Crafts

MFT Stamps ~ Grateful For You

| marialrussell

I am back today to share with you a card that I made as my third and final entry for the MFT Stamps 2016 Card Design Superstar.   It has been a wonderful, scary and intimidating experience thus far. As I write this blog post, there are almost 400 entries! Scary, huh?
Today’s card is a simple thank you card for my best friend, who lives in Washington, D.C. I am a little sad that we are not going to be able to spend Thanksgiving together again this year. I made this card to let her know that she means so much to me, and I am grateful to have her in my life!

 

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Grateful For You – Card Design by Maria Russell

 

I started out by stamping the images on Neenah solar white card stock using MFT stamps Black Licorice hybrid ink. I used Copic markers to color the images. Since I didn’t have the coordinating dies, I had to fuzzy cut all of the images using my precision scissors.

 

For my card scene, I had to think outside the box again to create a larger window for my critters so I decided to use the gift box cover up die. I think it turned out perfectly.

 

For the awning, I used the new Stitched Scallop Basic Edges. I love these dies so much it cuts like butter!

 

Here is the complete list of the supplies I’ve used for the card. They are all from MFT Stamps.

 

Happy Hedgehogs

Harvest Buddies

Grateful For You stamp set and coordinating die-namics

Die-namics Stitched Scallop Basic Edges

Die-namics Gift Box Cover Up

Sweet Celebration 6×6 Paper Pad (from the birthday card kit)

 

To finish off the card, I used my black gel pen to give the eyes more dimension, my white gel pen to highlight the cheeks and the leaves, and also used glossy accents on the acorns.

 

Wish me luck and thank you for stopping by!

The Greeting Farm-Peek-A-Boo

| marialrussell

My design team projects for this week showcasing the Peek-A-Boo stamp set by The Greeting Farm. Process video below for one of the cards if you’re interested:

 

MFT Stamps Card Design Superstar Contest ~ Entry # 2

| marialrussell

Hello everyone. I’m back today with my second entry for the MFT Stamps 2016 Card Design Superstar. I was traveling for a week and managed to have Internet connection to look at all the beautiful designs that everyone has posted so far. It is very intimidating to compete with these amazing card designers but I really wanted to give it a shot. Even if I lose, I figured I would at least gain some traffic at my blog or inspire someone to look outside the box and create a project that is quite unique. If you have been following me for a while, you know that I love to stretch my stamps.

 

I wanted to create a funny anniversary card but this is also a perfect card for a cat owner! If you have a cat, you know the struggle of having a wild kitty around the house!

 

Ever since I got the cool cats stamp set, I had this idea in my head for one of the cat images but I wasn’t so sure if my ideas would somehow work.   Today, I looked at all of my MFT stamps and dies and decided to just go for it. It’s so much fun to mix and match the sets. It took me awhile to finish the card but I am happy with the result.

 

Here is the photo of the card.

 

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For the “torn wallpaper”, I used the Homespun stitched die-namics to create the zigzag pattern, and used my scissors to partially cut it out. I wanted it to look like the naughty cat had accidentally torn the wallpaper, and managed to also knock the painting off the wall. Isn’t it hilarious?

 

 

Here are the supplies that I’ve used:

 

Cool Cats stamp set

Cool Cats dienamics

All Heart stamp set

Santa’s Elves stamp set (used for the sentiment of the naughty cat inside the speech bubble)

Make Yourself At Home stamp set

Make Yourself at home dienamics

I Knead You stamp set

I knead You dienamics (the speech bubble)

Homespun stitched dienamics

Blueprints No. 27 dienamics

Watercolor wash 6 x 6 paper pad

 

I hope you like the card that I designed today.  Wish me luck!  Have an amazing weekend!

Welcome Little One ~ LED Tea Light Vellum Card

| marialrussell

There is an open challenge at MFT Stamps called “2016 Card Design Superstar” and I decided to participate. I love MFT Stamps and I figured what have I got to lose?

 

For my card below, I chose the Magical Dragons and Essential Sentiments stamp sets plus a whole bunch of die-namics I have in my stash.  The supplies I’ve used will all be listed down below.

 

I first stamped the images on Strathmore watercolor paper using VersaFine vintage sepia. Since the card is to welcome a little baby, I didn’t want to use black ink because I wanted the colors to be soft without any hard lines. I then used my Zig clean color brush markers to color the images. To make the colors softer and more pastel, I blended my coloring with my watercolor brush. Once I was satisfied with the colors, I set them out to dry and proceeded to partially die-cut the birch trees on my card base.  To build my forest scene, I die-cut the stitched cloud from the end of the rainbow die-namics set, rolling fence with the matching hill, grass fields, and I also used the stitched mountain die-namics to create the starry sky and cover my partial die-cutting on the top of the card.  I also die-cut the little hearts using tag builder blueprints no. 5.  It was a bit tricky to adhere the vellum cloud and the smoke speech bubble to the card but I was able to hide the adhesive behind.

 

Here are the photos of the card. I have taken a few shots with and without the LED tea light so you all can see how beautiful this turned out.

 

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Here’s a close-up of Momma and her little one:

 

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Here’s the photo without the LED tea light:

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The last step I made was to stamp the smoke “speech bubble” using my Versamark ink, and I heat-embossed it with white embossing powder. I then adhered the little heart in the middle of the speech bubble. I wanted the image to look like the mother dragon was saying “I Love You” to her little one.  Can you imagine a new mom receiving this card?   She can also display this in her nursery.

 

Here are the supplies that I have used. They are all from MFT Stamps.

 

Magical Dragons stamp set

Die-Namics Magical Dragon

Essential Sentiments stamp set

Die-namics Stitched Mountain Range (for the starry sky)

Die-namics End of the Rainbow (the vellum cloud)

Die-namics Birch Trees

Die-namics Rolling Hills

Die-namics Grassy Fields

Die-namics Tag Builder Blueprints No. 5 (hearts confetti)

 

The card above is my first entry.  I hope you like the card that I made and got inspired. Have a wonderful day!

Thank You Card for MFT Stamps

| marialrussell

I’m always touched by people’s kindness!  I always believe that the kindness that you show will always be reciprocated but I am sometimes wrong!  Today, however, a wonderful person that works at MFT Stamps showed kindness to me.

 

I had some problems with a defective stamp (totally not MFT’s fault) and wanted to see if it was going to be replaced. I contacted MFT Stamps immediately. Brianna of Customer Service responded to my email so quickly and asked me to send her photos of the defective stamp and what my order number was so she can take a look. I realized then that I actually ordered the stamp set from a different shop and not directly from MFT. I sent her a copy of the invoice where I ordered the stamp set originally. She responded again a few minutes later to let me know that she will contact the shop and she will arrange to send me a replacement immediately. I was really touched by how my little dilemma was immediately taken care of and how nice Brianna was to me on her email.   It’s very rare these days, unfortunately to receive such a nice gesture from somebody.  MFT Stamps is already one of my top 5 favorite companies, but with the great customer service I just received ~ they just became my number 1!

 

Here is the Thank You card.  This card is made especially for Brianna and the amazing, wonderful people at MFT Stamps! Please don’t ever change!  You guys have the biggest hearts!

 

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Beary Special Birthday Cards

| marialrussell

Here are my design team projects this week for http://www.not2shabbyshop.com showcasing Beary Special Birthday stamp set from MFT Stamps.  I have also used the matching dies with the stamp set, plus the Tag Builder Blueprints No. 5 and the Flop Card-Oval Dienamics.

 

Here are photos of the other two cards that I have designed.  The white on white card on the video was also my entry for the MFT Stamps sketch challenge no. 291. I hope you got inspired!

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Birthday Bear Card ~ MFT Stamps SC291

| marialrussell

Another week has passed and there is a new sketch challenge at MFT Stamps no. 291.  I recently received the Beary Special Birthday Stamp set and I couldn’t wait to play with this.  A process video of this card will be posted soon here on my Blog and on my YouTube channel so please stay tuned.

 

Here is my rendition for this week’s challenge.  I also used the wonky windows die-namics, pink and white vellum to add the balloon, string and bow on the side of the frame, and finished off the design with 6 mm sparkling clear sequins from http://www.katscrappiness.com. I love how this one turned out.

 

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Down Under ~ Australia Zoo Stamp Launch

| marialrussell

Today we are going to go “down under” to explore the beauty of Australia, through JessicaLynnOriginal’s new stamp set called Down Under-Australia Zoo. The images on this set are just beautiful!  If I were not swamped with design team projects and an upcoming travel in a few days, I would have made more samples for you. However, I was able to make three:

This Koala Bear is just adorable!

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I love the sentiment that I used for the card below and paired it with a Brentwood digital stamp and my favorite Magnolia Doohickey Die called “Lovely Umbrella”.

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The last card below is my favorite.  I am currently addicted to layering white on white card stock.  It is very clean and simple.  I also added some vellum leaves and sparkling clear sequins to finish off the design.  What do you all think?

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As always, Jessica is giving away this stamp set to one (1) lucky winner.  Please go to Jessica’s blog for more details: https://jessicalynnoriginal.net.  This stamp set also is now available for purchase at http://www.jessicalynnoriginal.com/jessicalynnoriginal-down-under-australia-zoo-rubber-stamp-set-featuring-kangaroo-koala-and-a-kiwi/.

Be sure to check out the other designer’s blog and leave them some love. Here are the links:

Have a great weekend!

 

Lawn Fawn Yay Kites & Stitched Kite Lawn Cuts

| marialrussell

I can’t get enough of this cute Yay Kites stamp set and dies – and the Stitched Kite Lawn Cuts. There are so many possibilities with this set.

 

Here are my design team projects this week for http://www.not2shabbyshop.com.  The supplies I’ve used are listed and linked on the YouTube video description.  If you would like to order at not2shabbyshop, please use my coupon code “MR10” for 10% off your order.

 

Here are the photos, and I’ve also shared a process video for one of the cards:

 

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Here’s the process video: