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"

Ombre Watercolor Backgrounds (MIM #327)...

Betsy Veldman is our host for this week's challenge, Make It Monday #327: Ombre Watercolor Backgrounds, where she shows us how to make "easy" watercolored backgrounds with ink. Hmmm. Betsy does make it look very easy, but I struggled a little with this challenge, I think maybe because of the watercolor paper. I tried Hobby Lobby, Tim Holtz and Bristol paper and actually had the best luck with the Hobby Lobby paper. I wonder, does the DT ever have to redo their projects or do they hit it out of the ballpark on their first try?😳

I selected Tropical Teal, Hawaiian Shores and Aqua Mist inks for my background colors, rubbing them on the watercolor paper, dark to lightest colors. I used a brush and water to create downward strokes to blend the inks. Next, I used the leaves from the Harvest Berries stamp set and stamped them along the edges, again, darkest to lightest colors. I added additional leaves in lighter colors to for depth. The panel is adhered to a white cardstock card base. 

The sentiment, from Painted Petals is stamped in black ink. I decided to add some berries and stamped them in each of the three blue colors. This was fun to do and I'll definitely try it again!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Harvest Berries, Painted Petals
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select; Master's Touch Watercolor
• Ink:  PTI Tropical Teal, Hawaiian Shores, Aqua Mist; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Other:  Brush; Water
• 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"

Inchie Elements (MIM #326)...

I always like it when Lexi Daly hosts MIM because it's usually something simple to make. And she did it again with this week's challenge Make It Monday #326: Inchie Elements. Lexi shows us how to make a fun card using inchies - remember those from years ago? They were all the rage. I still have my "inchie" punch which came in handy for my card.

I started by punching nine squares in white cardstock. On six of the squares, I stamped sand along the bottom and added a beach item from Day At The Beach. I often think of selling this stamp set, but can't seem to be able to part with it!😊 On the three remaining squares, I stamped the sentiment in black ink. The sentiment squares are stacked 3 times for a little dimension. When assembling the squares, I used a T-Square ruler to help make sure the inchies were perfectly lined up.

The card looked like it had too much white (what is it with me and too much white?😎) so I stamped more sand at the bottom of the card. I added a little glitter to the drink for the "salt" and teal/kraft twine for my finishing touches. Fun way to make a card!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Day At The Beach, Sand Swatch, Birthday Classics: April, Birthday Classics: August, Keep Swimming
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Kraft, Harvest Gold, Tropical Teal, Raspberry Fizz, Amethyst Allure, Green Parakeet; Memento Bahama Blue, Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  1 Inch Square Punch; T-Square Ruler
• Other:  Martha Stewart Twine; Coarse Glitter
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5" 

Papertrey June 2018 Blog Hop...

This month's inspiration photo has to be one of my all time favorites! So much color in the photo and those delicious looking Popsicles and fruit make me think, yes, summer is here! I don't like the heat that goes with summer, but I do like the food associated with it!😎 Nothing better than a nice, cold Popsicle or bowl of fruit on a hot, humid day!

I was drawn to the Popsicles and realized I haven't used my Summer Sweetness set for a while. I die-cut the Popsicles in white cardstock and stamped each in a color I saw in the inspiration photo. The sticks are stamped in Kraft ink. I added glitter to each one, giving them a frosty look.

I arranged the Popsicles on a white cardstock card base and stamped the sentiment in black ink. I haven't used my Swoosh stamp set for a long time either! It's always nice to pull out an old set to use. Now I want to make more cards with this set!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Summer Sweetness, Swoosh
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Kraft, Raspberry Fizz, Lemon Tart; Memento Tangelo, New Sprout, Lulu Lavender, Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  PTI Summer Sweetness
• Other:  Glitter
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Flowers In Reverse (MIM #325)...

Time for another challenge! Our host this week is Dawn McVey where she shows us a different way to use flowers and leaves. I have to say I never really considered using all white for my flowers, but after I put this card together I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked it! You can watch Dawn's fun video here:  Make It Monday #325: Flowers In Reverse. 

I wanted to have a textured background and embossed white cardstock with the Hexagon Cover Plate. I die-cut the flowers in white and the leaves in Aqua Mist and Hawaiian Shores cardstock, stamping them with their coordinating ink. I stamped the flower centers in black ink.

I arranged the flowers and leaves on the panel using thin foam tape for dimension on the flowers. The banner is die-cut in Hawaiian Shores cardstock and the sentiment stamped in black ink. I placed the banner on an angle for a different look.....isn't it nice to see it this way for a change?😀

My final step was tying crochet thread around the top, and of course I used white! The abundance of white with the few pops of color and the black ink all worked so well together. I really enjoyed making this card!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Gran's Garden, Embroidered Blooms, Bountiful Banners
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Hawaiian Shores, Aqua Mist
• Ink:  PTI Hawaiian Shores, Aqua Mist; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Dies:  PTI Gran's Garden, Beautiful Blooms II #1, Sketched Shapes, Hexagon Cover Plate
• Other:  Foam Tape; Crochet Thread
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5" 

Papertrey June 2018 Create Along With Us...

Do you ever think you have a ton of flower stamps and then try to find one that'll work for your project and realize you actually need more flower stamps?😄 That's what happened when I tried to replicate this simple, but gorgeous card Betsy Veldman made. 

For my card, I picked a flower from Mixed Bouquet. I started by stamping my sentiment in black ink and placed my flowers (sort of) in the same places as Betsy. The flowers are stamped in Raspberry Fizz, Pure Poppy, Bright Buttercup, Summer Sunrise and the stems in Green Parakeet and New Leaf inks. The centers are also stamped in black ink.

I also used a stitching die around the edges and attached the panel to a white cardstock card base. It was a quick and simple card to make. Not nearly as nice as Betsy's, but a decent attempt.😎 

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Mixed Bouquet, Stylish Sentiments: Birthday, Reasons To Smile
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Raspberry Fizz, Pure Poppy, Green Parakeet, Bright Buttercup, Summer Sunrise, New Leaf; Versafine Onyx Black
• Dies:  Lil Inker Designs Stitched Mats: Rectangles
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Lots o' Dots (MIM #324)...

Well, this week's challenge looks easy and fun at the same time! Michelle Leone is the host and shares how to add dimensional dots to a project. I flipped through my stamp sets and saw What The Doodle: Waves had all those little bubbles just waiting to be filled in! You can watch how to do this technique here ⤗ Make It Monday #324: Lots o' Dots.

I started with a piece of Spring Rain cardstock, stamped the waves in Versamark ink, sprinkled them with white embossing powder and heat set it. The whale is die-cut three times in white cardstock and stacked together for dimension; the top whale stamped in Enchanted Evening ink. The water spout is also embossed with white embossing powder. I stamped two different sentiments at the bottom in blue ink.

Next came the fun of filling in all those little bubbles with Pearl Pen drops. I did them a little at a time, letting them dry before I moved to another section. I even did a dot for the whale's eye! Fun technique and it's always nice to see any type of dimension on a card.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Keep Swimming, What The Doodle: Waves, Ways To Say: Birthday
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Spring Rain
• Ink:  PTI Enchanted Evening; Versamark
• Dies:  PTI Keep Swimming
• Tools:  Heat Tool
• Other:  White Ice Pearl Pen; Embossing Powder
• 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"