My Favorite Things - Pre-Release Pep Rally and Die-Namics Feature!

Greetings!!  Today I'm here with the My Favorite Things New Release Pep Rally. Over the last six days, you've seen all the new stamps and Die-namics releasing tomorrow night.  It's just so fun and exciting!  I hope you've been enjoying as much as I have!! 

My focus today is to share a sample, along with some tips and tricks I've done using one of the newest Die-namics dies - the Mix and Match Banner Set.   I used ALM - Ski Bunny as my sample stamp set but what I'd like to have you focus on is the vertical sentiment banner I've created on the right hand side of my creation.  

This is a super easy way to utilize your shorter and smaller dies in a whole new way, giving them a second available design option!  A great way to get more out of your dies!! 

Instead of a photo tutorial I decided to create a video for you!  I'm VERY new to creating video tutorials (this is only my second one EVER) and only have my iPhone as a camera but all in all I'm happy with the way it turned out!  If you have any questions please don't hesitate to pop them in the comments section and I'll be sure to answer them!  

Here is the sample card completed!!  When I ended the video I was unsure of how I was going to use my extended banner panel but I am thrilled with how it turned out!  I hope you enjoy!!  See you tomorrow at the Release Party!!! 

interior

Super fabulous MFT Products Used:

And, of course, last but not least...the administrative bits and bobs!

Now that we've teased and tempted you all week long, it's almost time for you to shop for your favorite Brand Spankin' New products from MFT. But first... it's time for our Die-namics Feature and Pre-Release Pep Rally! Our Design Team has been busy creating jaw-dropping and inspiring projects for you, and we've saved the best for last. We've taken an in-depth look at this month's Die-namics, while re-visiting the amazing sets being released tonight at 10 PM EST RIGHT HERE in the MFT Boutique. And while we are at it, how about we make your life even easier with a "cheat sheet" of all that's new?  Head over to the MFT Blog to print out a shopping list. Here are the details about the upcoming release on December 6 at 10 PM EST:

• You can attend the New Release Party on December 6th from 8-10 PM EST HERE in the MFT forum, where you can enjoy fun, games, and PRIZES!
• The MFT release, including all new stamp sets and Die-namics, is on December 6 at 10 PM EST.  You'll find all the newest products HERE at release time.
• You have just a few more hours to submit your entry for this month's guest designer contest.  Check out the forum for details on how YOU can win $200 in stamp sets and Die-namics, and play along with the MFT Design Team for a month.
• If you'd like to see all the designers' posts for today, please click on over to the MFT Blog NOW.  Be sure to leave comments as you go for the chance to win one of 2, $10 gift certificates given away daily.  The winners will be posted on December 6 just before the release party, on the MFT blog.

My Favorite Things - Pure Innocence Teaser Time!!

It's here!  It's here!!  I know it's been hard to wait but it's PI Teaser Day!!  YAY!!!  I am previewing two of the seven...yes, I said SEVEN new PI sets that are being released on Tuesday night!  Today I'm showing you PI - Good Fortune and PI - Precious Little Lamb.  I'm photo heavy today friends so grab a cup of something yummy and snuggle in! ;) 

First up is PI - Good Fortune.  Seriously?  Isn't she INSANELY sweet?!?!?  I think so!  One of the many things I love about the PI line is the ease in which it is to paper piece.  Piecing just adds such a fantastic extra element to any image.   I started by stamping her onto Neena white cardstock using my Momento ink.  I colored her with my Copics and then paper pieced using this beautiful Asian inspired cherry blossom paper from The Paper Source.  I've had it in my stash for literally, years.  I pieced her sash in PTI designer paper and colored the area that forms her "v-neck" line with my Copics for added visual interest.

I stitched around the perimeter (gotta keep practicing my one stitch at a time trick a la Jody) and backed my main layer with self adhesive cork - both circles cut using my Nesties.

I used a mix and match of papers, the black and white number paper is from a new 6x6 pack from Echo Park - Times and Seasons that I recently grabbed up at my LSS. 
I used the new Mix and Match Banners for my sentiment panel on the bottom.  How did I get it to be that shape and size?  You will find out in the upcoming Die-Namics Focus day!!  I promise to show you how easy this is to do!

I stamped my sentiment and added a matte to it by adhering my panel to my cardstock and carefully trimming around the edge with my scissors.  I had a very cool Asian inspired charm in my stash that I accented with some rustic twine.

I finished off my exterior with a bit of red, satin ribbon as well as another layer of twine.

My interior keep the same theme going but I used the new and soon to be released Open Scalloped Oval Doily.  I stamped my sentiment as well as an uncolored version of this sweet PI.  I know I've said it before but I LOVE the way this looks. 

Up next is another sweetie in the PI line - Precious Little Lamb.  I colored in the lambs using my Copics and then paper pieced the entire rest of the image.  Even the teeny tiny hands of the lamb were stamped twice and pieced so as to ensure the proper depth and dimension to make my image more realistic looking.  (A trick I learned and LOVE from Joanne!)  I even pieced the hay in the little manger.  Before adhering this piece down, I coated the edges of the hay using my Quickie Glue Pen and dipped it in yellow glitter to give it a bit more zing!

I adhered my background paper to some vintage kraft colored paper.  I did this because I knew I was going to distress my edges so I wanted some extra color popping through.  That, and if you use any real vintage paper you know how fragile it can be so giving it extra strength using another piece of cardstock is always a good idea.  I stamped the swirly background and then heat embossed it using copper embossing powder.  I then created the rest of my panels using two different 6x6 pads - Basic Grey (my first real love when it comes to Designer Paper) Oxford and Echo Park - Times and Seasons.  

I created my longer Mix and Match Banners die on the right for my sentiment.  Again, I will show this trick to you soon!  I added some fun twine both soft and rustic and glued the bow tails in various spots using tiny dots of Glossy Accents to hold in place.  I used some crimson ribbon tied on the left hand side of my creation for some balance and added a bit more rustic twine there as well. 

I truly hope you've enjoyed and been inspired today!  I had an amazing time creating with both of these gorgeous sets!!

Don't forget that there are seven...yes...SEVEN Pure Innocence sets previewing today, so definitely be sure to stop by the MFT Blog today to see the others as well as a full list of designers participating in teasers today!

And, as always, here are the important administrative bits and bobs!!  Thanks so much for popping by today!
  
I can't wait to see you at the MFT New Release Party tomorrow night. Here are the details about the upcoming release on December 6 at 10 PM EST:

• You can attend the New Release Party on December 6th from 8-10 PM EST HERE in the MFT forum, where you can enjoy fun, games, and PRIZES!
• The MFT release, including all new stamp sets and Die-namics, is on December 6 at 10 PM EST.  You'll find all the newest products HERE at release time.
• The guest designer contest is ON!  Check out the forum for details on how YOU can win $200 in stamp sets and Die-namics, and play along with the MFT Design Team for a month.
• If you'd like to see all the teasers for today, please click on over to the MFT Blog NOW.  Be sure to leave comments as you go for the chance to win one of 2, $10 gift certificates given away daily.  The winners will be posted on December 6 just before the release party, on the MFT blog.
  

My Favorite Things - a la modes Teaser Time!!

Hello Paper Canteen Friends!!  I'm over the moon excited to have been asked to be a part of the MFT Guest Team for the December release!  I know you've seen such beauty so far this week and I'll do my best not to disappoint!  ;)

Teaser Time is certainly blowing my socks off!!  How about yours?  Such gorgeousness abound!  Today I'm showing off one of the newest a la modes, Ski Bunny!

Seriously?  Is she not GORGEOUSLY adorable??!!  Yes, I know...just sheer beauty and you MUST put her on your list!  Swoonnnnnnnn!! 

I simply loved inking her up!!  I started with my Momento ink in Tuxedo Black - this is my go-to black ink when I know I'll be using my Copics.  I then colored her hair and skin with my Copics.  I paper pieced her outfit using papers from Pink Paislee - Vintage Vogue 6x6 paper assortment.  I then pieced her skis and ski-pole handles.  To add extra dimension to her hat I paper pieced the entire hat in the purple paper that you see and then did the front flap in a similar purple paper but that had a bit of a textured design.  As a more realistic touch and to add the proper dimension, I stamped and colored an extra set of hands, trimmed them out and added them on with my Quickie Glue pen (a fabulous tip from Joanne!).  I know it may seem tedious to do this step but it is SO worth it as the image seems to pop off of the paper with true depth!  As a lasting bit of visual interest, I added some Glossy Accents underneath the snow boots of this darling Ski Bunny to look like she's standing on a bit of ice! 

I used the die from the Tag You're It combo set.  One of my favorite things about MFT's last release is that there are so many Die-namics dies that are now available for purchase separate from their paired stamp set!  How cool is that??  Because as you know, you can never have too many Die-namics dies!!  

I wanted to back my tag with patterned paper so I adhered my tag down and then carefully trimmed around the edge with my good scissors leaving about an eighth of an inch border showing.  I threaded the top with some twill tape that I distressed a bit with my ink blending tool and some Tattered Rose Distress Ink.  I added a bit of twine and a tiny SU! button to finish the top of my tag off.  

I made a homemade embellishment using my Hearts-A-Plenty Die-namics Die and one of the gorgeous texture stamps from my Well Worn Greetings set, combined with my Versamark Ink, white embossing powder a bit of twine and a button and VOILA! 

For my exterior sentiment I used the brand new Mix and Match Banners Die-namics.  Oh my is this ever a versatile set!!  Go ahead, I'll wait while you jot it down on your must have list!  ;)  It's divine!!!  I did snip apart one of the sentiments (gasp!) that comes with the Ski Bunny set to accommodate my using the four different banner shapes.  I put one word on each banner and tucked them all snug under the right hand panel on my card.  The paper I used for my banners is from a vintage appliance repair log that I found at an antique store in Maine. 

You are totally going to love on this set and you will definitely be seeing it again from me soon!  (wink!)

My interior uses the same color scheme and papers as my exterior.  I used a large Sizzix label die for my text paper and stamped my Ski Bunny but this time leaving her uncolored as I LOVEEE this look!  I used another sentiment from the set and added a self-adhesive cork heart cut using the same Hearts-A-Plenty Die-namic. 

Ok friends, that's all for me today!!  Don't forget that there are two á la modes previewing today, be sure to stop by the MFT Blog today to see the other one as well as a full list of designers participating in teasers today!

And, as always, here are the important administrative bits and bobs!!  Thanks so much for popping by today!  I hope you were inspired, as I always am by the amazing MFT products!

Here are the details about the upcoming release on December 6 at 10 PM EST:

• You can attend the New Release Party on December 6th from 8-10 PM EST HERE in the MFT forum, where you can enjoy fun, games, and PRIZES!
• The MFT release, including all new stamp sets and Die-namics, is on December 6 at 10 PM EST.  You'll find all the newest products HERE at release time.
• The guest designer contest is ON!  Check out the forum for details on how YOU can win $200 in stamp sets and Die-namics, and play along with the MFT Design Team for a month.
• If you'd like to see all the teasers for today, please click on over to the MFT Blog NOW.  Be sure to leave comments as you go for the chance to win one of 2, $10 gift certificates given away daily.  The winners will be posted on December 6 just before the release party, on the MFT blog.

 

Fabulous MFT goodies used in my creation today:

 

Dilly Bean Challenge - What Are Your Stripes Like?

Good Morning All!!  Today we've got a new challenge going on at Dilly Beans.  The theme this week - STRIPES!!  =)  I'm totally into stripes right now - I recently grabbed up a pair of black and white cozy, winter tights and I can't wait to wear them!  But as you can see from my sample, I've used #181 Big Eye Girl, who is wearing a great striped turtleneck!

Isn't she SMASHING?  I just love her!!  I printed her out twice, once on my white cardstock and again on the textured turquoise paper.  I colored her first with my Copics and then paper pieced her hair, bows and frame.  I added self-adhesive rhinestones to the ties on her bows.

I used my new Lily Bee Design - Memorandum paper.  It comes in a 6x6 tablet and all designs are scaled down which is SOOOOOOO nice when working with smaller images.  It's perfect for paper piecing.

I used some self adhesive rhinestone flourishes, a couple of SU! brads and an oval tab die from MFT to house my sentiment.

I hope you come play with us over at the Dilly Beans Challenge Blog this week! 

Bombshell Tutorial - Winter Hat Gift Card

Greetings fabulous Bombshell fans!!  I'm here today to show you how to make this ADORABLE  winter hat gift card holder.  It's CRAZY easy - and let's face it...it's the time of year where it's either easy or it doesn't get done!  

Let's start!

First you need two 5" circles.  One cut from designer paper and one cut from cardstock.  I used the pink leopard print for my DP and black cardstock to match.  

After you cut your 5" circles you then cut them in half.  You only need one half of the DP circle but both halves of the cardstock circle.  Adhere the DP half-circle to one half of the cardstock circle.  This is purely for stability.  

You need a strip of cardstock measuring 5 1/8 x 1 5/8 and a strip of DP measuring 5 1/8 x 7/8.  I used a border punch for my cardstock strip to make it a bit more decorative.  Adhere your DP strip to the cardstock strip.  Now you are ready to make the pocket for your gift card.  Place adhesive on the back of your cardstock/designer paper strip making sure the adhesive is as close to the punched border as possible.  This will give you maximum room for the space inside your pocket. 

Adhere this strip to the extra half of the cardstock circle that we had from the beginning.

Now you want to line up the designer paper half-circle in between the cardstock strip and solid background half-circle.  Snuggle it down right into that pocket.  Once it is lined up you want to use a hole punch - I used my Crop-O-Dile to punch a hole through the cardstock/designer paper strip and designer paper half circle.  Don't punch it all the way through the back.  

I attached a brad to hold the top of the hat onto the front cardstock piece in order for it to swivel...like this!

I needed a quick gift for a darling friend of mine who isn't feeling well so I pulled out my Bombshell Banner Sayings set (such a "go-to" for me) and ON SALE and used the 'get well soon' sentiment.  I stamped using my Momento ink and colored lightly with my Copics.  I made a pom-pom for the top adhering it with Glossy Accents and added self-adhesive rhinestones to enhance the brim of the cap a bit more.

Here it is open with the gift card tucked neatly inside! 

I hope you've enjoyed my tutorial today!!  Thanks for stopping by!!

Amber Ink - Passing The Torch

Yes...It's that time...Torch Passing Time at Amber Ink!!
*sniff...sniff*

I have to say a HUGE thank you to Pam and Amber for running such a flawless show.  My month long journey with Amber Ink was simply joyous and wonderful.  The gals I worked with were great and I was so inspired by everything everyone did.  Such a great group of artists and women alike.  I'm honored to have been able to carry The Torch.  

 And as sad as I am that the month is over I am SO excited for you to meet the wonderful artist who will be taking the Pink Torch from me!! May I introduce you to the wondeful gal who is taking the Pink Torch from me, Jenn Borjeson! If you have not been to Jenn's blog, Stampin' Angel you must go say hi and check out all of her beautiful creations!!

So join me in welcoming Jenn with a big warm HELLO!!  Thank you again to the lovelies at Amber Ink.  I know I will be seeing you ladies in the very near future!!

Before I leave, I wanted to share with you a farewell creation that I've made using the CUTEST image - Love Bunny - Sharing Time:

I used scraps of DP that I had lying around to pull this fun card together.  I colored the sweet bunnies in with my Copics and Prisma markers.  I used a large chipboard ampersand (I have a "thing" for symbols) - that I coated in Brilliance ink and heat set using clear embossing powder.  I scattered pearls here and there and voila!  ;)  I hope you enjoy!!

Dilly Beans Give-A-Way!!

Hello Paper Canteen friends!  Happy Monday!  The lovely Megan - owner and illustrator of Dilly Bean designs is having a fabby freebie and give-a-way starting today!  Come by the challenge site and grab up this crazy adorable Snowman Family digi for free!

The challenge is to use this awesome image in any creation of your choosing, link it up at the Dilly Beans Challenge blog by December 19th for a chance to win some super duper crafty swag!! 

I've kept my creation simple and sweet.  I've stamped my card base with a Hero Arts background stamp design.  I've inked up in Versamark and then heat set with white embossing powder.  I printed out my image four times.  Once on white stock, then three more times on patterned papers.  I colored my image with my Copics and then paper pieced hats and scarves as well as the heart on the belly of the snow person in the foreground.  SOOOOOOOOOOOO cuteeeeeeeeee!!!

I stitched using red thread around my Nestie cut circle and then backed it with self-adhesive cork.  I added to my card adding self-adhesive rhinestones scattered about.  I took a strip of PTI DP, cut the ends to create a banner of sorts and used a MFT sentiment to finish it off.  As a lasting touch, I added Glossy Accents to all of the buttons on the snow people as well as the heart. 

I can't wait to see what you all create over at the Dilly Beans Challenge Blog!!  Come on over and play!!

Bombshell Sale!!

It's Bombshell's Black Friday through Cyber Monday Sale!

Receive 25% off your entire purchase from NOW through Monday, Nov. 28!

Just use coupon code "CYBR30" at check out!

Happy Shopping!

OCL - Cute Critters

Happy Friday!!!  I hope you all had a very festive, fun, and wonderful Thanksgiving!!  I know I did celebrating with family and friends.  A great day to reflect on all the wonderful things we have to be thankful for.

Today at OCL we are hosting a Cute Critters challenge.

When you play along you are entered to WIN any one stamp set of your choice from Our Craft Lounge.  

You have until 11:59pm Thursday, December 1st to enter.  Participate as many times as you like!   A random winner will be selected and posted on the OCL blog at the beginning of next month.

Here are the rules:
* use any stamps that you wish – get BONUS POINTS when you use OCL stamps!
* link to your card/project at the bottom of this post using the link tool provided on the OCL blog – **be sure to link DIRECTLY to your challenge card – not a general blog or gallery link & add the appropriate photo.**
* use the challenge as your inspiration – do whatever inspires you, but please base it on the challenge
If you upload to SCS, please use the Keyword OCL93.

For my creation today I've used a set called Penguin Fun.  It's totally adorable!!  I've colored my penguin with my Copics and Prisma markers.  I've paper pieced her hat and scarf using sweet papers from Jilly Bean.  I matted my striped paper with self adhesive cork and used some Bazzill Swiss Dot Kraft cardstock as my base.  I kept my card simple and sweet using "Happy Holidays" as my sentiment.

I hope you can join us over at The Lounge!!

I've Been Waiting To Tell You!!

Come here and check out my VERY exciting news!!!

Amber Ink - Black and White

Hey Amber Ink Fans!!  Right now Amber Ink is sponsoring a Black and White challenge over at the Totally Papercrafts Challenge blog!  Yes...right here...come play with us!!

Today I've used Amber Ink's Goosey Girl.  Isn't she hysterical!?  I've paper pieced her dress - of COURSE and used a super fabulously and snarky sentiment from a wonderful MFT set.  I pulled out my very favorite Love, Elsie paper that I've had for years and used the front and back of it for the doily dies (listed below!). 

I added a scattering of pearls and rhinestones and a fluffy black, twill tape bow to finish it off.

I hope you can come join this great challenge over at Totally Papercrafts!! 

Have a fantastically creative day!

OCL - Thankful

Hi All!!  Here with you today bringing you the newest challenge over at the OCL blog.  The newest challenge is "Thankful".  You must use a 'Thank You' sentiment on your creation. You will see that I have started using the Inlinkz tool below to link all of my supplies.  Such a fun tool!!

Anyhoo - As you can see I've used three different OCL stamps sets (linked below!) to create my clear embossed background to the "You Rock" panel. I kept my background simple choosing squares of SU! DP.  I have pleated my ribbon on the left and given it a "V" cut on the right as a finishing touch.

My main panel is popped up on foam adhesive.  I hope you can come join us over at OCL for this perfectly timed challenge, what with Thanksgiving right around the corner!