MFT Countdown: 3

Another day. Another FUN day counting down to the March release from My Favorite Things.

So let’s do this. Here are a couple more cards to share with you.

I cut all the squares for this guy with the Inside & Out Stitched Rounded Square STAX Die-namics.  To give that bottom square some visual interested, I stamped on top with the Small Brick Background stamp.

The flowers? Those guys are from the Circle Scribble Flowers stamp set. Love them.

And here is one more card to share today.

I once again brought out the Inside & Out Rounded Square STAX Die-namics. I cut all the square elements for the card with it.

The words are from the Happy Trio Die-namics and Totally Happy stamp set.

Here’s a list of supplies from My Favorite Things I used to make the cards I’ve shared today:

• Inside & Out Stitched Rounded Square STAX Die-namics (lands on 3/3 at MFT)
• Totally Happy Stamp Set (lands on 3/3 at MFT)
• Happy Trio Die-namics (lands on 3/3 at MFT)
• LJD – Circle Scribble Flowers Stamp Set (lands on 3/3 at MFT)
• Small Brick Background (lands on 3/3 at MFT)
• Pierced Star STAX Die-namics

Once again, be sure to check out the blog for My Favorite Things to see who else from the design team is sharing projects today.

MFT Countdown: 4

Hello again, friends!

The countdown is on for the March release from My Favorite Things. (Note to March 3rd: Hurry, hurry, hurry!)

And I’ve got a couple more cards to share with you today that I put together with some of the new stuff.

I had a great time putting together this card with the new I Knead You stamp set and coordinating I Knead You Die-namics. I have a dog and am pretty much a dog person, but… goodness… I LOVE a stamp set of cute pie kitties! I imagine using this set to make lots and lots (and lots) of cards to send my cat loving friends!

I created the backgrounds here with a couple new background stamps – Paw Print Background and Small Brick Background.

It was easy. Ink up the stamps, set cardstock on them and then rub over the cardstock with a block to transfer the ink. Sure, I could have used my fingers but I like the extra force (and even-ness) using a block gives.

I also made an inside for this card, using some of the same supplies.

And, of course, I had to make a dog card too! I couldn’t help myself.

For this guy, I used the new You Make My Tail Wag stamp set (and coordinating Die-namics, which are sold separately).

I once again pulled out the Brick Background stamp to  make a floor, of sorts.

And I did a little coloring. I just used colored pencils.

To make him stand out, I did use foam tape to adhere him to the card.

I sorta kinda… actually… a whole lotta… love him.

Here’s a list of MFT supplies I used to make these cards:

• BB – I Knead You Die-namics (lands on 3/3 at MFT)
• BB – I Knead You Stamp Set (lands on 3/3 at MFT)
• BB – You Make My Tail Wag Die-namics (lands on 3/3 at MFT)
• BB – You Make My Tail Wag Stamp Set (lands on 3/3 at MFT)
• Small Brick Background (lands on 3/3 at MFT)
• Paw Print Background (lands on 3/3 at MFT)
• Candy Jars Die-namics (for the hearts)

And, once again, be sure to check out the MFT Blog to see who else from the design team is sharing projects today.  I can assure you that fabulous stuff is being shared!

MFT Countdown: 5

Hello again!

Hard to believe that it’s “almost” time yet again for another awesome release from My Favorite Things.

Gosh to the “by golly” yeah! So how about I share with you a few cards made with some of the new goods? Oh yeah. It’s on.  😉

Each of the cards I am sharing with you today use the new Blueprints 23 Die-namics. (And cough! They “might” also use the new Happy Trio Die-namics and Totally Happy stamp set, which you will be hearing a lot more about later in the week. Cough. Insert happy squeal! Cough!)

I used the new Blueprints 23 Die-namics (which land March 3rd at My Favorite Things with the rest of the March release) to die-cut the rectangle, scalloped borders and flags.

I can’t say this enough about MFT’s Blueprints dies: I love that they come with so many dies. MFT provides an awesome downloadable tip sheet for each set of Blueprints dies, showing you how you can use the dies together to make some cool cards. But the cool thing is that’s really just a start. You make so more different cards with them. The dies are so thought out that just work well together.

So to make those scallops and flags stand out on this card I stamped some stars on them with the Totally Happy stamp set. I love that look that a little bit of stamping gives the die-cuts. It just makes them really pop.

So here’s another card I made with Blueprints 23.

This time, I went all out, creating a shaker card with them! Every element on here (even those sequins) was cut with the Blueprints 23 Die-namics!

I hadn’t really intended on using the large circles as I first started working on this card and then was like, “You know, those might look cool on there.” So I stamped a couple stars on them and just added them to the card. I think it turned out pretty fun!

So here is a list of the MFT products I used to make these cards:

• Blueprints 23 Die-namics (lands 3/3 at MFT)
• Happy Trio Die-namics (lands 3/3 at MFT)
• Totally Happy stamp set (lands 3/3 at MFT)

And be sure to check out the MFT blog to see who else from the design team is sharing projects today!

 

 

Paper Smooches DT Blog Hop

Hello, hello friends!

It’s Pep Rally week yet again in the Paper Smooches world, and the gang is banding together today to share a sampling of the NEW Paper Smooches February release with you!  TWO new stamps and TEN new dies will be available to purchase on February 28th at 8:00pm pacific time. Once our release goes live, you will find our new products HERE.  

To add extra fun to our blog hop…we are offering up a prize! 

The prize – a $25 gift code to choose what you like at the PS online store.

Here are the details:

• FOUR winners will be chosen at RANDOM from any of the design team blogs and the PS Blog to win the $25. prize.
• Just leave a comment on any of the design team blogs listed below or the PS blog for your chance to win!  (you do not need to comment on all blogs to qualify but it increases your changes)
• Deadline: You have until midnight PT on Sunday, March 1st to leave a comment.
• Please check the Paper Smooches blog on Monday, March 2nd to see if you are one of the FOUR lucky winners.

• Ashley Marcu
• Emily Leiphart
• JJ Bolton
• Jocelyn Olson
• Kalyn Kepner
• Kay Miller
• Laura Bassen
• Laurie Schmidlin
• Michele Boyer
• Pamela Ho
• Teri (<—– here you are)

To increase your chances of winning:

• Tell us that you Facebooked about our blog hop
• Tell us that you Tweeted about our hop
• Tell us that you posted on your blog about our blog hop

(which means that you have up to three  extra chances to win on each blog)

So enough with the technical stuff. Let’s talk project.

Here’s what I have for you.

The words, heart and adorable critters are from the new We Adore You stamp set. And adore it I do. 🙂 It’s a fun set of different critters grouped together and then great cardmaker phrases to use with them.

I wanted to create a soft, somewhat muted card so I stamped the critters and hearts with black ink first onto scratch paper. Then I stamped them again (without reinking) onto the rectangle panel. I like how it gave them that nice gray tone. I added some light shading to them with the help of a Fantastix coloring stick from Tsukineko.

The pink background was created with the help of the Squared die, while the frame was created with the Scallop Frame dies.

OK, so that is what I have for you today. Thanks, as always, for stopping by! I always appreciate your kind words. Have a great day, guys!

Today’s card

(Looking for my Winter 2015 Essentials by Ellen Blog Hop post? Go here or just scroll down to the post below this one.)

Hi all!

Got a little card to share with you today.

Just having some fun here, mixing and matching some different stamps and dies from the Essentials by Ellen collection from Ellen Hutson. I used quite a few: Love You So by Julie Ebersole, as well as Bokeh Dots.

I also used a couple dies: You Rock and Hearts. To give that “you” word some extra pop, I cut it a couple times from cardstock and then stacked the words up.

By the way, I gave the card an inside too.

I just stamped a phrase and a couple hearts with the Love You So stamp set and called things good.

Turned out alright!

So that’s all I’ve got. I’ll be back again later.

Ps. There’s still time to get in on the Winter release hop featuring all the new stamps and dies from the Essentials by Ellen collection. This link takes you to my post.

Winter 2015 Essentials by Ellen Blog Hop

Hi everyone!

Welcome to the Winter 2015 Essentials by Ellen Release Hop! I’m excited to be joining some of my favorite crafters in showcasing several of the new stamp sets and dies on my post today!

And, yay!!! I also get to give this new stamp set, called Hello Gorgeous,  to a lucky someone!  (Dude! That could be you!) So please leave a comment to enter my giveaway!

There is also a Grand Giveaway in the CLASSroom!  To enter, be sure to leave a comment there, and at every stop along the hop by March 2^nd; winners will be announced March 4^th!

• The CLASSroom – http://ellenhutson.typepad.com/the_classroom_new/  ßYOU ARE HERE
• Sandy Allnock – http://sandyallnock.com/
• Teri Anderson – https://terisplace.wordpress.com/  (<——- You are here. Oh yeah!)
• Laurel Beard – http://www.laurelbeard.org/ (NEXT STOP! Hooray!)
• Heather Campbell –  http://parkermolly.blogspot.com/
• Kittie Caracciolo – http://www.kittiekraft.com/
• Sharon Harnist – http://paperfections.typepad.com/
• Broni Holcombe – http://bronih.typepad.com/
• Nichol Magouirk – http://nicholmagouirk.typepad.com/
• Jean Manis – http://jeanmanis.com/
• Jennifer McGuire – http://www.jennifermcguireink.com/
• Donna Mikasa –http://3umbrellas.blogspot.com/2015/02/essentials-by-ellen-winter-release-2015.html
• Chari Moss – http://www.mossymade.com/
• Catherine Pooler – http://www.catherinepooler.com/blog/
• Miriam Prantner – http://mprantner.blogspot.com/
• Julia Stainton – http://juliastainton.com/blog/
• Carissa Wiley – http://www.sprinkledwithglitter.com/

Alright, so let me show you what I have for you. I’ve got a couple cards to share.

Up first is this snazzy number!

I created this guy with the new Hello Gorgeous stamp set + the You Rock dies. They both involve… well… gems and girly girl type phrases. Hee, you can wrong with that! I must admit that I like the stamp set and the dies both…. very, very, very much.

And I used a this faux watercolor technique to create the background. It involved Copic makers + blending solution + a paper towel.

I put a video together on YouTube (Be gentle, y’all. Be gentle.) to show you how it is done.

(By the way, here’s a direct link to my video just in case my embedding of it in the post doesn’t work! YEs, friends, this poster has little faith in herself… wink!)

And here is a card #2.

I used my faux watercolor technique again for this one.

This time, it was a little tricker. I put the stamps (from the Wish Big stamp set) on my stamping blocks, held them over where they would go on the card and then used my Copic markers to scribble lines under them. After I did that, I did the same thing: I applied a paper towel saturated with blending solution on my marker marks.

I think the faux watercolor look turned out pretty cool!

By the way, I also added a window to this card with the Mini Windows dies. Open it up, and you’ll find this inside.

Pretty fun, huh?!

Well, that’s all I have for you today. I hope you have a great time hopping! Don’t forget, the next stop is the blog of Laurel!

Happy hopping!

MFT: Die-namics Design – Express Yourself

Hi all!

We meet again! I’m excited to be taking part in another fun challenge with the My Favorite Things Design Team. Today, we are “expressing ourselves” so to speak with the Die-namics dies!

As Julie said, “Word Die-namics are such a valuable tool as they can be used to create layered die cuts for added dimension, to create peek-a-boo effects, as a mask for different coloring mediums, and so much more. This month, our team is featuring the incredible versatility of word Die-namics.”

So yeah. 🙂 Here I am with some cards that are heavy on the word front!

Let’s do it.

This is card #1.

I am really digging the stacked look with words right now so that’s what I did here. I cut the “Thanks” word from the Many Thanks Die-namics three times from green cardstock and stacked them up, slightly off-setting as I went.

And to give them a little extra kick, I used a white pen to add some dots to a couple of the letters.

I love the dimension that the combination of stacked dies and white dots give the “thanks” word. Looks pretty cool!

And this is card #2.

Can you believe there are five layers of thanks words on this one? Yep, 5 whole layers. I really wanted them to stand out so I stacked them yet again, off-setting them as I went.

And this is card #3.

I decided to do a little something different with this one. Rather than cutting a bunch of words and stacking them, I decided to embellish them by adding some white dots.

I did get daring with the hearts (cut with the Pierced Heart STAX Die-namics) and cut several hearts and layer them together. Thought it looked pretty cool with the thanks word.

OK, so that’s what I have for you today.

Here’s a complete list of MFT products I used to make these cards:

• Many Thanks Die-namics
• Pierced Heart STAX Die-namics
• Pierced Star STAX Die-namics
• Houndstooth Background stamp
• Polka Dot Background
• Jumbo Fishtail Banner STAX Die-namics

As always, thanks for stopping by! And be sure to hit the MFT blog to see who else from the team is sharing projects today.

MFT: February Creative Challenge – Hop Into Action

Hello, hello!

It’s time again for a Creative Challenge with the My Favorite Things Design Team. This month, we are making projects inspired by Easter.

And with that, I’ve got a couple Easter cards to share with you.

Please give it up for Card #1.

Cha-cha! 😉

Peeps, of course, go hand in hand with Easter so I just ran with it and made a Peeps-inspired card! The little die-cut bunnies were cut with the Candy Jars Die-namics. I stamped the faces on them with the coordinating Candy Jar Companion stamp set.

It’s a little hard to tell, but I wanted to give the jar lid a little extra dimension. So I applied some Glossy Accents on the rim of the jar lid, as well as the tip top of it.

So that’s the first card. And this is Card #2.

I played it sweet and simple with this one, die-cutting four bunnies and then stamping some hearts (with the Candy Jar Companions stamp set) over one of them. The words? They are from the Somebunny stamp set.

And this is Card #3.

The bunnies and the Somebunny stamp set once again came out for this card. 😉 I created the background paper myself by stamping the polka dots on it with the Swiss Dots Background stamp.

I somewhat mimicked the polka dotted look by stamping lightly on the white rectangle with the Swiss Dots Background stamp as well.

Oh yeah! And I used my black pen to draw a line around the smaller rectangle. I like how it just really frames in the design.

So here’s a list of MFT products I used to make these cards:

• Candy Jars Die-namics
• Candy Jar Companions stamp set
• Somebunny stamp set
• Somebunny Die-namics
• Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics
• Polka Dot Background stamp 
• Swiss Dots Background stamp
• Diagonal Stripes Background stamp

And, once again, be sure to hit the MFT blog to see who else from the team is sharing projects today.

MFT: Creative Construction with Blueprints

Hi all!
We meet again!
I’m on a bit of a challenge kick lately and am joining my My Favorite Things buddies for a challenge yet again. Today, we doing a frame it challenge with popular Blueprints Die-namics.
The Blueprints series are some of my most favorite dies from MFT Stamps. First, you get a ton of dies with each set. Second, you can use them as they come (and put together super quick cards) or you can live on the edge and your own thing. There’s so many dies in each set that it’s really easy to do that.
So for each of my cards today, I used the Blueprints 19 Die-namics. And I went with a somewhat citrus-y color scheme. I’m sorta in the mood for Summer after a lot of rain here lately (but I digress). 😉

For this first card, I used the frame from Blueprints 19 and built my design around it.

And to make that thanks word (from the Many Thanks Die-namics) really stand out, I die-cut it a couple times and then stacked the words up, off-setting them as I went. I sure love that layered look.
And this here is card #2.

So this is a different twist on framing.
For this one, I used the label from Blueprints 19 as the frame. And then I used the set’s rectangle die to add to the framed look by die-cutting it twice and laying it onto the label. And then (deep breath) I  placed the rectangle strip (also from the Blueprints 19) over it to tie it all together.

Like I said, I really love that you can “march to your own beat” so to speak with the Blueprints Die-namics and really live on the edge.

And, last but not least, this is card #3.

I again used the label to create a frame element to build my card design around.
This time, I used about 2/3rd’s of the label. And then I die-cut the word (with the Happy Hellos Die-namics) into it. Oh, and that U? Yep. Stamped that with the Celebrate You stamp set. Just masked off all the letters on the For You stamp (other than the U) with washi tape. I inked up the stamp, removed the stamp and stamped! Ink only go on the letter U. It’s kinda magic… at least in stamper’s terms! 😉

So whew! That’s what I have today.

Here’s a list of MFT supplies used to make these cards:
Blueprints 19 Die-namics
Many Thanks Die-namics
Happy Hellos Die-namics
Diagonal Stripes Background Stamp
Polka Dot Background Stamp
Swiss Dots Background stamp
Celebrate You stamp set

Be sure to swing by the MFT Blog to see who else is taking part in this challenge.

MFT: Release Rewind

Hi all!

I’m back with one more round of projects made with the February release from My Favorite Things.

So much good stuff that I had to play more… and play a lot. Consider yourselves warned. 😉

On your mark. Get set. Go!

Say hello to card #1.

I had so much fun playing with the new Donuts Die-namics over the last couple weeks. In fact, I’ve felt like a bit of a donut maker, cutting out tons of paper donuts to play with. 😉

For the large one of this card, I rubbed Glossy Accents over the frosting piece with my finger and then sprinkled glitter on top. For the smaller one, I brushed on texture gel (with glass beads) onto it.

And this is card #2.

Of course, it’s another donut card!

For these donuts, I added some extra icing to them with some pearl paint.

And, of course, I had to make one more donut card. Say hello to card #3.

I added a couple donuts to this one as just kind of an accent.

I created the background by stamping on a panel with the new Houndstooth stamp and then die-cutting the scallop finish at the bottom with the Blueprints 22 Die-namics.

The inside of the card features some more Houndstooth pattern action, as well as another donut! I think this one looks pretty tasty…wink! 😉

And can you handle one more card? Sure hope so.

This is card #4.

I cut most of the elements (other than the thanks word) with the Blueprints 22 Die-namics for this one.

The Thanks word is from the Many Thanks Die-namics.

To make the poppy heart here, I die-cut two hearts and folded one of them and adhered it to the second heart with a staple.

So with that, today’s cards are a wrap.

But here’s a list of MFT products I used on these cards.

• Houndstooth Background stamp
• Blueprints 22 Die-namics
• Donuts Die-namics
• Donuts and Sprinkles stamp set
• Love Die-namics
• Harlequin stencil
• Many Thanks Die-namics

Once again, stop by the MFT Blog to see which of my design team buddies are also sharing projects today. Lots and lots of good stuff to see.