MFT Sketch 391 - Sweet Sloths Happy Birthday

This week's MFT sketch is based on a cover plate die that I don't have, but I captured the sketch fairly literally using what I have on hand.

First I used the MFT Cloud stencil and Tumbled Glass Distress Ink to make a background piece.  The squares and oblong piece were cut using the Blueprints 27 divided frame die.  I used Copic markers to color one of the new to me Sweet Sloths.  A few stems of leaves from the Wild Greenery die set and a sentiment from the Birthday Bears stamp set finished my card.

Thanks for stopping by to take a look, and have a great day.

 

MFT Supplies:

Cloud stencil

Sweet Sloths stamp and die 

Birthday Bears sentiment stamp 

Wild Greenery die

Blueprints 27 die

A2 Rectanlge STAX Set 1 die

Slanted Sentiment Strips die

Sno Cone, Sour Apple and Gumdrop Green card stock

AAA Cards CAS Game 118 - Use a Frame

Game 118 for AAA Cards is all about frames.  The design team's inspiration cards on the AAA Cards blog are so varied and creative.

I decided to make a sympathy card.  They are never easy, and I always have a few on hand ready for when the need arises.  I like to keep sympathy cards very CAS, so this challenge was the perfect opportunity to make one.

The single peony bloom from The Ton's Sending Peonies set is the focal point.  The MFT Rectangle Peek-a-Boo Window has just a bit of detail to frame the flower, and an Altenew Fresh Freesia sentiment finished my card.

Thanks very much for taking a look at my card, and have a great day. 

 

Supplies:

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80lb card stock

Memento London Fog dye ink

MFT A2 Rectangle STAX Set 1 die 

MFT Rectangle Peek-a-Boo Window die

The Ton Sending Peonies stamp

Altenew Fresh Freesia sentiment stamp

Copic markers C1, C3, R01, R11, R20, G40, G43

Paper Source Pure White A2 fold over note card

Essentials by Ellen Color Trend "Verdure" Challenge - It's Your Day

The current Color Trend Challenge from Essentials by Ellen showcases the color of the year, Ultra Violet, along with sky blue, several greens and a couple of mustard/golden brown shades.

I got out my Kuretake water colors to use not because I enjoy them, but because I want to improve my water coloring skills.  I find it difficult and frustrating, but I don't want to give up!

The Mondo Sakura stamp designed by Julie Ebersole for EBE is the star of my card, I used it for last month's Color Trend Challenge too.  This time I made a square birthday card using about 3/4 of the image and turned it upside down.   I'm happy with the way it turned out.  The very dear friend I made it for  is always so appreciate of my handmade cards, and I think she will like it too.

Thanks for stopping by to take a look, and I appreciate any comments you care to leave.  Have a great day.

Supplies:

EBE Mondo Sakura stamp and die

EBE Wish Big sentiment stamp

Versafine Black Onyx ink

The Ton Double Stitched Square - Large dies

Kuretake Water Colors #51 May Green, #139 Purple, #44 Light Brown

Canson Cold Press watercolor paper, 140 lb.

Black card stock - stash

Paper Source Pure White 5.75" square fold over note card and envelope

MFT Sketch 390 - Grrreetings

Hi, and thanks for stopping by to take a closer look at my card for this week's MFT Sketch challenge.

I used the cute Monster Sized set to make a quick card.  I wish I had put frames around the windows, but I'm planning to make another card similar to this one to donate to one of the kid's groups I support, so I'll add the frames on it.

It's hard to see in the picture, but I covered each tooth with a couple of layers of white Nuvo Crystal Drops so they look like enamel.  I used the tip of a needle to apply it.  I debated about adding a couple of die cut star bursts from the Monster Sized set, but ultimately decided to just let the monsters shine on their own.

MFT Supplies:

Monster Sized stamps and dies

Double Stitched Squares die

A2 Rectangle STAX Set 1 die

English Brick Wall stencil

In the Buff Dye Ink Cube

Monsters colored with Copic markers

AAA Cards CAS Game 117 - Geometrics

I have three young adult nephews celebrating birthdays this summer, so I made a masculine birthday card for the current AAA Cards challenge - Geometrics.  Masculine cards are definitely challenging!

I used the Altenew Weave Builder stencil and sponged on Catherine Pooler inks.  I wanted some contrast between the black and brown sides of the cubes, so I found that I needed to use a light touch when applying the inks.  My first attempt was way too heavy handed and the two dark inks just seemed to run together with no definition between them.  A MFT sentiment and some steel gray card stock finished my card.

One card down, two to go!  Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a great day.

Supplies:

Neenah Solar White card stock

Altenew Weave Builder stencil

Catherine Pooler Midnight and Icing on the Cake inks

Memento: Gray Flannel ink

MFT All About You sentiment stamps

MFT Steel Gray card stock

MFT Color Challenge 95 - I'm Bananas For You

I think the Cheeky Monkey set was one of my first MFT Stamps purchases.  I haven't used it for quite a while, so I decided to design today's card around it.  The colors for the challenge are Sweet Tooth, Lush Lagoon, Kraft and Daffodil.  I have Kraft and Daffodil card stock, the blue is from my stash of scrap paper.

I think these maze cards are fun for older kids, so I like to have a couple on hand for the kids in a FB group I support.  The MFT shaker pouches are so handy and make super quick work of assembling a shaker or maze card.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day.

 

 

MFT Supplies: 

Cheeky Monkey stamps and dies

In & Out Diagonal Stitched Rectangles STAX

Circle Shaker Window & Frame dies

Kraft and Daffodil card stock

Homespun Gingham, Painted Prints Citrus and B&W Stripes 6x6 Paper Packs

Circle Shaker Pouch

Maze Shapes - White

Maze Spheres

Images colored with Copic markers

MFT Sketch 389 - Mermaid Birthday

For this week's MFT Sketch Challenge, I made a birthday card for a little girl who is soon turning nine years old.   

I deviated from the sketch mainly by shifting the horizontal rectangular piece from the right to the left side of the card base.  I had an alcohol ink background scrap on hand, so I used a STAX die to cut a rectangle of it and a piece of white card stock too.  After I used an embossing folder to add interest to the white piece, I in-layed the background piece inside the white piece so it would lay flush.

The cute little mermaid and seashell are from the Mermazing stamp and die set.  The cake, package and balloons are from the Birthday Bears stamp and die set.  The number 9 was die cut from the Stitched Banner Numbers set.  

I used a die cut piece of Picket Fence on last week's Sketch Challenge card, but I had cut it down a bit shorter.  I used that leftover piece to make the little banner on today's card (photo below).  The top tips of the fence could be cut down for a pointed tip banner too.  It was an accidental stretch of the Picket Fence die!

All of the images were colored with Copic markers.  A clear glitter pen, clear Wink of Stella and a white jelly pen added details and shimmer.  Glossy Accents was used on the cake icing and the balloons.

My little banner was made from a scrap of a shortened Picket Fence.

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by to take a look at my card.  Should you care to leave a comment, I'd appreciate it.  Have a mermazing day!

 

MFT Supplies:

Mermazing stamps and dies

Birthday Bears stamps and dies

Stitched Banner Numbers die

A2 Rectangle STAX die

Rectangle STAX Set 1 die

Slanted Sentiment Strip die

Blue Raspberry card stock

Other Supplies:

Park Lane Paperie Embossing Folder - Hanging Dots

Paper Source Pure White card stock

 

Note Card Gift Set

I really enjoy making note card sets.  I needed a little happy mail gift for a teenage girl who likes fashion, dogs, and cats, so I here's what I made today.

I used The Ton's Shoe Wardrobe stamps on the four note cards (4-bar, 3 1/2" x 5" size) and lip balm tag.  I stamped the girl's name on the note cards with Concord & Ninth's Perfectly Penned Stamp Set.  In today's age of electronic communication, I like to encourage young people to use snail mail with note cards.

Our sweet Sadie is the star of the card.  I took that picture of her one day when I wanted to take her for a walk and she wouldn't budge from the top of the stairs.  She's the sweetest dog, never naughty, super calm and loves to be petted, but she has a stubborn streak!  We got her from a rescue group when she was about 2 1/2, and she's 7 now based on the vet's estimate of her age.  We are hopelessly attached to her, and she makes us smile every day.

I hope Sadie's picture makes the recipient of this happy mail smile, and you too.  Have a great day, and thanks for taking a look at my project.

Supplies:

The Ton Shoe Wardrobe - Solid stamps

Concord & Ninth Perfectly Penned Stamps Set

Essentials by Ellen Brushstroke Hello die

Lawn Fawn Tiny Tags die and Tiny Tags Sayings stamp

Paper Source Blush paper and 4-bar envelopes
Paper Source Pure White card stock and A2 envelope

MFT:

A2 Rectangle STAX dies

Double Stitched Squares die

Tall Tag Duo die

Homespun Stitched Lines die

Lip Balm Window dies and Pouch

Rip Strips die

Gravel Gray card stock

Black & White Stripes 6x6 Paper Pack

MFT Sketch 388 - I Hope Your Day Rocks

I used this week's MFT Sketch Challenge as a starting point for a card I needed to make for a little girl who likes singing, dancing, gymnastics, make-up, and the list goes on.  I don't personally know her, but it sounds like she's a bundle of fun and energy, and her picture reflects a beautiful, happy smile.

The MFT Perfect Harmony and A Tweet Hello sets were used for the card and matching lip balm tag.  Since sewing is also on her list of things she likes, I thought the Homespun Stitched Lines would make a perfect background for the tags.  All of the images were colored with Copic markers, and I used foam tape to pop-up the tag and colored images on the card.

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope your day rocks!

 

MFT Supplies:

Perfect Harmony stamp and die

A Tweet Hello stamps and dies

Heartstrings sentiment stamp 

Homespun Stitched Lines dies

A2 Rectangles STAX die

Tag Builder Blueprints 4 dies

Slanted Sentiment Strips dies

Tall Tag Duo die

Lip Balm Window dies and Pouch

Rip Strips dies

Razzle Berry and Spearmint card stock

Proper Pinstrips Pastels 6x6 Paper Pack

 

 

Essentials by Ellen May 2018 Pin Sights Challenge - Mondo Sakura - Hello

I finally got a chance to ink up my new Essentials by Ellen Mondo Sakura stamp designed by the very talented Julie Ebersole.  I love all of Julie's Mondo floral stamps.  I decided to make a card for a young lady in a Facebook group that I belong to.  She's having surgery later this month, so I'll send a bit of happy mail her way.

I was inspired by Jennifer McGuire's Stamped-Fold Card Designs video.  Her fish card is so adorable, but I decided to take a simpler approach to mine.  

I used just one piece of card stock cut to 5 1/2 x 11 inches.  I stamped and heat embossed the Mondo Sakura stamp on one end of the card stock as close to the end edge as possible.  Next I partially die cut the image and then used scissors to trim off the "hanging" top and bottom edges next to the die cut image edges.  The flowers were colored with just three Zig markers, Carmine Red, Light Carmine Red and Pale Green.

I then scored the card stock for a gate fold closure, making sure that the center section was a standard A2 width, 4 1/4 inches.   The right side gate fold was scored at 2 5/8 inches, but the two flap measurements can vary depending on the width your partially die cut image.  A piece of MFT Blueberry card stock was cut to 2 3/8 inches wide by 5 1/2 inch tall, dry embossed with a Park Lane Hanging Dots embossing folder, and then adhered to the right gate fold panel.

I die cut an EBE Brushstroke Hello twice, once using gold card stock from my stash and again with MFT Blueberry card stock.  The Blueberry Hello was adhered to the gold one slightly offset to the right for a shadow effect.

I wanted to make a lip balm holder to match the card, so I retrieved the first Mondo Sakura image I colored from my little pile of trash and used it.  After I had colored it, I immediately dropped an ink pad right on the large flower...grrrrrr...so I was going to toss it out.  I had to get creative with the placement of the salvageable flowers on the die cut MFT Tall Tag, but I like it offset.  The second Mondo Sakura I colored is on the finished card.

So that's my project for today.  Thanks for stopping by to take a look, and I'd be delighted to read your comments.

Essentials by Ellen Pin Sights Inspiration Board

Supplies:
EBE Mondo Sakura stamp and die
EBE Brushstroke Hello die
Strathmore Mixed Media Vellum Surface paper
Versamark ink and Ranger Liquid Platinum embossing powder
Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers 021, 022, 045
MFT Blueberry card stock
Park Lane Paperie Hanging Dots embossing folder
 MFT Tall Tag Duo die
MFT Lip Balm Window and Rip Strips dies
MFT Lip Balm Window
MFT Itsy Bitsy Polka Dots Pastels 6x6 Paper Pack
Lawn Fawn Tiny Tags die
Lawn Fawn Tiny Tags Sayings stamp
Catherine Pooler Juniper Mist dye ink

AAA Cards CAS Game #116 and MFT Birthday Project - A Beary Special Day

Today I have a CAS card for two challenges, AAA Cards Game #116 - The 4th Big Birthday Bash and the MFT Birthday Project - Delicious Birthday Delights (a cakes, cupcakes, and candles theme).

My card is super simple with just a bit of masking, and I think it suits both challenges nicely.  Minimal Copic marker coloring on the MFT Birthday Bear was quick and easy.  I also added some thin stripes to the bear's party hat.  A white die cut frame, Glossy Accents on the cake's icing and the tip of the bear's nose, and a dab of Wink of Stella on the candle flames, and that's it!

I hope you have a beary special day, and thanks for stopping by to take a look at my card.

 

  The Birthday Project - Delicious Birthday Delights 

 

 

MFT Supplies:

Birthday Bear stamps

Extreme Black Hybrid ink

Other Supplies:

Avery Elle Double Pierced Rectangles dies

Copic markers:

Bear  E40, E41, RV10

Hat  RV02, Y11

Cake  Y35, RV02, RV04, RV10, E31, E57, C03

Glossy Accents

Wink of Stella - clear