Essentials by Ellen Blog Hop

Welcome to the Essentials by Ellen Blog Hop!  I am so excited to help unveil a brand new line of high quality Clear Stamp Sets and Designer Dies, designed by Julie Ebersole exclusively for Ellen Hutson LLC.

This collection reflects an eclectic mix of images, sentiments and art styles that are sure to appeal to a wide range of tastes! Just in time for holiday crafting, the entire release is available now at Ellen Hutson LLC.

All Essentials by Ellen Stamp Sets and Dies arrive in signature packaging with a durable clear envelope (you guys, the storage is fantastic, no flimsy plastic bag!) and a labeled card stock backer for convenient storage and organization.  The die packaging also features an attached magnetic sheet, to ensure that even the smallest of your dies is stored securely!

For the hop I was asked to showcase three stamp sets and three dies.  I know it's a long hop, so let's get to it.

First a very CAS card featuring the Autumn Acorns stamp set.  I love the shape of the leaf from this set and that there is both a solid and outline image.




The solid image was perfect for some rock and roll stamping.  To add some texture an interest to the card, I added some hand stitching to the inside of the outline images.  I also added a linen mat behind the stamped panel.



My second card features the Cozy Christmas stamps set and Home & Heath and Laurel Wreath dies.



I wanted to showcase a different use for the Laurel wreath die, so I used it to create the bottom edge of that top panel.  It's a little tricky, but in a nutshell, die cut a scrap wreath, cut it in half and then placed the halves on the patterned paper (cut to 4" x 5 1/4" to determine how you want the boughs to line up.  Tack those in place with some removable adhesive, then place the wreath die on top of one, securing it on one side (so you can still lift it up) with some post it note tape.  Lift the die up slightly to remove the scrap/guide piece and die cut.

Once I had the negative portion complete, I die cut the wreath from green cardstock and pieced it together with the negative cut using some printer paper as a base.

For the bottom portion of the card, I used the partial die cutting technique to die cut the top of two of the houses from the Home & Hearth die set.




The sentiment was stamped and embossed on some more of that woodgrain patterned paper and adhered to the partial die cut piece.  I added some Lawn Fawn Lawn Trimmings and then adhered both the top and bottom pieces with foam adhesive.  A little red die heart die cut from Home & Hearth finished it off.

My first two card are more controlled and planned out.  My last card came together a little more organically.  I used the Bokeh Dots stamp set, the Stag Die, and then used the Brushstroke Joy die for a sentiment.



I first stamped the doodled circles on some watercolor paper and the painted them in with Kuretake watercolors.  I thought it would be fun to add some stitching around that large circle and stitched on some gold sequins while I was at it.  I also added some stamped black accents using that fun cluster of black dots stamp.

I wanted some gold 'gilding' on the stag's horns, so I pressed some Versamark onto them and embossed them in gold.  I felt like that made the black cardstock too boring so, I went ahead and embossed the rest of it in clear and the popped it up with some foam adhesive.



The sentiment was cut from some gold cardstock and adhered directly to the panel.  I wanted a bit of a frame, and debated whether to doodle it or stitch it and decided to go with stitching.  

Ok, that is all for me today, and now I have some giveaway fun for you!  The VERY generous Ellen and Julie are sponsoring giveaways at each stop along the hop.  We were each allowed to choose one of our showcase sets to giveaway.  I picked Bokeh Dots.



It's such a versatile set, I have a feeling I'll be reaching for it a lot to add that perfect finishing tough to my projects.  This new stamp set will go to one lucky winner! Please leave a comment to be entered to win.

If you're just getting started, the fun all starts at the CLASSroom, where there is a GIANT prize package being given away—be sure to leave a comment there and at each stop along the way, I have the full hop list below for you, by October 8th; winners will be announced October 9th!

HOPPERS:
The CLASSroom - http://ellenhutson.typepad.com/the_classroom_new/
Teri Anderson - terisplace.wordpress.com
Laurel Beard - www.laurelbeard.org
JJ Bolton - www.jjbolton.org
Heather Campbell - http://parkermolly.blogspot.com
Kittie Caracciolo - http://kittiekraft.typepad.com/kittiekraft/
Darlene DeVries - http://www.darlenedesign.com
Julie Ebersole – http://papertrufflez.com
Sharon Harnist - http://paperfections.typepad.com/
Amber Kemp-Gerstel - www.damasklove.com
Cristina Kowalczyk - http://mypapersecret.blogspot.com/
Karolyn Loncon - karolyns-paperkraft.blogspot.com
Nichol Magouirk - http://nicholmagouirk.typepad.com
Jean Manis - www.jeanmanis.com
Jennifer McGuire - http://www.jennifermcguireink.com/
Chari Moss - www.mossymade.com
Paulina Nakamura - http://www.prettypinkposh.com/blog
Jocelyn Olson - http://redballooncards.blogspot.com
Catherine Pooler - www.catherinepooler.com
Miriam Prantner - http://mprantner.blogspot.com (you are here...and almost done!)
Julia Stainton - http://juliastainton.com/blog

Enjoy and happy World Card-making Day!