Get Inspired - Crazy Quilt (Week 2)

Hi Everyone, Happy Saturday! I had a bit of a slow start today so I missed getting my post up first thing.  Sorry for the delay!  Anyway, I'm here now, and Its my turn to contribute for our Get Inspired column over at MFP Speedy TV!

Last week MariLynn used the below picture from Pinterest:

You can find the link to the pin on Pinterest here.  The pin leads to this page on Fickr you can find here. Beautiful!

This picture has a lot going on so there is plenty of things to choose from to use as inspiration.  I decided to use the diagonal layout of the squares on my card.  Here is what I came up with.

I used the MFP stamp set called Lots of Words.  I started by stamping and embossing the image on kraft, and cutting the piece into diagonal squares after colouring.  I found it easier to do this by drawing a grid on the back of the image and using a utility knife and ruler to cut the squares.  I used foam dots to adhere the squares on a patterned paper panel.

I forgot to put ribbon on the panel before adhering the squares as I had intended, so I decided to add some doodled lines to the edges and faux stitching to the sentiment.  I really like how this turned out so I'm kind of glad I forgot the ribbon (I can't believe I just said that!).  Some sparkly embellishments finished the card off. 

Overall this tiling technique is a bit time consuming, but it is really pretty and graphic, so I may use this again.  I think it would be fun to play with configurations and size of the squares and various images.  

As I mentioned before, this post is part of the  Get Inspired page at MFP Speedy TV .   If you are not a member of MFP Speedy TV, its a free social networking site focused on stamping and cardmaking with MFP stamps.  In additon to our column you will find lots of inspiration, including other informative columns on a daily basis, so why not click over and see what you are missing!

So thats it for me this week! Next week I will have some new inspiration for you, so I hope to see you then! 

Get Inspired - Snow Drifts

Hi everyone!  Its Saturday which means its time for some cardmaking inspiration!

This week my inspiration does not come from Pinterest, can you believe it?  Over the last couple of weeks we've had quite a few snow storms.  As a result the snow banks and snow drifts are really high right now.  Thats where this picture comes from:

This was taken by my amazing cousin Cheryl.  I love the abstract shapes and how the snow kind of shimmers.  Here is what I came up with:

I used two Mark's Finest Papers stamp sets - Fairies on the outside, and Glad Glads on the inside.

The background came out really well, definitely something I will try again.  I created it by cutting a piece of vellum the right width for my card, but longer then what I would eventualy end up with. I brushed Tim Holtz Rock Candy Stickles entirely over the vellum and dried it with my heat gun.  When wet the vellum really wanted to curl on itself so next time I think I would just cover half of the vellum at a time so that I can dry it more easily without getting my fingers in the glue. Once dry the vellum had a nice uneven, almost crinkly texture.

I tore the sheet into strips, purposely tearing them in jagged pieces.  After dry embossing the base piece I overlapped the vellum strips, adhering with glue dots.  Normally glue dots show under vellum but I found that the combination of the 'stickled' vellum with the tiny bubbles embossing camouflaged the dots.

After finishing the background I assembled the rest of the card.  I decided to keep the fairy figure relatively monochromatic with the exception of lots of glitter, and some platinum ink around the edges. A bit of ribbon added a splash of colour, and some rhinestones added a final bit of sparkle.

I hope you have found my creation inspiring!  Don't forget to go to the Get Inspired page at MFP Speedy TV next week to see what MariLynn does with this image.  In the meantime have a look around you and see if anything inspires you.  Inspiration to create can come from anywhere!  Feel free to share your creations with us.  :)

If you are not a member of MFP Speedy TV, its a free social networking site focused on stamping and cardmaking with MFP stamps.  In additon to our column you will find lots of inspiration, including other informative columns on a daily basis, so why not click over and see what you are missing!

Get Inspired - Barn Wood (Part 2)

Hi Everyone, happy Saturday!  Its my turn to contribute for our Get Inspired column over at MFP Speedy TV!

 

Today I am using a lovely photo provided by MariLynn last week:

 So pretty!  Here is what I came up with:

I enjoyed making this card, and I used a Mark's Finest Papers' set called Glad Glads.  Its a set I find myself returnning to over and over.   

For the background I used a woodgrain patterned paper and added some Tim Holtz Picket Fence crackle paint.  I love this background.  Once I coloured and trimmed the flower I added some burlap ribbon, wooden heart, sentiment, and rhinestones.  I always love the contrast of natural feeling elements with the sparkle of  rhinestones.  

What do you think, are you feeling inspired? If you are we'd love it if you leave a link in the comments! :)

As I mentioned before, this post is part of the  Get Inspired page at MFP Speedy TV .   If you are not a member of MFP Speedy TV, its a free social networking site focused on stamping and cardmaking with MFP stamps.  In additon to our column you will find lots of inspiration, including other informative columns on a daily basis, so why not click over and see what you are missing!

So thats it for me this week! Next week I will have some new inspiration for you, see you then! :)

MFP February Blog Hop Day #6 - Lucky Duck

Welcome to the Marks Finest Papers, a Heinrich Company

February Blog Hop! 

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

 Featured Feb. 9  Foo Dogs

Featured Feb. 10  Birds of the Orient

 Featured Feb. 11  Birdcages

Featured Feb. 12  Medallion

Featured Feb. 13  Fairies

Featured Feb. 14  Lucky Duck

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!) All six winners will be announced on  Feb. 15, 2014 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 10 PM EST on Friday Feb. 14, 2014

Hi Everyone!  You'll notice this month we are mixing up the structure of the blog hop again.  Instead of spreading the hop over two weeks you'll get six days in a row!  For the first three days one half of the design team (including me)  will be participating in the hop, and the other half of the team will have their projects displayed on the main blog.  For the last three days of the hop the reverse will happen.  That way you get the benefit of all of the crafty inspiration the design team provides, without having to hop and comment on so many blogs.  This just makes it easier for you to win one of this month's lovely sets!

Today we are featuring this month's mini set called "Lucky Duck":

This one is cute!  Here is what I came up with:

I started with a kraft card base and panel, and heat embossed the sentiment and duck.  I coloured the image with a Recollections white opaque marker, and the bill and feet with a bic alcohol marker.  Some dashed lines, Mark's Finest Papers flowers, rhinestones, and twine finished the card front off.  

I hope you liked my cards today!  Feel free to see the rest of the cards that my half of the design team made back at the main blog, or if you haven't hopped along yet start with Lois below!  

Lois

Kelli Jo

Pat G

Karen 

Toni

Janine

Shirley Q

Gail

Vickie

Marks Finest Papers, a Heinrich Co.

Today will be my last post as Senior Design Team member for Mark's Finest Papers.  I've had a great time during my time as part of the team, and I've learned a lot.  You won't be rid of me completely, hoever, as I will be continuing to post in the MFP Speedy TV Get Inspired Column - a new post coming tomorrow in fact!  Even so, I would like to say thank you to Mark's Finest Papers for the opportunity to be a part of this talented team, and to the senior design team even though I won't be contributing to the hop, I willstill be hopping along with all of you in the coming months!  :)

MFP Blog Hop Day #5 - Fairies

Welcome to the Marks Finest Papers, a Heinrich Company

February Blog Hop! 

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

 Featured Feb. 9  Foo Dogs

Featured Feb. 10  Birds of the Orient

 Featured Feb. 11  Birdcages

Featured Feb. 12  Medallion

Featured Feb. 13  Fairies

Featured Feb. 14  Lucky Duck

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!) All six winners will be announced on  Feb. 15, 2014 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!) The deadline for commenting is 10 PM EST on Friday Feb. 14, 2014

Hi Everyone!  You'll notice this month we are mixing up the structure of the blog hop again.  Instead of spreading the hop over two weeks you'll get six days in a row!  For the first three days one half of the design team (including me)  will be participating in the hop, and the other half of the team will have their projects displayed on the main blog.  For the last three days of the hop the reverse will happen. That way you get the benefit of all of the crafty inspiration the design team provides, without having to hop and comment on so many blogs.  This just makes it easier for you to win one of this month's lovely sets!

Today's set is called "Fairies":

Here is what I came up with:

I thought it would be fun to make a card that was white on white with a touch of sparkle.  For this reason I added white texture to white cardstock, and heat embossed white on vellum.  White ribbon, glitter pen, and rhinestones made pretty accents.  

I hope you liked my card today!  Feel free to see the rest of the cards that my half of the design team made back at the main blog, or if you haven't hopped along yet start with Lois below!  

Lois

Kelli Jo

Pat G

Karen 

Toni

Janine

Shirley Q

Gail

Vickie

Marks Finest Papers, a Heinrich Co.

Come on back tomorrow for more creativity.