Twinkling Paper Studio

Saturday, April 9, 2022

The Latest News

Hey Friends,
As I have mentioned before, my husband will be retiring this year, in a few more months and we want to be free to go and do whatever, whenever. He’s been with his company for 45 years when he leaves, so we’ve earned this time to not have crazy deadlines. I also want to have time to do the things I really want, even if I am not very good at them -- like Watercolor.

I haven’t blogged in nearly a year, and I closed my Share A Sale Account this week. It took way too much time and energy to keep up with all of the affiliate links for blogging for such a small amount of money. I averaged about $150.00 a year in affiliate sales when I was blogging 5 times a week. That doesn’t even pay for Link Deli, so I just feel it isn’t worth the effort anymore. Maybe if I was younger.

That said, another issue I am having is that stamping is becoming harder for me because of the RA. I have found a solution that is much easier for me and I can make cards that are totally my style using Anna Griffin Products. I also really love that so many of her things work with all of her other things so that you're not buying a set of dies to use with only one set of stamps. Besides my Empress Die Cutting Machines, her Collage Card Toppers are my favorite product. They fit my style so very much.

I have purged 3/4ths of my office and will do one more purge before the end of this year. I will most likely post more cards and things on my personal page than here in the group.

I am keeping my blog for now as I know for sure I will be a farm widow twice a year for at least the next five years. I might want to return to the origins of blogging instead of the being part of an organized hop or being part of a design team.

So, it's not that I have quit, it's just that I am doing things a bit differently now. I hope you all will enjoy my new style of card making just as much as you did my old style.

Here are a few images from my current style.

If you stop by, let me know what you think! I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Friday, June 4, 2021

Altenew Adventures Ahead Stamps/Dies/Stencils/More Collection Release Blog Hop + Giveaway

Hello Everyone! It's been a minute since I was here for a Blog Hop, but today is a big day! Today, Altenew is releasing a 4th stamp set that I did in collaboration with Tasnim, who illustrated the set for me. I even told her what kind of flowers I wanted and of course, she hits the mark every time and then goes beyond what you are expecting.

I have a couple of projects for you today using the Sisters of the Heart Stamps, Dies, and Stencil Masks. For my first card, I watercolored all of the images and then die-cut them to put on a 5 x 7 gel press print to create a one-of-a-kind card.

Gelly Prints are extremely popular right now with a large group of us cardmakers and I really enjoy creating them with a variety of mediums. For this particular background, I used two colors of Distress Oxide inks with a brayer to blend and merge the colors. I do my prints on Cougar Super Smoooth Digital White 80 lb cardstock.

Many of the ladies in the group use a very high-quality printer paper, but I love the results on the super smooth paper so while I have tried the printer paper, I like the heavier weight paper, especially since I die cut my background panels.

This side view lets you see the gold embossing just a little bit better! I've been working really hard to improve my watercolor this year and I was very happy when I finished this! That practice is really paying off.

For this second card, I used the mask/stencil set that is available with Baby Pink and Grape Agate inks and my two favorite shades of green for the foliage; Frayed Leaf and Forest Glades.

This particular card was made with a specific Sister-In-Law in mind and so she has already received it. She is one of those sisters-in-law who is also a Sister of the Heart. Her house out at the farm has been restored to its Victorian glory and Altenew's Striped Designer Series Papers are just the thing to help evoke that "Edwardian" feel that was so popular during the Victoria Era. I love to use Glossy Pearls for accents on my projects which also lends that lovely, but tasteful element.

There are lots of great projects to see in Today's Blog Hop Release Party, so be sure to stop by each blog in the Hop for your chance to win some prizes!

>>>>> Vicki Finger <<<<<

Joylita Dsouza

Preeti Chandran

If you choose to shop through my affiliate link, this will take you to the latest release:

https://altenew.com/collections/adventures-ahead-stamp-die-stencil-ef-washi-tapes-papers-decal-release

Free Gifts
We are running a free gift promotion to celebrate the release. Here are THREE ways to get a FREEBIE to kickstart your creativity! The Free Gift will be added to your cart automatically.

Get a FREE brand new Adventures Ahead Release Inspiration Guide (worth $5.99) with every order of high-value Exotic Garden release bundles. Shop HERE! *Exclusions apply.
Get a FREE brand new Creative Jump Start Class with every order from the new Adventures Ahead release collection from 6/04/2021 through 6/10/2021. Shop HERE!
Get a FREE brand new Adventures Ahead Release Mini Inspiration Guide with every order from 06/04/2021 through 06/06/2021. Shop HERE!

Giveaway Prizes

$300 in total prizes! To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $50 gift certificate to 2 lucky winners and a $25 gift certificate to 8 winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog and/or each designer’s blog post on the blog hop list below by 06/09/2021 for a chance to win.

Altenew will draw 10 random winners from the comments left on each stop of this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew Winners Page on 06/11/2021.

This is a very long hop list, so I hope you stuck with me here, as we are nearing the tail end of the hop. I always apprciately any comments if you would care to leave one for me.

As Ever,

Vicki

Monday, March 29, 2021

Altenew Educators Blog Hop - Favorite Old/New Stamp Blog Hop

Hello everyone and welcome back! As you've probably noticed, I have been taking some time off from "official" work to work on some other projects. It is really difficult to work when my husband is working a combined shift of 4 weeks of days/2 weeks of nights and repeat. He's in the guest room (which has black out film on the windows) trying to sleep during the day, which is next to my office. You probably won't see a lot of blogging this year, but there will be some from time to time. Today I am back with Altenew for an Altenew Educator Blog Hop where we're featuring an old or new favorite or both! You'll get a chance to see one of the things I've been playing with behind the scenes so let's get started.

Along with many of my industry friends, I have become obsessed with Gel Press Printing. My friend, Lydia Fiedler, does Facebook lives every day during the week, and one of the things she's shown us is Gel Press Printing. I resisted temptation as long as I could but finally caved in and bought a gel press. A few days after that, Jennifer McGuire did a demonstration with hers using Distress Oxide Inks, so I have multiple mediums to try! If you're interested in a class, I recommend Lydia Fiedler's classes on Gel Pressing.

Since I last blogged, I had to replace my computer monitor, (yes I still like my desktop computer), so my photos look really different to me. My previous monitor was 18 years old and it was made for photographers (what I did at that time) so it had a very high contrast ratio of 10,000 to 1. Well, monitors have come a long way in 18 years and my contrast ratio is now 10,000,000 to 1! WOWEE! Plus, it's about twice as big as my old one. Now that I'm getting back to work, I am definitely really enjoying this new monitor.

For my first two projects today, I used a Gel Press Print for the backgrounds along with a couple of new-to-me Altenew products; Swirl Motif Die Set and Climber Flowers Dies. The Climber Flowers are super easy to die-cut and put together. The Swirl Motif is a bit more tedious for the top layer, but I made it easier by die-cutting some paper that already had adhesive on the back to make it go easier. You just have to be careful as the die is very fine and detailed so it would be easy to rip. I didn't have any trouble, but I was pretty careful. I love the shiny gold on the shimmering gold shadow layer.

The flowers require three different colors or coordinating cardstock as do the leaves. So a light, medium, and dark color cardstock in the same color family. If you want to make it easy, use the Altenew Gradient Cardstock paper packs. But if you're like me and have a bazillion paper scraps, then grab your scraps and go for it.

For the Swirl Motif Die, I used two different shimmer gold cardstock shades but just one shiny gold cardstock for the very detailed part of the die. Just a note: I thought I had torn my die, but the very detailed fine piece actually cuts in two pieces. So, don't freak out if it comes out in two pieces. I used a sentiment from the Beautiful Day Stamp Set. It continues to be one of my all-time favorites!

My next project was done with a specific person in mind. There is a couple that my husband and I have been friends with for 37 years. The guys have actually been friends since 1978. Not long after we got married, we traveled to their home and we girls met for the first time. It was instant friends from the start. We've gone through a lot through the years together. Births, deaths, weddings, divorces, and even a lung transplant, plus all the things in between that come with being friends for decades. In January, we received word that Carol Jean had been in a terrible car accident. The whole situation was very touch & go in the beginning but she is still with us and all of her injuries will eventually heal. She had broken and bruised bones and complications of blood clots which is common after a broken bone. So, we are super happy she is still with us. Carol Jean is a very beloved person in her present community and the one she came from. She taught mathematics at a college in western Kansas for many years and then taught for several years when they relocated to south-central Kansas. Her husband cracked jokes about asking her for her autograph because people who love and know her came out of everywhere. He didn't know just how loved she was and how many people cared. I'm happy to say that she went home from the Rehab Hospital on March the 10th. She is still in a wheelchair, but she'll get out of that maybe in a few more months.

That said, I know she is going to need a great many "Thank You" cards. She broke her wrist, so it might be a while before she needs them, but I'm going to send them just the same. She sends a lot of cards each year and I make them for her when I can and know I am going to see her. She always appreciates getting them.

Both of us really enjoy the color Plum, so it was easy to decide what colors to work with when deciding on my project. I wanted to use the Sweet Rose Bouquet Stamp Set because I do love it for simple but impactful stamping on a simple card. I decided to make 10 of them, so I just did 10 of each layer of stamping before moving on to the next layer.

I used the Sugarplums and Green Fields Collections of inks with one minor addition. To make the blooms a little bit pinker, I stamped the first layer in Rose Quartz and then stamped over that layer with Pale Mauve. This adds just that little bit more pink by putting that layer underneath. I did all the stamping on white 4.25-inch by 5.5- inch panels and then cut them down before assembling the cards.

Of course, before I could finish typing my blog post for this hop and another I was to participate in, my keyboard bit the dust! Now, I am really hard on a keyboard and it takes no time at all of me to wear the letters of the keys. Unfortunately, that wasn't the issue! I would type along and only about 2 of every 10 letters actually worked and typed in. So I had to order a new keyboard online since our local favorite store, Frye's, went out of business nationwide during the pandemic. That has happened to a lot of companies this past year. Anyway, it took over a week for my new keyboard to get here so I wasn't able to participate in the Celebrating Parents Blog Hop last week.

I have one more style of card that I made in multiples for my friend. I sent about 30 - 40 cards in all. I don't count really, I just try to send as many as I can that fits with her current need.

For these cards, I used the Positive Vibes Stamp Set (my old favorite) and coordinating dies, with some pretty patterned paper I had in Navy Blue and Yellow which I thought would make for a beautiful presentation for some thank you cards. To see the many projects along the hop, here is your blog roll list.

Altenew Educator Blog Hop List

Altenew Card Blog

Thank you all so much for stopping by today to celebrate my first Blog Hop of this year. I have another coming along in June so I'll be back then to share new projects with you at that time.

If you'd like to shop for any of the products I've mentioned, here is my affiliate link for you. Just click the box!

Thanks so much for stopping by today to catch up with me. I especially enjoy it when you take the time to leave a comment, so I hope you will.

Saturday, November 7, 2020

Altenew Craft-A-Flower: Poppy Release Blog Hop

Welcome to the Altenew Craft-A-Flower: Poppy Release Blog Hop + Giveaway! Each month on the 7th, Altenew releases a new Craft-A-Flower. I love these three-dimensional blooms that are a fantastic way to use up scraps from your scrap bin or to use with the Gradient Cardstock Bundles from Altenew.

Special Offers:
We are running a free gift promotion to celebrate the release. Feel free to share the promotion banner/info on your blog hop post or on your social media post using your affiliate links for a chance to make some extra money.

Get 25% off ALL Washi Tapes and receive a FREE Gift (Crafting 101 - Washi Tapes class) from 11/07/2020 at 12:01 AM EST until 11/08/2020 at 11:59 PM EST. Shop HERE: https://altenew.com/collections/washi-tapes. Not valid on previous orders. Free gift will be added to your cart automatically. (Offer excludes November 2020 release products).

Giveaway Prizes:
To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $30 gift certificate to 2 lucky winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog by 11/12/2020 for a chance to win. Altenew will also draw a winner to receive a $15 gift certificate from the comments left on each designer’s blog on the blog hop list below. All winners will be announced on the Altenew Winners Page on 11/16/2020.

You should have arrived here from the blog of the beautiful Erum Tasneem! If you need to go back to the beginning of the hop, here is your blog hop order:

>>>>>Vicki Finger<<<<<

Whenever I am working with the Craft-A-Flower products, I head over to my scrap bin and start pulling colors from there that will work together. I have a huge basket of scraps to work with and pull from, so thus far, I haven't failed in this endeavor. As you may be already aware, Poppies come in a wide variety of colors. There are Red, Orange, Blue, Turquoise, Purple, etc. When you imagine a poppy in your mind, I think most people picture a red Poppy. This particular variety is called Queen Alexandra Poppy. I love this one and my mom has one or two of these in her yard. They have been my favorite variety for many years. So I tried to choose my papers to get a similar color and look to this particular variety. My cardstock is multiple shades of pink with the deep black centers as you see in the photograph on the left.

Assembly Instructions are available in the packaging and the set includes two bloom sizes and styles, three different leaves, and a stem.

For my card, I started with a piece of pale pink cardstock and did some ink blending in the lower left-hand corner using some Frayed Leaf. The idea was to give the impression of other foliage in the background.

I die cut all the blooms pieces to start. There are two different sizes of poppy blooms in this set. Poppies tend to be on these super delicate stems and they wave and flow in the breeze. Can you just imagine a whole field of pink and purple poppies swaying in the breeze? Wouldn't that be a sight to see? You always see photos of fields of red poppies and while they are beautiful, I can't help imagining the same fields in the pinks and purple hues that are available.

These were quick and easy to put together. I pulled some Black Iridescent sequins to pull that color together from the flower center.

You can purchase your Craft-A-Flower: Poppy Die Set here: https://altenew.com/products/craft-a-flower-poppy-layering-die-set

Thanks for stopping by today to see my Altenew Craft-A-Flower: Poppy card! The color possibilities are endless with all of the Craft-A-Flower releases. I hope you'll pick one up and share your projects if you make something.

You can also sign up for the Monthly Subscription to all the Craft A Flower releases here: https://altenew.com/products/craft-a-flower-monthly-subscription.

Thanks again for stopping by today. Enjoy all the stops along the hop! Your next stop is the so very Kind, Virginia Lu! Have an awesome rest of your day!

Wednesday, November 4, 2020

Altenew November 2020 Stamps/Dies/Stencils/Embossing Folders Release Blog Hop

Hello there everyone! I am happy to be joining you today as part of the Altenew Twinkle and Shine Blog Hop! You should have arrived here from the blog of Maryam Perez. If not, you can go back to the beginning of the hop at the Altenew Card Blog.

You can see the full release here: November 2020 Twinkle & Shine Release Collection Page.

To celebrate this release, we have a variety of special offers for you.

Here are THREE ways to get a FREEBIE to kickstart your creativity!

Get a FREE brand new Twinkle & Shine Stamp & Die Release Inspiration Booklet (worth $5.99) with every order of high-value Twinkle & Shine release bundles. Shop HERE! *Exclusions apply.
Get a FREE brand new Online Cardmaking Class with every order from the new Twinkle & Shine Stamp & Die Release collection from 11/04/2020 through 11/10/2020. Shop HERE!
Get a FREE brand new Twinkle & Shine Stamp & Die Release Mini Inspiration Booklet with every order from 11/04/2020 through 11/06/2020. Shop HERE!

Giveaway Prizes:

To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $50 gift certificate to 3 lucky winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog by 11/10/2020 for a chance to win.

Altenew will also draw a winner to receive a $15 gift certificate from the comments left on each designer’s blog on the blog hop list below. All winners will be announced on the Altenew Winners Page on 11/12/2020.

Here is your Blog Hop Order:

Altenew Card Blog
Laura Bassen
Erum Tasneem
Kelly Griglione
Therese Calvird
Amber Rain Davis
Tenia Nelson
Nicole Watt
Terri Koszler
Nathalie DeSousa
Jenny Colacicco
Jaycee Gaspar
Victoria Calvin
Amanda Baldwin
Emily Midgett
Kymona Tracey
Dana Joy
Lilith Eeckels
LauraJane
Norine Borys
Vicky Papaioannou
Virginia Lu
Nenette S. Madero
Svitlana Shayevich
Keisha Charles
Maryam Perez
>>>>>Vicki Finger<<<<<
Laurie Willison
Reiko Tsuchida
Amy Hill
Agnieszka Małyszek
Anna Veach

Let's get started with the projects! I don't have as many projects for you as I was planning on since there was a production issue and I did not get everything I wanted to work with.

For my first project, I combined the Linear Stencil with the Mandala Confetti Dies. With all of it's intersecting lines, I knew this stencil would be great to use with the confetti dies. I did not get the stamp set because I wanted to use the dies in a different way. I did light ink blending over the stencil using Rose Quartz Ink. Each shape in the Mandala Confetti Dies has 7 sizes so there are a multitude of ways to use this set. I especially love to include little hearts on cards for my girlfriends, so this set will probably reside on my desk.

While my white cardstock is just plain, I did give it a healthy amount of simmer mist before I die cut the panel. All of the little die cuts are cut from various shades of shimmer cardstock scraps, so in person, this is a very elegant card.

I also used gems at a lot of points as well. Since this release is called "Twinkle & Shine" I wanted to make it Twinkle all over, so both of my projects have lots of twinkle and shine included on them today. I mean, you all would expect nothing less from me, would you? *Ü*

Here is the image of the stamp set in case you'd like to see

For the greeting, I used the Altenew peace die on some white cardstock that was inked up in an ombre style from light to dark, with the darkest part at the bottom of the die-cut word.

Next up is a card using a new Stamp and Die collection called Sparkled. There are stamps and coordinating die available.

This is a really beautiful bloom and the foliage is very nice as well. I stamped all of the color layers first and then went back and added the outline image with heat embossing using Versamark and Altenew Antique Gold Embossing Powder.

Because of the sentiment I chose to use, again I added a lot of bling to this card with sequins and gems.

The background paper is from the Summer Garden Paper Pack. It's an Ombre Stripe that starts out grey on the left side and turns to a pale mauve/pink on the other side. I thought it was the perfect paper to really highlight the bloom.

Thanks for stopping by today! I always appreciate it when you take the time to comment on my blog posts and especially when you shop through my affiliate links. The lovely Laurie Willison is next up on the hop.