Creative Cucina

I love using My Digital Studio (MDS) to create invitations. Sometimes I create a project digitally first and then copy it “in real life”. Other times, I print straight from the computer (as was the case with this year’s Christmas cards).  I’ve gotten really comfortable using the MDS program, and I find it allows me to be just as creative as if I were sitting at my desk surrounded by all my papers, ink, and stamps.

My nephew is turning 2 soon, and my sister asked me to make invitations for his birthday party. I made some samples for her using MDS, and I thought I would share some of them with you.

I love how bright and cheerful this one turned out!  To begin, I opened MDS and chose CARDS in the New Project Options, POSTCARD, 7″ X 5″ LANDSCAPE and the CREATE YOUR OWN option.  The background was made by choosing Bashful Blue card stock as the background. Then, I added a TEXT BOX and wrote “Celebrate”. To create that transparent box around the text, I added a PUNCH in the square shape, and stretched it out to frame the text. I chose to FILL the punch shape with Whisper White and then lowered the OPACITY to make it more transparent.

I added brads in coordinating colors from the EMBELLISHMENT menu, lining them up across the front of the invitation. Here is a tip: I always add a DROP SHADOW to my embellishments to give them the look of being 3D.

The party information was added using TEXT BOX again. Below that, I created the circles along the bottom by adding the CIRCLE PUNCH in various sizes–resizing, copying, and pasting as I went along. The colors were added using the FILL function, and I added DROP SHADOWS to them so they would pop off the page. In some of the circles, I added the number 2 using the TEXT BOX.

This invitation is a little more clean and simple. Personally, I liked this one very much but my sister did not. The number 2 and the “bring on the cake” digital stamps are from Bring on the Cake in the Occasions Mini Catalog and I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT. I’m a font freak and this stamp set has so many awesome fonts. I also ordered it in clear mount so I can use it for birthday cards and other projects too.

I made this the same way as the invitation above, except the background color is Crumb Cake card stock. The Celebrations Pennants are digital stamp images that come with the Celebrations Digital Kit. I chose Bashful Blue and So Saffron for the pennants.

The rest of the information was added using the TEXT BOXES and that’s it. Quick and easy, modern, but fun. I could see changing the blue to pink and it would make a sweet little girl’s birthday invitation.

Here is a cute idea for class valentines. The little cards are covering Charms Sweet Pops.

For the girls in the class, I chose to use the Greeting Card Kids stamp set. The little girl holding the heart is adorable! I stamped the image on Whisper White card stock (2″ x 2 3/4″) with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored it in with Copic Markers. On the heart, I used the 2 way glue pen and romantic red glitter for a bit of sparkle. The sentiment is from Filled with Love stamped in Real Red ink. That piece is matted onto designer paper (2 1/4″ x 3″)  from the Love Patterns DSP (part of the Filled with Love Promotion but can be purchased separately as well). Finally, the card base is Pretty in Pink card stock (2 1/2″ x 6 1/2″) folded in half. I stapled the bottom closed after sliding in a lollipop.

As for the boys, my daughter and I chose Make a Monster stamp set. The image was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with Copic Markers, then I went over it with Pear Pizzaz Marker so it would match the green in the Nursery Suite DSP. The card base is Close to Cocoa (retired). To make the card a bit more fun, I gave the monster some googly eyes and highlighted his teeth with the Signo White Gel Pen. The sentiment is from Filled with Love, stamped in Marina Mist ink.

On the back, I added some Whisper White card stock and had my daughter write her classmates’ names, as well as her own.

I don’t know what I like best about this little guy, but he is just too cute! I think it’s his little teeth that get me. This is a simple enough holiday card to make in bulk, with enough interest to keep me from getting bored. Each element can be prepped in advance and I can assemble them quickly if I plan ahead.

The card base is Cherry Cobbler, layered with Jolly Holiday DSP. I cut Old Olive card stock with the Top Note Die in the Big Shot, and wrapped some 1 1/4″ Riding Hood Red Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (from the clearance rack) around the front.

Next, I stamped the sentiment from Bright Christmas (Holiday Mini) in Cherry Cobbler ink on Very Vanilla card stock, punched out with the Decorative Label Punch. I sponged some Old Olive Craft ink around the edges, sprinkled on some Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder, and heated it to give a glittery effect without the glitter.

For the main image, I stamped this adorable little beaver from Merry Crittermas onto Watercolor Paper with Black Stazon ink and colored it in using SU Markers and the Aquapainter.I use this technique for easy watercoloring.

To make his teeth extra white, I used the Signo White Gel Pen. Then, I trimmed the image out and attached it with stampin’ dimensionals to a Very Vanilla 1 3/4″ Circle that I embossed with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder and Big Shot. That is layered onto a Cherry Cobbler 2 3/8″ Scallop Circle, dotted with the Signo White Gel Pen and Paper Piercer.