Saturday, May 16, 2026

Light Up Arcade Machine

 

Hello friends! Today is release day for some really cute new goodies by Trinity Stamps.  I fell in love with the new Arcade Machine Builder Set and the 8 Bit Birthday Stamp Set.  This set brings up memories of when my husband and I were first married and how we would spend a couple of hours at the arcade every Sunday before we went grocery shopping for the week and if we could afford it, may a pizza from our favorite pizza place.

To start this card, I wanted to have a subtle background for the base of my machine.  I used the Starfield Letterpress Stamping Die along with a teal-colored foil.  

Once I have that foiled, I will start laying out the die pieces that will create my machine.  I am using a few different colors of cardstock to create some increased depth on the machine. 

For the hot pink cardstock, it put some wide adhesive on the back of the paper.  Doing this will really help me with getting those super skinny trim pieces and lettering on the machine without struggling to not make a horrible mess with liquid glue.

To create the frame for the machine screen, I used the two pieces with a little temporary tape to create it. 

I have added adhesive to the back of the gray cardstock because I will be using it to cut out some really tiny pieces that will create the joysticks and the doors at the bottom of the machine. 

When I am using die sets that have a number of teeny tiny pieces, I usually make sure that my cardstock has an adhesive sheet behind it.  I also have a small strip of Teflon Heat Resistant Sheet to place them on.  I find this extremely helpful when I have to use the same die several times with different colors of cardstock.  I just pick my little pieces out of the die and place them on the sheet.  They stay put and release easily when I need to permanently place them.  I am going to use this sheet to hold all my little pieces until I need them.  It is also helpful if you are going to do a little ink shading on them.

As with most pieces I die cut, I dust my edges with a little ink to help define them and give them a little dimension.  I have done that on all the larger pieces.

Now I have cut a piece of cardstock to 3” x 5.5” for the base of my machine.  Once the whole machine is assembled it is almost 5.75 inches tall, which makes it perfect for a slimline card. 

I will start at the bottom of the machine and start building up to make sure everything is nicely aligned.  I will also start to add the hot pink trim and lettering as I go.  I will hold off on the little instrument panel until I have completed the machine.

 


As I am moving up the machine, I will use the screen die to cut out an opening for the shaker element of my card. 

The instrument panel is the last piece that I will work on.  I used my Pickup Stick to help me with the placement.  I don’t press anything down until I have all the pieces where I want them and balanced as best I can.

To really “plus” up this card, I am using some twinkle lights from Pearblossom Press which you can also purchase from Trinity.  To make my Arcade sign sparkle, I poked three hole in it space across the top. 

Next, I used regular tape to place my light in the little openings and to hold the little wires down the side of the card.  I also taped the light panel where I wanted it at the center bottom of the machine.


To create the push button at the bottom of the machine, I used the Slide and Spin Die Set to cut out my pieces from scrap cardstock.  I also stamped the word “push” on the button so the recipient know what to do. 

For the machine screen, I used the screen die to cut a piece of very dark cardstock.  Using the 8-Bit Birthday Stamp Set, I heat embossed the sentiment using white embossing powder. 

Since this is a mini slimline card, I have a piece of black cardstock cut to 3.5” x 6”.  I use my machine to help me place where I want my screen place on the card since it is the background on my shaker element. 

After I put a piece of acetate over the screen opening, I used 3mm black foam tape to not only create my shaker well and light panel area but to support the rest of the machine. 

Since I didn’t create my shaker well on the actual design base, I carefully sprinkled my shaker bits on the center of the screen.  This is a little more tricky way to build a shaker card, but with the lights, it made more sense to me to do it this way. 

To finish up the front of this card, I will carefully place and center my machine on the 3.5” x 6.0” piece of black cardstock.

To create my actual card base, I cut a piece of black cardstock at 7.0” x 6” and scored it at 3.5” on the 7.0” side. 

For the inside sentiment, I used the 8-Bit Stamps set again to stamp it on a piece of white cardstock cut to 3.0” x 5.5”. I centered and glued it to the inside of my card base.

To completely finish my card, I glued it to the card base. 

Wow!!!! What a fun card don’t you think????  This one may have to go to my youngest son who still has a warm place in his heart for these retro arcade machines.

If you purchase through the links above, I may earn a small commission from Trinity Stamps at no additional cost to you. Thank you—your support helps me continue creating content for this blog.

Thank you so much for spending time with me today.  I have a YouTube process video up on my channel if you would like to follow along.  I have it linked down below.

Sandy

 

 








Friday, May 15, 2026

She Would Stand - Emily Moore Designs

 

Hello!  Do you ever find yourself loving a particular patterned paper and sentiment and not quite sure how to put it together?  That is what this post is about.  

Emily Moore Designs has a couple of die sets that makes short work of a beautiful card.  They are; Card Sentiments Die Set and Decorative Sentiments Die Set.  

The paper is from 6" x 8" paper pack by 49 and Market called Whispering Way.   I believe it has been discontinued which totally breaks my heart.  I used the large rectangle die from the Card Sentiment Die Set.  This die cuts your paper to 5.25" x 4.0", which is perfect if you like to have a thin border around you card front. I just leave this die out on my table because I use it for all my A-2 cards.  I also used another die from this set to cut out the two thin flags on the upper right corner.

In the Decorative Sentiments Die Set, has a really nice tag die along with another die that fits perfectly on the tag.  I used the sentiment from the Unity Stamp Co. Stamp called Jessica Girl.  This is one of my favorite sentiments because it is so powerful.

The sentiment "It's Your Journey" is a combination of two stamp set by Trinty Stamps.  I used Simply Sentimental: Faith and Simply Sentimental: Birthday.  I love their Simply Sentimental Series because you can build so many different sentiments.  

This would be such a great card to give to that one person who has persevered and overcome a difficulty.

If you would like to receive a 10% discount from the Emily Moore Designs Shop, use this link: https://emilymooredesigns.com/?aff=19 and use Discount Code: SANDY10 at checkout.

I do receive a small commission from Emily Moore Designs at no cost to you.  I am very thankful and grateful for any purchases that help me to continue to create content for this blog.  

Thank you so much for stopping by and I hope you have an amazing day!

Sandy



Monday, May 11, 2026

Life Is Like and Ocean

 


Hello there friends!  I am so excited to share this card with you today.  I just love Crafty Stamp Co.'s Positive Tate.  He just always makes me smile.  This stamp set is called, Positive Tates Ocean's Adventures.  Of course, he is also on one of my favorite patterned papers called, Shark Bait.  

In this stamp set, he is just living his best life on the beach whether he is just floating along:


Checking out the sea life with his mask and snorkel.


Or swimming with the sharks!


I used COPIC markers in the following colors:

  • E31, E34, E35, E37 - Tate
  • RV13, RV04, RV06 - Pink
  • Y35, YR16, YR09 - Orange
  • T0, T1, T3 - Shark Outfit
  • Y11, Y08 - Yellow on the sentiment
  • B000, BO2 - Blue

I would definitely enjoy spending a day on the beach with him.  How about you?

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have some beach time in your future.

Sandy

Friday, May 8, 2026

Bark Means I Love You In Dog Emily Moore Decorative Sentiments


 Hello!  Today I have a card that I created using the Decorative Sentiments Die Set by Emily Moore Designs.  I have been collecting 6" x 6" paper packs over the years and they have just been stashed away.  I just need to do something with them, so my goal is to use paper from at least two packs three times a month.  

Emily Moore Designs has some really great dies that come in sets, that makes a card in less than a half an hour.  Who wouldn't just love that????  

For this card, I used almost every die in this set and I love the way it turned out.  

Emily also has a stamp set called, All The Happy Things, which I have been using a lot.  There are a ton of different sentiments included with it and a lot of them are sentiments, that are unusual but often needed.  It is a great set and you may want to check it out. 

If you would like to receive a 10% discount from the Emily Moore Designs Shop, use this link: https://emilymooredesigns.com/?aff=19 and use Discount Code: SANDY10 at checkout.

I do receive a small commission from Emily Moore Designs at no cost to you.  I am very thankful and grateful for any purchases that help me to continue to create content for this blog. 

Let me know if you are a paper collector also ....and more importantly, do you actually use it?

Sandy