MFT Happy Hedgehogs and a Sketch Challenge

Hi everyone!! I hope you all had a FABULOUS week. Mine went by fast. Having a day off and then mid term exams will do that to time.

I had a bit of time in my craft room, something that I am "scheduling" into my days so that I MAKE time to do what I love. I have to do this with working out, reading and crafting these days or I won't do it. I have the working out routine down pat and the reading before I go to bed BUT my crafting is always set aside for other things. Making cards and scrapbooking is what makes me happy so if I don't have time, I get cranky!! If I am not crafting, I am coloring in stamped images in when I watch television with my family.

It is so hard to fit in everything you want, isn't it? I plan to add a refresher class in Illustrator soon too. There needs to be more hours in the day or I need to learn to live with limited sleep!

Today I am posting a card I created using My Favorite Things "Happy Hedgehog" stamps/dies. They have been sitting in my box of my stuff to use so I decided to play. Who wouldn't want a cute hedgehog card?

My inspiration for this card is sketch #316 from the MFT Card Challenge Blog. It came together so easily too, which almost never happens!!

I started off by stamping and die cutting the hedgehog, stump and mushroom from the MFT "Happy Hedgehog" set. I then colored the images in with Copic markers.

I attempted to do lines in different colors for a fur effect, as well as make bark on the tree. I think it looks kind of neat. I used a colorless blender for the the effect on top of the acorn. I added some Glossy Accents over certain areas and then set the critter aside to dry.

In the meantime, I covered a white, A2 top folding card with patterned paper from the MFT "Painted Prints Citrus" pad that I had die cut using the "Blueprints # 25" die. I added a white, stitched circle in between the two pattern papers that I had die cut using the MFT "Stitched Circle Frame."

The images were dry by then and I layered the them over my circle, along with the sentiment banner. I then made a HUGE mistake, which just kills me. I should have known better!! I went to darken up the eyes and nose on the hedgehog with a black gel pen and made a large smudge. I didn't want to throw the image away as I had spent a lot of time coloring it in. I added some google eyes to cover it up. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do, right?

My last step was to add a few Pretty Pink Posh sequins around the stamped images.

I am also entering this into Darnell's NBUS Challenge #8. The "Happy Hedgehogs" were new to me AND I used the new technique of doing the bark and the fur.

I thank you for taking the time to stop by today. I hope you have a great day!!

Supplies:

Stamps-MFT "Happy Hedgehogs"

Dies-MFT "Blueprints #25," "Happy Hedgehogs," and "Stitched Circle Frames"

Paper-Neenah Solar White, MFT "Painted Prints Citrus," and Bazzill "Daisy"

Ink-Memento "Tuxedo Black" and PaperTrey Ink "Smokey Shadow"

Other-Copic Markers, Glossy Accents, Pretty Pink Posh Sequins, Foam Adhesive, Ranger Multi-Matte

Calling All Sistahs!!!

It is January 17th and it is time for the Calling All Sistahs Blog Hop!!! You should have hopped here from Lori's blog.

Do not forget to comment along the way. Two random commenters will win gift certificates to the CAS-ual Fridays Stamp Store! Comments must be made by January 19, 2017, 12 a.m. EST to be eligible.

Okay, onto the card part. I made a simple card today. I used the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps "Hope Ribbon" and "Hope Fri-die" to create my card. There is a FABULOUS new sequin mix in the CAS-ual Fridays Stamp Store that goes with the "Calling All Sistahs" Collection that I was supposed to use but alas, the post office did not cooperate in getting the sequins to me on time. So I just used the fabulous stamps and dies in the collection instead.

I started off my card by embossing a pink piece of card stock and adhering it to a natural color, A2, top folding card base.  I added a pink scallop scrap onto the right side of the card front.

I then stamped the flower ribbon from the "Hope Ribbon" stamp set and heat embossed it using pink embossing powder. I used a pink Zig Clean Color brush marker to color in the hearts and then went over the colored hearts with a Spectrum Noir Clear Sparkler marker.

After, I mounted the white panel over a piece of pink patterned paper and adhered it over the scalloped strip using foam adhesive to give it some pop.

I die cut the "hope" sentiment out of charcoal gray card stock using the "Hope Fri-die." I adhered it to the front of the card and gave it a coat of sparkle from the Spectrum Noir marker. My last step was to use glossy accents over the heart and the sentiment. Like I said, I created a simple card but I like how it came out.

The stamps I used are available at CAS-ual Fridays Stamps. Michele designed these stamps to promote breast cancer awareness and donates 50% of the proceeds from the "Calling All Sistahs" Collection to programs that promote breast cancer research and awareness. The new sequin mix by Pretty Pink Posh is available today. As with all the other products in the Sistahs Collection, 50% of the profits will go to ncbh.org as well. However, unlike the stamps and dies, when the sequins are sold out, they will no longer be available.

For a discount on the stamps, use my code nora2017 to get 15% off your total order at CAS-ual Fridays Stamps.

Next up is Melissa Miller.

Do not forget to comment to get a chance to be in the running for the gift certificates!! The full blog list that is included in the hop is below.

Cas-ual Fridays Stamps

Rahmat Gouse

Penny Ward

Gwendolyn Estrada

Vicki Dutcher

Ceal Pritchett

Kara Stainbrook

Sue Nagata

Kimberly Rendino

Susan White

Shona Chambers

Lori McAree

Nora Noll <<<You are Here

Melissa Miller

Lori Kobular

Lydia Evans

Sandi Pressley

Lisa Lahiff

Mary Moisan

Claire Apostoloff

Kelly Griglione

Theresa Knopf

Jeanne Jachna

Heather North

Thank you for stopping by today. Have a FABULOUS day!!

SaveSave

Happy Monday and a card for the Fusion Card Challenge

Hi everyone!! I hope you all had a fabulous weekend. Ours was filled with company and we had so much fun!! Antiquing, going out to dinner, watching a movie, going to Ikea-just so busy and a lot of laughs. I don't have enough weekends like that.

Today I had the day off and was FINALLY able to create something for the Fusion Card Challenge. I had stamped my elements last weekend but never had the time to put together anything last week. I used PaperTrey Ink's "Cup of Cheer" set for all my stamped elements.

I actually created two cards for the challenge. I chose to use both the sketch and the photo as my inspiration. I really wanted the coffee pot and cups to be more of a red but the color is really more of a pink. I don't like to waste things so I chose to use them anyway.

For the first card, I used a piece of wood patterned paper scrap and a circle behind my tableau. The wood bench in the photo was my inspiration for the use of this paper.

I stacked the coffee pot and cups together over a Kraft card stock circle to ground them.

I did not use any sequins on this, which was a first for me!! I really wanted it to be a more simple card.

For my second card, I still used the sketch but eliminated the circle behind the elements.

I probably should have flipped the sketch and put all the elements on the right side but I was taking a bit of a leap!!

I grounded the cups and coffee pot by stamping the sentiment on a banner rather then right on the patterned paper this time to mix it up a bit.

So happy that I finished these in time and was able to blog about it. I am trying to be better at blogging this year.

I thank you for taking the time to stop by. Have a fabulous night!!

Supplies:

Stamps and Dies-"Cup of Cheer" by PaperTrey Ink

Paper-Bazzill (Beige card stock), Basic Grey, Neenah Solar White, PaperTrey Ink (Rustic White), Kraft card stock, Wood (unknown)

Ink-WPlus9 "Flamingo Pink," Hero Arts "Butter Bar," Hero Arts "Green Hills," PaperTrey Ink "Smokey Shadow," and Memento "Rich Cocoa"

Other-Big Shot, Foam Adhesive Nuvo Crystal Drops, MISTI

SaveSaveSaveSave

Party Tuesday!!

Okay, there is not really a party today BUT I do get some alone time tonight and that is always a reason for me to be happy!!

Today I am showcasing a card I created for my brother's birthday on Thursday. I have to admit that I almost forgot to make one but I am trying so hard not to forget my IMMEDIATE family's birthdays this year. (Forget anyone else. I am HORRIBLE at sending out cards!!)

I apologize for the bad editing of this photo but I had a hard time getting the "true" color of this card.

Two challenges were my inspiration for this card. First was Reverse Confetti's Sketch #44. I cannot enter the challenge, though as I do not have any of their products on this. However, I loved the sketch so I went with it anyway!!

 I also am playing along with "Less Is More" for their "Ombre" Challenge.

Anyway, I started my card off by stamping the balloon from my NEW PaperTrey Ink "Scene It: Celebration" stamp set with My Favorite Things "Blue Raspberry" ink on a white panel that was a scrap on my desk. I then stamped it again with Hero Arts "Soft Pool," which I thought was the next lightest color BUT was really not! The last color I stamped the balloon with is My Favorite Things "Sno Cone" ink. 

Frankly I like the way the colors came out so I did not re-stamp any of it but will know for next time.
I then drew pencil lines for the strings and then went over them with a black Pigma pen. I mounted the panel on a piece of black card stock to make the images POP a bit.

I set this aside while I adhered a patterned paper strip and a thin piece of glitter paper to the front of an  A2 sized, turquoise card. Next I adhered the stamped panel over the card front. I angled the PaperTrey Ink "party" die cut over the right bottom edge and adhered it down using Ranger Multi-Matte adhesive.

The last step was to adhere sequins randomly over the front.

Not sure that turquoise is a boy color but it definitely is less girly then many of the cards I make. I am just happy that I am remembering to send a card out!!

I thank you for stopping by today. I hope you have a great day!1

Supplies:
Stamps-PaperTrey Ink "Scene It: Celebration"
Dies-PaperTrey Ink "Party" dies
Ink-My Favorite Things "Blue Raspberry," Hero Arts "Soft Pool" and My Favorite Things "Sno Cone"
Paper-Turquoise A2 Card, Imaginisce Paper, Stampin Up! "Whisper White" Card stock, Bazzill Black, Die Cuts With a View "Glitter" pad
Other-Big Shot, Sequins, Ranger Multi-Matte, Pigma Pen

Monday and a card for some Challenges

Hello everyone!! I hope your Monday is going well. I wanted it to snow some more so we could have a three day weekend but the snow gods did not cooperate!! No, I am fine with it. Just have a lot to do. Would like a snow day more at the end of the week but it is supposed to get into the 40's!

Today I am showcasing a card that I created using Sunny Studio "Mug Hugs" stamp and die set. I bought this BEFORE Christmas hoping to use it but never did. This is not a Christmas card but more of a "friend" card.

I used the Fab Friday #103 Sketch as my inspiration, though I did place the sentiment banner at the top right of the image rather then the bottom left.

I started by stamping the to go cup and one of the hot chocolate cups from "Mug Hugs" onto a white panel that I had die cut with a Mama Elephant die from "Peek a Frame."

I layered the frame over three pieces of patterned paper from my stash that had pink, green and black in them so I could play with this week's "Color Throwdown" Challenge #424.

I then layered a die cut cup of cocoa that I had stamped onto patterned paper and cut out. I adhered a pink candy cane, some marshmallows and at heart over the cup.

My last step was to stamp the sentiment onto a green banner and adhere it to the card using foam adhesive.

This card was so fun to make and will be using this set again in the near future as I stamped and colored a TON of cute images so they would be ready to make into a card.

I am also entering this card into the Simon Says Stamps "Wednesday Challenge" Blog for "New Something." My stamp set was brand new, never been used before!!

I thank you for taking the time to stop by today!! Have a fabulous Monday!!

Supplies:

Stamps-Sunny Studio "Mug Hugs"

Dies-Sunny Studio "Mug Hugs," and Mama Elephant "Peek a Frame"

Paper-My Minds Eye "Happy Haunting-Circles," Ki Memories (pink stripe), American Crafts (flowers), Neenah Solar White card stock and PaperTrey Ink "Black," Bazzill Pink

Ink-Memento "Tuxedo Black" dye ink

Other-Glossy Accents, Spectrum Clear Sparkle Marker, Copics, Foam Adhesive

Sunday, Sunday and ANOTHER card using Simon Says Stamp "Time for Wine"

Happy Sunday!!

We finally had some snow that stuck yesterday. I stayed in my pajamas and did a bit of crafting, though I was supposed to go to the gym but I put it off. My daughter and my husband were at robotics and I decided that I would enjoy my time alone-something I rarely get these days!!

My method of stamping is different these days. I take a LONG time making cards so often I stamp a TON of images on a piece of paper and then color them in while I am watching television with the family. This way, I still spend time with them but then I also can do what I like to do. It is a win/win situation!! That being said, I often color more pieces then I use and then they just sit. I decided that 2017 is the year I will be using what I spent all the time on coloring!!

Today I am showcasing a card where I used Simon Says Stamps "Time for Wine"stamps and dies. I still have some pieces left over for one more card after this with purple and then I colored in a bunch more using my Copic's last night in a different color scheme. I cannot tell you how I ADORE this set of stamps. All my friends LOVE wine and I am trying to make more "adult" cards rather then cutesy. (Thought I love all my cutesy stamps too!!!)

I used the Global Design Challenge #068 as my inspiration for this card.

You are probably thinking where, right? Well, I used the same basic layout as the inspiration card, as well as polka dot paper and instead of ribbon, I used wrapped twine in the place where the ribbon would go as it matched the images better then ribbon would.

The images were colored in with Zig Clean Color Brush Markers. I added some Spectrum Clear Sparkle over the top and also coated some of the images with Glossy Accents too.

The polka dot paper is Reminisce "Basic Dot" and has been in my stash for YEARS. I told you I was a hoarder!!! No what I didn't add this time? Sequins!! I decided to leave them off this card for a change.

That is all from me today!! Have a fabulous day!!

Supplies:
Stamps and Dies-Simon Says Stamps "Time for Wine," My Favorite Things 
Paper-Recollections "White" card stock, Reminisce "Basic Dot," Heidi Swapp "Favorite Things"
Ink-Ranger "Archival Black," PaperTrey Ink "Simply Chartreuse" 
Other-Big Shots Zig Clean Color Brush Markers, Adhesive Foam, Glossy Accents, Spectrum Clear Sparkle pen, May Arts Jute
SaveSave

CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Inspiration

Hello everyone!! It is Saturday here and I am so happy that the weekend is here. Even though I had a week off last week, it seems like I never had a vacation.

Today it is my turn on the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Blog for some inspiration. I created a gate fold card-the first one I have ever made!

I started off by taking an 8 1/2" by 4 1/4" sheet of yellow card stock and scoring it on each end at 2 1/8." I then stamped the border from CAS-ual Fridays Stamps "Starlequin" in red dye ink.

Next I adhered two pre-made Kraft colored doilies on each side. I folded them directly down the middle and adhere them inside and outside the card.

I had watercolored two flowers in red from the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps "Mon Ami" set and used the matching dies to cut them out. I then adhered them to the front using foam adhesive. The large tulip tucks underneath the smaller tulip to keep the card closed. I adhered the sentiment banner, again stamped with a sentiment from "Mon Ami," onto the left side of the card. Since sequins are bit of an obsession with me these days, I had to adhere a few of those on the front too!!

Inside the card, I adhered a third Kraft doily that I had stamped a sentiment and butterfly from the CAS-ual Fridays "Be" stamp set.

This was so much to make that I think I will be experimenting with using some more of my CAS-ual Fridays Stamp sets to make some more gate fold cards.

Want to treat yourself to a New Year's shopping spree? Use my special code nora2017 to get 15% off at the CAS-ual Fridays Stamp Store.

I thank you for taking the time to stop by today. Have a fabulous day!!

Supplies:
Stamps-CAS-ual Fridays Stamps "Mon Ami," "Starlequin" and "Be"
Dies-CAS-ual Fridays Stamps "Mon Ami Fleur Fri-dies"
Paper-Bazzill (yellow and green), Canson Watercolor Paper, Recollections Kraft Doilies
Ink-Versamark, Ranger Archival Black, WPlus9 "Gala Red"
Other-sequins, Ranger Multi Matte Glue, Foam Adhesive, Gansai Tambi watercolor, MISTI Stamp Tool

Happy Friday, A Sympathy Card and Major Shopping

Hi everyone!! It is finally Friday and I am SO HAPPY for the weekend!! My daughter and my husband are at robotics for the whole day tomorrow and I am so HAPPY for some time to myself!!

Last month was a very dry month for me card wise. However, it did not stop me from buying stuff, much to my husband's chagrin. Every time I bought a Christmas present for someone it seems like I bought one for me!

I also got a full set of Tombow Dual Brush Markers from my husband for Christmas. My list wasn't that long (as you can see I bought stuff for myself!) and the markers were expensive so I would never have bought them for myself. Now to figure out how I will use them to their best potential!

I am waiting for two more orders this week and am OFFICIALLY on a buying freeze. I am going to aim for June but not sure if I can wait that long. 

My goal is to use all the products I have never used before, as well as purge a ton of stuff before I start buying again. The purging part is hard for me as I do not like to get rid of my craft stuff. I do eventually come around to using it and when I have given stuff away, I usually regret it. Am I the only one like this?

And now a card!! I created this for my friend who lost her mother last week. I used two Hero Arts stamp sets on this card. For the flowers I used "Color Layering for You Flower's Bundle" and for the sentiment I used "Prayers Stamp and Cut" set.

I have decided that since I have gotten the MISTI stamp tool, I love multi-step stamped images. I could go in and color the flowers to give them more depth but you don't need to.

I used two different Heidi Swapp Colorshine Mists on this-"Tinsel" and "Amethyst," as well as Tim Holtz Distress Stain in "Shaded Lilac" to get a kind of messy look. Death is messy so I think it was a perfect addition to this card.

I am entering this into the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge "Start Afresh" and A Blog Named Hero's "New to Me" challenge as the prayers stamp set was a set that I had never inked up before.

That is all for me today. Tune in tomorrow for some inspiration for CAS-ual Fridays Stamps.

Thanks for stopping by. Your taking the time to read my blog means so much to me!!