Flowers & Smiles for Mother's Day!

Happy Saturday!  Today I created two cards for the MFT Color Challenge #93...just in time for Mother's Day🎕.

I was inspired by the MFT color challenge and used as many MFT products as possible.  I used the Bold Blooms set to stamp the background for one card on Ellen Hutson Oyster cardstock and the dies to cut flowers from the Tiny Check Brights 6x6 paper pad on Ellen Hutson Black cardstock for the second. The 100 lb. weight of these cardstocks is awesome!

I used the Smile dienamics for the sentiment.  I cut the word smile from both the grass cardstock and the tiny checks lavender paper and then swapped them in the negative space...It's a Two For...love that!

These are versatile products that I can see myself using over and over again in so many ways...  which is something I always take into consideration when purchasing stamps (especially if I'm investing in the dies as well).  I want my crafting dollar to stretch as far as it can 😛😳!

 I hope these projects brought a smile to your face and that you enjoy a wonderful Mothers Day full of Smiles, Love and Hugs!

You're a Star

Today I have a couple of cards to share that have a beachy twist.  They are clean, simple, and  I think they turned out so sweet...I hope you do too!

First I chose the stamp set I wanted to work with...an adorable set from Lawn Fawn called So Jelly.  I stamped each image multiple times with Hero Arts Black Ink and colored them with Copic Markers.
I then die cut the images with the coordinating die cuts.  This is a great set if you are just starting out because it is inexpensive...you can get the stamp and dies for under $10!

Next it was time to work on the design.  For the starfish I chose Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid Spring paper in blue...(so cute...right!)...and craft cardstock on a white notecard.  For the Jelly Fish I found a fun green paper that reminded me of seaweed and paired that with craft cardstock on a green notecard.

The finishing touches...stamping the sentiments.  I used brown ink for the first one and black for the second.  I heat embossed them using clear embossing powder so the sentiments would really be crisp.

And last but by no means least...I thought the jelly fish needed a little something so I stamped the bubbles from the set directly on the pattern paper and topped that with a clear enamel drop.

I plan to tie these up with bakers twine and give them as a sweet little gift...that is if I can part with them😏.  Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful day!!  HUGS

Seeing Black and White and Red all over!

Today I'm continuing the Black and White trend, but with a twist...RED!!!  As you know from my last post I'm crazy for black and white, but add in another strong color and its the bomb 💣.  My favorites are bright colors...especially turquoise, fuchsia, or yellow...the contrast is spectacular!

The first card mixes a technique I've been wanting to try for a while....creating a background with washi tape and a strong color palette.  I love washi tape almost as much as I love patterned paper (they come in so many color and print combinations). I just can't resist them and my collection of both continues to grow.  Is that a problem? if so...I'm thinkin it's a good problem😊.  Am I right?

So...I created my background using different widths of black and white and red and white washi tape on a red note card.  I used a criss-cross pattern and randomly added layers until I was satisfied with the overall look.  I also cut out some shapes from patterned papers and a few little critters that I previously colored with Copic markers. They were wearing red accessories...so of course they needed to jump on these cards!

For the Washi background, I decided on a red and white polka dotted hexagon using the Pretty Pink Posh Stitched Hexagons Die set.  Then I cut a circle out of it with the MFT Inside and Out Circle Stax.  I used the same die to cut out a black and white polka dot circle which I inset into the hexagon.

Finally, I added Birch the bunny from Purple Onion Designs with foam tape for dimension and a cute sentiment from the Koalifications stamp set from Neat and Tangled.  The finished product (although a little busy 😎) makes me smile.

I was having so much fun with this color scheme, I decide to make a second card using Blizzard the husky from Purple Onion designs.  Since the first card was a little busy🙈 I went for a more simplistic approach this time.

I began with the same red note card and added a stitched rectangle from MFT cut from black cardstock with a really subtle print on it.  I topped that with a red and white polka dot square with a pinked edged...and finally Blizzard!  Then I heat embossed a fun sentiment from the Essentials by Ellen set All Inside by Julie Ebersole and my second card was complete!

I encourage you to use a color palette as your inspiration and see where it takes you.  You might be surprised and delighted by your final destination...I know I was.  HUGS!!

Black, White, and Beautiful!

Hi all! 

Today I am mixing up some of my favorite things💟... Patterned Paper (polka dots, stripes and hounds tooth) plus Black and White❤❤👀! I started out with the Rustic Botanicals stamp and die set by Julie Ebersole for Ellen Hutson (I adore this set!!) and stamped them on Neenah white cardstock using Hero Arts Black Ink. 

For added impact I heat embossed them with Wow Clear Embossing Powder and cut them out with the matching die cuts. I love the gloss and slight dimension that embossing adds.  I have been borrowing a heat gun from my husbands work bench, but I think he was tired of having to search for it every time he wanted to use it so I ordered my own...and am so happy I did!

I picked a selection of black and white papers that spoke to me and then went about the business of planning out how I was going to put it all together.  I also cut out Brushstroke Hello by Julie Ebersole in black and white glossy cardstock.

 In the end, I was able to turn this collection of components into three cards using a strong black and white patterned paper as the background and a coordinating paper as an accent.  The sentiments and botanicals pop off the backgrounds and are fresh and fun!

The first one I left strictly black and white and just added 3 little enamel dots as a finishing touch...well, HELLO lovely!

On the second one I added just a hint of color by filling in some of the circles above the stripe with a
Ranger Distress Marker in cracked pistachio.  I think it added that little something that was missing.

 And on the final card, I decided to add the hint of color to the floral component by using Ranger Distress markers in Cracked pistachio on the leaves and Barn Door on the flower.  The final touch was an enamel dot in the center of the flower and the word Thanks.

I hope you will try using your favorite color combination to create some cards with a monochromatic feel...You may even surprise yourself with what you come up with!  HUGS!!

Mad for Plaid!

Happy first day of spring...or is it?  Sure doesn't feel like spring to me.  Maybe this card will remind you that spring is just around the corner...or is it?  Wait...yes, it is!!!

I started with a cute little bunny named Birch from Purple Onion Designs stamped on Neenah Solar White Cardstock in Hero Arts Black ink.  I colored him with Copic markers and then cut him out with my small sharp craft scissors.  Next I chose a Lawn Fawn patterned paper from the Perfectly Plaid Spring collection.  I die cut a circle from the plaid paper with the Inside & Out Stitched Circle Stax and a rectangle from Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle Stax.

I adhered the rectangle to the bright blue note card which picked up the blue in the plaid.  Next I cut pieces of double sided foam tape and added them to the back of the circle die cut to give it some dimension.  ( And it's going to stay where I put it!  I may have been a little heavy handed with the tape😉)

This particular plaid paper is two sided, which allowed me to flip the circle to the plaid set on the diagonal (you'll see that in the final card).  I then added the sentiment Sending Hugs on pink cardstock that coordinated with another stripe in the plaid and my card was complete.  I love the way it turned out...it made me smile immediately.  I hope it does the same for the person who receives it!

Wishing you a HOPPY SPRING!!!