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My Favorite Things

My Favorite Things

Oh, Crab!

July 9, 2018

I can’t believe it’s been 6 months since I’ve posted on here! I made a decision at the beginning of the year to take several art classes and focus on improving my coloring skills with Copics and colored pencils. The courses were fantastic, but pretty intense, so I found myself not taking any time to just have fun with card making.

And honestly, after 4 months of doing nothing but classes, I kinda burned out on coloring. Eek. I’m gradually getting my mojo back and I thought I’d share this little card I made over the weekend.

First off, the background is part of a fun little mini course taught by Sandy Allnock and available in her online store www.art-classes.com. The underwater scenes mini class has 5 different scenes and full video tutorials on them.

 

I also had an awesome opportunity to attend Jane Allen’s no-line coloring class last month at the MFT boutique! She’s such an amazing artist and the class was excellent. Highly recommend it, but be quick on the purchase of a seat when they announce the next class. Both days filled up really fast.

I used a few of the techniques I learned from Jane on this little crab from the MFT Just Beclaws stamp set. If you’re familiar with this set, you’ll notice the crab stamp has a smiley face. I changed it up a bit by drawing in the top shell parts and giving him a shocked look on his face. Fun stuff!

Hope you enjoyed my card today and thanks so much for stopping by!

I’ll try not to be absent so much and I really look forward to sharing more creative adventures!

My Favorite Things

Peace to you this Christmas

December 22, 2017

Happy Friday! With Christmas a few days away, this will most likely be my last Christmas card to share this season and I’m really glad I pulled out this MFT stamp set from last Christmas! I just love this reindeer.

I started this one by die-cutting a white textured cardstock using the largest die in the MFT A2 Stitched Rectangle STAX Set 2 die-namics. (This die measures 4″ x 5 1/4″). I then taped the third largest die in the MFT Stitched Tag-Corner Square STAX die-namics cutting edge down on the top portion of the rectangular die-cut and ran it through a die-cutting machine.

I wanted just a portion of the tag-corner square shape for my background so I die-cut a second piece of textured white cardstock using the same A2 Stitched Rectangle STAX die and then cut this piece horizontally. I adhered it to the top of the first rectangular piece. I wrapped/adhered a piece of AmericanCrafts ribbon around the piece where the two are adhered to cover the seam.

I cut a piece of MFT patterned paper 3 1/2″ x 4″ and adhered this towards the top of my pink card base. I then applied dimensional foam tape around the outside edges of the rectangular piece and a little in the center and adhered it to the card base.

I colored my little reindeer from the MFT Merry Everything stamp set with Copics and die-cut it using the coordinating dies to this set. I also used dimensional adhesive to adhere the reindeer so he’s popped up in the window.

 

To finish the card, I airbrushed a piece of white cardstock using Copic R00, R21 and R22 and then die-cut this piece with the MFT Peace die-namics. I added portions of a few die-cut snowflakes (MFT Let it Snowflake Too die-namics) to the corners.

I really had fun with this one using a teal/pink color scheme!

I’ll be spending the Christmas holiday next week having fun and relaxing in my craft room, so I hope to have a few new cards to share later on next week. Hope you all have a wonderful holiday season and Merry Christmas!

Thanks for stopping by!

My Favorite Things

Beary Christmas!

November 22, 2017

Hi there! Super excited to share my latest Christmas card! I don’t know if it’s the color combo on this one or that polar bear, but this is one of my favorites so far.

To start, I die-cut a piece of white cardstock with the largest rectangle die from the Lawn Fawn Large Stitched Rectangle Stackables dies and I airbrushed a purple gradient starting from the top using Copic BV31, BV01 and BV02. I then taped a Hero Arts Abstract Waves stencil over the piece and airbrushed another gradient from the top down using BV01, BV02 and BV13. I really like how this pattern worked with the MFT Stitched Mod Square Stax die-namics that I used next for the polar bear scene.

I die-cut the smaller mod square from white cardstock and airbrushed the water with BG000 and the sky with W0. I matted this piece on the next larger mod square stax cut from a dark purple cardstock. I die-cut the iceberg from a white textured cardstock using the MFT Icebergs die-namics and pressed it on a Versamark ink pad. Then, I heat embossed the iceberg with clear UTEE. It gave it that perfect icy look and texture.

For the ice that the bear is skating on, I die-cut an oval from white cardstock using the MFT Oval Shadows die-namics and added just a hint of Copic BG11 on each end and then covered those areas with Glossy Accents for a little shine. I colored the polar bear from the MFT Polar Bear Pals stamps with Copics and used the coordinating dies to this set.

To finish the card, I die-cut various snowflakes from white glitter cardstock and a teal shimmery specialty paper using the MFT Layered Snowflakes die-namics. I stamped a sentiment from the MFT Polar Pals stamp set in Versamark on a piece of teal paper and heat embossed with detail white embossing powder. I die-cut this piece using the MFT Stitched Sentiment Strips die-namics. I then matted it on a darker teal cardstock and cut a thin border around the edges to help it stand out a bit more.

Hope you enjoyed my card today and Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow to all here in the US!

Thanks for stopping by!

My Favorite Things

May Your Days be Furry and Bright!

November 17, 2017

Happy Friday! This little pup has been naughty! My card today features the adorable new “Happy Pawlidays” stamp set from My Favorite Things.

I kept the design of this fairly simple to really let the “story” I was trying to tell stand out. To begin, I die-cut a piece of white cardstock using the smaller rectangle die in the MFT Blueprints 31 die-namics and then die-cut the edge about 2/3 down using a die from the MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2 die-namics.

I lightly airbrushed a background using Copic B000 and E30.

I die-cut an MFT patterned paper using the same smaller rectangle die from the Blueprints 31 die-namics, stamped a sentiment from this set and then adhered the white cardstock to the top of the paper. I matted this combined piece on another MFT patterned paper that I die-cut using the larger rectangle die in the Blueprints 31 die-namics.

I colored all of the images with Copics and die-cut them using the coordinating die-namics to this set.I really had a lot of fun adding spots and extra character to my little dog.

I could SO see my dog tearing apart our Christmas tree! Let’s hope that doesn’t happen this year…

Hope you enjoyed my card today and have a great weekend!

Thanks for stopping by!

My Favorite Things

BITTY BIRTHDAY BEARS

September 29, 2017

Happy Friday! I couldn’t wait to play with this new stamp set from MFT called “Bitty Bears”! These little guys are adorable and I needed to whip up a quick birthday card, so they really helped me out.

First, I cut a piece of Tim Holtz watercolor cardstock to 3 3/4″ x 5″ and inked Distress Oxide inks in Fossilized Amber, Spiced Marmalade and Twisted Citron using a blending tool. I splattered a little water all over it and let it air dry.

Then, I placed an MFT stitched Circle Stax die-namics face down on the cardstock and used it to create a debossed effect in my BigShot. The sandwich I used was the multi-purpose platform on tab 2, cutting plate, rubber mat, cardstock (with die) and the second cutting plate. If you want to use the die to create an embossed effect, you would place the cardstock face down with the die on the back of the cardstock.

I colored the bitty bears with Copics and die-cut them using the coordinating dies to this set. I popped up the middle bear with dimensional adhesive to add a little extra interest.

To finish the card, I stamped a sentiment from the MFT Handwritten Happiness stamp set and matted the cardstock on a piece of MFT patterned paper cut to 4″ x 5 1/4″.

 

 

Hope you enjoyed and have a great weekend!

Thanks for stopping by!

 

My Favorite Things

BONJOUR!

September 25, 2017

Hi again! I thought I’d start the new week off with a simple card and ease back into things. I truly haven’t had the time or desire to craft much this month and I’m about to change that this week. Doing something creative every day is something that I really depend on to de-stress and be happy, so it’s time to make the time!

For this card, I started by cutting a piece of Neenah Classic Crest Solar to 4″ x 5 1/4″ and stamped the eiffel tower image from the MFT Mon Cheri stamp set. I masked the image and then taped a flourish stencil across the top of the cardstock. I used a 12×12 DecoArt “Parisian Street” stencil and airbrushed with Copic YR20, YR61 and E01.

While the image was still masked, I airbrushed the background starting with R00 and RV91, then some E70 in the middle and finished off with E41 along the bottom. I then colored the eiffel tower with Copics.

 

 

Next, I stamped, colored and die-cut the Parisian girl from this set and adhered her using dimensional adhesive.

To finish the card, I stamped the sentiment and added a few sequins for a little shine.

I hope you enjoyed today’s card and I hope you also make a little time this week to be creative!

Thanks for stopping by!

My Favorite Things

Hip, Hippo, Hooray!

September 1, 2017

Hip, hippo, hooray! It’s Friday! I’ve been playing again with the MFT Happy Hippos stamp set. Love these cute hippos!

I started this card with the cloud background by die-cutting a piece of Neenah Classic Crest Solar White cardstock using the small rounded rectangle die from the MFT Blueprints 31 die-namics. I airbrushed the clouds using Copic B00 and the MFT Mini Cloud Edges stencil.

Next, I die-cut a piece of MFT patterned paper using the larger rectangle die from the MFT Blueprints 31 die-namics, matted the cloud background on it and then adhered the piece to my card base.

I stamped and colored the images with Copics, then die-cut them using the coordinating dies to this set. I adhered the hippo and bird first, and then adhered a piece of black floss using a few drops of glossy accents to create the curves in the string. I then adhered the balloons and bow over the end of the floss.

To finish the card, I stamped the sentiment and die-cut around it using the MFT Stitched Sentiment Strip die-namics, adhered it to a piece of teal cardstock and cut a thin border around the die-cut.

Hope you have a fantastic Labor Day weekend and thanks for stopping by!

My Favorite Things

Unleash Your Inner Beast

August 30, 2017

Hi, I’m back! I had to take a little blogging break while I had lots of family visiting last week. I’m back to crafty adventures again and it feels great!

My card for today features a few MFT goodies. First I die-cut various leaves from Neenah Classic Crest Solar White cardstock using the MFT Wild Greenery die-namics. I colored the leaves with various shades of green Copics.

Next, I stamped, colored and die-cut the tiger image from the MFT Fierce Friends stamp set and coordinating die-namics.

I  then die-cut 2 pieces of dark brown cardstock and 1 piece of green cardstock using the MFT Grassy Fields die-namics.

To assemble, I cut a piece of patterned paper to 3 3/4″ x 5″ and matted it on a dark brown cardstock cut to 4″ x 5 1/4″. I adhered this to my kraft card base.

Then, I began layering and adhering all of the larger die-cut leaves to the center top of the paper. I adhered the die-cut grassy borders across the card, overlapping the large leaves just a bit, and finished my scene by adhering the tiger image and 2 small leaves slightly in front of him.

To finish the card, I cut a small piece of white cardstock and inked it with Memento inks in Cantaloupe and Potter’s Clay, stamped a sentiment from this stamp set and die-cut around the sentiment using a die from the MFT Oval Word Window Frames die-namics. I then adhered the sentiment using dimensional adhesive.

He’s peeking out ready to pounce. Thankfully he looks pretty happy, so hopefully he won’t bite.

Hope you enjoyed today’s card and thanks for stopping by!

My Favorite Things

Be Happy!

August 9, 2017

Hi there! I’ve been playing with watercolor paints again and my card today features the adorable new Happy Hippos stamp set from MFT. I love this little baby hippo holding a cupcake!

I used a violet paint for the majority of the background and splattered a little yellow and pink before it dried. I then matted the watercolor cardstock on a piece of MFT patterned paper.

I die-cut 2 MFT patterned papers with the MFT Fringed Scalloped Borders die-namics and adhered them across the card.

I stamped and colored the images from the Happy Hippo set with Copics and die-cut them with the coordinating dies in this set.

To finish it off, I stamped the sentiments using the MISTI several times for a crisp, deep color and adhered a few sequins here and there.

He really looks like he wants to eat that whole stack of cupcakes!

Hope you have a happy day and thanks for stopping by!

My Favorite Things

Oh, Happy Day!

July 31, 2017

Hi there! What could be happier than a tiger and a monkey playing? My card for this Monday features some of my new goodies from the latest MFT release and obviously, I’m on a monkey kick right now.

I started by die-cutting a piece of Neenah cardstock and a piece of MFT patterned paper using the MFT Blueprints 31 die-namics. This is the only Blueprints die-namics set that I own as of now, so I do use this one a ton, but it’s very versatile. I’d say, an excellent buy.

Next I Copic airbrushed the cloud background using the new MFT Mini Cloud Edges stencil with B000 and B00.I then stamped the sentiment from the MFT Handwritten Happiness stamp set.

I colored the image with Copics and die-cut around it using the coordinating die-namics to this set and then adhered it using dimensional adhesive. I love how popping up the image creates a little shadow and makes it look even more as though they’re swinging in the air.

I hope this card brings a smile!

Thanks for stopping by!