friendship

COASTAL GREETING DESIGNS

Disclosure: I include affiliate links to the products used in my projects and make a small commission when you purchase via those links, at no extra dimes to you. Thank you.

There are so many cool lighthouses along the Pacific Northwest coast line—it would be fun to take a road trip and visit them all. Some day, maybe I will. In the meantime, I have no problem creating little seaside scenes on paper, LOL!

Some really soft ink blending over the wave lines for the ocean, a little quick coloring with a few alcohol markers and just a few of those Clear Droplets!

The wonderful thing about Seaside, is how well it combines with Summer Doodles—so many ideas in my head, but I haven’t yet had time to play with.

I adore a two-step stamp set like this one—those who like to color can, and peeps like me can use our beloved solids! YAY!!! An ink that stamps crisply and comes in beautiful colors is ideal, so I rely on Catherine Pooler and Concord & 9th for the job. I’ll have all the colors I used on this design listed down in the supplies.

After die cutting the landscape and wave pieces, I ink blended along the shaped edges, trimmed them and popped them up on my base card. I liked this one so much the way it was, I sat on my hands overnight. It’s always tempting to add “one more thing” . . . But, the next day I still felt the same about it, so that’s my story and I’m stickin’ with it.

Have a beautiful day and thanks for stopping by!

TROPICAL VIBES

Disclosure: I include affiliate links to the products used in my projects and make a small commission when you purchase via those links, at no extra dimes to you. Thank you for the support!

My little flamingo was black embossed onto some watercolor paper, then watercolored. She has a few palm trees behind her in this little scene. I created a two-tone effect by using Green Tea Ink on the one stamped directly on the card front, and Matcha for the die cut popped up version. By trimming about 3/8-1/2” off the long edge of the card front, I could allow the palm tree to lean right and float over that edge, which is a fun way to give the illusion of more layers to the card than there really are. I felt the crown was apropos.

I used the same Cummerbund ink to stamp the water and then ink blend a little over top. Then, I just chose to embellish her simply, with some Stickles Diamond Glitter Glue on her crown and along the water—hard to pick up on camera, but love, LOVE that stuff! Such an easy, mess free way to add a bit of sparkle to any project. Wish it came in a jumbo size bottle!

For a pinky/peach vibe, I very lightly blended Grapefruit ink, followed by Orange Twist—with a VERY light hand. It’s very subtle and the eye picks that up more than the camera does.

Die cutting the Aloha from different colors of card stock from the palette I was working with and just popping them up, aligning them askew from each other is casual and fun—I love how the lettering allows the pattern in the background to show through.

A natural/rustic tassel made of my favorite twine was calling out to me for this design and I couldn’t resist; I think it really sets off the island/tropical vibe I was going for!

Hope these two designs sparked some ideas for you and thanks for stopping by!

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LOVE, FRIENDSHIP & VALENTINE RELEASE TODAY!

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A new release is here—YAY!!! All the samples on the release page (affil. link) have been givin’ me the vapors!

There’s an Instagram hop going on—skedaddle on over to see eye candy from the design team, toss your name into the hat for prizes and just flat out be inspired! Link: Instagram Hop starts at @ellenhutsonllc

I’m sharing a few samples here, that I’ve shared on my Instagram, in case you don’t follow me there. Hey, I totally get it; not everyone is on all the social medias—not everyone actually “likes” social medias. #amirite? #itsOK

feat. BIG LOVE STAMP SET/DIE (affil link)

Glued some strips of colorful card stock onto my base card, triple die cut LOVE and layered the letters together to create faux chipboard and clear embossed “ya’” over the stripes. A deviation from my normal white; love it so much, I wanna marry it! LOL!

feat. SO CHEWSY STAMP SET/DIE (background hearts from BIG LOVE) (affil links)

Stamped a random background of hearts in my color scheme and popped the die cut image onto a mini Action Wobbler (affil link)—it will compress down when you slip it into the envelope but as you slide it out, it will bobble! One of my favorite interactive mechanisms because it comes already preassembled and you just slap it on there. BAM!!!

I couldn’t capture the shine of the Rose Gold hot foil stamping on the mailboxes, but it is soooooo pretty IRL!

  1. Die cut from watercolor paper (affil link)

  2. Hot foil images

  3. Watercolor over top of foiled designs (it resists the paint/water like heat embossing does)

  4. Assemble

  5. Rinse & Repeat 🤣

Seriously, I could hot foil stamp all.day.long. And, the results on watercolor paper? CHEF’S KISS!!! #allthehearteyes

I like chocolate, but I LOVE dark chocolate and truffles most especially and this set is so fun to play around with because of the different truffle shapes and variety of “toppings”. That rich, chocolatey ink effect was achieved by first stamping the solid images using Catherine Pooler Spiced Ink, then ink blending directly onto the stamp using a sponge and Catherine Pooler Icing On the Cake and stamping over the top again to create some shading and dimension. I then stamped the detail images over top with Versamark and white embossed them.

If you have any trouble with embossing powder sticking where you don’t want it in this situation, make sure the solid images are fully dry —you can use your heat tool to warm the paper and evaporate any moisture—and by applying anti-static powder over the surface and THEN stamping and heat embossing the detail images.

I am old enough to remember the satisfying sound of the Librarian’s date stamp going “tttthhhhhunk!” onto a library card. When I got home with my books, I would slip the card out and then tuck it back into the pocket, repeatedly. No idea WHY I would do that, but I suspect it marked the beginning of my love affair with office supplies and stationery products. Go figure!

Hey, weirdough!

When you open this one, you’ll see a sweet surprise inside!

feat. JAMMIN’ STAMP SET/DIE (affil link)

I call this a Peek-a-boo Pop Out card—the li’l Bread Slice is hand-trimmed slightly smaller than the actual die cut window and mounted onto foam tape for dimension. Before mounting him through the window, I flush-mounted Jam to the inside of the card in a spot where, when you opened it, she would appear and be peeking over Bread’s “shoulder”—err, ahem—CRUST. (snort)

By the way, that decorative edge along the card front is actually one of the “WAVES” dies; I thought it made for an awesome, shallow and imperfect scalloped edge. (fist pump). Gently blended a little ink along the edge to make it pop a wee bit more.

I must admit that the “just because”, non-occasion-specific card is probably my most favorite of cards to make and receive.

How ‘about you?

Disclosure: I include affiliate links to the products used in my projects and make a small commission when you purchase via those links, at no extra dimes to you. 🙂 Your support is appreciated more than I can say!

OTHER SUPPLIES

The color palette I used for these samples:

Tools:

Embellishments:

Miscellaneous:

MONDO RHODODENDRON

A while back someone asked if I could add our WA state flower, the Rhododendron to the mondo floral series. This set went through many (understatement, OY!) renditions before I landed on this . . . There are about 1,000 species of Rhododendrons. 😳

How in the world are you supposed to choose ONE to translate into a stamp??? The two outside my front door are kinda scraggly looking, but the ones next to my Mother-in-law’s house are ginormous, lush things, with vibrant fuchsia coloring! Her Rhodis make me think of giant floral pom-poms, LOL!

The Gold Finch is also the WA state bird, so it seemed fitting to include her—that flash of yellow is so bright and cheerful!

Clear embossed over black pigment ink , on my favorite Canson XL Watercolor paper and then watercolored with Gansai Tambi before die cutting it out.

I like the effect of the flower itself, repeated as a background to support the focal.

This time, the Rhodi was stamped in a softer pink color, with the Gold Finch mounted over top of it and a hexagon frame cut from gold foil card stock.

If any of you are Washingtonians, I hope this set holds a special place among your stamps! Also, did you know ALL Azaleas are Rhododendrons, but not all Rhododendrons are Azaleas???

I don’t know if that’s a “fun” fact, but it’s a fact . . . ROTFLMBO!

Also, a note of thanks to those of you who left a comment or messaged me via email about my previous post . . . XO∞

You’re the bestest!!!

Disclosure: Affiliate links to the products used in my projects, that I like and use may be included; I make a small commission when you purchase via those links, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for all your support!

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RADIO SILENCE . . .

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“Creativity needs to rest.”

 

I read that statement somewhere, and wish I could recall exactly where.

Sidebar: If this is a topic that doesn’t interest you, scroll on past.

But, it is something that hit me hard last spring and throughout these summer months; my work is “creative on demand”, by its very nature, and this comes with its own unique set of stressors. This is compounded, for me personally, by inherited clinical depression , anxiety (yes, I take medication and am not ashamed) and as someone who is a slow, methodical and linear sequential thinker (I envy those that can multi-task), with strong tendencies to hyperfocus on one task until it is completed. To the point of obsession.

When I am overwhelmed by all the above, I “withdraw” as a matter of self-preservation.

I’m pretty much a hot mess on a hamster wheel. Yeah, that sounds about right. And, while I can laugh about the vision this conjures up, I also know if I don’t step off the wheel when the warning signals begin rearing their ugly heads, things are really gonna’ go south. Don’t get me wrong; I firmly believe in hard work, but I also believe that the American “hustle culture”, in its current state, contributes greatly to mental health issues and burn out.

Like so many others, I am STILL trying to find balance between work and living life within my limitations . . .

“That’s all I got to say about that.”—Forrest Gump

My latest collection of stamps & dies released last week on ellenhutson.com and I have a few samples to share that might inspire you! Do you love the great outdoors or have peeps in your life that do? Then this release is soooooo perfect!!! You can see the entire collection over on the Ellen Hutson Release Page HERE (affil. link)

Gosh, I love solid stamps so. much. !!! They just make me so giddy I can’t even . . . #allthehearteyes

 

And, I gotta share my little “Airstream™” trailer tutorial from the Ellen Hutson YouTube Channel:

Video Tutorial HERE

If you don’t have that Birch Trees Cover Panel in your collection yet, well, by golly, you are missin’ out! Just sayin’ . . . I love that thing . . .

Have a great weekend!

Disclosure: Affiliate links to the products used in my projects, that I like and use may be included; I make a small commission when you purchase via those links, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for all your support!