Background Bonanza: Mary Engelbreit Inspired

Hi friends,
I'm back to earn my 5th and final badge for MFT's Camp Create.
The final badge is for creating a background.

 Here's my card:

I still had the Hog Heaven stamp set on my desk from the masking challenge and as I was thinking about this challenge the little flowers caught my eye. There are three sets of flowers in this stamp set that I could use to create my background- and you know how I like threes. 3 is a good number! *Ü* The flowers reminded me of the flowers on many Mary Engelbreit designs. (My fellow teachers out there know what I mean ;) So that is what inspired my background design.

Yes, this took a loooong time! Maybe there was a quicker way, but I couldn't think of it! I stamped the flowers a bunch of times with Black Licorice Hybrid ink (MFT) and colored them with Copics using the bright bold colors Mary Engelbreit uses. After they were all colored, I die-cut them all using the coordinating dies. Since I didn't want a white border around my images (and I didn't want to fussy cut them) I decided the easier thing would be to color the white space in with my Memento Tuxedo black marker.

 Once all of that was done, I laid out all the pieces on the black cardstock panel and lay a piece of Press 'n Seal on top and picked them up all at one time. I added multi medium matte adhesive to the backs and placed them all down at the same time! That was a HUGE timesaver instead of gluing them one at a time *Ü* The "hello" die cut is from the Sentimental dies set (Avery Elle).
To finish, I added white dots to complete the ME look and made stitch lines around the panel with a white gel pen.

In the end, I thought it came out very whimsical and Mary Engelbreit-ish *Ü*

For my non-teacher friends this is a Mary Engelbreit bulletin board trim I have in my classroom collection of borders *Ü*:

Thanks so much for stopping by today!
May your day bloom bright with happiness!
Until next time...

Die-Cut Inlay and Masking

Hello there friends,
I'm back with two more cards for two more days of Camp Create at My Favorite Things. Today, I am collecting badges 3 & 4.
First up is die-cut inlay:

Here's my card:

 I heat embossed the Roses All Over background stamp (MFT) with Liquid Platinum embossing powder (Ranger). I did simple watercoloring with Distress Inks in Squeezed Lemonade, Wild Honey, Picked Raspberry, and Wilted Violet. I used the Stitched Basic Edges die (MFT) to create the edge. I die cut the "Thanks" die from the Thanks and Hello dies (MFT) from a piece of cardstock I had embossed with liquid platinum and then die cut the "thanks" from the watercolor panel so I could inlay the die cut.

Here's another peek:

I decided to create another card with the scraps:

I was going to throw out the rose panel because I goofed. But I decided to keep it and use it with the scraps. I added a strip of washi tape across the top that matched the colors quite well.

Here's my card for Badge #4 Masking:

I have said it before, but these little piggies from the Hog Heaven stamp set (MFT) are sooooow ADORABLE!!! I used the instaframe dienamics (MFT) and ran it through the Tiny Stars embossing folder (Paper Studio). I masked the piggies and then added the "unicorn" to photobomb the picture. Now, I used "unicorn" in quotation marks because that's actually the horse from The Whole Herd stamp set (MFT). I drew in the little horn *Ü* I mean if you're going to be photobombed, it might as well be by a unicorn, right?!?! They were colored with Copics and stamped in Grey Flannel Memento ink. I added lots and lots of Stickles to his mane.

In case you were wondering...
Copics used: Unicorn/Horse- C00, C1, C3  Piggies: R0000, R00, R01, R30  Background and Banner: BG10

Well, thanks so much for popping in today.
I have one more card coming to earn my last badge.
Tootles for now,

Fantastic Foiling & Coloring on Kraft

Hi ya friends,
I have a couple of cards to share for Session Two of MFT Camp Create. I had a great time participating in the first camp session, I thought I'd enroll again!

Today I'm sharing a card each for Day 1 and Day 2.
First badge up for grabs is for Fantastic Foiling

 Here's my card:

 Sorry about the picture :( but if photographing white is hard enough, imagine trying to capture holographic foil! lol! I don't think I've ever done foil before so I was very excited to try the technique with this Holographic foil from Heidi Swapp. I followed Jennifer McGuire's technique for using foil with stamps using my laminating machine. It turned out OK, but maybe next time I will let the machine warm up for a longer time. (I think i might have been a bit impatient *Ü*)

I used the Delicate Pretty Poppies stamp set (My Favorite Things) and the grateful sentiment from the Grateful For You stamp set (MFT). The flowers foiled much better than the sentiment, I think because this technique may work best with more delicate or detailed stamps. The holo on this card is so pretty in person! I think it would make a beautiful wedding or anniversary card.

My second card and second badge for Coloring on Kraft:

Here's another technique I'm not sure I've done before, but I thoroughly enjoyed the process! I am a total sucker for anything apple! As a teacher, I think it's required by law to love apple stuff! *Ü* I used a stamp I've had for ages from Peddlers Pack called Apples. It's a huge image ( 3 3/4" x 5") so it pretty much takes up a whole A2 card front. I stamped it on Kraft cardstock with Kraft ink and colored it in with my PrismaColor Pencils. I die cut the image with a stitched rectangle die from Blueprints 29 (MFT) and lined the edges with my gold Krylon marker. I adhered it to a Real Red cardstock card base. I added a little banner also from Blueprints 29 and stamped the "Thanks" from the Perk Up stamp set (MFT) heat embossed in gold.

In case you'd like to know...
Prisma Colors Used:
Apples: Crimson Red, Crimson Lake- Spring Green, Apple Green-  Yellow Ochre, Jasmine
Leaves: Kelp Green
Apple surface: Cream, Sand
Stems & Seeds: Chocolate, Dark Umber

Thanks so much for popping in today!
I'll be back with more camp creations *Ü*
Tootles,

Happy Bear-thday!

Hello there friends,
I have a bear-thday card today *Ü*
Here it is:

I used the Beary Special Birthday stamp set and coordinating dies (My Favorite Things) as my focal image. This cute little bear (with a tummy full of cake!) was watercolored with Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers. I added some Spectrum Noir Clear overlay sparkle pen on the icing and gave it a good coat of Glossy Accents. I used the InstaFrame Dienamics (MFT) to ground the little bear.

Here's a peek of the innie:

This sentiment comes from the Big Birthday Sentiments stamp set (MFT). I know it's hard to tell, but I heat embossed the candles in white and the flames were colored with a zig marker.

I used this week's MFT Sketch #288 on my card:

Thanks so beary much for stopping by today!
Have a great weekend!
Tootles,

Masculine Birthday Card

Hi friends,
Ahhh...Masculine cards... the Jar Jar Binks of cardmaking. Well, at least that's how I feel about them because I really struggle with them *Ü* It isn't because I don't enjoy creating something for the guys in my life, but you have to keep these cards pretty clean and simple- and that's my Kryptonite.

Here's my card:

I used the Chunky Herringbone Stencil (MFT) to create the background. I ink blended with Bashful Blue, Pacific Point, Wild Wasabi, Crushed Curry, and Tangerine Tango inks (Stampin' Up).  I turned the stencil and used the ink left on the stencil to create the shadows. I die-cut a circle from the vellum Fishtail Banner (MFT) and popped it up using the sentiment strip to hide the foam adhesive. I decided to turn the circle into a balloon so I added the balloon tail and string from vellum as well (Party Balloons -Lawn Fawn).

Here's the innie:

I ink blended the bottom with the same ink colors and stamped the sentiment which comes from the Happy Everyday stamp set (Simon Says Stamp).

I used this week's MFT sketch #287:

Even though this card is not dark colors typically associated with more masculine cards, I think he'll like how colorful it is.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!
Until next time...
Tootles,

Little Mermaid Inspired

Hi friends,
Recently, I attended the stage production of The Little Mermaid and it was absolutely magical! I was like a little girl totally entranced with the production, sets, dance numbers and of course--- the music! So when I pulled out the Mermaid For You stamp set from Lawn Fawn, I knew I had to create my own underwater seascape featuring Ariel.
Here's my card:

I used the Mermaid for You and Fintastic Friends stamp sets and coordinating dies (Lawn Fawn).  I colored all of the images with the no-line watercoloring technique using the Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers.

 I used my Spectrum Noir Clear Overlay pen on the coral and on the mermaid's tail.
The background was created with the Brusho powders in Leaf Green and Turquoise.

I added a bit of Stickles for even more sparkle, sprinkled some sequins, and added a few Dew Drops for bubbles.

Here's a peek of the innie:

I really love how this card sparkles and shines in person *Ü*
 Tanks for stopping by today.
Have a great weekend and Happy 4th of July to those here in the states! Be safe!

Because You're You. I'm Me. We're We.

Hi friends,
I was playing around with the Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers and ended up creating this card:

 I used the Flutter By stamp set from Lawn Fawn. I masked & heat embossed the images in white embossing powder (Hero Arts) and used my Zigs to do some simple watercoloring on Bristol smooth paper. I used some Holographic embossing powder (ranger) on the "because" and I wish I had used my Misti so I could have double stamped it to make it super holographic :(

Here's a closer peek, but of course, it doesn't look as cool as it does in person.

   I stamped the sentiment in three colors and I used the Misti for that. But as I was masking the stamp, I forgot to remove the washi tape I was using to cover up the other parts & stamped it. AAAGH!!! I made a blob on my just-about-finished card!!! So what did I do? Added some splatters to try to camouflage it *Ü* The sentiment is from the Because You stamp set (MFT). Last I added a few Sparkling clear sequins (PPP).

I never get a chance just to "play" since I'm always busy with work and my boys and things. So for me, if I get a chance to get crafty, it is for the purpose of creating a card that I need to give to someone, not just for experimentation or exploration. So being on vacation, it's nice to be able to play, and explore, and end up making a card with it *Ü*

Thanks for popping in today!
Until next time...tootles,