Trays for Ink Blending Foam Pads- VIDEO!

Heloooo crafty friends,
It has been 3 years since I posted a YouTube video, but today I am back to share something that was a problem solver for me! Like many of you, I put a velcro circle under my ink pad to attach my ink blending foam pads. The problem with this is that because I had to stack them on top of each other (for storage purposes), the ink from the pad would transfer to the lid of the ink pad that was under it.
I don't know about you, but I'm pretty "Type A" about these things so I did not like that.
In today's video, I share a solution that was inspired by the great Karen Burniston.

You can find Karen Burniston's blog post ---> HERE , where you can download her cut file and PDF. The easiest thing would be to use the cut file of course, but I didn't have access to my Cricut at the  time. The way I shared was pretty easy.
Here are the scoring measurements for 8 1/2" x 11" cardstock:
1/4", 1 1/2", 1 3/4", 2,  3 1/4", 3 1/2", 3 3/4", 5", 5 1/4", 5 1/2", 6 3/4", 7", 7 1/4", 8 1/2", 8 3/4", 9", 10 1/4", 10 1/2"
Use heavyweight cardstock. It helps the trays to be sturdy and the foam pads don't fall out. I used 110lb cardstock, but if you have 65lb or 80 lb cardstock, you might need to pinch the trays to hold the foam pads in.
Hope it helps! Until next time....Tootles!

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,

Shaker Pocket Card with a Twist (VIDEO!)

Hi again friends,
I'm back with my final card for day five at Camp Create by My Favorite Things. Yay! I was able to complete all five cards and earn all five badges!
Here's challenge number 5:

 So today I have a shaker card to share, but it's not your typical shaker card. It's very much inspired by a Clear Shaker Card Jennifer McGuire shared some time ago. I have created a few in the past because they are so fun to create and to give. But I always lamented that in order to get the gift card out of the shaker, they'd have to cut it open, and essentially, destroy the shaker pocket... (insert sad face here...)

So while thinking of what I wanted to create for this challenge, I thought of Jennifer's Shaker pocket. And it HIT ME! Why not ADD a pocket to the pocket! And I went to work!

Here's my shaker card:

Basically, it is the same construction as Jennifer's shaker pocket. I used one of the pockets from the baseball card sleeves I bought for making Pocket Letters (remember those things?) As it turns out, they are the PERFECT size for gift cards and little note cards, which is what I put in mine.

Here it is with a gift card instead: (It's slid into the front pocket)

In my shaker, I used the Postage Stamp Stax dienamics (MFT) to create my little note card. I used some Gold Deco sheets (Tim Holtz) and die cut the "Thank you"from the Twice the Thanks dienamics (MFT) and the flower from the Scribble Roses dienamics (MFT).

Here's what it looks like from the back:

I added star confetti as well as gold sequins and three die cut "Thanks" from the Twice the Thanks dienamics (MFT).

I luuuv Jennifer's Shaker Pocket idea and now that the recipient can get their gift card out of it without sacrificing the shaker, well, I'm just tickled pink!

This is the card you'll be seeing in the tute:

Don't ask me what happened to the original video, lol...
I invite you to watch the video tutorial below or on my You Tube channel ---> HERE.


Thanks for stopping by today! You can put this in a standard A2 envelope because the shaker card measures 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" (A2 size). I hope you'll give this card style a try because it's so much fun! *Ü*
Tootles,

Hi There, Doggie

Hi there friends,
I'm back for badge number 4 for Camp Create at My Favorite Things:
The challenge:

I decided to create a card with the partial die-cutting technique.
Here's my card:

 I partially die cut the Woodgrain Fence dienamics (MFT) on the front of my card base so that the fence would also be part of the inside as well. I colored in this cuuuuute doggie image from the Lucky Dog stamp set (MFT) that has a front and back view that line up. I used my Prisma Color pencils to color him in. To keep this simple for myself, I decided to use a couple of the papers from the Watercolor Wash paper pack (MFT). I die cut the grassy border dienamics (MFT) from light green as well as the "Hi There" so that it would blend with the background.

Now for the fun part--- the innie:

I die cut a fence and grassy border to carry the outside of the card inside. I scattered lots of bones and balls this doggie might have thrown over the fence for some reason *Ü*... as you can see he's holding a heart in his paw.

Now for the inside panel on the right, I again used the pattern papers to set the scene (and not have to color the whole background! What a time saver!!!) I stamped the sentiment and added a sun die cut in the top corner. It got a generous coating of Clear Spectrum Noir glitter pen. I adhered only the center so the little rays could pop up a bit for dimension!

I had so much fun creating this card and I hope you liked it too *Ü*

Thanks so much for stopping by. I have my last card for camp coming on the heels of this one because time is not my amigo right now *Ü*

Tootles,


The 411
Stamps: Lucky Dog, I Knead You (MFT)  Thanks (Simon Says Stamp)
Dies: Lucky Dog Dienamics, Hello there dienamics, Grassy Border dienamics, Woodgrain Fence dienamics (MFT)  Stitched Sun and Clouds (LaLa Land Crafts)
Paper: Neenah Solar White cardstock, Watercolor Wash Paper Pack (MFT)
Prismacolor Pencils Used--- DOG: PC935 Black, PC947 Dark Umber, PC941 Light Umber, PC1082 Chocolate, PC924 Crimson Red  BALL: PC989 Chartreuse, PC912 Apple Green
Ink: Black Licorice Hybrid Ink (MFT), Creamy Brown, Chestnut Roan (Colorbox)

Water Shaker card + video

Hi ya friends,
 I have a couple of cards to share today.
The first, is something I have been playing with since I opened my FUSE tool.
Here's my card:

 I water colored the tulips with Distress Inks. I took those same colors to create the wash that's on the bottom part of the card. Now those tulips will last for a while because they're in fresh WATER!
Yup! This is a water shaker card *Ü*

Here's a different peek:

 I die cut the word "Thanks" from fun foam left over from the shaker pieces. I have all the deets coming up...

I used this week's Mojo Monday sketch for my card:

Here's my second card:

I also water colored this hydrangea image with Distress Inks. I added little pearls to the centers with my Viva Decor pen. I die cut a heart from the jar to create a shaker element.

Here's another peek:

This one has pretty iridescent sequins that mimic the colors of the hydrangea *Ü*

Here's the video: It's broken up into two parts. Part 1 is the creation of the shaker and part 2 is the simple way I watercolored the image. You can watch it below or on YouTube HERE.


I'll play along in the following challenges:
Polkadoodles: Add Embossing
Sister Act: #114: Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday #381: Ladies Only
Loves Rubberstamps #159: Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly: Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown #252: No patterned paper
Craft Your Passion #269: Anything Goes

That's it for now...Thanks so much for stopping by *Ü*
Until next time!

The 411
Card #1Water Shaker Tulips
Stamps: Friendship Jar, Frienship Jar: Spring Fillers- Papertrey Ink
Ink: Versamark ink. Distress Inks: Wild Honey, Picked Raspberry, Worn Lipstick, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn
Paper: Pistachio Pudding cs, Bashful Blue cs, Vellum cs-SU. Neenah solar white cs. Ranger water color cs.
Tools: Friendship Jar Shaker dies, Friendship Jar Tulips die- PTI. "Thanks" die-Impression Obsession. Chevron embossing folder-Darice. Honeycomb embossing folder-Tim Holtz
Other: Sequins, ribbon, trading card pocket page

Card #2 Hydrangea
Stamps: Friendship Jar: Summer Fillers-PTI
Ink: Versamark ink. London Fog-Memento. Distress Inks: Milled Lavender, Tumbled Glass, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn
Paper: Pear Pizzazz-SU. Neenah Solar White cs. Ranger water color cs. acetate
Tools: Friendship Jar: Pint Jar-PTI. "Hello" die-Impression Obsession, Stitched Rectangle Dies-Lawn Fawn. Heart Nestabilities. Woodgrain embossing folder- The Paper Studio
Other: Twine-Maya Road, sequins, Viva Decor pen

MFT Summer School: Lesson 5: Quiet Space/White Space

Hello again, crafty friends!

I did it! I completed all 5 days of summer school! (I wonder if this is how my students feel?! Hehehe!)
This is MFT Summer School: Lesson 5: Quiet Space/White Space

Def. n. “White space” stays in the background to make the focal point or the sentiment the unabashed star of the show. And it doesn’t necessarily have to be white!

Here's my card:

 Of course, they saved my Kryptonite for last! If you've been around the blog-o, you know white space gives me crafty anxiety! I feel the need to add embossing or some kind of texture even to CAS cards! I can't just leave it quiet...I need some noise!!! *Ü* But even though I wanted to add a paw print embossing folder to the card base...I took my paws off the card & walked away...

Here's another peek:

 I just adore this stamp set! The kitties are just adorable *Ü* I colored Mr. Meow with the no-line coloring technique with Copics. I fussy cut it because I don't have the coordinating dies...yet... ;)
I added some twine behind Mr. Meow so that it looked like he unwrapped the box *Ü*  & sprinkled 3 hearts (visual triangle ;) I created the sentiment by combining 2 stamp sets. "You Had Me At" from the At the Movies stamp set & "Meow" from this set.

Thank you so much for taking the time to peek at my summer assignments. I generally don't do summer school...but this session was crafty fun!!!

Class dismissed...until next time *Ü*

The 411
Stamps: I Knead You, At the Movies-MFT
Ink: Memento Desert Sand. Close to Cocoa-SU
Paper: Crumb Cake cs-SU. pink cs
Tools: Copics, Stitched Rectangle dies- Lawn Fawn, mini hearts-SSS
Other: Twine-May Arts, Wink of Stella pen-clear

MFT Summer School: Lesson 4: Line

Hey friends,

 I'm back with the 4th installment of MFT Summer School: Lesson 4: Line

Def. n. Lines are very important in graphic design and in card making. Lines can do many things to add visually interesting content to your design. Understanding how to use lines can help you communicate a certain feeling or idea in your work.

1. Lines draw the eye to the focal point.

2. Lines can divide  space and direct the viewers’ eyes.

3. Lines direct the flow of content.

4. Lines can help give emphasis to a specific area.

  

Here's my homework card:

 This lesson was really interesting for me because the idea of "Line" isn't something I generally think about when I'm creating my cards. I decided that I would show line by tilting the edges of my top layer of cardstock to bring the eye toward the mid-bottom right corner of the card (focal point.)

Here's another peek:

 I used one of my all-time favorite MFT stamps- At the Movies -for this card. *Ü* I embossed the top layer of cardstock with the Tickets embossing folder. I used my fave Star die to showcase the popcorn. Fun!

Four down one to go!
Thanks so much for popping in for card #4!
Have a goodie!

The 411
Stamps: At the Movies-MFT.
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black. Real Red, Daffodil Delight-SU. 
Paper: Neenah Solar White cs. Yellow cs. Gold cs-SU
Tools: At the Movies Dienamics, Accent It: Rock n Roll-MFT. Flower trio punch-SU. Stitched Rectangle dies-Lawn Fawn. Tickets embossing folder- The Paper Studio
Other: white gel pen

MFT Summer School: Lesson 3: Movement/Flow

Hi ya friends,

I'm back for Day 3 of MFT Summer School! Lesson #3: Movement/Flow
Def. v. The arrangement of the elements on a card to create
 a sense of motion by using lines, shapes, forms, and textures that cause the eye to move over the design. Creating a visual triangle with sentiment, paper, and focal point is a great way to show movement as well! 

Here's my homework card:

 I achieved Movement/Flow through the flight trail from the little bee, the curved sentiment, and the scripty "happy" die cut.

Here's another peek:

 I used the Hexagon Dienamics for the hive cells. I used Distress Inks to create an ombre wash so that the top was lighter yellow than the bottom. I added little stitch marks with my white gel pen *Ü* The little bee got a dab of yellow Stickles and added a clear Dew Drop. Once dry (and set) I added little black lines with my Sharpie pen to give it a more bee-belly *Ü* The wings got Diamond Stickles and the head got a dot of black Enamel Accents.

Here's a closer peek at the cute little bee: (sorry for the bad pic :(

You are as sweet as honey for stopping by for Day 3!
Ciao for now,

The 411
Stamps: Simply Fab Sayings (Be)-MFT. Bees-Pezadoodle Designs. Flight of the Butterfly-SU.
Ink: Distress Inks: Squeezed Lemonade, Fossilized Amber, Wild Honey. Black Licorice Hybrid ink-MFT.
Paper: Ranger watercolor cs. Neenah Solar White. True Black cs-PTI
Tools: Happy die-SSS. Stitched Rectangle Dies-Lawn Fawn
Other: Stickles. Dew Drops. Enamel Accents

MFT Summer School- Lesson 2: Focal Point

Hi again friends,

 I'm back for MFT Summer School Lesson #2: Focal Point
Def: n. The Focal Point on any given project is the main area where an embellishment or image stamp is placed. Typically it works best if there is only one focal point.

Here's my homework card:

 I wanted the focal point to be right in the center- the gold foiled die cuts with the sentiment flanked by the poppies.

Here's another peek:

There are 3 layers- 3 different dies cut from gold foil. I hope this doesn't look like a hot mess because it looks really pretty in real life *Ü* I heat embossed the sentiment in cream embossing powder. The poppies were stamped with versamark + Heat & Stick powder + Prisma glitter. So it's very sparkly! I took my gold uniball pen to add details to them. I also added gold Viva pen & gold Stickles to the center of one of the poppies.

Here's a peek of the innies:

I stamped the poppy in Delicata gold and allowed some of the embossing powder from the sentiment to stick to the bottom of it giving it a really pretty two-toned ombre-ish look. *Ü*

That's it for Lesson #2. 

Thanks so much for peeking!

Tootles,

The 411
Stamps: LJD Pretty Poppies,  Simply Fab Sayings-MFT
Ink: Versamark. Delicata Gold
Paper: Vintage Cream cs-PTI. Gold Foil cs-American Crafts
Tools: Poppies & Leaves Dienamics-MFT. Stitched Rectangle STAX-MFT. Stitched Rectangle dies-Lawn Fawn. Bitty Bow- Mama Elephant. Fancy Tags 2 dies, Fancy Tags 3 dies, Ribbon Banners dies-Spellbinders.
Other: embossing powder. Stickles. Prisma Glitter. Viva Decor pen. Uniball gold pen. foam tape

MFT Summer School: Lesson 1: Rule of Thirds

Hi crafty friends,
 Summer School is in session over at My Favorite Things!
Lesson one is about The Rule of Thirds. Def: n. The Rule of Thirds is the division of your card into nine equal parts by two equally-spaced horizontal lines and two equally-spaced vertical lines. This type of design leads to an overall visual that is pleasing to the eye.

Here's my card (homework):

 I placed the sentiment & the ground on the horizontal lines and the cow & balloons on the second vertical line.

Here's another peek:

  I used The Whole Herd stamp & coordinating dies. This set is just too cute *Ü* The balloons were cut out of vellum & then got a coat of Stickles. I placed the balloon strings so that it looks like Mr. Moo is holding it with his mouth. He's colored with Copics & The background was created with Fireworks sprays.

There are five lessons for MFT Summer School (and 5 homework assignments) so I hope you can take a peek at those too! *Ü*

Thanks so much for popping in for card #1!
Tootles,

The 411
Stamps: The Whole Herd, LJD Western Backgrounds-MFT
Ink: Black Licorice Hybrid Ink-MFT. Versafine Black Onyx. Fireworks Craft Sprays
Paper: Neenah Solar White. True Black cs-PTI. Vellum cs
Tools: The Whole Herd Dienamics-MFT. Stitched Rectangle dies-Lawn Fawn. Balloon punch-Martha Stewart Crafts. Copics. Stickles-Diamond. Twine.