My Favorite Things Weekly Sketch Challenge
Challenge #657
Good day, fellow crafters. I'm excited to share my entry for the My Favorite Things (MFT) Weekly Sketch Challenge. You can find the inspiration sketch below my entry and the link to the challenge post below the logo above. Whether or not my work inspires you to participate, I sincerely hope you enjoy it
This week we are creating with the design inspiration of the MFTWSC657 layout, pictured on the left. This layout has a two rows of three circles which are bisected by a narrow rectangle that covers the sketch from edge to edge. This rectangle acts as both a visual anchor and a dynamic divider, lending a sense of structure and balance to the overall design. Including it adds an element of modern aesthetics while also guiding the observer's gaze across the arrangement.
To begin constructing this card I had to make sure I had some circle dies that would be large enough to provide an opening for the design I had settled on. Luckily for me, last week’s challenge had me doing the same thing so I had what I needed handy. I first took white cardstock and my Love Nicole circle dies, pictured left, and found the correct size to use. Then using a laser level guide I aligned each up in turn and ran them through my die cut machine to cut them out. I set the cut outs to the side for the next steps.
My theme selection for my card – a heartfelt expression of sympathy for the loss of a beloved pet, symbolizing their journey across the rainbow bridge so as I perused my collection, the Critter Condolences stamp set from MFT resonated deeply with this theme, making it an indispensable element in my design. One stamp, in particular, captured my attention – the heart adorned with a paw print. This image truly speaks to the profound impact our animal companions have on our lives, and I was resolute in incorporating it into my creation.
To accomplish this I took each of the circle cut-outs in turn from the previous step and stamped each one with clear embossing ink, added a fine white embossing powder, and then heat set it fully. Then using an ink-blending brush and one of the rainbow colors from my color pallet, I added color until I was happy with the hue. I then wiped off the excess from the heat embossing with a microfiber towel. I then set them aside to dry completely.
The last element to create before assembly was the sentiment. For this I turned once again to the Critter Condolonces stamp set. I found the sentiments that are included in this set are very appropriate and well thought out. Once I had chosen mine, I trimmed a piece of black cardstock to its final dimension, stamped it with clear embossing ink, added the same fine white embossing powder as earlier and heat set it fully.
The last stage was assembly. I trimmed down the background panel to its final dimension along with a black mat to add visual appeal and then adhered them together, then that composite panel to a pre-cut A2 white card base. I next took my colored circles, added some foam tape to give them a little dimension, then adhered them within each circle in rainbow order. Lastly I adhered the sentiment to the card in the location prescribed by the inspiration sketch and called this project complete.
