60 Candles Birthday Card

This 60th Birthday card looks plain on the front, but when its opened there are 60 candles on the inside!  I designed this card using my Cricut and images available in Design Space.

The following was used to make the card:

• Cricut Self-designed card with candle shadow
• Mama Elephant - Make a Wish Stamp Set
• CTMH - Curlicue Alphabet Stamp Set
• MFT - Old Friends Stamp Set
• Gina K Designs - Black Onyx Ink, various pale shades

To make the card, the card was designed in Cricut Design Space and all pieces were cut.  The card was assembled making sure to vary the candle designs.  On the outside of the card, "60" was stamped all over in varying pale shades of ink.  The Happy Birthday sentiment was then stamped.  A sentiment was added to the inside form the Old Friends stamp set to complete the card.

 

Rainbow of Color

I finally got to use a new stencil for this card.  Its one that I've had for a few months - Watercolor Wash from My Favorite Things.  I love the irregular edges and I can see using this one often. In this case, I decided to use a rainbow of colors and make a birthday card.

I use the following for the card:

• Distress Oxide Ink - Barn Door, Ripe Persimmon, Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean, Dusty Concord
• MFT - Watercolor Wash Stencil
• Gina K - Happy and Shadow dies
• Tim Holtz - Celebrate dies
• Gina K - Master Layout 1

To make the card, I ink blended the Distress Oxide Inks using the stencil.  Once complete, I spritzed a bit of water on the image.  This was then cut using Master Layouts1.  The black mat was also cut from ML1.  The image was attached to the mat, and the entire piece to the card base.  Happy was cut from both white and black paper, and the two pieces attached together then added to the card.  Birthday was cut from black card stock and added to the card to complete it!

Gina K inspired Anniversary Card

This card was inspired by a Gina K video. Instead of using the oval from Master Layouts 9, I used a stencil from My Favorite Things. 

For this card I used:

• Gina K - Master Layouts 2
• Gina K - Friendly Silhouettes, Lacy Borders
• Gina K - Inks: Wild Wisteria, Turquoise Sea, Bubble Gum, Black Onyx, and Pigment White
• Honey Bee - Sentiment Banners dies
• My Favorite Things - Oval Extraordinaire Stencil
• Versamark
• Stampendous Detail White Embossing Powder

To make the card, I cut the white panel using the stitched rectangle from Master Layouts 2.  The black mat was cut using the associated rectangle die.  The oval was placed on the white panel to mask the center area and the inks added over the top, getting lighter toward the edges.  The silhouette was stamped in black.  The sentiment from Lacy Borders was stamped with white pigment ink, embossing powder was added and heat set.  It was then cut out with one of the banner dies and added to the white panel using foam squares.  The white panel was added to the black mat and the entire piece added to the card base to complete the card.

Hands of Love Birthday Card

 This was a fun card to make.  I've had the stencil for a while, and wanted to use it.  The hand stamps fit so perfect that they had to be used as well.  It was then just finding a sentiment that would fit into the hands.

I used the following for the card:

• Gina K - Master Layouts 2
• Gina K - Hands of Love Stamp set
• Gina K - Black Onyx Amalgam Ink
• MFT - Delicious Birthday Stamp set
• Tim Holtz - Rays Stencil
• Distress Ink - Dried Marigold, Ripe Persimmon, Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey

To make the card, I placed the stencil on my paper and using my blending brushes added the distress ink from lightest to darkest.  The image was then cut using the Master Layouts dies (along with the black mat).  I then stamped the hands and sentiment using the Onyx ink.  Everything was then attached to the card base to complete the card.

Using an alcohol ink background for a birhday card

I've made several alcohol ink backgrounds, and I haven't liked all of them.  Of course I couldn't throw them out, and recently I've been trying to use these backgrounds somehow in my cards.  I've found that die cutting the background is one way that I can use the backgrounds that I don't like.  I did that for this card:

I wished I had taken a picture of the background I wasn't happy with, before I cut the candles from it!

I used the following for this card:

• An alcohol ink background that I didn't like
• Elizabeth Craft Designs Candles Dies
• MFT Delicious Birthday Stamp Set
• Versafine
• Stampendous Detail Gold Embossing Powder
• Gold Paper

To make the card, I cut the detail portion of candles from the alcohol ink background.  The backs for the candles were cut from gold paper.  These were then added to a white card base.  The sentiment was stamped using versamark, gold embossing powder added and heat set.  The panel was then matted with gold paper (same paper as the backs of the candles).  This was then added to the card base to complete the card. 

Altenew Peony Bouquet

I had a plan - make a birthday card using only stamps and inks from one company - Altenew.  It was going well, until I realized that I didn't have a Happy Birthday sentiment from them.  Oh well,  I used one of my favorites from My Favorite Things.

Here is the card:

I used the following for the card:
Altenew - Peony Bouquet
Altenew Inks - Evergreen, Forest Glade, Butter Cream, Warm Sunshine, Carmel Toffee, Paper Bag
MFT - Handwritten Happiness

Valentines Day "Card"

I always struggle when making cards for my Husband. Its just hard making masculine cards, especially for Valentines day.  He does love a joke, and this year, Jennifer McGuire made available for download a bunch of Valentine jokes.  (See the full post here).  I thought maybe I could use these in a different way for his "Card".  I printed them all, and selectively trimmed them out.  They were foiled (although it doesn't show in the picture).  I cut a bunch of hearts using my Cricut and added the joke on the front of the heart, and the punch line on the back.  I added a sentiment to the cover heart, then punched a small hole in each, and then bound all the hearts together with ribbon.   Now he will have a "book" of jokes to tell the grandkids.

I used the following to make the "card":

• Cricut Home Accents - for the heart 
• Download from Jennifer McGuire available here
• Minc Red Foil
• Stampendous Detailed White Embossing Powder
• Versamark
• MFT - Loves the Ticket

Hooray - Its's Your Day Birthday Card

I seem to use products from a variety of companies.  Here is a birthday card I made using products from Altenew, Tim Holtz, My Favorite Things, and Lawn Fawn.

I used the following:

• Altenew - Weave Builder Stencil
• Distress Oxide Ink - Faded Jeans, Weathered Wood
• My Favorite Things - Hooray Die, Delicious Birthday Stamp set
• Lawn Fawndamentals - Deep Sea Ink

To make the card, I created the background using the stencil and the distress oxide ink.  This was then trimmed to slightly smaller than the card front and attached. I cut out the hooray several times, stacked them and added to the card.  I used one of the stamps, masking part of it, and stamped it on a strip of paper, which was then added to the card.

Flower Silhouette Birthday Card

I love the way this card came out, I'll have to make more that are similar!

I used the following for the card:

• Hero Arts - Flowers stamp
• MFT - Handwritten Happiness Stamp set
• Distress Oxide Ink - Fossilized Amber, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Fired Brick
• Versafine Black Onyx Ink
• Zing Clear Embossing Powder

The background was the first thing made for this card, I sponged the Distress Oxide inks on a piece of white card stock, lightest to darkest. Water was spritzed on the panel.  Once dried, the flower image was stamped with Versafine Black Onyx Ink.  Clear Embossing powder was added and heat set.  The steps were taken for the sentiment.  The panel was matted with black card stock and added to the card base to complete the card.

MFT Beach Day Birthday Card

A bit of a story behind this card.  My daughter-in-law loves pigs.  When she heard that you can swim with the pigs in Exuma, Bahamas they went! Well, she got bit by one of the pigs ... nothing serious - more of just a bruise.  So I just had to make this card for her for her birthday!

(and the red mark on her leg is not an ink blot!  Its to symbolize where the pig bit!)

I used the following for the card:

• MFT Beach Day Stamp set
• Prickley Pear - Pig stamp
• Simon Says Stamp Wave Stencil
• Distress Ink - Tumbled Glass, Broken China
• Various Copic Markers
• MFT Handwritten Happiness Stamp set
• Ranger Caribbean Coast Ink

To make the card, I used the Wave Stencil and sponged the Broken China ink over it.  After removing the stencil, I sponged Tumbled Glass over the entire area.  The Pig was then stamped (I needed to learn how to reverse the image!), and masked.  The Girl was then added.  Both were colored with carious Copic markers.  The sand and Sky were then added with Copic Markers.  The sentiment was added last.  The entire panel was matted and added to the card base to complete the card.

MFT Recipe for Happiness Birthday Card

I have a co-worker who loves to cook.  We have been fortunate to have some of his creations!  I thought that this card would be perfect for his birthday.

I used the following for the card:

• MFT Recipe for Happiness Stamps and Dies
• MFT Hybrid Black Ink
• MFT Small Brick Background Stamp
• Distress Ink - Fired Brick
• Versamark
• Stampendous Detailed White Embossing Powder
• Various Copic Markers
• Lawn Fawn Scripty Sayings stamp set

To make the card, I stamped all of the Recipe for Happiness stamps with the MFT Hybrid Black Ink.  These were then colored with Copic Markers, and then cut with the matching dies.  For the background, the Small Brick background stamp was inked with Fired Brick ink and stamped on watercolor paper.  I then sponged the whole area with the same ink.  Water was spritzed on the panel to add texture.  The images were added to the panel.  The sentiment stamped with Versamark, and white embossing powder added and heat set.  The entire panel was added to the card base to complete the card.

Technique Junkies - Stargazers

I really like lilies, and can't seem to grow them, so I'll take second best and stamp them!  Here is a card I made with Technique Junkies Stargazers stamp set.

I used the following to make the card:
Techniques Junkies - Stargazers Stamp
Prismacolor Pencils
My Favorite Things - Handwritten Happiness Stamp set
Ranger - Grape Soda Ink
Verasmark Black Onyx Ink

To make the card, I stamped the Stargazer stamp with Versafine Black Onyx Ink.  I then colored the image with Prismacolor pencils.  The image was then cut to size, mounted it to green card stock, and them the entire image added to a card base.  On a white strip of paper, the sentiment was stamped and then added to the image on the front of the card.

GIna K Lovely Lilies

Lovely Lilies was a Christmas gift, and I had to immediately use it!  Handwritten Happiness was also a Christmas gift, and one of the sentiments worked perfect for this card.  Here is a card I made using the stamp sets:

To make the card I used:

• Gina K - Lovely Lilies
• Altenew Ink - Frayed Leaf, Forest Glen, Butter cream, Warm Sunshine, Carmel Toffee, Paper Bag
• My Favorite Things - Handwritten Happiness

To make the card, I first stamped the flower image and all layers, starting with the lightest color ink.  I then masked the flower and stamped the leaves.  The sentiment was added using the darkest color ink that was used on the flower.  The image was trimmed and added to a card base to complete the card.

Mama Elephant Halloween Card and a Galaxy Background

Here is the last Halloween card I made with the Mama Elephant Bootastic Stamp Set:

I used a lot of different items to make this card!

• Martha Stewart Happy Halloween Stamp Set
• Mama Elephant Bootastic Stamp Set and Matching Dies
• MFT Small Brick Backgroup Stamp
• Various Distress Oxide Ink
• Versamark
• Stampendous Detailed Black Embossing Powder
• Various Copic Markers
• Lawn Fawn Hippo Ink

To make the card, I first created the Galaxy background for the card.  I made this using a technique shown by Jennifer McQuire (click here to see the details).  While that was drying, I then stamped the small brick background, using the Hippo Lawn Fawn ink.  This was then colored with Fired Brick Distress Oxide Ink.  I then stamped the images from Bootastic, colored them with various Copic Markers, and cut them out with the matching dies.  To the front of an A2 sized card, I added a strip of dark green card stock.  A small portion of the Brick wall was then added.  The Galaxy background was added to the top of the card.  The images from Bootastic were added.  To complete the card, I stamped the bats from the Happy Halloween stamp set, along with the sentiment in Versamark.  Embossing Powder was added and heat set to complete the card.

Another Mama Elephant Halloween Card

Her is another card made with the Mama Elephant Bootastic stamp set and Distress Oxide Inks:

To make this card, I used:

• Distress Oxide Ink
• Mama Elephant Bootastic Stamps and Dies
• SSS Stitched Circle Dies
• Lawn Fawn Spooktacular Stamp set (sentiment)
• Various Copic Markers
• MFT Diagonal Stripes Stencil

To make the card, I stamped and colored the images from Bootastic.  These were then colored with Copic Markers, and then cut with the matching dies.  The card base was made using the MFT stencil and Distress Oxide Ink.  I then changed the direction of the stencil and repeated the process.  The white of the base was a bit to bright, so I added additional Distress Oxide ink over the stenciled areas. A circle was cut using the Simon Says Stamp Stitched Circle Dies, and the sentiment was added. The circle was added to the card base and then the images added to complete the card.

MFT Thankful Friend

Fall is coming soon, and this card is perfect fall card.

I used the following to make the card:

• Various Copic Markers
• Various colors of Memento Ink
• MFT Thankful Friend Stamps and Matching Dies
• Hero Arts Color Layering Fall Trees
• Art Impressions Fence

To make the card, I stamped the girl with Tuxedo Black Memento Ink, I then colored the image with Copic Markers.  The image was then cut out with the matching die.  I then prepared the card front. The fence was stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa ink, and then colored with Copic Markers.  The leaves (from MFT Thankful Friend) were stamped below the fence, and colored with Copic markers. The grass was then colored with Copic Markers.  The trees were stamped with a  variety of Memento Inks.  The girl was then added with pop dots to add a bit of dimension to complete the card.

Challenges Entered:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Stamp It

BIrthday card with MFT Diagonal Quit Square Coverup

This card is similar to one I made a few years ago (check it out here).

For this card, I used:
Soookwang Double Sided tape
MFT Diagonal Quilt Square Coverup
Glitter Ritz Royal Blue, Silver, Sea Green
Elizabeth Craft Designs White Micro Fine Glitter
CTMH Joyful Birthday Occasions
Lawn Fawndamentals - Freshly Cut Grass

TO make the card, I added the Sookwang tape to a piece of white card stock.  Using the die, I then ran the die and the tape covered paper through my Cuttlebug.  In my case, I know that this will cut through the tape, but not through the paper completely, which is what I wanted.  I then carefully removed sections of the tape to expose the sticky and add the glitter.  After each color, I made sure I burnished the glitter in before exposing the next sections and adding the glitter.  The completed image was added to the card base.  I carefully scored two lines below the image and at the bottom of the card.  Between these lines, I stamped the sentiment to complete the card.

Altenew Beautiful Day Birthday and Anniversary Cards

I just love Altenew stamps.  Especially the layering stamps.  The Beautiful Day stamp set makes beautiful cards!  Here are two that I made with this set.

I used the following to make the cards:

• Altenew Beautiful Day stamp set
• Altenew Ink - Leaves - Evergreen, Forest Glade, Frayed Leaf, Frosty Pink
• Altenew Ink - Birthday Card - Coral Berry, Ruby Red, Grape Vine, 
• Altenew Ink - Anniversary Card - Soft Lilac, Lavender Fields, Deep Iris Midnight Violet
• Close To My Heart Celebration Stamp Set (Birthday)
• My Favorite Things Together Forever (Anniversary)

Making the cards was easy!  I stamped the main flower, created a mask for it, then stamped the second flower.  The leaves were then added.  The sentiments were stamped to complete the cards! These took me a very short time to put together.

Here are some close-ups:

Raking Day - MFT Thankful Friend

Once I saw the Thankful Friend stamp set from MFT I knew immediately who I wanted to make a card for.  My dad!

My dad "invented" a holiday for the grandkids - called Raking Day.  This holiday falls every year, when most of the leaves are off the trees.  All of the grandkids would help rake the leaves into big piles, and then jump into them.  Unfortunately, all of the grandkids are older now, and Raking Day is history.  So, to keep the memory of the holiday, I made this card.  The card is a shaker card and is 4.25x5.5.

For this card, I used many different products!

• My Favorite Things - Thankful Friend stamps and dies
• Spellbinders - Square Dies
• Copic Markers - BG13, BG15, BG18, BG11, R24, C3, C1, C5, 91, B95, B97, B99, YG61, YG63, YG97, YR12, YR14, E50, E53, E31, E33, E35, E37, E42, E13
• Memento - Tuxedo Black, Cottage Ivy, Rich Cocoa
• Distress Ink - Weathered Wood, Stormy Skies
• Stampin' Up - Lovely as a Tree Stamp set
• Various Sequins
• Recollections Glitter Shapes
• Craft Foam

To make the card:
I partially die cut using the largest square in the Spellbinders set.  I cut the top and two sides.  I then partially cut with  the Thankful Friends die, after carefully lining up where she would be within the window.  The bottom area was cut using an Xacto blade and ruler.  I then stamped the girl with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink.  She was then colored with various Copic Markers.  The grass was also added with Copic Markers.

The leaves were stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black and Rich Cocoa Ink.  These were then colored with Copic Markers and die cut. 

The trees in the background were from Stampin' Up Lovely as a Tree and stamped with Memento Rick Cocoa and Cottage Ivy.  The grass area was colored with Copics using the same colors as the front of the card,  The sky was done by sponging Stormy Skies and Weathered Wood.  This was also done on the frame area of the front of the card. 

Craft Foam was cut to 4.25 x 5.5 and using the same size Spellbinders die, the square area cut so that it lined up with the front of the card.  I added acetate to the front part of the card, and then added the Craft Foam, making sure that it was well adhered.  The window area was filled with sequins in fall colors, and glitter.  The backing was added, and the entire thing added to the card base. 

MFT Quilt Square Cover-up with Glitter

I really like the MFT Quilt Square Cover-up die, and I really like glitter.  So I had to use both for this card.

I used the following to make the card:

• MFT Quilt Square Cover-up die
• Glitter Ritz Micro-fine Glitter in Pink, Lilac, Silver, Merlot
• Sookwang Tape
• Versamark
• Stampendous Detailed Silver Embossing Powder
• CTMH Joyful Birthday Occasions

To make the card, I added the Sookwang tape to white card card stock.  I wanted to cut the Quilt Square just so the tape cut, but not all the way through the card stock.  It took a few trials with my Cuttlebug to get the layers right for this, but for me it was the A plate, C Plate, card stock with the Sookwang tape (Tape side up), B plate.  What worked out great, for me, was that the edges cut all the way through, so there was no trimming.  

I then carefully pulled off the section where I wanted to add the first color of glitter.  

Glitter was added, the excess brushed off, and then burnished into the tape.

 I repeated the process for the remaining colors.

And here is the completed Quilt Square:

I then mounted the Quilt Square to the front of the card base.  The sentiment is from CTMH Joyful Birthday Occasions.  This was stamped with Versmark, the embossing powder added and heat set to complete the card.