Author Archives: Makira

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About Makira

I am a mother of three wonderful young teens and we live with a houseful of cats with a dog sidekick. I enjoy crafts of all kinds and have a rather large obsession with anything Disney. I host two craft challenges: Colorful Options Challenge and Park Hopping My Happy Place Challenge.

Holiday Wishes 2024

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Happy December, crafters. Welcome to another month of crafting inspiration! You might want to settle down with a warm cup of cocoa, this is a bit of a long post. 😁🎄❤️

This card serves as a two-fer! It is a DT entry for both Park Hopping My Happy Place and the Colorful Options Challenge.

At Park Hopping My Happy Place, we’re celebrating all things Turning Red and the vibrant red items found at theme parks. Meanwhile, over at the Colorful Options Challenge, we’re embracing the bold trio of RED, GREEN, and GOLD. Join us as we explore the colorful magic of both worlds!

This card draws inspiration from the rich hues of red and gold, paired with the blocks of color on the left of Colorful Option’s December inspiration board. The musical notes in the background bring to mind the festive carolers at Epcot and the Dapper Dans at Magic Kingdom. While these elements aren’t featured on this month’s Park Hopping mood board, remember that this challenge invites you to draw inspiration from any theme park, not just the current board. 

Did you ever go caroling as a child? I did, in the snow. Snow much fun! 🎶❄️🎄

If you’re looking to recreate this card, here’s what you’ll need:

Begin by cutting a piece of Bristol Smooth cardstock to 4.25″ by 5.5″ and centering it on your grip mat. Place the stencil over the paper, masking the edges with Pixie Tape. Blend Distress Oxides diagonally, starting from the center and working outward. Begin with Scattered Straw at the center, followed by Worn Lipstick, and finish with Festive Berries at the edges. Next, mask the “red” areas using scrap paper and lightly spray the center with Distress Spritz. Afterward, mask the center of the design and lightly spray with Distress Mica Stain. Remove the paper masks and lightly spray the entire image with Distress Spritz a second time to help the shimmers blend. Allow the inks & sprays to dry completely. Keep the stencil and Pixie tape in place while you hand stamp the music pattern using VersaMark. Once stamped, remove the card from the stencil & grip mat; add white embossing powder, heating it until it is set. Select your desired sentiments from the Tiny Text Christmas stamp set and stamp them with black ink using a Misti or other stamping platform.* Cut the sentiment out of black cardstock and center it on your card. Use the remaining black cardstock to create the card base. Finally, embellish your design with Stickles and Nuvo Drops for a bit of sparkle and dimension.

*Technique Tip: To ensure perfect sentiment alignment, place your card base in a Misti Stamping Platform and secure it with magnets. Lay a piece of acetate over the area where you plan to stamp the sentiment. Stamp the sentiment onto the acetate first to check the alignment. If the sentiment isn’t positioned where you want it, simply clean the acetate, reposition the sentiment, and stamp again on the acetate until it’s just right. Once satisfied with the positioning, remove the acetate and stamp the sentiment directly onto the card base.

Merry Christmas!

🎄🎨 🌈🎢✨Makira✨🎢🌈🎨 🎄

Make sure you join in on the blogs or on Instagram for your chance to win a gift certificate of your choice (Simon Says Stamp, Scrapbook.com, or Amazon). Visit the challenges to check out the amazing creations from the talented Design Teams. You can’t win without entering! Come join the fun!!

For the Colorful Options Challenge, you have until Saturday, December 28th, 11:59pm US CST time, which translates to 5:59am on Sunday, December 29th in the UK or 6:59am on Sunday, December 29th in CET.

For the Park Hopping My Happy Place, you have until Monday, December 30th, 11:59pm US CST time, which translates to 5:59am on Tuesday, December 31st in the UK or 6:59am on Tuesday, December 31st in CET.

Wishing all the entrants good luck! Have fun, everyone!

Thank You So Much

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Happy Sunday, crafters! I’m excited to share two Clean and Simple (CAS) cards with you today. This idea has been floating around in my mind for a while, and I finally had the chance to bring it to life this morning. I hope you enjoy these creations as much as I enjoyed making them!

With the holiday season quickly approaching, having a few thank you cards in the stash is always a good idea.

If you’re looking to recreate this card, here’s what you’ll need:

Happy Crafting!

Challenges entered:

Winter Wishes

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Happy November, crafters! Say hello to Walter! He sits on top of a coffee cup, bringing the joy of a gift card to someone this year.

For this festive card, I combined Tim Holtz and Lawn Fawn. I thought they married fairly well for this card. What do you think? Can you find my obvious mistake? Let me know below.

If you’re looking to recreate this card, here’s what you’ll need:

  • Paper: Carta Bella A Vey Merry Christmas (unfortunately discontinued); black,white,yellow,craft cardstock from the stash
  • Distress Oxide: Ground Expresso
  • Tim Holtz Sizzix: Walter-December 2023, Twig & Stump, Collector
  • Tim Holtz Sizzix, Switchlit Seal
  • Lawn Fawn: Stitched Circle Die, Stitched Rectangle frame, Coffee Cup Gift Holder
  • Krenik Metallics Medium, #16 braid color #238

Happy Crafting!

Challenges entered:

Congrats, 2025

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Happy November, crafters.

We are celebrating the color RED over at the Colorful Options Challenge.

Additionally, this card serves as inspiration for the Park Hopping My Happy Place community.

My color scheme inspiration is drawn from the striking black and red pattern on the inspiration board. The theme itself is rooted in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, highlighting the essential role of education within that enchanting story.

This card is designed for a graduating senior who will be starting her engineering studies this fall. To celebrate her academic journey, I thought it would be fun to incorporate graph paper and numerical elements into the background, symbolizing engineering. I’ve also incorporated her university’s colors—red, black, and white—adding a touch of school spirit.

If red isn’t your color of choice, consider joining us with dark burgundy or pink, as they are lovely shades of the primary color red. If that still doesn’t inspire you, feel free to create a rainbow-themed entry instead!
If the theme of snow doesn’t spark your creativity, feel free to explore another theme from a theme park that inspires you. Clearly, I found my inspiration this month from another source! 🧙‍♂️❤️📚⚡️

Make sure you join in on the blog or on Instagram for your chance to win a gift certificate of your choice (Simon Says Stamp, Scrapbook.com, or Amazon). Visit the challenges to check out the amazing creations from the talented Design Teams. You can’t win without entering! Come join the fun!!

For the Colorful Options Challenge, you have until Thursday, November 28th, 11:59pm US CST time, which translates to 5:59am on Friday, November 29th in the UK or 6:59am on Friday, November 29th in CET.

For the Park Hopping My Happy Place, you have until Saturday, November 30th, 11:59pm US CST time, which translates to 5:59am on Sunday, December 1st in the UK or 6:59am on Sunday, December 1st in CET.

If you’re looking to recreate this card, here’s what you’ll need:

  • Azteca Watercolor Paper, black & white cardstock from the stash
  • Distress Oxide: Lumberjack Red, Festive Berries, Worn Lipstick
  • Distress Watercolor Crayons: Black Soot, Old Paper, Lost Shadow, Tattered Rose, and Worn Lipstick
  • Distress Crayon: Black Soot, Lumberjack Red
  • Distress Oxide Archival Ink in Black Soot
  • Stampers Anonymous, TH: Mini Glitch CMS405, Tidbits CMS488
  • StampingBella Oddball Girl Gradute eb687
  • Tim Holtz Sizzix: Alphanumeric Theory
  • Distress Mica Stain: Mulled Cider
  • Distress Ink: Black Soot, Lumberjack Plaid
  • Distress Grit Paste Snowfall
  • Tim Holtz stencil: Digits THS 145

Wishing all the entrants good luck! Have fun, everyone!

Let It Snow

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Happy November, crafters.

We are celebrating SNOW over at the Park Hopping My Happy Place.

My card takes it’s primary inspiration from the colors of the inspiration board this month. The theme itself is postcards/mail inspired by Owl Post in Hogsmeade at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

If the theme of snow doesn’t ignite your creativity, don’t hesitate to draw inspiration from another theme that resonates with you from a theme park.

Make sure you join in on the blog or on Instagram for your chance to win a gift certificate of your choice (Simon Says Stamp, Scrapbook.com, or Amazon). Visit the challenge to check out the amazing creations from the talented Design Team. You can’t win without entering! Come join the fun!!

For the Park Hopping My Happy Place, you have until Saturday, November 30th, 11:59pm US CST time, which translates to 5:59am on Sunday, December 1st in the UK or 6:59am on Sunday, December 1st in CET.

If you’re looking to recreate this card, here’s what you’ll need:

  • Strathmore Bristol Smooth cardstock
  • Distress Oxide: Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean, Chipped Sapphire
  • Stampers Anonymous, TH: Festive Collage, CMS459
  • Embossing Folder,Sizzix: Texture Fades

Wishing all the entrants good luck! Have fun, everyone!

December 25

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Hello, everyone! Welcome back to another exciting month at the Colorful Options Challenge! 🎨🌈 This month, we’re all about the color RED.

I decided to use the colors pink & red, as pink is just a form of diluted red.

If you’re looking to recreate this card, here’s what you’ll need:

  • Strathmore Bristol cardstock, silver & red card stock from the stash.
  • Distress Ink: Lumberjack Red, Spun Sugar, Lost Shadow, Victorian Velvt, Kitsch Flamingo
  • Silver Gambsi Tambi watercolor
  • Tim Holtz Stampersanonymous: Paint by Number CMS483, Grunged CMS402, Stamptember 2024
  • Sizzix dies: Festive Boquet, Wildflower Stems

Make sure you join in on the blog or on Instagram for your chance to win a gift certificate of your choice (Simon Says Stamp, Scrapbook.com, or Amazon). Visit the challenge to check out the amazing creations from the talented Design Team. You can’t win without entering! Come join the fun!!

For the Colorful Options Challenge, you have until Thursday, November 28th, 11:59pm US CST time, which translates to 5:59am on Friday, November 29th in the UK or 6:59am on Friday, November 29th in CET.

Wishing all the entrants good luck! Have fun, everyone!

A Merry Christmas 2024

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Happy November, crafters.

We are celebrating SNOW over at the Park Hopping My Happy Place.

This card was inspired by Christmas, snow, and fairies. I was inspired by Marta at Maremi Small Art to make this card.

If the theme of snow doesn’t ignite your creativity, don’t hesitate to draw inspiration from another theme that resonates with you from a theme park.

Make sure you join in on the blog or on Instagram for your chance to win a gift certificate of your choice (Simon Says Stamp, Scrapbook.com, or Amazon). Visit the challenge to check out the amazing creations from the talented Design Team. You can’t win without entering! Come join the fun!!

For the Park Hopping My Happy Place, you have until Saturday, November 30th, 11:59pm US CST time, which translates to 5:59am on Sunday, December 1st in the UK or 6:59am on Sunday, December 1st in CET.

If you’re looking to recreate this card, here’s what you’ll need:

Wishing all the entrants good luck! Have fun, everyone!

Challenges entered:

Peace & Joy to All

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Hello crafters, I’m back with another fun, square-shaped card! It seems like my creative mojo has taken a square turn—sometimes, that’s just how inspiration strikes!

Lately, I’ve been diving into the world of collage art, following some incredible artists on YouTube. Honestly, I find this technique quite challenging; it often ends up looking like something I made in kindergarten! 😂

So, when Mr. Wheel picked collage as yesterday’s project, I was thrilled to embrace the challenge. For this card, I drew inspiration from a beautiful journal page by MaremiSmallArt. Let’s get crafting!

Here is a list of the products I used if you want to also try your had at collage:

  • Azteca watercolor paper, paper from the stash: green
  • Distress Oxide Paint: Lumberjack Red, Mowed lawn, Lost Shadow
  • White & clear Gesso
  • Liquitex Soft Body Acrylic: Unbleached Titanium, Titanium White, Ivory Black
  • Distress Collage Medium
  • Disstress Oxide Archival in Rustic Wilderness
  • Washi Tape: TH, red&white from the stash
  • Tim Holtz Sticker Book: Postmarked
  • Stampers Anonymous, Tim Holtz: Tiny Text Christmas CMS 424, Grunged CMS402
  • Tim Holtz Ideology Collage Paper: Christmas/Noel

Feel free to follow along with Maremi in the link above, or read on for my description.

  1. Prepare Your Base: Cut a watercolor panel to a 4.5-inch square.
  2. Create Your Collage: Tear the notes page and Ginger Toffee descriptions to your desired size, then glue them onto the panel using collage medium.
  3. Add Decorative Elements: Layer on pieces of washi tape and stamps or stickers as you like.
  4. Highlight the Poinsettia: Tear the collage paper to isolate the poinsettia, then adhere it with collage medium. Allow everything to dry completely.
  5. Blend Your Colors: Start blending your background using Unbleached White, Titanium White, Lost Shadow, and Mowed Lawn paints. Let this layer dry.
  6. Enhance the Poinsettia Leaves: Use Lumberjack Red, Ivory Black, and Mowed Lawn paints to enhance the leaves of the poinsettia.
  7. Add Some Texture: Once the paint is dry, create a splatter effect with white paint and allow it to dry again.
  8. Finish with Details: Using archival ink and a round stamp, add some details and stamp your sentiment.
  9. Layer Your Card: Finally, ink the edges of your card, center your sentiment, and assemble the layers.

Challenges entered:

Red, White + Boo

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Welcome back & Happy Saturday evening!

I played a bit more today, went into the Copic mark stash, and brought another Jim Tweedy-inspired Red Cat card to life.

Here is what I used:

  • Copic markers: R27,R29, YR04, YR07, YR09, B00,B24,B26,B28,B39, V91,V93,V95,E57,E59,E99, N7,N9
  • Stampers Anonymous: Crazy Cats CMS251, Crazy Things CMS 237, Pumpkinhead CMS309, The Scarecrow CMS451, Sketch Manor CMS408, Boo Crazy CMS495
  • Xpress-It Copic Blending Paper
  • Versamark Ink
  • Ranger White Embossing Powder
  • Memento Black Ink

Happy Crafting!

Challenges entered:

Meow Christmas 2024

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Happy Saturday, everyone!

I had the chance to spend some time in my craft room this morning. Here is what I created.

I can’t say they are CAS; but, they were simple to make. Start by selecting an oxide ink for your base and gently smoosh it onto watercolor paper. Next, position your stencil and stamp the sentiment through it. Once that’s done, outline the stencil design with black ink for added definition. Use a coordinating watercolor pencil to add shading to the stencil, then apply Distress Sparkly Paste over the entire area for a shimmering effect. After everything has dried, emboss the sentiment using black embossing powder. For added interest, apply opaque black paste through a second stencil. Finish off your project by tying a bow around the bottom and framing it with coordinating cardstock from your stash.

Here is a list of the products I used if you want to CASE these:

  • Azteca watercolor paper, paper from the stash: purple, black,pink
  • Distress Oxide Ink & Distress Watercolor Pencils: Picked Raspberry, Wilted Violet
  • Diss Oxide Archival in Black Soot
  • Black Cherry Embossing Powder from Emerald Creek
  • Miss Ink Stencil – paw print
  • Tim Holtz Holly Stencil
  • Distress Sparkle Paste, Distress Opaque Black Paste
  • Ribbon from my stash

Which one do you like the best? Purple or Pink?

Me? I prefer the purple, of course. 💜💜💜

Have a great weekend!

Challenges entered: