Repeating The Greeting (MIM #330)...

Another week has gone by and it's now 59 days until the first day of Fall, as I continue my countdown to cooler weather. 👍 For this week's challenge, Make It Monday #330: Repeating The Greeting, Lizzie Jones shows us how easy it is to use the same sentiment several times on a card for a different look. 

I started with a piece of white cardstock and used a stitched edge on it. I stamped the sentiment 3 times in Mint Julep ink and once in black ink, adding a second sentiment underneath.

I feel like I cheated and used a ready made die-cut from Don't Forget To Write, but I was looking at the kit and saw the Mint Julep in the leaves and thought it would be a good match. I adhered it with foam tape and placed the panel on a Mint Julep cardstock card base.

And that was it, the card was done! Simple to do and I really like the look of the repeated greeting!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Sentiment Staples: Birthday
• Paper:  PTI Mint Julep, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Mint Julep; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  PTI Don't Forget To Write Make It Market Kit; MFT Wonky Stitched Rectangles
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

MFT Summer School Day 5: Symmetry...

Today is the final day! The topic for today is Symmetry, which means positioning your elements mirrored across an imaginary line that divides your project into even segments. Okay, here's my attempt! 

I started with a piece of white smooth cardstock and added the polka dot strips down the sides. I die-cut three mugs, stamped the image in black ink and colored them with Copic markers. I added a snowflake image to them in blue ink. The mugs are on foam tape, centered about one third from the top of the card.

The sentiment is stamped in coordinating blue ink, about one third from the bottom of the panel. I added a little bit of Wink of Stella to the marshmallows for a touch of sparkle.

I completed all 5 days of the challenge! Thanks MFT - it was fun attending Summer School and creating during this heat wave!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  MFT Merry Christmoose; PTI Holiday Treats
• Paper:  MFT White Smooth; PTI Blueberry Sky Bitty Dots
• Ink:  PTI Enchanted Evening; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Copics:  B41, B45, E50, E74, R29
• Dies:  MFT Merry Christmoose
• Other:  Foam Tape; Wink of Stella
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

MFT Summer School Day 4: Complementary Colors...

Can you believe we're on day 4 already! Today's challenge is to use Complementary Colors - those that are opposite each other on the color wheel, i.e. red/green, yellow/purple or orange/blue. I thought making a Christmas card would make me think it was colder outside (ha, like that worked!) so I chose red/green for my colors.

I started by stamping the sentiment (don't you just love the font in Hand Lettered Holiday?) in black ink on a piece of smooth white cardstock. Next, I die-cut the holly in two shades of green and the berries in red and placed them on the panel. I added a strip of green striped paper at the bottom. The panel is adhered to a piece of cherry red cardstock.

The good news is I now have one Christmas card done!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  MFT Hand Lettered Holiday
• Paper:  MFT Smooth White, Wild Cherry; PTI Spring Moss, Ripe Avocado, Spring Moss Stripes
• Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black
• Dies:  PTI Holly Jolly
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

MFT Summer School Day 3: Repetition...

Today is all about Repetition and something easy to do! The hardest thing was picking out which image I wanted to use. I haven't used my Kitschy Kitchen set in a while and that bowl was calling my name.

I die-cut five bowls in white cardstock and stamped them in a variety of colors. I took a piece of white cardstock and using a stencil, created the subway tile background. I stacked the bowls and added the sentiment.

The panel is on a Gumdrop Green cardstock card base. This color really does remind me of green gumdrops!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  MFT Kitschy Kitchen
• Paper:  MFT Gumdrop Green; PTI White Stampers Select
• Ink:  MFT Ripe Raspberry, Daffodil, Gumdrop Green, Summer Splash, Orange Fizz; Memento Tuxedo Black; PTI Soft Stone
• Dies:  MFT Kitschy Kitchen
• Tools:  MFT English Brick Wall Stencil
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

MFT Summer School Day 2: Primary Colors

Today is about Primary Colors. I knew I was in trouble with this challenge because we had to use  blue, red and yellow only. Yellow is my least favorite color! So I used a slight variation of yellow to make my card.

I started with a piece of white cardstock and stenciled the mini clouds in the background with blue ink. I die-cut the bear and bucket in white cardstock, stamped the images and colored them with Copic markers. The sentiment is stamped in black ink.

After I put the card together I thought the sky needed something else and added the stitched clouds on foam tape.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  MFT Polar Bear Pals
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Hawaiian Shores; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Copics:  BG05, R29, Y35, W1
• Dies:  MFT Polar Bear Pals, Stitched Clouds
• Tools:  MFT Mini Clouds Stencil
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

MFT Summer School Day 1: White Space...

MFT is having a contest on their blog for a few days and I thought I'd participate. It "forces" me to make a card and take my mind off this HOT weather we're having!

The first day is White Space - creating a card using a lot of white space. Well, I don't like seeing a lot of white on a card, so this was a bit of a challenge for me. 

I die-cut the cat and flower from Meow Mix and colored them with Copic markers. Next, I die-cut a speech bubble and stamped the sentiment in black ink. I took a white panel of cardstock and used Wonky Stitched Rectangles on it and adhered it to a white cardstock card base.

The three items on the card are stacked 3 times for dimension. This sure is a lot of white....I really wanted to add something else but stopped. lol

Card Details:

• Stamps:  MFT Meow Mix
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Copics:  BG13, BG23, E30, E33, R83, Y02, YG23
• Dies:  MFT Meow Mix, Wonky Stitched Rectangles, Speech Bubbles
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

It's Okay To Be Happy...

Hello and happy June! The months sure seem to be going by faster and faster!!!!!

My friend let me borrow her new Lawn Fawn die that creates a pop-up on the inside of the card. I watched Jennifer McGuire's video (Jennifer McGuire Pivot Pop Up Cards) to see how to use the die which really helped.

First, I created the inside banner by creating the clouds background with a stencil on white cardstock. Next, I die-cut the grassy hills and the trees. My last step on the banner was stamping the sentiment - I stamped half of it with brown ink on one panel by masking a portion of the stamp and then repeated the same technique for the remainder of the sentiment on the other panel.

I wanted the card front to be similar to the inside and again created the clouds background and die-cut the grassy hills and trees. The sentiment is stamped in the same brown ink. I added a few die-cut clouds placed on foam tape for dimension.

This was fun to make and it's a clever idea, but it's also a lot of work!😊 I'm sure if I make another one it'll be much easier to do.

Here's the front and the inside of the pop-up card. The lighting isn't great here today since it's overcast. The entire sentiment is "it's okay to be happy with a simple life...delight in the little things". I'm sending this to my friend who lent me the die!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Twig Wreath
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Dark Chocolate, Green Parakeet
• Ink:  PTI Dark Chocolate, Hawaiian Shores
• Dies:  PTI In The Meadow; Lawn Fawn Pivot Pop-up
• Tools:  MFT Mini Clouds Stencil
• Other: Foam Tape
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Spot Color Word Die-cuts (MIM #320)...

This week Betsy Veldman is showing us how to "combine spot coloring with your favorite word dies and outline images or backgrounds". She has a very detailed video you can watch here:  Make It Monday #320: Spot Color Word Die-cuts.

I don't have any large words and picked out a medium sized word - "friend". I started by stamping a white piece of cardstock with Mehndi Medallion (an old time favorite!) and black ink. Once I was finished stamping, I die-cut "friend" from the panel. I thought this word was attached, but each letter was on it's own.😩 To make coloring it easier, I die-cut the word again in another piece of cardstock and placed the letters back into the negative and colored it with two Copic markers. 

I placed tape behind the negative on the stamped panel and easily placed the letters in place. I added "hi there" above the word and adhered the panel to a New Leaf cardstock card base. 

Fun technique, although I think the word is a little hard to read.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Mehndi Medallion, Mixed Messages
• Paper:  PTI New Leaf, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Copics:  BG49, G14
• Dies:  MFT Friends
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Stenciled Edges (MIM #316)...

I was happy to see we get to play with stencils for this week's challenge - Make It Monday #316: Stenciled Edges. I really like the look of stencils, and since I finally organized mine (thanks to a Lizzie Jones tip), I have them all handy. Lizzie is also the host for this week's MIM and wants us to try stenciling just around the edges of our card front.

I used a brick wall stencil with Aqua Mist ink to create the stenciling around the edges of a piece of white cardstock. Next, I die-cut two lilies in white cardstock. For the stems, I stamped them first in Spring Moss ink and added Prairie Grass ink by swiping the ink cube on the stamp to give it a lined look. The flowers are stamped in Hawaiian Shores, Tropical Teal and Lemon Tart ink, with black for the wispy thingies. Is that the stamen?

I pulled out an older stamp set, Birthday Classics: April and stamped the sentiment in black ink and arranged the flowers, placing one on foam tape for dimension. The panel is on a Tropical Teal cardstock card base. Tropical Teal, Hawaiian Shores and Aqua Mist are one of my favorite color combos!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Lilies of the Field, Birthday Classics: April
• Paper:  PTI Tropical Teal, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Tropical Teal, Hawaiian Shores, Aqua Mist, Lemon Tart, Spring Moss, Prairie Grass; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  PTI Lilies of the Field
• Tools:  MFT English Brick Wall
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy 90th Birthday...

How many times do you get to make a card for a 90th birthday? I think I've only done it once before - such a milestone!

I started with a Soft Stone cardstock card base and added a layer of blue and grey pattern paper. The white panel is die-cut with Wonky Stitched Rectangles and the sentiment at the bottom stamped in black ink.

The 90 is die-cut in Blueberry Sky cardstock, three times and stacked together. I added the "th" die-cut in the same pattern paper as the background. For "happy birthday" I die-cut the banners in Soft Stone cardstock using Building Blocks and placed them on fun foam for dimension.

The white panel is also on fun foam. I don't have to worry about the thickness of the card since it will be hand delivered.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Offbeat Birthday, Birthday Basics
• Paper:  PTI Soft Stone, Blueberry Sky, Argyle Socks, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black
• Dies:  PTI Building Blocks, Suffix Style; Stampin' Up Large Numbers Framelits; MFT Wonky Stitched Rectangles
• Other:  Fun Foam
• Size:  5.0" x 7.0"

Using Different Types Of Papers (MIM #311)...

I think most of us just use cardstock or patterned paper when we make cards. This week Stephanie Gold challenges us to use different types of paper in the video Make It Monday #311: Using Different Types Of Paper. I haven't been crafting much, sort of lost my mojo right now, so I struggled to come up with an idea.

I started with a white cardstock card base and added a layer of Hawaiian Shores cardstock, scored every 1/2 inch. I added a layer of silver foil and white cardstock, die-cut with Mix & Mat:Snowflakes.

The two banners are die-cut in vellum and Aqua Mist cardstock. I stamped the sentiment on the right in black, fully inked and the sentiment on the left without inking up the stamp again to give it a shadowy look. The banner is on foam tape for a little dimension.

And what would a winter card be without some white fun fur?😃

It was really hard taking a picture without me or the camera reflecting in the foil! This is the best I could do.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI On Ice
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Hawaiian Shores, Aqua Mist; Recollection Silver Foil Cards; Vellum
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  PTI Mix & Mat: Snowflakes; MFT Fishtail Flag Frames
• Tools:  Scor-Pal
• Other:  Foam Tape; Fun Fur
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Heat Embossed Stencil Backgrounds (MIM #309)...

It seems like ages since I made something other than a Christmas card, so I was more than happy to participate in this week's challenge - Make It Monday #309: Heat Embossed Stencil Backgrounds. Melissa Phillips is the host and shows us another unique way to use stencils with heat embossing.

I feel like I'm out of practice making cards and this took me a while to come up with an idea! When I finally decided to use Painted Petals as my floral I was on my way! I die-cut the flowers and leaves in white cardstock and stamped one flower with Sweet Blush, Berry Sorbet, Harvest Gold and black ink. The other is stamped in Berry Sorbet, Pure Poppy, Lemon Tart and black ink. The leaves are stamped in Spring Moss ink.

For the background, I used a striped stencil, rubbed Versamark on it, sprinkled on Blush embossing powder and heat set it. I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and not use white and I really like the look of colored stripes in the background!

I placed one flower on foam tape for dimension. The banner was made using a die from Wrap It Up; the sentiment is stamped in black ink. I placed it on fun foam for dimension and support. Last, I tied on some white crochet thread. I will definitely use this technique again!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Painted Petals, Keep It Simple: Birthday III
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Berry Sorbet
• Ink:  PTI Berry Sorbet, Pure Poppy, Lemon Tart, Harvest Gold, Sweet Blush, Spring Moss; Memento Tuxedo Black; Versamark
• Dies:  PTI Painted Petals, Wrap It Up
• Tools:  Heat Tool; MFT All Lined Up Stencil
• Other:  Zing Embossing Powder; Fun Foam; Foam Tape; Crochet Thread
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Merriest Wishes...

Another tag for today!

I used Tag Sale #10 and die-cut it once in Tinsel & Tags pattern paper and once in Scarlet Jewel cardstock. The snowflake is die-cut twice in white cardstock and once in silver foil paper, stacked and glued together.

The sentiment is stamped in Scarlet Jewel ink on a white cardstock banner and placed on fun foam. I added Stone twine for the tie. This was a quick one to make!

Project Details:

• Stamps:  MFT Snow Globe Kit
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Scarlet Jewel, Tinsel & Tags; Silver Foil
• Ink: PTI Scarlet Jewel
• Dies:  PTI Tag Sale #10, What The Doodle: Snowflake
• Other:  Twine; Fun Foam
• Size:  3.0" x 3-5/8"

Joy...

This was a simple card to make, but if I do something like it again, I think I would use some sort of embossing for the leaves.

I started by cutting a panel of white cardstock and running it through the Cuttlebug with a Wonky Stitched Rectangle die. Next, I stamped the leaves in grey ink, adding the berries in Pure Poppy ink.

Joy is die-cut three times in Pure Poppy cardstock, stacked and glued together. I placed the panel on a Pure Poppy cardstock card base and added a glittery, silver ribbon. Definitely quick and simple!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Mistletoe & Holly
• Paper:  PTI Pure Poppy, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Pure Poppy; Amuse Seattle
• Dies:  MFT Joy, Wonky Stitched Rectangles
• Other:  Ribbon
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Oh Deer...

Happy New Year! Yes, Christmas is over but I still have a few more projects to post this week. For this card, I pulled out my Dashing Deer set again. I just love these cute deer!

I started by using Blueberry Sky ink and a stencil to create the snowdrifts. I added more ink to create the sky, adding white ink for the falling snow.

The deer were die-cut in white cardstock, stamped with black ink, colored with Copic markers and placed on foam tape for dimension. I die-cut the trees in Spring Moss and Ripe Avocado, and the trunks in Dark Chocolate cardstock. The sentiment is stamped in black ink.

The panel is on a Blueberry Sky cardstock card base. 

Card Details:

• Stamps:  MFT Dashing Deer, Snow Globe Kit
• Paper:  PTI Blueberry Sky, White Stampers Select, Spring Moss, Ripe Avocado, Dark Chocolate
• Ink:  PTI Blueberry Sky, Fresh Snow; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Copics:  BG13, E33, E35, E42, R24, YG13 
• Dies:  MFT Dashing Deer
• Other:  MFT Drifts & Hills Stencil; Foam Tape
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

I Hope Santa Spoils You Rotten (#5)...

And finally the last of the Santa's Elves cards!!

On white cardstock, I sponged on a little bit of Lemon Tart ink for the background so the card didn't look so white. I stamped the sentiment in black ink and added a strip of Tropical Teal stripes.

Everything was die-cut in white cardstock and colored with Copic markers. I added glitter to the elf's hat and cuff and pink chalk to his cheeks before placing him on foam tape for dimension. The bells and the purple present are also on foam tape.

I really had a lot of fun making all 5 cards!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  MFT Santa's Elves
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Tropical Teal Stripes
• Ink:  PTI Lemon Tart; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Copics:  BG15, BG49, C3, E30, E33, G24, R24, Y35, YG67, V15 
• Other:  Foam Tape; Glitter; Chalk
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

I Hope Santa Spoils You Rotten (#4)...

We're almost done with the Santa's Elves cards! I can't take credit for this design, I saw it on Susan's Blue Fog Studio Blog and thought it was so cute! I changed mine just a little from the one she made.

I took a piece of white cardstock, ran it through the Cuttlebug with a woodgrain impression plate and adhered it to a Hawaiian Shores cardstock card base. The elf and the ornaments were die-cut in white cardstock, stamped with black ink and colored with Copic markers. I added pink chalk to his cheeks and glitter on his hat and cuffs.

I used lilac twine to hang the ornaments and placed them and the elf on foam tape for dimension. I made a little mark with a white gel pen on the ornaments to give them a shiny look. The sentiment was stamped in black ink on a piece of Pure Poppy cardstock.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  MFT Santa's Elves
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Hawaiian Shores, Pure Poppy
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Copics:  BG15, C3, E30, E33, R24, T1, V9, V15
• Dies:  MFT Santa's Elves; PTI Woodgrain Impression Plate
• Other:  Foam Tape; Twine; Chalk; Gel Pen; Glitter
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Merry Christmas...

I'm so glad I was in a "cutesy" stamp mode this season because I'm in love with all these cutesy stamps from MFT!

This is an ornament tag I haven't used before and die-cut the window tag in Fresh Snow Linen cardstock and the backer in Soft Stone cardstock. The bear is die-cut in white cardstock, stamped in black ink and colored with Copic markers. I added a little bit of pink chalk to give both bears rosy cheeks.

Merry Christmas is stamped in black ink. I used Type Strips/Bit to create the name and placed it on a piece of Lovely Lady cardstock and on fun foam for dimension. The snowflakes are die-cut in white cardstock and have a clear sequin in the middle. I finished the tag by adding Blossom twine for the tie.

The tag closed:

The inside of the tag: (the to/from is on the back of the tag)

Project Details:

• Stamps:  MFT Polar Bear Pals; PTI Keep It Simple: Christmas, Type Strips II
• Paper:  PTI Fresh Snow Linen, White Stampers Select, Soft Stone, Lovely Lady
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
• Copics:  R81, R83, W1
• Dies:  PTI Basic Cut Tag, Window Cut Tag, Type Bits Strip; MFT Polar Bear Pals, Snowflake Splendor
• Other:  Twine; Sequins; Chalk
• Size:  3.0" x 3.25"

Oh Deer Christmas Is Here...

Can you take seeing another card with this cute set?

I used white cardstock for the card base and stenciled the clouds with Hawaiian Shores ink. I made the snowdrifts using a snowdrift die, adding a glitter line along them. The tree was die-cut in white cardstock and colored with a Copic marker.

The animals and birds were die-cut in white cardstock, the image stamped in black ink and colored with Copics. To create the spots on the deer, I used a colorless blender to take off some of the brown ink. I placed each of them on foam tape for dimension, adding a gem to the hats.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  MFT Dashing Deer
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Hawaiian Shores; Memento Tuxedo Black; Versafine Onyx Black
• Copics:  BG15, E31, E33, E35, E42, R20, R27, W1, W3, 0
• Dies:  MFT Dashing Deer, Snowdrifts; Memory Box Tall Birch
• Other:  MFT Mini Cloud Edges Stencil; Glitter; Gems; Foam Tape
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

I Hope Santa Spoils You Rotten (#3)...

Did I mention how much fun this set is to create things with?

I started by taking a piece of white cardstock and stenciling the background with a brick wall, using a soft grey color ink. I picked the little elf that's sitting down, die-cut him in white cardstock, stamped the image in black ink and colored him with Copic markers.

I added the rug, die-cut in Hawaiian Shores cardstock and the presents, both die-cut in white cardstock and colored with Copics. The sentiment is stamped in black ink. I placed the completed panel on a Pure Poppy cardstock card base. The elf and gifts are on foam tape. I added glitter to the hat and his little cuffs and pink chalk to his cheeks and ears.

There was too much space at the top and I ended up die-cutting and coloring holly leaves to place across the card. I placed each of them on foam tape for dimension.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  MFT Santa's Elves, Merry Christmoose
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Pure Poppy, Hawaiian Shores
• Ink:  PTI Soft Stone; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Copics:  C3, BG15, BG49, E23, E30, G24, R24, R29, T1 
• Dies:  MFT Santa's Elves, Merry Christmoose
• Other:  Foam Tape; Glitter; MFT English Brick Wall Stencil; Chalk
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"