My Favorite Things...September Design Team Creative Challenge...No Patterned Paper!

Hello Stampin' friends! Welcome to the September MFT Design Team Creative Challenge. This is a monthly feature, where we are challenged to explore our creative side using a specific theme, product, or technique. This month, we were challenged to create a card or project with no patterned paper.  Be sure to check out the MFT Blog for a list of all participating designers who have a project to share with you today. 

 I must say that this was quite the challenge for me to not use ANY patterned paper!!! I absolutely adore patterned paper it is one of the things that I just can't really craft without but I took the challenge this month...NO PATTERNED PAPER, as scary as it was. So, I decided to make a Christmas card set.  It just so happened that my order of gorgeous MFT Heavyweight card stock arrived in time and it wasn't so difficult after all. I used MFT Heavyweight card stock in Kraft, Whip Cream Natural, Hot Fudge, Jellybean Green and Paver Red. The First card measures 5.5 X5.5 and the other four coordinating cards are A2 - 4.25 X5.5.

 I thought I would use this beautiful MFT Inspired By Christmas Stamp set. One of the things that I thought would be important on a card without any patterned paper is texture. So, I have added several different elements to the cards to add texture and interest. 

I have been wanting to use the Crystal Ballz that I've had in my stash for a while and thought it would add some pretty sparkle and texture to my cards. I stamped the image with VersaFine Sepia Ink, cut the image with my Circle STAX Die-namics and also used the Circle STAX  Die-namics to cut the double sided Crystal Ballz tape to fit the image perfectly....not need to trim around it...love that. I removed the backing, laid the double sided tape over the image and removed the top liner paper and sprinkled the Crystal Balls all over the image, making sure to get good coverage and patting them down a bit to make sure the were good and secure. I also embossed the Paver Red panel with a Cuttlebug embossing folder. I then cut some corrugated cardboard with the NEW Jumbo Fishtail Banner STAX Die-namics and used the NEW Large Fancy Flourish Die-namics and cut it up and added just a piece of it tucked up under the main panel. The sentiments were stamped with Schoolhouse Mix'd Media Inx and heat embossed with clear embossing powder. I also added some scrumptious Paver Grosgrain Ribbon.

Here is a detail shot...I wanted you to see the effect of the Crystal Ballz over the image but unfortunately it didn't photograph well but it is a very pretty effect. The little circle tag is from the Let's Toast Die-namics set...love this little tag. I stamped and embossed a sentiment from the IB Christmas set. I layered it over a circle cut form corrugated cardboard and tied it with some AC brown twine. 

I kept the inside of all the cards very simple; stamping and heat embossing the image and sentiment on Whip Cream card stock. 

On this card I have cut the Santa from the Inspired By Christmas Stamp set with my Oval STAX Die-namics and layered him over the Dainty Doily Die-namics cut from corrugated cardboard. I embossed the Whip Cream Panel and added the NEW Harlequin Border Die-namics cut from Jellybean Green Heavyweight card stock.  The sentiment is stamped on white card cut with the Sentiment Strips Die-namics and stamped in Mossy Mix'd Media Inx and embossed with clear embossing powder. 

Again a simple inside.

This card features the sleigh bells stamp from the Inspired By Christmas Stamp Set. I embossed the Whip Cream panel and added a Paver Grosgrain ribbon Bow.  I cut a Large Fancy Flourish cut from Hot Fudge Card stock and tucked pieces here and there.

This is the inside.

Another card with the sleigh bells...I cut the main panel with the NEW Jumbo Fishtail Banner STAX and used the Double Dots Border Die-namics.

Here is the inside.

The last card features the sleigh from the Inspired By Christmas Stamp Set. It is stamped in Leather Mix'd Media Inx and cut with the Rectangle STAX Die-namics. I tucked a corrugated Open Scallop Doily behind the main image, cut with the Open Scallop Doily Duo. I also used the Double Dots Border Die-namics and the Large Fancy Flourish Die-namics. 

And the inside...

Well, thanks SO much for stopping by and having a wee peek at the cards for this month's MFT Design Team Creative Challenge...NO PATTERN PAPER! Please, swing on by the MFT Blog to see links to all the designers that took the Creative Challenge this month!

Happy Stampin'!
Hugs,
 

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