Hey, Gullfriend–MFT July Hits & Highlights

It’s July! The heart of summer calls for diving into your crafting head-first. Summer fun is a (cool) breeze to integrate into your card making thanks to an endless variety of MFT products featuring sun, sand, and water. We’ve challenged the team to step up their summer game for this month’s Hits & Highlights. Grab some lemonade and check out their creations!




Hi, everyone, thanks for joining me today for the July Hits & Highlights feature from MFT. I love doing seaside cards and it’s been a while since I visited Seaside Seagulls so I pulled them out for this card. I adore these guys!!

First up I did the sky with Mini Cloud Edges Stencil and Blue Breeze dye ink, then I added Ocean Waves Die-namics cut from Summer Splash card stock with the sentiment stamped on the bottom and popped the layers up on foam tape.



Then I stamped the images with Extreme Black Hybrid ink, colored them with Copic markers, and added them to the scene, also popped up on foam. I added the sun, cut from Sunshine card stock with Beach Scene Builder Die-namics and was done!

This was a fun card to make! Be sure to stop by the MFT Blog to see what some of my team mates have for you today. Thanks so much for stopping by! See you soon!

All products from My Favorite Things unless otherwise noted.

Stamps: Seaside Seagulls
Die-namics: Seaside Seagulls, Ocean Waves, Beach Scene Builder
Stencils: Mini Cloud Edges
Dye Ink: Blue Breeze
Hybrid Ink: Extreme Black
MFT Card Stock: Sweet Tooth, Summer Splash, Sunshine, No-Line Coloring
Supplies: foam mounting tape, E-Z Runner, Multi Medium Matte Glue
Tools: Smart Grid Paper Pad, Mini MISTI, Mini MISTI Grid Paper Pad, MISTI Bar Magnets, Square Bone Folder, Scor-Buddy, QuickStik Pick-up Tool, Precision Tip Glue Applicator Bottle, Copics, Sakura White Gelly Roll Pen, craft tweezers, plastic eraser, sponge daubers
Other: Die-cutting machine, paper cutter

There’s Always Room for you…–MFT Color Challenge #98

Hi, all, I'm back with the latest MFT Color Challenge! Are you ready? Here’s this week’s color combo: Lavender Fields, Wild Wisteria, Peach Bellini, and Coral Crush. All of the details about the color challenge are available on the MFT Challenge & Inspiration blog as well as in the weekly newsletter. The MFT Design Team will be on hand to provide plenty of inspiration to get you started.

I thought a bunch of colorful umbrellas would be a great way to use these colors. I’m using the umbrella from Just Beclaws, stamped with Extreme Black Hybrid Ink on No-Line Coloring card stock and colored with Copic markers. For the background I used Mini Cloud Edges and Cement Gray dye ink and Mini Raindrops Stencil with translucent molding paste.



I popped the background up on the base with foam tape, and did the same for the umbrellas. The sentiment is from BB Rain or Shine and was heat embossed on Translucent Vellum cut with Stitched Fishtail Sentiment Strips.

And there you have it! Remember, you can get all the details by visiting the MFT Challenge Blog. You have the chance to win a $50 in MFT voucher. One winner is chosen at random each week!

Thanks for stopping by! See you soon!

All products from My Favorite Things unless otherwise noted.

Stamps: BB Rain or Shine, Just Beclaws
Die-namics: Just Beclaws, Stitched Fishtail Sentiment Strips, A2 Rectangle STAX Set 1
Stencils: Mini Cloud Edges, Mini Raindrops
Dye Ink: Cement Gray
Hybrid Ink: Extreme Black
Specialty Inks: Versamark
MFT Card Stock: Sweet Tooth, No-Line Coloring
Specialty Papers: Translucent Vellum
Supplies: foam mounting tape, E-Z Runner, white detail embossing powder, Multi Medium Matte Glue
Tools: Smart Grid Paper Pad, Mini MISTI, Mini MISTI Grid Paper Pad, MISTI Bar Magnets, Square Bone Folder, Scor-Buddy, QuickStik Pick-up Tool, Precision Tip Glue Applicator Bottle, Embossing Magic, Copics, craft tweezers, plastic eraser, sponge daubers, palette knife
Other: Die-cutting machine, paper cutter, translucent embossing paste

You Are My Sunshine–MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge #395

Hi, everyone, I’m back with this week’s MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge! Are you ready? Here’s this week’s sketch. All of the details about the sketch challenge are available on the MFT Challenge & Inspiration blog as well as in the weekly newsletter. The MFT Design Team will be on hand to provide plenty of inspiration to get you started.

I went kind of rouge on this card and used a sort of “negative space” for the diagonal element, created with a lot of Puffy Clouds Die-namics cut from Sweet Tooth card stock. I used Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX for the circle element and created a sky behind the opening by stenciling Mini Cloud Edges.



I added Sunny Skies Die-namics cut from Sunshine card stock and have it peeking out from the clouds. The sentiment is from Full of Sunshine Stamp Set and I finished off with some sprinkles and baker’s twine.

And there you have it! Remember, you can get all the details by visiting the MFT Challenge Blog. You have the chance to win a $50 in MFT voucher. One winner is chosen at random each week!

Thanks for stopping by! See you soon!

All products from My Favorite Things unless otherwise noted.

Stamps: Full of Sunshine
Die-namics: Puffy Clouds, Inside & Out Stitched Circle STAX, Sunny Skies
Stencils: Mini Cloud Edges
Dye Ink: Blue Breeze
Hybrid Ink: Extreme Black
MFT Card Stock: Sweet Tooth, Sunshine
Supplies: foam mounting tape, E-Z Runner, Multi Medium Matte Glue, Sprinkles: Bumblebee
Tools: Smart Grid Paper Pad, Mini MISTI, Mini MISTI Grid Paper Pad, MISTI Bar Magnets, Square Bone Folder, Scor-Buddy, QuickStik Pick-up Tool, Precision Tip Glue Applicator Bottle, craft tweezers, plastic eraser, sponge daubers
Other: Die-cutting machine, paper cutter, baker’s twine

Just for You–Color Throwdown Challenge #503

Hey there, it’s time for another Color Throwdown Challenge! This week the lovely Miss Broni is our hostess and she has a classis color combo for us based on her very relaxing inspiration piece.



I decided to do a vase of flowers using Painted Prints Stamp Set and Die-namics and I wanted to look like it was sitting on a counter. So, I created a marble counter using Marble Background with a subway tile wall behind it created by applying molding paste through English Brick Wall Stencil. Then I stamped my flowers and leaves and arranged them in Flower Vase Die-namics cut from Silver Shine card stock to look like a silver vase. Because of the angle you can tell it’s silver but it is! Dimension was achieved with foam tape.



The sentiment is from Playful Peacock, was stamped on Cement Gray card stock, and popped up on foam as well. To finish off I added some Sprinkles and allowed some leaves to “fall” onto the counter ;-)

And that’s it from me! Remember, you do not have to have the exact colors to play the Color Throwdown challenge. If you don't, just use the closest you have. So, c'mon over to the Color Throwdown blog and play along with us this week. Please use the link service to post your card and please link directly to your card so we can find it easily. And please include a link in your post to the Color Throwdown. If you upload your card to a public forum, please use the keyword CTD503 so we can see your beauty all in one place, and use #ctd503 and #colorthrowdown on social media. Hope to see you there! Be sure to check out what the other team members have come up with this week, along with our super talented Guest Designer, Kathy Schweinfurth!

Amy Rohl
Amy Rysavy
Barbara Anders (<—You are here!)
Broni Holcombe
Jodi Collins
Lisa Henke
Lori Tecler
Lynn Put
Vickie Zimmer
Wanda Cullen
Kathy Schweinfurth – July Guest Designer

Thanks so much for stopping by today! See you soon!

All products from My Favorite Things unless otherwise noted.

Stamps: Painted Prints, Playful Peacock, Marble Background
Die-namics: Painted Prints, Flower Vase, Blueprints 27
Stencils: English Brick Wall
Dye Ink: Poppy, Red Hot, Electric Red, Sour Apple, Gumdrop Green, Cement Gray
Hybrid Ink: Extreme Black
MFT Card Stock: Sweet Tooth, Cement Gray
Specialty Papers: Silver Shine
Supplies: foam mounting tape, E-Z Runner, Multi Medium Matte Glue, Sprinkles; Ladybug, Limeade
Tools: Smart Grid Paper Pad, Mini MISTI, Mini MISTI Grid Paper Pad, MISTI Bar Magnets, Square Bone Folder, Scor-Buddy, QuickStik Pick-up Tool, Precision Tip Glue Applicator Bottle, craft tweezers, plastic eraser
Other: Die-cutting machine, paper cutter, hot glue/gun

MFT July Card Kit Release: Bundle of Balloons

Hello and welcome to MFT’s July Card Kit Release! Bundle of Balloons Card Kit is now available for purchase at the MFT Online Boutique! Be sure to stop by the MFT Blog to get all the details!




For my card tonight I combined the kit sentiment stamp set and the balloon Die-namics along with some previously released products for a fun card. I sponged the background, popped up a scalloped frame, and added Wish Die-namics cut from patterned paper.



The sentiment was heat embossed, the balloons were cut from glitter paper from the kit, and I finished off with some Sprinkles to match.

And there you have it! MFT’s July Card Kit, Bundle of Balloons is now available! Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope I’ve given you some ideas for using YOUR Bundle of Balloons Card Kit so go shop! See you soon!

All products from My Favorite Things unless otherwise noted.

Stamps: Bundle of Balloons Card Kit
Die-namics: Bundle of Balloons Card Kit, Wish, Stitched Oval Scallop Frames
Dye Ink: Berrylicious
Specialty Inks: Versamark
Patterned Paper: Black & White Stripes
MFT Card Stock: Sweet Tooth, Daffodil, Black Licorice
Specialty Papers: Translucent Vellum
Supplies: foam mounting tape, E-Z Runner, white detail embossing powder, Multi Medium Matte Glue, Sprinkles: Swimming Pool, Bumblebee, Tangerine
Tools: Smart Grid Paper Pad, Mini MISTI, Mini MISTI Grid Paper Pad, MISTI Bar Magnets, Square Bone Folder, Scor-Buddy, QuickStik Pick-up Tool, Precision Tip Glue Applicator Bottle, Embossing Magic, Copics, craft tweezers, plastic eraser, Mini Ink Blending Tool
Other: Die-cutting machine, paper cutter, heat tool

MFT July Card Kit, Bundle of Balloons Countdown Day Two

Hello and welcome back to Day Two of MFT’s July Card Kit Countdown. This month’s kit is Bundle of Balloons and features darling balloon stamps and sentiments and a versatile size of balloon Die-namics along with card stock and glitter paper. Release is tomorrow night, July 24th at 9pm. Be sure to stop by the MFT Blog for all the details and to see more samples using the kit.



For this card, I cut out a bunch of balloons from Ranger Watercolor Paper and colored them with Peerless Watercolors. Then I splattered them with clean water and after they dried with some black Liquitex acrylic ink. I arranged them on a Sweet Tooth card stock panel and hand drew the strings because I wanted them longer than the ones in the stamp set.



I adhered that to a Sweet Tooth card stock base and then heat embossed the sentiment on Heavyweight Vellum cut with Essential Fishtail Sentiment Strips Die-namics matted with Black Licorice card stock cut with Stitched Fishtail Sentiment Strips Die-namics. I popped that up on foam tape and finished off with some Sparkling Clear Mix Sequins.

And that’s it for Day Two of MFT’s July Card Kit Countdown! Thanks so much for stopping by—see you back tomorrow night for release!

All products from My Favorite Things unless otherwise noted.

Stamps: Bundle of Balloons Card Kit
Die-namics: Bundle of Balloons Card Kit, Stitched Fishtail Sentiment Strips, Essential Fishtail Sentiment Strips
Specialty Inks: Versamark
MFT Card Stock: Sweet Tooth, Black Licorice
Specialty Papers: Ranger Watercolor Paper, Heavyweight Vellum
Supplies: foam mounting tape, E-Z Runner, Peerless Watercolors, white detail embossing powder, Multi Medium Matte Glue, Sparkling Clear Mix Sequins
Tools: Smart Grid Paper Pad, Mini MISTI, Mini MISTI Grid Paper Pad, MISTI Bar Magnets, Square Bone Folder, Scor-Buddy, QuickStik Pick-up Tool, Precision Tip Glue Applicator Bottle, Embossing Magic, Mini Mister, water brush, craft tweezers, plastic eraser
Other: Die-cutting machine, paper cutter, heat tool, Liquitex Black acrylic ink, small art brush

MFT July Card Kit–Bundle of Balloons, Countdown Day One

Hello and welcome to Day One of MFT’s July Card Kit, Bundle of Balloons. Release is on Tuesday, July 24 at 9pm Eastern so mark your calendars now. And be sure to check by the MFT Blog for all the details.




I went very CAS with this card. I stamped the balloons on Sweet Tooth card stock with the colors represented by card stock in the kit: Razzle Berry, Red Hot, Tangy Orange, Lemon Drop, Field Day, Blu Raspberry, Cornflower, and Boysenberry and stamped the strings with Cement Gray because I wanted them to be subtle.



The sentiment was stamped with Black Licorice dye ink, the card front was popped up on the base with foam tape, and I finished off with some Sparkling Clear Mix Sequins. I love these colors! They’re so cheerful!

And that’s it from me for Day One of MFT’s July Card Kit, Bundle of Balloons. Thanks so much for stopping by—see you back tomorrow night for Day Two!

All products from My Favorite Things unless otherwise noted.

Stamps: Bundle of Balloons Card Kit
Die-namics: A2 Rectangle STAX Set 1
Dye Ink: Cement Gray, Razzle Berry, Red Hot, Tangy Orange, Lemon Drop, Field Day, Blu Raspberry, Cornflower, Boysenberry, Black Licorice
MFT Card Stock: Sweet Tooth
Supplies: foam mounting tape, E-Z Runner, Multi Medium Matte Glue, Sparkling Clear Sequin Mix
Tools: Smart Grid Paper Pad, Mini MISTI, Mini MISTI Grid Paper Pad, MISTI Bar Magnets, Square Bone Folder, Scor-Buddy, QuickStik Pick-up Tool, Precision Tip Glue Applicator Bottle, craft tweezers, plastic eraser
Other: Die-cutting machine, paper cutter

MFT Birthday Project Challenge–Throw Confetti Like It’s Your Birthday

Sure, it’s messy and you might be running across remnants long past the big day but you can’t deny the fact that confetti is FUN. Add it to a shaker, precisely place it on your card front, or tuck some into a pocket or envelope - there are so many ways to incorporate this birthday essential into your card making. Let’s see how you sprinkle it into your next birthday card design!

It IS messy but it sure IS fun! I created a shaker card to contain the confetti a bit but I was still finding it on my desk for days afterwards, LOL! I decided to do a full front shaker element using Single Stitch Line Rectangle Frames Die-namics for my shaker frame. To add a little more fun, I stenciled Mini Cloud Edges on the background and filled it with Peacock Feathers Nuvo Pure Sheen Confetti and Golden Years Nuvo Pure Sheen Confetti, from which I drew my color palette.



I placed Celebrate Die-namics across the bottom, cut from Gold Sparkle card stock, Celebratory Banner Die-namics cut from Razzle Berry, Pure Plum, Lush Lagoon, and Green Room card stocks, attached to gold cord, and a two layer Flutter of Butterflies – Lace Die-namics for an accent. Love all the color movement when this bad boy gets shaken up!

And there you have it for the July Birthday Project Challenge! Be sure to stop by the MFT Challenge Blog and check it out--we’d love to have you play along for a chance to win the prize of $50 in MFT Cash to be spent in the MFT Boutique. Winner are chosen at random so everyone has a chance!

Thanks so much for stopping by! See you soon!




All products from My Favorite Things unless otherwise noted.

Die-namics: Celebrate, Single Stitch Line Rectangle Frame, Celebratory Banner, Flutter of Butterflies – Lace
Stencils: Mini Cloud Edges
Dye Ink: Blue Breeze
MFT Card Stock: Sweet Tooth, Razzle Berry, Pure Plum, Lush Lagoon, Green Room
Specialty Papers: Gold Sparkle
Supplies: foam mounting tape, E-Z Runner, Multi Medium Matte Glue, Peacock Feathers Nuvo Pure Sheen Confetti, Golden Years Nuvo Pure Sheen Confetti
Tools: Smart Grid Paper Pad, Mini MISTI, Mini MISTI Grid Paper Pad, MISTI Bar Magnets, Square Bone Folder, Scor-Buddy, QuickStik Pick-up Tool, Precision Tip Glue Applicator Bottle, craft tweezers, plastic eraser
Other: Die-cutting machine, paper cutter

Thinking of You–MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge #394

Hi, everyone, I’m back with this week’s MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge! Are you ready? Here’s this week’s sketch. All of the details about the sketch challenge are available on the MFT Challenge & Inspiration blog as well as in the weekly newsletter. The MFT Design Team will be on hand to provide plenty of inspiration to get you started.

As promised, I have another card using alcohol inks. This time I went with orange and purple—no reason, I just thought the two ink colors would play nicely together and they did. Again, I just started playing and working the ink and alcohol, with a small art brush and air brush system until I was done. So. Much, Fun! For the card itself I stamped a sentiment from Brushstroke Expressions Stamp Set with Versamark and heat embossed with gold detail embossing powder on some Sweet Tooth card stock. I matted that with Gold Shine card stock and popped it up on foam on a card base covered with Itsy Bitsy Polka Dot Patterned Paper.



I cut my inked panel with Mod Square STAX Die-namics, which I popped up on foam on the card front. To finish off, I added some Sprinkles to match.

To add some shimmer to this card, I used gold deco foil and burnished with a bone folder. Hopefully you can see it a little better in this view.



And there you have it—my second alcohol ink project. I am jazzed!!! Remember, you can get all the details by visiting the MFT Challenge Blog. You have the chance to win a $50 in MFT voucher. One winner is chosen at random each week!

Thanks for stopping by! See you soon!

All products from My Favorite Things unless otherwise noted.

Stamps: Brushstroke Expressions
Die-namics: Mod Square STAX, A2 Rectangle STAX Set 1, A2 Rectangle STAX Set 2
Specialty Inks: Versamark, Purple Twilight, Peach Bellini, and Sunset View alcohol inks
Patterned Paper: Itsy Bitsy Polka Dots
MFT Card Stock: Sweet Tooth
Specialty Papers: Yupo paper, Gold Shine
Supplies: foam mounting tape, E-Z Runner, gold detail embossing powder, Multi Medium Matte Glue, Sprinkles: Lilac, Tangerine, Gold Deco Foil
Tools: Smart Grid Paper Pad, Mini MISTI, Mini MISTI Grid Paper Pad, MISTI Bar Magnets, Square Bone Folder, Scor-Buddy, QuickStik Pick-up Tool, Precision Tip Glue Applicator Bottle, Embossing Magic, craft tweezers, plastic eraser, Alcohol Ink Tool Set, Alcohol Ink Palette
Other: Die-cutting machine, paper cutter, 91% alcohol, heat tool, air brush system