Thursday, March 28, 2024

Lunar New Year Challenge | MFT Sponsor Feature + Sale!


Today, several members of the Lunar New Year Challenge team are being featured on the My Favorite Things Blog! We've created cards using lots of awesome products that were gifted to us by My Favorite Things. My card features images from the YUZU Darling Dragons stamp set with a sentiment from Celebrate Everything.


I started by stamping all the images from YUZU Darling Dragons using VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink, then heat embossed them with clear embossing powder. Next, I selected distress inks for watercoloring.


I smooshed the following mini ink pads onto a stencil mat and used artist brushes to watercolour the images: Antique Linen, Wild Honey (belly and wings), Tattered Rose, Saltwater Taffy, Worn Lipstick, Festive Berries (body and heart), Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss (leaves), Speckled Egg (clouds), Pumice Stone and Hickory Smoke (nostrils, finger/toenails and rocks).


After the images dried completely, I fussy cut and set them aside to create the background. The grassy panel was die cut from the retired Tucked-in Turf - Vertical Die-namics but Grassy Edges Die-namics could be used to create the top edge and partial die cutting could be used to create the grassy tufts.


I used the mini ink blending tool with domed blending foam and the following distress oxides to add colour to the grassy panel: Bundled Sage, Evergreen Bough and Peacock Feathers. For the sky panel, I used the mini ink blending tool and domed blending foam with the following distress oxides: Milled LavenderShaded Lilac and Dusty Concord. Then I splattered it with Tsukineko shimmer spritz to create visual interest.


Once the panel dried, I stamped the sentiment from Celebrate Everything with VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink and heat embossed it with clear embossing powder. I cut a border using silver glitter cardstock and glued the two panels to the card base before popping the images on with foam tape.


My Favorite Things is an annual sponsor of the Lunar New Year Challenge and they are giving away one $25 gift certificate each month, all year long.


Visit the March Link-Up Party post HERE to read the rules, see all of the design team projects and be inspired to create your own! 


I appreciate you stopping by and, if you're inspired, please shop my affiliate links below. My Favorite Things would love to know that you were inspired by me. Thanks so much for your continued support!

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Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Spellbinders | March 2024 Monthly Club Kits


Hello again, crafty friends! Today, I'm sharing projects featuring the March 2024 Monthly Club Kits from Spellbinders. My first card features the "Stitched Read & Sip" Stitching Die of the Month and the "Sketched Lines" Glimmer Hot Foil Kit of the Month. Club Kits close on the 27th of each month so get them while you can!


I used similar colours on both cards, give or take, and I made one that was lighter and another that was more saturated with colour. The colour palette I used includes Ballet Slipper, Dragonfruit, Sprout, Midnight Green, Lilac, Lilac Blossom and Eggplant. Gold Glitter cardstock was also added as an accent on both cards.


For this first card featuring the "Stitched Read & Sip" Stitching Die of the Month, I cut the card base and panel from white linen cardstock. Then I cut the books from Ballet SlipperDragonfruitSprout, Eggplant and Gold Glitter cardstock.


After cutting the teacup and flowers from Ballet SlipperDragonfruitSproutMidnight GreenLilacLilac Blossom and Eggplant cardstock, I stitched both the teacup and large book using Light Gold DMC Diamant Grande Metallic Thread.


After using liquid glue and foam tape to assemble the layers of the teacup and books, I glued most of the pieces directly on to the base panel and popped ups few of the flowers with foam tape.


To create the sentiment, I used Gold Hot Foil to heat foil one of sentiments from the "Sketched Lines" Glimmer Hot Foil Kit of the Month on white linen cardstock and popped that on to the smaller book using foam strips.


I made this card for a friend who is starting a new job in a complete different industry than what she has worked in all her life. We regularly meet up for coffee and we're both avid readers so I thought this was the perfect design and sentiment for her new endeavour!


For this second card featuring the "Sketched Lines" Glimmer Hot Foil Kit of the Month, I cut an A2 panel from Lilac Blossom cardstock and used Pastel Lavender Hot Foil in two directions on an angle to create the cool background for my coffee cups.


Next, I cut all the coffee cup layers and flowers from the "Stitched Read & Sip" Stitching Die of the Month using DragonfruitSproutMidnight GreenLilacEggplant and Gold Glitter cardstock. This time, I didn't add stitching to those dies.


After stacking the layers of coffee cups with foam tape, I glued the flowers and leaves on to each cup in a different mix of colours so each cup had each colour represented on it. I also alternated the Sprout and Midnight Green leaves for variation.


For the sentiment from All You Need Sentiments, I used Gold Hot Foil on white linen cardstock and popped it up with foam strips. Lastly, I added a few Gold Pearls to embellish the card and give it a little more gold.


I made this card for a friend who had a freak slip-and-fall accident last month which resulted in a nasty break in her left leg. She often joins me and the recipient of the first card for coffee and lunch so we'll be missing her for a couple of months while she recuperates. I hope this card brings her a smile and encourages her to heal quickly.


Here's a list of monthly club kits I share, as well as some of the value kits offered by Spellbinders:



I appreciate you stopping by and, if you're inspired, please shop my affiliate links below. Spellbinders would love to know that you were inspired by me. Thanks so much for your continued support!

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Thursday, March 21, 2024

Spellbinders | 20th Anniversary Card feat. a Beaver and a Panda!


My husband and I celebrated our Champagne Anniversary yesterday! If you're not familiar with this term, a Champagne Anniversary or Champagne Birthday is when the number of years matches the date that the occasion falls on. We celebrated 20 years of marriage on March 20th and it's a big deal so this called for a very special card, of course! ;)
 

I used several of my favourite Spellbinders products on this 4.25x6" card, including the Dancin' Birthday Panda, Let's Celebrate Sentiments Press Plate and Die Set and, of course, the Cherry sheet from the Doodlebug Gingham-Linen Rainbow Petite Prints 12x12" Cardstock Paper Pack.


Wait, what? Is that a beaver, you say? Yes... yes, it is! Did Spellbinders release a beaver die?! No, I dreamt it up using the Dancin' Birthday Panda and the Dancin' Birthday Monster! I'll tell you how I did it but, first, I wanted to let you know that after using the panda a few times, I noticed something shocking - she doesn't have a jacket! So I basically cut two panda torsos and used that die to make a second cut across that the second black piece to create her little jacket. Now she looks like a real panda. ;)


Now for the beaver. If you're familiar with the Dancin' Birthday Monster, you'll noticed that most of the parts are from the monster. I partially die cut the body and bottom of the head from the monster die. To finish the head, I used the top of the panda's head so that they were joined. However, the ears were too big and wide for the monster's head, and beavers have small ears, so I trimmed around the panda ears to create a smooth connection to the rest of the monster's head. The beaver's tail was created from the panda's torso and the Diamond Plaid Embossing Folder.


Let's talk about that sentiment though. I love how it turned out and I can't stop looking at it. I mean, I also can't stop jiggling the card and making this couple dance! LOL Since the sentiments are from Let's Celebrate Sentiments Press Plate, they were meant to be BetterPressed, but I decided to heat foil them. I used Cobalt Blue Hot Foil for the bottom two lines and Gold Hot Foil for the anniversary part. The bit of overlap is just so cool!


To finish the card, I cut out Smart Glasses in frames that look exactly like my glasses and my husband's glasses. I was desperate to fit in the numbers and decided to use the small Be Bold Lowercase Alphabet and Numbers as balloons. The gold string is Light Gold DMC Diamant Grande Metallic Thread.


I hope you enjoyed today's project! If you want to see all of my projects featuring the Monster Birthday Collection, please click HERE. Be sure to check out the Glimmer Foil Fiesta save up to 40% on select products now through March 25, 2024. 


I appreciate you stopping by and, if you're inspired, please shop my affiliate links below. Spellbinders would love to know that you were inspired by me. Thanks so much for your continued support!

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