Happy Birthday!

I have a fun Birthday card to share today!  I am playing along with this week's MFT Sketch Challenge and The Color Throwdown.

Love this week's Throwdown colors!  So fun to work with!  All products from MFT Stamps unless otherwise noted.  I started with MFT Card Stock Sampler Pack.  I am using Smooth White, Nightshift Blue, Cotton Candy, and Sour Apple.  I used Blueprint 10 to die cut the rounded edge nightshift blue panel.  I stamped this with MFT Snowfall background using MFT Pigment Sweet Tooth ink pad.  I then cut out the sour apple panel with fishtail flags stax in sour apple.  I stamped this panel with MFT Fine Check background stamp.   I inked the edges with Versa Mark(stash) for added definition.  I then cut out the white panel using MFT Horizontal Strips.  I stamped this panel using MFT Premium Sno Cone in pad with the tiny snowflake image from Cool Days stamp set.  

I die cut the bear from Cool Days Die namics and stamped with coordinating image from Cool Days stamp set using MFT Hybrid Black Licorice ink pad using Neenah Solar White(stash).  I colored with Copic Markers(stash).  I used some pop dots(stash) and attached to panel.  Next, I used MFT Balloon Stax and die cut the cotton candy balloon.  I stamped this image with the sentiment from Cool Days stamp set using MFT Hybrid Black Licorice ink pad.  I sponged the edges with Versa Mark to add some depth and dimension to the balloon.  I stamped the tiny heart from Cool Days stamp set using MFT Premium Lemonade Pink ink pad to the lower center of the balloon.  I wrapped regular sewing thread(stash) around the balloon and glued it in places to look like the bear was holding it.  I used some pop dots to create some varied height.  I finished my card with some Shine Bright Sequins(VerveStamps).  

As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty 

Sending You Warm Thoughts!

It's Friday!   I have a card to share today.  I came home from school and decided I needed to craft!  Crafting helps me release all the tension from rushing around all day at school.   It is the BEST Therapy!

I am playing along with this week's Freshly Made Sketches.  I turned mine to make a vertical card.  

I just have to say that I love my new COMFY SWEATER die namics from MFT.  I see lots of possibilities with this die.  I just had to use it.   All products from MFT Stamps unless otherwise stated.  I started with MFT Card Stock Sampler Pack. I am using steel gray, smooth white, electric red, and kraft.  I cut the card base using steel gray.  I die cut the smooth white with stitched frame from Blueprints 13.  I stamped the electric red panel with Sweater Stitch using MFT Premium Electric Red ink pad.  I sponged the edges with versa mark.  Next, I die cut the white strip using Horizontal Stitch Strips.  I stamped the sentiment from Cozy Greetings using MFT Premium Steel Gray ink pad.  I then die cut the kraft card stock with MFT Stitched Rounded Corners.  Since the sketch calls for this panel to have a straight edge, I die cut it with the Blueprints 13 to give the stitched look all the way around. I stamped this panel with Cheesecloth background using MFT Premium Natural ink pad.  Love the subtle texture!

As for the sweaters, I die cut one in steel gray and left it plain.  Love the collar and cuff embossed detailing that shows so beautifully.  I stamped the electric red sweater with MFT Pigment Sweet Tooth ink pad using Nordic Knits stampset.  I heat embossed with white ep.  LOVE! LOVE!  how it turned out!  Looks so real!  I added some foam tape for dimension.  I felt like the card needed a little something, so I looped some MFT hemp cord and added a die cut buttom from MFT Blueprints 14.  It gave me just the perfect finishing touch!  I am playing along with The Friday Mashup!  It is all about the weather! I was thinking cold weather and need for sweaters and warm thoughts!

For card 2....I just happy *sigh*   I was on the fence about whether or not to get this Quilt Square cover up!  So glad I did!  I love it already!  I started with MFT Card Stock Sampler Pack!  I am using Primitive White and Steel Gray.
I cut the base with primitive white.  I die cut the steel gray panel with MFT Blueprints 15.  I stamped this panel with the image from MFT Nordic Knits stamp set using MFT Premium Steel Gray ink pad.  

I stamped the focal image using Sweater Stitched background using MFT Premium Steel Gray ink pad as well.  I die cut this panel using the Quilt Square Cover Up.  I die cut a primitive white panel with the Quilt Square Cover Up.  I inked the edges of the primitive white pieces with some vintage distress ink for dimension and to make it look like a well loved quilt.  I inked the steel gray with versa mark ink to add some depth and dimension.  I assemble my quilt.  I added a deep red button to the center tied with some MFT hemp cord.  I added a sentiment from MFT Starry Christmas stamp using a label die from MFT Blueprints 9.  I thought it looked like a quilt tag/label.  Too cute!  Love how it turned out!  I am playing along with Christmas Cards All Year Round.  The challenge is no patterned paper.  I stamped all of my card stock.  I am also playing along with Winter Wonderland:  Let's Get Sentimental.

Right now I must get ready!  I have plans to see Mockingjay Part 1 with a kiddos and some friends!  I hope to post again tomorrow when I try my hands at a couple of more challenges!

As always thanks so much for stopping by!  

Betty

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

I have another Christmas card to share today!  This one is very nontraditional.  I just really love the colors and thought this cute little images from Verve's Merry Wishes stamp set was perfect for this week's Retro Sketch.  

I stamped the images from Verve's Merry Wishes stamp set in shades of muted blue, vibrant green, and soft pink in a layout to mimic the sketch.  The sentiment  was stamped in black hybrid ink and comes from Verve's Christmas In the Air stamp set.  I finished my card using Verve's Pink Sequin Mix.  I used the iridescent ones and added a few tiny clear gems.  I am also playing along with The Catered Crop!  This one is Anything Goes and is the last one....sniff...sniff! I am also playing along with this week's Christmas Card Challenge.  The challenge is to use some or all of the colors shown.  I used some to make my nontraditional Christmas card.

As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty

Expresso My Gratitude!

I have a new card to share today that I just LOVE!  I am always looking for cool ways to present gift cards at Christmastime or for general "thank you's."  Well, once I saw this month's PI stamp set, I just KNEW I had to try having her hold last month's coffee die-namics.  I must say I am thrilled with how this card turned out.  

I am using this week's MFT Weekly Sketch Challenge.  I combined this sketch with this week's Color Throwdown.  I actually loved working with this color combo.  Refreshing and fun!   

I die cut the PI girl and stamped the coordinating image.  I colored with Copics. I stamped the image again and colored just her arm.  I cut her arm out with scissors.  I glued the assembled coffee cup die-namics in place and added the extra arm and hand.  I accented the cup with one of the quilt squares from the new Blueprints 20!  Love it!  I just love me some Blueprints, anyway! Now, it looks like this PI girl is presenting someone with a trenta cup of coffee!  Love it! 

I used the following products on this card. All products from MFT Stamps unless otherwise noted. MFT Card Stock Sample Pack (Smooth White, sno cone, blu raspberry, and orange fizz)
Fine Check and Swiss Dot background Stamps
PI Overflowing Joy and Perk Up stamp sets
PI Overflowing Joy die-namics
Blueprints 20 die-namics Pierced Rectangle Stax die-namics
Coffee Cup die-namics
Horizontal Stitched Strips
Stitched Rounded Rectangles die-namics
MFT Blu Raspberry Premium Ink Pad
MFT hybrid black licorice ink pad
Versa Mark (stash)
Shine Bright Sequins Mix (Verve Stamps)
Copics (Stash)


As always thanks so much for stopping by! 

Betty 

A Trio of Christmas Cards!

I am back today with three more Christmas cards completed!   I am still trying to get several Christmas cards check off of the Christmas card list.   I am in the Christmas zone inking and cutting away!  

Card #1  JOY!



For my first card I am playing along with Festive Friday Inspiration Challenge.  I just love the warm tones to the inspiration piece.  I focused on the colors and season.  I chose to use sprigs more so than an actual wreath.  I am also using the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.  I love the possibilities this simple sketch provided for my card.  

I used the following products on this card. All products from MFT Stamps unless otherwise noted.
MFT Card Stock Sample Pack (kraft, paver red, Timber Green, and Natural)
Blueprints 15 dienamics
Pierced Rectangle Stax die namics
Music Sheet, Gingham, and Woodgrain Background Stamps
Versa Mark, MFT Premium Paver Red and Natural Ink pads, Leaf-Filled Flourish Dienamics, Pierced Snowflakes Dienamics, Peace, Love, Joy Dienamics, gold foil paper(stash), hemp cord.  I used the gold chads from snowflakes for accenting around card.   




Christmas Card #2   Joy to the World!

For the second card, I am playing along with ABC Christmas Challenge.  The letter is "W for All White."  Oh, my word!  This one was so hard for me!   I wanted to add some color!  I am also playing along with Holly Jolly Christmas Recipe Challenge for this card.  I chose #5 Monochromatic!

I used the following products on this card. All products from MFT Stamps unless otherwise noted.
MFT Smooth White card stock
Blueprints 13 die namics
Pierced Circle Stax die namics
Stitched Circle Stax die namics
MFT Hybrid Black Licorice ink pad
Cheerful Christmas Greetings stamp set
MFT Centerpieces You Mean the World to Me Dienamics
foam tape (stash)
Shine Bright Sequin Mix (Verve Stamps)



Christmas Card #3  Sending Christmas Cheer!
 

I really love how it turned out.  I am playing along with The Card Concept Kraft Inspiration Challenge.  I guess the first card or the second card could work for this one.  I love kraft and chose to use a snowflake and a Christmas Tree. For my third card, I am playing along with this week's  Friday Mashup Sketch Challenge.   I just love the sketch.  The more I looked at the layout I just knew I was going to have to use my Christmas tree cutout die for the sections on the left side of the sketch. 

I used the following products on this card. All products from MFT Stamps unless otherwise noted.  MFT Card Stock Samplet Pack- Kraft, Timber Green, Primitive Cream, and Hot Fudge (tree trunk)
Blueprints 13 die namics
Blueprints 10 die namics (star that I gold embossed)
Christmas Tree Cut Out die namics
Snowfall Background Stamp (gold embossed to give the look of a lighted Christmas Tree)
Cheerful Christmas Greetings stamp set
MFT Premium Paver Red Ink pad
Sequin die namics ( with gold foil paper from stash) 
I love how the Tree stamped with the snowfall background stamp and gold embossed gives the look of a lighted Christmas tree.  To give a few more decorations, I added the gold sequins to mimic a few touches of ornaments.  

As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty 

Snow Much Fun!

Happy Tuesday!  Popping in with a quick SNOW MUCH FUN card!  I am playing along with this week's PTI Make It Monday Challenge.  The challenge this week is to stamp an ombre background.  

I decided to work with shades of blue using PTI inks.  I also decided to use a word for my ombre background.  I played around with colors and color order.  I ended up liking this one best.   To play on the snow word I die cut the coordinating die three times and glued together.  The all white look was too much of a contrast with the colorful hues of blue snow so I decided to stamp many of the sentiments that come in the set using the colors in the background.  I like the clean contrast, yet coordinated look.  I am playing along with The Fusion Challenge, too!  I went with the ombre inspiration.

I added a pop of pure poppy for the card base. I love the contrast.   I finished the card with a few clear gems. 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty

'Tis the Season!

 

I have another Christmas card to share today!  This time I am using the sketch at Always Playing With Paper and the colors from this months MFT Color Palette Challenge.
  
I started with MFT Card Stock Sampler pack.  I am using smooth white, sour apple, red hot, berrylicious, and grout gray card stocks.  

 I used Vertical Stitched Strips to die cut the three different colored panels.  I placed all three panels on a sheet of paper and stamped with the Fine Chevron background using white pigment ink.   I white embossed each panel.  Then, I used the versa mark to sponge over each panel to create some rich depth and dimension with the contrasting white. I glued all three panels to a grout gray base.   

Next, I die cut smooth white card stock with MFT Pierced Oval Stax.   I softly sponged inside the die with MFT Premium Berrylicious Ink.   I stamped the snowman and Christmas tree from  Christmas Cuteness stamp set with MFT Black Licorice Hybrid ink.   I colored both images with Copics.     I used the sentiment from MFT Starry Christmas stamp set using MFT Premium Red Hot ink.  I added some foam tape to pop it up in the center of the card.  I finished my card with a few iridescent sequins.  

As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty

Merry Christmas!

Happy Saturday!  Popping in with another Christmas card!  The "mail by date" is getting closer and I still have several more to make.   For this card I am playing along with this week's MFT Weekly Sketch Challenge.  I used the colors from The Color Throwdown.

I started with MFT Card Stock Sampler pack.  I am using smooth white(which I have actually purchased full size packs of because I use it so much), black licorice, snow cone, and grape jelly.   I used Blueprints 13 to die cut the white background panel. I stamped this panel with the Fine Chevron background using the champagne versamark and clear embossed.  I love the warmer patina this color versamark gives to the white.  Subtle, yet noticeable.  Next, I die cut the snow cone and grape jelly panels with MFT Pierced Rectangle Stax.  Love these.  I need to get all the stitched ones now. I stamped the grape jelly with the Sheet Music background in Memento grape jelly ink.  I stamped the snow cone with MFT Snowfall background stamp.   I layered the snow cone panel with  2 layers of  MFT Stitched Snowdrifts which I ran through using the MFT Pierced Rectangle Stax first to still have a pierced edge detail below!  I inked the stitched snowdrift edges with the champagne versamark for a rich shadowing effect.  

I die cut the snowman from Christmas Cuteness die namics and stamped with coordinating image from Christmas Cuteness stamp set. I colored with copics.    I added some silver cording and die cut a circle tag using MFT Pierced Circle Stax.  I used the sentiment from MFT Starry Christmas stamp set using Memento grape jelly ink.  I used my crop a dile to punch a hole.  I tied the tag and create some curly ques with the silver cording.  I finished my card with a few silver sequins.  

As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty

Verve's November Diva Inspirations Hop!

Welcome to Verve's November Diva Inspirations Hop. It's the 5th of the month and that means it's time for the Divas to serve up some fresh inspiration with their Verve stamps! Leave some comment love along the hop spots for a chance to win a prize, then grab some stamps and play along with our November inspiration challenge for another chance to win!

This month's challenge is entitled Naturally Navy:

Classic, bold, timeless...navy is naturally elegant! Go nautical or pair with 
neutrals for a creation sure to impress.

For my card, I chose to go navy and white to make a Christmas card.  I combined several Verve stamp sets to create a snowflake background.  I used Verve's Merry & Bright, Unto Us, Glad Tidings, Holiday Greetings, Holiday Treats, and Ornamental Christmas stamp sets.  I pulled all the snowflakes from these sets and placed on my fiskars stamping block.  I inked with versamark and white embossed.  I did not try to use my embossing buddy because I actually wanted some speckled fallout from the white embossing powder for this look.  The tiny white flecks look more like tiny bits of snow surrounding the larger snowflakes.  To add some depth and dimension to the background, I sponged versamark all over.  I love the look of the sponged watermark effect on the navy card stock. 

Next, I cut a fishtail flag and stamped the sentiment from Ornamental Christmas stamp set in midnight navy ink.  I added some glittered card stock snowflake dies from Verve's Snowflake Tidings Cut Above dies.  I topped with a starburst button.  I added some tiny clear gems to the centers of all the snowflakes.  If you choose not to add all the clear gems, this card can be quickly stamped and assembled for mass producing several for Christmas mailings. 

Need a little inspiration? Check out the blogs linked below to see what the other Divas did with the challenge! It's sure to be a treat, and speaking of treats, we've got a prize for one lucky commenter along the hop! Check out the Verve Blog today for all the prize info and deadlines!

	1. Amy	7. Sarah
	2. Anya	8. Sony
	3. Betty	9. Susan
	4. Jen	10.Maureen
	5. Karen	11. Stacey
	6.Sankari	12. Marisa

As always thanks so much for hopping by!

Betty

Out on a Limb Thank You!

 
I have a card to share today!  I made it yesterday, but did not have a chance to blog it til now.  I am playing along with this week's MFT Weekly Sketch Challenge.  

I started with MFT Card Stock Sampler Pack.  I used smooth white, gumdrop green, and blu raspberry.  I die cut the blu raspberry panel with the stitch frame from Blueprints 15.  I stamped this panel using MFT Premium Blu Raspberry Ink and MFT Spotlight Sentiments stamp set.  I then used MFT Rectangle Frames die namics.  To create the background panels from the sketch, I die cut three blu raspberry panels.  I cut one frame in half and glued the two halves to the bottom of the others to extend the length.  I stamped each of these frames using Fine Chevron background stamp.  

Next, I die cut the focal panel with MFT Pierced Rectangles in smooth white card stock.  I die cut the tree from Out on a Limb die namics in smooth white.  I stamped the tree trunk from Out on a Limb stamp set using a cocoa ink.  I added some more definition and shading with copic markers.  I die cut some of the circles in gumdrop green and smooth white.  I stamped the circles with new leaf ink using coordinating images.  I die cut the green horizontal panel in gumdrop green using the new Stitched Snowdrifts die namics to mimic grass covered rolling hills. I stamped the sentiment using MFT hybrid Black Licorice ink.  I added an additional sentiment tag using Blueprints 1 stitched circle.  I punched a hole and added a hemp cord bow.  I am playing along with this week's Catered Crop Thank You Challenge!

As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty