Paper Smooches Love

I've been hanging out with Kim at Paper Smooches this morning … of course she doesn't realize we were hanging out.  When she announced the closing of Paper Smooches this morning, I got a little emotional and spent the morning reminiscing about how much Kim's designs have influenced the arc of my own stamping development arc.

 

She also probably doesn't realize we've been hanging out together for the past 9 years.  I first fell in love with Kim's designs when she designed for Cornish Heritage Farms and this is the first card I uploaded with her designs in July 2011 for Kim's  Paper Smooches Paper Sparks Challenge that had 106 Cards linked-up (so clearly a lot of other people were hanging out with her too).

 

I always wanted to make "cute" cards, but I always struggled … but for some reason Kim's characters spoke to me and made me comfortable embracing them.  I don't know if it was the wonky eyeballs, for the fun feet and hands … or her love of monsters … but they clicked with me, and for that I was grateful.   I also adored her hand-written fonts.

Kim's Snow Dudes line is one of my absolute favorites … those snowmen have been a standard on my holiday cards for years.  

 

It combines Paper Smooches Snowman 2 Die Cut with a sentiment from Just a Note.

Her Die Cuts are so fun and unique … and she has an Ear of Corn, so what more could an Iowan Want.

 

And her Animal Sets have gotten so much use.

 

Needless to say, I could go on for days … you can see all my Paper Smooches designs if you click this link.

So while I was "hanging out with Kim" I made a card for her current Paper Smooches Flower Challenge (I was super-thrilled to be one of the winners for her May Challenge).

 

 

I saw an awesome Ink-on-Vellum Technique at the Create a Smile Stamps Instagram Account this morning and wanted to give it a try (why have I never tried that??)  I thought it would be perfect with the Paper Smooches So Lovely Flower.  I stamped it in White Pigment Ink and Embossed with White Detail Embossing Powder on Vellum.  Here are the inks I used and how it looked on the back of the Vellum.

 

I wanted the ink to be completely dry before attaching it to my card base and found that using the heat gun melted the embossing powder on the front of the vellum (oops, do-over), so I used a fan to get it nice and dry.

 

I wrapped the vellum around the card base and attached it on the back.  The slight warping didn't bother me … you could use more vellum adhesive on the front to hold it down if you wanted.  I used a sentiment from Paper Smooches Good Gab with this week's CAS(E) this Sketch! because I realized this week that I had no Anniversary Cards in my stash and this flower seemed perfect for that occasion.

 

Love this technique and I'm sure I'll be doing it again.

 

 

I'm also linking-up at Just add Ink where the theme is Just add "F" – F is for Flowers.

 

And this week's Global Design Project Theme is also Florals.

Thanks again Kim for the years of inspiration … wish you only the best on your next adventures.