December Birthday

I have 4 birthdays in the month of December and all my creativity is being sucked out making Christmas cards! So this one is rather simple for my grandson - I made a similar one for my granddaughter but used different colors. so this is it for this sketch challenge. 

Elf

This is a last minute card and no natural light to take a better picture. I used some alcohol background as a backdrop for the elf then a few presents perfect for spoiling! 

Joy to the World

Joy to the World - the Joy card kit I got is so wonderfully versatile. This card may look pretty simple but it did take me a while. I used the double stitched die for the straight red strips on the background and then thought that there was too much white space so free cut thin strips of green to place in between. Then it still looked too plain so I added the bow on the top. I do like the final result of this card. 

Christmas Gifts

Another Christmas card is in the books - I love sketch challenges most of all. That is what gets my creative juices flowing more than any other challenges. Thanks My Favorite Things for having one every week! I am not thrilled with the way that the stocking turned out but overall it worked. 

Spoiling

I had to make another card with these cute elves and decided to try using it for the MFT sketch challenge. I am not too thrilled with this one but it is done now. I used some white snow for the stocking and hat. 

Christmas Elf

I had so much fun with this sketch that I made a second card using the adorable Santa's Elves set from MFT. I found some white flock that I had from eons ago and use that for the hat. I had a heck of a time with the Moroccan Die - it was tough to die cut and took a long time getting the pieces out. But if you don't look too close you can't tell (too  much)! 

Delightful Deer

This is for the sketch challenge at MFT. The photo doesn't show the silver glitter paper circle or the glittery silver sentiment but it does shine. And "YEAH" I have another Christmas card done! This is using the Delightful Deer dies from MFT, and they truly are delightful! 

Christmas Deer

My first Christmas card for 2018! I loved these Delightful Deer die set the moment I saw them on MFT! I made the star using a self made stencil, sponged the inside with dark blue ink and then I used some Decofoil on the the dots. It is really hard to see but those dots glitter and shine. I put the cute cardinal on the lovely script sentiment that was not from MFT but I loved that one.  

Birthday Chicks - Gift Card Holder

The photo didn't come out very well because it is a silver metal gift box container. I created a circle tag with the Birthday Chicks stamp set on an alcohol ink background piece that I had made with gold foil in it. I am sorry about the picture though, it truly is prettier in real life. The colors are purple and yellow.

Peaceful

I just loved how the sky background turned out! I love seeing the surprise that alcohol inks bring out. The sketch challenge on MFT was a real "challenge" I did my best with it. The trees are arranged in a star pattern and for good measure I placed a star shaped snowflake on top of one of the trees. The products used were freebies this month. The sentiment was from a SSS set.  

Lovebirds Anniversary

When you (as we are) blessed with 8 adult children there are many cards that are needed throughout the year. Right now I have several anniversary cards needed for 3 of our sons and their wives. This is one of them. I used the colors for the color challenge on MFT for this card. It took me a bit to find an anniversary sentiment to go with it. I found this one in the "A Tweet Hello" set. I think it went just fine with the peacocks. 

Many Thanks

So often I take images and color them in a variety of ways. This time I did things a little different. I had this panel of alcohol ink trial panel and had not yet decided how I was going to use it. When I saw the sketch challenge on MFT I wanted to do something with that panel so I stamped the images on vellum and let the color from the background come through. I tied a little twine around each leaf and left it. 

Cheer Up

I made this card for my high school senior grandson who got a concussion at his last football game and is not out for the rest of the season. He is very down about this so I hope this fun toucan will cheer him up. This card is also for the sketch challenge over on MFT.

Products used are from MFT:
Cheerful Blessings
Toucan Do It

CAS - World Card Making Day

Then at the last minute I decided to create another CAS card because I was concerned that the one first one was not simple enough. I was all out of the Stitched Blooms flowers so I used the Doodled Blooms and the Yay for You sets. The light was about gone for taking this picture but you get the drift. 

MFTWCMD2018

World Card Making Day - I love that MFT had a challenge to go with it and thank you for giving me Sunday to get them done! I had soooooo much fun! Last week I played around with some Yupo Translucent paper and alcohol inks for fun I was very glad to have that done and used the Stitched Blooms dies to cut out a bunch of flowers. With those I made 3 cards. The first was the ROYGBIV. I used the Stitched Basic Edges to create a rainbow, some of the flowers and stamped on a balloon and sentiment from the Bundle of Balloons. 

The second card was to make a CAS card - more of the flowers and a simple thank you from the Twice the Thanks dies. I used an ivory background with a dark brown card base.

The third card and this time I used some of the smaller flowers that I had cut and added the Vase die and the Smile dies. I used a kraft for the background and brown for the card base. I am really not sure which one I like best but I do know that I will enjoy sending them.

Products used are all MFT:
Stitched Blooms
Stitched Basic Edges
Smile
Flower Vase
Bundle of Balloons
Twice the Thanks

Birthday Scream!

What to do for an 11 year old boys birthday - scream I suppose! That is what I was thinking. Boys are tough to make cards for - especially preteen and teen boys of which I have several! So the monster it is and I hope he doesn't mind the bow but I had just received that in my last order (along with the monsters) and just had to try it out. This card is for the color challenge on MFT. 

Prayers Going Up

Sketch challenge card for MFT. I wanted to have the background a little lighter then it was but I think the effect was still okay. I colored the flower using Prismacolor pencils - not my favorite medium for coloring but it did turn out okay. This flower set called "Fancy Flowers" is retired but still such a pretty flower set. The following MFT products were used:

Sending Prayers Stamp Set
Prayer Die
Fancy Flowers - Retired I think

Fun Birthday Shaker

I made this fun birthday card for one of my contemporaries. I love the "Growing up is Optional" - makes me smile. This card is for The Birthday Project challenge on MFT. This time it was to make the card interactive. You can shake this card for fun. It really came together pretty quickly. I just love MFT's shaker elements. 

Products used:
Gift Shaker Window Frame
Cheerful Greetings

Sketch 403

I made this card for the weekly sketch challenge on My Favorite Things Stamps. I used the Painted Poppy stamp set and a sentiment from another company because it was exactly what I needed for this card. I usually make a card with a purpose. This is for a past co-worker who was just diagnosed with cancer. I had the back panel made with the diagonal distress ink stripe and then changed what I was going to use it for and made it work for this card. I stamped the poppy on vellum and then colored the reverse side with Copics. 

MFT Color Challenge 101

Are these not the cutest dragons ever???? Yup - love them. I made this just for fun. I am blessed with 26 grandchildren and #27 will arrive this winter. There are a few I don't see as often as I would like so this card will be sent to one of them. The colors were a challenge but I think I made it work. I colored using Copics and used the negative space for the miss you words. 

The wonderful MFT products that I used:
Magical Dragons stamps and dies
Miss You die
Stitched Basic Edges die

Hello Beautiful

If you have followed my blog posts - funny really since no one does - this is the flower that I also colored for the MFT big contest. This is the card I ended up making with it. This flower was colored using Zig Clean Color markers and I made it for the sketch challenge over on MFT. The stamp set is Beautiful Bloom and Hello Beautiful. 

Innovation Master

Last card for the big contest on MFT and the most challenging for me. I wanted to make a shaker card but that is not as much of a challenge for me. Since I had just purchased the Essential Sentiments Rip Strips and the Interactive Labels I decided to make a card using these elements. I created the background using some watercolor pants and just using a brush splatter to make it look festive. I used the I Heart Celebrating balloon dies and used the Glitter Paper pack that came in the Bundle of Balloons Card Kit. The Birthday Chicks made it cute for a fun interactive birthday card. The sentiment under the rip strip is from the Bundle of Balloons. 

Coloring Virtuoso

My entry for the coloring virtuoso contest on MFT. I did struggle with this one since I do not see myself as a "coloring virtuoso" more of a coloring constantly practicing virtuoso! I colored this flower from the Beautiful Bloom card kit set. This flower I colored using only 3 Copics - YR18, YR14, and Y32. I did a lot of blending. The card stock is also from the card kit. I used the Stitched Basic Edges and placed the sentiment (slightly curved) in the middle of the panels. I added 3 clear Nuvo drops up on the top right to add some interest. 

Below is the other flower I colored using 3 Zig Clean Color markers (mustard, wine red, and yellow) after embossing the flower. Then I had to choose which flower to use for the contest - I chose the top one because it was softer. Since my chances for winning are slim to nil I decided to make a card I knew I needed to send to some friends. The bottom flower will show up on a future card. :-) 

Clean and Simple Genius MFT

This is my entry for the CAS Superstar contest on MFT.

I like clean and simple so this was the first card I made. All card stock is MFT as is the Itsy Bitsy Polka Dot paper pack. I used the Stitched Basic Edges dies to separate the top and bottom of the white panel to add some interest. The stamp set is called Geometric Greenery. I embossed the leaves and then used some distress inks to color the leaves. A simple sentiment and done. 

Entered in the CAS Superstar Genius contest. Wish me luck! 

MFT Sketch Challenge

This was the first time that I had a chance to color this adorable peacock! I had some alcohol panels and used one of those to match the colors. I do like the colors.

This is for the sketch challenge for MFT.

CAS Birthday Card

I hope this qualifies for the CAS. It is just 1 panel with a slight leafy stencil background. The balloons were from the Bundles of Balloons and the cute little cub is from the Lions and Tigers (retired) set. I used the gift bags die for the bag holding the balloons. 

I am entering this card in the following challenge:
MFT Birthday Challenge

Grateful - Sketch 399

Fall, I love Fall! I love the colors and really wanted to make a Fall card. Living in Florida we don't experience much "Fall" so making cards is about all I get to do. I really played around for a while with this card. The circle was from a piece of alcohol ink panel using my Fallish colors. I dry embossed the brown panel and then used some metallic paste to smooth over it. The leaves are from MFT and I used some sparkly water color paints. I added the burlap strip for interest.  

I am entering this card in the following challenge:
MFT Sketch 399

Summer School - Ombre

There is something about gingham that brings out the need to use yellow or red. But for me it is yellow. This piece of ribbon was in my basket and it was crying to be used which is why I went with the yellow for the ombre look. I used some glitter paper for the balloons. A quick and easy card.

I am entering this card in the following challenge:
MFT Summer School Day 5

Summer School - Rainbow

For day 4 I watched the video and was totally impressed with the way the background was made using the strips of colored card stock. So neat! So I made a panel and then used the fluttering butterfly dies to make rainbow butterflies. I used the fancy flowers stamp set and stamped off twice so that it looked like a watermark so that the attention was on the butterflies. 

I am entering this card in the following challenge:
MFT Summer School Day 4

Summer School - Visual Triangle

Day 3 was a new lesson for me. This was a visual triangle - the hello - the poppy - and the friend creates a triangle. I colored the poppy with Copics. I do like how this turned out, which kind of surprised me because I was quite stumped for a while. 

I am entering this card in the following challenge:
MFT Summer School Day 3

Summer School - Focal Point

Oh I had fun with this one! I used my "freebie" vase and I love how it turned out! I had made several panels with alcohol inks on Yupo and on some Yupo translucent (for the leaves). I really love that vase and it is definitely my focal image. Day 2 of Summer School done!

I am entering this card in the following challenge:
MFT Summer School Day 2

Summer School - Monochromatic

Make a wish...my wish is for more MFT products! So I used pinks and since I had just received an order I used some of the pink tissue paper to peek out of the bags! I knew instantly that I wanted to use that tissue paper. Such fun! So this is day 1 of the second Summer School assignment. 

I am entering this card in the following challenge:
MFT Summer School - Monochromatic

Birthday Toucan

These colors were a challenge but I think it turned out pretty cool. I used several different MFT products in this card. The central image is the Toucan Do It colored with Copics. The wooden fence pieces was the branch from the Owl My Love set. The balloon was from Bundle of Balloons and the dies were Happy and the Moroccan Mosiac set is off in the background. 

I am entering this card in the following challenge:
MFT Color Challenge

Birthday Melody

Oh my goodness - now I know why I save all kinds of colored images and sections of unused backgrounds! I am a teacher and back to work I went - this is seriously cutting into my card making time! So using some colored birds from A Tweet Hello and a section of unused MFT Small Brick stencil. I threw this together rather quickly but I can always use birthday cards so it will go to good use. 

I am entering this card in the following challenge:
MFT Sketch #397

Celebrate You!

My favorite challenges are sketch challenges, for some reason that is what gets my creative juices flowing. I have been wanting to work with the MFT Small Brick stencil. I maybe should have used the center portion rather than the end but... I also love these cute little Birthday Chicks stamps also from MFT.   

I am entering this card in the following challenge:
MFT Sketch #396
SSS Wild Things - because chicks are wild aren't they? 

Smile!

Color challenges do often challenge me the most and somehow this one really took me a while to come up with something. Lately I have been really enjoying "playing with" my alcohol inks so I tried to use the colors in the challenge for behind the word Smile (I love this die). Then I colored the cute owls using the colors. There just wasn't enough room on that branch for all 23 owls so the inside is also decorated with an owl - so is the back. I think it turned out okay but not one on my favorites. 

I am entering this card in the following challenge:
MFT Color Challenge #98
SSS Wild Things

Party!

I love this sketch from the Sketch Challenge at MFT! There will probably be another card coming soon and here it is! I am working at (practicing) water coloring. Kristina Werner and Jennifer McGuire sure make it look easy! For my previous card I worked on using water colors for the background, for this card I used the water colors to paint the birds from the Toucan Do It stamp set. My last name is Flach - pronounced "flock". I HAD to have this stamp set since there are a slew of us Flachs! I also used the Moroccan die and cut it out of an alcohol inked background that didn't turn out the way I had planned but worked perfect for this. 

I am entering this card in the following challenge:
MFT Sketch Challenge - #395
SSS Anything Goes

Anniversary Card

I love this sketch from the Sketch Challenge at MFT! There will probably be another card coming soon. I am working at (practicing) water coloring. Kristina Werner and Jennifer McGuire sure make it look easy! So I was watching a video by Jennifer McGuire on ink lifting with alcohol inks. I did that with the flower but my background got kind of wrecked. So on the Kristina Werner and her video on water color backgrounds. It didn't turn out like hers but I am working on it. I do love the sketch! The beautiful laced background is from MFT called Moroccan Die. I love this die and will be using it again. This card is for my sister and her husband. 

I am entering this card in the following challenge:
MFT Sketch Challenge
SSS Anything Goes

Confetti Fun

Confetti Fun! I made this for one of my young grandsons. I thought he would think this is a fun card. I thought these cute elephants were from MFT but I was wrong although they have a set with elephants very similar to these. It is called Adorable Elephants 

I am entering this card in the following challenge:
MFT Birthday Project

Watercolor Flower

I really do like to use watercolors. It is a nice change from Copic coloring and colored pencils. It is also not quite as exacting. I created the background with some distress inks and the Waves Stencil from SSS. The flower is from GKD called A Year of Flowers 2 and the sentiment is also from GKD called Wealth of Wishes.

I am entering this card in the following challenge:
SSS Anything Goes
SSS Work it Wednesday

Birthday Fun

I totally had fun with this card. It shines and sparkles and shakes and turned out better than I had hoped. I used some paper that I had foiled as the background for the shaker and for the bow. The Birthday Chicks stamps from MFT was just too cute to pass up for this card. I made this for my friend who will totally appreciate this. I used the Gift Shaker also from MFT and filled it with some sparkly gold and silver foil hearts. 

This card is being submitted to the following challenge:

MFT - Birthday Challenge

MFT - Sketch Challenge #394

SSS - Monday Sparkle Challenge

Yay - it's Your Day

Yay is such a fun die from My Favorite Things, I find myself reaching for it often. This is perfect for a teen birthday card. I used an alcohol ink background that had some silver foil added to it. 

This card is being submitted to the following challenge:

Simon Says - Use Die or Punch

MFT Color #97

These colors were a bit of a challenge for me. I am more of a bright colors than the soft and muted colors especially since I chose to go with one of the adorable Toucans and my brand new balloons. This is just a fun card and no idea who I am going to mail it to, yet. 

I used the following adorable stamp set from MFT. 
Stamps: Toucan Do It

The word die is from Happy Greetings
The balloons coordinate with the I Heart Celebrating
The Hello came from a Simon Says Stamp set. I love that script.

This card is being submitted to the following challenge:

MFT Color #97: MFT Color

MFT Sketch

I am going to be a grandma - again. Yeah!!! The shower is next week and they do NOT want to know if they are having a boy or a girl. So this is the card I came up with. I also made it work for my second entry for the Sketch challenge over on the MFT blog. 

I used the following adorable stamp set from MFT. 

Stamps: Welcome Baby
The die called Clothesline (I think). 

This card is being submitted to the following challenge:

MFT Sketch #392: MFT Sketch

MFT Sketch Challenge

Sometimes a challenge can throw me for a loop, this sketch really stumped me for a while. In my family I have many birthdays, especially grandchildren, so making a birthday card usually gets me out of a slump. I also love playing with alcohol inks. So the background piece helped me out with this one. And who can resist this shark?!?!

I used the following adorable stamp set from MFT. 

Stamps: Beach Buds
The die was one I had. 

This card is being submitted to the following challenge:

MFT Sketch #392: MFT Sketch

SSS Color Challenge

Yeah - I am back again - this time with a Red White Blue thank you card. I made this card for friends who hosted the 4th of July gathering this year.

I used some adorable stamps and dies from MFT. 

Stamps: A Tweet Hello
Die: Birdbath

This card is being submitted to the following challenge:

SSS - Color Challenge

MFT - Summer School

I have been struggling with making the time to get back into doing challenges and keeping up my blog. So once again I am restarting this blog. I have updated some aspects of it and I am re-committed! 

I discovered My Favorite Things recently and decided to participate in some of their challenges - the Summer School week has been really fun! I only have a few of their stamp sets (so far!) so a few are a little limited in variety. Thank goodness my sister is a new card making recruit and we are sharing some stamp sets. 

This card is for today's entry focusing on symmetry. 

I used the Doodled Blooms stamp sets from MFT. The sentiment is GKD. I colored the flowers quickly with my Copics and added some GKD crystalline drops for the center of the flowers.

This card is being submitted to the following challenge:

MFT - Summer School - Symmetry