My Favorite Things Sketch Challenge #526

 Decided to enter the MFT Sketch Challenge #528. A very simple sketch that has so many possibilities I also printed it out and put it in my binder for future reference.

I am starting of with an Oval die from my random bin.
I amusing my stamp set as a guide to find the oval that will fit nicely in it.
This set is called Complimentary Greetings and its from MFT.

I am using Bazzill Basics Paper in Coconut Swirl, Kraft, and Milkshake for my neutrals.
Simon Says Stamp Rose Gold Embossing Powder and my Hampton Art Stamp Platform.

Some fun foam behind my oval to create dimension and help with the little warping from heat embossing.
I am using some flower dies with stitching from MFT - it came in a kit last year I think.

I am dry embossing the envelope flap and then adding some ink.
This sentiment if from MFT Greetings and Salutations stamp set.

I am using Hello Honey and Old Olive ink and card stock from Stampin Up for the flower petals and leaves. 

Splatter box and some sprays to add interest, shine, and texture.

Dimension on the back, I ended up using one flower and leaf on the inside so I carefully removed the foam and glued inside.

Kraft Envelope came from Hobby Lobby.

Close up

Inside

Back

Finished card - I did feel the circle needed something so I added a light amount of Soft Suede ink around the edge.

Here is the Sketch

My Favorite Things Color Challenge #158

 I am entering the MFT (My Favorite Things) Color Challenge again this week #158.

I really like how this card turned out and will be mailing it to a friend back home!

I am looking in my binder to find a die cut sentiment for my card.
This is my page that has Simon Says Stamp and CZ Designs.
The die cut pieced together is in the front and the dies is behind it - if a sentiment does not have a shadow or is not connected like the hugs I put the die in the front.
Having these out in the open and being able to look threw and see how they are cut is making a huge difference in my card making mojo.

This is the bird houses die from MFT - I am a sucker for bird's.

I will be using a Bazzill Paper Basics card base in Licorice and for my mat I am using Coconut Swirl.
I am using my grid mat to map out my card design.

Stampin UP card stock in the color Regal Rose, Rose Red, and Grey Granite.
Scraps are perfect for projects like this.

I recently purchased this magazine holder that is card board from the Target $1 Spot - I lay on its side and cut open the top a little and now it hold my card stock pockets up right while I work and is working well for me, they were just $1 so I purchased 6 so that when one breaks or wears down I have an extra.

Some washi and foam on the back.

Close up of the detail.

The inside of the card.
I used MFT Greetings and Salutations stamp set for my sentiments.

Finished Card!

Sunflower Fold it

 I have been wanting to use products that I have not used yet or not much at all and this time I used a fold it card from the Stamps of Life.

I started with my base, I folded my paper in half and put the die over the edge which will create the fold.

I am using a combination of Stampin Up card stock and ink.
Hello Honey card stock and ink, Lucky Limeade card stock and ink, Early Espresso card stock and ink,
and Baked Brown Sugar card stock and ink.

I inked the edges with my Taylored Expressions blending tools.
I kept this photo in because I decided to take off the foam and adhere the circle flat with Tombow Mono Liquid Glue but I did adhere the flower with foam dimensionals.

For the leaves I used a combination of foam and liquid adhesive.

I will tuck the flat part of the leaves behind the flower.

I am using my grid mat to make sure I am keeping everything in line so that my card will fit into a traditional A2 sized envelope.

Tombow Mono Liquid Glue to adhere the flower to the base of the card.

Finished card and to show that it does fit into a traditional sized A2 envelope.

Finished card

Side view of the finished card to show the dimension.
I also used a word die from the Stamps of Life.

Cricut Expression Card #2

 I busted out my Cricut Expression again last night and began anouther card, this time a Bee from page 68 or Create a Critter cartridge.

I did my test cuts first and found out 3.5 inches was a perfect size for this bee on a traditional A2 card base.

I use Hobby Lobby Heavy Weight Cream card stock for my test cuts and then put them in a binder with the size and page number for referance in hopes to not have to test cut again.

I am using -

 

Bazzill Paper Basics in Licorice - bee & card base

Stampin Up - So Saffron & Regal rose - bee & hearts

Hobby Lobby Heavy Weight cream - bee & honeycomb

Pieces cut out and ready to be assembled.

I added some So Saffron ink to the bee head and stripe.

First time opening and using these.

Cute little cheeks.

Wink of Stella in clear for the wings.

Waffle Flower A2 layer dies and a Honey Bee stamps Hexagon cover plate.

I added some tiny Stampin Up foam dimensionals and used my score board to line up the two panels.

Stampin Up heart die and a Martha Stewart punch for some hearts.

Back of the card.

Since its a black card base and I had extra hearts I used them.

Again extra hearts on the inside.

For my sentiments I used some retired My Pink Stamper Stamp Sets - she used to make them to go with the Cricut images and I have a few with sentiments for animals.

Finished Card Front

Side View 

Lots of dimension but it will still mail just fine.

Calendar Add On Blocks and Big Days Extra Tiles Pack

 I am going to update this as I work on the Add On Blocks for my Stamps of Life Home Decor.

I have purchased the White Calendar and it does dome with these Add On Blocks and recently have purchased the Exclusive Stamps of Life Big Days Extra Tiles pack. 

Eventually you will see both.

Here are the tiles that come with the White or Black Calendar that you purchase.

I wanted a snowflake for January so I improvised and used a wood veneer that has some silver on top.

I also did the tiles for February while I was at it

We have two birthday in February so when the Exclusive pack comes I can make anouther birthday tile.

January Home Decor Calendar Spread

 Here is my Finished January Home Decor Calendar spread.

I purchased the White calendar and the Exclusive January Pack from The Stamps of Life.

I started off with a simple coat of white gesso - from Micheal's - their brand.

I am using my Tim Hiltz mat - easy to clean and a slick surface.

You get all these pieces in the January Exclusive Pack from the Stamps of Life + magnets for the back of the square/rectangles.

Craft Smart Paint - purchased from Micheal's as well.

Most only took two coats after the gesso had dried.

A close up - I used Aleene's tacky glue to adhere my pieces.

I used a stencil and some Wendy Vechi embossing paste to add texture and interest.

I covered in white flocking - Micheal's brand as well.

This did not take long to dry.

Again a stencil and the same paste, this time I added some silver glitter embossing powder on top - I did not heat set this, just let air dry.

No need to worry about the excess, the snow globe will cover most of the boo boo and once dried I was able to brush most off with a thin paint brush.

I wanted to do something with the inside of the snow globe but just did not know what.

I searched around my Craft Room and found some Stickles in the silver/gray color theme that I am going with and painted them on.

The pieces for the eye and mouth were so super tiny that I trashed them right away.

Enamel dots from my stash for the win - Stampin Up and Dollar tree.

I found the wood is easily cut using the same tool that I use to snip the wires apart for my card dies.

Finished Snowman - I love him

Close up side view of the dimension and texture.

Finished Snow globe - not my favorite but I still love it

Side view of the texture and dimension.

Very simple for the January title

Side view

I was trying to figure out what to do with this third square - you get a second snowman but I felt it was too much.

I used a stencil from Taylored Expressions and some versa mark along with a light blue embossing powder that matched my color theme.

This is my first heat up to melt the powder.

When it cooled I added the stencil right over like a puzzle piece and applied more Versa Mark and embossing powder and reheated.

I believe I did this 3 or 4 times until I like it.

Side View

All together - Yep I realized later the numbers were not correct and fixed it when I added a square piece with snowflake on it.

The three tiles next to each other on the bottom