Stranger Crafting

Today's post doesn't really have a lot of stamping involved, but there was a lot of crafting going on. This week is my husband's birthday and I had been procrastinating on his birthday card. I was struggling with what theme I would use and what I would do with it. The hubby and I are NERDS, as in married on the bridge of the Starship Enterprise NERDS; I have made him Star Trek cards, Zombie cards, and Star Wars cards. The hubby has a lot of interest, which you think would make it easy to pick something. I was really starting to get anxious that inspiration would never hit.

THEN BAM! 

Please note there may be minor SPOILERS ahead so proceed at your own risk.

Photo Credit: {Netflix}

As with all things in life, the hubby and I were late to the Stranger Things fandom, but we've dived right in.  

The hubby has also recently taken a shine to breaking out the old VHS player and watching movies on VHS; he's nostalgic. I decided to make him a Stranger Things card in a box using an adorable set of Stranger Things clip art I purchased on Etsy.  Now if you have never seen what a card in a box looks like, they are a pop up card that is meant to fold down flat to fit into an envelope. One side of the box stays up while the other three sides are bent down. Like this:

Photo Credit: {Splitcoaststampers.com}

I had this idea in my head that I wanted the outside and back of the box to look a little like Joyce Byers' living room. So, remember earlier when I said that there wasn't a lot of stamping, the only thing I stamped was both the inside and outside of the card in a box with a wood grain background. I then did some Google searching for something akin to her wallpaper and those lights. You know the ones I am talking about.

Photo Credit: {Netflix}

I also wanted the three flaps that are bent down to represent The Upside Down.

Photo Credit: {Netflix}

This is what I came up with after some light stamping, printing, fussy cutting, and gluing. 

I have to say that I loved the way it turned out, but I felt like doing just a Stranger Things card was not enough. I decided I wanted to do a snack pack with some of the hubby's favorite goodies. Since I was already doing the Stranger Things theme, I figured I would use an old/empty VHS case. I did some more Googling and found a couple of VHS covers, printed, and trimmed them to size. It wasn't until I was loading my pictures though that I noticed a LARGE typo on the back of the insert. Overall though it is adorable. I love the idea of giving small gifts or snacks in unusual containers. 

That's all I have for today. Next week we'll be back to stamping! 

Kickin' It

I think one of the reasons I am so drawn to My Favorite Things Stamps is their use of puns. I admit it, I'm a punny gal! Who doesn't love a good chuckle? And let's face it their stamps are FREAKING ADORABLE; I feel like Agnes from Despicable Me. IT'S SO FLUFFY!!!!

So this past weekend, between hair cuts, movies, cooking, and guests, I found time to work on a card that I have been wanting to make; I was inspired by Laura Bassen and Amy Rysavy.

Anyway I decided to use MFT Stamps Ninja-mazing stamp and die sets for my slider card.

I stamped my images on Strathmore Bristol Smooth Paper with Archival Black Ink and my Mini MISTI. As a side note can we talk about how much easier the MISTI makes life for stampers? I can't tell you how many times I would have to start over on a project because I could not get a clear image stamped. Anyways... 

I used my Zig Clean Color markers, along with my Pentel Aquash Waterbrush to color my images. Again, how cute are these stamps? 

I used my Cuttlebug and the matching dies to cut these out. I have to say I was pretty pleased with my results (except for that throwing star). 

And of course in usual Mercedes fashion, I forgot to take pictures of the other stuff I die cut. I used Lawn Fawn's Grassy Boarder Die, Impression Obsession's Cloud Dies, and a lovely set of really inexpensive round stitched dies (like $6). I have to say I was hesitant to buy the circle dies, but ended up being pleasantly surprised by them. 

I then missed taking pictures of all the important steps, you know like where I used my Exacto Knife to cut out the slider area on the back piece of grass. 

I used a piece of pattern paper for the back drop and some green textured paper for the grass. I laid out my scene and then added a piece of acetate to the back of my Ninja so he would be above the grass. 

My finished card with the slider still inside. 

My slider card with the slider pulled out. 

And last but not least, I used my remaining pieces to make a cute little scene on the inside of the card along with the sentiment Let's kick it soon (told you I love the puns). 

I promise next time I will do my best to remember to take pictures of all the steps. 

Now go forth and craft!

Scratch and Sniff Card

Earlier this year Inky Antics released a set of clear scratch and sniff stickers in Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Honey, Banana, Popcorn, and Pizza. 

These stickers had me feeling all kinds of nostalgic. I remember collecting all the different scratch and sniff stickers. Do you remember them? Which was your favorite?

I decided to pick up a couple of packs of Inky Antics stickers. They come in a pack of 20 on perforated little squares. I broke out the pizza scented ones this weekend to try out. I thought it worked really well with Simon Says Stamps: Funny Food.

I used Kraft card stock for my base and then die cut a 2.5" circle out of 110lb. card stock and stamped out that cute slice of pizza with his punny sentiment "You've got a pizza my heart". I added a few hearts that I punched out and put

the clear scratch and sniff sticker over the pizza slice.

I finished off the card by cutting a fish tail into a piece of black card stock and using foam pop ups to secure it all on to the card. 

I have to say I absolutely LOVE these stickers; I can't wait to try them all out. 

Have you tried them yet? What are your thoughts?

Sketch Challenge

Hi all I'm back? Did any of you miss me?

While I have been crafting, I haven't posted anything in quite some time. I have gone through a lot of personal stuff, but I am back. I thought it was time to get back on the horse and start posting again. Please be kind as I am a little rusty.

This week, I wanted to participate in my first ever MFT Stamps Card Challenge #340.

I realize it is only July, but for this Sketch Challenge I opted to use MFT's Witch Way is the Candy? Stamp and Dies. I absolutely LOVE this adorable witch. I used the sketch as a guideline and made a shaker card.

I remembered to take a picture as I was working with Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Ink in Fossilized Amber, but didn't take any of all the other work I put into it. I know, I dropped the ball!

I hope you like this card and much as I liked making it.