Meet Polka Dot Orchard IG Hop!

 Welcome to the "Meet Polka Dot Orchard" IG Hop. If you're new to Polka Dot Orchard, let the Creative Team introduce you with wonderful projects using digital sets available at the Polka Dot Orchard Shop.

My first card today is from a digital set called Thank Goodness for Octobers.

I printed the large background digital stamp on regular cardstock and colored in using several different colors of marker to create a monotone background. The sentiment is also from this set. I added a piece of diagonal stripe accent paper and backed it all with a piece of kraft. The added jewels are from Pinkfresh studio. The beauty of digital images, they can be resized to any size you need!

Second card is from the set called Finding a Purpose. 

I printed the digital image on regular cardstock and again on watercolor paper. The cardstock panel was cut to A2 card size and ink smooshed with some distress inks and oxides. I colored the watercolor pumpkins with my tombow ABT markers. After they were colored, I fussy cut them out, then carefully glued them onto the ink smooshed panel directly on top of the printed image. The sentiment which also came with the set was printed on some kraft paper and then cut with a die from Sizzix thinlits called stacked deckle. Folded the image over the top, secured it with glue, then added some brads and natural twine for added interest.

Now for the legal/rules part!

To be eligible for a $15 gift code on digital purchases at PDO:

1. <3 (heart) my IG post!

2. Follow @polkadotorchard and me.

3. Leave a comment at each stop along the hop!

4. Share the fun and tag friends in separate comments

5. No unfollowing after the hop!

Winner will be announced on November 5th on @polkadotorchard

Now let's hop!!!

I am the last one in the hop! To start at the beginning head to Jessica's IG

The complete list is here in case you get lost along the way!

Jessica P 

Donna

Jessica F.

Nancy

Shruti

Jessica B.

Karyn

Krystal

Kirstie

Asha K

Michelle

Helen

Kelsey

Timothy

Teresa

Shelly

Renee

Susan

and last but not least.....here I am!

Open to all. Unfollowers/giveaway accounts do not qualify. Per Instagram rules, we must mention this is in no way sponsored, administered, or associated with Instagram or Facebook. By entering, entrants confirm they are 13+ years of age, release Instagram or Facebook of responsibility, and agree to their terms of use.

NOW LETS HOP!!

and still more snowflakes! LOL

 One last snowflake card for the Falling for the Holidays 2022 {BYSHC} Linky Party! I loved the technique so much that I just couldn't stop!

As with the previous two posts....this card was inspired by watching a Gina K. Designs 5-minute card tutorial video! Emboss resist can be done with any medium, any color embossing, any color inks, anything really! It's the coolest effect! Again started with a watercolor panel and washi taped the edges. The only thing I did differently than the previous two is I used clear embossing powder instead of white (it was accidental, but happy accidents need love too!) I used distress oxides in broken china, speckled egg and faded jeans. As with the others I mounted on black and added to a background panel from My Minds Eye Christmas Wish. Merry Christmas is a stamp with coordinating die set from Unity Stamp Co. called Heart of Christmas.

Adding this one to the linky party which ends at 11:59 tonight!

More snowflakes!

For the Falling for the Holidays 2022 {BYSHC} Linky Party, each entry must be it's own post.......sooooooo.......

Using the same technique from my previous post I used a technique I saw on a Gina K. Designs 5 minute card video. Taped the edges of a watercolor panel, stamped a snowflake from the Unity Stamp Co. KOM October 2017 (Conspiracy of Love) with VersaMark then sprinkled Gina K. Designs White Embossing powder and heated it. Then ink blended over the embossing with Gina K. Designs dye ink in peach bellini, dusty rose and innocent pink. Backed it with black, then added it to the background which is from Basic Grey Jovial. Added some pearls and "Merry Christmas" is a stamp/die cut combo from Unity Stamp Co. called Heart of Christmas.

Thanks for checking this out.....Linky party ends at 11:59 tonight!

 

Merry Christmas Snowflakes

 Here it is.....the last day! The Falling for the Holidays 2022 {BYSHC} Linky Party will end tonight at 11:59! Be sure to get all linked up by then!

Today's card is both a sponsor product project as well as a video promotion project! Gina K. Designs 5 minute card videos are BOMB!!! I learn so much from her videos! 

This particular one was for emboss resist snowflakes. While my taping job wasn't even, I do love how it turned out! Taped first (used washi tape because I don't *yet* have her masking magic strips), then inked up the largest snowflake from the Unity Stamp Co. KOM October 2017 (Conspiracy of Love) with VersaMark, then sprinkled her white embossing powder and heated it for the magic to happen! Then grabbed ocean mist and lovely lavender also by Gina K. designs and ink blended over the top. I backed it with black cardstock, and then placed it on patterned paper from my minds eye Christmas Wish. The "Merry Christmas" is from Unity. It's a set called ...heart of Christmas....there is also a coordinating die set! The last step was adding jewels from PinkFresh Studio!

I'm sure you know by now the list of sponsors but here they are again! They deserve to be mentioned again! 

Angie Blom Digital Designs

Fresh and Renewed with Teresa

Gina K. Designs

Colorado Crafty Company

Newton's Nook

Jaded Blossom

NEW Sponsor - Pink & Main

Gina Marie Designs

Tawny Owl Paperie

Unity Stamp Co.

NEW Sponsor - Pretty Pink Posh

Twiddler's Nook

Lawn Fawn

NEW Sponsor - Therm O Web

Not 2 Shabby

NEW Sponsor - Danni's Dreams

In Love With Paper - Cindy Messer

Taylored Expressions

NEW Sponsor - Kat Scrappiness

Don't forget to link by 11:59 tonight! 

Going pink for Breast Cancer Awareness

 While I know this post is about the {BYSHC} Sketch 27 challenge.....for my cards it was about Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Going Pink for October. Another site I follow does a 2-week challenge for pink Christmas cards. I've done this for several years and while it's not a traditional Christmas color, the cards are super awesome!

One card was posted a week or so ago, but this one wasn't until today!

For this one the stamped image is from Unity Stamp Co., called ornamental season. First I turned the sketch on its side, next I embossed a panel of pink cardstock. Die cut the pink glitter panel and the stamped panel with the smallest rectangle from the scallops and rectangles nesting dies from Unity (I would tag the product, but it appears to be sold out at the moment). I ink blended the colored panel a little but the ornaments are all in shades of pink! And they sparkle too!  I added some coordinating ribbon along the seam and there ya go!

This one was for the same pink challenge.....Unity Stamp Co. Ember Girl. Colored with Tombow ABT markers. The pink/purple plaid part is washi tape, then a piece of pink cardstock and my stamped image panel. Added some snowflakes punched from pink glitter cardstock!

Thanks for the visit! Leave me some love to let me know you were here!

ooops! JOY!

 When you are supposed to be cleaning up the crafty space because it doubles as a guest bedroom....and you have guests coming in 2 days....but there is soooo much goodness just laying out in plain sight.....I'm only human and can resist the temptation so long! LOL

So this beautiful new image (called Joy and Noel) from Angie Blom Digital Designs was just sitting on top of the stuff that needed to be put away and it just sort of jumped onto my desk and begged to be colored and made into a card! LOL So that's what I did! Colored with Tombow ABT markers and some generic alcohol markers.  Also used some Nuvo Glitter Drops in golden sunset. Cut a piece of green woodgrain paper (from Unity Stamp Co. Rustic Wood) with the largest scalloped rectangle die (also from Unity), then cut the watercolor panel with the largest rectangle die from that same nesting die set. Added everything to a piece of kraft cardstock. The corner of the "JOY" panel was cut off by accident so I added a large button and some burlap twine and natural color bakers twine. 

NOW I have to go get cleaning! UGH! Too much good stuff in here! It's a shame to have to put it away! LOL

Warm & Cozy Mug

 We are coming down to the wire here for the Falling for the Holidays 2022 {BYSHC} Linky Party! Tomorrow at midnight will be it! Be sure to get your projects linked up by then!

Today's card features some Unity Stamp Co. stamps! I used the Unity Show & Tell October Sketch for this one! Grabbed some scraps and away I went!

As I said above I grabbed some scraps and a tag that I had made last year. It had gotten buried in with some scraps! I love when I find stuff like that!! The tag was made with one of the Unity Advent Calendar Stamps from last year...day 1 and the sentiment is from the Warm & Cozy Itty Bitty! The tag was one of the free gifts that come with each order. I distressed it with some ink blending and some white watered down acrylic paint. The mug itself was stamped, then colored with Tombow ABT markers and die cut with a circle die from my stash. The sentiment was stamped with VersaMark and embossed with white embossing powder. Tied with some jute twine and tan and white bakers twine to finish it off. 

October Sketch

and again with the list of sponsors! They are too good to NOT share!

Angie Blom Digital Designs

Fresh and Renewed with Teresa

Gina K. Designs

Colorado Crafty Company

Newton's Nook

JAded Blossom

NEW Sponsor - Pink & Main

Gina Marie Designs

Tawny Owl Paperie

Unity Stamp Co.

NEW Sponsor - Pretty Pink Posh

Twiddler's Nook

Lawn Fawn

NEW Sponsor - Therm O Web

Not 2 Shabby

NEW Sponsor - Danni's Dreams

In Love With Paper - Cindy Messer

Taylored Expressions

NEW Sponsor - Kat Scrappiness

Let It Snow!

 I'm still creating for the Falling for the Holidays 2022 {BYSHC} Linky Party! I'm seriously avoiding housework to make more cards! I'm on a roll and don't want to stop!

Today's card was inspired by the paper! I have this super old Basic Grey paper pack called Jovial that I love! When I started pulling paper out of it this snowman paper popped out at me! I'm thinking now that I should have switched the papers on this one, but seeing those little smiling faces just makes me happy! More for another project!

I started with a white card base, then added a kraft panel on top of that. That's about how I do things, it's easier for me to just print my card back image on a bunch of white, then add whatever color background I want. Also makes the card a little thicker and sturdier! Anyway.....I followed an old sketch number 7, cut based on the measurements and then stamped out my image. It's from Unity Stamp Co. called Winter Shake Up from the 12/2020 Whit Kit. I stamped all the images on watercolor paper and colored with Tombow ABT markers. Originally I die cut with the smallest scallop die, but didn't like how it looked, so I fussy cut it out. You can see that one side of the snowglobe isn't exactly round, but only if you are looking closely! After it was cut out I used some foam adhesive to pop it up and then added some burlap string from May Arts. I did also add some Nuvo Aqua Shimmer to the inside of the snowglobe just because! LOL

Don't forget in order to be eligible for some amazing prizes from some amazing sponsors you need to enter a project! Here is that list of sponsors again in case you forgot! LOL

Angie Blom Digital Designs

Fresh and Renewed with Teresa

Gina K. Designs

Colorado Crafty Company

Newton's Nook

JAded Blossom

NEW Sponsor - Pink & Main

Gina Marie Designs

Tawny Owl Paperie

Unity Stamp Co.

NEW Sponsor - Pretty Pink Posh

Twiddler's Nook

Lawn Fawn

NEW Sponsor - Therm O Web

Not 2 Shabby

NEW Sponsor - Danni's Dreams

In Love With Paper - Cindy Messer

Taylored Expressions

NEW Sponsor - Kat Scrappiness

Linky party ends at 11:59 on Friday night!

p.s. a big thank you to Angela @ Unity (I think it was her that posted) for the video/youtube tutorial on how to get good pictures! LOL I thought mine were ok before, but this one right up ^ there is amazing!! LOL

Merry Christmas Mouse!

 Happy Tuesday and welcome back to the Falling for the Holiday's 2022 {BYSHC} Linky Party!

Today's card features three of our amazing sponsors.....Unity Stamp Co., Gina K. Designs and Gina Marie Designs. 

I based my design on the October Sketch at Unity's Show & Tell page. This particular page is a great place for inspiration! It's open to everyone to post their creations, participate in challenges and shae knowledge! The inspiration here is UNBELIEVABLE! So much talent all in one place!

So as I said, I started with the sketch (it's below). The stamped image is called Peppermint Kisses Mouse Gnome. I stamped on regular cardstock with VersaFine Clair in Nocturne. Colored with a few different markers....some Tombow ABT (water based markers) and some Self-Made Creative Sketch Marker (alcohol markers). There was a certain look I was going for so hence the combination of colors! Measured and cut the panels and glued them to the card base. The dots are from Gina Marie Designs. While she also has dies and stencils....the enamel dots are what draws me here! THE. BEST! Stamped the sentiment from Unity's Gotta Love Sentiments. Stamped on a scrap of grey with VersaMark and embossed with Gina K. Designs White embossing powder.

Sketch as promised!

As I mentioned, our list of sponsors is quite extensive! Enter a project to be eligible for the drawing to be held at the end of the party!

Angie Blom Designs

Fresh and Renewed with Teresa

Gina K. Designs

Colorado Crafty Company

Newton's Nook

Jaded Blossom

NEW Sponsor - Pink & Main

Gina MArie Designs

Tawny Owl Paperie

Unity Stamp Co.

NEW Sponsor - Pretty Pink Posh

Twiddler's Nook

Lawn Fawn

NEW Sponsor - Therm O Web

Not 2 Shabby

NEW Sponsor - Danni's Dreams

In Love With Paper - Cindy Messer

Taylored Expressions

NEW Sponsor - Kat Scrappiness

Cuppa Joy!

The Falling for the Holidays 2022 {BYSHC} Linky Party is still going strong!

My card today was inspired by one of the Unity Stamp Co. Design Team, Tenia Nelson. Her cards have a clean & simple look but still dimensional and interesting utilizing the white space on the card! 

Today's card showcases some Unity stamps in action. First is the background, pop dots background. I started by stamping this large A2 size background stamp onto white cardstock with versamark and using white gina k. designs embossing powder. I then ink blended some speckled egg and vintage photo distress oxides over the embossed image. I then sprayed some water to soften it up a bit. Die cut a small part of it using the smallest rectangle from the Scallops & Rectangles nesting dies. I then added some sparkly blue/silver washi tape to opposite corners and stapled the corner for extra pizazz.

Next I stamped the cup from joy, peace and comfort mug onto some watercolor paper with VersaMark and clear embossing powder, then did it again with VersaFine Clair in nocturne and embossed with clear. I took the two oxide colors from the background and smeared some onto an acrylic block and used it as a pallette. Using a water brush I diluted the colors and colored the cup with them. "JOY" was stamped using the VersaFine Clair nocturne and clear embossing powder as well. Then I fussy cut! I added some foam adhesive to the back and some blue sequins to finish it off.

This linky party keeps on going until Friday the 28th so be sure to link up your cards and/or projects to be eligible for a random drawing for some amazing prizes! Sponsor list is below!

Angie Blom Digital Designs

Fresh and Renewed with Teresa

Gina K. Designs

Colorado Crafty Company

Newton's Nook

Jaded Blossom

NEW Sponsor - Pink & Main

Gina Marie Designs

Tawny Owl Paperie

Unity Stamp Co.

NEW Sponsor - Pretty Pink Posh

Twiddler's Nook

Lawn Fawn

NEW Sponsor - Therm O Web

Not 2 Shabby

NEW Sponsor - Danni's Dreams

In Love with Paper - Cindy Messer

Taylored Expressions

NEW Sponsor - Kat Scrappiness

Thanks for following along!

Noel

 I'm here with another card for the Falling for the Holidays 2022 {BYSHC} Linky Party! Have you joined in yet?

My card today is based on another older sketch from {BYSHC} Facebook group. Each month there is a new sketch for inspiration! The one I used is #2.

My image, called joy & noel, is a new design from Angie Blom Digital Designs....she is one of our amazing sponsors!  Printed directly onto watercolor paper and colored with multiple colors of Tombow ABT markers. I used a silver gel pen on the ornaments to give a little sparkle! I cut that panel out with the smallest rectangle from the Unity Stamp Co. Scallops & Rectangles nesting dies and mounted it with some foam adhesive. Simple but elegant!

List of sponsors you say?!? Here they are!

Angie Blom Digital Designs

Fresh and Renewed with Teresa

Gina K. Designs

Colorado Crafty Company

Newton's Nook

Jaded Blossom

NEW Sponsor - Pink & Main

Gina Marie Designs

Tawny Owl Paperie

Unity Stamp Co.

NEW Sponsor - Pretty Pink Posh

Twiddler's Nook

Lawn Fawn

NEW Sponsor - Therm O Web

Not 2 Shabby

NEW Sponsor - Danni's Dreams

In Love With Paper - Cindy Messer

Taylored Expressions

NEW Sponsor - Kat Scrappiness

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas!

Welcome back to the Falling for the Holidays 2022 {BYSHC} Linky Party!

I'm so excited to get some Christmas cards ready for the busy season that's about to unfold!

My card is based on Sketch 23 from {BYSHC}. This facebook group shares a new sketch each month for some additional inspiration!

During my hurricane power outage (see a few posts ago), I stamped, colored and fussy cut a bunch of images.  This santa was one of them! He comes from Unity Stamp Co. (Cute Santa). I took a watercolor paper panel and added a ink-blended stenciled brick background. Used a stencil from The Rabbit Hole Designs called back alley. Started with Vintage photo distress oxide and then added some walnut stain to just a few of the bricks for some dimension. Santa was popped up with some foam adhesive. The dots are nuvo vintage drops in Postbox red. Enter as many cards/projects as you'd like! The more you enter, the better chance you will have to be the lucky recipient of one of these amazing sponsor's prizes!!

sketch 23 for reference!

Here is that list of sponsors I was telling you about! Seriously!!!! 

Angie Blom Digital Designs

Fresh and Renewed with Teresa

Gina K. Designs

Colorado Crafty Company

Newton's Nook

Jaded Blossom

NEW Sponsor - Pink & Main

Gina Marie Designs

Tawny Owl Paperie

Unity Stamp Co.

NEW Sponsor - Pretty Pink Posh

Twiddler's Nook

Lawn Fawn

NEW Sponsor - Therm O Web

Not 2 Shabby

NEW Sponsor - Danni's Dreams

In Love With Paper - Cindy Messer

Taylored Expressions

NEW Sponsor - Kat Scrappiness

{BYSHC} Falling for the Holidays!

Welcome to the Falling for the Holidays 2022 {BYSHC} Linky Party! This fun week will be filled with sooooo many good things! We have a fantastic list of sponsors here to provide prizes at the end of the week too! Enter as many times as you'd like and may the odds be ever in your favor! Now on to my first card!

My first card is based on the {BYSHC} Sketch 18. The image is from the always amazing Angie Blom Digital Designs!

I apologize, the lighting isn't the best.....I'm getting a new roof today and they have tarped my entire back patio! LOL Didn't realize it would be this dark!  Printed this lovely festive image on watercolor paper, the colored with my Tombow ABT markers. I die cut the image with the smallest rectangle from Unity Stamp Co. Scallops and Rectangles nesting die set. My background papers are from Basic Grey Jovial 6x6. Instead of an added sentiment (as per the sketch) I have chosen to add a few rounds of May Arts Ribbon natural burlap cording and some sequins finish it off. What you cannot tell from this picture is that the "o" jingle bell in the middle is sparkling with some Nuvo Aqua Shimmer in Glitter Gloss!

Thanks for visiting with me today, stay tuned for more fantastic inspiration!

Sketch for reference!

And don't forget about our FANTASTIC sponsors (check out this list) !!! 

Angie Blom Digital Designs

Fresh and Renewed with Teresa

Gina K. Designs

Colorado Crafty Company

Newton's Nook

Jaded Blossom

NEW Sponsor - Pink & Main

Gina Marie Designs

Tawny Owl Paperie

Unity Stamp Co.

NEW Sponsor - Pretty Pink Posh

Twiddler's Nook

Lawn Fawn

NEW Sponsor - Therm O Web

Not 2 Shabby

NEW Sponsor - Danni's Dreams

In Love With Paper - Cindy Messer

Taylored Expressions

NEW Sponsor - Kat Scrappiness

GIU Week! TGIF!

 Well here I am on the last day of this wonderful week! To recap my week....here are day 1, day 2, day 3 or day 4 .... click on each number! If ever given the opportunity to participate in GIU, you should absolutely do this! It's so fun to challenge yourself by doing things you wouldn't normally do and getting it done quickly! LOL Unity is an amazing company and while I've not actually "met" people in person, the people I've met online are marvelous and super talented!

Now onto the actual card! LOL When I started planning my week, I hadn't planned on so many or "only" Christmas cards, but alas, here we are! LOL Let's shake it up a bit! This month's Whit Kit arrived earlier this week so let me dig into that and share what I can! The Unity kits are all kinds of fabulous! 

This month's kit doesn't disappoint! For this card I used the embossing folder (plaid company), a sheet of the paper pack and a couple of the stamps! WOW! 

Started with the kraft background, which I embossed and then gently brushed with first vintage photo distress oxide, then went back and focused on the edges with black soot distress ink. I used the scalloped & rectangle nesting dies to cut the orange panel and also the watercolor panel. The watercolor panel was ink smooshed first with several distress inks! Ripe persimmon, dried marigold and vintage photo. 

After the ink dried, I stamped the distressed wording and the large pumpkins directly on top of the ink, then die cut. I went back in with more distress inks as a pallet and a water brush and target watercolored the pumpkins, stems, leaves, etc. I added some Nuvo aqua shimmer at the top of the pumpkins and then added some white gel pen for added dimension. Added some may arts burlap string and the sentiment was added with foam tape!

Thanks for visiting and following along! I had the best week and all of your comments were read and appreciated! Please don't forget to leave some love (and your name) to be eligible to win one of 2 $20 gift credits from Unity!! Winners will be chosen at random sometime tomorrow! Thanks again until next time! :)

Jenni

p.s. edited to update.....when your 7 mo old puppy gets on the counter and eats part of your card......embellish, embellish, embellish! She not only ate the corner of my image, but also the twine that was tied as well! luckily the bows were included in the Whit Kit and covered exactly! 

GIU Week! Day #4

 Happy Thursday!!  Wow that was a quick week! Catch up by going back to check out day 1, day 2 and day 3! Today I'm sharing another card I created with the Unity Stamp Co. October Sketch! I love love love sketches! It's a jumping off point. It can inspire and also gets the creative juices flowing! Flip it around, turn it sideways, make the panels different sizes.....whatever floats your boat! I love the quote on every Unity challenge I've seen....."it's meant to inspire not require!"

I used the Unity Itty Bitty called warm & cozy stamped on plain white cardstock and colored with Tombow ABT markers. I used foam tape to give some dimension. I did distress the patterned paper panels and also the image panel and tapped on some walnut stain distress ink. Kraft cardstock background is from Unity. Their kraft cardstock is a-ma-zing!!! It's the perfect color and weight! The patterned paper is from an older pad by Carta Bella called (ironically) Warm & Cozy! The sentiment was attached by adding some natural colored twine and foam tape. The top right corner seemed plain so I added some brads (c'mon now.....I know you still have brads in your stash! LOL)

Thanks for visiting and following along so far! Please don't forget to leave some love (and your name) to be eligible to win one of 2 $20 gift credits from Unity!! Winners will be chosen at random at the end of the week! 

See ya tomorrow for TGIF!!