Paper Smooches

Thank you, Paper Smooches!

Hello Everyone! Today is a special day to celebrate Paper Smooches ♥️!! In case you didn’t know, Paper Smooches has been retired and Kim is on to a new adventure! We thought it would be fun to celebrate Paper Smooches and surprise Kim with a little Blog/Social Media Hug! #hugstoKim

A bunch of us are sharing cards/projects today to celebrate NINE YEARS of Paper Smooches!  That’s a long time! We wanted to create a project to send HUGS to Kim and thank her for all the creative inspiration she’s put out into the world for us all! ❤

For my card, I figured it would be best if I used my favorite Paper Smooches stamps EVER. And well, while  that sounds amazing in theory, there was NO WAY they would all fit onto one card! Haaaaaa! I learned that super quick as I was pulling out dozens of sets. Ha! So I had to bag that idea quick, and instead made a card to say YAY!! We love you! 🙂

Here is my project I made and sent to Kim: ❤

This card includes the following Paper Smooches goodies: Falling for You, Vanilla Verbiage, Hearts Stencil and Fab Frames Dies. Gah!!! These hearts!! And this sweet little Monster! ❤ I’m also using my little Paper Smooches watermark just one last time. 🙂

I know that I am far from alone in loving so many sweet images Kim has drawn. Kim also has an amazing gift in that her handwriting is so fantastically lovable, creating unique sentiments that are forever perfect for so many reasons. And Kim’s heart and appropriately her handdrawn hearts are some of my all time favorite–so sweet! 🙂

I thought I’d try and convey a little bit of my own personal gratitude to Kim and Paper Smooches today too. Although I often feel there aren’t words big enough for that amount of Thanks, I’ll try! My very first photopolymer stamp set was Paper Smooches and when you consider that Paper Smooches was created just nine years ago, I find this so odd. A good odd! I feel like I have been stamping and loving PS for so many more years than that. Kim has been around  in the crafting industry for many year prior to PS and her resume overflows with her accomplishments, as many of us know. What talent!

I first started my Paper Smooches collection with the one stamp set. I didn’t have a die cut machine back then, so I couldn’t even say if dies were available? Again, another odd thing to think about. ha! But I collected and cultivated my PS collection, over time, entering PS contests and submitting my Paper Smooches cards for publication. And while I did earn more PS products to create with, what I am most grateful for was the mutual ❤ for crafty fun, design and sharing. From my first communication with Kim, it was ever so apparent of her kindness and support. Kim’s support has always given me steps to climb on, motivating me to practice and enjoy this craft more and more! I love making cards and over the years, Paper Smooches designs have always been at the top of my list. ❤ Thank you, Kim, for sharing your talents and kindness with all of us over the years. I am so grateful for you, your kindness, support and friendship and I CANNOT WAIT to see what you’re up to next, my friend! 🙂 ❤

Thank you to many of the Paper Smooches designer Alumni who are joining in this HUG to Paper Smooches today! Be sure to pop over to all these links below and see what projects they are sharing as well. I’m certain they are amazing!!  I can’t wait to be inspired by them too. ❤

Paper Smooches
Jill Hawkins << Me. 🙂
Alice
Karin
Michele
Savannah O’Gwynn
Teri
JJ Bolton
Kay
Kim Kesti
Emily Leiphart

Also–JOIN US on the fun! Share your projects with the hashtag  #hugstoKim on Instagram and we can keep the Hug chain going! If you’d like, you can also leave a hug via comment  over on the Paper Smooches Blog.

Here’s a couple more cards I created more recently with some Paper Smooches goodies.  I shared them all on Instagram, but I thought I’d share here today too, for extra fun! 🙂

Thank you to everyone on the PS Teams for helping get this little celebration together! Thank you to JJ Bolton for creating our cutie little Paper Smooches Hug badge to celebrate as well! Thank you to Sav for sneaking in a little help on the Paper Smooches Blog  🙂 . Thank you again, Kim–I am forever grateful and I look forward to supporting you always.

Thank YOU for stopping by! ❤

Take care–Jill 🙂

Instagram: jilldhawkins

Miss you–Big Time!

Hello! Happy almost weekend! Popping in with a quick card using some super cute  Paper Smooches ♥️!! 🙂

This card is made with the following from Paper Smooches: Cuteasauras, Sunnyville, and Huge Hugs sentiment. I blended on a background with some Distress Oxide Inks, added some quick stitching and voila!

I had already colored these PS cuties during one of the Daily Marker 30 Days with Copic Markers, so they just popped right on there pretty quick! 🙂

And in case you haven’t heard the latest, check out THIS post on the Paper Smooches Blog and be sure to check out the sale! I will have to have a fun post with tons of Paper Smooches cards coming up sometime soon. Goodness knows I have a couple hundred PS cards at least. 🙂

Wishing you a wonderful Friday ahead! Which is pretty good because until almost Noon today, I thought it was Wednesday. 🙂 Ha! 🙂

Thanks for stopping by! ❤

Take care–Jill 🙂

Instagram: jilldhawkins

Crafty Hugs from Simon Says Stamp!

Today I am joining the fun over at Simon Says Stamp for the new Crafty Hugs release!! It’s sure to be packed with lots of crafty fun!

I am using the NEW SSS die called Etched Linear Heart and you can find it HERE. The sentiment I used is from Greetings Mix 1. ❤

I die cut a bunch of the Etched Linear Hearts in different colored cardstocks and put them all together here before stitching them in. This vertical sentiment fit perfectly in many ways! 🙂

Here are the Simon Says Stamp products and others I used again: 

Thanks to Simon Says Stamp for having me along to join in the Crafty Hugs release! Be sure to check it all out >> HERE <<. 

Enjoy your crafty time! 🙂

Thanks for stopping by! Stay safe.

Take care–Jill

Instagram: jilldhawkins

Happy Mom’s Day!

Hello! Happy Mom’s Day to all those celebrating today in every which title and name you hold ♥️ and big hugs to those who need it today.

Today I am sharing these cards I made with Paper Smooches ♥️!! 🙂

These cards are made with the following from Paper Smooches: Rad Roses, Flower Frame Dies, All Year Cheer, Kindness Sampler.

I think these all turned out so sweet! 🙂 As you can see, I did a lot of scoring, both for the circle Flower Frames and then as frames around the perimeter. Scoring is always a win in my book. 🙂

This Rad Roses die fits the bill every time! 🙂 The blue one below is the one I made first. I love this sentiment from the Kindness Sampler.

I added a few simple stitches to each, and fortunately, my sewing machine was up for the tiny circular challenge. Phew! 🙂

And then I decided I should make them for our Moms and get them in the mail. Hopefully they arrive before today! 🙂
Yellow is a fave!
Wishing you a wonderful Sunday and week ahead! 🙂

Thanks for stopping by! ❤

Take care–Jill 🙂

Instagram: jilldhawkins

Sending Happy Thoughts!

It is raining cats and dogs here for the next 24 hours at least, so I thought I’d pop in and share a few more rainbows using the new Rainbow Turnabout from Concord & 9th!

This rainbow stamp is called Rainbow Turnabout (you can find it HERE)! 🙂 The sentiment is from the Tropical Vibes Turnabout stamp HERE.

I thought it would be fun to mix up the colors of inks this go round. I think they both turned out fun and just slightly different. 🙂

A smidge of pastel/retro maybe? 🙂

Once again, here is a Pro Tip from my friend Cheryl, that will change your world using this Rainbow Turnabout stamp:

Mount this stamp on a new cutting plate from your die cut machine or on the old Fiskars Stamp Press or the like. It works sooooo much easier than trying to use this turnabout on the Misti. My friends experienced many trials and errors with Misti and once we tried this plate thing: Ba Bam! So much easier! 🙂 Genius, Cheryl!! ❤

I’m going to pop these in the mail ASAP! 🙂

I used my favorite Hearts from Paper Smooches HERE. It’s in the die set called Hearts. 🙂 ❤

The die around the outside that creates the lines is called Lawn Fawn: Just Stitching Double Rectangles Dies HERE.

Check out my previous Rainbow Turnabout stamp cards HERE and another C9 post HERE.

Supplies:

Thanks for stopping by today! I’m hoping to see a REAL rainbow after all this rain ends. Yikes!

Take care–Jill 🙂

Instagram: jilldhawkins

Rainbows of Kindness!

Hope you all are having a good day! I thought I’d pop in and share a few cards I made using the new Rainbow Turnabout from Concord & 9th! And then a few more cards… 🙂

Always good stuff coming out from Concord & 9th! This set is called Rainbow Turnabout (you can find it HERE)! 🙂

The sentiment is from the Sunshine Turnabout stamp HERE.

Love this sentiment! 🙂

Pro Tip from my friend Cheryl, that will change your world using this Rainbow Turnabout stamp:

Mount this stamp on a new cutting plate from your die cut machine or on the old Fiskars Stamp Press or the like. It works sooooo much easier than trying to use this turnabout on the Misti. My friends experienced many trials and errors with Misti and once we tried this plate thing: Ba Bam! So much easier! 🙂 Genius, Cheryl!! ❤

And then there is Happiness! I know who I am sending this one to! 🙂

I stamped the sentiment in Black Versafine and clear heat embossed over top. That is all on vellum.

The little heart strip I used I just love and it’s from Paper Smooches HERE. It’s in the die set called, again appropriately, Hearts. 🙂 ❤

Here is another set of cards I made recently with the C9 Rainbows. This is from the set called Brighter Days and you can get just the Brighter Days stamps HERE or the stamps and dies HERE.

I made these and mailed them out immediately. ❤ Love how quick they came together and I added some scoring and stitching, (shocking, I know!), and out the door!

And lastly, here is one more card I sent to say thank you for your kindness. I have really appreciated so many things from friends and family during this interesting time in our world. For this card, I used Concord & 9th’s Thank You for Being set HERE and Taylored Expressions Frame in Frame die HERE.

This one works great for mailing. 🙂

Check out my previous C9 post HERE using the Special Delivery set. Cute cute!

Supplies:

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope your day is a good one.

Take care–Jill 🙂

Instagram: jilldhawkins

Sunny Days Ahead!

Today I am joining the fun over at Simon Says Stamp for the new Sunny Days Ahead release!! It’s a release to celebrate all the season is bringing!

I am using the NEW SSS Stencil called Grad Caps Stencil and you can find it HERE. I also used SSS Basic Rectangles dies–which really are a staple on my desk. 🙂

I used Nuvo Glitter Paste (find it HERE) for the sparkle on the stencil after I blended on some light blue ink. It sparkles in such a fun way in person, but photos never quite capture it! 🙂

I also used Concord & 9th’s Simple Serif Alpha Dies and Paper Smooches New Beginnings 2 (for the small sentiment).

I think this turned out fun and a little different than a typical grad card. I am looking forward to popping in the mail next month. 🙂

Here are the Simon Says Stamp products and others I used again: 

SSS Grad Caps Stencil

SSS Basic Rectangles dies

Nuvo Glitter Paste

Concord & 9th’s Simple Serif Alpha Dies

Paper Smooches New Beginnings 2

Thanks to Simon Says Stamp for having me along to join in the Sunny Days Ahead release! Be sure to check it all out >> HERE <<. I hope you are getting ready to celebrate the Grads in your life! They need it! 🙂

Thanks for stopping by! Stay safe.

Take care–Jill

Instagram: jilldhawkins

Hello!

Hello! I wanted to share another fun card I made with Paper Smooches ♥️!! 🙂

I had to use one of my fave Hellos from Paper Smooches: The Hallow Hello Die. I made this happy card to pop in the mail!

I also used the Patterns Stencil from Paper Smooches…..lots of fun patterns and options to use on this one! 🙂
Hope this inspires you to get crafty and mail a card to someone who needs a smile too! 🙂

Paper Smooches product links: Hallow Hello Die and Patterns Stencil.

Check out a previous post with another Hello card HERE.

Thanks for stopping by! ❤

Take care–Jill 🙂

Instagram: jilldhawkins

Special Delivery

Hope you all had a good weekend! Our son is on Spring Break here (finally) and we are embracing it to the fullest on Day One of no school. 🙂 ha!

Here’s some more fun from Concord & 9th! This set is called Special Delivery.

I decided after making these that watercolor applied with a brush to a detailed image is NOT my thing. 🙂 haaa! But they did grow on me a little after I added them to this card using some of the Half Moon Paper  from Paper Smooches. 🙂

I think I just like things a little more precise and if you look at these (don’t do it! ha!), they are not. Ha! That’s ok…I embracing the watercolor looseness or trying to anyway. 🙂

This set, Special Delivery, from Concord & 9th is too fun! 🙂 You can find it HERE and Paper Smooches Half Moon Paper HERE.

And I made another, very similar, I thought I’d share too:

Fun for a Birthday, perhaps?

Supplies: Concord & 9th: Special Delivery; Paper Smooches Half Moon Paper.

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope your week is a good one! I hope to be back again this week sharing some more cards. Fingers crossed 🙂

Take care–Jill 🙂

Instagram: jilldhawkins

Mail Those Cards :)

Happy Sunday!! I hope you are all finding ways to deal with our temporary changes in the world. I personally have never been so on top of laundry in my life! 🙂 So that’s a perk. (Sure it helps there is so much less laundry, but let’s skip that part, shall we?) 😉

Today’s first new card is using cutie little Paper Smooches ♥️!! This card uses all the following Paper Smooches goodies: Sunnyville, Sunnyville Icon Dies, Inhale Exhale and Fab Frames.

It also features the Rainbow Sherbet paper. Goodness–wouldn’t this be so sweet to find in your mailbow? Love this little smile!

Here’s a quick little video link to me coloring this little cutie sun and cloud from Paper Smooches: jilldhawkins on IG. It is FAR from perfect, but i enjoy it all nonetheless. 🙂

Next up, I thought I’d just share these cards I have been making and finishing up to mail out. I have likely mailed out over 50 cards since this all started and I have more to send next week. But I am definitely going to need to MAKE more!! 🙂 I think it’s the best time to send cards right now. ❤ A little touch of the outside world.

I love using a bunch of different postage stamps too. 🙂

If you follow me on Instagram, these are not new to you likely, but thought I’d share them here on my blog too.

First up, here’s some fun from Concord & 9th!

This was a promo set Concord & 9th was giving away with orders, but THIS SET HERE is fun and delightful as well….I may or may not have this one too. 🙂 shhhhh! 🙂 It’s called Rainbow Wishes (stamps) and Rainbow Wishes (dies). You can get both the stamps and dies together HERE.

Once last handful of cards– I don’t own this Paper Hug die from The Stamp Market, but I borrowed it from a friend on a crafty weekend to create a handful of cards, many moons ago and just finished them all up! 🙂
Hope your day is a good one and you can find some time to mail out some sunshine too! You can find fun envelopes from Taylored Expressions HERE and you can even order postage stamps online–if you need them! Just sayin’. ❤

Take care–Jill 🙂

Instagram: jilldhawkins