MFT Sketch Challenge

With Christmas fast approaching, I have been making a lot of Christmas cards this weekend. This one follows the sketch over at MFT Stamps. 

The digi I used of Santa reading his mail while his cat naps on his chair is from The Paper Shelter. I won my choice of 3 free digis recently and chose 3 sets with cats in them. Don't tell my Great Dane😂! Thanks, Veronica, for the challenge prize! 

I used a couple Spellbinder dies to create the mats behind Santa and his cat for this card and then did a print and cut of the sentiment that I created using Cremona font. I embossed the card base using a Cuttlebug 5 X 7 embossing folder called Swiss Dots. 

This was a quick and easy card to make since I used the precolored version of the digi. I love having that option! 

Close up of Santa and his kitten:

Challenges I'm entering: 

👀 Enjoy HUGE Blitzday Savings Plus a New Weekly Sketch Challenge! – MFT Stamps: Sketch

 challenge: 

Crazy for Cats: Challenge #1 - CRAZY FOR CATS - Launch Party sponsored by Lawn Fawn! - Cat Lovers Hop by Cat! (crazyforcatschallenges.blogspot.com) (5/5; ends Nov. 25)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (4/5 for this week; ends Nov. 23)

Happy Little Stampers: Christmas Challenge: ATG Christmas 

Happy Little Stampers: Anything Goes with Dies
 

The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up

Thank You Very Moose Card

This darling digi is from Polkadoodles, and I used him on another card recently that had the pun "Merry ChristMOOSE." I'm back with another pun: Thank you very MOOSE! I always need thank you cards to thank friends and family for their Christmas gifts, so I thought I'd start early and create some thank you cards before Christmas. 

I made the tree background yesterday using a tree stencil and some green glitter paste. I have discovered that I really love working with glitter paste! I let the background dry for awhile and then placed it under some heavy plates from my embossing machine to help flatten out the panel overnight. Then today I did a print and cut of Elvis Wesley Moose Christmas Hot Chocolate (I added an offset to the digi before printing and cutting it) and popped him on a Spellbinders die cut using the red snowflake paper I used to mat behind the trees. I created the sentiment using Happy Popcorn font in my Silhouette Design Studio software and did a print and cut of it. I added a mat behind it using the same red snowflake paper. 

Close up of the pre-colored Polkadoodles digi:

Sentiment:

Close up of the glitter paste trees:

Stencil and die cut:

Challenges I'm entering: 

 Twisted Thursday Challenge (theoutlawzchallenges-thursday.blogspot.com): ATG

Cardz 4 Galz: Stencils (3/3; ends Nov. 29)

https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: Stencils (3/5; ends Nov. 23)

Polkadoodles Cardmaking, Craft & Scrapbooking Challenge: ATG (1/2; ends Dec. 1)

Digi Choosday Cardmaking & Crafting Challenge: ATG (2/2; ends Nov. 28)

Double D Challenges (daranddiane.blogspot.com): Hot beverages (1/3; ends Dec. 4)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (5/5 for this week; ends Nov. 23)

Crazy is our fame - STENCILS are our game! (stencilfun.blogspot.com): ATG with stencils (3/3; ends Dec. 3)

The Paper Funday Challenges: ATG (5/6; ends Dec. 4)

Stay Crafty with A Blog Named Hero: November Challenge | Hero Arts: The Great Outdoors (ends Dec. 4)

Challenge | Your Next Stamp: Thank you (1/3; ends Nov. 24)

We Love to Create mixed media Challenge Blog...sponsored by Polkadoodles (welove2create.blogspot.com): ATG mixed media (I used glitter paste and a stencil) (1/2; ends Nov. 24)

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge ...: ATG (3/3; ends 12/3) Winner 12/4 1 image from Joy Clair Designs; I chose Dog Gone Christmas and emailed kellyschelske@gmail.com 12/4/22

Allsorts challenge blog: ATG with option of trees or leaves (3/3; ends Nov. 25)

Incy Wincy Designs Challenge -1st to the 25th every month: Give Thanks or encourage a friend (4/5; ends Nov. 25)

A Place To Start (hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com): ATG with option of words of thanks 4/8; ends Dec. 2)

Happy Little Stampers: Stencil Challenge

Happy Little Stampers: Anything Goes with Dies

Santa and Kitty by the Window Card

 This card follows the current sketch over at MFT Stamps. I flipped the top and bottom elements for this version of the sketch because I wanted Santa at the bottom as if he's sitting by a window with pine trees outside. I just love the Tim Holtz 3D embossing folder I won from The Funkie Junkie Boutique recently! It's such a great texture. 

For the window, I used my Silhouette Design Studio software to design the window frame and then cut it out using a woodgrain paper I had in my stash. To make the windowpanes more realistic, I added some plastic from a stamp set I just opened. Next time I think I will cut the plastic larger than I need it and then trim it. It was tough to get it centered just right after cutting it the same size as the outer window frame. I adhered the window to the card using score tape. 

I did a print and cut of Santa and his kitty from a digi I won from The Paper Shelter. It's such a cut little scene of him reading his letters while his kitty dozes on his chair. I love The Paper Shelter digis because they come in several versions: uncolored, pre-colored, and with a background. This time I used the pre-colored version and opted against using the background from the Paper Shelter since I wanted to create my own with the window, but it's so nice to have that option. I added foam tape to the Santa digi to pop him out a bit. 

I used a font called Catty Funny for the "Meowy Christmas" sentiment and added it to a banner cut file I had. I did a print and cut of the banner and then adhered it using foam tape. The ba

Challenges I'm entering: 

👀 Enjoy HUGE Blitzday Savings Plus a New Weekly Sketch Challenge! – MFT Stamps: Sketch challenge: 

Let's Squash It!! (letssquashit.blogspot.com): I used Tim Holtz's Pine Branches EF C8

Crazy for Cats: Challenge #1 - CRAZY FOR CATS - Launch Party sponsored by Lawn Fawn! - Cat Lovers Hop by Cat! (crazyforcatschallenges.blogspot.com): 2/3

The Paper Funday Challenges: ATG (6/6; ends Dec. 4)

Can You Handle The Pressure? (cyhtp.blogspot.com): ATG with embossing folder (2/3; ends Nov. 23)

Allsorts challenge blog: ATG with option of trees or leaves (2/3; ends Nov. 25)

Happy Little Stampers: Christmas Challenge: ATG Christmas

The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up

No more challenges

Fun With Stencils and Glitter Paste Part 2

 Yesterday was a creative day for me as I made several card fronts using glitter paste and stencils. I had only planned on doing 2 of them, but I found it was so much fun that I wanted to continue while I had the mess out anyway! I'm sorry I waited so long to try this technique because it turns out I love it! 

The stencil set I used for this card has 2 layers, so I first stenciled a background in silver ink using one of the layers. Then came the fun part! I taped the second stencil over my card stock and chose some blue glitter paste. I slathered the blue glitter paste over the stencil and voila! I had a beautiful background! I had originally planned to add a digi stamp to the front panel, but the stenciling was so beautiful that I didn't want to cover it. I let it dry and then placed it under some heavy plates from my embossing machine overnight, but I think I may try this with watercolor paper next time because card stock has a tendency to warp. I die cut a few snowflakes from Spellbinders dies using silver glitter paper and adhered them using tiny bits of foam tape. Then I added some blue gems in various sizes to add even more sparkle. I kept the sentiment small so that the stenciling didn't get covered. I used a cute little "Merry Christmas" sentiment from Woodware Craft Collection stamp set BD23 2DE. I call it my "Figgy Pudding" set because it has a darling stamp of figgy pudding and an "Oh, bring us some figgy pudding and a cup of good cheer" sentiment. I added a bit of the silver glitter card stock as a mat behind the sentiment and popped it up with foam tape. 

A close up of the glitter paste:

Challenges I'm entering: 

As You Like It Challenge: favorite non-traditional Christmas colors and why: This is my second silver and blue card for the challenge, and I am just so drawn to the elegance of this color combination! Really any metallics seem to lend interest and draw the eye to a card, but the combination of silver and blue is subtle and beautiful. 

Cardz 4 Galz: Use a stencil (2/3 ; ends Nov. 29)

https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: Stencils (2/5; ends Nov. 23)

Festive Friday Challenge (theoutlawzchallenges-friday.blogspot.com): Christmas or ATG 

Outlawz Challenges: Monthly linky

Twisted Thursday Challenge (theoutlawzchallenges-thursday.blogspot.com): ATG

Songs and Rhymes challenge (theoutlawzchallenges-sunday.blogspot.com): I chose "We march through frost and snow" as the inspiration for my snowy card

Crazy is our fame - STENCILS are our game! (stencilfun.blogspot.com): ATG with stencils (2/3; ends Dec. 3)

Stay Crafty with A Blog Named Hero: November Challenge | Hero Arts: The Great Outdoors (ends Dec. 4)

We Love to Create mixed media Challenge Blog...sponsored by Polkadoodles (welove2create.blogspot.com) (unlimited entries; ends Nov. 24)

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge ...: ATG (2/3; ends 12/3)

Crafty Catz (craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com): ATG with optional twist of Christmas (3/3; ends Nov. 24)

Happy Little Stampers: Christmas Challenge: ATG Christmas

Happy Little Stampers: Stencil Challenge

The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up

Happy Little Stampers: Anything Goes with Dies

Craft dream (bastel-traum.blogspot.com): Snowflakes  #btchallenge119

Create A Smile Sketch Card

 I want to thank Create a Smile for the freebies they have on their challenge blog. This cute bird digi was a freebie I chose so I could play along with the sketch challenge that's on right now. 

I had so much fun playing with glitter paste and stencils yesterday! I had bought several colors of glitter paste months ago when it was on sale for 25 cents each at the Craft Outlet store near me. If you live in the Grand Rapids, MI area, the Craft Outlet on Buchanon St. is well worth the trip! 

I wanted a fun background for my bird digi, so I looked through my stencils and found this one called "Bulletproof" and pulled out the green glitter paste to make it festive. I had a blast applying the glitter paste over the stencil and then eagerly waiting to see what would happen when I lifted up the stencil! I think it turned out really cool!

It actually dried fairly quickly, but I left it under some heavy plates from my eBosser machine to flatten out overnight. Meanwhile, I cut out the other elements I needed for the sketch and used an offset for the digi and then did a print and cut of it using my Silhouette Cameo. I colored it with Copics and mounted it to the other design papers needed to match the sketch. I die cut the sentiment tag using a Gina Marie Designs die and stamped "Joy" on it using a stamp from Stampin' Up's Merriest Moments stamp set. I used my MISTI with the stamp so I could go over it twice and make it a little darker. 

Challenges I'm entering: 

Create a smile: Current challenge (createasmilestamps.blogspot.com): Sketch challenge. Here's the graphic: 

Art Impressions Blog: Diamonds and Pearls Challenge #340 week 2 (artimpressionsstamps.blogspot.com): Diamonds and Pearls (2/2; ends Nov. 24)

Cardz 4 Galz: Use a stencil (1/3 ; ends Nov. 29)

https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: Stencils (1/5; ends Nov. 23)

Festive Friday Challenge (theoutlawzchallenges-friday.blogspot.com): Christmas or ATG (3/3; ends Nov. 24)

Crazy is our fame - STENCILS are our game!: Our Rules (stencilfun.blogspot.com)

We Love to Create mixed media Challenge Blog...sponsored by Polkadoodles (welove2create.blogspot.com): ATG mixed media (I used glitter paste and a stencil) (unlimited entries; ends Nov. 24)

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge ...: ATG (1/3; ends 12/3)

Happy Little Stampers: Christmas Challenge: ATG Christmas

Happy Little Stampers: Stencil Challenge

Happy Little Stampers: Anything Goes with Dies

The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up

MISTI Monday over at Splitcoaststampers: Winner of $50 gift card to My Sweet Petunia; already credited to my account and used to place an order

Happy Thanksgiving Sketch Card

I like sketch challenges because they give me a "recipe" for my card layout that I wouldn't have normally thought of. Often they help me use up scraps of design paper, too, so that's a bonus!

This card follows the sketch over at The Outlawz Wednesday Sketch Challenge. If you haven't heard of The Outlawz challenges, you should definitely pop over to Outlawz Challenges and join in the fun! They have 9 different challenges covering a wide variety of themes. 

I used a Gerda Steiner digi for my card and colored it with Copics and Chameleon markers. Gerda's stamps are so adorable! And this one has a lot of fun details. 

The "Happy Thanksgiving" stamp is from a retired Close To My Heart stamp set that has 2 small stamps for each of the major holidays. I've gotten a lot of use out of it over the years.

 Challenges I'm entering:

Outlawz Challenges: monthly linky

Wednesday Sketch Challenge (theoutlawzchallenges-wednesday.blogspot.com)

https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/: Thanks/Thanksgiving (3/5; ends Nov. 21)

Play along in November 22' Challenge - Gerda Steiner Designs, LLC (gsd-stamps.com): ATG with a Gerda Steiner design

Passion for Markers (promarkerchallenge.blogspot.com): Fall colors (ends Nov. 21)

Stay Crafty with A Blog Named Hero: November Challenge | Hero Arts: The Great Outdoors (ends Dec. 4)

Allsorts challenge blog: ATG with option of trees or leaves (1/3; ends Nov. 25)

A Place To Start (hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com): ATG with option of words of thanks 5/8; ends Dec. 2) Rising Star Pick for November Week Three

Warm & Cozy Newton's Nook Sketch Card

Today is a day of catching up on card challenges I've been meaning to enter but haven't had the time. There's nothing like a deadline to motivate me 😂! For this card, I followed the sketch at Newton's Nook Inky Paws Challenge and used one of the adorable freebies they have available. I thought the mittens worked well with my winter hat design paper, and the sentiment ties it all together well. 

I really like this sketch because I think it works great with fun design papers. They do the work for me in this card! I just sized up the free digi and did a print and cut of it using my Silhouette Cameo and then colored it with Chameleon and Copic markers before adhering it to the card with foam tape to pop it out slightly. I reversed the top paper in the sketch so the point is on the right rather than the left but otherwise followed this simple but fun sketch design exactly. 

Challenges I'm entering: 

Inky Paws Challenge: Sketch (ends Nov. 18)

Send A Smile 4 Kids Challenge Blog: Kid-friendly holiday cards 

A Place To Start (hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com): ATG with option of words of thanks 8/8; ends Dec. 2)

Songs and Rhymes challenge (theoutlawzchallenges-sunday.blogspot.com): This line made me think of needing warm hats and mittens to brave the cold weather: 

                                                                We march through frost and snow,

But care not for the weather

As on our way we go.