started at the bottom and blended my way up to the top.

Once I was happy with my blending, I set the background aside to dry and print off my digi stamps to color. I combined and resized both images and the sentiment on one Word document. I knew the approximate measurements I wanted to work with since the sketch I used had dimensions listed on it.

All that was left was to color them up with the following Copic markers:

Skin ~ E000, E00, E11

Hair ~ E00, E13, E21

Bikini ~ YR12, YR15, YR20

Flip Flop Floatie ~ RV10, RV52, RV63, Y06, Y15, Y35

Pineapple Cup ~ Y06, Y15, Y35, E55

Umbrella ~ Y06, Y18, Y35, RV10, RV52, RV63, YR12, YR15, YR20

Grounding / Outline ~ E33, E37, B0000, B000

Here's a look at the fun Mojo Monday 560 Slimline Edition sketch that I used... isn't it fun?!

And one more look at the card in whole... doesn't it just make you smile?! I love it!

Here's a look at all the fun digi stamps included in the Pool Hair Days digi stamp set!!

Polka Dot Orchard has some great new digi stamps in stock... but they also have over 200 fabulous digi stamps in the shop!! So many fun and fabulous designs to play with! Stop by and check them out!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Stellar Galaxy Birthday ~ Out of This World ~ Polka Dot Orchard

 Hello there crafty friend!

Today is a day of celebration... it's my youngest son's 12th birthday and I thought I'd share the card that I made for him using the Out of This World digi stamp set from Polka Dot Orchard. This fun set is extra special because I designed it from a special illustration that I created for my son's birthday last year. He loved the original design and I think he'll love this one too.

So since I was using a digi stamp I planned out the design in a Word document. I combined and resized all the images, even the sentiment in the same general area. I then print it on copy paper using the Draft print quality so as not to waste a lot of ink to see that the placement of all the images would work for the card design. I had to adjust the images just a smidge, but it looked good. So I copied each of the images and placed them on the same Word document but in the lower portion of the paper so that I would have clean images to color, as well. Now, I knew I was going to make a galaxy background so I did my ink blending before I print my images onto the blended background. I knew the general area of the images thanks to my draft print so on my card stock I blended the Twisted Citron, Salty Ocean, Seedless Preserves, and Black Soot Distress Oxide inks. 

I print my images on the blended background and added some water splatter and some white acrylic paint splatter. I set that aside to dry and did a little coloring on the astronaut, stars and the sentiment.

Astronaut ~ C00, C2, C4, B0000, B000, B00, Colorless Blender

Stars ~ Y02, Y06, Y15, Y35

Sentiment ~ B0000, B000, B00, Colorless Blender

Once my background was dry, I die cut it with an A2 Layers Die from Waffle Flower. I fussy cut each of the stars and the astronaut and cleaned up the edges with a Memento Tuxedo black marker. I then adhered them to the background and trimmed the excess off of the astronaut image. I adhered the background to a black card front measuring 4-1/4 x 5-1/2". I trimmed the sentiment and mat it with a strip of black card stock and then adhered it to the card front. I think it turned out pretty cute.

Here's a look at the whole digi stamp set... so fun! It's on sale now at Polka Dot Orchard!

That's it for me today!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Happy Easter ~ Woodland Cuties {Easter Moose} ~ Polka Dot Orchard

 Hello there crafty friend!

Wishing you a very Happy & Blessed Easter! I'm sharing another quick last minute card featuring another fun Easter digi set from Polka Dot Orchard called Woodland Cuties {Easter Moose}. Digi stamps are the way to go if you need a last minute card! This cute digi stamp is on sale, along with all the Easter digi stamps.

I resized and combined the digi stamps in a Word document and then print them off. Time to color! 

I colored up this cutie with the following Copic markers:

Moose ~ E21, E23, E47, E79, N2, N3, N4, N6, B000, B00, B04

Eggs ~ B000, B00, RV10, R20, G000, G14, Y06, Y11, YR15, YR68, V01, V04

Ground ~ YG17, YG23, G14

Sky ~ B0000, B000

I die cut the colored image with a stitched rectangle die and then layered it on a scalloped die cut piece from the pretty Perfectly Plaid Spring papers by Lawn Fawn. Both dies are from the Blueprints #20 from My Favorite Things. I then adhered my panel to a kraft A2 top-fold card base. To finish up the card I added a few white enamel dots from Gina Marie Design and added a few touches of white gel pen for highlights here and there. I think it turned out pretty cute and it was quick, aside from the coloring of course. That can take time, but it can also be done very simply.

Well, I hope that you have a lovely Easter with your family and friends!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Quick Easter Card ~ Purr-fectly Lovely Easter ~ Polka Dot Orchard

 Hello there crafty friend!

Do you have all your Easter cards done? Well... I thought I did, but I found myself in need of a couple more cards. Digi stamps to the rescue!! I found this cutie pie Easter kitty in my files of Polka Dot Orchard digi stamps and knew that I could make a quick mini slimline card pretty quick! 

I resized the kitty from the Purr-fectly Lovely Easter digi set to 2.27 x 5" in a Word document and then inserted the sentiment and resized it to 0.29 x 2.5". Typically when I resize digis I pick the main size I want to focus on... for instance, I knew I wanted to make a mini slimline and have the focus be the cat so I set the height to 5" and the width was automatically adjusted within the program. I hope that makes sense... if you have any questions about working with digi stamps, feel free to ask below in the comments. I'm happy to help!

I printed the digis on a 110lb white card stock... I use Georgia-Pacific Premium card stock. No particular reason except it works well with my printer. I then colored up the kitty with the following Copic markers:

Kitty ~ N0, N1, N3, N6, C00, C2, R20, RV10, YG11, YG25

Bunny Ears ~ R20, R32, RV10

Grass ~ YG11, YG17, YG25, N1, N3

Sky ~ B000, B00 

Since I was going for quick and easy I trimmed the colored panel to 2-7/8 x 5-1/2" and I adhered it to a piece of pretty plaid patterned paper {say that four times fast! lol} rightfully named Perfectly Plaid Spring paper pack by Lawn Fawn measuring 3-3/8 x 5-7/8". For the base, I cut a kraft card stock base to 7 x 6" and scored it at 3-1/2". To finish off the card I added a few pretty enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs. Done! And I think it turned out pretty cute. 

Stop by Polka Dot Orchard and check out their Easter digi stamps!! They are perfect for those last minute cards! I'll be back on Sunday with another cute last minute Easter card.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Spring | Summer Coffee Lovers Hop ~ Merry Little Coffee ~ Polka Dot Orchard

 Hello there crafty friend!

I have another card to share for the Spring | Summer Coffee Lovers Hop and yes, it's another Christmas card. I can't help it! I've been on a roll lately making Christmas cards!! I do have plans to share a Spring card or two... but for today I have a pretty slimline card using a beautiful digi stamp from Super Sponsor Polka Dot Orchard called Merry Little Coffee. 

This turned out to be a very CAS slimline card! I just love how it turned out... I hope you do too!

I watercolored the Merry Little Coffee mug with a few Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers. I love pink poinsettias... they are my absolute favorite!

And I finished it off with a few fun sequins from my stash. Super CAS and lovely!

Be sure to go check out the fantastic 2021 Spring | Summer Coffee Lovers Hop!!

So much fun!! And stop by Super Sponsor Polka Dot Orchard... lots of fabulous digi stamps on sale!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

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Halloween Series 2020 ~ Oxide Blended Slimline Card ~ Polka Dot Orchard

 Hello there crafty friend!

I'm back for my last day of my Halloween Series for 2020! I hope that you've enjoyed the cards that I have shared! I've had a lot of fun with the different techniques and card designs! My last card just may be my most favorite so let's get to it!

It's no surprise that it's a slimline!! I'm definitely hooked on these! I used the new Webs of Life background digi along with the spider from the new Hang in There digi set. And just had to use my witches boots from the Best Witches digi set... all these fabulous digis are available at 

Polka Dot Orchard!!

I used the following Copic Markers for this card:

Spider ~ N0, N1, N2, N4, V04, V06

Witches Boots ~ V000, V04, V06, V12, N0, N1, N4

I am not a fan of spiders... lol... but I really love the touch that this spider gives to this card!

I adore how these boots turned out!! The overall card... really turned out awesome!

I hope that you like it too! And that you've enjoyed my Halloween Series!

I show a fun trick for more vibrant printed backgrounds when working with digi stamps in my YouTube video for this one. I hope you'll check it out... Here!

That's it for me this time!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Scrapping for Less ~ Summer Daisies Paper Pad ~ Post It Note Holder

Hello there crafty friend!

Today I'm sharing a fun swap that I made for fellow SFL design team member Stacy using the beautiful Summer Daisies paper pad that was recently released at Scrapping for Less. I combined the papers with some other products in my stash... let's have a look! 

I started with a cereal box... yup! You read that right. I cut all of my pieces for the post it note holder from the cereal box first. Here's a link to the tutorial I used... Easy Note Pad Holder Book.

I used the cereal box in place of the chipboard coasters mentioned in the tutorial.

I covered the cereal box pieces with pretty polka dot papers from Stampin' Up and then used the gorgeous Summer Daisies from SFL to decorate and embellish the other pieces. The beautiful ribbon is from Papertrey Ink... seriously a mash up of products from my stash! The daisy is one of my digital stamps available at Polka Dot Orchard... called Whoops a Daisy. I printed it out, colored it with a few copic markers and then fussy cut it. I couldn't find quite the right sentiment, so I just printed this one off from my computer on card stock and fussy cut it.

The side view... I only had a couple post it note pads in coordinating colors. 

This holder could hold a lot of post it notes!

The inside... isn't it cute?! I've had that mini pen from the Dollar Spot at Target for years... it works perfectly with this holder! 

To clean up the edges of my patterned papers I used a sanding block that I've had in my stash forever. I believe it's from Stampin' Up as well.

That's it! It was so fun to create something to send off to a crafty friend!

I definitely need to make more of these!

Check out all the new fabulous paper pads recently released at SFL here... New Paper Pads!!

This paper hoarder has to have them all! Lol..

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Polka Dot Orchard ~ Gnome Talkie Before Coffee ~ Spring | Summer Coffee Lovers Hop

Hello there crafty friend!

Today, I'm sharing a quick card for the fabulous Spring | Summer Coffee Lovers Hop using the sweet Gnome Talkie Before Coffee digi set from Super Sponsor Polka Dot Orchard!! 

Spring | Summer Coffee Lovers Hop

Love this sweet gnome!

This color palette is not one that I would normally do... which is why I just HAD to give it a try using the color combo keyword: ctd594 from the Color Throwdown blog!! AND I thought it would also be fun to play along with the amazing sketch #436 over at Freshly Made Sketches!!

I colored up this image with the following Copic markers:

Gnome ~ E000, E00, N0, N2, N4, N6, C00, C1

Cup ~ Y06, Y11, Y13, E23, E27, E51

For my ink smooshed background, I scribbled on my acrylic block with the Stampin' Up! Basic Grey marker and spritzed it a couple times with my mini water bottle. I then 'stamped' with the inky block onto my card stock. I did that a couple of times and then I smooshed my Black Soot Distress Oxide ink onto my Mixed Media Glass Mat. I spritzed the smooshed ink a bit. Then I grabbed my coffee cup (carefully, because it was still half full of coffee... lol), dabbed it in the ink and stamped right on the paper! Easy peasy! I die cut the Scalloped Stitched Rectangles Frame by Gina Marie Designs from white card stock two times. I adhered those layers together and then adhered it to my ink smooshed background. I trimmed off the excess card stock around the edges and then adhered it to my white card base. I adhered my fussy cut gnome and then added a few grey enamel dots from my stash. I love how this turned out!! 

It was fun using colors that I normally wouldn't use. I love when challenges take me out of my comfort zone!

Be sure to check out the fun Spring | Summer Coffee Lovers Hop!! And go check out the fabulous digi stamps over at Polka Dot Orchard!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky Hugs,

Crystal

Polka Dot Orchard ~ Tag it Tuesday ~ Cotton Candy Birthday Tag

Hello there crafty friend!

Today, I'm sharing a cute little birthday tag for Tag It Tuesday with Polka Dot Orchard!! I'm using the adorable Fine and Dandy Cotton Candy digi set from Polka Dot Orchard!

I combined and resized the cotton candy digi and the Happy Birthday sentiment... but I also cropped the sentiment. It actually says Happy Birthday Sugar so I cropped off the Sugar part. I didn't want the sentiment to be too big and take over the tag.

I colored the cute little cotton candy with the following copic markers ~ BV0000, BV000, BV01, BV11, R00, R20, C00, C1, C3. I fussy cut the cotton candy and set it aside. I colored the Happy Birthday sentiment with BV0000, BV000, R00, R20 and trimmed it down to fit on the tag.

I trimmed some pretty spring colored patterned papers from the Simply Spring paper pad from Doodlebug Designs and adhered them to a manila tag. I punched a hole through the papers and added a bit of white wide organdy ribbon. I tied a little bow with some white and purple baker's twine. I die cut the Stitched Ric Rac Die-namics from My Favorite Things from white card stock and cut it in half and adhered the pieces together. I adhered the ric rac piece to the tag and then popped up the cotton candy and sentiment.

 To finish off the tag, I added a few white enamel dots. I forgot to take a picture of the back of the tag... oops! I added some more patterned paper from the same pad to the back of the tag. I had laid the tag down on the paper and traced around the tag and the hole and just trimmed it and adhered it to the back of the tag. Such a cute birthday tag! I love how it turned out!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky hugs,

Crystal

Polka Dot Orchard ~ Gnome Talkie Before Coffee!

Hello there crafty friend!

Today, I'm sharing a quick card using some pretty papers along with the adorable Gnome Talkie Before Coffee digi set from Polka Dot Orchard!!

I have been wanting to create with this adorable digi set since it's release, but haven't had time until now. I just love all the fun punny sentiments included in the set but this one in particular speaks to me because I definitely need that first cup of coffee in the morning!! And who doesn't love a cute gnome like this one!?! I sure do! So... I kept my card design simple. A fun coffee themed patterned paper and this digi stamp. Easy peasy! I trimmed down the paper from the Coffee Lovers {paper pack} from Unity Stamp Company and adhered it to a white card base. I set that aside and got to work on my digi.

I combined and resized the digi image and the sentiment in a Word document. I then print it off. Originally, I had planned to use the image in a larger wonky oval so you'll notice the stitching on the top of the cup, but I decided it was covering up too much of the paper. I fussy cut the image and then adhered it to a smaller wonky stitched rectangle die cut from white card stock that I mat on an oval die cut from Early Espresso card stock.

I used the following Copic markers to color the images:

Skin ~ E000, E00

Beard ~ C00, C1, C3

Clothes ~ E21, E23, E27, E51, YR21, R21, R22 

Mug ~ BG000, BG32, E25, E27, E47

This turned out to be quite a simple card, but I sure do love how it turned out! Hope you do too! Be sure to check out the Gnome Talkie Before Coffee digi set in the shop... it's still on sale (as of the time I'm writing this up!)!! So hurry and get it!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky hugs,

Crystal

Polka Dot Orchard ~ Fine and Dandy Cotton Candy ~ Happy Birthday Sugar!

Hello there crafty friend!

Today, I have a sweet card *pun intended* using the adorable Fine and Dandy Cotton Candy digi set!! I am loving this cotton candy image with this fabulous Happy Birthday Sugar sentiment... so fun!

I thought this cotton candy would look so sweet in rainbow so I grabbed my Rainbow Vibes paper pack from Unity Stamp Company and trimmed the striped paper down to 4-1/4 x 5-1/2". I adhered it to a white card base and set it aside. I resized and combined the Cotton Candy and Happy Birthday Sugar sentiment in a Word document and printed it off.

I colored the Cotton Candy and sentiment with the following copic markers:

Pinks ~ RV0000, RV00, RV52

Reds ~ R000, R14, R29

Oranges ~ YR15, YR21, YR68

Yellows ~ Y06, Y11, Y15

Greens ~ G000, G43, YG17

Blues ~ B0000, B00, B02

Purples ~ BV0000, BV11, V09

Mouth ~ C00, C1

I kept the design very simple. I just trimmed down the panel and mat it with black card stock. I then popped it up on the card base... done! I really like how this one turned out! I hope you do too!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky hugs,

Crystal

Polka Dot Orchard ~ Love & Friendship Blog Hop

Valentine’s Day may be over and done for this year, but Polka Dot Orchard is still celebrating with our Love & Friendship Inspiration Blog Hop. The creative team has amazing creations to share with you featuring some of our newest releases! We have two $10 gift cards for two lucky winners chosen randomly from the comments. You have until February 24th, 11:59pm EST to leave a comment on each of the blogs, including the Polka Dot Orchard blog letting us know that you completed the hop. We will announce the lucky winners on February 26th on the Polka Dot Orchard blog.

Hello there crafty friends!

I am so excited to be a part of the Love & Friendship Inspiration Blog Hop with the Polka Dot Orchard Creative Team. We have lots of fabulous inspiration to share with you using all of the newly released digi stamps... let's get to it so you can keep on hopping!

My first card features the sweet Lollipop Love digi set. I  resized and combined the lollipop image with the sentiment in a Word document and printed it off. I picked the pretty French Kiss papers by Doodlebug Design and pulled the colors from the papers to use in my coloring. I used the following copic markers:

Heart Lollipop ~ RV10, RV13, RV14, C00, C3

Purple Lollipop ~ R000, R14, R29, V09, BV04, BV11, C00, C3

Red Lollipop ~ R000, R14, R29, C00, C3

Outline ~ B0000, B00

I die cut the heart papers with a wonky stitched rectangle die and adhered it to a Spring Rain card base. I trimmed down the main image and adhered it to the card. Pretty cute and I love that sentiment!

My second card features the pretty Love and a Fabulous Cupcake digi set. Again, I resized and combined the image with the sentiment in a Word document and then printed it off. This time I dug through all of my Valentine's papers and picked this pretty polka dot paper from an old Stampin' Up paper pad called Stacked with Love. I trimmed it down and adhered it to a white card base. I used the following copic markers to color up this cute cupcake:

Icing/Cherry ~ C00, C1, C3, R000, R14, R29

Cupcake Wrapper ~  RV0000, RV00, RV52, R000, R14, R29, E24, E47

Ground ~ N0, N1, N2

 I trimmed down the panel and mat it on Real Red card stock. I then popped it up on the card using foam tape. I'm thinking I'll give this to my husband for our wedding anniversary with a couple of fabulous cupcakes... one for him and one for me!

My last card features the adorable My Pal-entine digi set. I resized the image and sentiment, but this time I kept them on separate sections of the Word document. I printed off the sheet and got to coloring up these cute pals with the following copic markers:

Penguin ~ YR15, YR21, YR68, N0, N1, N2, N4, N5

Bear ~ E23, E25, E47, N0, N1, N2, N4, N5, RV0000, RV00, RV52

Balloon ~ R000, R14, R29

Outline ~ B0000, B00

I die cut the image with a wonky stitched rectangle die and adhered it to a 4-1/4 x 5-1/2" piece of red and white diagonal striped paper from Unity Stamp Company called Love is All Around Us. I adhered the entire panel to a white card base and then popped up the trimmed sentiment. Sweet!

That's it for me... be sure to keep hopping and check out all the fabulous inspiration from the Polka Dot Orchard Creative Team and don't forget to comment for your chance to win!!

~ Hop List ~

Polka Dot Orchard Blog

Crystal <--- you are here

up next ---> Rosemary

Pam

Kim

Kristina

Lisa

Kirsty

Larissa

Thanks so much for stopping by!

See ya next time.

Inky hugs,

Crystal