Sea-Sational MerMay Magic with Sweet November Stamps!

The newest Sweet November Stamps release is here, and it is absolutely overflowing with under-the-sea inspiration! The Sea-Sational MerMay Release features 11 brand-new mermaid-themed stamp sets, including enchanting mermaids, ocean friends, and the fabulous new ocean throne scene elements that make creating underwater worlds so much fun.

For today's card, I combined two of the new release products: Retro Pin Up Mermaids and Mermaid Throne. The Retro Pin Up Mermaids stamp set includes three glamorous mermaids with a vintage pin-up vibe, along with two coordinating sentiments. I couldn't resist pairing this beauty with the gorgeous Mermaid Throne image, creating a luxurious underwater retreat surrounded by colorful coral reefs and sparkling sea life.

To bring the scene to life, everything was colored with Copic Markers. I used my Copic Airbrush System to create depth and dimension throughout the coral reefs, building up the darker ocean tones as they fade into the distance. The airbrushed gradients really help create the feeling of being deep beneath the waves.

One of my favorite features of this card is that the mermaid actually floats up and down above her shell throne, adding a fun interactive element that makes the scene even more magical.

Be sure to join us for the Sea-Sational MerMay Instagram Hop, which starts today! You can find my hop post over on Instagram at @i_card_so_hard. Hop along, leave comments on the designers' posts, and you'll be entered for a chance to WIN one of four $30 Sweet November Stamps gift certificates. There is so much gorgeous inspiration waiting for you throughout the hop!

Happy hopping, and good luck!

~ Ally ~ 

Sweet November Stamps ~ Joyful Gatherings Insta-Hop!

Today kicks off the Joyful Gatherings Instagram Hop with Sweet November Stamps, and I’m so excited to be sharing my project featuring the fabulous SN Gal: Renee! This brand-new clear stamp release is packed with festive winter magic, and Renee is definitely ready to ring in the New Year in style.

For my card, I wanted to capture that celebratory, “night on the town” energy. I stamped and colored Renee in her glittery best, then surrounded her with lots of sparkle and movement. To amp up the party vibe, I reached for the confetti stamp from the Fairwee Happy Birthday set—it was perfect for adding those scattered, joyful details on her photo frame.

To finish the design, I included a sentiment from the Signs of the Season stamp set. Even though it’s traditionally a holiday set, the sentiment I chose ties in beautifully with Renee’s festive, glamorous look. A little inky glow and some shimmer accents brought the whole New Year’s scene together.

🌟 Make sure to hop along on Instagram for your chance to win!
Four random participants will each receive a $30 SNS gift card just for following the hop rules.

🗓 Hop starts: Saturday, November 15th
🗓 Hop ends: Tuesday, November 18th @ 11:59 PM EST

✨ How to enter:
• Follow each designer along the hop
• Like and comment on their SNS post

START HERE!

You can shop the entire Joyful Gatherings clear stamp release now in the Sweet November Stamps shop.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and happy hopping! 🎉 

~ Ally ~ 

Scrap 'n Stamp ~ The crafty Canuck Christmas Creative Hop *PRIZE*

It’s time for another fun Scrap ’N Stamp Instagram Hop—and this one’s extra special! We’re celebrating the Crafty Canuck Christmas Creative Hop, featuring The Crafty Canuck’s fabulous dies and products!

For my project today, I used the “Gnome & Friends” die set to create these three festive little gnomies. Aren’t they adorable? Each one has its own holiday personality—from the candy-cane-striped hat to the sweet reindeer antlers and that charming little gingerbread friend!  I used my Copcis to add whimsy and details for each character.  To finish off my scene, I used the “Wonky Stitched Rectangles” dies to give them a crisp stitched border and subtle inky glow.  

For the center gnome, I used a mini Action Wobbler to make him interactive! So cute!! 

You can start the hop over on Instagram at @scrapnstampcanadaand follow along to see what the rest of our amazing designers have created! 

Don’t forget to leave a comment at each stop for your chance to WIN! 🦫 

And that’s not all — you can SAVE 25% on all Crafty Canuck products at Scrap ’N Stamp right now! It’s the perfect time to stock up on some of these adorable dies for your Christmas crafting. Happy hopping and happy crafting, friends!

~ Ally ~ 

Scrap'N Stamp ~ Spooky Scary Skeletons Instagram Hop **WIN**

Boo! 👻 It’s time for the Spooky Scary Skeletons Creative Hop with Scrap’N Stamp! This hop features some frightfully fun products from The Crafty Canuck shop — perfect for celebrating the Halloween season.

For my card today, I’m showcasing the adorable “Tall Cats” die set. This set features four bright-eyed cuties that are just the right mix of spooky and sweet!

To create my background, I began by blending Distress Oxide Inks in Mustard Seed, Carved Pumpkin, and Crackling Campfire to achieve that warm, glowing Halloween sunset look. Next, I added a misting of Distress Mica Stain in Wicked Elixir and Hocus Pocus to give the background some magical shimmer and movement.

Once the panel was dry, I masked off the ground area and blended it with Black Soot Distress Oxide ink to create a dark base for my cats to sit upon. Using Lavinia Stamps, I added some Spring Trees to the horizon for a haunting silhouette and finished with a sprinkling of Burst of Stars across the sky for a twinkly night effect.

The cats were die cut from black cardstock and their eyes and noses were backed with white cardstock, then colored with a bright orange hue for a spooky glow. To finish, I stamped a playful sentiment from the Catherine Pooler “Ghostly Greetings Sentiments” stamp set — “For my frightfully fun friend.”

Come join the hop over on Instagram! 🎃
Hop along each guest’s page, leave a comment, and you could win one of four $25 Scrap’N Stamp Gift Certificates!
Start the hop at @scrapnstampcanada — you won’t want to miss all the spooky inspiration from the team!

Happy hopping!

~ Ally ~ 

Scrap'N Stamp ~ Harvest Hop & Inky Sale!

Welcome friends! Today I’m excited to be joining the Scrap’N Stamp Harvest Instagram Hop where our design team is celebrating all things Autumn with a variety of festive Fall cards. 🍁 Don’t forget—we’ve also got an INKY SALE happening this weekend: enjoy 20% off almost all inks! It’s the perfect chance to stock up on your favorites like Catherine Pooler inks and Distress Oxides. 🎨

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My Harvest Hop Cards 🌾

For today’s project, I created a rich Autumn card using the Sizzix “Pumpkin Duo” Dies and lots of inky layering!

• I began with a piece of purple cardstock as my base. To add texture and depth, I stamped a damask print and then layered on a subtle knit effect using The Crafter’s Workshop “Knitted Stitching” stencil in shades of purple ink. This gave the background a warm and cozy look.

• Next, I die cut the pumpkins from the Pumpkin Duo Dies using yellow and orange cardstock. I distressed them with a variety of Distress Oxide inks—Carved Pumpkin, Wild Honey, Ripe Persimmon, Crackling Campfire, and Gathered Twigs—to create that rustic, dimensional shading we love on Fall gourds.

• I added green cardstock stalks to the pumpkins and tucked them into my scene.

• To bring in a leafy element, I die cut the Catherine Pooler Designs “Falling Foliage Dies” from green and yellow cardstock and distressed them with coordinating Distress Oxide inks for extra texture.

• For a touch of whimsy, I stamped tiny stars from the Lavinia “Burst of Stars” stamp set in Black Soot ink.

• Finally, I finished the card with a copper-embossed “Autumn Blessings” sentiment and some stitched edging for that handmade touch.

Here’s a closer look at my finished project:

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Play Along & Win! 🎁

You can hop along with us and be inspired by all the gorgeous Fall creations. Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and FOLLOW @scrapnstampcanada for your chance to win!

👉 To enter, leave a comment on each Instagram stop telling us: What’s your favorite part of Fall? 🍂 Four lucky winners will each receive a $25 Scrap’N Stamp Gift Certificate!

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Hop Participation List 🌟

Be sure to check out all the amazing designers sharing their Harvest Hop projects today:

@scrapnstampcanada

@i_card_so_hard (that's me!)

@taranixoncox

@DeeZinesByD

@Inkyandscrappy

@jerralynrose

@rookiecardmaker

@kpkards

@madebymeghank

 

Thanks for stopping by today! Wishing you all an inky, crafty, and pumpkin-spiced kind of day. 🍂 

 

Happy Hopping!

 

~ Ally ~ 

Sweet November Stamps ~ Ahoy Mate! **WIN!**

It’s time to set sail on a creative journey because Sweet November Stamps is kicking off a brand new Instagram Hop to celebrate the Summertime Adventures clear stamp release! I'm excited to be joining in with this fun pirate-themed card featuring the brand new "A Wee Bit of Piracy" clear stamp set. These charming little buccaneers stole my heart—and a few coconuts too! 🏴‍☠️🍹🌴

To bring this adventurous scene to life, I also used the "Yo Ho Ho Background Builder" stamp set to build the deck of a pirate ship at sea, complete with a tropical island sunset and even a cheeky parrot looking on.

Everything is colored with Copic Markers, and I added multiple popped-up dimensional layers to give the whole scene that interactive, storybook feel.

 🧭 You can start hopping over on the Sweet November Stamps Instagram page and follow the designers along the way for inspiration, fun, and your chance to win the entire release! 🎁

🛍️ Don’t forget—you can shop the brand new clear stamp release now at www.sweetnovemberstamps.com!

📅 Hop Dates:

• Starts: Saturday, July 12th

• Ends: Tuesday, July 15th at midnight EDT

Now grab your treasure maps, follow the trail of inspiration, and don’t miss your chance to win big!

~ Ally ~ 

Scrap'n Stamp ~ Christmas in July Instagram Hop **PRIZE**

It’s time to trade in your sunscreen for snowflakes — the Christmas in July Instagram Hop is here at Scrap’n Stamp! ❄️🎅

For today’s hop, I’m sharing a festive creation featuring the “Winter Wishes Reindeer” cleart stamp set by Sweet November Stamps. Isn’t this little gift-toting reindeer just the cutest?

To bring this wintery scene to life, I ink blended a snowy sky using Distress Oxide inks in Shaded Lilac, Dusty Concord, and Villainous Potion.  So make it even more wintery, I used some white acrylic paint to add that touch of snow in the sky.  My reindeer is colored up using Copic Markers, and I added a few sparkly snowflake embellishments for that magical Christmas charm. ✨

I used some clear sparkly embossing powder and stamped on a few fun flakes from the stamp set.  An extra drop of some iridescent Stickles topped off each snowflake. 

A white heat embossed sentiment on some vellum was the perfect touch fr this holiday card! 

🛍️ Don't miss our Christmas in July SALE!
Enjoy 25% OFF all holiday goodies in the shop — it's the perfect time to stock up on stamps, dies, and wintery inspiration while supplies last!  SHOP HERE!

🎁 Want to win one of FOUR $50 gift certificates?
Hop along with us on Instagram! Start here 👉 @scrapnstampcanada and comment on every designer's post for your chance to win!

I hope my reindeer card helps bring a little Christmas magic to your summer crafting!

~ Ally ~ 

Scrap'n Stamp ~ Summer Fun Instagram Hop

Today we're celebrating all things summer over at Scrap'n Stamp — from sunshine and sandy toes to sunsets and sweet treats! ☀️🌴

For this hop, I embraced the vibrant colors of summer and created a card that’s all about chill vibes and beachy dreams. I used the Altenew “Spectacular Adventures” stamp set and built my card around a colorful sunset scene reflected in some stylish shades. 😎

To set the stage, I created a bold and bright rectangle panel using a rainbow of Catherine Pooler Inks: Glitz, Tiki Torch, Tutti Frutti, Samba, Oh Boy!, Fiesta Blue, All That Jazz and Aquatini.

These inked panels were die cut using one of my favorite dies—Prism Studio’s “Nesting Stitched Rectangles”—to give it that crisp and finished look.

For the background behind the sunglasses, I added a bit of sparkle and texture using a deckled rectangle cut from glitter-embossed cardstock. That was made using the Aall & Create “Polaroid Pop #089” die set, which added just the right amount of interest without overpowering the focal point.

To tie it all together, I colored the sunglass lenses with Copic Markers, echoing the same dreamy sunset tones from my inked panel. As a final pop of dimension and detail, I added a few Spellbinders “Tone on Tone Teal” Dimensional Dots.

The sentiment “you’re too cool for the summer” captures the whole mood—laid-back, colorful, and cool.

PLUS... we're having a SALE!  Make sure to check out the SHOP for all the summer fun!

☀️ Be sure to hop along with us over on Instagram for more sun-soaked inspiration from the team, and don’t forget to leave comments along the way for your chance to win!

HEAD ON OVER TO THE SCRAP'N STAMP INSTAGRAM PAGE TO GET A CHANCE TO WIN! 

See you over there!

~ Ally ~

Catherine Pooler ~ Let's Catch Some Rays!

Summer fun is officially here with the Big Splash release from Catherine Pooler Designs! Today I’m sharing a bright and playful card featuring the adorable “Poolside Pets” stamp and coordinating die set — and let me tell you, these critters are soaking up the sun in style!

I paired the pup with the watermelon floatie image with a bold layout made from the Big Splash 6x6 Patterned Paper pack. I used the green checkered paper for the lower half and that cheerful yellow sunburst paper at the top. These prints totally scream summer!

The sentiment, “Let’s Catch Some Rays,” is from the same stamp set and was stamped in Sweetheart ink — one of two brand new ink colors in this release. I die cut the sentiment using the Tickets & Tapes Dies, then added some fun detail stitching across the center with pink thread for extra flair. The whole panel is framed with the Scallops & Dots Dies, giving the card a clean, polished look.

🌊 Want to win the new Sweetheart and Pistachio inks (plus matching refills and side labels)?

Hop over to the Catherine Pooler Instagram page and join the Big Splash release hop for your chance!

✨ Grab your summer must-haves now at Catherine Pooler Designs using my affiliate link:
                    👉 https://shop.catherinepooler.com?aff=49

 

 

Stay cool and crafty!

~ Ally ~ 

Catherine Pooler ~ Big Splash Instagram Hop **PRIZE**

We’re diving into summer fun with a splash of color and cuteness, and I’m so excited to share my card for this fabulous event with Catherine Pooler Designs!

For my card, I created a playful poolside scene using the brand new "Sweetheart" ink. I blended it through a wavy stencil to mimic rippling pool water—it makes the perfect backdrop for our summer-loving critters!

Those adorable floating animals? They’re from the "Poolside Pets" stamp and coordinating die set. But here’s the best part: each one of the critters rotates on the card front! I turned this into a fun interactive card, making it feel like these cuties are really spinning around in their floaties.

We’re not done making waves yet! There’s another new ink color joining the party—"Pistachio"—a refreshing green that pairs beautifully with Sweetheart and will make your summer crafting pop.

💦 Be sure to hop along over on Instagram for your chance to win both Sweetheart and Pistachio ink pads, refills, and side labels! Just follow the steps in the graphic to enter.

Let me know what you think of this summery creation—and don’t forget to follow along for more sunny inspiration!

~ Ally ~ 

 

Items become available on Wednesday June 11th...

Scrap'N Stamp ~ Foiled'N Fabulous Insta Hop *PRIZE*

Welcome to the Foiled’N Fabulous Instagram Hop with Scrap’N Stamp Canada! We're so excited to bring you a rainbow of inspiration today as we celebrate the beauty of all things FOIL—from hot foil to toner foil to gilding flakes and beyond!

For my project, I decided to bring a little garden magic to life using the adorable “Garden Buddies” die set by Spellbinders. These sweet little gnomes are nestled among shiny blooms, all beautifully enhanced with Lisa Horton’s Gilding Flakes for that luxurious foiled finish. 🌸🧙‍♂️

The shimmer and texture of the gilding flakes add a playful yet elegant touch to the flowers and their cute little outfits. These cards are perfect for birthdays or just to bring a smile to someone’s face!

🌟 Hop Details:

Join the hop starting at @scrapnstampcanada and be sure to comment along the way for your chance to WIN a $50 Gift Certificate to the Scrap’N Stamp shop! 💸

Don’t miss all the foiled inspiration from these fabulous creators:

• @scrapnstampcanada

• @madebymeghank

• @i_card_so_hard

• @taranixoncox

• @deezinesbyd

Thanks for stopping by—and happy hopping! 💖

~ Ally ~