A Rainbow of Butterflies Card (MFT 2023 Card Design Superstar: Clean and Simple Genius)

I've started coloring and creating again in the past few weeks, after not coloring or making any cards in nearly a year. I'm a bit rusty, but I decided to jump back in with the MFT 2023 Card Design Superstar: Clean and Simple Genius contest. I felt like coloring something bright and happy, and what's brighter or happier than a rainbow?

I decided to use the butterflies from MFT's "Spread Your Wings" and a flower from MFT's "Magnolia Blossoms" to create a gentle arc, then color them as I would a rainbow (ROYGBIV colors). I used Post-It Tape to mask off the parts of the flower stamp that I didn't want to stamp (since I only wanted a single flower from the bunch), inked the stamp, removed the tape, and stamped the single flower image. I then stamped one of each of the butterflies, gently staggering them in an arc. I colored all of the images with Copic markers, then stamped the sentiment from MFT's "Magnolia Blossoms" set. I mounted the colored layer on MFT's Lemon Drop and Smooth White cardstock.

I cut more Lemon Drop and Smooth White layers for inside the card, then stamped and colored one of the smaller butterflies twice more. I cut them out with the "Spread Your Wings" Die-Namics, stamped a sentiment from MFT's "Thoughtful Greetings" stamp set, and glued the two butterflies to the stamped panel.

List of all stamps/dies/stencils used on this card - ALL BY MY FAVORITE THINGS:

• Spread Your Wings stamp set
• Spread Your Wings Die-Namics die set
• Magnolia Blossoms stamp set
  
• Thoughtful Greetings stamp set
• MFT cardstock: Lemon Drop and Smooth White

Other products used:

• Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad
• Copic XPress-It Blending Card
• Copic markers
• Glue

Hope you have a great week!

Holiday Cocoa Fun (MFT 2022 Card Design Superstar)

I haven't colored or made any cards in nearly a year, so I'm a bit rusty, but I decided to jump back in with the MFT 2022 Card Design Superstar: Coloring Virtuoso contest. This card is pretty straightforward, with a bunch of cute kids enjoying holiday cocoa as a treat.

I colored and fussy cut all of the characters, trees, logs, stand, etc. I made the cocoa sign by using the sign from SY Kissing Booth, but masking the center text, and then stamping the center with "cocoa" from the Hug in a Mug stamp set. (The booth is from the Kissing Booth stamp set.) You can see some of the images below (as they were fussy cut).

Once I had all of my people and elements, I created the background with inks and and the Slimline Drifts and Hills Stencil. (The dirt and sky are inked, and the snow is colored with Copics.) I layered everything using some paper glue, and the scene was done!

List of all stamps/dies/stencils used on this card - ALL BY MY FAVORITE THINGS:

• Pile on the Hugs stamp set
• BB Fall Friends stamp set
• BB Friends at First Sip
  
• SY Kissing Booth stamp set
• SY Christmas Cheer stamp set
• Hug in a Mug stamp set
• BB Snow Buddies stamp set
  
• Be Your Own Barista Die-Namics
  
• Slimeline Drifts and Hills Stencil
  
• Slimline Cloud Edges Stencil
  

Happy holidays!

Slimline Box Card - Christmas Tree Farm (MFT 2022 Card Design Superstar)

I haven't colored or made any cards in nearly a year, so I'm a bit rusty, but I decided to jump back in with the MFT 2022 Card Design Superstar: Box Card Master contest. And to make this even MORE challenging, I've never made a box card before and decided to make my own template (since I haven't seen one for a regular slimline, and I didn't want a "mini" slimline)! Argh.

Here's a look at the final SLIMLINE box card (7" x 2" x 3.75"):

I used 8 different stamps, dies, and stencils to make this card (listed below). I stamped each image on Copic XPress-It Blending Card and colored them with my Copics. When I was done, I fussy cut everything.

After I had all of my pieces, I created my temp
late for the slimline box card. The card folds flat to perfectly fit a slimline envelope, measuring 9" x 3.75". When it's unfolded, it measures 7" x 2" x 3.75". I created the box mechanism with my homemade template (below). It was incredibly frustrating, especially since I've never made a box card before, but I finally got through it. (FYI, I forgot the diagonal line across the left side when I took the photo. I later cut the line so make it a stepped/leveled card. See final card photos below to see what I mean, as I also cut white panels to fit the sides.)

 

After I cut two panels to match my template, I attached my background (7" x 3.75"), which I'd created with white cardstock, blue ink, and the MFT Slimline Cloud Edges Stencil.

For my inserts, I cut 1.5" x 8" pieces of white cardstock, then used the MFT Stitched Slimline Snow Drifts Die-Namics to make my snowy slopes. I scored 1/2 at each end to make the tabs, trimmed about half of the tabs down (so you wouldn't see them when inserted), and glued the three inserts inside the box. I attached all of my little people using regular paper glue.

I felt like it needed some white panels on the outside, so I cut 2 panels of 2.5" x 1.75", then cut them at a diagonal to match the sides of the box. I cut a 6.75" x 0.75" white panel for the front, and stamped the sentiment from MFT's Merry & Bright stamp set. After I attached everything, the card folds perfectly flat, like this:

And it fits perfectly in a slimline envelope!

 

 

Here's a video, showing how it unfolds:

 

List of all stamps/dies/stencils used on this card - ALL BY MY FAVORITE THINGS:

• Pile on the Hugs stamp set
• BB Fall Friends stamp set
• Merry & Bright stamp set
• Friends at First Sip stamp set
• Christmas Tree Farm stamp set
• Happy Campers stamp set
• Slimline Stitched Snow Drifts Die-Namics
• Slimline Cloud Edges Stencil
  

Have a lovely day!

Sweet Christmas Wishes Clean & Simple Card (MFT 2022 Card Design Superstar)

Well, it's been nearly a year since I colored or made a card. I'm happy to say that I'm crafting again, and I've finished a few Christmas cards! I decided to make this card for the MFT 2022 Card Design Superstar Contest - Clean and Simple Genius.

The final card measures 5" x 7". I decided to make my own stencil/mask, so I could create an image that's shaped like an ornament. I sketched out my shape and used my fine scissors to cut it out. After I had my mask, I layered it over Copic cardstock and stamped my images. (I had to stamp and fussy cut a mask of the PI girl, so I could make the tree and floor appear behind her.) I also very lightly ran my pencil around the edges of the ornament shape, so I'd know where to create my borders as I colored.

I colored everything with Copics, then stamped a simple sentiment from the Sweet Christmas Wishes stamp set. I matted the panel on MFT's Brushed Gold Cardstock, then cut a small rectangle from the same paper for the ornament's "cord."

List of all stamps/dies/stencils used on this card - ALL BY MY FAVORITE THINGS:

• Sweet Christmas Wishes stamp set
• SY On Solid Ground stamp set
• SY Christmas Cheer stamp set
• Brushed Gold Cardstock
  

Have a merry holiday season!

Slimline Seagulls on Ocean Waves

Today, I decided to have a little fun with seagulls and ocean waves.

The final card measures 3.75" x 8.5". I stamped the seagulls, island and ship images with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on Copic XPress-It Blending Card. I colored them with Copics, then fussy cut them with my Cutter Bees.

I die cut the waves with the Slimline Ocean Motion Die-Namics (My Favorite Things). I used a dark blue cardstock, then lightened the waves with Tumbled Glass Distress Oxide Ink. I used the "wrong" side of the die cuts (the opposite side of the page from the waves) like a stencil and used the Tumbled Glass Distress Oxide Ink to stencil a few more rows of waves on the top and bottom layers.

I layered the waves with foam dots, so there are three levels. I die cut the "WAVES" letters from the MFT Stitched Alphabet die set, using Silver Shimmer Cardstock (Paper Rose). I stamped the "Make Some" words from a sentiment in the MFT Friends with Fins stamp set, then carefully cut it out with scissors. I popped up some of the images with dots, ensuring seagulls were on all three levels. (The seagulls on the bottom level are flat, while the ones on front are popped up, etc.) The sentiment and "WAVES" are also popped up with foam dots.

List of all stamps/dies/stencils used on this card:

• Seaside Seagulls stamp set (My Favorite Things)
  
• Party Like a Pirate stamp set (My Favorite Things)
• Friends with Fins stamp set (My Favorite Things)
• Slimline Ocean Motion Die-Namics (My Favorite Things)
• Stitched Alphabet Die-Namics (My Favorite Things)
  

Other supplies:

• Black and blue cardstock
• Paper Rose Silver Shimmer Cardstock
  
• Copic markers (various)
  
• Double-sided tape (Scor-tape)
• Foam dots
  
• Memento Tuxedo Black Ink
• Tumbled Glass Distress Oxide Ink
• Blending Tool/Foam
  
• Copic XPress-It Blending Card 
• Cutter Bees scissors
  

Have a lovely day!

Cozy Christmas Card

Well, I finished my first Christmas card for 2021! Hooray! I created this card for MFT's Card Superstar contest (coloring category).

The final card measures 4.75" x 6.75". I stamped the fox/chair (Cozy Companions) and bear (Perfect Couple) images on scrap paper and fussy cut them, so I could use them as masks.I stamped the fox/chair on the main card panel, then placed the mask over it. I stamped the tree (Secret Santa), overlapping the fox mask a bit, so the tree would be tucked behind the chair. I stamped the lamp on the other side of the chair.

I stamped the bears on another page of XPress-It Blending Card, then placed the mask over them. I stamped the blanket (Picnic Pals) over the mask, so the bears were sitting on the blanket.

I colored everything with Copics, then fussy cut the bears/blanket. TIP: After you fussy cut an image, run a black marker around the edges, so it hides/covers any uncut white edges. I stamped the sentiment (Christmas Carols) on the main colored panel, then popped up the bears with foam dots so they would have more dimension. I kept everything simple with a black cardstock mat as a frame.

List of all stamps/dies/stencils used on this card:

• Cozy Companions stamp set (My Favorite Things)
  
• Perfect Couple stamp set (My Favorite Things)
• Secret Santa stamp set (My Favorite Things)
• Picnic Pals stamp set (My Favorite Things)
• Christmas Carols stamp set (My Favorite Things)
  

Other supplies:

• Black cardstock
  
• Copic markers (various)
  
• Double-sided tape (Scor-tape)
• Foam dots
  
• Memento Tuxedo Black Ink
• Copic XPress-It Blending Card 
• Cutter Bees scissors
  

Have a merry holiday season!

Clean and Simple Roses Card

2021 has been a tough year. After my father's passing a few months ago, I haven't felt like crafting or coloring. I decided to pull out my Copics again to make a Clean and Simple (CAS) card for MFT's Card Superstar contest.

The final card measures 5" x 7". I stamped the MFT Fanciful Roses Background on Copic XPress-It Blending Card. The blue flower was incomplete at the top (since it was the edge of the stamp), so I penciled in some finished petals. I colored the two center roses with Copics, then carefully fussy cut them with my trusty Cutter Bees. Once they were fussy cut, I ran a black marker around the edges to hide any white paper.

I cut a 5" x 7" black cardstock panel, then used a stamp from MFT's Flower in Bloom stamp, Versamark ink, and super fine white embossing powder. I layered blue and white cardstock onto a base, then attached the black, embossed panel. I glued the fussy cut roses to the front. Since I was aiming for CAS, I added only a few Aquamarine Swarovski crystals for sparkle.

List of all stamps/dies/stencils used on this card:

• Fanciful Roses Background stamp (My Favorite Things)
  
• Flowers in Bloom stamp set (My Favorite Things)
  

Other supplies:

• Black, white and blue cardstock
  
• Copic markers (various)
  
• Double-sided tape (Scor-tape)
• Memento Tuxedo Black Ink
• Clear Versamark Ink
• Super Fine White Embossing Powder (Ranger)
• Heat gun
  
• Copic XPress-It Blending Card 
• Aquamarine Swarovski crystals
• Cutter Bees scissors
  

Have a lovely day!