House Of Cards End Of Term Blog Hop

     Welcome to our End Of Term Blog Hop at House Of Cards, full hop details are a little lower down the page.
     We have two lovely sponsors for our hop this time so I have used a flower corner from DigiStamps 4 Joy and a butterfly with sentiment from MHK Designs. Using my photo software I arranged all the digi's to fit on a tag, as we are a card blog I have turned that tag into a card.
     The image panel has been coloured with a mixture of alcohol markers, Distress Inks and foils with a little crackle effect added with a rubber stamp. I printed two panels so I was able to cut the butterfly out of the second one and stick it over the flat one, gluing the body only so the wings lift up.
     Alcohol markers soak into the card and show on the reverse so the 'tag' was stuck on to some heavy card folded in half to make a traditional card blank, trimmed to shape the base card now resembles a tag. The hole was punched in just the front of the card with a mixture of twines added.
     Please come and join our hop, there are prizes to be won, the only difference is this hop runs for two weeks, not the usual month. We also have a Design Team call as some of our lovely ladies are moving on to pastures new, we wish them luck and thank them for all their hard work.

Flower Corner

Butterfly Wisdom

I would like to add this card to the following challenges:

Crafty Creations - Anything Goes   (F)

The Paper Shelter - Flower Power   (W)

Pause, Dream, Enjoy - Flowers   (W)

     You should have arrived here from  Michele's Blog. 

 This hop will run FROM JUNE 1ST AT 6:00 AM CST THROUGH JUNE 15TH AT NOON CST,  ANY CARD STYLE is welcome and we've got a gorgeous photo inspiration for your crafting enjoyment!

Here are all of our fabulous sponsors.

Our team will be using a variety of products

from these amazing companies!

MHKDesigns

Prize: Any three products of your choice!

2 Prizes - 2 Digis Each

Your next stop will be  Rosi's Blog

Make sure you leave a comment at each person's blog along the way because the prizes are hidden and we'll be doing random drawings from the blogs where they are hiding! :)  After you're done, make a creation to share with us at House Of Cards for another chance to win!

MHK Designs - Thank You Mynn Blog Hop

     It's the first of the month which would usually mean it's time for a new challenge at MHK Designs, also time for a new set release. But sadly, Mynn, the very talented owner of MHK Designs and card genius, has made the very tough decision to close the blog (the Etsy shop will remain open for the time being at least, but nothing new will be added to it) to focus on what's important to her, her life as a teacher.
     The news came as a shock to myself and the other DT members, but it's a decision we totally support. As most of us had our cards ready for today we have decided to make it a blog hop to say thank you to Mynn for all she has done for us.
     The hop order is further down this post, but first I'd like to say my own Thank You to Mynn for sharing her talent with me and encouraging me to explore the world of digital images. There are some great videos on YouTube showing how to get even more from your images, something I would not have thought of when I joined the team back in 2015.

Judy

Rocky -You are here

Shawna

Jess

Julie

Dawn

Janie

Em

Asha  

Mynn  (not posting, but please leave her a comment)

MHK Designs Designer Inspiration

     Welcome to my designer inspiration for April at MHK Designs, this card was made using the new set Caring Crocus.
     The image was changed to green before being printed on to white card. The leaves and body of the flower have been coloured with pencils, then the flower head outline has been foiled. Using a 2in1 glue pen I drew around the flowers petals and then used a small sheet of foil to give it a purple shine.
     A little ink around the edge of the image panel helps bring it into the purple mat layer before being mounted on a white card blank.

Caring Crocus

       I used to think digital images where just 'print and colour' so not very useful, oh how wrong I was!  They can be sized to fit your needs, turned around, you can alter their colour, take bits off, add bits from other digis and all that before you print. Once printed the colouring can be done with almost anything in your stash, even glittered or foiled.
    So I would like to say a big THANK YOU to MHK Designs for opening my eyes to the world of digital images.

   

MHK Designs April Challenge

     Sorry I'm a little late with my project for MHK Designs challenge, I seem to have lost more than one hour as the clocks changed! The card was made but the post wasn't ready.
     For this card I have used the new set called Caring Crocus. I printed the image and then used an embossing pen to trace around the edges of the image, then I used coloured embossing powder to outline it.
     To colour the image I have used some powder type paint sprinkled over each area after it has been painted with a water brush, I have found it's best to work one small area at a time.
     Finishing off with a bit of matting and layering in matching colours it was completed with a layered greeting popped up on a foam pad.
    Please pop over to MHK Designs blog, if you haven't already, and take a look at all the DT inspiration for this gorgeous spring set.

Caring Crocus

MHK Designer Inspiration

     This month my MHK Designer Inspiration is another flat card, making it a standard postal charge,
this month's release set is Blessed Lily so that's the image I have used.
     Using my photo package I have made a splodgey green background, then overlaid the image in white, along with the sentiment and a butterfly from Butterfly Wisdom.
     I added a little yellow around the stamens before adding another layered image, this time in a dark grey and slightly off the original to give a ghosting effect.
     Our very own Mynn has several YouTube videos you can watch to learn how to manipulate the images, this opens up many possibilities for your digital images.

Blessed Lily

Butterfly Wisdom

         

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Di's Digi Design - Spring Flowers   (F)
Digi Choosday - Anything Goes   (W)

MHK Designs - March Challenge

     Welcome to the new challenge at MHK Designs, this month we have the gorgeous Blessed Lily set to showcase.
    For this card I've used the lily image to build a centre motif and then add corner decoration over a green paper from Easter Flowers.  There are some great tutorials by our very own Mynn on You Tube, which show you how to manipulate the images and produce all manner of artwork.
    The greeting comes from another MHK Designs set, Eat Your Cake, printed and die cut and then layered on silver card. A simple card to make which is also nice and flat for standard postage.
     Come and join us at MHK Designs blog to see all the DT inspiration, play along with us for a chance to win some gorgeous digital images.

Blessed Lily

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Digi Choosday - Anything Goes   (W)

Simply Papercraft - Anything Goes   (W)

MHK Designer Inspiration

     A quick and simple card using the new MHK Designs set Valentine Roses. With postage costs rising cards need to be kept to a medium size and minimum thickness to qualify for standard postage.

     I have changed the flower heads to red and the leaves and stem to green using my photo package. Our very own Mynn has several video tutorials on YouTube showing you how to do this and other changes, making digi images even more flexible.
     The shadow was added with a pale grey marker pen, I had seen this done by another crafter and loved the effect. I'm sure it's possible in the photo package but as yet I haven't discovered how, a project for another day I think.
     A simple die cut shape mounted on thin foam pads straight on to a black card blank makes for a simple but striking card. The addition of a small butterfly just adds a little more interest. I haven't added a greeting but I don't think it really needs one with such pretty roses.

Valentine Roses

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Craft Rocket - Love   (M)
Digi Choosday - Anything Goes   (W)

MHK Designs - Sending Love To Dawn

     Hello friends! Today the MHK Designers are banding together to tell one of our own dear ladies, Dawn Bennett, that we are thinking of her during a difficult time in her life. Dawn recently lost her mother-in-law, and we wanted to let her know how much we care! We hope you take some time to leave Dawn some love, then hop with us to see the cards our team has created in her honor. 

Here is the hop order~ 

MHKDesigns Blog 

Mynn 

Asha 

Judy 

Rocky 

Shawna 

Jess 

Julie 

Em 

    In addition to the hop, we have a special *NEW* digital stamp set made in honor of Dawn's mother-in-law's life. It is called...

Sentimental Lily

MHK Designs - February Challenge

     Welcome to a new challenge from MHK Designs, as it's February we have a pink, love theme for you to use.
     I have used the rose from the new set Valentine Roses to create a very simple card. The image and the sentiment were changed to white using my photo package and then put on a pink background before printing.  If you would like to know how to change the image colours our designer Mynn has some tutorials on You Tube that show you how.
     To keep this card simple the image panel was trimmed and mounted on a black card. It's a simple, flat card which makes it perfect for posting or slipping into someone's pocket or bag for a Valentine surprise.
     Why not come and join our challenge, you don't have to use an MHK Designs image but you could win some just by playing along.

Valentine Roses

   

 I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Digi Choosday - Anything Goes   (W)

Dream Valley - Love   (W)

The Crazy Challenge - Love   (F)

MHK Designer Inspiration

      This new set from MHK Designs has a very topical saying which I made use of on this card, the new film about Winston Churchill is one I shall certainly be going to watch. This set has many options, I chose to make a congratulatory card, ideal for a hard working student.
     The wreath was changed to green, as was the wording, and printed out on white card. With the addition of some colour around the edge and pearl relief drops there is very little decoration added to this.
     A dark green mat layer to frame the image panel was the last addition before being stuck on to a white card blank. There are so many things that you could do with these frames, I think this set has to be one of my favourites. Pop over to the challenge on MHK Designs blog to find out how you could win this new set.

Framed Favourites

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

International Art & Soul - Do Something Digital   (F)

My Time To Craft - Something New   (F)

MHK Designs - January Challenge

     Who doesn't love flowers, this new set from MHK Designs has three gorgeous floral frames and some words of wisdom too.

     Sadly I needed to make a card for a friend who lost someone close this holiday, so these beautiful pansies where the perfect option.
     Printed to form a complete frame all I had to do was add the words in the middle and print it out on white card suitable for alcohol markers.
     I wanted the centre panel to pop a little so I coloured the background with a pale grey-blue pen, that way it remains completely flat. The flowers are coloured with one pen, making use of the blender pen and leaving some of it white.
     Of all the digi images I think I like the frames best, so very versatile as you can put anything in the middle. Please pop over to the MHK Designs blog to see lots more inspiration, join in the challenge for a chance to win some digital images.

Framed Favourites

January Challenge

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Colour Crazy Craft - Anything Goes     (F)
Digi Choosday - Anything Goes     (F)

Have A Very Jelly Christmas

     Now that these gifts have been delivered I can share the pictures. Handmade gifts in handcrafted packaging for three very keen cooks.

      It all started with the Redcurrant jelly, after a bumper crop over the last few years the poor old bush decided to die this year, it will be sadly missed.
     Several of my close friends are very keen cooks so I thought it would be a good idea to give them all a jar of Redcurrant Jelly with a recipe tag for a port sauce.
     Then the quince tree decided to provide so much fruit that I made jelly, jam, lots of crumbles and gave some away too. The fruit is very hard, it has to be cooked to be eaten but is well worth the effort.
     The labels have been made using a digital stamp from MHK Designs, inked and die cut with a double sided sticky backing from Stix2.

     So now I had two jars with pretty die cut paper tops over the traditional cellophane one, both with recipe tags on, to wrap.
     A Kraft gift bag was the perfect solution, but a plain brown bag doesn't look very festive does it. A good reason to break out the Christmas dies and set to.
     All the dies used for the bag front are Sizzix but the tag dies are from other suppliers. Each tag has been edged with brown ink, as well as the cut out stags head and the little splash of red finished them off.
     I just hope the recipients get as much pleasure from the contents as I did  when making them.

I would like to enter my handcrafted gifts and packaging in the following challenges:

Creates and Makes - Anything Goes   (M)

Paper Minutes - Gifts   (W)

Merry Monday - Tic, Tac, Toe (Die cut, Twine, a little Green)   (W)

CraftyHazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas Goes   (M)

The Holly and The Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes   (M)

The Merry Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas    (W)

MHK Designer Inspiration

  The digi papers are very good for making boxes, with so many to choose from it could be for any occasion. As it's fast approaching the festive season I have made a small gift box, a perfect size for gifting a few handmade treats.

      I printed the paper from Christmas Past on to thin card and then die cut the box, it measures 2.5 x 2.5 x 3 inches so it's a rather useful size.
     With just a little double sided tape the box is complete, it has a slot fastening star on top to go with the star paper. All that was needed to finish off was a tag which has a sentiment from Candy Canes and Crackers printed on it, a bit of red edging with ink to make it pop and a big foam pad behind it.
     I do hope you enjoy using MHK Designs images and papers for your projects, don't forget to join our challenge to show us what you've made.

Christmas Past

Candy Canes and Crackers

                             

I would like to enter this gift box in the following challenges:

Make My Monday - Anything But A Card   (F)

Incy Wincy Designs - NOT A Card   (F)

Crafting From The Heart - Anything Goes   (W)

The Holly And Ivy - Anything Christmas Goes   (F)

MHK Designs - November Challenge

     MHK Designs has a seasonal prompt for you this month, you don't have to use one of our images to enter the challenge just take inspiration from the picture.

     Digital images are not just for cards, being able to change the size means you can make all sorts of things with them.
     The wreath has been printed four times, twice in mirror image, this means that I can back the wreath with a corresponding image.
     The wreath is coloured with alcohol markers and then cut out, the top part of the bow and some upper leaves are also coloured and cut out from the spare images.
     Once the images where cut out the edges were coloured to cover and white card that may still be showing.

     Before joining the two wreathes I put some Christmas twine at the top so it can be hung on the tree. After joining the two shapes together the bow and leaves where shaped and stuck on to the wreath on both sides.
     All that remained was to add some tiny red gems for the berries, this also adds a little sparkle as the wreath moves around.
     Please remember you don't have to use an MHK Designs image to play along but of course we would love it if you did.

Wonderful Wreath

MHK Designs blog

I would like to enter this decoration in the following challenges:

CraftyHazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra - Anything Christmas   (M)

The Holly And The Ivy - Anything Christmas   (F)

MHK Designs - Tick Tock

     This is the last of our new releases this month at MHK Designs, Tick Tock. The countdown to Christmas has begun in a couple of houses I know, and that's just the adults, so this card will be winging its way very soon.

     On this sentiment I have changed the 'o' for a clockface, then changed the colour to white before adding it over a paper from Christmas Past.
     A little white gel pen added to the trees to imply snowfall and a little dab of silver sparkle on the snowflakes adds interest without increasing the depth, making it completely flat for standard postage.
     The image panel is matted on silver mirri and then on to a white card blank that has the edges coloured blue.
     Inside there is a die cut tree shape with another sentiment from this set, the green was added before the die was removed so it has a small white border.

Tick Tock

Christmas Past

         








     
      You still have the chance to win this or all of the new releases from MHK Designs, just pop over to the MHK Designs blog to find out how. While you're there why not join our challenge, you DO NOT have to use an MHK Designs image to join us.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

A Snowflakes Promise - Anything Goes   (M)
Digi Choosday - Anything Goes   (W)

MHK Designs - Heaven Heals

     This is the fourth new release set from MHK Designs to be issued this month, Heaven Heals. There is so much in this set, three beautiful frames that can be used on their own, or with the wonderfully gentle sentiments and a gorgeous angel.
     For this card I chose to use one of the frames to surround a colour changed sentiment, the frame is unchanged. The image is printed over a layer of paper from Country Farm changed to match the sentiment. After printing I have coloured the foliage in the frame and added tiny gems to the flowers to add a little sparkle.
     These images can be printed in a range of colours by using your photo package to alter them. There is a fab video by Mynn of MHK Designs here which will run you through the process, so if you (like I did) think that it's just click, print and colour in please watch Mynn's video's, digi's are SO much more useful than that.

Heaven Heals

Country Farm

     There is an opportunity for you to win this or maybe the whole release, details are over on the MHK Designs blog.  You can join in with our challenges too, you DO NOT need to use an MHK Designs image to play along.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Digi Choosday - Anything Goes   (W)
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes   (W)

ModSquad - Sympathy/Thinking Of You   (W)