Hexagon Shaped Card | Easy Watercoloring - DT project for The Hedgehog Hollow

Welcome back friends!  Today, I am sharing with you my first tutorial as a member of The Hedgehog Hollow Design Team!

You can check out the details and the video over at The Hedgehog Hollow Blog and over at my Youtube Channel

Lawn Fawnatics Challenge - Something See Through using Our Friendship Grows!

Hello friends!  Today I am sharing with you my entry for the current Lawn Fawnatics Challenge #59 Something See Through.  I have always enjoyed the look of see through cards whether it would be with the use of vellum, or acetate.  I think it gives a different look to an everyday card.  So, I thought about how I would create something for this challenge, and I immediately thought of my favorite Lawn Fawn set EVER, which is Our Friendship Grows.  I will be super sad if Lawn Fawn ever retired this set, and I would forgive them if they created a new version! HAHA  

I just love sunflowers, and the thought of my favorite stamp company no longer having a sunflower set, well, it would be a sad time in my craft room for sure!!  OK- back to the card, and how I created it.  I thought of these beautiful sunflowers and thinking how cool it would be to create for my see through element, a vellum vase or jar for my sunflowers.  So, I used the die for the vase from How You Bean and die cut a piece of vellum.  From there, I stamped out my flowers with some Copic friendly ink, and colored my sunflowers with my Copic Markers, and once I was complete, I used the matching dies to cut my flowers, and leaves.  For the stems, since they are so skinny, the easiest thing for me to do was use the lined image for the stem, stamp it down onto some light green card stock, and trim them out with my scissors.  It was actually pretty simple to do.

Next, I wanted to add the look of water to my vase/or jar, so I use two colors of blue Copic Markers and colored the back of my vellum and just moving my markers in a sweeping motion to add texture to the water.  I also added a bit of dimension around the edge of the vase/jar with a light gray Copic Marker, to add the glass look.  

To put my card together, I added a piece of Perfectly Plaid Rainbow patterned paper to the bottom of my white card base to create a ground for my arrangement of flowers, and then I added liquid adhesive to my stems after getting the placement down first of where I needed them to be.  Then, I added my vellum piece by adding a thin bead of liquid adhesive around the edges and smoothing it out with my finger, and you really can't even tell there was glue applied.  Adding that gray marker around the edges also helps to disguise the glue.  Then, I added some foam adhesive to my sunflowers to pop them off of the card and added my leaves where I thought they'd look nice.  

For some final details, I added some Wink of Stella clear glitter brush to the middle of my sunflowers, and added a hand drawn detail around the card for a frame.  I also stamped out my sentiment from the same Our Friendship Grows stamp set with Peacock Lawn Fawn ink.  

I really didn't take too long to put this card together, once I had a plan in my head.  Thanks for stopping by today!  Be sure to check out the latest challenge, and play along!

Kari

MFT Sketch Challenge #438 - Guest Designer

Hi Friends!  I am over the moon excited to be the Guest Designer for May 2019 for the Weekly Sketch Challenge for My Favorite Things! This is my last week to design for the sketch challenge and I have had so much fun and enjoyment designing for MFT! 

For this week's sketch #438 - I used the sketch as a starting point for my design, but used it in a bit of a different way.

I wanted to use the new Watermelon Slice Die-namics on my card as my focal point.  So - I started off my creating my own colored card stock for my watermelons by using white card stock blending on some Distress Oxide Ink colors in Festive Berries and Abandoned Coral for the main part of the watermelon and for the rine Mowed Lawn and Twisted Citron.  I love the various color that the ink gives.  

After I die cut my watermelon pieces out, I adhered them together with liquid glue and added a bit of shimmer to them but flicking the shimmer on with my brush shimmer pen instead of traditionally brushing it on.  I did fully go over the seeds however :)  

I set aside my watermelon pieces and worked on the rest of my panel by taking a piece of white card stock and one of the Stitched Scallop Basic Edges Die-namics and created a banner edge to my white card stock piece.  I wanted something to contrast my watermelon pieces and the white card stock piece, so I added a piece of the Black and White Stripes 6x6 paper to my card base and adhered my white card stock piece with foam adhesive to pop it up off the card.  

Before adding my watermelon pieces, I added a soft yellow background by blending on Mustard Seed Distress Oxide ink in a circular motion. I then added on my watermelon.  For the sentiment I stamped out one of the sentiments from the new Sweet Sentiments stamp set in black ink and die cut it out with one of the new Skinny Strips Die-namics and added it to my card and my card is complete!

I hope you are able to join in and create with the new sketch!!  Thank you once again to the MFT gang for inviting me to design this month!  I've thoroughly enjoyed it and it has been a highlight in my crafty journey to this point!! Have a great rest of the week!

Kari

MFT Sketch Challenge #437 | Guest Designer

Hi Friends!  I am over the moon excited to be the Guest Designer for May 2019 for the Weekly Sketch Challenge for My Favorite Things!  Every Wednesday during the month of May, I will be sharing with you my take of each sketch.

For this week's new sketch #437 - I went very colorful and thought having the different sized circle elements would be awesome in a rainbow theme!

I used the new Sweet Besties stamp set and matching Die-namics for my card.  I loved the whimsical look to these girls, and thought they would pair nicely with my rainbow circles in the background.  I colored my images with Copic markers.  For the circles, I took some of my favorite colors of distress inks to do my rainbow circles that I created using my own DIY stencil made from acetate.  I just simply die cut some circles using different sizes of circle dies, and added my colors in a rainbow pattern and overlapping my colors to get a good blend.  

Once I was happy with the inked panel, I die cut my main panel with my favorite Blueprints 27 scalloped frame.   I created my sentiment from the same Besties stamp set and used the new skinny strips die-namics to die cut my sentiment.  It creates a perfect sized sentiment and it doesn't take up too much space on your card design.  After adding my besties to my card by popping them up with foam adhesive onto my white A2 sized card base, my card is complete!!  Another fun sketch to stretch our creativity!!  Hope you are able to play along!!  Once again, thank you to the MFT team for having me guest design this month!!

Kari

MFT Guest Designer - Sketch Challenge #436

Hi Friends!  I am over the moon excited to be the Guest Designer for May 2019 for the Weekly Sketch Challenge for My Favorite Things!  Every Wednesday during the month of May, I will be sharing with you my take of each sketch.

For this week's new sketch #436, I wanted to keep it simple and also get to show off some new products for the new release!  The sketch design incorporates a banner design, and I wanted to work off of that, but also do something a bit different.  When looking at this new Pure Innocence stamp set called Sweet Summertime, I noticed the watermelon that she is holding was in a bit of a banner shape on the top edge, so I used that and my card design took off from there!

I started off my stamping the PI girl onto white card stock and coloring her in with Copic Markers.  Once I was happy with my coloring of her, I used the matching Sweet Summertime Die-namics to cut her out.  Next, I used one of the Fold Up Tags die-namics and some Cornflower Sparkle card stock to die cut another banner shape for the top portion of my card.  I also die cut the word Sweet from the new Sweet Die-namics from white ( the shadow ) and Sour Apple card stock.  I adhered it together with liquid adhesive, and added it to my Cornflower Sparkle banner.

Once I adhered all my elements to my white card base, I finished my card up, by adding some crystal clear sequins.  I love how this one came up and how it compares to the sketch!  I hope I have inspired you to play along!!  Thank you to the MFT team for this opportunity!  See you all next Wednesday for a new sketch!

Kari

MFT and Friends | May Release 2019!

Hi friends!!  Today's the day!  The new MFT release is LIVE and boy oh boy is it a good one!  Well, let's face it, they all are!  I am super excited to be joining MFT this month to help showcase their release for May 2019 as well as being their featured designer this month for the Wednesday Sketch Challenge!

For my card, it was a natural fit for me to use the new Purr-fect Stamp set and Die-namics.  And, of course I had to color this adorable kitty like my girl Gracie.  I created a simple scene with this cute kitty by creating a grassy hill with the Drifts and Hills stencil and some Distress Oxide ink in Mowed Lawn and a cloudy blue sky with the Clouds stencil and Tumbled Glass Distress Oxide ink.  I colored my kitty and the butterfly with my Copic markers and used the die-namics to die cut them out.

I thought the sentiment from the same Purr-fect stamp set would be fitting.  There so many great products for this release!  Be sure to check them out!  I will see you right back here and on the MFT blog Wednesday for a new sketch challenge!

Kari

MFT Guest Designer : Sketch Challenge #435

Hi Friends!  I am over the moon excited to be the Guest Designer for May 2019 for the Weekly Sketch Challenge for My Favorite Things!  Every Wednesday during the month of May, I will be sharing with you my take of each sketch.

For this week's new sketch #435, I really wanted to focus on the three circle element on the card.  That is where my eye drew me in!  So - I pulled out one of my favorite MFT sets Bitty Bears, and decided to create what could be a celebratory card of any kind!

I stamped out my images onto white card stock and colored them in with my Copic Markers.  Then, I used the Bitty Bears Die-Namics to cut them out.  For what I will call the "split layer" portion of the sketch, I used my favorite Blueprints 27 Die-namics and die cut a piece of Black Licorice card stock, and then I used the longest banner die for the blueprints die-namics set, and used it as a guide to die cut the upper center portion of my black layer.  It took the guesswork out of measuring, and created the perfect sized gap for this particular layer.  All I need to do was start adhering to my white card base. Before adhering though, I white heat embossed the "It's Time To Party" sentiment from the same Bitty Bears stamp set.  

I adhered my black layer, and then I added some foam tape to the back of my bears to give them some dimension, and help pop them up on the card.  For a final touch, I added a bit of white gel pen detail to the bears cheeks, the cupcake, balloon and present, followed by a bit of black glaze pen to darken up the bears eyes :)

Super simple design, but so so fun and happy!!  I look forward to bringing you a new post every Wednesday this month!  Thank you to the MFT team for inviting me to Guest Design!  

Kari

Lawn Fawnatics Challenge #45 Entry - Lots of Love

Hi friends - Today I am sharing with you my entry into the current Lawn Fawnatics Challenge. 
We all have Valentine's Day on the brain, and I enjoy creating cards with a Valentine theme. 

I will apologize now, because some of the products I used on my card are now retired from Lawn Fawn.  They are some of my favorite products though, and I wanted to use them in a creative way. 

I started my card by using some distress inks in Picked Raspberry, Cracked Pistachio, and Shaded Lilac and inked on the colors onto some white card stock.  Once I was happy with how the inking turned out, I die cut the panel using the Journaling Card die and the border heart die in the same set to create a window for a mini shaker.  You know I am keeping those little hearts that were left from die cutting for another project - they are too cute and very useful!  I also die cut another bigger heart a Lawn Fawn die set and inked it up with Picked Raspberry Distress ink.  For the shaker, I added some double sided adhesive around the area, and added some acetate, then added some foam adhesive.  For the shaker bits, I added some iridescent stars for some sparkle.  Once the shaker was completed, I stamped out my sentiment using the How You Bean? Conversation Hearts Add-on stamp set since it has a nice Happy Valentine's Day sentiment in it.  I also used the Happy Happy Happy Add-on set - and die cut the Happy sentiment after stamping it onto white card stock.  I mounted that to my Picked Raspberry heart with liquid adhesive. 

To finish the card, I used papers from Gotta Have Gingham and Really Rainbow, and used my Large and Small Stitched Rectangle dies to add that finished faux stitching.  Once I added my shaker to my card, I added some finally details with a white gel pen, and a bit of shimmer with my Wink of Stella.  

It was fun to come up with something for this challenge and use older products from Lawn Fawn.  Retired or not, I still love them!  

Kari

Last Minute Holiday Card Week 2018 Card #2 | No Mess Glitter

Hi friends!  Today I am sharing card #2 in my Holiday Card week for 2018 and this card comes together super quick with the help of Concord and 9th!!  And, this card is full of glitter sparkle and shine. Luckily - this is the best kind of glitter - no mess glitter!! 

If you love the look of glitter - then this card is for you!!  I used the Merry and Bright Die from Concord and 9th and I die cut it using silver card stock from Simon Says Stamp.  I also used the Crimson Red to for my background!  

The wonderful part of this card is that it took me less than 10 minutes to create!  

For the inside of the card, I used the Very Merry Sentiments set also from Concord and 9th.  To see how quickly my card came together, you can watch the video tutorial here.

Thank you all for stopping by!  I will be back tomorrow with Card #3!

Kari

Last Minute Holiday Card Week 2018 Card #1 featuring Newton's Nook

Hi friends!  Today I am kicking off my Holiday Card Week for 2018 - Usually I do a full series, but this year I have been limited on time to dedicate to a full series, so I thought instead, I would do a week full of holiday card inspiration. 

I am using the newest set from Newton's Nook called Winter Birds and I love it so so much!  That cardinal has my heart for sure!

This set was a must-have for me, and I couldn't wait to ink it up and get to coloring in that beautiful cardinal!!  

I started out by inking up a white die cut oval piece that I had laying on my craft desk from a previous project.  I used some tumbled glass distress oxide ink to add some color just around the edges.  Next, I took the branch from the set, and stamped that down directly onto my oval piece.  I colored it in with my Copic markers.  I also stamped the cardinal onto a piece of white scrap card stock and also colored it in with my Copic markers.  My favorite red combo is R29, R39 and R59.  And, I think it really brings that cardinal to life!! Once I finished coloring in the cardinal, I die cut it using the matching die.  I moved on to creating the rest of my card, by taking a piece of Sea Glass card stock from Simon Says Stamp, and die cutting it with the scallop frame from the Femme Frames set from Mama Elephant.  I, then used the EverGreens Stencil from Newton's Nook, and used two inks from Lawn Fawn, Freshly Cut Grass, and Noble Fir, and blended the two colors together to create some dimension on the trees.  I used a small ink dauber to do this.  I think added some Glossy White Nuvo Drops and added some to the bottom of that panel to create the look of snow, and then I added some White Blizzard Nuvo Glitter drops to add a bit on the trees for some shine.  Once that was dry, I added my sentiment with some black ink, and then I added my elements onto my sea glass card base which is 4.25 x 5.5 inches.  I added some foam to the back of both my cardinal and the entire oval piece for dimension.  

I then added my panels with liquid adhesive,  and stamped a sentiment on the inside from Concord and 9th from their set Very Merry Sentiments.  

I love how this card turned out and I know who will be giving this one too!!  I do have a video tutorial on this card and the rest of my cards this week, so I hope you will be able to check them out!!

See you all for the next card!

3 CARDS 1 STAMP SET

Hi and welcome!  Today I wanted to share 3 cards that I created using just 1 stamp set.  I love the new one from Mama Elephant called Sending Hugs!  I feel it will quickly become a staple for me sending those everyday cards to friends and family!

I used one of my favorite techniques, embossed resist with Distress Ink ( or Oxide Inks ).  I also created these cards in an assembly line style to make the process a bit faster.  I started out by prepping my distress watercolor card stock panels with my anti static powder bag.  Of course I used my MISTI stamping tool to stamp down my Sending Hugs sentiment as it is a bigger stamp.  Once I had all three panels stamp, I covered them with either white embossing powder or I also used Ranger's Liquid Platinum for something a bit different.  

Once I melted all of the embossing powder with my heat tool, I started the inking with my Distress Oxide inks.  I used Crushed Olive, Dried Marigold, and Dusty Concord.  

Once all of the panels were inked, I used my spritz water bottle, and added some water droplets to add a bit of texture to the backgrounds.  I used my heat tool to heat set them once again, to make sure they were dry.  I then created sub sentiments on black card stock, and also white heat embossed each sentiment.  I cut the sentiments down with my paper trimmer and scissors and added foam adhesive to each, and adhered them to my panels.  

Then, for each card, I added one more sentiment on the inside.

I used my acrylic block and stamped each sentiment with black versafine onyx black ink

I love making cards like this.  It is good to make some of these up and have on hand for when the occasion calls for it, and this stamp set from Mama Elephant does the job with one set!!  You can also see how these cards came together in my video tutorial here

Thanks for stopping by!!

MFT GIVEAWAY | Video Tutorial

Hi Friends!  I recently posted a new video on my Youtube Channel showcasing the new Christmas Tree Window die-namics from  My Favorite Things.  The exciting part of the video is that I am also sharing that the video is sponsored by MFT and they are helping me giveaway a $25.00 gift certificate to their shop.  All you need to do is be a subscriber of my channel and also their channel, and leave a comment on the video!

All the details of the giveaway is over at the video description box, so be sure to head there for your chance to enter!!  I also share how quickly this card came together with very few supplies, and it showcases this window die beautifully with the silver sparkle card stock, which is one of my favorites!!

I also use one of the sentiments from the Beautiful Blessings sentiment set also new this month on this inside of the card.  

Thank you all for stopping by and be sure to get entered!  Thank you again MFT for having me as a guest this month and also sponsoring a video on my channel!!  I am truly honored!!

Kari

MFT and Friends Guest Designer

Hi all!!  Today is an exciting one on my blog and for me personally as a cardmaker!  I have the pleasure and honor of being a Guest Designer for My Favorite Things this month!!  Today is release day for the November 2018 release, and it is a awesome one - like they all are!  I am happy to be among these talented designers, and play with these awesome products!

For my card today, I am using the new stamp set Frosty Friends, and the Snowflake Window Die.  I started out by die cutting my pieces that I would be using on my card, and the Snowflake Window is die cut from some Sno Cone Card Stock.  I also die cut a piece of Silver Sparkle card stock from one of the Stitched Mini Scallop Rectangle dies, and a piece of white card stock using the largest scalloped rectangle from the Blueprints 27 die set.  The banner piece also comes from Blueprints 27!  Such a all around versatile die set!  I set those pieces aside as well as my Summer Splash card base, and I worked on my snowman.  I like images this as they are super easy to add color!

I stamped my snowman in Extreme Black ink, and used my Copic Markers to add a bit of color.  I used BG10 to add some shadow around the left side of his body and blended it out with my Colorless Blender. I used YR09 and YR18 for his nose, RV17 and RV19 for his scarf and gloves, R20 for a little rosy cheek and a small amount of C2 around the scarf where it lays on his body to create a bit of shadow.

I assembled all of my elements together with liquid adhesive and added foam adhesive to add dimension to my snowman.  For my sentiment, I stamped it using the same black extreme ink, and adhered it to my card with foam adhesive as well.  To finish my card off, I used my white gel pen, and added some white polka dots to my snowman's scarf for a bit of interest!  

I love these images so much, so whimsical and fun!!  Thank you so much to My Favorite Things for having me this month as a guest designer!  Truly an honor!  Stay tuned, as I will be partnering with MFT for a giveaway on my YouTube Channel!

For now - be sure to head over to MFT and check out the entire November Release!!