Card Challenge

 I've been looking at playing along with Kendra's Card Challenge for a couple months, but just haven't had the time.  Today, I finished my first set for Challenge #5.  I used the templates to create Valentine's Day cards (and one birthday card, 'cause the sketch just looked like a cake or stack of presents to me!).  This post will be very heavy with photos; don't say you weren't warned!  I wasn't able to take a photo of all the cards together (or even necessarily get them in the correct order) because I needed some of them on time (for my family) and the others are just going to be late.  The theory behind these cards is that you take 6 sheets of coordinating 6 x 6 patterned paper and following Kendra's cutting templates and sketches, create 15 coordinating cards.  Anyway, here are the group photos:

The first 4 were the ones I needed to actually have on Valentine's Day.  The top three are for my three girls (hence the "Baby Bear" reference) and the fourth was for my parents who were staying with us for the weekend.

I don't have a group photo that includes the card made following sketch #4 because I sent it out in a hurry to my grandmother before I remembered to add it into a group photo.  You will see it in the individual photos farther down in the post.

All the images and sentiments (except the very last card's sentiment) are from the MFT "Bear Hugs" stamp set.  I just got it a week or two ago and it was so adorable I HAD to use it!  I used light gray bases for each card and added matting with a strange gray/green/brown card stock I have had for a really long time.  I actually managed to use up almost 3 sheets of it.  For the heart accents on each card, I used the same red glitter paper.  Most of the details are self explanatory.

Card #1:

Supplies:

Stamps: MFT "Bear Hugs"

Dies: MFT "Smartphone" all the hearts

Challenges:

Cards Galore #96--anything goes

Cutie Pie Challenge--hearts and flowers

Card #2:

Supplies:

Stamps: MFT "Bear Hugs"

Dies: MFT "Smartphone" all the hearts; Spellbinders "Classic Ovals, large" and "Scalloped Ovals, large"

Challenges:

Pattie's Creations #191--anything goes

Use Your Stuff #441--hearts/love

Card #3:

Supplies:

Stamps: MFT "Bear Hugs"

Dies: MFT "Smartphone" all the hearts (even that little heart strip on the right; it's the negative left over from die cutting the little hearts used on other cards); Spellbinders "Classic Circles, large" and "Scalloped Circles, large"

Challenges:

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper--anything goes with patterned paper

Sweet Stampin'--love, love, love

Card #4:

I altered the sentiment on this one by masking off everything but "Love you"

Supplies:

Stamps: MFT "Bear Hugs"

Dies: MFT "Smartphone" all the smaller hearts; Sweet n' Sassy Stamps large heart

Challenges:

Crafty Calendar--anything goes

Cupcake Inspiration #537--Valentine hearts

Card #5:

I used a stencil with light gray ink to create some interest on this one.

Supplies:

Stamps: MFT "Bear Hugs"

Dies: MFT "Smartphone" the tiny heart; Verve "Scalloped Trim Trio" border die and the larger hearts are from the cut out pieces.

Stencil: MFT hearts

Challenges:

Sheepski Designs #59--use some red

Creatalicious Challenge #228--anything goes with the optional twist: make your own background

Dare 2B Artzy--love

Card #6:

I also altered the sentiment on this one so I could stack it instead of using it long as it was designer.

Supplies:

Stamps: MFT "Bear Hugs"

Dies: Sweet n Sassy Stamps large hearts; the small heart is left over from die cutting the border for card #5

Challenges:

Creative Inspirations--with love

Craft Rocket Challenge #89--sparkle/bling (red glitter hearts)

Card #7:

I also used the stencil on this card, masked the sentiment so I could stack it and added a bit of red, dotted ribbon.

Supplies:

Stamps: MFT "Bear Hugs"

Dies: MFT "Smartphone" the heart strip; Spellbinders "A2 Matting Basics A" rectangle that I turned into a tag

Challenges:

We Love Stampin'--anything goes with the optional twist: stenciling

Sweet Stampers #65--Furry Friends

Crafter's Cafe #282--Make your own background

Card #8:

Again, masked the sentiment so I could stamp it in two different places and used a bit more of the ribbon.

Supplies:

Stamps: MFT "Bear Hugs"

Dies: the hearts are left over from cutting out the Verve "Scalloped Trim Trio" border die

Challenges:

Moving Along with the Times #139--love, anniversary, wedding

A Gem of a Challenge--anything goes

Card #9:

Added a bit of red and white twine.

Supplies:

Stamps: MFT "Bear Hugs"

Dies: MFT "Smartphone" heart

Challenges:

Crafty Gals #228--add a heart

NBUS (Never Before Used Stuff) #35--anything goes with never before used stuff (I just got the stamp set so this is the first time I've inked it up.  And the paper pack has been sitting around unopened for couple years)

Card #10:

Supplies:

Stamps: MFT "Bear Hugs"

Dies: MFT "Smartphone" all the hearts; Spellbinders "Classic Ovals, large"

Challenges:

Unicorn Challenge #73--Let's see red

Di's Digi Designs--use red and/or pink

Cardz 4 Guyz #289--love cards (this one is for my nephew who is 7)

Make My Monday #168--Three (3) hearts

Card #11:

Supplies:

Stamps: MFT "Bear Hugs"

Dies: MFT "Smartphone" all the hearts

Challenges:

613 Avenue Create--anything goes with the optional twist: whimsical valentine

Penny's Challenge #515--anything goes

Card #12:

I masked the sentiment again to stack it and used a slightly smaller heart die than the other large ones (still from the same die set, though)

Supplies:

Stamps: MFT "Bear Hugs"

Dies: Sweet n' Sassy Stamps heart

Challenges:

Crafting Happiness #128--anything goes

Word Art Wednesday #531--anything goes with uplifting sentiment

Card #13:

Masked the sentiment so I only got the "love you" part in.

Supplies:

Stamps: MFT "Bear Hugs"

Dies: MFT "Smartphone" all the hearts

Challenges:

Creative Fingers #224--anything goes

Creative Moments #231--anything goes with the optional twist: love it or hate it

Lil' Red Wagon #641--make it masculine

Card 14:

I think this one is probably my favorite!  I cut the bottom mat layer from the same card stock the card base is from, but I inked the edges with a bit of light gray ink to make it stand out and add interest.

Supplies:

Stamps: MFT "Bear Hugs"

Dies: MFT "Smartphone" the smallest heart; the larger heart is left over from Verve's Scalloped Trim Trio border die

Challenges:

Aud Sentiments #291--love

Card #15:

This one just HAD to be a birthday card.  I could not unsee the present or cake stack in the template and I just had to go with it.  The "ribbon" and bow are from an Elizabeth Craft Design Baubles die set and I used a sentiment from a different set from MFT.

Supplies:

Stamps: MFT "Bear Hugs" image and "Sassy Pants Birthday Greetings

Dies: MFT "Smartphone" the little tiny heart; Elizabeth Crafts Design ornament topper.

Challenges:

Less Is More #458--birthdays

Fab n Funky challenge #545--birthdays