My Creative Time challenge

Hubby went off to golf today so I had some play time. I decided to make a card for the current My Creative Time challenge. This time it's a photo inspiration/color challenge. Here is the photo that inspired my idea.

For my card I used the following MCT products:

• Bunch of Fun Circle dies-orange slice
• Scallop and Stitched Circle die-orange slice
• Stitched Chunky Jar dies
• Stitched Doily die
• Stitched Message Bubble dies-straw
• Stitched Oval die
• Stitched Pretty Flowers and Leaves dies
• This and That stamp set

This is a standard A2 size card made from white cardstock and topped with a mat of green polka dot patterned paper from Simple Stories. I've been seeing a lot of drinks served in Mason jars lately, so I thought I'd do a version for my card. I used the Stitched Chunky Jar die and cut the jar from vellum. Then I cut a piece of light yellow cardstock to put behind it to make it look like lemonade. I cut the fabric looking piece from an orange gingham and the lid from a textured silver cardstock and finished assembling the jar. Next I looked through all my dies to find something I could use for the straw. I settled on the Stitched Message Bubble die that says thanks. I put the die on the edge of a scrap of orange paper so it just cut a portion of the die that looked like a bent straw. To finish off the jar I added a few sequins. Next I cut a doily from kraft cardstock and trimmed some off to place on the left hand side of the card. I actually had a dream about how to make my little orange slice. In my dream I used two circles from the Bunch of Fun Circle dies. When I went to make it I discovered that it would work better if I used the circle from the Scallop and Stitched Circle die and made the segments out of the second smallest circle from Bunch of Fun Circle dies. I cut the two circles out of white cardstock and cut them both in half. Then I took the half that I made the segments out of and cut it in quarters. Then I used my Copics to color them. I used YR 04 and YR21. I attached the segments to the "rind piece" and was totally happy with how it turned out. Before I attached the orange slice to the card I cut a small flower and stem from the Stitched Pretty Flowers and Leaves. I thought my little flower looked a lot like an orange blossom to go perfectly with the orange slice. Finally, I added my sentiment onto the Stitched Oval die. My sentiment is from the This and That stamp set. I actually cut two words off the sentiment to make it fit on the label. It really said "enjoy the simple things in life". I often cut my stamps up to make new sayings or words. It doesn't hurt the stamps and if you want to stamp the whole sentiment it easily goes back together on a stamp block. That's my card for today. Thanks so much for stopping by. Hope you visit again soon.

Stretch Your Stamps 2 online class Days 9 and 10

I was totally lacking in supplies for these two classes. They used lots of flower and leaf stamps. For my first card I used the My Creative Time Pretty Wreaths. I traced a circle onto my card then using a couple different leaf stamps and two different color green inks I stamped around the circle. Then I took a couple of the flower stamps from the set and filled in with those using two different pink color inks. Again, I wasn't at all happy with the finished result, but did the best I could with what I had on hand.

For my second card I followed pretty closely the design from the video presentation. I used My Creative Time Bunch of Fun Circle dies to create my circles and the stamp and coordinating die sets Surf's Up and Lost At Sea. For this card I gathered several different color green and teal colored dies. Some were dye inks and some were chalk inks I stamped them in layers with the dye inks on the bottom and chalk inks on top. Then I stamped three fish, colored them with copics and fussy cut them. Before adding them to the card I put Glossy Accents over them. The sentiment is heat embossed with VersaMark ink and Wow white embossing powder. There is only one class left and it's just a fun play day. 

Stretch Your Stamps 2 online class Day 8

Well, all I can say about this card is, I did my homework. Not happy with the end result at all. Today's class was the second part of using graphic stamps. I totally copy the instructor's card using a leaf shape from a Maya Road stamp set I won from Scrapbook and Cards Today. It was a whole box of goodies with all kinds of stuff in it. I used Momento dye inks for this effect. This was another stamp that I flipped over and used the back side of the stamp. It stamped a little irregular on the edges because of that. Obviously there wasn't much to this other than stamping in rows. After the rows were finished I used My Creative Time Alpha Pack stamps to spell out Miss You and used VersaMark ink and white embossing powder from WOW. If I were to try this technique again, I'd make sure I had another graphic image that was slightly bigger than the one I used so I didn't have to stamp so many rows and use so many different colors. This looks just a little too busy for my taste.

Stretch Your Stamps 2 online class Day 7

Today's online card class is all about using graphic shaped stamps. I totally fell apart at this class. I was in a panic when I went through my stamps and found no plain graphic shapes. My hero, Emma (My Creative Time), to the rescue. I found out about this class one day while I was visiting Emma's blog because she is taking the class, too. So after going through all my stamps and being unable to figure out how I could complete this class project, I stepped away from my craft table and sat down to relax by checking Emma's blog. Behold, what did I find but her class project for the day that looked very similar to my card. Never in a million years would I have thought to turn a stamp over and use the backside to stamp with. In Emma's stamp set You Are Fabulous there are three shaped stamps with patterns on them. By taking the medium sized hexagon and turning it over and attaching it to my stamp block with the patterned side down using adhesive I had just a plain hexie. Now that I finally had a graphic shaped stamp I went into my second panic attack. I have very few inks. I recently started investing in the Tim Holtz mini ink pads, but they didn't work very well for this project. I trashed a couple efforts pretty quickly. Quite a few months ago I noticed, on a trip to my local scrapbook store, that they carried a few Hero Arts inks in a mini size. I'm such a sucker for tiny things, but it's because I spent the last three years traveling back and forth from Michigan to Florida and living in an RV. I don't have a lot of storage space so these inks are perfect for someone like me. Anyway, I have three sets of these Hero Arts inks. I pulled out a set, I think it's a summer color set, and used Pool, Soft Olive and Wet Cement as the colors for my card. I wanted it to have a more manly look. I stamped the hexagons and waited for them to dry and then I went back and used the second technique I learned in class, Kissing. This is where you take a pattern stamp and restamp over your shape using white pigment ink. At this point I turned the hexie stamp back over to the polka dot pattern side and added them to my colored hexies I already stamped. Love this look and will certainly do it again in the future. To complete my card I used a Happy word die and then stamped birthday under the word.

Stretch Your Stamps 2 class Outline stamps

I'm catching up here on my online class posts. I realized as I went to do my Day 5 post that I mailed out that day's card to a friend and forgot to take a picture of it. I used the multi-colored embossing technique by stamping my flower image with VersaMark ink then carefully added different color embossing powders onto it. I used Wow embossing powders in Bubble Gum (pink), Cotton Candy (blue) and Berrylicious (purple) for the flower and Earthtone Olive for the stem. I really liked the end result and will definitely use the technique again.

For day six of class, I again used my flower stamp two different ways. The first shows a tag where I embossed it with white embossing powder onto white cardstock then used Tim Holtz inks to color the background. I used Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade and Fired Brick. The second tag shows the same stamp done with Black embossing powder and then colored in with Copics. I also used a VersaMark pen to add some gold embossing into the center of the flower. I've made it over halfway through the classes and haven't given up, yet. I'm definitely being challenged into finding ways to use the supplies I have without going out and buying more. I did, however, buy this flower stamp because I didn't have any flower with stem stamps. I also purchased the VersaMark pen. I didn't know that even existed until I saw the class videos using one. I was excited to find one, and only one, at my local craft store. I'm really enjoying these classes and learning so much to expand my skills.

Stretch Your Stamps 2 day 4 class

Totally had a great time for the second day of class using Alphabets. Today's class showed how to take alphabet stamps and make words onto die cuts. For my first card I used My Creative Time dies-Loyal Friends for the cloud and Fun Stitched Edges for the hill. My sun is an Impression Obsession die. Then using the My Creative Time Alpha Pack stamps I stamped summer related words onto each of the die cuts. For my second technique I used the alphabet stamps to incorporate a word into my scene. I made the sunrays from the alphabet letters to spell out the word RAYS. I thought this turned out so cute and was so proud of myself for coming up with this idea. I used a couple other My Creative Time dies for this card the sun was made using the Bunch of Fun Circle dies, the umbrella was made with the Stitched Umbrella die and the wave is the Make A Wave die. The sand is made using the Fun Stitched Edges die.

Stretch Your Stamps 2 Day 3 class

Today's class focused on using Alphabet stamps in new and unique ways. I was actually ahead of the game on this class where they talked about cutting your stamps into new words or word combos. I do that all the time to stretch my stamps because I don't have that many. This was my first time to use some chalkboard paper and emboss white ink onto it. I used a couple My Creative Time stamp sets to make this card-You Are Fabulous stamp set and the Alpha Pack stamp set. I took the word fabulous and cut it down to just use the word Fab. Then I used the alpha pack to stamp To my and the word friend. This was really a quick and easy card. Oh I forgot to say that I also used the ampersand die cut from My Creative Time Social Media Dies.

Stretch Your Stamps online class Day 2

Day 2 of the Stretch Your Stamps Class 2 was a continuation of using background stamps in different ways. For my first card I was practicing the ombre effect. Clearly, I need a lot more practice. I was not happy with my first attempt and this is my second attempt. I stamped the wood grain background onto white cardstock and embossed with clear embossing powder. Then I used Tim Holtz Distress inks of Salty Ocean, Broken China and Tumbled glass to layer on the inks starting at the bottom with the darkest ink and working my way up to the lighter color.

For my second card (bad photo) I stamped my background onto black cardstock using VersaMark ink. Then I used Perfect Pearls in Biscotti, Mandarin and Mint.  I loved how this card came out. The picture does not do it justice. After I completed the background I used a butterfly die to cut an opening in the paper and mounted it onto a white cardstock base measuring 3.5" x 5". Next I placed the card base onto a piece of cantaloupe colored cardstock. I die cut Hello from the My Creative Time Speech Bubble stamp set with coordinating dies. I took the die cut word and embossed VersaMark Dazzle Ink on the front then covered it with clear embossing powder and heat set it. I repeated this step two more times. When it was cooled and dry I attached over the butterfly cut out.

Stretch Your Stamps 2 Day One

Hello my crafty friends! It's been awhile since I've been able to post. I have literally spent almost every single day of the last three weeks going to doctor appointments, tests or procedures. Last week when I found out that I was going to have to have a heart catheterization which would require a couple days recuperating I thought it was the perfect opportunity to take an Online Card Class by Jennifer McGuire. It would help me pass the time and I since I'm pretty new to stamping, anything besides a sentiment on a card, I knew there would be plenty for me to learn. The question was, did I even have enough stamps in my arsenal that I could participate in the class.

Day one of class was devoted to background and reverse background stamps. I only have a few background stamps so for this card I used a script background from My Creative Time Build a Scripty & Water Color Background Stamp Set. I used some water color paper to stamp and emboss the background. I used Versa Mark ink to stamp and embossed with white embossing powder from WOW. The next step of the process was adding the water colors and I used Tim Holtz Distress Inks for this. I watercolored a rainbow pattern over the script background. To make this card I used a two inch wide strip of this paper and placed it on the left side of the card. I still had enough of the watercolor paper for a second card. To complete this card I used the My Creative Time Speech Bubble Sentiments stamps and coordinating speech bubble dies and die cut the you are then stamped the words "an inspiration".

For my second card I die cut the word Happy from the My Creative Time Happy Thoughts stamp set with coordinating dies using the leftover paper from my first card. Next I took the word and stamped VersaMark ink all over it and sprinkled clear embossing powder onto it. I did this three times which left the word a little more dimensional and put a shine to it.  I added a small strip of the script background and then stamped the rest of the sentiment below that. Whew! Managed to make it through the first day of class. A small pat on my back. I think I'm going to struggle through this.

The Cutting Cafe-Menu planner

Hello my crafty friends! This week at The Cutting Cafe the DT is showcasing products with a truly fabulous set called The Planner. If you've ever wanted a custom designed planner using pages that are truly meant for you-now you can have it. You can print the pages you would most use and bind them up. Now for me, personally, I don't need much of a planner. My kids are grown and gone and I'm retired so I don't have a lot going on in my life that I need to remember. (Notwithstanding the zillion doctor appointments I've had in the last three weeks). No, for me it's usually golf, playing cards or socializing with friends. So I came up with another idea for my project using the Weekly Menu Planner page from The Planner set. I made a dry erase board where I can write in my meals for the week. This just wipes off with a paper towel because the writing is on glass and the planner is sandwiched between it.

I went to Michael's (with coupon in hand) and found this glass poster frame with clips on the edges. I simply found a piece of patterned cardstock in my stash, printed out the WEEKLY MENU PLANNER page with my printer, mounted it on a black cardstock mat, attached it to the patterned paper, then embellished the outside of the frame with some ribbon (that says Bon Appetit) and some cute little metal silverware from 7 Gypsies. It now sits on my counter and every week I decide what we'll be having to eat and write it in. Now I don't have to listen to hubby ask me the dreaded question every day, "What's for dinner?" I don't know about you but nothing sets me on edge like those words. I'm a good cook, but now that I'm retired I don't really enjoy the drudgery of always being the one to cook. The only thing that keeps me going is knowing what I might have to force down if hubby does the cooking. I have a couple great stories of hubby's attempts at cooking. The one that always comes to mind first is the Mother's Day scrambled eggs he once made. He got out a cookbook (because without, way over his head) and found a recipe for scrambled eggs. I know what you're all thinking, how could he need a recipe for that. The recipe called for mixing a little cream with the eggs. We didn't have any cream, but we did have some whipped cream. You know, the kind that squirts out of a can. No need to say more, but I'll tell you those were the sweetest eggs I've ever tasted. LOL

You are going to want to see the depth that the rest of the Design Team went to with their planners. Make sure you head over to The Cutting Cafe Blog on Thursday, August 21 to see their creations. I feel like such a slacker with my project, but it's what works for me and my lifestyle. Please don't hate me because I have no need to plan. Ahhhhh, RETIREMENT! Life is good!

The Cutting Cafe Test Tube Holder

This week at The Cutting Cafe Blog the Design Team is featuring fun ways to package up treats. I wanted to send my two granddaughters a back-to-school treat along with their school outfits I bought for them. I used the Test Tube/Candy Holder set, the School Days Printable Stamp Set and the Back To School Hershey Kiss Bottoms for my design. I cut my tube box holder from a primary color striped cardstock from DCWV Celebration stack. It has some shiny foil stripes in it. I printed the circular School Days title onto a note shape piece of textured cardstock. Next I print and cut the Hershey Kiss bottoms and added them to the chocolate pieces. To finish off the tubes I added a small tag to each one and tied them on with red and white twine. I know the girls are going to love these when they get them. I can hardly believe it's time to go back to school. Here in Florida school starts in a little over a week. My granddaughters are a little luckier up in Michigan and don't go back to school until after Labor Day. Make sure you head over to The Cutting Cafe's Blog to see the rest of the Teams creations. Happy crafting.