Need to Venti?...and VIDEO!

Hi ya friends,
It is a Christmas miracle!---> I have a video tute for you today!

First, let me sneaky peak the card I'll be showing you:

 I used this week's MFT Sketch #256:

When I saw this sketch, I couldn't get past the feathers because you know how literal I am with sketches. But I challenged myself to think of the sketch elements differently, so I decided to use the coffee cups in their place.

Here's a peek of the innies:

 This card is going to a friend who's needing some encouragement.

Without further ado...here's the video on how I created this card:
Hope you enjoy!

You can also watch it ---> on my channel HERE

Thank you so much for leaving sweet comments about how you like my videos & that you would like to see more *Ü* I have a few reasons why my videos are few & far between...

1) I'm the WORLD'S SLOWEST card maker. It takes me forever because I'm constantly changing my mind. I never have a plan, just lots of ideas *Ü*

2) Creating videos takes soooo much time! and I am a super video rookie :(

3) I don't have a video camera. Right now I'm using my phone...but Santa Amazon may be helping with that this Christmas- wink ;)

Anyhoo, I truly do appreciate your words of kindness & it tickles me pink that you like my videos *Ü*

Thanks for stopping by!
Until next time...


The 411
Stamps: Stay Cool-MFT, Simply Iconic Stamp Kit-HSN
Ink: Versamark ink. Creamy Brown, Frost White Chalk Inks-Colorbox
Paper: Neenah solar white cs. Kraft CS, Real Red CS
Tools: Coffee Cup Dienamics, Large Stitched Rectangle Dies-Lawn Fawn

Snowman Fun

Hi there friends,
Hope all of you here in the States enjoyed a bountiful Thanksgiving. I took advantage of the sales some of my fave stamp companies were having so you'll be seeing some new goodies in the near future *Ü*

Today though, I have a couple of oldies but goodies sets to share now that I can officially begin to get into Christmas mode. Yup, I'm one of those that does nothing Christmasy until AFTER Thanksgiving.

Here's my first card:

This is a pretty simple card for me. The little Snowman enjoying all that snowflake flurry is from the stamp set JCS223 from Darcie's. He's colored with Copics. I heat embossed the snowflakes from the AmyR-Snowflakes stamp set and then worked off some of that Thanksgiving gravy by ink blending with Distress Inks. I added some Diamond Stickles for the snow under him & scattered some crystal sequins among the little snowflakes. The sentiment is from MFT-Seasonal Sentiments.

Here's my next card:

 I used one of the images from this cute set called Chillin' Peeps from Darcie's. It is colored with Copics. I heat embossed the snowflake flurry again from the AmyRStamps set called Snowflakes, and ink blended with Distress Inks. The sentiment is from the Baaah Humbug stamp set from Lawn Fawn.

Thanks so much for peeking today! I hope to be back soon with a little surprise...*Ü*
Tootles!

Let There Be Peace on Earth

Hi friends,
Today I have a card to share I made for a friend who is a French teacher at another school. I was so saddened with the recent attacks in Paris, and around the world, I had to reach out to her to let her know my thoughts and prayers are with her, her family, and the people of France.
Here's my card:

 I used the MFT Sun Rays stencil, embossing paste, and Distress Inks to create the background. I used the colors of the French flag and the sun rays to represent their light will never be snuffed out. I die cut the MFT Eiffel Tower die out of silver mirror card stock and the dove dies are from Impression Obsession. The sentiment is from MFT-IB Christmas heat embossed in silver over a strip of vellum.
Here's another peek:

These terrorist attacks are tragic, and while injustice, greed, and corruption very well exist in the world, somehow...I don't think God (in whatever form) wants or warrants these actions.

Thank you for popping in today. I hope you have a great week *Ü*

Card times Four

Hi ya friends,
Just catching up on some cards I've made recently. I have four to share with ya today!

The first was for my friend who was celebrating a retirement & birthday party:

I made a fun shaker card using MFT's Congrats Shaker dies. I wanted to incorporate her favorite things: casinos & turtles. I didn't have ANY turtle stuff, so I opted for the color green. I made a few playing cards and tucked them behind the "A." The background is an old SU Wheel stamp I unmounted to make flat.
Here's another peek:

 and the innies:

This SU set (Congrats) was perfect for a retirement/birthday card as it had sentiments for both! *Ü* The bottom is embossed with a CB border embossing folder.
I used this week's MFT sketch: #255

Next, I created an encouragement card for a friend:

I used the MFT Sun Ray Stencil along with embossing paste & Distress Inks to create the background. I added a couple of stitched glittered clouds (La La Land Crafts), and scattered some sparkling clear sequins (Pretty Pink Posh). The "Thinking of You" word dies are from Impression Obsession.

Card #3:

This card went to another friend for her birthday. I had my eye on this Unforgettable stamp set from Wplus9 for ages. I broke down & finally bought it, & I'm so glad I did! It is ADORBS!!! It has great sentiments too. The little elephant is colored with Copics & the background was ink blended with Distress Inks.

My final card went to a student in one of my Spanish classes:

My poor student has had a hard time recuperating from an appendectomy she underwent. I thought I would send this card her way & hope she's back to good health speedy quick. I used a few sets from Lawn Fawn on this card: Get Well Soon, Into the Woods, Woodgrain Backdrops. It was colored with Copics & ink blended with Distress Inks.

Thanks for hanging in for all these cards! I know I should post more often so I don't have to bombard you with cards all at once, right?! *Ü*

Thanks so much for peeking today! Have a great day! *Ü*

Feels like Fall

Hi friends,
So in keeping with bringing balance to the force (and YES! I am looking forward to the new Star Wars movie *Ü*), I bring you a couple of Fall-themed cards.
Here's the first:

 It's bright, I know- lol. I hadn't played with MFT sketches in a while, so I thought I would check out this week's sketch:

I couldn't get past the stars because I'm so literal when it comes to sketches, but i decided to challenge myself & my card was born. It is colored with Copics and the background is blended with Distress Inks. I'm going to send it to my Grammy because I haven't sent a card in a while :(

Here's card #2

I made this one to send to my friends that teach at my former school.
Here are the innies:

Thank you for popping in today! Have a great week *Ü*

Rockin' Guitar

Hi ya friends!
I am back from the crypts of life to share this card with ya today.
Here it is:

 Last week, we had a Day of the Dead celebration at school. (In case you don't know, Day of the Dead is a tradition whereby Latinos honor and remember our loved ones who have passed away by welcoming their spirits back to celebrate with us again.) It may sound a bit scary, but it's actually a very happy & fun celebration. One of the performers was a mariachi group made up of all women who ROCKED IT! They were amazing! So my friend asked if I would make a Thank you card for the mariachi group- so I did *Ü*

 The deets: For the acoustic guitar, I used an SVG file from svgcuts.com (Vintage Valentine file). This is actually a really cool 3D guitar box but I just used the flat files included in the "extras" folder. I die cut the main panel out of wood paper for a more realistic look *Ü* I cut the sentiment and little stars from the scrap wood paper- can't let that go to waste, ya know! To finish it off, I coated it with Glossy Accents for that slick lacquer finish.

I have taken on additional responsibilities at work and have found myself stretched out thin. My life is out of balance & I really need to take some things off my plate (where I can) and get more crafty time in---> it is my therapy after all... and what's the point of working yourself to exhaustion and stress, right? 

Well, thanks so much for peeking today & have a wonderful week! *Ü*