mft sending squeezes

There is a new collection of adorable Jenoblade stamp designs hitting the MFT shop today and they are CUUUUTE!

The Sending Squeezes set is not only adorable but it is so sweet! And I'm so looking forward to coloring all these cuties but I needed a quick card so here's what I did...

-I stamped the group of critters in black on white cardstock, going slightly off the edge.

-Then I used a pink colored pencil to give them all pink cheeks.

-To create matching pick cardstock, I swiped Distress Oxide Kitsch Flamingo on a scrap of cardstock and then when it dried, I die cut "hugs" with my beloved Modern Serif Alphabet.

-I adhered "hugs" to the card, overlapping the letters slightly. And to complete the sentiment I used part of a stamp by placing tape over the part I didn't want to stamp before inking. After inking, I removed the tape and stamped.

Definitely pop over to the MFT blog to see more projects with the adorable Jenoblade sets!

Hugs!

Carly

more adorable new mft stamps coming soon!

MFT Stamps has some seriously A-DOR-ABLE new stamps sets coming out tomorrow! Do you want a little sneak peek? Of course you do!!!

Jenoblade, one of my favorite illustrators, has five new sets coming! This Sweet Little Peanut is one of those sets and it is so cute!

For this card I went super simple because I thought I might need lots of time to practice my coloring! And I was right! This is actually my fourth attempt, LOL!

Don't forget to pop over to the MFT blog to see more previews of tomorrow's release!

Hugs!

Carly

pinkfresh studio january 2024 release

Are you looking for a little inspiration to jumpstart a crafty weekend? I think I can help because I've got a first look at some of the Pinkfresh Studio January 2024 release!

This is Wildflower Bouquet! Isn't it a stunner?!! Wanna see what I made? 

The set is really well designed because the four flowers are one stamp and there is a coordinating stencil to add color quickly. Then you can use the coordinating dies to cut them into individual flowers. So for this card I stamped the four flower stamp only twice to make all these flowers!

The die set also has a really fun slot die (you can see it by the pen in the above picture). I used it on my card front to thread ribbon through and tie a real bow around my paper flowers.

So what do you think? Wanna see more? Well head over to Pinkfresh Studio to shop and make sure to stop by my Instagram tomorrow for a inspiration hop. Not only will there be lots of eye candy but there will be prizes too!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs!!!

Carly

valentine cards with pretty pink posh

Are you looking for ideas for Valentine cards? I think I can help because I've been having so much fun creating with Pretty Pink Posh's recent lovely release! Here's my latest card...

For this card I used the Decorative Hearts stamps and my MISTI. The single color hearts are just inked & stamped. For hearts with two colors, I applied the ink to the stamp with a sponge blending tool. And using the MISTI let me apply multiple layers on ink and stamp repeatedly.

I used the "sending love..." sentiment from the Valentine Train set and finished with a little faux splatter (made with a black pen).

Inks: Distress Oxide Shaded Lilac, Kitsch Flamingo & Saltwater Taffy

And here's a little roundup of my other recent Valentine projects with Pretty Pink Posh...

For this card I die cut Be Mine from a white cardstock panel then stamped the "Happy Valentine's Day" from the Sentiment Strip: Valentine set and the cupcakes from the Valentine Cupcake set. I left the cupcakes black & white and added a pop of color by ink blending the front of a folded card before adhering the panel over it.

Inks: Distress Oxide Festive Berries & Kitsch Flamingo

These shaker were super easy to make with Stitched Hearts and Stitched Shamrock dies! For both cards I started by blending Distress Oxide inks on the front of a folded card. Then I added a little glitter paste over the ink (it's easy to DIY by mixing Glossy Accents and glitter into a paste).

While the glitter paste was drying, I die cut one cardstock panel with a heart and one with a shamrock for shaker windows. Then I stamped sentiments below the windows with the Sweet Chocolates set and Lucky set.

The shaker bits are adorable mixes, Colorful Hearts & Lucky Charms

Inks: Distress Oxide Kitsch Flamingo & Twisted Citron

And there's a whole post about this shaker! You can find it HERE.

And there is a post for this one too! Check it out HERE.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs!!!

Carly

mft flower fusion card kit

UPDATE: the Flower Fusion kit is sold out but you can still snag the Flower Fusion Stencils! 

The MFT Stamps Floral Fusion Card Kit just hit the shop and it's gorgeous! 

Yesterday I shared a Pantone swatch style card (see it HERE) and today I have a card to share that I made from yesterday's rejects.

The floral background started as yesterday's first draft but I wasn't sure I loved the colors and then I smudged it, LOL! It doesn't look too bad in this pic but it was too dark to hide so I tossed it in the reject pile.

Then I decided to try it behind the Essential Hello so I cut it from kraft cardstock and I loved it!

And I love how the "sending hugs" from the Essential Messages fits so perfectly underneath the hello. 

My final touch was a little faux black splatter (made with a black pen).

I highly recommend heading over to the MFT blog to see more of the gorgeous cards my teammates have made!

Thanks for stopping by!

Carly

something fun is blooming at mft stamps

UPDATE: the Flower Fusion kit is sold out but you can still snag the Flower Fusion Stencils! 

MFT Stamps is always designing amazing cardmaking goodies but they have something extra special about ready to bloom tomorrow...the Flower Fusion card kit!

This kit features a bunch of fabulous products including a gorgeous layering stencil that I am so smitten with! Want a little sneak peek?

For this card I wanted to create a Pantone-style swatch with the stencil as the "color". I cut a panel the same size as the stencils (4-1/2 x 6 I think) and then I masked off a section at the bottom with low-tack tape.

With the tape in place I used the stencils, Distress Oxide inks and blending brushes. The stencils are a breeze to line up!

After stenciling, I removed the masking tape and cut the panel to A2 size. I added a stamped sentiment from the Essential Messages set (also in the kit) and adhered the panel to a card. 

It was so hard not to add my usual black splatter, LOL, but I think it was the right choice.

Please pop over to the MFT blog when you have a chance for more info about the Flower Fusion card kit and see more inspiration!

Thanks for stopping by!

Carly

simon says stamp smitten & sweetheart release blog hop day 2

I am thrilled to be joining in day 2 of Simon Says Stamp blog hop celebrating the new Smitten & Sweetheart releases!

Before I show you what I made, there's are prizes!!! There are $25 gift certificates to Simon Says Stamp up for grabs at each hop stop! Enter to win by leaving comments along the hop!

And there's a gift with purchase!!! Just follow the instructions on the graphic below when you go to shop ;)

Ok, now let me show you what I made...

When I saw the fantastic new I Think The World Of You die set and Sweetheart die set, I knew they had to be the focal points of cards! Both of these dies are just so stunning!

Here was the process...

• blend Distress Oxide inks on a card panel.
• adhere panel to folded card.
• apply DIY glitter paste (Glossy Accents mixed with glitter) over ink blends and let dry.
• die cut "I think the world..." and "Sweetheart" shadows from another panel and adhere over dry glitter paste.
• die cut "I think the world..." and "Sweetheart" words from black cardstock and adhere in shadow window.
• add a little faux black splatter with a pen.
• and for the Sweetheart card, add stamped "hugs & kisses" from Fresh Air Fall Flowers.

Your next hop stop is Tracy Ware and I know it's going to be beautiful!

And here's the whole hop list just in case...

Simon Says Stamp Blog 

Nina-Marie Trapani

Caly Person

Jennifer McGuire

Suzy Plantamura

Amy Rysavy

Debby Hughes

Emily Midgett

Lisa Addesa

Alberto Gava

Emma Williams

Heather Hoffman

Carly Minner ---you are here

Tracy Ware

Jessica Vasher

Thanks so much for hopping with us! Hugs!!!

Carly

P.S. Check out day 1 of the hop too! It was awesome!!!

P.P.S. And check out the inspiration galleries for the Smitten and Sweetheart!

supplies:

affiliate links may be used at no additional cost to you. thank you!

SSS I Think The World Of You 

SSS Sweetheart

SSS Fresh Air Fall Flowers

Distress Oxide Carved Pumpkin

Distress Oxide Picked Raspberry

Distress Oxide Shaded Lilac

Glossy Accents

Earth Safe Glitter

easy colorful valentine with mft stamps

Did you hear the news that several beloved MFT Stamps colors are BACK?! I'm notoriously terrible at using colored cardstock but when I saw this...

...I was so inspired!!! So I created this super simple Valentine's card!

I cut quick strips of colored cardstock (Poppin' Pink, Moroccan Spice, Candied Yam, Caribbean Sea, Lazy Days & Eiffel Tower), varying the widths. Then I adhered them to the front of my card.

I used the largest heart die from the Heart STAX on a cardstock panel to adhere on top of the strips.

The little sentiment is from the Smooches set, stamped in Poppin' Pink.

Easy, bright and fun!

There's more new cards on the MFT blog today so pop over when you have time!

Thanks for stopping by!

Carly

mft lovely lions

We have been eagerly counting down to the MFT Stamps January release and it's finally here! Before you run off to shop, I've got one more card idea to share...

I love a word shaker so I had to turn the "love" from the Lovely Lions set into one, LOL!

I die cut the "love" from a piece of heavyweight cardstock, adhered acetate behind it and then stamped the coordinating letters onto the acetate in solvent ink.

I stamped, die cut and colored one of the adorable lions to add above the love shaker window.

For the shaker background, I applied Distress Oxide Kitsch Flamingo to the front of the card and then put glitter paste over it. I love glitter!

Thanks for stopping by!

Carly

mft the micest thing

The is something so beautiful & inspiring about Stacey Yacula's stamp sets for MFT that I was inspired to practice a new cardmaking technique!

Well mixing watercolor and colored pencils isn't exactly a new technique for me but it's one that I want to practice.

For this card I did a little Kitsch Flamingo Distress Ink blending on smooth watercolor paper. Then I stamped the hearts in Kitsch Flamingo as well and then watercolored with the Distress Ink to fill them in.

I did the same thing for the sweet little mouse, stamping him in Lost Shadow and watercoloring.

After the watercolor dried, I added more details with colored pencils. I love how soft and painterly the final card is so I think I will definitely keep practicing!

Pop over to the MFT blog when you have a minute to see more of The Micest Friends and January release.

Thanks for stopping by!

Carly

easy diy treat train for valentine's day

I'm very excited to be sharing how I made this sweet little Valentine's treat train over on the Pretty Pink Posh blog today and I would LOVE it if you stopped by to watch!

Hugs!

Carly

mft paper planes

The MFT Stamps January 2024 is only a few days away and it's time for another sneak peek! Today it's all about the cute critters!

Do you have a card design you come back to over and over? I think this might be mine. I see a cute critter stamp set and I always picture how it will look with this design, LOL!

Here's how I make it...

• I mask off a section and add color using a blending brush with Distress Oxide ink (Kitsch Flamingo for this card).
• With the masking tape still in place, I stamp some smaller "scenery" images.
• I remove the tape then add a stamped, die cut & colored critter on top with foam tape.
• Lastly I stamp a sentiment and add a little faux splatter with a pen.

Pop over to the MFT blog when you have a minute to see more of the January release.

Thanks for stopping by!

Carly

mft smooches & tall tag

Are you looking for a super cute Valentine DIY? I think I can help with this sweet & easy one! (BTW, we're counting down to the next MFT Stamps release so some of this cute stuff is coming soon!)

The MFT Tall Tag is not only perfect for this little project but it's super versatile and I think I'll be using it a bunch! It pairs perfectly with the Lip Balm Window & Frame and Lip Balm Pouches.

All you have to do is adhere a Lip Balm pouch (filled with your favorite lip balm) to the Tall Tag and then decorate it.

I used a heart cut with one of the Heart Stax dies as a tag, stamping it with the "pucker up!" from the Smooches set.

Pop over to the MFT blog when you have a minute to see more of the January release.

Thanks for stopping by!

Carly

mft cupigs + mft january 2024 countdown day 4

Are you getting excited about making Valentine cards? You will be when you see the latest goodies from MFT Stamps! The release isn't until next week but I've got a sneak peek for you right now!

Here's a little peek at a new Jenoblade set, Cupigs...

I used the Heart Stax dies to make a quick cardstock stencil and then used it to make a big heart on my card front.

I stamped, die cut and colored one of the Cupigs and some clouds and adhered it to my card with a little foam tape.

The sentiment is from one of my favorite older sets, Everyday Scripted Greetings. 

Pop over to the MFT blog when you have a minute to see more of the January release.

Thanks for stopping by!

Carly

big valentine cupcake + ppp blog hop day 3

Pretty Pink Posh has some adorable stamps, dies and more for Valentine's Day cardmaking in their latest release! And I'm delighted to be joining in day 3 of their blog hop to share it all!

Before I show you what I made, there's more fun! There are 3 $30 gift certificates to Pretty Pink Posh up for grabs! Enter to win by leaving comments along the hop by 11:59pm PST of January 11th, 2024. The winners will be announced on the PPP blog.

Now let me show you what I made...

I'm a little obsessed with the Big Valentine Cupcake and if you know me, you know I had to make it into a shaker card!

For the background I applied glitter paste over pink ink. I made a shaker container with foam tape and then I filled it with the Sweetheart Shaker Beads. I love them, they are the perfect little shaker sprinkles!!! 

Then while I had all the goodies out on my desk, I made another card but for this one I used the positive frosting die cut.

I layered three of the frosting die cuts and then covered it with Glossy Accents. While the Glossy Accents was still wet, I sprinkled it with the Sweetheart Shaker Beads.

Your next stop on the hop is Christina Rannow and I know she is going to have something gorgeous to share!

And here's the whole hop list if you need it...

Pretty Pink Posh blog 
Barbara Tarayao
Laura Evangeline
Leanne West
Rebecca Keppel
Carly Minner ---you are here
Christina Rannow
Jeannie Lieu
Amy Tsuruta
Heather Hoffman

Thanks so much for hopping with us! Hugs!!!

Carly

P.S. if you have time after the hop, I'm sharing my shaker card process on my Instagram!

mft full of heart

Did you hear that MFT Stamps opened their vault this week and brought back some of their most sought-after retired sets? I LOVE when they do this!!! And a set I was hoping would come back has...Full of Heart!

It's such a fun die! The negative die cut makes a great cover plate/shaker window and the positive cuts make adorable confetti!

For this card I ink blended Distress Inks Kitsch Flamingo, Shaded Lilac and Salvaged Patina on my card front. Then I added a little glitter paste on top.

While that was drying I ran the Full of Heart die through my die cut machine hanging off the top of the cardstock panel.

To finish the card, I adhered the panel over the glitter paste and added a stamped sentiment from the Candy Jar Companions set. Actually I used just part of the sentiment with a little masking. I put a piece of low-tack tape over the part I didn't want, inked the stamp, removed the tape and stamped down on to my panel.

There's more about the vault release over on the MFT blog so pop over and take a peek!

Thanks for stopping by!

Carly

pretty pink posh heart cover plate

Have you seen the latest Pretty Pink Posh collection of stamps & dies? It's all fabulous & I'm totally smitten, especially with the Heart Cover Plate! I mean it makes the perfect shaker window and you know I LOVE a shaker card!

For the background of my shaker, I did a little quick ink blending with Distress Oxide Festive Berries, Worn Lipstick and Spun Sugar. Then I spread a little Glossy Accents over the top and sprinkled it with chunky glitter.

After the background was dry, I built a shaker "container" on top with foam tape. I filled it with Valentine Hearts Clay Confetti and sealed it with a piece of acetate.

For the shaker window panel I used the Heart Cover Plate on heavyweight white cardstock. Then I added a little stamped sentiment with the Sentiment Strips: Valentine set and a little faux black splatter with a pen.

I'm going to have some much more to share so please pop by again soon!

Hugs!

Carly