Sunday, December 11, 2016

Multi-Card Challenge! All that is Christmassy

I've been holding onto this one for a bit, but it's time to send off my Christmas cards!  I bought this Penny Black poinsettia stamp after it was introduced on the Simon Says Stamp blog because I loved it so much and saw the watercoloring potential.  This is the first time I've used such a stamp and to allow for drying time in between layers, I rotated three cards.  It took some time, but you bet I will use this stamp again next year!

Here is a visual of my watercoloring process:


Stamped with TH Antique Linen to give me some guidance and watercolored with more TH distress inks.


 My final three cards embossed with the sentiment from My Favourite Things


Finished and ready to send out!

The card challenges I am going to enter this card in are as follows:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Christmas Gifts

MFT Color Challenge 59



Monday, October 31, 2016

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes/MFT Colour Challenge 56

Since I forgot to submit for Simon Says Stamp Monday's challenge, this one is getting posted as well :D

I was going to use this card base for a different project but, I needed a thank you card.  I used TH distress inks with a MFT Stamps stencil to create a blue ombre background and trimmed it with my SSS stitched rectangle die.  Oh, and lots of Wink of Stella to bling up the sentiment and that brown branch.

This card was submitted to:

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/

http://www.cardchallenges.com/2016/10/mft-color-challenge-56.html


Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Took a bit of a break and missed the Monday challenge, however, I did make a couple of cards for Autumn with my new Tim Holtz thinlet dies!  And using my Stamptember stamp set that was a collaboration with Concord & 9th.  Lots of distress ink used to make this card with a hint of stencil and distress crayon.  Ok, so that was my first attempt using the crayon.  I need to work a bit on that!

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/



Thursday, September 22, 2016

MFT Stamps: You Could Be a Card Design Superstar Contest 2016!

Card #3:

I needed to pull off a Christmas card because, well, 'tis the Christmas card making season!  That and I need to prep for the Great Canadian Scrapbook Carnival crop.  Multiple goals combined is an awesome thing.

This card, I really wanted to use my MFT Stamps Die-namics Stitched Star STAX and my new MFT Stamps Hand Lettered Holiday stamps as my intention in purchasing them were obviously for my Christmas cards.  And I wanted metallic.  And I wanted glitter.  Well, I got it all, and (yikes!) combined different metallics!  I think it looks good, so I guess I'm good to go!

BTW, I got black embossing powder EVERYWHERE!!  Gotta hold back the urge to gently blow on the random specs…so messy.  I also got glitter everywhere, but, hey, it's glitter.


I really wanted to keep the theme with the dimension, so I cut out lots more of the fun foam and adhered it on with my multi-medium gel (thanks V for the instruction in adhering fun foam!).



Monday, September 19, 2016

MFT Stamps: You Could be a Card Design Superstar Contest 2016!

Card #2:

This card was started first, and it got delayed just because I needed to get some fun foam to prop up the top layer.  I really wanted to pair the Bionic Bots Stamp Set and the Die-namics Stitched Star STAX, both by MFT Stamps.  The star STAX then inspired me to grab some glitter from my local scrapbooking store (I was officially enabled!).  Since I haven't ever used glitter nor double-sided adhesive, I searched out the MFT Camp Create - Glitzy Glitter video for some tips (link).  It took 2 trys :D

This card took some time to navigate in composure and colour.  Since I do not own copics, I dug out my distress ink pads and watercoloured two of my Bionic Bots and fussy-cut them out.


I wanted to use multiple stars on the card, most particularly the largest, but it doesn't fit on a typical card size.  So offsetting it, I was able to get that huge star on the card!  And I glittered the middle one for some blingy effects.


Finally, after some humming and hawing, I changed up the colour, changed the sentiment banner, and glued it all together.  Taddah!


A close-up of the dimension and bling…


MFT Stamps: You Could Be a Card Design Superstar Contest 2016!

In my quest to expand my paper crafting creativity through card making, I couldn't let this opportunity fly by.  I have only a handful of MFT Stamps dies and stamps, but it's not just about the products.  It's about the inspiration and creativity that ultimately creates the card.  After participating in Camp Create 3, it was time to take the test!

Card #1:

This card was not started first, but it was finished first!  With that said, my inspiration came directly from Camp Create 3 Bonfire:  Single Layer Savvy (link).  I always like to cheat Canada Post as much as possible, so my goal is to mainly make flat cards.  While I don't have masking products as used in this video, I was inspired by maintaining a flat card while utilizing an entire stamp set.  The result:


I was able to use all SIX robots in this stamp set, Bionic Bots by MFT Stamps.  (note that these are all hand-stamped.  No MISTI in this house!).  I had thought about colouring the bots, in fact I did do a water coloured rendition, however, it lost the clean and crispness of the card (no copics in this household).  Instead, I decided to coordinate the accent colours and top the hearts with some Wink of Stella to bling it up just a bit.

This card turned out as I had imagined it in my head (not a common occurrence).  I like that in giving this card to a child, it could double-up as a colouring sheet.  Multi-purpose, hah!


Sunday, September 11, 2016

Simon Says Stamp Blog Monday/Wednesday Challenge - Stamp It

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/

I was racking my brain for another idea I haven't done, so I attempted watercolour.  This card was inspired by a how-to video on MFT Stamps Blog.  I haven't done this at all period, so I was quite surprised that it turned out pretty well!  What you can't see is the Wink of Stella I blinged the flower with.  It just doesn't show in my photos….

Stamps used:  Spring Flowers by Simon Says Stamp; Delicious Birthday by MFT Stamps.


Sunday, September 4, 2016

Simon Says Stamp Blog Monday Challenge - It's a Stitch-Up

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/

Better late than never!  This past month, I purchased some Simon Says Stamp Stitched Rectangle Dies and of course they were perfect for this challenge!  I wanted to do something with distress inks, so I started by creating my background with Cracked Pistachio and Peacock Feathers (my go-to blends).  I decided to die-cut it after blending in the background and made a mistake of having the stitched die only cut part of it, so I had to re-cut a smaller one.  BUT…I really wanted it bigger, so I trimmed out the larger stitched outline and just glued it on to make a double stitch!  That's what crafters do when mistakes are made amiright??  I decided to use my Spring Flowers Stamps by SSS and colour the images using my blending tools.  Now I know why they make those smaller finger daubers.  'Tis a tricky thing to use the bigger blending tools.



I fussy-cut the pieces out and glued them in place.  I found some super cool tiny sentiments with  my Wild Beauty Stamps by SSS and added it to the base of the flower.  The final product came out really nice!


Supplies:  Stitched Rectangles Dies, Spring Flowers Stamps, Wild Beauty Stamps by Simon Says Stamp; Mini Distress Inks by Tim Holtz.

Saturday, September 3, 2016

MFT Card Challenges: MFT Color Challenge 52

http://www.cardchallenges.com/2016/08/mft-color-challenge-52.html

I found this challenge after pinning some beautiful cards in Pinterest by some of the MFT Stamps design team (see link above).  I'm not much of a card maker, but I've been making some effort this summer to use my supplies (and ahem...purchase new ones), thanks to the challenges and inspiration I have found at my favourite crafting supplies websites.  Those MFT Stamps Flashy Florals are on my wish list now!  Since Copic Markers are on my unaffordable list, I've been using my pencil crayons and Geology colouring skillz to colour my images.

Supplies:  MFT Stamps Bionic Bots & Delicious Birthday, WRMK Embossing Folder, AC Glitter Tape, Simon Says Stamp Stitched Rectangles Dies, Tim Holtz Mini Distress Inks


Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Simon Says Stamp Blog Wednesday Challenge - It's Hip to Be Square

August 15th, 2016 challenge:

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/

This challenge, I wanted to try the masking technique demonstrated in a different blog post using masking fluid.  

It was an interesting process, but I kept my faith through the entire thing and managed to come out with something I would definitely try again!  I chose 4 different Distress Inks by Tim Holtz and a star stencil by Joggles.  What you can't see is the final masking layer I did in a gold Tattered Angels mica spray (old products for the win!).  Trust me, it's pretty sparkly.  The title is done via a cut file and my Silhouette Cameo.  I sprayed it down with Graphite Tattered Angels mica spray too.


Sunday, August 21, 2016

Simon Monday Challenge - August 15, 2016

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/

In my current quest to take on scrapbooky and crafty challenges this summer, I decided to attack the Simon Monday 'Summer' Challenge on the Simon Says Stamp Blog this past week.  Rather than making a card or layout, I pulled out my Tim Holtz products and SSS stamps and produced a tag.  My favourite thing this year was successfully building a garden both in my yard and on my deck and starting 95% of my plants by seed.

(just one of my many pots - tomatoes, petunias, and lobelia)

Besides the obvious Spring Flowers stamp set by Simon Says Stamp, I built the tag using Tim Holtz distress paint, distress inks, distress stain and finished it off with some Wink of Stella to glitter up the flowers (which did not translate in the photo), my white Gelly pen to add a bit of contrast and some gold embossing.

Creating tags are out of my comfort zone, but that's what made the challenge worth doing!



Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Camp Create by My Favorite Things: Awesome Ombre

My second last card for Camp Create 3 (not sure I can jimmy a card for the final challenge with my lack of tools), I went with embossing a stamp pattern again.  This time, I used watercolour paper rather than the 110 lb paper which does NOT absorb ink well.  Watercolour paper is a lot more fun with blending inks and removing ink.  And with my favourite colour palette of greens and blues.  My title was again gold embossing powder on vellum.

Stamps used:  Spring Flowers by Simon Says Stamp; Thank You Kindly by Stampin' Up



Card number 5!

Monday, August 15, 2016

Camp Create by My Favorite Things: Remarkable Resist

My fourth challenge, I used the stamps I had at hand and created an (white) embossed pattern by using two birthday sentiments stamps.  Then I used some painters tape to tape off the white background and blended in three inks to get a cohesive blend.  I wasn't sure what to do for a title, but then just did a cut with my Silhouette Cameo and embossed the entire sentiment with gold!

Stamps used:  Delicious Birthday by My Favorite Things


Boom!  Card number four!



Sunday, August 14, 2016

Camp Create by My Favorite Things: Monochromatic Magic

My third challenge (which is actually the first challenge) was using materials of the same colour.  I instantly when to greyscale, and it was created out of my scraps box, which always makes me happy.  I used the inspiration and created a patterned paper with my birthday stamps (FTW).

Stamps used:  Delicious Birthday, Bionic Bots by My Favorite Things.

Cha-ching!




Camp Create by My Favorite Things: Single Layer Savvy (Farewell Bonfire!)

My second challenge (and the bonus challenge) was the Single Layer Savvy.  I enjoyed the inspirational video, however, with my limited (budget-friendly) stash of dies, I was stuck on making a mask for my stamps.  Instead I focussed on the single layer aspect, which I love.  It's a simple technique to whip off a quick card.

Stamps used:  Delicious Birthday by MFT Stamps; Wild Beauty by Simon Says Stamps


Boom! Done.


Camp Create by My Favorite Things: Stunning Shadow Stamping

Late to the game, I now know how to make a proper card.  Finally!  Stamps are a must, dies are optional, and My Favorite Things are on my radar.  Now I haven't done this challenge in order as I decided to be guided by inspiration.  I did the last challenge first:  Stunning Shadow Stamping.  This is new to me, but surprisingly not difficult.  Just keep the greasy fingers off the white space!

Stamps used:  Delicious Birthday by My Favorite Things; Wild Beauty by Simon Says Stamps.


Two badges earned!!