A Little Spice for my Love

Hi All –

Wowza has it been a CRAZY week! I’d planned on getting this post up on Sunday – but as they say  best laid plans of mice and men. My week has been derailed by work.

I’m trying to take some time off starting this Friday through next Wednesday and I just end up working my tail feathers off to accomplish a few days off. Ugh!

At any rate, I had a few minutes so I wanted to pop in and share the card that I made for my hubby last week.

I fell in love with the Recipe for Happiness stamp set from My Favorite Things when I saw it. The little chef is so cute and I just envisioned a multitude of uses for the set so I ordered it online shortly after it came out. Of course between work, home and DT obligations it seems I don’t get much time to play.

Last week I had a free evening so I wanted to make a fun card for my hubby to let him know how much I appreciate him and love him.

First off, I’m a newbie at the whole masking stamps and layering them up to create a scene so I actually had to use my brain for this one to get the stamp masking and layering right.

I started off by laying out my stamps – in this case it was the pots, pans and utensils from the stamp set. I knew I wanted the chef balanced precariously on top of them, I just needed to figure out the order and then how to stamp and mask.

To get the most precise stamping I used my Mini MISTI (Most Incredible Stamping Tool Invented) from www.mysweetpetunia.com. If you haven’t heard of it – you’re probably on a remote island somewhere. I must confess. I’ve had my large MISTI for well over a year or more and had barely touched it. I know, I think I heard the collective GASP from everyone just now. Then I ordered a mini MISTI (because it was more compact to safe “space” in my craft room – and it was cute, LOL!) and decided once and for all that I needed to use them. I think I’ve been a bit intimidated and confused on how to use them.  I finally watched some YouTube videos about the MISTI and the various ways that it could be used and decided I needed to jump in.  The YouTube videos really helped me for this card.

I placed my stamps face down on the grid paper in the MISTI tool positioning them how I would stamp them. I actually stamped one set onto a test paper and then numbered the order in which they would need to be stamped in order for the masking to be correct.

Remember when you’re using a mask to create a scene, you’ll always stamp the image you want in front first and then mask it and stamp the images that will be behind. Using a scratch piece of paper helped save time and visualize how the card layout would work.

Once I had the order, I used the MISTI and stamped each image and masked it accordingly – ultimately ending up with a precariously piled stack of pots, pans and utensils.

At the top of my stack, I stamped the Chef balancing on one leg and looking cool as a cucumber about the whole predicament – even though it’s rather unrealistic. You’d have to be a circus performer to balance on that pile of kitchen stuff!!

Once all of the images were stamped, I began coloring them with my Copics. Initially my plan was to build a background around my images, however it didn’t work out because my coloring of the floor didn’t look so great and I couldn’t correct what I’d done.

On to Plan B, I ended up fussy cutting the entire stacked image out so that I could put it onto a card base.

I added a couple of background layers and stamped the “You Spice up my Life” sentiment onto a die cut banner ribbon. I love all the sentiments that come with this set, but this one speaks to me. My hubby does spice up my life through joy, laughter and love every day. He reminds me that I’m special to him. He never hesitates to help not only me, but my mom and dad, his own family as well as friends and co-workers. No matter the situation, he’s never failing in his resolve to help others. I love him to pieces and couldn’t imagine my life without him.

For a finishing touch I added a few more utensils floating around the card sentiment.

This was a fun and challenging card for me. It wasn’t a simple stamp and color card. It really made me plan and think. Overall I think it turned out really well and the images are so stinkin’ cute.

My hubby loved it so that makes it a success in my book.

Hope that I’ve inspired you to go out and try something new. Break out that tool or stamp set you bought and haven’t used. Try a new technique that makes you use your brain. You’ll be amazed at what you can create when you step outside of your comfort zone.

Have a wonderful day!  Thanks for stopping by!

Tonya