Angelic Peace Card for MFT's Ready, Set, Christmas! Challenge

Today, I'm sharing design team inspiration for the My Favorite Things Ready, Set, Christmas Challenge (#676). I've already mailed all of my Christmas cards for this year, so I'm getting a head start on next year's cards!

I wanted to do something a little different for this challenge. I rarely make cards with a religious theme, and I wanted to do something with an angel. Currently, there aren't any angels in MFT stamps or dies, so I took the little girl from the YUZU In My Prayers stamp set, masked off part of her nightgown, and then drew a dress and angelic wings. Here's the finished card:

I started by stamping the little girl with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink, although I took some Post-It Tape and placed it over her nightgown before inking, then removed it for stamping. As a result, I was able to turn the nightgown into a dress. I then drew some wings for her. Once I was happy with the image, I colored it with Copic markers and fussy cut her.

Next, I cut the Peace Die-Namics five times out of Smooth White cardstock. I glued the stack of each letter together, until each letter was thick (like chipboard). I used Jacquard Alcohol Ink (Silver) and a piece of felt to cover each letter, so they appear metallic. I also cut the "clouds" out of the JB Treetop Die-Namics set (white cardstock) and set them aside for later.

I cut two panels of Berrylicious cardstock (4.25" x 5.5" and 4" x 5.25"), then one panel of Black Licorice cardstock (4" x 5.25"), and one panel of Smooth White cardstock (5.25" x 3"). I attached the largest blue panel to the card base. For the smaller blue panel, I used Brutus Monroe Glitter Gel (White) and the Heavenly Glow Stencil to stencil the top half of the panel. While that dried, I used the Cloud Stencil as a guide to fussy cut the top row of clouds on the white panel (since I didn't have that die set). I then used the Cloud Stencil with Distress Oxide Ink (Spun Sugar) to add fluffy, pink clouds. I also added the pink ink around the edges of the clouds I cut earlier.

I used the largest die from the Fanciful Frame STAX Die-Namics on the Black Licorice panel, so create a window. I layered the cloud panel on the blue glazed panel, then the black panel on top, then finally mounted that on the card base (blue panel I attached earlier).

All that was left was assembly. I glued the "Peace" letters across the upper half of the window panel, which created nice dimension (since each letter was 5 cardstock layers thick). I used foam dots to pop up the angel and clouds. I felt like it needed a little glitter, so I used a Zig Glue Pen and Ranger Rock Candy Glitter to add sparkle to her dress and the top of the clouds.

List of all stamps/dies/paper/etc. used on this card:

• My Favorite Things YUZU In My Prayers Stamp Set
• My Favorite Thing Peace Die-Namics
• My Favorite Things JB Treetop Die-Namics
• My Favorite Things Heavenly Glow Stencil
• My Favorite Things Cloud Stencil
• My Favorite Things Fanciful Frame STAX Die-Namics
• MFT cardstock: Smooth White, Berrylicious, Black Licorice

Other products used:

• Jacquard Alcohol Ink - Silver
• Memento Tuxedo Black ink
• Copic markers (various)
• Distress Oxide Ink - Spun Sugar
• Brutus Monroe Glitter Glaze - White
• Ranger Rock Candy Glitter
• Zig Glue Pen
• Glue (Art Glitter glue)
• Double-sided tape (to adhere the panels to the card base)
• Foam blending tool (Ranger)
• Foam dots

Happy holidays!

Gingerbread Cookie Wishes with MFT's Weekly Sketch Challenge 676

Today, I'm sharing design team inspiration for the My Favorite Things Sketch Weekly Sketch Challenge (#676). I've already mailed all of my Christmas cards for this year, so I'm getting a head start on next year's cards!

Today's card might put me on the naughty list, though! Poor little gingerbread darlings...

I started by cutting out the gingerbread men from the Gingerbread House Die-Namics out of MFT's Kraft cardstock. (This has become one of my favorite die sets, as there are so many possibilities with all of the included dies!) I used Gathered Twig Distressed Ink and a blending tool around the gingerbread men, leaving the center lighter. I used a Uni-Ball Gel Impact Pen (white) to draw on the details, including different expressions.

Next, I cut one of the hands out of the Crafty Hands Die-Namics on Smooth White cardstock. I used Copic markers (E00, E11, and E13) to color it.

I used the largest die from the Wonky Stitched Circle STAX Die-Namics with Smooth White cardstock, then cut the second largest shape on beige-colored paper from the Colorful Canvas Paper Pad. I stamped a sentiment from the Gingerbread Greetings stamp set, then used the smaller die from the Essential Stitched Sentiment Strips Die-Namics to cut it out.

My card (folded) measures 5" x 6.25". I cut a red page from the Tiny Check Brights Paper Pad to 4.75" x 6", then layered it on a Smooth White panel (5" x 6.25"). I glued the two circles together, then glued them to the red-checked panel. I added foam dots to the back of the gingerbread men, hand, and sentiment, then arranged them to reference the Weekly Sketch design. The final design is simple but fun, and I can't wait to sent it to someone next year.

List of all stamps/dies/paper/etc. used on this card:

• My Favorite Things "Gingerbread House" Die-Namics
• My Favorite Things "Crafty Hands" Die-Namics
• My Favorite Things "Wonky Stitched Circle STAX" Die-Namics
• My Favorite Things "Gingerbread Greetings" Stamp Set
• My Favorite Things "Essential Stitched Sentiment Strips" Die-Namics
• My Favorite Things Colorful Canvas Paper Pad
• My Favorite Things Tiny Check Brights Paper Pad
• MFT cardstock: Smooth White and Kraft

Other products used:

• Distress Ink: Gathered Twig
• Memento Tuxedo Black ink
• Uni-Ball Gel Impact Pen (white)
• Copic markers: E00, E11, and E13
• Glue (Art Glitter glue)
• Double-sided tape (to adhere the panels to the card base)
• Foam blending tool (Ranger)
• Foam dots

Happy holidays!

Bah Humbug! Grinch Card

Still in a die-cutting mood, so here's another card featuring die cuts and ink - no fancy coloring!

I'm also playing along with MFT's Christmas card challenge. Here's today's card:

This fun card uses the Kat Scrappiness "Grinch Hand" die set and Kat Scrappiness "Bah Humbug" shadow sentiment dies. I cut all of the grinch hand pieces out of white cardstock, then cut the sleeve and ornament again out of Lawn Fawn Holiday Sparkle Glitter Cardstock and gold mirror cardstock. I cut a second layer of the ruffle on his sleeve and used a Zig Glue Pen and white flocking powder to make it soft and fluffy.

For his hand, I blended ink from Distress Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, and Rustic Wilderness inks. I used black ink for the string holding the ornament. I cut the shadow sentiment dies out of white (for the shadow) and the Lawn Fawn paper for the red sentiment, then used the same green inks around the edges of the shadow layer.

I ink blended the edges of a 4" x 5.25" piece of white cardstock, using the same inks as the grinch. I matted the ink-blended layer on a 4.25" x 5.5" piece of red cardstock and popped the grinch and sentiment up with foam dots. Voila! A simple, yet fun, card to send out for Christmas.

List of all stamps/dies/paper/etc. used on this card:

• Kat Scrappiness "Grinch Hand" die set
• Kat Scrappiness "Bah Humbug" shadow sentiment dies

Other products used:

• White and red cardstock
• Gold mirror cardstock
• Lawn Fawn Holiday Sparkle Glittered Cardstock
• White Flocking Powder
• Zig Glue Pen
• Art Glitter Glue
• Black ink
• Distress Ink: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, and Rustic Wilderness

Bah humbug... I mean, happy holidays!

Peppermint Merry Christmas Card

My favorite hobby is coloring, but I've felt like playing with dies lately. I have so many dies I've never used, which are collecting dust in a box, so it's time to start using them. Today, I've made a merry, monochromatic peppermint Christmas card.

I'm also playing along with MFT's Christmas card challenge. Here's today's card:

I'd never used the My Favorite Things "Snowflake Fusion Cover-Up" die, and it's from 2014 (!!!), so I felt like it was time to try it out. I used it with Quotidian Metallic Silver Vellum, and it came out shimmery and delicate-looking. (Tip: I used a thin cardstock shim above and below the die/cardstock while cutting, and the die cuts came out perfect and crisp.) I used Art Glitter glue to glue the vellum layer to a 4.25" x 5.5" piece of MFT Smooth White cardstock, gluing along the edges (since they would be hidden by the frame layer). 

I cut a 4.25" x 5.5" panel of MFT Wild Cherry cardstock, then used the second-largest frame layer from the Elizabeth Craft "Frame It - Stitched Rectangles" die set to cut a thin, stitched frame for my card front. I carefully glued it onto the white/vellum panel and added a few dots of glue to any area where the vellum stuck up enough to get bent or caught on something. Since the vellum is silver and the cardstock is white, the glue isn't visible at all.

I used MFT Smooth White and Wild Cherry cardstock to cut out peppermints from MFT's Gingerbread House Die-Namics and both layers of MFT's Merry Christmas Die-Namics. I wanted more sparkle, so I used a Zig Glue Pen and Ranger Rock Candy Glitter to cover the peppermints and the white "Merry Christmas" letters. I glued them onto the front panel, and everything looks so shimmery and sparkly.

List of all stamps/dies/paper/etc. used on this card:

• My Favorite Things "Snowflakes Fusion Cover Up" Die-Namics
• My Favorite Things "Gingerbread House" Die-Namics
• My Favorite Things "Merry Christmas" Die-Namics
• Elizabeth Craft Design "Frame It - Stitched Rectangles" die set

Other products used:

• White and wild cherry cardstock by My Favorite Things
• Memento Tuxedo Black ink
• Glue (Art Glitter Glue)
• Ranger Rock Candy Glitter
• Zig Glue Pen
• Quotidian Metallic Silver Vellum

Happy holidays!

Quick and Easy Santa Suit from Ordinary Shapes

I love getting more mileage out of my stamps and dies by using them for unrelated occasions. Today, I'm sharing a simple Santa Claus (suit) card that I made by using several non-holiday shape dies, and you may already have something similar in your stash.

I'm also playing along with MFT's Christmas card challenge. Here's today's card:

I cut a panel of red cardstock using the largest Kat Scrappiness "Distressed Edge Rectangles" die. Next, I cut a thin panel of white cardstock and used the My Favorite Things "Torn Paper Edges" Die-Namics to trim it to approx. 1.5" wide, creating the furry part of the suit. I wanted the white panel to fit perfectly with the red one, so I used the largest Distressed Edge Rectangle (again) to cut the top and bottom edges.

Next, I cut the "belt" with dies from Concord & 9th's "Weekender Handbag Dies" set. Yes, Santa's belt was once a strap for a purse! I cut the stitched leather piece out of black cardstock, then cut the buckle out of Kraft cardstock. I used gold metallic alcohol ink to paint the buckle.

The bottom (black) layer is 5.5" x 4.25", and I layered everything on top. I felt like Santa needed a little bling, so I added "buttons" out of some sparkly, black 3D gems from my stash (originally from Michael's).

List of all stamps/dies/paper/etc. used on this card:

• Kat Scrappiness "Distressed Edge Rectangles" die set
• My Favorite Things "Torn Paper Edges" Die-Namics
• Concord & 9th "Weekender Handbag" die set

Other products used:

• White, black, and wild cherry cardstock by My Favorite Things
• Glue (Art Glitter Glue)
• Ranger Metallic Mixatives Alcohol Ink - Gold
• Black, sparkly 3D gems (from Michael's)

Happy holidays!

Sweet Friends Building a Snowman

Today, I'm sharing a simple winter scene with two friends trying to save a melty snowman. Some days, I feel like the snowman, and other days, I'm building the snowman. Actually, let's be real... I usually feel like the melty snowman! Ha.

I'm also playing along with MFT's current color challenge. Here's the front and inside of the card:

I stamped two characters from the Neat & Tangled "Holiday Helpers Stamptember 2018" stamp set and two characters from MFT's "JB Snow Happy" stamp set with Memento black ink and colored them with Copics. I fussy cut all of the characters and then focused on the background.

I cut two 4" x 5.25" pieces of white cardstock, then used Distress Oxides (Tumbled Glass and Prize Ribbon) with MFT's "Cloud" stencil on one of them. I took the other blank cardstock piece and used the largest die from MFT's Stitched Rounded Arch STAX to cut out the center. I used foam dots to pop up the cut-out layer above the cloud layer.

I cut a small rectangle from white cardstock and used MFT's "Sand and Surf" die set to create the snow drift on the front (4" x 1"). I used glue and foam dots to adhere the snow drift, animals, and melty snowman to the front of the card, then used a Zig glue pen and Distress Rock Candy Glitter to cover the snowman and snow. I stamped a sentiment from the Snow Happy set, slightly curving the clear stamp so it would stamp in an arch. I used the banner die from MFT's "Tag Builder Blueprints 7" to cut out the sentiment and popped it up with foam dots on the front of the card.

Finally, I glued the second snowman inside the card and added a sentiment from the Holiday Helpers set. Now it's ready for mailing... once I figure out whom to send it to!

List of all stamps/dies/paper/etc. used on this card:

• Neat & Tangled/Simon Says Stamp "Holiday Helpers" (Stamptember 2018) stamp set
• My Favorite Things "JB Snow Happy" stamp set
• My Favorite Things "Cloud" stencil
• My Favorite Things "Stitched Rounded Arch STAX" die set
• My Favorite Things "Sand and Surf" die set
• My Favorite Things "Tag Builder Blueprints 7" die set

Other products used:

• Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad
• Copic XPress-It Blending Card
• Various cardstock by My Favorite Things
• Zig Glue Pen
• Glue (Art Glitter Glue)
• Ranger Rock Candy Glitter
• Distress Oxides: Tumbled Glass and Prize Ribbon
• Foam dots

Happy holidays!

Festive Hanukkah Ornament Card

Today, I'm sharing something a little different from my usual creations: a Hanukkah card for a colleague.

This is actually the first Hanukkah card I've ever made, so I hope she'll like it. It was a fairly simple card, as the ornament die on the front is called "Star Ornament Layer 1" by Paper Rose, with the plaid background "Layered Plaid Cover Die A" by Altenew. The sentiment inside is from the 2019 Stamptember set "Festive Flower" by Gina K/Simon Says Stamp. I also cut a 2.75" circle from white cardstock that I used behind the ornament die, as the open lines were confusing in front of the plaid.

I painted the star, ornament topper and chain with gold alcohol inks and covered the lines on the white part of the ornament with Ranger Rock Candy glitter. I'm not sure how well the sparkle shows up in the photo, so here's a quick video:

List of all stamps/dies/paper/etc. used on this card:

• Paper Rose "Star Ornament Layer 1" die set
• Altenew "Layered Plaid Cover Die A" die
• Gina K/Simon Says Stamp "Festive Flower" 2019 Stamptember stamp set
• 2.75" circle die (from a nesting die set)

Other products used:

• Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad
• Various cardstock by My Favorite Things
• Glue (Art Glitter Glue)
• Ranger Rock Candy Glitter
• Zig glue pen
• Gold Metallic Alcohol Ink (Ranger)

Happy Hanukkah!