First Day board

My kids have outgrown the first day of school pictures but I am lucky to make these fun things for my nephew.  I found inspiration on Pinterest, but I adapted a couple of different boards together.  I also chose to make a dry erase board over a chalkboard because the ones at Dollar Tree were pretty small.  Chalkboard were around 5x7 and dry erase are 8.5x11.  I will be honest and say I should have shrunk the title a bit more, making a bit more space on the bottom.  I also had a couple of hiccups with the dots ending up sticking wrong.  As I used permanent vinyl, I worked around it.  Oh well, mistakes are part of the crafting.  Thanks for looking and see you next time!  April

MFT Design Superstar 2020: Innovaton Master

This one was a challenge for me but I think it turned out well in the end.  I doubt I would try to mass produce this but for a solo card, it was fun.  I chose to try a window slider card for this challenge.  Jennifer McGuire has a great tutorial on YouTube.  The base is MFT Electric Red, heat embossed in white using the MFT Candy Stripe stencil. 

The center panel is made by masking the snow by using the MFT snow hills dies.  The sky is inked in Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Tumbled Glass, Blueprint Sketch, and Chipped Sapphire.  The images are MFT Sweet Holiday Penguins colored with copic markers.  I also used the MFT Interactive Labels stamps on the pull tab.

Thanks for looking!  April

MFT Superstar 2020: Clean & Simple Genius

This is my entry for the My Favorite Things Superstar 2020 Clean and Simple Genius category.  I trimmed a top folding piece of copic-friendly Neenah Solar White 80 lb cardstock 1/4 in smaller than a standard A2 piece.  

I centered the stamp (MFT Polar Bear Pals) a little high of the center and stamped in Black Tuxedo Momento ink using a stamp positioning tool (mine is a Stampin Up Stamparatus).  I opened the card and stamped the bear in the exact same spot inside the card.  I also stamped the inside and outside sentiments at this time.  

I used the matching bear die and a circle die to
partially die cut the opening on the front.  Inside, I added the bucket of fish, then used post-its to mask the bear and fish.  Next, I made a mask for ground by cutting a scrap piece of paper with the MFT snowy hill die-namics.  I taped the hill mask in place then inked the background with Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks in Fossilized Amber, Carved Pumpkin, and Picked Raspberry.  I peeled off the masks, then colored the images in copic markers. 

Last, I used a white gel pen to add snow to the sky and a black glaze pen to highlight the eyes and nose on the bears, before mounting the card on piece of MFT Cotton Candy cardstock that is 4 1/4x5 1/2.  Thanks for looking!  April

MFT Superstar 2020: Coloring Virtuoso

This is my entry for My Favorite Things Superstar 2020 challenge Coloring Virtuoso category.  The images are MFT Space Explorer, colored in copic markers.  The base is Whisper White, with Night of Navy.  The navy layer is inked with Tim Holtz Distress Oxide in Twisted Citron, Peacock Feathers, Chipped Sapphire, and Black Soot.  Next, I used the MFT Radiating Rays stencil with Versamark ink and iridescent glitter embossing powder.  The astronauts are popped up on foam tape.  The sentiment is white heat embossed on MFT Blue Raspberry cardstock.  Thanks for looking!  April

Gamer Birthday Card

My bff's youngest is a huge gamer so when I found the card from JenniferMaker.com I just could not resist!  The big thing to remember when you upload the file is to convert the score lines and attach them.  Once that is done, its just a few cuts.  The black takes two sheets, then one red, and a white scrap.  I will also mention to be aware of the thickness of your papers.  I used 110lb for the white and it was not a complete cut even when set to heavy cardstock.  I ended up repeating the cut 6 times!  As long as you do not unload the mat you can repeat the same cut.  The white layer has several delicate small cuts.  The gift card tucks behind the controller, but you can seal that off if you wish.  I added holographic paper behind the inner sentiment and heat embossed the birthday sentiment on the front in yellow.  Thanks for looking! 

April

Mask keeper

 

I needed a way for my youngest to store his mask during lunch at school.  The idea of him dropping it on the table or tossing it in his backpack does not sit well with me.  I was shopping at target, grabbing some extra masks to keep on hand and stopped in the health section to grab some small bottles of hand sanitizer when I came across soap dishes in the travel section.  Inspiration!  This is an Up&Up brand dish and I used a bit of acetone.to remove the decal.  I found a mask image and cut it on my Cricut in opal holographic vinyl.  Weeding this was a bit of a pain, to be honest, but it is pretty cute.  We pack it in his lunch bag, then he puts his mask in while he eats.  It is washed before repacking his lunch.  Thanks for looking!  April

MFT Sweet Holiday Penguins Christmas cards

My idea for the MFT Summer School Challenge number 5 (White Space) ended up being the template for my family Christmas cards.  I finished 50 cards and the extras will end up being sold at the craft fair at my son's school.  The base is kraft pre-made cards from Hobby Lobby, layered with Neenah Solar White #80 for copic markers, and strips of red glitter 12x12 paper.  I cut the strips at 1/4" x 5.5" and had enough to use on all 50 plus enough left over for a few more cards.  The images are from MFT Sweet Holiday Penguins.  I popped the white up on foam tape and the glitter paper is glued to the base.  I wanted to keep these very minimal, clean and simple for easy mailing.  Thanks for looking!  April

MFT Summer School Challenge #5

I couldn't have asked for a better challenge to get me motivated to get the Christmas cards started.  This will take a while as I have to color each card individually.  Luckily, the challenge calls for a lot of white space to allow the image to become the focal point.  

This card starts with a base of kraft and layered with copic-friendly Neenah Solar White.  I cut 1/4" strips of red glitter paper that is slipped under the edge of white strip after being popped up on foam tape.  The image is MFT Sweet Holiday Penguins.  I am debating about adding some clear stickles under the penguin to look a bit like snow.  

Come back to see the others three cards I plan for this year's Christmas cards.  I will use my leftover cards to sell at my craft fair booth.  Thanks for looking!  April

MFT Summer School Challenge #4

I am so running behind on these so my posts are getting stacked up a bit.  The fourth challenge for MFT Summer School is ombre!  The card base is SU Whisper White.  The white panel is stamped with MFT Well, Hello in Versamark ink and embossed with white powder.  Next, I inked the panel with Tim Holtz distress inks in Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean, Mermaid Lagoon, and Blueprint Sketch.  I flicked a bit of water for contrast.  I inked a scrap piece of white with Mermaid Lagoon, Blueprint Sketch, and Chipped Sapphire, before die cutting the hello three times.  I glued the three layers together then glued it to the outline in Whisper White, before using foam tape to put it on the card.  The sentiment is stamped on SU Night of Navy and embossed with white powder.  The last touch is adding some Studio Katia bubbles.  Thanks for looking!  April

MFT Summer School Challenge #3

The third MFT Summer School assignment is Symmetry.  I rarely do these type of cards so this was a tough one for me.  I used some MFT grape jelly cardstock and the Number Jumble background stamp with some versamark ink and white embossing powder to create a fun background for my MFT Space Explorer (He was a leftover from another project!).  The grape layer is popped up on foam tape.  I used holographic paper for the planet and trim .  Last, I stamped the sentiment on white cardstock and embossed with black embossing powder, before placing the banner across the top.  I learned this fun trick on banners from Jennifer McGuire on her YouTube channel.  Thanks for looking!  April

MFT Summer School Challenge #2

For today's MFT Summer School challenge #2 we were challenged to use a rainbow theme, so I broke out the MFT Straight-Up Rainbow die-namics.  I used scraps from yesterday's challenge to make my rainbow.  I always make extras and put them in a bag to store with the die for later use.  I also used the Hello die-namics, cutting it three times and stacking it for added dimension.  The card is mounted on a top folded piece of Blue Raspberry.  The bubbles are Studio Katia.  Thanks for looking!  April

MFT Summer School Challenge #1

My Favorite Things is hosting a Summer School.  The first day is the Rule of Three.  I decided to break out one of the die-namics I have not had the chance to use.  I have these mini balloons and decided to make three small groups of three balloons on the card front.  I used colors from the MFT variety pack of cardstock including Razzleberry, Lemon Drop, Sour Apple, Blue Raspberry, and Grape Jelly.  The orange is SU Pumpkin Pie.  The sentiment is also Stampin Up.  I will be honest and say I would not have done it in black so it wouldn't disappear into the balloon strings.  I popped only one balloon in each grouping up on a foam square and used a white gel pen to add a highlight.  Thanks for looking!  April

MFT Weekly Sketch Challenge #500

This birthday card is for MFT Weekly Sketch challenge.  The base is Whisper White cardstock.  I used a piece of Whisper White and inked with Carved Pumpkin, Picked Raspberry, Seedless Preserves, Blueprint Sketch and Chipped Sapphire  Tim Holtz Distress Inks, layered with Whisper White cardstock cut with MFT stitched snow dies then popped up with foam tape.  The image is MFT Sweet Holiday Penguin colored with copic markers.  The sentiment is from MFT Gift Card Greetings.  Thanks for looking!  April

MFT color challenge 145 and sketch challenge 497

I have been having a blast working on the Daily Marker 30 Day Challenge.  This is MFT Doctor's Orders colored in copic markers.  The image was a free printable to make cards for our medical workers but I had a couple of images left and decided to make a card for my person who lives in another state.  We are Grey's Anatomy fans and thought it would be a fun card.

The colors are inspired from this week's MFT color challenge.  I was excited to see I had the colors in the sampler pack I bought.  The base is Kraft, then a layer of teal scrap paper, then the background of the photo is Berrylicious and the frame is Natural.  

The card design is for MFT weekly sketch challenge.  I cut the frame as a rectangle then used a square die to pop out the inside.  I also moved the sentiment inside the frame, rather than make a flag up in the corner.  Thanks for looking!  April

Thanks, Doc

This is for MFT weekly sketch challenge #495.  I used a base of MFT Electric Red cardstock, with layers of Snow Cone and SN@P 24/7 pattern paper.  The image is from MFT BB Bedside Manner and colored in copic markers.  Thanks for looking!  April

Gnome gift card holders

I have been slowly working on inventory for the fall craft fair.  (Here's hoping they will continue to have craft fairs after COVID-19!)  These are simple to make and a huge seller last year when I used snowmen.  You get THREE holders from one sheet of cardstock so
they are very economical.
Along the 11 inch side, cut at 3.5 inches.  You will have a small strip left after you cut all three.  Along the long side of each strip, score at 2 on one end, the rotate and score at 2.5 at the opposite end.  I used a corner rounder on the edges to keep them tidy.  The matted pieces are a quarter inch smaller.  I used 1/8 inch adhesive tape to seal the edges of the larger flap to form a pocket.  The gnome is attached to the top flap and I used a mini velcro dot to seal the holder. The cardstock is MFT and the patterned paper is from DCWV. 
The gnomes were created on Cricut Design space.  I used a large oval for the body and sliced the bottom off with a square to create a flat bottom.  You can also create this with a punch and cut a flat bottom with scissors.  His beard is created from a leaf.  I used the small oval nose to slice out a place for the oval to rest.  Looking back now, I would have popped the nose up on a piece of foam tape.  The hat was from another cut file, but you can easily use a triangle.  I have also seen small circles for hands and small ovals for feet, but chose to keep these pretty minimal.  I made my gnomes around 2.5 inches tall and could fit close to 43 on a sheet of 12x12 paper on my Circut.  I used dark green for the body, cherry for the hats, white for the beards, and flesh for the noses.  I assembled them while watching a movie with my hubby in just about an hour.
In total, I made 45 holders in under 3 hours, with cutting papers, folding and assembly.  Thanks for looking!  April

Disney Castle color-change tumblers

I have been playing with ideas for my craft fair booth and wanted to try some samples of vinyl I received in the mail, so these new color-changing tumblers from Michael's were the perfect opportunity to play.  I used silver rain holographic vinyl for the fireworks and Minnie's bow, and glitter rainbow vinyl for the castles.  I love the effect of the holographic vinyl.  Now, I have to put these through their paces and see how it holds up to washing.  Thanks for looking!  April

MFT Straight-Up Rainbow (part 2)

Here we are again!  Today's inspiration from the fabulous Jennifer McGuire.  She made adorable flip up cards using several different dies, but I really loved the MFT Straight-Up Rainbow. 
The base is SU Whisper White.  I ended up doing my background a bit different by sponging SU White craft ink on MFT Snowcone cardstock using a Hero Arts cloud stencil.  The sentiments are from MFT Hello stamped on SU Basic Black with versamark and white embossing powder.  The smiling cloud is popped up on white craft foam.  I also skipped the happy face on the reverse side of the flip element.  Thanks for looking!  April

MFT Straight-Up Rainbow (part 1)

I was so excited to get my new MFT die in the mail because I was dying to try a couple of fun techniques from some of the great designers online.  The first was inspired from MFT designer Stephanie Klauck.  I never considered using the Grout cardstock as a background but it really lets the rainbow pop.  The card base is SU Whisper White and the rainbow is made with DCWV glitter stack.  The sentiment is from MFT Hello.  The face is SU Basic Black and Blushing Bride.  I swapped the eyes on this one for black cheeks and added gel pen pupils. 
Another card, I added a few sequins to look like rain.  This is a great set that I will be using often.  Thanks for looking!  April

Muggle Teacher gifts

This is a picture heavy post, so bear with me!  It's that time of year again and I am trying to brainstorm teacher gifts when low and behold, Mandee at Designs by Miss Mandee posted a free Harry Potter Howler card.  So I was off and running! 

The card was made on my Cricut Explore with just cherry and white cardstock.  You can get two cards from a 12x12 sheet.  I used my finger to curl the tongue (and managed to give myself a nasty paper cut!) and placed it with a piece of double stick tape. 
We don't buy Talenti gelato often, mainly because it is expensive, but the jars are just too good to toss so I have been hoarding them.  How did I get the print off, you ask?  Acetone nail polish remover, cotton balls, elbow grease, and a well ventilated area are all it takes.  Make sure you wash the jars well once you are done cleaning them off. 

I will admit I have no idea where I got the image on the jar.  It was all one color, so I decided to highlight the I Teach Muggles in gold, leaving the rest in black.  Ok, I am going to give you an honest crafter-fail moment here.  Those pros out there make this look so fabulous, but this sucker is a pain to weed, because the finished design is only 2 1/2 inches tall.  I worked out a trick of reverse weeding.  TIP: weed the insides of all the letters and work the outside around the bigger words, then put your transfer tape over your image, burnish well, then remove backing paper.  Now weed the outer part of your image SLOWLY and your letters should stay stuck to the transfer tape.

For the top of the jar, I created the image on Cricut Design Space.  It is 3.25" and fits in the lid with a little room to spare.  I used the Cut and Print feature, then added the Hogwarts wax seal using burgundy hot glue sticks.  Yep, hot glue!  The best way I have found to do this is take some cooking spray and put a generous amount on a folded paper towel.  Tap your seal in the cooking spray, then make a puddle of hot glue on a silicone mat or on the sticker.  Wait a few seconds for the glue to slightly set but still soft.  Push the seal into the glue and wait a few minutes for it to set.  Gently rock the seal and remove.  Wait 5 minutes, then remove from the mat.  I store extras in a baggie.  Thanks for looking!  April

Nurse cards

This is for MFT's Color Challenge 141 and Wednesday Sketch Challenge 489. 

The images are from MFT and were free for making cards for medical staff during the pandemic.  I decided to have a little fun coloring many different images and these are the first two I got onto cards.  I plan to show more in the future, so check back soon!

The base is SU Whisper White cardstock, with layers of MFT Steel Gray cardstock, Lemon Chiffon wood grain, and Grout Gray cardstock.  The sentiment is printed on Spectrum Noir cardstock.  The images are colored in copic markers.  The image is glued to the grout colored cardstock and is popped up foam tape.  Thanks for looking!  April

MFT Space Explorer

I mentioned I have been practicing with my copic markers and here are some views of my color combos.  You will see future posts featuring these little cuties coming soon.  I did a set in good old red, white and blue, a set in Buzz Lightyear green, purple, and white, a set in blueish green and orange, and a set in green, orange and gray.  Here they are all cut with dies and waiting for their visors to dry after being coated in glossy accents.  Once they are ready, I will store them in a baggie with the planets and stars, making cards quicker.  I plan to ink several galaxy backgrounds so they will be ready to go.  Thanks for looking!  April

Mission Control

This is another card featuring MFT Space Explorer set and copic markers.  Can you guess the inspiration for my color combo?  Buzz Lightyear, of course!  I also used a little white gel pen to make highlights on the visor area and window before covering those areas in liquid glass (aka glossy accents).  The astronaut and ship are popped up foam tape.
The base is SU Whisper White.  I used distress oxide inks to try my hand at a galaxy background before spattering it with white distress paint, flicked off an acrylic block with a paintbrush.  I will admit, I used SU cardstock and totally would do this again with watercolor paper.  I had to be very light with the water to keep it from warping.  I love the chalky finish.
The sentiment is stamped with versamark and heat embossed in white.  I took a tip from Jennifer McGuire for the teather line.  Use a bit of glue on your fingers to spread glue on the twine, then shape into place and leave to dry on a silicone mat.

As I mentioned in the last post, the planet is made with a cutting two large circle dies, then using various size dies and punches to make holes in one layer.  I used matching ink and sponged around the layers and added some shadows.  I cut the finished planet in half to make two cards.
I am entering this into MFT Birthday Project Challenge featuring circles. 
Thanks for looking!  April

MFT Color Challenge 140 & Sketch 486

While I am stuck at home, I am using the time to brush up on my copic marker skills, so this challenge was a good excuse to color up some of the MFT Space Explorer set.  I did several color combos you will see in the coming posts but here is the first.
I am entering it into two MFT challenges this week.  The first is MFT color challenge 140.

The second is weekly sketch challenge.  I will be honest and say I took some liberties with it by flipping the image, and moving the sentiment flag.  I also removed the second rectangle layer.  (Annnd, I totally missed the deadline.  I thought it was before noon on Wednesday!  Oh, well.)

I decided to use a SU Night of Navy background and the MFT Starry Night dies to cut the night sky, then backed it with holographic paper.  I put a few holographic sticker stars as well as the planets. 
The large planet is SU Smoky Slate and I die cut two large circles, then used smaller circle dies and punches to punch out one of the circles.  I inked the circles and added shadows on the planet, before popping it up with foam tape.  I cut the planet in half to use on two different cards.  The astronaut is popped up on a double layer of foam tape.
The sentiment is stamped in versamark and heat embossed in black, then die cut with a banner die.  Thanks for looking!  April