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 ~ 

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 ~ 

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 ~ 

Sweet November Stamps ~ Shimmer & Shine!

Today I’m diving deep into the magical underwater world of Sweet November Stamps with this enchanting card featuring the "Shimmer and Shine" clear stamp set from the new Tails of the Sea collection! 🧜‍♀️💫

This sweet mermaid is perched on a clam shell bed that I hand drew just for her! The entire scene was brought to life using Copic Markers, adding depth and vibrancy to this dreamy oceanic background. I absolutely loved playing with the soft waves and glowing water effect surrounding her.

 

✨ Don’t forget! The "Tails of the Sea" Instagram Hop is still going strong! Swim over to my Instagram to start hopping and be sure to leave comments along the way for a chance to WIN the ENTIRE clear stamp release!

For my Intsagram post, I used one of the Mermees from the "Lovely Mermees" stamp set.  I knew I had to set her a glow on the dock.  I used the post from the "Dock of the Bay" stamp set to set the scene. 

And the fun doesn’t stop there—there’s also a fabulous YouTube Hop happening right now. Begin the journey with Amy Gould over on her channel: CraftyPurpleFrog9085

PLUS… when you spend $75 USD or more at Sweet November Stamps, you’ll receive the exclusive “SN Gal Merielle” clear stamp as a free gift. You won’t want to miss out on her!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope this little mermaid inspires you to shimmer, shine, and get crafty!

~ Ally ~

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 ~

Sweet November Stamps ~ Swing into Spring *PRIZE*

It’s time to hop into some magical fun with Sweet November Stamps’ Swing Into Spring Insta-Hop! 

I’m so excited to share my card featuring the absolutely adorable May Emerald Dragon from the brand new clear stamp release! 🐉💚

To create this whimsical scene, I paired our little dragon friend with the Horizon Lines: Spring in Bloom set and added a royal touch using the castle from Horizon Lines: Seaside Cliffs. Everything came to life with my beloved Copic markers!

💬 Don’t forget — this hop includes a giveaway for the entire release! Be sure to: ✔️ Like ✔️ Comment ✔️ Follow each participant

📅 The fun runs from Saturday, April 12th through Tuesday, April 15th — so don’t miss your chance to win!

🕗 Hop starts at: 8 AM PDT | 9 AM MDT | 10 AM CDT | 11 AM EDT | 4 PM BST | 5 PM CEST

Check out all the inspiration and join the hop over on Instagram! 💖

START HERE:
@i_card_so_hard

Hope you'll come and hop along!

~ Ally ~

Scrap'N Stamp ~ The HOP Hop *PRIZE*

Hi crafty friends! It’s time to celebrate all things spring, Easter, and of course—bunnies! I’m so excited to be hopping along with Scrap ‘N Stamp for their HOP Hop Blog Hop! 🐇🌸

Today I’m sharing a bright and playful card featuring the absolutely adorable “Somebunny” stamp set from My Favorite Things. These sweet little bunnies were just begging to be colored up in vibrant Easter-inspired hues!

🖍 Copic Colors Used:

• Yellows: Y06, Y08

• Pinks: RV04, RV09

• Oranges: YR04, YR07

• Reds: R35, R37

• Greens: G03, G07

For the sky background, I blended Distress Oxide Inks in:

• Tumbled Glass

• Salty Ocean

I love how the soft sky adds that breezy spring feel, and the postage stamp-style layout makes it look like little snapshots of bunny cuteness! 🐰💌

Here's our hop list...

Scrap'n Stamp
Meghan
Allison
Kate << GO HERE!
Tara
Deepa

🎉 Hop Rules:

• Hop along each stop and leave a comment for a chance to WIN a Scrap ‘N Stamp gift card!

• The more you comment, the more chances you have to win!

• One lucky winner will be announced on the Scrap ‘N Stamp blog after the hop ends.

So keep hopping, get inspired, and maybe even pick up a few new goodies for your spring stash!

I hope this sweet and simple bunny card brings a smile to your face. 🐣💛
Thanks so much for stopping by, and happy hopping!

Crafty hugs,

~ Ally ~

Crafty Merkai ~ A Songbird Serenade & an Instagram Hop *PRIZE*

The latest release from Crafty Meraki is here, and it’s bursting with beauty, elegance, and song!  I’m so excited to share a card I created using the brand new Songbird Serenade stamp, stencil, and die set—part of the Meraki Melody collection, already in the shop!

This delicate hummingbird is the star of the show, surrounded by blooming florals and soft greenery. I used Catherine Pooler Designs inks to bring the bird and blossoms to life with soft, layered blends and a touch of splatter for sparkle. 💙💛💜

The coordinating stencil made it a breeze to color in the flowers and leaves, while the matching die set allowed me to pop up each element with beautiful dimension on a slimline card layout. The soft ivory background and gently deckled edges let all that color shine!

 What I Used:

• Crafty Meraki – Songbird Serenade stamp, stencil & die

• Catherine Pooler Inks – for vibrant, blendable color

• Metallic sparkly splatter – for finishing touches

• “Thank You” sentiment – from the stamp set, for that elegant final touch

🎉 Join the Hop on Instagram!

We’re celebrating the Meraki Melody release with an Instagram Hop and you’re invited! There’s a ton of inspiration waiting for you—and maybe even some prizes! 😉

✨ Head to @crafty_meraki to start hopping and see the full release lineup!
✨ You’ll find my post over at @i_card_so_hard along the way!

This release is singing with joy and I can’t wait to see what you all create with it. Thanks so much for stopping by—and don’t forget to hop along!

💗 Stay crafty,

~ Ally ~

Spellbinder's ~ Justine's Farm Instagram Hop *PRIZE*

I’m beyond excited to celebrate the launch of the Justine’s Farm collection from Spellbinders, designed by Justine Dvorak! 

Justine has created 5 Press Plates for her collection.  She's included a little pig, a cow, a little lamb, a rooster and chicken set and a sweet little farm scene.  All of these products are listed at the bottom if you wish to view them up close.

To make this even sweeter, Justine is giving away a $25 store credit to Spellbinders to one lucky winner! To enter, just drop a comment on each post in the Instagram hop. Easy peasy! 

To begin hopping, please begin on Justine's Instagram page, HERE.

Today I'm sharing the adorable piglet, "Daisy", on my card.

I used my Spellbinders Betterpress Letterpress system to letterpress my little oinker and the sentiment.

I used my sewing machine to tack on the sentiment pieces and also the focal panel.

Once dry, I colored it with Copic Markers.

Isn't sweet little Daisy adorable???

Make sure you join the Instagram hop for a chance to WIN! 

~ Ally ~