While waiting for my MFT Order from the April release, I am once again joining MFT Stamps Sketch Challenge No. 275 this week. Here is a photo of the sketch challenge.
I used two stamp sets for the card that you see below. The cat images are from the “I Knead You stamp set” and the cute cat “bed” is from the “You Make my Tail Wag”. Aren’t the cat images adorable? Here are the materials that I’ve used:
Recollections 110 lb. white Card Stock
I Knead You Stamp Set and Coordinating Dies
You Make My Tail Wag Stamp Set and Coordinating Dies
Hello stampers and crafters! Today is my turn to showcase my all-time favorite Brentwood stamp from www.jessicalynnoriginal.com. It is also JLO’s 11th year anniversary. Today’s post will be a little different. I will not be showing you a ton of card samples. My blog post will be all about my designing process. A little disclaimer, I am still a novice in card making. The tips I am sharing with you today are some of the things I have learned along the way being a paper crafter. I am still learning and trying to improve. However this is my own designing process so I hope you enjoy. I would love to receive your comment as well on what is yours. What inspires you to create cards or scrapbook layouts? Some of you guys are visual learners and would probably like to see some of it in action, so here’s a little YouTube video that I filmed and posted on my channel. This is my “happy” place.
First thing that I do is to make a good cup of coffee for myself. I then turn my iPod on to my favorite playlist so that I can play my favorite music while I work on the card. Lighting a great scented candle is always my go-to. I know that’s too much for some people but that is what I do for myself. I like to work in a peaceful and beautiful environment. Once the room is completely how I like it, I then start gathering my supplies.
From my experience, stamping the image a couple of times is always a good idea because if you somehow mess up the coloring on one image, then you can color another without having to go back and stamp again and again. Trust me, it will save you so much time! I use Memento Tuxedo black ink for Copic markers, or MFT Stamps Black Hybrid Ink. Now, Simon Says Stamp made the Intense Black Ink that is both good for Copic markers or watercolors. I switch between the three!
Before I die-cut the stamped images, I like to clean my stamps by using my all-time favorite cleaner, water and a chamois. Yes, a chamois! You know, the stuff that you use to wipe your car with? You can purchase one inexpensively at an auto-supply store, or order one from Amazon (where I got mine). You can reuse this a hundred times and it will clean the stamps nicely. I used to use baby wipes but they sometimes left some fibers on my stamps. I got this tip from a fellow stamper months ago at a Facebook group called Stamping Enablers. Lawn Fawn now has a stamp Shammy that they also sell in their online store.
Once the images are colored, I proceed to die-cut the images with the coordinating dies but if I don’t, I fuzzy-cut the image using my favorite Fiskars cutter-bee scissors. I also die-cut everything else that I need for my card. I like to use post-it tape to hold my dies in it’s place so it doesn’t shift when I run it through my die-cutting machine. The supplies you see on the photos are all of my favorite supplies in card making. One helpful TIP: I try to use as few colors as possible and also try to coordinate my patterned paper or card stock with the color of the images that I’m using for my card.
Have you ever noticed that popular card-makers always somehow create the most beautiful cards? Aside from using some great tools, this is the main reason why! However, this doesn’t always work for me. Sometimes, I don’t have the coordinating patterned paper or card stock but I try to minimize the colors that I use. At times, I get carried away over-embellishing my cards but then that’s what card-making is all about. Isn’t it? Sometimes I like to create simple cards, sometimes I don’t. It depends on my mood, I guess!
Once I finish the card, I then proceed to take a final photo so I can post it on my social media accounts, like Instagram, post on my Blog or use it as a thumbnail for my YouTube videos.
Another great tip: Lighting is the key to great photographs. I know it doesn’t always work but I will teach you a trick on how to edit your lighting! YOU DON’T NEED EXPENSIVE LIGHT BOXES TO MAKE THEM LOOK PROFESSIONAL!
For my cards, I use a white poster board that I lined up with a neutral patterned paper. Having a neutral color background will always make your images pop. I use a frog pin (purchased from a craft store) to hold my cards up. Once I am satisfied with the position, I take a few photos using my iPhone 6S.
If my lighting is really bad and the sun doesn’t want to cooperate, I use a photo-editor app to fix my lighting (Layout, RealBokeh, or Adobe Photoshop). However, there are a ton of free photo apps out there that can do this for you. You just need to find whatever works for you. Once I am happy with the lighting, I then use another app to put a watermark on my photos (Phonto). I started doing this now because I found that some of my card photos before were (stolen and) used to submit photos for an application to be published at a magazine. Yes, I know it is horrible and I really do not want to specify anymore because I try not to dwell on things and just move forward. I have learned my lesson the hard way. This is why I always have my watermark on my finished cards.
So I hope you guys found these tips and tricks very helpful. I would like to know your designing process and would be really grateful if you share your tips with me as well.
Here are my cards to celebrate Jessica Lynn Original’s 11th year anniversary! Please celebrate with us by going to Jessica’s Blog for more details; she will be giving away a HUGE prize at the end of the week. To participate, download the free digi-stamp and post your link at Jessica’s Blog. Here’s Jessica’s link: http://jessicalynnoriginalstamps.blogspot.com/2016/04/happy-11th-anniversary.html
The April release from MFT Stamps has inspired me to play with my I Knead You stamp set and dies. This card will be another entry for the MFT Sketch Challenge No. 274. It is obvious that I love MFT, and this adorable cat stamp set is a must-have.
The supplies I have used for this card:
MFT Stamps – I Knead You Stamp Set
MFT Stamps – I Knead You Dienamics
MFT Stamps – Stitched Arch Stax Dienamics
MFT Stamps – Hot Cocoa Cups Dienamics (the small heart with the kitty)
It has been a very busy week for me so far but one of the things that always relax me is to go to my craft room and create something beautiful. On today’s blog post, I decided to join MFT Stamps Sketch Challenge for the first time. Here is the photo of Sketch Challenge No. 274.
And here is my rendition for the challenge.
I have used MFT Stamps Adorable Elephants (one of my favorites), with the LJD All Heart stamp set and my new favorite, the Tag Builder Blueprints #5. I just absolutely love the color combination that I used for this card. The pink and gold color combo is very popular these days but to tune it down a little, I used gray card stock for my banner and for my card base.
I am back from traveling and I couldn’t wait to start playing with my new Pretty Pink Posh stamp set. The images on this stamp set are extremely cute. As soon as I looked at this set, I knew I wanted to create a cute Mother’s Day card.
I first stamped the images using my mini-Misti stamping tool, then colored the images using my Copic markers. For the “mom” – I used R000, R00 and R01 for the body and YR07 for the beak and legs. For their bellies, I used Y11. The same goes with the tiny little chick in the middle of the trio. For the male chicks, I used BG000 and BG00, and for the rosy cheeks I used R20.
Using the coordinated dies, I run it through my die-cutting machine to cut out the images. To create the scene for my card, I used my Spellbinders Cherry Blossom die for the branch, and the little bow was using the Pretty Pink Posh Twine and Bows die.
The background paper is from Doodlebug, Sweet Cakes paper pad. To create the shaker card, I used Mama Elephant’s All Prettied Up die set. This die-set is one of my favorites in creating shakers. The scallop and stitched details are so dainty it is perfect for a feminine card.
For my shaker material, I used Pretty Pink Posh sparkling clear 6 mm sequins, with 4mm blush and watermelon sequins and some dark pink star confetti. Here is a detailed list of what I’ve used.
Mini-Mist Stamping Tool
Card Base – Recollection 110 lb. white card stock
Patterned Paper – Doodlebug Sweet Cakes 6×6 paper pad
Window Sheet
8 mm Fun Foam
Pretty Pink Posh – Birdie Friends Stamps and Die Sets
Pretty Pink Posh – 6 mm sparkling clear sequins
Pretty Pink Posh – 4 mm Blush and Watermelon sequins
Today, I am sharing with you my Design Team project for http://www.not2shabbyshop.com. I have made 3 different projects using the CC Designs Chicky Henry Stamp set.
I hope you like the projects that I made. Here’s the YouTube video if you’d like to see it.
Good morning my dear crafty friends. Today I am featuring the MFT Stamps Recipe for Happiness stamp set and dies. I would say MFT Stamps is on my top 5 favorite stamps and dies. I love the Recipe for Happiness stamp set. The sentiments they included in the set and the images are just way too cute! Here are the projects that I created showing them off. I also used the Peek-A-Boo Wonky Windows die-namics.
I hope you enjoy the cards and have an amazing day!
Created by Maria RussellCreated by Maria RussellCreated by Maria Russell
I finally had the time to sit down and write this Blog post. I am so excited to share with you all today the release of this new stamp set called “The Love of a Cat” by http://www.jessicalynnoriginal.com. This stamp set is filled with cute images but my favorite one is the cat sitting inside the box (photo below). Isn’t she adorable?
I have a persian cat named Chloe, and the image below looks like her. Chloe is now 13 years old and loves to sleep almost all day long. She is my constant companion when I create cards and scrapbook layouts in my craft room. There is something about a sleeping cat right next to me that keeps me calm, especially on days where I just can’t get creative. Chloe has certainly left a paw print on my heart.
I recently ordered some very cute stamp sets from Lawn Fawn and I have been dying to play around with them before I travel in the next few days. I also received the new Tombow Dot Runner Adhesive. I have never used this adhesive before so I thought this Blog post will also serve as a review on how the adhesive worked.
I first stamped my images and colored them using my markers. I then lined up my images with the coordinating dies and run it through my die-cutting machine. Since I have made hundreds of these box cards, that you see on the photo below, I was able to put the box together in less than a minute, because I even have the dimensions memorized. (Note to self, I need to get a life) I know that sounds really weird but it’s true! I wanted to create a cute scene for my fairies and so I also had to die-cut some grass to create my garden.
I used the Tombow Dot Stamp Runner for the first time to adhere all of my die-cut pieces and let me just tell you, I just fell in love with this adhesive. It was sliding through so smoothly on the card stock and I didn’t have any issues at all! Since it is also a dot-adhesive, I was able to reposition my die-cut pieces without tearing the paper but once you press it on, it adheres really well.
Now comes the part where I have to use an acetate sheet to make one of my fairies look like she’s floating in the air. I normally use a mini-glue dot for this task but I decided to use the “stamp runner”. Holding it down and stamping it to the acetate, I was able to put enough adhesive to adhere my fairy.
I think the photos are self-explanatory so I will leave you all to enjoy looking at the photos. Overall, I’M IN LOVE WITH THE TOMBOW DOT RUNNER ADHESIVE! I can say that this is now my all-time favorite tape runner and will purchase more in the future.
I hope you like this project and have an amazing day!
Maria Russell Designs 