I have always thought that Ewoks looked like fluffy little dogs, like our sweet Havanese, Bandito, so I knew I could use the adorable Ewok image from the Kindred Spirits “Galactic Sequel” stamp set (one of my FAVORITE stamp sets) colored up distinctly with Copic Markers to represent our two pups:
White fur of Ewoks: W0, W1, and Uniball Signo White Gel Pen
Gold hood beading: Y35
Brown spots: E11, E13 and E15
Black and grey spots: W3, W4, W5, W7 and W9
Reddish brown hood: R22, R05, R29 and E55
Blue grey hood: BG72, BG75 and BG78
I also added a bit of shine and slight dimension by using a Sakura Black Glaze Pen for the noses and eyes, making Babaloo’s larger than Bandito’s like in real life.

I decided to color up the Star Wars episodes VII, VIII and IX character Rey (also from the “Galactic Sequel” stamp set – RETIRED) as me.  I altered the Luke stamp from the Kindred Spirits “Galactic Adventures” stamp set (also a favorite, but sadly also RETIRED) by doodling on Finn’s jacket and holster with a 0.1 pt Copic Multiliner Pen and colored him up as Mr. CraftyPaws:
Rey’s hair: B00, C5 and C7 with fine hair detail additions with a 0.05 pt Copic Multiliner Pen
Rey’s skin: E21, E11, E13 and R20 for blush
Rey’s arm wraps, shirt, and pantaloons: E42 and E43
Rey’s wrap dress: E81, E84 and YG95
Rey’s leather belts and wrist and arm wraps: E55 and E57
Rey’s boots and staff: W1, W4, W5 and W7
Finn’s Hair: E55, E57 and E49
Finn’s skin: E50, E51, E53 and R20 for blush
Finn’s pants: BG72, BG75 and BG78
Finn’s jacket: E43, E44 and E47 and R05 for red accents
Finn’s boots and gun holster: E44, E47 and E49

I fussy cut out the bunch with my favorite Spring Loaded Reverse Scissors by Fiskars, which was really helpful since my arthritis has been acting up recently. I intentionally left a bit of white edging around the images so that they would stand out from the busy background papers. For the background design, I followed a sketch from the current MFT Sketch Challenge (see below), using up a bunch of scrap patterned papers from my scrap box. I added a horizontal band with golden yellow paper with triangles on it, and added orange polka dot top and bottom borders. I topped the band with an oval die cut (this is the 4th largest die from the Diemond Dies Nesting Ovals Die Set) from some funky colorful burst patterned paper, which I popped up on fun foam (for added dimension) and muted by dabbing on Tsukineko Brilliance Moonlight White Pigment Ink behind where the images would be. I inked the edges of the oval with some Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Ripe Persimmon to form a crisp edge and coordinate with the orange of the polka dot paper and reddish brown Ewok hood.

For the sentiment, I stamped out the “Together we can rule the galaxy” sentiment from the “Galactic Sequel” stamp set and matted it with some black card stock. For the inside liner, I stamped out “Happy Father’s Day” from the “Galactic Adventures” stamp set and just used a strip of the golden triangle paper in the lower 1/3 to add a bit of interest. I inked the edges of the liner with more Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Ripe Persimmon to add the touch of orange and mimic the inking of the oval on the card front.

CLICK the following picture to watch a Copic coloring and card share video:

Note: My readers can get 10% off and free worldwide shipping on all orders of $35 or more at DiemondDies.com if they use the code thankskristina at checkout.

Disclosure: Many of the supplies I’ve used for today’s project are linked. Some may be affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support toward the costs of running this blog!

This card is being entered into the following challenges:
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
Through the Craft Room Door Anything Goes Challenge
Penny Black and More Favorite Stamps Challenge
Crafty Gals Corner You’re the Man Challenge
Stamping Sensations Make It Colorful Challenge
Creatalicious Anything Goes with Optional No Design Paper Challenge

MFT Sketch Challenge #494

Anyway, as with all the holidays and birthdays this crazy year, Father’s Day kind of snuck up on me. So today, I whipped together this fast fun pop up card for my dad. I used 3 die sets from InloveArtShop: Cute Love Heart Alphabet Dies (SKU: DMZH813): https://bit.ly/2z3JaeK ; I Love U Pop Up Card Die (SKU: DMZH514): https://bit.ly/2ze11A1 ; and Hollow Heart Frame Dies (SKU: DMZH385): https://bit.ly/2xCpZZ6 PLEASE NOTE: My readers get 15% off their entire order at InLoveArtShop by using the coupon code: FSCraftyPaws at check out.

The inside of the card was super easy to craft using the I Love U Pop Up Card Die. I die cut a piece of white card stock with the I {heart} U die that results in a card liner about 7.25″ x 4.5″. Then I folded up (mountain) along the dotted lines by the tops of the letters and heart, and folded down (valley) along the dotted lines by the base of the letters and heart.  I cut the card base from shimmery red card stock to measure 7.5″ x 4.75″ so that there would be a 1/8″ border all around. Lastly, I used wet glue along the back of the white card stock (except for the pop out tab areas) and lined up the center fold with the card base center fold.  I also lined up the inside of the heart and glued that white die cut into place. Using a bone folder I burnished down the white card liner to make sure all the glued parts were secure.  To add an extra sparkle, I die cut the I {heart} U again from red metallic card stock and fussy cut out the tops and bottoms so that I could glue this high shine layer over the heart dotting the I as well as the I {heart} U.

For the card front, I used plain white card stock just a bit smaller than the card base. Then I die cut the middle sized Hollow Heart Frame Die from the same shimmery red card stock. Lastly, I die cut the letters from the Cute Love Heart Alphabet Dies to spell out “BEST DAD”, using a couple of the spare hearts that were left over from the letters as decorations.

Although this was a fast-to-craft card, I think my dad will really like the fun pop up element.  He loves interactive and unusual cards and will have no idea how easy this was to make. 🙂 CLICK on the picture below to watch the card in action:

This card is being entered into the following challenges:
Creatalicious Anything Goes with Optional No Designer Paper Challenge
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Anything Goes Challenge
Through the Craft Room Door Anything Goes Challenge
Crafty Gals Corner You’re The Man Challenge

I decided that I could be Princess Leia, Mr. CraftyPaws could be Han Solo, and our Bandito could be (of course) an Ewok and used the following Copic colors:
Princess Leia: Hair: C6, C8, B000; Skin: E50, E51, E53, R21; Dress: C0, C1, C2, B32; Belt; C2 and B60
Han Solo: Hair: E53, E57, E59; Skin: E50, E51, E53, R30; Pants: B34 and B37; Belt: E59 and E79; Vest and Boots: E79 and E49; Shirt: Y21 and YR24
Ewok: Fur: W0, W1, E11, E13, E15; Headpiece: BG72, BG75 and BG78
I also used a Gold Gelly Roll Pen to add shiny details to Leia’s belt, the Ewok’s headpiece, and Han’s belt

As these images are clearly the “stars” of the card (pun intended), I kept the backgrounds simple. I die cut some black and grey patterned paper from an old DCWV The Tie-Dyed Stack (retired) using a Simon Says Stamp Stitched Squares Die. I splattered some watered down Copic Opaque White to create a galaxy background, and used black card stock and the Simon Says Stamp Stitched Squares Die and a Lawn Fawn Stitched Hillside Die to create a ground for the characters.

To add some more color, I die cut another stitched square from navy blue shimmer card stock and offset it behind the galaxy background square. Using VersaMark Ink and Ranger Super Fine Detail White Embossing Powder, I also heat embossed the sentiment, “Together We Can Rule the Galaxy” on more navy blue shimmer card stock to repeat the color and give the card a cohesive look. The sentiment, characters, and the squares assemblage are all popped up on double sided foam tape for added dimension and interest. The inside of the card liner was created by using more of the black and grey tie-dyed patterned paper with splattered on “stars.” The sentiment inside is also heat embossed, and simply says, “Happy Father’s Day”.

CLICK on the following picture to watch the process video of crafting this card:

Disclosure: Many of the supplies I’ve used for today’s project are linked. Some may be affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support toward the costs of running this blog!

This card is being entered into the following challenges:
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
Creatalicious Anything Goes with Optional Blue Challenge
Through the Craft Room Door Anything Goes Challenge
Crafts Galore Encore Anything Goes Challenge
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Anything Goes Challenge
Crafter’s Castle Anything Goes with Optional Mixed Media Challenge
Craft Gal’s Corner You’re the Man Challenge
MFT Sketch Challenge 441

It truly is very zen to sit and doodle and play with different designs and patterns. Using Faber-Castell Pitt Pens in XS, S and B point sizes, I had a blast making each butterfly I stamped onto the card front unique. I made some more intensely patterned and left others more open, knowing I was going to cover some of these beauties with a full color butterfly as well as with a sentiment.

Then to add some color, I used a Copic B00 to color the spaces between the butterflies. I wanted these butterflies to look like they were flying wildly in the air in a magical garden. When I finished laying down that base of color, I thought it was an improvement, but somehow it lacked depth.

To address this, I used a couple of Prismacolor colored pencils in Electric Blue and China Blue to add some depth of color in the nooks and crannies of the butterfly wings. Adding just that little bit of detail seemed to make these zentangle butterflies pop off the page. I was a little concerned that this intensity would fight with my focal point full-color butterfly I planned to add over top, but once I started adding this detail, there was no stopping me. 🙂

I separately Copic colored a butterfly with B01, B24 and B28.  This ombre coloring gave the butterfly a luminescent quality. Adding some dot details with a Signo Uniball White Gel Pen also helped this butterfly pop. Fussy cutting out this butterfly and adding some foam dots behind the wings, also helped this focal point butterfly stand out with dimension. Before I adhered this beauty to the card base, I layered in between a smaller sheet of vellum; this helped mute the zentangle butterflies and darker blue nooks and crannies for some visual softness and separation. I secured the vellum to the card base with wet glue under the top butterfly and under strategically placed sequins so that the glue wouldn’t show through the vellum.

As this is a Fathers Day card for my dad, for the sentiment I heat embossed “Thank You” in Korean from the Altenew Oriental Orchid Stamp Set. I popped this up on foam dots for some additional dimension and took this opportunity to tack down the vellum in hidden spots again. For the card liner, I used a couple of sentiments from The Greeting Farm “I Love Dad” stamp set (retired) to stamp “THANKS DAD for all you do” and “Happy Fathers Day!” Then to create a more finished look inside and to repeat the dot details from the card front, I added some more dots around the border of the card liner with my Signo Uniball White Gel Pen. Although a butterfly stamp is not likely to pop up first in ones mind to create a masculine card, I think the black and white graphic zentangling and limiting the coloring to blues, made this card beautiful but totally appropriate for a Fathers Day card.

The following is a process video of crafting this card:

This card is being entered into the following challenges:
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
Creatalicious Anything Goes with Optional Photo Inspiration Challenge
CAS-ual Friday Boys of Summer Challenge
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Anything Goes Challenge
Through the Craft Room Door Anything Goes Challenge
613 Avenue Create Anything Goes with Optional Buttons and Bows Challenge
Penny Black and More In the Garden Challenge
Stamping Sensations Anything Goes Challenge
MFT Sketch #389 Challenge

For this card, I used the laughing donkey stamp along with the karate person kicking from the Diemond Dies Karate Die Set #1 to make a silly Fathers Day card. I printed from my computer the partial sentiment, “Hope your Father’s Day is…” and then I added the kicking person plus the donkey to pictograph the word, “Kick Ass.”

To keep the clean, CAS look, I first die cut the kicking person from white fun foam, but because I thought the dimension was not enough to give it enough visual weight to stand up next to the donkey, I added a lemon yellow kicking person die cut over top. And so that the karate person didn’t look like he was floating, I used a Tim Holtz Shattered Stencil and Tumbled Glass Distress Ink to indicate where the kick had hit a shattered glass background. I masked off the donkey before blending on the ink through the stencil using a Clarity Stamp Stencil Brush, which enabled me to gradually soften the broken glass look to blend to the white of the card front.

I used the following Copic colors for the Donkey: E01, E02, E97, W0, W1 with R14 for gums and tongue; and the ground under karate person and donkey was shadowed with N2. Using these colors I thought gave the overall card a balanced look with softer versions of the primary colors as the main colors of the card (lemon yellow, summer/light blue, and warm peach).

The following is a process video of creating this and the funny farm cow card from the prior post:

This card is being entered into the following challenges:
CASology Farm Challenge
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
Creatalicious Anything Goes with Optional Photo Inspiration
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Anything Goes Challenge
Through the Craft Room Door Anything Goes Challenge
Crafts Galore Encore Anything Goes Challenge
613 Avenue Create Anything Goes with Optional Use Buttons or Bows Challenge
Crafters Castle Anything Goes with Optional More than One Fold Challenge
Stamping Sensations Anything Goes Challenge
MFT Color Challenge 94

I used two of the super adorable puppy images from the My Favorite Things “Playful Pups” stamp set. I first stamped out the pup sitting up and waving (she represents our Biscuit) and then masked it off before laying on the stamp of the big dog cuddling/napping with a smaller pup (they represent Mr. CraftyPaws and our Bandito, who nap together regularly). To make the blanket stretch across all the pups, I left the right lower edge unstamped and doodled in an extension with a Copic Multiliner Pen in 0.03 pt.

I used the following Copic colors for the whole image:
Papa dog: E51, E53, E55, E57, W5 and W7
Sitting pup: E01, E02, E97 and E99
Napping pup: E81, E84, E87
Blanket: B00, B01, YR04, with stitching detail doodled on with a Copic Multiliner Pen in 0.03 pt.
I fussy cut out the trio and inked the edges with a Momento Tuxedo Black Marker to give a nice finished edge.

For the top-folding card base, I used a kraft card stock and cut off the front bottom edge using a My Favorite Things Die-Namics Stitched Scallop Edges. I cut out a little square window using the 4th largest of the Simon Says Stamp Stitched Squares Die Set. I also used the 4th and 5th largest of the Square Die Set to create a double stitched frame that I popped up just a smidgen using rolled up Scor-Tape for a bit of dimension and coated with Clear Wink of Stella for a little shimmer.

I backed the front panel of the kraft card base with a plaid patterned paper with light oranges, blues, and persimmon colors from the DCWV The Pets Stack. I thought these colors coordinated nicely with the Copic colors I had used to color up the doggy trio, and they seemed perfect for a masculine card.

When I glued on the puppy trio to the bottom front of the framed window, I also added just a bit of support behind the puppies heads and ears so that they would be raised to match the level of the frame by using Stampin’ Up Dimensionals (these are 1/16″ thin).

For the sentiment, I used the Clearly Besotted stamp set “Just the Two of Us” and just tweaked it to read, “congratulations daddy, we turned out perfect” by wiping away the “i” before stamping and writing in a “we” with a Copic Multiliner Pen in 0.05 pt. I also doodled on a few hearts to “even out” the sentiment after the addition of the “we”. I lined the inside of the card with a scrap of sorbet orange card stock and simply stamped, “Happy Fathers Day!” from The Greeting Farm “I Love Dad” stamp set.

The following is a video share of this Fathers Day Card:

This card is being entered into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Furry Friends
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Anything Goes Challenge
Not Just Cards One For the Boys Challenge
Creatalicious Anything Goes Challenge with Optional Use a Stencil
Art Impressions White Space is Nice Challenge #209
MFT Color Challenge #70

MFT Sketch Card Challenge #334

613 Avenue Create Anything Goes with Optional Create a Container Challenge

So I decided I would make him a golf (and doggy)-themed card. I used the boy image from the OA “Special Delivery” stamps set by The Greeting Farm and masked off portions of it with washi tape before inking it up. Then I removed the washi before stamping out the image. In the little blank areas, I doodled in a golf club and longer golf pants (the pants I paper pieced from plaid patterned paper to give that ticky tacky golf pant look–LOL). I used the following Copic markers to color this little boy, following the MFT Color Challenge: Skin: E000, E00, E21, E11, R30; Hair: E55, 57, and 59; Saddle shoes: C0, 1, 7, and 9; Golf shirt (I doodled on a collar onto the T-shirt): R20 and 21; Wind breaker jacket: G12, G14, B34, B37; and Golf Club: C0, V20, C7.

For the pups, I used a stamp from the Penny Black “Tiny Treats” stamp set that looks very much like our Bandito, and simply cut off the cake under the puppy. To create a matching mini poodle for our Biscuit, I doodled a pup with a crown (we routinely jokingly call our pups Princess Biscotti and Prince Bandito) with a 0.1 pt Copic multiliner pen. To give these pups a softer look (I had intentionally stamped all the images out with MFT Black Licorice Hybrid Ink because this works with watercoloring and Copic markers), I used the following Tim Holtz Distress Markers with a Pentel water brush: Bandito: Tea Dye and Old Paper; Biscuit: Tattered Rose and Scattered Straw; and Crowns: Mustard Seed and Wild Honey (topped with Clear Wink of Stella). This watercoloring gave them a soft, furry look as I had hoped.

For the card design, I followed an MFT Sketch Challenge and created bands of color with colored and patterned papers from my scrap box. I hand cut the fringe to add extra texture and movement. For the golf cart layer, I used VersaMark Ink and clear embossing powder to heat emboss the cute little cart from The Greeting Farm “I Love Dad” stamp set. To spotlight the characters representing my hubby and our pups, I used the 4th largest die from the Diemond Dies Cross Stitched Circle Nesting Die Set and the 11th largest die from the Diemond Dies Die-Normous Stack-Ems Circle Nesting Die Set to create a little background. Remember, my readers can get 10% off and free worldwide shipping at Diemond Dies on all orders of $35 or more by using the coupon code: thankskristina

For the inside of the card, I used two of the sentiments from The Greeting Farm “I Love Dad” stamp set as well as a paw print stamp that I was gifted from my friend Jill (YT: luvmy2pugs1).

The following is a video share of this card:

This card is being entered into the following challenges:
MarkerPOP Fathers Day Challenge
The Greeting Farm Farm Fresh Challenge – All About the Boys!
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Animal Magic Challenge
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Anything Goes Challenge
613 Avenue Create Anything Goes Challenge
Crafty Girls Creations Anything Goes Challenge
Creatalicious Anything Goes with an Optional Animal Focus Challenge
MFT Sketch Challenge 285

MFT Color Challenge #47

MFT Camp Create – Wonderful Watercolor Challenge

But I have crafty ADHD so I couldn’t just make 2 of the same cards. I had to mix it up. I made the card front with more of that inexpensive 140 lb Seth Cole water color paper using the WPlus9 Sunshine Layers scalloped rectangle die (this paper is not great for watercoloring because it absorbed inks and paint too quickly, but I love the results with shimmer sprays). I used Recollections’ purple shimmer and Heidi Swapp mustard and Heidi Swapp primrose sprays.

For the inside sentiment, I used a free font called Magnolia Sky that I found out about from the Pretty Pink Posh blog (love all the great ideas Paulina shares there). Then after watching an MFT Cap Create Glitzy Glitter YT video,  I was inspired to decorate the inside panel with gold glitter washi tape and dots of champagne gold glitter Stickles.  It’s amazing what a difference a little glitter makes!

The little boy and girl, that represent me and my hubby, are from the Mama Elephant “In My Heart” stamp set. I used a Copic multi-liner pen to doodle in some jeans and belt to alter the boy’s outfit from looking like pajamas. Then I colored up the images with the following Copic markers: Skin: E00, E21, E11, and R20; Girl’s hair: C6, 7, 9 and B00; Girl’s dress: RV52, 55, 66; Boy’s hair: E55, 57, 59; Boy’s jeans: B91, 95, 97; Boy’s shirt: V12, 15, and 17.

I used the Winnie & Walter True Multifaceted Heart Cutaways die on gold foil paper and layered that behind the boy and girl. I just love how this gives a bit of structure and focuses the eye on the two kids while bringing in the theme of “heartfelt thanks” (I printed out that sentiment with the Magnolia Sky font again and hand cut it into a banner).

For finishing toppers, I picked out some sequins from my stash in lavender, gold, and iridescent pink and glued a handful of them on the card front for extra sparkle.  Lastly I had some thin Dollar Tree gold foil paper that I decided to add as matting layers to the card front as well as the inside card liner. That extra shimmer is everything!

The following is a video share of this card:

This card is being entered into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Father’s Day/For a Guy Challenge
Through the Craft Room Door Anything Goes Challenge
613 Avenue Create Anything Goes with an Optional Twist of Make Your Own Challenge: A2 card, father’s day, and gold
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
Winnie & Walter Rerun True Challenge
MarkerPOP Father’s Day Challenge
Craft Your Passion Anything Goes Challenge
Virginia’s View All About Colors Challenge

MFT Camp Create – Glitzy Glitter

Not Just Cards Anything Goes Challenge

The most important aspect (at least for me) of CAS cards is that they are personalized to the recipient. Of course balance and theme can be important too, but really, personalizing cards is where it’s at in crafting (otherwise we could all just buy cards for far less time and money).

I was inspired to make this card by the sentiment, which has been on my list (yes, I keep a little notebook of these) for a while. It is perfectly suited for my dad (and mom) and I thought he would get a kick out of it. I picked up the Stampendous stamp set with the crowns on clearance at Tuesday Morning for about $2 and thought they would be perfect for this card. I used VersaMark ink for the king’s crown and some gold embossing powder, which I heat set. Then I stamped out the king’s crown on a scrap piece of paper and fussy cut around it to make a mask. I temporarily taped it down over the embossed crown so that I could stamp the queens crown with my black Versafine ink, as if it was behind the king’s crown. Super easy, but adds a nice dimensional effect for this simple single layer card!

I hope my dad will like the card, I certainly love the effect of embossing–makes everything look so rich and professional! LOL  The following is a video share of this project:

This card is being entered into the Naughty or Nice Challenge #5
and the Ribbon Carousel Blog Challenge

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