Busy Hands Crafting Blog

An encouragement card for our young friend, who is currently in officer's training/Navy bootcamp right now. LOTS of gold heat embossing! Products Used: MFT Abstract Background MFT All About You MFT You Trio Die-namics MFT Circle Shaker W & F Die-namics MFT Birds of a Feather Die-namics VersaFine Ink VersaMark Ink WOW Embossing Powder

Really wanted to think outside the box a bit, so I went along with the modern looking flowers and background by using more modern/non-traditional colors. Not sure if I pulled it off, but I tried. Products Used: MFT Abstract Background MFT Bold Blooms MFT Label Maker Sentiments MFT Premium Dye Inks VersaFine Ink

Got to sneak away from cleaning and play with some of my retirement sale goodies! These are such happy, summery colors! Products Used: MFT Happy Birthday to You MFT Essential Sentiments MFT So Many Yays MFT Black & White Dots 6x6 Paper Pack VersaMark Ink MFT Premium Dye Inks WOW Embossing Powder Pinkfresh Studios Enamel Shapes

The brown cat has this grandiose scheme to get to those birds -- and I don't think chatting is on his mind. His buddy is hanging out to see if he can actually pull it off. I amuse myself. Products Used: MFT Purrfect Friends MFT Coffee Break MFT Balloon STAX Die-namics MFT Slanted Sentiment Strips Die-namics (retired) MFT Tree Branch Die-namics Spellbinders Fancy Edged Oval MFT Mini Cloud Edges Stencil MFT Extreme Black Ink Distress Ink VersaFine Ink Copic Sketch Markers

Made this sweet, simple Easter card just for fun, using this oldie, but goodie stamp set. Products Used: SSS Some Bunny MFT Spring Scene Builder Die-namics MFT Sweet Celebration 6x6 Paper Pack MFT Extreme Black Ink Copic Sketch Markers Aqua Shimmer Pen

This week's card went just a little bit better than last week's. Well, at least I FEEL better about it, anyway! I keep coming back to these lovely florals again and again -- I just LOVE them! And the sentiment -- does it freak you out to cut them apart? It really felt wrong when I first started doing it, but now I'm kind of okay with it. It's really the easiest way of customizing the layout of a sentiment without driving yourself nuts with masking. This one really seemed to work out well for what I needed. Products Used: MFT Painted Petals MFT More Essential Sentiments MFT Itsy Bitsy Polka Dots Background MFT Blueprints MFT Premium Dye Inks VersaFine Ink VersaMark Ink WOW Embossing Powder Uni-Ball Signo Gel Pen

I was having a super stressful evening and my heart just wasn't in the making of this card. But I powered through and made the best of it. Not my favorite, but it is what it is. On a side note, if I counted correctly, this makes my 30th entry for these card challenges. And I haven't won a single one. I have the worst luck. Products Used: MFT Essential Sentiments MFT Balloon Die-namics MFT Blueprints MFT Party Patterns 6x6 Paper Pack MFT Premium Dye Ink Pinkfresh Studio Enamel Dots Aqua Shimmer Pen

I was inspired by the example cards on this challenge, which is kind of the direction I was thinking about heading anyways at some point. The MFT Design Team must have read my mind! I just adore these sketchy florals -- especially on black and white! Products Used: MFT Painted Petals MFT More Essential Sentiments MFT Rainy Circle MFT Double the Smiles Die-namics MFT Blueprints Die-namics MFT Black & White Dots 6x6 Paper Pack MFT Premium Dye Ink VersaFine Ink

I went out on a limb with this one (pun intended?). I had this idea rolling around in my head for awhile. I just needed the perfect Sketch to use it. :) I really love the soft colors on kraft. They make my heart swoon a little. Products Used: MFT Blueprints Die-namics MFT Branch Freebie Die-namics MFT Filled With Joy Die-namics Hero Arts Many Everyday Messages MFT Wood Plank Background MFT Premium Dye Ink VersaMark Ink WOW Embossing Powder

My youngest son, Drew, is turning nine on Saturday, so I set out to make him a super fun and colorful card, which fits his personality to a T. This card was inspired by Jennifer McGuire's spinner cards  and was a massive labor of love. There were so many elements to it, I had to do each part in steps (i.e. stamp the sentiment, die cut all the many, many pieces, assemble the card, decorate). It was so worth it, though! Doesn't it just want to make you FIESTA?! I just love how crazy it is. Kind of like Drew. Ha! I can't believe he's turning NINE!!! Products Used: MFT More Essential Sentiments MFT Well Connected Alphabet MFT Well Connected Numbers MFT Birthday Balloon Die-namics MFT Fiesta Die-namics MFT Pinata Die-namics MFT Fringed Scallop Borders Die-namics MFT Celebratory Confetti Die-namics MFT Blueprints Die-namics Cottage Cutz Basic Circle Dies MFT Radiating Rays Stencil Distress Ink VersaFine Ink Edit: He LOVED his card! ...

At first, I was really struggling to make something unique with this design. I didn't have much in my stash that would make it stand out. I opted to purchase the triangle stencil, only to have at least SOMETHING to enter this week. But I admit, once I started inking, I hated it. It was incredibly boring. I kept with it, adding extra triangles and whatnot here and there, and finally I ended up with a card that I'm...okay...with. I was happy was I able to salvage it, when I was really ready just to chuck the whole idea and skip this week. Guess it goes to show that you should never give up on a design until the bitter end. As Sandy Allnock always says, "It's just a piece of paper." Products Used: MFT Basic Shapes - Triangles MFT All About You MFT You Trio Distress Inks VersaFine Ink BasicGray Candy Buttons

I needed a quick, simple appreciation card for someone. This isn't what I envisioned (when is it ever?!), and I was about to trash the whole thing, but I stuck to it and I think it turned out okay. Products Used: Spellbinders March 2019 Small Die Club Dies Unknown Spellbinders Freebie Stamp Set Spellbinders Fancy Edges Rectangle Dies VersaFine Ink