MFTeasers | Day 1!

Here are the details about the upcoming release on February 7th at 10 PM EST:

• You can attend the New Release Party on February 7th 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 February 7th 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 February 7th just before the release party, on the MFT blog.

It's the first day for February MFT peeks and we're kicking the week off with a super fun set in the Who's That Girl collection - meet Who's That Girl Let's Chat - Isn't she fantastic?

I stamped her in Memento Tuxedo Black in and then colored her with Copic Markers.  The papers are Blossom Soup by Jillybean Soup.

I added the new Botanical Beauty Die-namics die with patterned papers from the pack and the placed it over the First Place Awards Ribbon Die-namics die.  The layout is Jen Shults' DS35.

Don't forget to stop by Kim's blog for a list of all the designers playing along in today's WTG Teaser!

Here are the Die-namics I used today:

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

recipe -

stamps: who's that girl let's chat (mft)

paper: sno cone, wild cherry, choice snow white (taylored expressions) cardstock, blossom soup (jillybean soup)

ink: memento tuxedo black

accessories: copic markers, botanical beauty die-namics (mft), first place award ribbon die-namics (mft), red rhinestone brad (su!), sewing machine, thread, foam tape

Thank You Bunches

Good morning!  I have a super sweet image from By LORi Designs to show you - this is Ella (TWO).

I printed her out in a wallet size, which seems to be a great size for cards.  She's colored with Copic markers, and I was in the mood for red hair, which I really need to color more often - look how sweet she is!  The papers are all from Lime Twist Happy Go Lucky papers from My Mind's Eye and the layout is Jen Shults' DS36.

I'm so happy you stopped by!  Have a happy Tuesday.
Karen

recipe - 

stamps: ella - two (by lori designs), everyday sentiments (by lori designs)

paper: jetstream (bazzill), rich razzleberry (su!), choice buttercream (taylored expressions), lime twist happy go lucky (my mind's eye)

ink: n/a

accessories: copic markers, rectangle spellbinders die, rolled rose/mini rolled roses/first place award ribbon die-namics (my favorite things), blue stitched grosgrain ribbon (su!), clear rhinestones (kaisercraft), sewing machine, thread, foam tape

MFT Creative Chat | My Creative Process

It's time for the MFT Creative Chat. The My Favorite Things Design Team Creative Chat is a monthly feature, where we are challenged to explore our creative spaces and share valuable organizational methods, tools, and shopping strategies with you. You'll be able to peek into our creative spaces, ask questions, and share your own ideas in the MFT forum.  This month, we were challenged with the following: 

• Show us your creative mind at work.  Take us on a journey through a card-making session, start to finish.
• How do you select colors, layout, embellishments, and overall design?
• Share your creative process with us.

Visit Kim's Blog for a full list of designers that have taken up the challenge and get ready to delve into the minds of our creative team.

I cannot wait to go visit all the MFT Designers who are taking part in this month's Creative Chat and see how they get that amazing mojo flowing!

I'm giving you a little glimpse of how I usually create a card from start to finish and I hope you enjoy the tour.  Be prepared, this post is very long and photo-heavy, so you might want to grab a candy bar.  I'll have one too - it's not right to let you eat a candy bar all by yourself now, is it?

The very first thing I do when I sit down to make a card is find a sketch to work off of.  I cannot make a card without using a sketch from a challenge - I just sit there and look at my stamps and paper and nothing seems to click.  I save all the sketches I like in a sketch folder on my computer, then when I need one, I just open it up and keep it on the side of my computer screen.  Today I'm using the current MFTWSC. I also open up Netflix and stream a TV show or movie.  What does this have to do with stamping?  Well, nothing, it just keeps me from getting distracted by email and Facebook.  For reals.  Today it's Monk, season 1, episode 7.

Once I have my sketch picked out, I figure out which stamps and papers I want to use.  Today I'm using the image from PI Make Mine a Double and a sentiment from PI My Balloon. The papers are Country Drive from Echo Park.

I know I'm going to cut this image out and pop it up over the circle on the sketch, so I stamped it on a narrow sheet of cardstock in Memento Tuxedo Black ink.  At this stage in the game, I choose the patterned papers I want to use from the paper pack and then match Copic Marker colors.  Let the coloring begin...

I always color the skin first.

Next is the hair (red-head today).

Then the clothing and heart barrette.

...the band on her dress.

Next is the ice cream.
 
...and finally, shoes and cone.

Now that my image is colored I can cut her out.  I forgot to get a photo of it, but I'm betting you know what I'm talking about, haha!

I'm now moving on to the next episode of Monk....


This is the point where get all of my Die-namics cut out and ready to assemble on my card.  This is one well-loved cutting plate.

I cut the patterned paper down to the size I need and then layer it to cardstock. 

Now I'm ready to run the panels through my Janome Sew Mini for some of that stitching I've become so addicted to adding to my projects.  I blame the MFT team for this one.  Haha!

I added some ribbon and the Little Open Scallop Strip Die-namics.  You can see the Open Scallop Doily Die-namics sitting there with foam tape, ready for somewhere to go.

Here is the finished card -

And I also finished the inside -

I didn't show you my process on the inside, but it's exactly like the front.

Thank you so much for stopping by and being patient with my long-winded blog post.  I do hope you've enjoyed taking a peek into my creative process.

Karen

recipe -

stamps: pure innocence my balloon (mft), pure innocence make mine a double (mft)

paper: sno cone, choice buttercream (taylored expressions) cardstock, country drive (echo park)

ink: memento tuxedo black

accessories: copic markers, open scallop doily duo die-namics (mft), little open scallop strip die-namics (mft), first place award ribbon die-namics (mft), dog tag die-namics (mft), so saffron grosgrain ribbon (su!), linen thread, sewing machine, thread, foam tape

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 151

Good morning - It's time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge! Here is the deal: make a card with this layout and use the InLinkz button down at the very end of this post to enter your card. The links will close in two weeks, next Friday at 10 PM (Mountain Time). Be sure to link directly to the blog post or gallery image which features your card. You may post a picture of the sketch on your blog, but please save the image to your computer first. Use the keyword SSSC151 if you plan to post your card in an online gallery.

WANT TO BE A GUEST Sweet Sunday Stamper?  I'll be picking my favorite card or project after each challenge and that winner will have a special guest spot as a designer on a future Sweet Sunday Challenge.  I'm SO excited about this!  You can enter as many different cards as you'd like before the following Friday deadline, so get stampy!

I will be announcing the next Guest Sweet Sunday Stamper later this week, so be sure to check back to see if you will be joining the design team for SSS152!

I'm typing this post while it is snowing outside and looking at this spring tree and green grass makes me wonder how many more snow storms we'll have before the tulips pop up?  Sigh.  I'm using some Taylored Expressions stamps today - this tree is from Love Grows Here.  I had to stretch the sketch a bit to accomodate the long image and then I added some Small Scallops underneath instead of over the top of the image.  Hope you all don't mind, haha!   I sewed 2 Grass Border strips over the base of the tree (LOVE that!) and then added some stitching around the sentiment too.  Just a little bit sewing machine crazy today.

I had to add some yummy rhinestone centers to the blossoms on the tree.  I can't help myself.  The papers are A Walk in the Park from Echo Park.

The Sweet Sunday Stampers have amazing sketch samples to show you today, so stop on by to see:

• Anita Madden - fabulous guest designer
• Dana White
• Jennifer Tapler
• Karen Motz
• Lynn Put
• Sarah-Jane Kalé
• Vicki Burdick 

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Karen

recipe -

stamps:  love grows here (te)

paper: hot fudge, blu raspberry, kraft, choice snow white (te) cardstock, a walk in the park (echo park)

ink: memento rich cocoa

accessories: copic markers, rectangle/circle/circle scallop spellbinders dies, small scallop border/grass border dies (te), sour apple felt (mft), clear/hot pink/aqua rhinestones (kaisercraft), sewing machine, thread, foam tape

Morning Coffee

How true is this fun sentiment from Love Monsters?  Or is it just me?  Please tell me I have monster friends out there.  Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge is BACK!  Yay!  I loves me some sketch challenges and I'm so happy Taylor is back at it with fun new layouts.  I started by stamping this sweet little coffee monster in Memento Tuxedo Black on both Choice Snow White cardstock and Country Drive paper from Echo Park. I colored her with Copic markers and paper pieced the image together. The little scallop strip is the Small Scallop Border Die, which I trimmed to about 1/4" thick.  I added a fun little white bow with a glue dot and 3 Hot Pink Rhinestones along the bottom.  A little stitching and it's done.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Karen

recipe -

stamps: love monsters (te)

paper: parakeet (bazzill), choice snow white (te), country drive (echo park)

ink: memento tuxedo black

accessories: copic markers, circle/large scallop spellbinders dies, small scallop border die (te), white/black stitched grosgrain ribbon, hot pink rhinestones (kaisercraft), sewing machine, thread

Hey there!

Good morning!  Taylored Expressions is getting ready for CHA and there are some amazing bargains at the store - here is a little note from Taylor:

Good morning! We're almost ready to head off to CHA to buy all of the latest and greatest products for the TE Store, but first it's time to make room on our shelves with our semi-annual CHA Clearance Sale! We've taken markdowns on tons of products like Puffies, patterned paper, chipboard, Nestabling, vintage buttons, and more!

When: Now through Wednesday, February 1st

Where: Taylored Expressions What's the Deal Department

Details: Use coupon code CHASALE2012 for an extra 10% discount on all of the already discounted merchandise in the What's the Deal department. Get over 50% off some of your favorite products!

Once these products are gone they will not be re-stocked so shop early for the best selection.

I was a little afraid of this color combo when I first pulled the papers out of my Victoria Gardens paper pack.  But it seems to have calmed down on the card, haha!  I haven't used Labels of Love from Taylored Expressions for a little while and it was time to get it inky again.  This set is designed to coordinate perfectly with the Spellbinders Ribbon Tags Trio 3 Dies.

I stamped the label in Colorbox Tangerine and then ran some white organdy ribbon through the tag.  The layout is SCS's SC368.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Karen

recipe - 

stamps: labels of love (taylored expressions)

paper: so saffron (su!), choice snow white (te), victoria gardens (echo park)

ink: colorbox tangerine, memento rich coca

accessories: spellbinders ribbon tags trio 3 dies, medium scallop border die (te), white organdy ribbon, sewing machine, thread

There She Goes Sneak Peeks | Day THREE

Good Morning!!  It's the final day of sneak peeks for the February release of There She Goes Clear Stamps - awww! Be sure to read the details at the end of this post for a chance to win one of the new February sets!!

Cruising on a Sunday afternoon, scootin’ by to say hi! Melyssa Connolly has brought Leah back and she’s 'born to be wild!' She already comes with lots of fun, but if this isn’t enough she has a kit to accessorize to her hearts content! Whether she’s moving, heading off to school, or enjoying a ride she’ll surely make tracks into your heart.

Scootin’ By is a 4x8 set that includes a total of 15 stamps and will sell for $18.00.

Scootin’ By – Accessories is a 4x4 set that includes a total of 14 stamps and will sell for $10.00.

This set makes me wish the weather was warmer and I could scoot around town on this sweet little scooter - so cute!  I'm in a paper piecing mood this week and I really like how it looks on this darling image.  I stamped the scooter, basket, and flowers on Choice Buttercream cardstock and fussy cut them out.  I stamped the scooter again on two different sheets of Stella & Rose Gertie 6x6 paper from My Mind's Eye and cut them out to paper piece over the buttercream cardstock.  

I used Copic markers for the tires, handle bar, mirror, light, and flowers and then stamped the sentiment directly on the patterned paper with Memento Tuxedo Ink.  A little satin ribbon and sewing finishes the card.  Love it! The layout is Sketchbook Saturday Challenge 45.

Would you like to win the new Scootin’ by and Scootin’ by Accessories stamp sets? Here is what you need to do- visit the Trendsetter’s blogs that are participating in each of the blog hop challenges below and comment on their creations as you go. One of the Trendsetter’s blogs (from each hop day) will be randomly chosen as the ‘it’ blog and a winner will be picked using a random number generator from the comments left on that Trendsetter’s Blog Hop Challenge post. You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning new stamps! The Blog Hop Challenges will be open until 5 PM Eastern Time Saturday January 28th with the winner being announced during the release party chat.


Thanks so much for stopping by!
Karen

recipe - 

stamps: scootin' by (tsg), scootin' by accessories (tsg)

paper: jetstream (bazzill), choice buttercream (taylored expressions), stella & rose gertie 6x6 (my mind's eye) 

ink: memento tuxedo black 

accessories: copic markers, aqua satin ribbon, circle/scallop spellbinders dies, little open scallop strip die-namics (my favorite things), sewing machine, thread, foam tape

MFT Wednesday Stamp Club

Good morning!  It's time for another fabulous MFT sketch for your mid-week pick-me-up.  We have a super fun sketch for you this week!

I made a card using Pure Innocence: Being Cute Is What I Do.

I stamped her in Memento Tuxedo Black ink on Choice Snow White cardstock and then colored her with Copic markers.  I stamped her again on a scrap piece of Everyday Flair paper from My Mind's Eye and then paper pieced her shirt and colored the rose with a Copic.  The beautiful die cut is the larger doily of the Die-namics Open Scallop Doily Duo dies and then I used the Die-namics First Place Award Ribbon die for the sentiment after cutting one side of it.

I stamped her again on the inside of the card along with another sweet sentiment, while keeping a little room to write a personal note.

I hope you will play along with us this week!  Please stop by Kim's blog for a list of all the designers participating in today's WSC challenge - you will definitely find yourself inspired!

Here are the Die-namics dies and Copic markers I used today:

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

recipe - 

stamps: pi being cute is what i do (mft)

paper: blossom (bazzill), flamingo (bazzill), choice snow white (taylored expressions), everyday flair (my mind's eye)

ink: memento tuxedo black

accessories: copic markers, die-namics open scallop doily duo (mft), die-namics first place award ribbon (mft), sewing machine, thread, foam tape