Happy Birthday To You!

So I'm keeping on with different kind of Fancy Folds.  This design is called a Joy Fold.

I used a couple of birthday stamps from a past Virtual Stamp Joy kit.  I stamped the presents in black and then colored them with a a few simple 2-color blends of Copic Markers.  I wanted a little sparkle, so I used my Quickie Glue Pen and some Prisma Glitter to highlight some areas.  I mounted the stamped panel on a "backwards folding" Lollipop card base.  I made the partial card base out of cookie monster, and then added a layer of Blue Raspberry just to the back panel.  

I stamped the single gift image for a tone-on-tone pattern on the front flap.  I popped up the single present with foam tape to make it easier to tuck the corner of the sentiment flap.  This shows a little more clearly how it opens and tucks together.

  

If you're a TE fan and haven't joined the "Fans of Taylored Expressions" group, you should!  The challenges are always fun and inspiring!  I'm also entering into the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge ("Shimmer and Shine").

More Fancy Folds with a Z-Fold Card

The z-fold is another pretty manageable Fancy Fold card design.  This design steps it up slightly by doing some partial die cutting to create the element that flips as it opens.  The little party llama is a critter stamp from Taylored Expressions.  I stamped him on a scalloped circle and used Copics to color him.  I stamped the little confetti image repeatedly, and then colored it to add some more color.  The polka dot is actually just a border stencil, but it's easy to line up the repeating pattern to extend the design.

The simple sentiments are from the Couting Candles Add On set by Taylored Expression.

If you go to my Instagram account (linked under the "Find Me Here" section on the right sidebar), you can see the flip in action.  It's kind of like the first time I used an action wobbler on a card.  Just have to do it over and over and enjoy the fun!  I would also say this Cookie Monster blue is one of my favorite colors in the world.

I'm Back, and I'm Fancy!

Ok, I'll be honest.  Taylored Expressions is holding an open call for their Design Team, so I'm dusting off the blogging skills!  I love their products.  I love their nice, heavy cardstock and the coordinating hybrid inks.  They have a huge, gorgeous color palette.  And I love their stamps and stencils!  They taught me I don't have to be afraid of the red rubber stamps.  I've had the opportunity to participate in a couple of their Virtual Stamp Joy events over the past few years, and they are always so much fun.  

They host a monthly challenge in the Fans of Taylored Expressions Facebook group called the TE Maker Challenge.  This month, the challenge is all about Fancy Folds.  One of the reason I love challenges is because the make me try new techniques.  I had made a few Fancy Folds in classes, but I've never tried to tackle one on my own.  They're kind of fun!

I decided to try the interlocking gatefold design.  I used some Stamp Joy exclusive products including a Foil It card that I foiled with a sparkly gold foil.  I used a coordinating layering stencil set to add some pretty colors.  Guava and Fruit Punch were two of the first TE colors I realized I needed in my life.  Once the panel was inked, I took a deep breath and cut it in half down the middle.  The card base is Rose Water, and it's a normal A2 base that is scored 2 1/8" from both ends to create the gatefold base.  I lined up the panel pieces on the front and glued them down.  I used a die by MFT to cut out the scalloped stitch rectangle frame.  I embossed the TE sentiment in gold to match the gold foil.

Then comes the fancy part.  I glued the inner rectangle sentiment only to the right panel, and the scalloped frame only to the left panel.  This way the card opens down the middle, but the pieces also interlock to close flat.  It makes a little more sense when you see it open.  And it really wasn't that difficult! 

I wanted to add a little design to the inside of the card, as well.  I used the layering stencils and just inked up parts of it to create It makes a few simple floral images. 

So there it is.  A Fancy Blog post for a Fancy Fold card.  Don't be afraid to try something new.  If you hate it, it was only paper!

Two Takes on MFT's Weekly Sketch Challenge #495

Sometimes when you hit a creative block, a sketch challenge is just the thing to get you going!

My first card uses an MFT set called Birth-yay.  So many cute animals in party hats - always a winning theme in my book.  Even better, the stamps have the scene almost created for you since all of this critter stack is a single stamp.  I added a standalone cupcake on top because two cupcakes is better than one.

I used assorted papers from an old Doodlebug pack of paper for the stips.  I decided instead of cramming the sentiment on the front to stamp it on the inside instead.  The current MFT Birthday Project theme is to create a Birthday party scene, so I think this card is perfect for that challenge, too.

My second take on the sketch flips it sideways.  I used a bunch of Reverse Confetti products to create this card for their Stock Your Stack Challenge (Hello/Just Because).

This is probably one of my favorite paper stacks they make called Fun Time.  Pink, Aqua, Lime and Purple.  Right up my alley!  I used a little partial diecutting with the Lacy Scalloped Rectangles set to cut out the panel.  The sentiment was stamped with their You're So stamp set.  I finsihed it with a few gems from Little Things by Lucy's.

So there we go.  One sketch, 2 cards despite a creative rut.  Thanks MFT for the sketch challenges every week!

It's sure to be a full house at the Simon Say Stamp Wednesday challenge this week, since it's the always popular "Anything Goes."  Entering both cards over there.

   

Anything Goes

Create a Birthday Party Scene 

       

Flowers with Taylored Expressions

Taylored Expressions hosts a monthly challenge on their Facebook page called TEMakerChallenge.  This month, you can choose from the prompts "yellow, hexagon and use something from your junk drawer."  There have been some creative junk drawer crafters!  I went with the yellow theme for my 2 cards.

I stamped the TE Doodle Flowers Background in Hero Arts Intense Black ink.  Then I colored it with Copics.  I tried to use mostly yellows... but I had to add a few pops of pink, too.  I think I used every Y copic marker I own!  I added a sentiment from TE Handlettered Sentiments, which is one of my new favorite sentiments sets!  I finished by mounting the panel on a card base made from Simon Says Stamp Sunshine cardstock.

I also created one more card for the current ModSquad Challenge of watercolor stamping.  And once again, I tried to focus on yellow as the prompt.

I used by LePlume markers to color some of the images from the TE Spring Stemps set.  Then I gently spritzed them with water before stamping them onto watercolor paper.  The bottom felt a little empty, so at first I colored a few parts of another stamp from the set to add some leaves.  Then I just free handed some leaves with marker picked up on my paintbrush.  I added the butterfly with the same faux watercolor stamping technique.  I finished it with a sentiment from the Handlettered Sentiments set.  I intended to mount this one on yellow, too, but it just needed a little more contrast.  So I pulled out some Gina K Coral Reef cardstock for the base instead.