Author Archives: M. Schuering

Take a Deep Breath

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Staying calm and focused on the positive is always a good idea. The little cutie in this card is doing just that. She’s taking a minute or two to relax and rejuvenate herself. Please do the same. You need it to stay strong!

Stay healthy and safe.

Supplies used in making this project:

  • Stamps:
    • MFT Stamps: Pure Innocence: Serenity stamp set
  • Embossing Folders:
    • We R Memory Keepers Next Level Embossing Folder: Gemstone (used for the background of the card front)
  • Dies:
    • MFT Die-namics: Coordinating dies for MFT Stamps: Pure Innocence: Serenity stamp set
    • MFT Die-namics: Say It in a Starburst (used for the circle around the little cutie).
    • Hero Arts Infinity Dies: Circles (fifth die from the largest – used to cut out the starburst)
    • MFT Die-namics: Oval shadows (for ground underneath little cutie). This may stamp set may no longer be available.
    • Honey Bee Stamps: Banners die set (used for stamping the sentiment)
  • Inks:
    • Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black (Copic-friendly ink) for stamping little cutie image
    • Versafine Ink in Onyx Black (sentiment).
  • Cardstock:
    • Neenah Solar White 110# (used for little cutie and card base)
    • Papertrey Ink in Lemon Tart (used for dry embossed background and sunburst)
    • Papertrey Ink in Amethyst Allure (used for the ground little cutie is sitting on)
  • Copic Markers:
    • Hair: E17, E74
    • Clothes: Top: V05; Slippers: V05, V15; Tights: V12
    • Skin tones: E51 (for base), E02 (for shading); E93 (for cheeks)

Note: I popped up the image of little cutie with foam squares.

Always Stronger Together

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I’m posting a card I made for two people in NYC who are near and dear to me. I’m sending prayers and nothing but good vibes to them and their fellow New Yorkers as they go through the pandemic together. Be brave, be strong, have faith things will get better!

To everyone out there who stumbles on this post, stay safe and healthy!

Supplies used in making this project:

  • Stamps:
    • MFT Stamps: You’re Super and Super Boy stamp sets (girl and boy super heroes, respectively).
    • Altenew: Sketchy Cities stamp set (NYC skyline)
    • Simon Says Stamp: Stronger Together stamp set (sentiment)
  • Stencils:
    • Newton’s Nook: Clouds stencil
  • Dies:
    • MFT Die-namics: Coordinating dies for the You’re Super and Super Boy stamp sets.
    • MFT Die-namics: Oval shadows (for ground underneath superheroes). This may stamp set may no longer be available.
  • Inks:
    • Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black (Copic-friendly ink) for stamping super heroes and skyline
    • Versafine Ink in Onyx Black (skyline and sentiment).
  • Copic Markers:
    • For super hero outfits: Belt: Y423, Y35; Boots R29, R89; Cape: R29 (outside); R89 (inside);
    • For super hero skin tones: E51, E53, E02
    • For super hero hair: Girl: Y11, U21; Boy: C7 (leave small areas white (uncolored);

A Little Kindess In These Times Goes a Long Way

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Hello,

These are difficult times for everyone around the world.

If you are not on the front lines with those people who are trying to understand and fight Covid-19, care for those stricken by the virus or those that can’t work from home because their jobs are important in maintaining important functions to keep everyone supplied with food, services, etc. remember to say a prayer of gratitude and safety for them.

You can reach out to others via texting, Facebook, Instagram, Zoom, Facetime or any other technology that helps us all stay connected. Be there for others emotionally and psychologically since we can’t be there physically. Be supportive, kind and hopeful because we all can use that now. We are all in this together facing a common enemy.

Stay safe, healthy and positive.

Merry Christmas Poinsettia

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I haven’t posted in a while. But now that Christmas is getting nearer, I’ve started making holiday cards.

This card features a beautiful poinsettia flower. I love the die it was cut from. There is so much detail in it. The embossed lines that are created by the die really add dimension to the flower.

I die cut the flowers and the leaves from metallic shimmer paper because I think the holidays are all about things that shimmer, shine and glow. The border stamp (though it is stamped in the middle of the card front) was stamped with metallic gold shimmer ink. The results are stunning, and the photo doesn’t quite capture it.

Hope you like this project. Have a great day and try to fit in some Holiday crafting!

Supplies used in making this project:

  • Stamps: Pretty Pink Posh: Winter Borders stamp set; My Favorite Things: Hand Lettered Holiday stamp set (‘Merry’ ‘Christmas’ sentiment/words).
  • Dies: Hero Arts: Paper Layering Poinsettia Fancy Die.
  • Inks: Delicata: Golden Glitz (for the stamped border. Note: this ink is from Tsukineko); Hero Arts: Mid-Tone Shadow Ink in Royal Red (for sentiment).
  • Cardstock:
    • Papertrey Ink Vintage Cream (card front).
    • Poinsettia flower in Red Satin shimmer cardstock (from my stash: brand name unknown).
    • Leaves: Curious Metallic Paper in Botanic.
    • Flower center: Stardream Metallic cardstock in Gold.

Autumn: Colorful Leaves and Time to Get Cozy

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Fall leaves are the prettiest. Autumn is all about earth tones. The subtle shimmer of rich earth-toned metallics reminds me of Autumn at its richest and most beautiful.

We are two days into the Autumn season and its time to begin reflecting on the past year as everything starts to turn into gorgeous bursts of color before the fade out and plunge into cold and snow. At least that’s what happens to the weather where I live!

I created this card using a beautiful die set. The veining in the leaves from the dies give the leaves a realistic, beautiful, textured dimensional look. The leaves were die cut from metallic cardstock in antique gold and cooper. I adhered the leaves to the card with glue dots placed down the center of each leaf. Afterwards, I bent the sides of each leaf to add some pop-up dimension. The metallic cardstock was thick enough to hold the bending of the leaves without any problem. The sentiment and the die cut of the word ‘Fall’ provide an additional touch of memories of Autumn’s past.

Hope you like this project. Have a great day and enjoy the nature’s colors all around you!

Supplies used to make this project:

Stamps:  Neat & Tangled: Hello Fall Stamp Set (sentiment).

Dies:  My Favorite Things Die-namics: Falling Leaves die set (leaves cut from metallic cardstock); Neat & Tangled: Hello Fall die set (word “Fall” and shadow for the word): My Favorite Things Die-namics: Wonky Stitched Square STAX die set (second largest square from the set).

Inks:  Catherine Pooler Inks: Over Coffee (stamped sentiment);

Cardstock:  Papertrey Ink: Dark Chocolate (for the card front) and Rustic Cream (for the sentiment square); Die-cut leaves were cut from Stardream Antique Gold cardstock and metallic copper (brand unknown). Word “Fall” was die-cut from the metallic copper cardstock.

Autumn Greetings!

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Fall is arriving in a few days!

Even though, the weather still says Summer, it’s time to start making Autumn-themed cards. This card was made using the cute Autumn Wreath stamp set from Pretty Pink Posh. I love this set and all the whimsical images.

The wreath stamp is full of cute details so you can color to your heart’s content. I stamped the wreath with a Copic-friendly ink used my favorite coloring medium, Copic markers in an array of greens, brown, warm yellows and oranges to make the wreath pop on the white cardstock. then die-cut the wreath with its coordinating die. I also die cut another wreath from fun foam and adhered it to the back of the colored wreath before adhering the entire wreath piece to the front of the card. This gave the wreath added dimension.

Hope you like this project. Have a great day!

 

Supplies used to make this project:

Stamps: Pretty Pink Posh: Autumn Wreath stamp set (both the wreath and the sentiment).

Dies: Pretty Pink Posh: Autumn Wreath coordinating die set (for the wreath die).

Inks:  Versafine Pigment Ink in Onyx Black (for sentiment); Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black (Copic-friendly) (for wreath image).

Cardstock:  Neenah Solar White 80# for stamping the wreath; Papertrey Ink: Terracotta Tile for the card front; Neenah Solar White 110# for the card base.

Copic Markers:  Flower images (there are 2 of them): YR24; Berries: R46: Round Berry Plants: YR09 for berry and YG25 for tiny leaves; Oak leaf shapes: Y35 and Y38; Oval leaf shapes: YG25, Y21 blended; Striped leaves YR38 (top) and YR09 bottom and blend with Y38; Mushrooms: E17 and E34; Acorns: Y38 (top) and E17 (bottom).

Please note that I added tiny dots with a fine black artist ink pen to the mushrooms and lines underneath the mushroom cap for gills. I also added crisscross lines to the tops of the acorns with the same fine black artist ink pen.

You Are Every Bit of Wonderful! Single Layer Floral Card

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I love gold embossing powder! Using it really dresses up a card and adds a bit of elegance when paired with a sophisticated background stamp like the one I used for this project.

I took inspiration for this card from the recent bi-monthly Yippee for Yana video on the Simon Says Stamp YouTube channel. This month’s Yippee for Yana video features an elegant one-layer masked floral card.

Yana Smakula’s designs are so wonderful and her style runs the gamut from whimsical to sophisticated. I love the versatility in her card making. She is always a constant source of inspiration.

My project uses Yana’s basic techniques shown in the video. The only obvious difference is the background stamp and sentiments that we each chose and perhaps the specific brands of embossing powders used. I also did not ink blend the edges of the embossed background with the same color of ink but chose a similar color from my ink pad stash.

One other difference is that I masked off a section in the middle by die-cutting a label from a rounded-corner label die using masking paper. After removing the label mask, I heat embossed a sentiment in the same gold embossing powder.

Hope you like my project. Hope you have a great day!

 

Supplies used to make this project:

  • Stamps:
    • Simon Says Stamp: Pretty Peonies background stamp
    • Simon Says Stamp: Uplifting Thoughts (sentiment)
  • Dies:
    • Pinkfresh Studio dies: Essentials Basic Label Frames set
  • Inks:
    • Versamark Ink for heat embossing
    • Catherine Pooler Inks: Icing on the Cake (light ink-blending around edges of card)
  • Cardstock:
    • WPlus9: Coal Mine (very similar to SSS’s Slate cardstock) for the card front
    • Neenah Solar White 110# (card base)
  • Other:
    • Brutus Monroe embossing powder: Gilded

Sending Happy Thoughts: and a Floral Arrangement

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I love making cards that combine several different product types. In this case, I used a floral stamp, a cover plate and a label/frame die for the sentiment. I think all these different elements combine to make a pleasing and cheery card.

The flowers were stamped in a Copic-friendly ink, colored using Copic markers and then die-cut with their coordinating die. The sentiment was cut from a two-piece label/frame die set, one oval and the back a nicely scalloped piece.

The background was debossed using a beautiful color plate with a swirly pattern on a 4-inch by 5.25-inch piece of white card stock and then centered and matted onto a 4.25-inch by 5.5-inch piece of hot pink cardstock. The final card front is adhered to a standard A2 card base.

Hope you like this card. Hope you have many happy thoughts throughout your day.

 

Supplies used in making this card:

  • Stamps: Altenew: Weekend Doodles stamp set (for floral cluster and sentiment).

 

  • Dies:
    • Altenew: Weekend Doodles coordinating stamp set (for flora cluster)
    • Altenew: Dotted Swirls Debossing Cover Plate
    • Papertrey Ink: Limitless Layers 2.5-inch Ovals (for sentiment label)
  • Inks:
    • Memento Tuxedo Ink (Copic-friendly)
    • Altenew: Obsidian Pigment Ink

 

  • Copic Markers:
    • Flowers: RV00, RV11, RV17 (all blended together).
    • Leaves: YG25, YG17
    • Flower centers: Y02

 

  • Cardstock:
    • Neenah Solar White 80# (for debossed card front, stamped floral cluster, stamped sentiment oval)
    • Simon Says Stamp: Doll Pink (mat frame)
    • Neenah Solar White 110# (card base)

Good Times in Sunny California in a Mini Van

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This card reminds me of California. I think it’s the palm trees and floral minivan. Shades of the Flower Power 60’s!

A lot of different product brands went into making this card and I think they all come together quite well on this card, if I do say so myself.

The card is mostly die-cutting. The only images that are stamped are the flowery mini-van and the sentiment. The minivan was colored using Copic markers. After the mini-van was die-cut and colored, it was heat embossed three times with clear embossing powder. This gave the van a very smooth enameled look, much like the enamel pins that are the rage with crafters right now.

Note: I used the Pretty Pink Posh Aloha shaker die for the sun but cut out the word ‘aloha’ and replaced it with a 2-3/8 inch circle.

I list the products that I used below. Hope you like the project. Hope you have some good times today!

Supplies used to make this project:

  • Stamps: Flora & Fauna: Good Times stamp set (van and sentiment)
  • Dies:
    • Flora & Fauna: Good Times die set (van)
    • Lawn Fawn: Palm Trees dies (palm trees)
    • Pretty Pink Posh: Aloha Shaker die (sun)
    • Reverse Confetti: Stitched Rays cover panel (mat piece behind the sun and van)
    • Hero Arts: Circle Infinity Dies (2-3/8 inch solid circle inside the sun)
  • Inks:
    • Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black (Copic-friendly)
    • Versafine Ink in Onyx Black (for the sentiment)
  • Copic Markers:
    • For the van:
      • Tires: C6
      • Bumper and side mirrors: C1
      • Windows and headlights: BG11
      • Flowers and leaves on the van: V05, RV17, Y19, YG07
      • Van Roof and top body: YG23
      • Van bottom body: YG21
    • Cardstock:
      • Papertrey Ink: New Leaf (mat behind the card front and palm leaves);
      • Kraft cardstock from my stash (palm trunks);
      • Neenah Solar White 110# (stamped images, sun ray background, and card base).

Keep Smiling: It’s Rainbow Colored Butterflies!

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Hi everyone! This card was created using a stencil and one of my favorite coloring mediums, Distress Oxide Inks. I love the softness and opaqueness of these inks.

I chose bright colors because it is Summer and stenciled these butterflies in rainbow colored order.

Due to the size of the stencil butterfly and the fact that I wanted six colors for my rainbow I had to create an A6 card. The dimensions of an A6-sized card are 4.5” x 6.25”. This is the overall dimensions of my card, but the center butterfly panel is smaller as you can see. I needed the added length of an A6 card so that I could include the purple butterfly. I love the color purple!

The butterfly panel is raised with the help of a panel of craft foam and then adhered to the black A6-sized card base.

Hope you like this project. Keep smiling and have a great day!

 

Supplies used to make this project:

  • Stamps : Simon Says Stamps: Beautiful Day (sentiment).
  • Stencils: Simon Says Stamp: Butterfly Stencil (the mid-sized patterned butterfly on the stencil was used).
  • Inks: Versafine ink: Onyx Black (sentiment)
  • Distress Oxide Inks: From top to bottom butterfly: Picked Raspberry, Abandoned Coral, Mustard Seed, Twisted Citron, Broken China, and Wilted Violet.
  • Cardstock: Neenah Solar White 110# (for the butterfly panel); Wplus9: Black cardstock (it is 100# weight).

It’s Summer and Life’s a Beach!

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Hi everyone!

Sometimes life can be a beach, especially in the Summer!

I loved making this card using an Avery Elle stamp I bought last year, but hadn’t used! I found it wedged behind my craft desk and the wall while I was doing a little tidying up of my craft room. (Yes, I do clean my craft room from time to time!).

The sky and the sandy beach were created using a cheaper version of the Picket Fence Life Changing Brushes which I purchased from Amazon. I have to say that ink blending with this kind of brush (really a soft foundation brush) makes the process so easy. I also used Bristol Smooth cardstock. Inks just glide over this type of paper when you use it for ink blending.

The images were stamped with a Copic-friendly ink and colored with Copic Markers and I list the colors below. I die cut the images using the coordinating die set for the stamps and raised the images  with bits of foam tape.

Hope you like this project. Have a great, beachy day!

 

Supplies used to make this project:

  • Stamps: Avery Elle: Beside the Sea stamp set
  • Dies: Avery Elle: Beside the Sea dies
  • Stencils: Rosie’s Roadshow Cloud Template (This may be hard to find, but MFT’s Mini Cloud Edges stencil would work).
  • Inks: Distress Inks: Peacock Feathers (for the clouds/sky); Distress Oxide Ink in Tea Dye (for the sand); Versafine Ink in Onyx Black (for the sentiment); Catherine Pooler Inks in Grass Skirt (for the tufts of grass); Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black, a Copic-friendly ink (for stamping the Copic-colored images).
  • Copic Markers: Blue beach house: BG15, BG11, Y19; Orange House: YR19, YR04, Y19; Green/Yellow House: YG07, YG23, YG21; Sun: Y19; Seagull: C1; Sand Pail: YR09: Sand Pail shadow: E33.
  • Cardstock: Strathmore Bristol Smooth paper (for the card front); Neenah Solar White 80# (for the stamped images); Papertrey Ink cardstock in Hawaiian Shores (card mat); Neenah Solar White 110# for the card base.

 

 

So Grateful To Have A Friend Like You: Here’s to Friendships!

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Friendship is too often taken for granted. Now and then it’s nice to give to as well as receive a card from a friend.

This is a simple card that quietly celebrates friendship. The added touch of a strip of glitter paper on the side brings a bit of bling for impact.

Hope this card inspires you to make a card for a special friendship. Have a great day!

 

Supplies used to make this project:

Stamps: Gina K Designs: Hugs and Wildflowers (branch); Gina K Designs: A Happy Hello mini stamp set (sentiment).

Inks: Catherine Pooler Inks (from darkest to lightest): Flirty Fuchsia, Pixie Dust, and Sweet Sixteen; Versafine Pigment Ink in Onyx Black (sentiment).

Cardstock: Neenah Solar White 80# (cardfront); Simon Says Stamp: Glitter Cardstock in Plum (strip); Neenah Solar White 110# (card base).