Hello, and welcome to the Holiday 2016 Essentials by Ellen Release Hop! You should have arrived to me by way of Joni Nina Andaya! Today I have FOUR cards and a full product reveal video to share with you today!!!!!! I’ve also got a giveaway so make sure you read to the end of this post.
My first two cards features the Bird Shapes dies. Let’s take a look at the first one, shall we? I watercolored one of the birds and then applied a coating of Versamark by smooshing the ink pad directly onto the bird die cut and sprinkled on some Judikins Sparkle embossing powder and heat set it to give the bird some serious sparkle! Pairing the bird with a watercolored panel seemed to be the obvious choice for me. To create that background, I used the Ken Oliver color burst (Turquoise and Orchid) onto a piece of watercolored card stock I die cut with the STAX Inside & Out Diagonal Stitched Rectangle die.
After adhering the bird to the watercolored panel, I stamped the sentiment from Season to Sparkle and and grabbed the Believe Script word die. I die cut it with black card stock, smooshed the Versamark inkpad yet again onto the die cut piece, sprinkled on that gorgeous Judikins embossing powder and heat set! You can really see the shine from the background, the bird and the word die in this next pic!
The next card uses the other bird from the Bird Shapes die set. I used the same technique with the bird on the above card as I did here. I grabbed a piece of watercolored cardstock and smooshed (I love saying that word) some Peacock Feathers distress ink onto my craft mat and then pressed the left hand corner of the watercolored cardstock into the ink.
The sentiment is from the Season to Sparkle stamp set and the twigs the bird is carrying is from the Homespun Holiday stamp set. I flicked on some Silver Texture spray and added some clear sequins to finish of this card.
My next two cards features the Tree Farm stamps and coordinating dies. I colored and die cut the adorable hedgehog, hot cocoa (or coffee or tea – whatever your pleasure) and scarf. I popped the scarf and hot cocoa cup up with double sided tape. I like to add little pops of dimension here and there where I can.
I die cut a circle from some masking paper and adhered it to the card. I blended Mermaid Lagoon, Cracked Pistachio and Tumbled Glass to create the sky. I removed the mask and stamped the sentiment from the Tree Farm Stamp set. I flicked on some Perfect Pearls to create the look of stars.
My last card! Are you still with me??? The Raccoon from the Tree Farm stamp set is so cute isn’t he. Or she! It’s a he for today’s purposes! I watercolored him, die cut him and adhered him to a woodgrain circle. He needed a little hat to keep his head warm too! 🙂
I heavily distressed the backgrounds of both panels with some Gathered Twigs and Vintage Photo distress distress ink. The background panel? I wanted to add a little something something. I first die cut the word JOY from the Holidays Words die set and used it as a stencil. I blendedd some Vintage Photo distress ink thru the stencil to get the Joy in the background. Then I stamped the tree from the Homespun Holiday stamp set all all over the panel. 🙂 The Merry Christmas sentiment is from the Season to Sparkle stamp set.
Next up on the hop is Heather Campbell! If you get lost along the hop, please visit the CLASSroom blog for a complete list of all the designers.
GIVEAWAY: I am giving away an Essentials by Ellen stamp set! That’s right. The winner may choose ANY instock Essentials by Ellen brand stamp set (max value of $25 USD) . To enter, just leave a comment right here on this post by Tuesday, October 25h! There is also a GRAND GIVEAWAY over at the CLASSroom! ALL WINNERS will be announced at the CLASSroom on Friday, November 4th!
I did film a FULL REVEAL video for you all where I show you each and every product in this release! You can watch the video right here on the blog or over on my youtube channel in HD by clicking HERE!
Thanks for hopping with me today!!!!!! Remember, Next up on the hop is Heather Campbell!
Supplies used in todays cards:
I love these cards and the backgrounds are amazing as are the colors you used in the birds. So pretty!
Pretty, pretty cards!! Love the glittery dove and the adorable little hedgehog!!
Great stamps and dies for the holidays! Love the raccoon and hedge hog cards!
I do love the textures on your cards… and that raccoon!!! He looks startled… lol.
Beautiful colors! Thank you for sharing.
Gorgeous cards.
Great hedgehog card. So cute!
Such marvelous backgrounds to showcase the new images! The dove is lovely; the hedgehog and the raccoon, incredibly sweet! WOW on every level; thank you for the smiles today!
~carol
NICE! Very Cute cards. You’ve been busy!
Oh! I’ll take one of each…wink!
Very pretty cards. Thanks for the release video; it’s so nice to be able to see all the products.
Hi Laurel. Your projects are great! Especially love the tree farm one!
Love the color combinations. The card designs are so pretty.
Such pretty cards, this is a great hog with so much inspiration!
Wow… I am amazed at each stop on the hop… and yours does not disappoint.. such diversity in all your cards with the products you showcased… thanks so much for sharing and the chance to win. 🙂
That hedgie and raccoon are just too sweet!
Love the little critters!! Great cards!!
WOW — such diverse and unique projects. TFS! Love all your beautiful water colored effects. The final raccoon card is my favorite… beautiful blending of colors and textures. Mmmmmm…. lovely.
You have an amazing blend of beauty and fun here!
Your cards are all awesome! LOVE the pretty birds. The hedgehog is a delight! And that raccoon is so cute.
Oh my gosh. I love the what you have done with the bird but the little raccoon and hedgehog are sooo cute. Great cards.
Amazing ideas. Absolutely gorgeous!!
Beautiful bird cards and cute critter cards.
Beautiful cards…I just love your dove card with the Peacock Feathers corner!
I love your beautiful birds!
Beautiful cards. Thank you.
Love this release and all of your cards!
Four great cards, Laurel. The soft backgrounds for the birds are so pretty, and the hedgehog and racoon are just adorable!
Thank you for all the effort you went to to showcase all the wonderful stamps and dies, from your beautiful cards to the video! Kudos to you!
Beautiful cards. I love the critters 🙂
I can’t get over the effect on those birds, Laurel! So pretty! XO!
Love your cards Laurel! Especially the ones with the birds…gorgeous! Such an awesome new release!!
LOve all the glittery, celestial gorgeousness, Laurel … but that raccoon just does it for me!!!
=]
I love the subtle touches – like the line around the border of the 2nd bird card and the JOY background with the raccoon. I just love the Tree Farm stamps.
Stunning cards!!
Beautiful watercolor effects but I think what I loved the most was how you used the JOY and tree image for background stencilling. So clever! Great release and really enjoying the wonderful ideas from the design team! TFS!
Great cards… and that little hedgehog…oh my! Too cute. Thanks for the great ideas.
Your cards are just beautiful! I love all the watercolor! Thanks for sharing some really great techniques!
Well, you know that I adore all of your cards but the one with the cocoa/mocha = ?
Who knew – racoons on Christmas cards! So cute.
Beautiful work
Beautiful cards! It looks like you had a hard time choosing a favorite…just like me!
Well done Mrs Artist !
You are so artistic! Thanks for sharing.
These look fantastic Laurel. Thanks for the release video I always like to see the whole collection
All your cards are lovely. My faves are the bird cards.
Beautiful cards, Laurel, love the bird dies!!
Beautiful cards! I love the pretty blended backgrounds!
Wow what lovely creative cards – love them:_
These are absolutely lovely! Thank you for sharing your ideas and designs. I love these!
These are all so beautiful!
Laurel, wonderful use of all the new products. I love the colors you used and what a creative way to use the great new background die! Thank you also for the video. They always help me and I know they take time for you to create.
cute hedgehog card
Love your critters!
All great cards but that hedgey has my heart!
So pretty!!! Love the gorgeous shimmer colors!!! And cute animals with great backgrounds! Thank you for great inspirations!!!
love the unique ways you used the stamps and inks!
Beautiful. Your doves are gorgeous and your racoon card color is awesome.
Love your cards! The ones with the birds are stunnng!! Such an awesome new release!!
the hedgehog card is adorable!
The colors are fantastic!
Loving the critters ……adorable , I need them , your cards are beautiful thanks for sharing
Gorgeous cards and the
designs and coloring are
awesome!
Carla from Utah
Enjoyed your use of mediums with the 2016 Holiday Collection. My favorite is the
Tree Farm fell in love with the bunny
I love the shine & glitz!
Great cards ! Love the variety of designs in this post! thanks – wish the video worked tho—
Beautiful cards! The hedgehog is adorable, too.
Fantastic cards.
4 beautiful cards ! Great combinations of the different sets, colours, materials, … The perfect-pearls-stars are a good idea. Thank you for sharing your creativity !
Cute cards, wonderful backgrounds and great blog hop!
Great cards and love those backgrounds.
Thank you for sharing your cards. Love your use of distress inks for the backgrounds.
Such wonderful ideas!
Great card designs! Love the bird dies!
These cards are so great! I especially love the hedgehog and racoon cards!
Aww, these critters are so cute and you gave them such pretty homes on your cards! Thanks for the inspiration!
Have a lovely day 🙂
Nicole
Your cards are awesome. The birds are so elegant and the two critters are really cute. I love the raccoon, he’s so sweet !
Love the little racoon, so cute!!
Great colors on each of your cards. The raccoon is too cute!!
Beautiful cards!
Awww Laurel, your cards are all lovely and I was excited to see you had a video but it says its private so I couldn’t watch it???? 🙁
I’ll check back later just in case!
I Love the little raccoon card. It’s so cute, and the distressing is wonderful.
Always love your videos! Your cards are amazing, the backgrounds just enhance the wonderful stamps and dies.
I always enjoy your card designs! These are no exception! Thanks for the inspiration, especially with the doves!
Love those little critters! So cute!
Wow..you got creative crazy!! I really like the bird cards, however my faves are the critter cards! I think the raccoon wins!!
Your use of different mediums for color, texture, sparkle is just WOW! I really like the raccoon card design & background. Those birds are gorgeous.
great cards!!
All fabulous cards. My favorites are the ones with the critters. They are just too cute.
Great cards, my favorite is the one with raccoon:-)
I love all your color blending. you created great backdrops for the wonderful images and dies in the new release.
Laurel all your cards are so amazing!!! But the last two done with the critters from the tree farm stamp set are just adorable ? The backgrounds are awesome too!!
These are lovely! The soft watercolor is really gorgeous.
Gorgeous cards!!! I love how you watercolour for the 2 dove cards and added the beautiful shimmer, I ordered those dove dies the minute I saw them, so beautiful! Your other two cards are adorable, the racoon makes me smile every timeI look at him. I also thought Charlie Brown Christmas when I saw the little tree (and of course had to order it too). Thank you for the great inspirations, your cards are really fantastic!
Lovely cards. I enjoyed browsing your site.
It sure looks like you had fun playing with all these new designs– elegant and adorable!
These are just wonderful! Thanks for sharing!
Both bird die cut cards are stunning. Love the colors……just everything about them. The raccoon is my favorite little critter from this release and your card is adorable.
Thank you for all the wonderful inspiration for these fun stamp designs. Love the Racoon’s expression on his face.
Awesome release, thanks for sharing.
Gorgeous cards!
superb release, I esp love the animal dies and the big joy, love peace die set
Gorgeous cards!!! Love how you used this release!
Fantastic cards. Love the Tree Farm stamp set and the raccoon is so cute. Thank you for sharing your great ideas.
Love all your cards. The raccoon may be my favorite.
You have such a nice voice 🙂 Your cards are stunning, as well.
Fun release–I love that leaping deer die. Thanks for sharing your creations.
What beautiful cards! Something for everyone. I love the subtle watercolors behind the dove. Nice! TFS!
Love the first card more. You are so creative and lots of shine.
your bird cards are so lovely, Laurel!!
I love how you used the cover plate to add texture to your lovely birds!! TFS!
Such great cards!! Love those cute critters!
Beautiful cards, love the stitched texture on the bird, amazing watercoloring and super cute raccoon and hedgehog.
I don’t see the Bunny card here. Only on the video. Loved it. Thanks for showing us some really pretty creativity.
Very lovely cards and different textures, love them!
Amazing cards! Love love love the backgrounds! 🙂
I’m in love with your raccoon!! Great cards!
I love both your peace doves cards!! They are just beautiful!!
And I keep saying,,, I love these creatures on the Tree Farm Stamp and Dies Sets. Just adorable and versatile for kids, adults, ladies and gents!
Love your cards-the birds are so pretty & unique!
I love the idea of using the block sentiments as a stencil. I never think of doing that, so thanks! It looked great on your card. I listened to your product video, and have to tell you that one time a stag walked through my back yard. Talk about impressive, wow! Beautiful creatures.
Gorgeous cards … this is such a great release!
The raccoon is so stinking cute! Thanks for the chance to win!
I love how you die cut the birds from beautifully colored watercolor backgrounds. So beautifull
All of your cards are beautiful, especially the creative backgrounds to showcase your main images.
Great cards.
All of your cards are wonderful!
Amazing cards Laurel.
So gorgeous! Love them all!
Love the misty look of your dads today
Fabulous dimension on your racoon card! Such a great release!
Stunning cards, love the embossing of the entire front of the card.
Great cards! Love the glittery dove and those critters are adorable! Great release and blog hop! Thanks for sharing!
Laurel, Absolutely love the critters, they’re so cute. The color selection is lovely. Thank you for sharing with us.
Two stunning cards and two adorable cards I think this makes for a happy balance tfs.
How pretty your cards are, love the first two!
I love those two bird cards. They are really beautiful and I love their sparkle.
Gorgeous cards, Laurel! Swooning!!!
Such pretty cards! Love the sparkle
Love the birds cards – elegant! The warm and humorous animal cards make me smile
Lovely cards–I especially love the background on the believe card!
These look wonderful. I love the colorful dove!
Love the colors on your cards!
Your masterful use of color is beautiful bringing awesomeness to the Dove of Peace or cute.
Awesome cards! Love the versatility of these products–such a great release. Thanks for sharing on the blog hop!
Nice assortment of cards Laurel. I love the little raccoon with the hat. Thanks for sharing with us.
Absolutely stunning! So many new ideas for me on how to utilise multiple sets on one card.
Omg that tree farm stampset is simply adorable !
Gorgeous colours and sweet critters.
Oh that Tree Farm!!! SO cute!
Your color combinations are gorgeous! I love the smooched peacock feathers card with the large white area. Beautiful cards!!
Great job with your cards, Laurel. I agree, that raccoon is just super cute!
Oh that first card is pure shimmering gorgeousness!
Your raccoon card is so adorable and I love the water colored dove cards!
So pretty and the “Believe” card is stunning!
Beautiful background on your cards. I really like some of the sentiments in the new stamp sets.
Your dove cards are amazing. Love the colors and the glitter. The animals are beyond adorable. Great work. Thanks for sharing.
Laurel, these are stunning cards. Love them all.
All of your cards have such a great blend of colors! Cute new holiday stamps.
Gorgeous cards! love what you have done!!
those first two cards are so soft and peaceful!
Love everything! Please enter me, I would LOVE to win something!
Great cards!
Love your cards! All 4, but especially the birds and your watercolors!
Really nice cards ?
The embossing really adds shine to your card!
Great cards
Such great inspiration to get us ready for the holidays.
Great new sets and cards! I’m really loving that raccoon!
Your cards are beautiful. The colors you achieve are amazing.
You’ve made a nice assortment of designs for the Hop! It is amazing how much variety there is in this collection, and you used a lot of different elements in your cards. Very nicely done. Thanks for sharing!
Cutest raccoon ever!
love the raccoon card
Wonderful new release. I love the stitched background die, and the Believe die. Thanks for sharing your awesome cards!
Such great cards! Love the variety and that background on your raccoon card!
All of your cards are so stunning and beautiful but the one that really caught my eye and I fell head of heels in love with was your racoon card!!!!
Wowza! What beautiful cards, Laurel!
Nicely done, nicely done. But that raccoon face. Too funny.
All four cards are absolutely amazing!! I’m especially taken with the cute raccoon card – absolutely adorale!
Three totally awesome cards and love the first one especially!! Fabulous colors especially!! Cutest racoon too!
How very artistic your first two cards are! Amazing colours. Love the critter cards! The hedgehog with his cocoa sign and the face on that raccoon?! Hilarious!
Your cards are amazing and I love your offbeat sense of style!
Awesome cards to show off this delightful release! From elegant to fun!
Wow! your cards are awesome! Can’t pick a favorite. Thank you for sharing!
Beautiful cards! Always love embossing on cards.
Stunning! The hedgehog is too cute
Oh wow! Your cards are amazing!!! I love so much the first one!!!
Such wonderful cards, Laurel. Looks like you had a lot of fun with this new release. I especially love the bird cards. So pretty!
So many awesome cards! Thanks for sharing.
The raccoon card is charming and I like your muted colors. Thank you for sharing your talent.
Great release. Love all your cards. Cute raccoon…makes me smile.
Beautiful cards, love the glitter dove.
Laurel, I love all the shimmer on your creations and you really show cased the new lease gorgeously. Such inspirational cards. Hugs Jo
Thank you for doing this blog hop. You are so creative.
Nice watercolor backgrounds.
Fabulous card. I love your shimmery birds and the tree farm critters are so cute.
Beautiful cards. Such soft colours and great texture in each card!
All of your cards are gorgeous! I just love the watercolor backgrounds with the sparkle birds!
Lovely water coloring and glittery focal images.
Love the racoon and your colour choices on that card.
the shading on the first cards is wonderful.
Love the little guy holding up his sign.
thanks for sharing some fantastic cards.
Perfect Laurel! Love those first two cards so very much
I love the colors you chose on both the bird cards. I almost missed the subtle “joy” in the background (also lovely colors). There’s just too much here. I want a week with these products just to play!!!! Thanks.
Such joyful creation with a pretty bird, and cute critters one are soooo adorable, especially coffee one!
Love your cards–especially the bird ones!!!
Tha raccoon!! Adorable!!
Love the colors you used and all the creatures!
Your cards are wonderful. My favorite has to be the hedgehog. Thank you for sharing
Great cards and release!
LOVE your post…so beautiful!!!
Stunning holiday cards – love what you created.
Your cards are beautiful! Love all the new products too!
Lovely cards from a wonderful holiday release.
Love the critter cards!Super cute!Tfs
Fabulous designs–your backgrounds look amazing! Love seeing those sweet critters too!
The birds are stunning! Great job.
Great cards! I love the tree farm set, but then again I love everything in this release! Thanks for sharing.
Love the sparkle and watercolor on the bird cards. The raccoon card is adorable.
You have been very busy! You’ve really shown what beautiful and/or cute cards can be made with this great release. Thanks for all the inspiration!
What a great show for the eyes! Your backgrounds are simply over the top and the beauty of your designs is out of this world. Great job with this fun release! Thanks for the inspiration.
Really beautiful Laurel. I think this release is a real show stopper. Love your sweet raccoon. Thanks for sharing.
Love your unique take with the bird shapes dies. Cool!
The bird shape is stunning!
All your cards are beautiful but I find the colors of the first especially striking…I’ll be trying to replicate that color combination. Thanks for the inspiration and of course, for the chance to win!
All your cards are wonderful. Love the fabulous bird cards and that raccoon card is super cute!
Nice cards! The hedgehog is cute, and so is the raccoon. This release is great!
I LOVE your cards! I especially like how you mixed and matched the stamp sets. It really increases their versatility! Great release and great use of the stamps
All of your cards a fantastic. I love the raccoon the best!
love the racoon card . . . .stunning background and color
What a wonderful collection of cards with so many great ideas! I love the background you created for the raccoon card but my favorite has to be the adorable hedgehog!
WOW your cards are amazing!!! Love them and this new release:)
Eeep…I love your use of ‘Tree Farm’ from the release! Too cute!
Your cards are awesome.
Love the cider card!
The hedgehog is adorable.
Wow!Laurel,The woodgrain really grabbed me.This is the most festive die release I’ve seen thus far.
These are such great cards! Love that sweet, little hedgehog! And you smoosh with the best of them!
wonderful cards and not so traditional!
Your cards are adorable and I love using the smooching technique.
Great cards and I like the water color look/backgrounds.
Very pretty cards. Thanks for all the tips and techniques.
Wow, amazing cards and love all the little details in your cards and the sparkles of course.
Simply gorgeous cards! I especially love the raccoon one!
Great job on the cards, Laurel! From ethereal to adorable- nice job. Thanks so much for sharing with us and for participating in this great hop and giveaway.
Beautiful card designs! I love your gorgeous backgrounds and your adorable raccoon.
Love the details and sparkle– The cider card is my favourite!
Wonderful and festive cards. Love your amazing coloring techniques.
So cute! Love all your cards.
Love the background on your last card! All your cards are beautiful.
Gorgeous card Laurel!! The backgrounds are amazing. This is such and amazing release. Thanks for all the inspiration!!
Great cards. I particularly love the two bird cards – thanks for sharing.
Love your cards.
Wonderful cards you created! Love the colors of the first two and all the smooshing 🙂
Fabulous cards! Love everything in this product release! TFS a video Laurel!
Really love what you did with the colors!
I love the softness of the dove card. So pretty and I love the use of aqua as a soft background. Lots of designers are using aqua with their Christmas cards and I am inspired to try it alos!
That hedgehog!! But you are a master with the colors! Really pretty!!
Lovely cards!
Such cute cards! Love the cute animal ones.
Laurel your cards are simply beautiful, I love the little hedgehogs!!! Thank you for always sharing!!! Thank you for the opportunity to win!!
Thanks for showing us so much of the release with your cards. You covered lots of critters , the lovely dove and lots of sentiments.
Oooooo so sparkly~ love it!
A modern and whimsical Christmas. Your cards are such fun!!
Lovely cards. Thanks for sharing.
Lovely cards. I especially like the dove cards but they are all great!
Laurel, I really LOVE your bird cards! Especially how you did the faux stitching on the second one. Neat watercolor effects, too. I like the raccoon card, too, despite the fact that we’re battling a family of raccoons who took up residence under our front porch last spring! You made yours cute, at least. 🙂 The hedgehog one is absolutely adorable–love him holding the sign with the mug on it! LOL Thanks so much for sharing these! ~ Andrea
Love all the cards – the colours are awesome. And those with the hedgehog and racoon are so whimsical and cute.
Gorgeous cards, Laurel!! The color bursts add so much depth and richness on the first card. Love what you did to spotlight the adorable hedgehog – super cute!!
I’ve wanted to try those color bursts…they look so lovely! I love the critters and especially that raccoon!!
my two favorite things: birds and powdered water color!!
Wow you have been busy. Beautiful work and thanks for the video 🙂
Geez the racoon is cute!
Your bird cards in particular are gorgeous, and “smooshing” your background really works! 🙂
Wow!!! Gorgeous cards!! I really love the background on the first card!!
Wonderful creative cards, love how each one is so different. Great new releases.
I love all your cards! Those critters are adorable & the birds on watercolored backgrounds are gorgeous!
Gorgeous cards!
Very pretty cards. Love the watercolored backgrounds.
So many great cards! I especially like the colors on the larger dove card.
SQUEAL!! LOVING LOVING LOVING the New Release!! Such AWESOME New Sets and Inspiration!! TANKS for sharing and have a FABULOUS WEEK!! =)
The background on all three cards is beautiful!
Gorgeous cards! I especially love the bird cards, they are stunning!
Beautiful cards!! Love all the Sparkel and cuteness. Thank you. 🙂
Great cards! Loving’ this release! Thanks for the chance to win!
~God bless~
Beautiful cards! Thanks for sharing!