Mission Control...

So this card is the first time I have tried my hand at a slimline card.  I am not sure I really care for the format, but will probably give it another try.  This card was made for MFT stamps slimline challenge, using MFT Space Explorer stamps and dies, colored in copic markers.  I used a base of Stampin Up Night of Navy with layers of Basic Gray and Whisper White.  I wanted it to look like the inside of a spaceship, looking through a porthole.  The sentiment is stamped on MFT Electric Red and embossed with white heat embossing powder.  Inside the sentiment is stamped on Whisper White and the large sentiment is from Hero Arts.  Thanks for looking!  April

Sour cream money gifts

My older two wanted money to put towards various needs so I told the grandparents I would package it up.  Here is what I came up with...sour cream containers!  They are stupid-easy to make too.  Just cut a strip of paper, using your gift as a guide.  Add a strip of tape to the short end, joining the two ends.  Now you have a tube.  Close one hole flat and seal with some double stick tape.  I also used a crimper to seal.  Drop in the gift, then seal the other end.  Be sure to turn the opposite direction so the are perpendicular.  I went the extra step and put a zipper in mine so the kids could pull a strip and open it without tearing it apart.  I used a doily cut from the Cricut and some scrap red paper to stamp the sentiment with white heat embossing.  Thanks for looking!  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

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

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

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

Teacher Gifts, part 2

This is for my youngest child's student teacher.  I wanted to give her a little something and I got this little box of chocolates at Hallmark when I picked up the kids' ornaments.  I used kraft and left over patterned paper from DCWV's Christmas stack.  The image is from TGF's Tea-rific photopolymer set.  (I am entering this into the TGF Farm Fresh Friday sparkle challenge.)  The image is colored in copic markers and I added accents in Sukura Stardust clear gel pen to make it sparkle.  It is around the rims, stripes, blooms, swirls and plate.  I can't get a good angle to make it pop, but you can see a bit of it in the photo below.  I cut it out using Nestabilities circle and layered it on a Nestabilities scalloped circle cut from Cherry Cobbler.  Both layers are mounted with dimensionals.  I left two sides of the base open to slide a tag in with a coffee gift card attached.  I used a little jute twine and left over ribbon to make a pull tab for the card.  Thanks for looking!  April

close up of sparkle

 

TGF's Alter Ego!

TGF is hosting a new challenge called Alter Ego.  The idea is to combine two different TGF characters to make a new one. 

I have used this one before, seen here, but this is my Percy Jackson using Mer Ian and WS Flirty Edward digis.  I used Ian's head and Edward's body, but the trick is I copied his left side, flipping the image and moving it to the right, then adding a t-shirt under the open shirt.  His sword, Riptide, is a image I found online.  Percy is colored in copic markers, then cut out using Nestabilities Labels Seven.  I cut him so he looks like he is stepping out of the book (see one foot out of the book?).  I used my fingers to curve the paper and mount the "book" on dimensionals so the book seems to be rising off the base.  The text background stamp is from 7gypsies in Basic Grey.  The paper is Bo Bunny and Recollections on Very Vanilla base.  I used the film strip punch from EK Success for the strip border and some jute twine in a square knot to make it feel more like Percy's connection to the ocean.  I also tossed in some polaroid pics, especially one of his favorite demigod, Annabeth (from TGF's Miss Anya Hats Off).  The polariods are a die from Quik Kutz. Sorry I can't get a better image of the layers, but it kept coming out fuzzy.  Thanks for looking!  April

Percy Jackson SMASH (In Progress)

This is for TGF's Farm Fresh Friday Anything Goes challenge.
I am still working on it, as I am still working on finding pics or treasures (like coins, book covers, etc), but wanted to get what I have finished posted.  I found this fab pic of a Camp Half-Blood map online and the sign is from a Percy-themed party on Pinterest.  The sneaker and small library cards are from Rebecca at Uprintables.  I used some feathers that escaped from a pillow and a brad to make the flying shoe.  I used a page that I removed from another part of the book, using washi tape to attach, to make a triple page layout.

The characters are from TGF, with a little digital tweeking from me.  All characters are colored in copic markers.  First is Tyson (WS Joseph).  I enlarged him, then erased one eye and moved the other to the middle, before making it bigger.  Next is Annabeth (WS Audrey).  I changed the tongue sticking out to a smile and used Dalek font from dafont.com to write on her shirt.  Percy took some extra work.  His head is Mer Ian and the body is WS Flirty Edward.  I copied the left side of his shirt, flipped the image and moved to the right.  I also added a collar for a tee under the open shirt.  I found an image of Riptide (Anaklusmos) online and shrunk it to the needed size.  Last, but not least is Grover (WS Logan).  He was a rubber stamp and I simply drew in the horn sticking out from under the hoodie. 


close-up of Hermes shoe

close-up of (l-r) Grover, Percy, Annabeth, Tyson

So there you have it.  Maybe I will post new pics once the whole thing is done.  Thanks for looking!  April

Thanks Coach

This is for My Favorite Things challenge #134.  I decided to use my new Jersey Die-namics set to make a thank you for my daughter's lacrosse coach. 

The base is retired SU Yo Yo Yellow with layers of Basic Black and designer paper I printed myself.  I wanted to use the school mascot so I found an image online, then shrunk it down and pasted it multiple times on the word doc before printing.  I also used a doily and some leftover emboss resist banners from Heidi Swapp, sprayed with Tinsel then embellishing with mini nail heads.  The jersey is paper pieced in the school colors and embossed in yellow, before being popped up with dimensionals.  Super simple and really fast to assemble.  Thanks for looking!  April

Birthday Blessings

This is for TGF's Garden Variety Tuesday Sketch challenge.
The base is SU's Pear Pizzazz with layers of Very Vanilla, Peach Parfait, and My Mind's Eye Miss Caroline Dolled Up designer papers.  I used a doily and machine stitching.  The image is TGF's Miss Anya Lifts and is colored in copic, with a paper pieced shirt.  I added some freckles and tried my hand at making the balloons a bit transparent.  She is mounted on dimensionals and the sentiment, from TGF's Miss Anya Celebrates, is stamped in Jet Black Staz-On.  Thanks for looking!  April