A 'Twisted' Valentine Set.....

I made this gift set for my DH, using a new sentiment set from My Favorite Things, called 'Twisted Sentiments', which will be released on Wednesday, Feb. 6th. The set includes a card, my version of a 'Do Not Disturb' sign, and a smaller card that I will add to his wallet or briefcase sometime as a fun surprise.For Valentine's Day, I'm giving DH this gift set, boxer shorts with red hearts on them, and a gift certificate to his favorite restaurant, in a gift bag that I decorated to match. I think it'll end up looking pretty cute! (My DH has a fantastic sense of humor too, so I think he'll really get a kick out of the sentiment I chose.)My Favorite Things will be hosting a New Release Cocktail Party on Wednesday night (February 6) from 9-11 p.m. EASTERN time. A fun evening is planned including MFTeasers of the newest sets and a chance to become MFT’s next Guest Designer. Head over to the MFT forum, on Splitcoaststampers, for more details. We'd love to have you join us!

Stamps: Twisted Sentiments & Cat 'n Dog--by My Favorite Things; Supersize Symbols-SU.
Paper: Basic Black, Real Red, Papertrey white CS.
Ink: Basic Black, Real Red, Versafine Onyx Black.
Accessories: Copic markers, Spica glitter pens, ticket corner punch, brads, ribbon, dimensionals, sponge daubers.

Been Gone A While....

I've had this beautiful embossed DP by K & Company for a long time....I've thumbed through it more times than I can count, have loved looking at it, but could never find the right way to use it. While looking through Flaxychick's gallery, I was inspired to use some textured CS (one of those huge slabs by DCWV), and found several shades that matched this K & Co. DP really well, so decided to put something together. I LOVE embossing and layering this flower! After getting frustrated from trimming the layers incorrectly a few times, I made myself a sort of 'template', with color codes to remind me where I like to trim each layer. Now, I just mark each layer with a certain color and I know exactly where to trim. No more ruined images and having to go through the whole process of stamping, embossing, all over again because I messed up! The only ivory embossing powder I have is vanilla-scented, so this flower smells SO yummy!! I used adhesive pearls for the center, then added Stickles to the edge of each petal for some sparkle. I also sponged the edges of each layer with cocoa ink, to make it look a little more aged.(My local fabric store had some leftover ribbon scraps clearance-priced for a penny a foot--I walked out with a bag full of ribbon for less than a dollar---can't beat that!)

Stamps: Fabulous Flowers, En Francais, Best Blossoms (sentiment).
Paper: K & Company embossed DP, DCWV textured CS, Sage Shadow, Naturals Ivory.
Ink: Close to Cocoa, Cameo Coral, Sage Shadow.
Accessories: Ticket corner punch, brads, adhesive pearls, ribbon, sponge daubers, dimensionals, embossing powder, heat gun, Stickles.

My cousin just had a baby girl, so I had to get going and make a card for her. I love the colors in Basic Grey's 'Oh Baby Girl' DP....so bright and cheery! The little giraffe is stamped twice, cut out, and layered with dimensionals. I pulled apart some twine, colored the smaller pieces with a black Copic marker and glued them to the mane and tail to add some texture. I traced over the image with Spica glitter pens too, to give it some sparkle.The sentiment is a Michael's dollar stamp. (Great way to add to your sentiment stash without spending a ton of money.) Added a small ribbon blossom to each side to make it a little more 'girly'.Off to wrap up a cute little pink baby blanket and some frilly socks....I have two sons, so I LOVE being able to shop for little girl things when I get the chance!

Stamps: Bundle of Joy, Michael's $1 stamp (sentiment).
Paper: Basic Grey-Oh Baby Girl DP, Gable Green, Pretty in Pink, GP white CS.
Ink: Gable Green, Pretty in Pink.
Accessories: Copic markers, Spica glitter pens, twine, ticket corner punch, brads, ribbon, dimensionals, sponge daubers.

Riley Moose and a Domestic Goddess.....

Hanna Stamps is releasing a new line of stamps featuring an adorable little moose named Riley. They are wood-mounted red rubber....and they stamp like a dream! A total of six new Riley images will be released on February 1st---this image is called 'Easter Chick Riley'. I used Basic Grey's 'Oh Baby Girl' line of DP since it reminds me of the beautiful, soft colors seen in little girl's frilly Easter dresses. I added a ribbon blossom to each side of the sentiment and gave the eggs & baby chick some 'bling' with my clear Spica pen.


Stamps: Easter Chick Riley-by Hanna Stamps; Papertrey sentiment.
Paper: GP white CS, Basic Grey-Oh Baby Girl DP, Lovely Lilac.
Ink: Gable Green, Pretty in Pink, Lovely Lilac.
Accessories: Copic markers, clear Spica pen, ticket corner punch, brads, ribbon, dimensionals, sponge daubers.



This is a new set from Hanna Stamps, called 'Domestic Goddess'. Pretty much describes all of us, huh?? Lots of cute images in this set! The DP is from Paper Studio----I seem to be gravitating toward brighter, happier colors more and more during this cold, nasty weather---it just cheers me up! Now, if I could just get rid of the huge piles of snow in our front yard---that would be great! I added a smaller version (for me, anyway) of my ribbon blossom....the space beneath Hanna's image just felt a bit too empty without it.


Stamps: Domestic Goddess & Things Hanna Would Say---by Hanna Stamps.
Paper: Regal Rose, Rose Red, So Saffron, Gable Green, GP white CS, Paper Studio DP.
Ink: Rose Red, Regal Rose, So Saffron, Gable Green.
Accessories: Ticket corner punch, brads, Marvy scalloped punch, SU circle punches, ribbon, dimensionals, sponge daubers, Copic markers.

Since it's Sunday, I'll have some time to stamp later this afternoon....check back for some new creations.....and thanks for checking in with me......have a great day!

My Favorite Things Sketch Challenge

I created this for the sketch challenge, hosted by Cindy Haffner (MFTDT member, current member of SCS's Dirty Dozen, and all-around sweetheart and fabulous stamper!!). I used 'Build A Bouquet' by My Favorite Things. I've had this set for a while now and hadn't had much time to play with it. I love it!! Lots of different styles and sizes of flowers, which is just perfect because I like to use lots of layers when I 'build' my flowers. ('Build' my flowers........ Build' a Bouquet....ha!!) ANYway.... I used the MFT sketch as my starting point, though I did cheat a little. (I added a Ribbon Blossom to the left side of the main image.) I don't often do the sketch challenges here on SCS, but I am really starting to like them for helping me find my mojo. (The lighter-colored flowers are Eggplant stamped off once, then stamped again and cut out.) I found the large gold brads in the office supply section at a local store---100 brads for just a little over a dollar-can't beat that! (I go through a TON of brads, so it's great to find a deal!) Be sure to check out the sketch challenge on the MFT Forum on Splicoaststampers....there are some really nice sketch challenges to inspire you too! Thanks for looking---hope you like it! Have a great afternoon everybody!

Stamps: Build a Bouquet, Tres Chic, Happy Harmony.
Paper: Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive, GP white CS, Daisy D's DP.
Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive.
Accessories: Ticket corner punch, brads, ribbon, sponge daubers, Coluzzle.

MFT Guest Designer Challenge....Questions

I've had several people post questions regarding 'how' to become a Guest Designer at My Favorite Things...... Here's some information that I hope you will find helpful. Also, if you'd like to read it directly from the MFT Forum at Splitcoaststampers, here's the link:
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=164
(Sorry, I haven't learned (yet) how to 'write-in' a link with the company name and stuff... Someday...someday.)

My Favorite Things holds a 'Release Party' at the first part of each month. During the party, a challenge is posted by one of the designers on the MFT Design Team. The challenge will be different each month and this month's challenge was to 'Think Outside the Box'. The challenge was to create a project that IS NOT a square or a rectangle, to make any other shape out there…. circles, triangles, octagons, hexagons, just not a square or rectangle.
Everyone is encouraged to play along and the challenge is left open for 24 hours to give everyone time to upload. (We all know that not everybody can attend the party, and that's why the challenge is open for one day.) Though you are encouraged to use MFT stamps when you enter, it is NOT required!! A cut-off time is posted, and a winner is chosen. The entries have been outstanding, so it's been VERY tough for the ladies on the DT to narrow it down!
The Guest Designer receives the new stamp releases for the following month (before they're available to the public) and their creations are uploaded and featured right along with the MFT Design Team's stuff during the next month's 'Sneak Peek's' and Release Party.
We would love to have you play along with us----be sure to join us in February!
I'll be back later this morning with a couple of things to show you. Have a great morning everybody!

Another Sneak Peek......Be Mine Treats & Mailbox

This set, 'Be Mine', is a new mini-set that will be available tomorrow, Wednesday, Jan. 9th, from My Favorite Things. Playing with the 'conversation heart' stamps made me feel like a kid again----when it was SO cool to get these little heart candies from the boy you thought was cute (at the time). I used my very, very favorite SU DP- the 'Loves Me' DP that was available last year. I've found some here and there, but I sure wish I would have stocked up! The colors in this DP make me think of chocolate and candy....nothing beats that! I joined in on the Target mailbox craze...they're a lot of fun to decorate. I've been looking through my favorites gallery, at some of the first cards that I'd favorited, and found several that had lollipops as the main focus and thought I'd try one too. I used some clear plastic from packets of DP that I've purchased---just cut it to fit, then tied it on with ribbon. Looking at these is making me crave sweets!

Don't forget.....My Favorite Things will be hosting a New Release Cocktail Party on Wednesday night (January 9th) from 9-11 pm EASTERN time. There will be sneak peeks, lots of fun and a chance to become MFT’s next Guest Designer. Head over to the MFT forum on Splitcoaststampers for more details! We hope you join us!

Stamps: Be Mine-My Favorite Things.
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Cool Caribbean, Tempting Turquoise, GP white CS.
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Cool Caribbean, Tempting Turquoise.
Accessories: Ticket corner punch, brads, ribbon, plastic package wrap, dimensionals, sponge daubers, mailbox, red-line sticky tape.

My Favorite Things New Release----'Punny Farm'

This card uses images from 'Punny Farm',a new release from My Favorite Things that will be available on Wed. Jan 9th. There are a TON of adorable images and sentiments in this set (23!)--a horse, cow, pig, sheep, chickens, baby chicks, cat, mouse....plus a bunch of sentiments too! A LOT of fun to play with!I had this farm-scene tag-card in my mind as soon as I saw the set. I wanted to portray (somewhat) a day in the life of our adorable little farm girl....doing her chores and taking care of her lovable animals. Each of the animals are cut out and popped up on dimensionals, and the heads are trimmed and popped up on a second layer of dimensionals to give the scenes some depth. The fences are made from some leathery-textured paper found at Michael's-I just trimmed thin strips and arranged them to look like a fence you'd find in an animal pen on the farm. I used some scraps of burlap and denim from DH's old jeans to add to the 'farm' theme. All of the trees and grass were created using greenery and branch stamps from another MFT set, It's a Jungle Out There. Our little farm girl's work boots were given a little bit of sparkle with a clear Spica glitter pen (gotta have some bling while doing all of those chores!) Thanks for looking----I hope you like it! Have a great day! (Please see the individual photos for a closer look at each panel.) Last month's MFT release party was a riot--so, DON'T FORGET......My Favorite Things will be hosting a New Release Cocktail Party on Wednesday night (January 9th) from 9-11 pm EASTERN time. There will be sneak peeks, lots of fun and a chance to become MFT’s next Guest Designer. Head over to the MFT forum on Splitcoaststampers for more details!

Stamps: Punny Farm & It's a Jungle Out There-My Favorite Things.
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Naturals Ivory.
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Ruby Red, Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Bashful Blue.
Accessories: Copic markers, clear Spica glitter pen, ticket corner punch, brads, ribbon, eyelets & Crop-a-dile, HPH, brass hinges, Prima flowers, burlap & denim scraps, dimensionals, sponge daubers.