MFT Teasers: More Essential Sentiments

I'm really excited for the My Favorite Things Teasers today! I've got two samples for you today using the new set More Essential Sentiments paired with the new Layered Label Die-namic. This three piece die is FAB-U-LOUS! The newest stamps and accessories will be released on Tuesday, January 4th! Get ready because this release is AMAZING!


I've done two samples because I couldn't put the stamps and dies down, but also, its a fun way to show you that the two top layers can be interchanged. In my first sample, I'm using the rectangular panel as my sentiment placement, on TOP of that oval piece. I added some baby Braddies to anchor that little piece. All the papers are a hodge-podge from my paper stash....

For my second card, I reversed the top two layers of the die, using the oval for the sentiment placement, and the rectangular panel as a decorative accent. Paired with a bit of brocade paper some vintage crochet ribbon, and a bit of twine, I went for a more quiet, serene card - for a more solemn occasion.....


Teasers will be posted by various members of the MFT Design Team each day between now and the big release on Tuesday the 4th. Be sure to stop by Kim's blog every day for a full list of designers participating in previews. Don't forget that each day, two designers will be secret blog candy holders! You'll maximize your chance to win a prize by leaving a little love on the participating designers blogs each day!

Happy Birthday Jodi!!

It's a Birthday Blog Hop for my sweet friend Jodi! You know, Jodi Collins of the million layers, and the amazing color choices, and the beautiful, beautiful cards! She's simply amazing! And having met her in person let me say that she is as sweet as her beautiful cards, and laugh till tears stream down your face funny!

If you've just tumbled across our HOP you'll want to start up at Karen Motz's blog so that you don't miss any of the birthday cards for Jodi. Girls got some talented friends ;-)

Since Jodi is always enabling me in some - ahem okay a LOT - of purchases, I thought I'd use one of the stamps that she MADE me buy! This is Little Peep's Heart from Stamping Bella


I paper pieced sweet Peep's oversized heart, and the edges are all coated with Glitzy Glitter from The Cat's Pajamas. And my addiction to The Cat's Pajamas Divine Twine continues. I'm having fun with these (tiny) Making Memories tiny alpha stickers.... and since I promised that I'd try to be better about mentioning the names of the papers I use.... all pattern papers are from My Minds Eye: Animal Crackers.

The next stop on our Birthday HOP is Jami Sibley!

have a GREAT day and thanks for stopping by!

My Favorite Valentine - Come Stamp with me!

I've been busily working on samples for my upcoming classes in January and February. I'll be teaching this class only twice this time - at the following locations.

We'll make three *love filled* projects in this class from My Favorite Things - featuring adorable images from Pure Innocence collection. We'll add fun details with Die-namics MFT's line of American Made Steel Bladed dies, as well as my favorite accents, gingham ribbon bows, buttons and bakers twine.

I hope to see you there!

January 15th from 10-12 at Right at Home Scrapbooking - North Attleboro, MA

February 5th from 10-12 at Colorful Creations: Hyannis, MA

Happy Happy Birthday!

This morning, I'm playing along with some bloggin' friends and wishing a very happy birthday to my friend Dana! If you've just tripped across our Birthday Bash, then you'll want to stop up at Karen Motz's blog for the full lineup!

Dana and I met through Stamping Bella - so that was the perfect excuse to ink up one of my stamps from my most recent order. So I've whipped up a little birthday cuppie for Dana using Baykahbella!


I always have a good laugh when I get to visit with Dana in person, she is SO so sweet, and seriously funny. She and Karen are besties, and Karen lives just up the street from me, so when she comes to visit, we always get together for a little treat!

Our next stop on the hop is the amazing JODI COLLINS!

MFT's Fan Favorites and Wednesday Stamp Club Challenge

Hi everyone! Are you a "FAN" of My Favorite Things on Facebook? Because if not there's no time like the present! Right now, we're on a hunt for the Fan Favorite for 2010! One lucky commenter in our search for the Fan Favorite will win the entire January 2011 release!

Step one: All you have to do is visit this page, and leave your very most favorite product we sell (that's right, you've got to choose a favorite!!) and you can even mention that I sent you! Why? Because in order to help ring in the New Year, we'll be awarding one lucky commenter the ENTIRE January 2011 release!

Step two: To double the fun, invite your stamping friends to cast their votes too. Invite all YOUR stamping friends to the page, and have them comment that YOU sent them! Because, if your friend lists their 2010 Fan Favorite and also mentions YOU as a referral, you both have a chance to win!

Now comes the hard part, choosing which stamp or Die-namics die is your very favorite. We're keeping count, so which ONE set or Die-namics could you not live without!

I'm also playing along in this week's Wednesday Stamp Club Challenge to make a Pure Innocence Christmas card! You can find this week's challenge listed HERE! This week, my eight year old son was my art director. He chose the stamp, the papers to use, even which paper to make her dress from. We needed a Christmas card for his second grade teacher...


We went for a fully finished inside, he loved this sentiment, so we paired it with the new Textile Rectangle and the Hearts a Plenty Die-namic.


So, head on over to Facebook and let us know what is your Fan Favorite Product - and also, come play with us in the Wednesday Stamp Club - we'd LOVE to see you!

TCP Tuesday: Sketch Time

Hey everyone, this week TCP Tuesday is back to sketch time. Alma's the hostess this week, and what a fun and versatile sketch she's drawn up for the occasion. I knew as SOON as I saw it which stamp I was going to work with, and I had my black striped ribbon in mind for that long panel....

As I got working with it though, well, I'm in the spirit of the sketch, but those crazy penguins from Round the Chimney took over and really took over much more real estate than I'd planned. Those penguins, they do like to run the show. *giggle*

I'm so partial to paper piecing and this set is truly fabulous for the job. I reached for this My Mind's Eye iBelieve paper, and used the solid red for the bricks, then reached into my Crate Paper Recollection pack for a woodgrain mantle. I'm getting SO excited for Christmas. We're getting some wrapped presents under the tree, I'm finally getting that shopping list under control....

Be sure to play along in the TCP Tuesday challenges for YOUR chance to be named the Swanky Stamper of the month! Visit this post on Alma's blog for all the details!

MFT VIP HOP!

Wanna be a VIP? Well its the time to pick up next month's Who's That Girl along with a fabulous assortment of products! This month....just in time for all your New Year's Resolutions --- Let's Get Physical (hey... girls, get your minds out of the gutter.) This month's VIP Collection for My Favorite Things is available now HERE


I'm hoping that you've come here via way of sweet Jessie's blog! But if that's not the case, be sure to start over up at Kim's Blog because otherwise you've already missed half of the amazing projects on tonight's HOP!

Now, its been said here before, that I only run when chased... but just wait till you see the sentiment I paired with it, because it really is SO so me! I also have many friends that are runners, either as a regular hobby, or girls that participate in 5K charity runs etc. So I know that this set will see a lot of ink from me, regardless of how I *personally* feel about running!


I've paired the newest Who's That Girl with the exclusive mini set "Get a Move On" which will ONLY be available as part of the VIP Kit! I love the sentiments in this extension set. And seriously girls, take a close look at the Die-namics die included in this VIP Kit. Three layered dies. Totally fabulous!

Today I've reached for the Stacking Stars Die-namic which is quickly becoming a go-to accessory for me. I love using up small scraps of patterned paper that are otherwise cluttering up my desktop. (please tell me that you have those piles too - right?)

And yes, another stacked circle "anchor point" - that's what I'm calling that little feature I've been relying on so heavily lately....I love nesting things in that circle and using it as part of my sentiment placement.....

Remember, the VIP Collection is available in limited quantities, and only through Wednesday night! And, the two new a la modes are also available in the store now! Happy SHOPPING!

Your next stop on tonight's SHOP HOP is Julie Dinn I'm going to race you on over there to see what she's put together for the shop hop!!

a la modes: Key to My Heart

Today we've got teasers lined up for the second of our new a la modes stamps this month, today you'll meet Key to My Heart. This little beauty, with her pretty hair and tiny waist... I'm a little envious of her adorable features, and she's so fun to color!

I've picked some feminine papers from the Cosmo Cricket Togetherness paper pack, and used a bit of my favorite striped ribbon from that company that my friend Carole refers to as "Big Stampin'"


In order to accommodate my large sized bow, I used a nestie to cut a half circle notch in my finished panel to slide the bow right up over the bottom edge of the panel. The sentiment is nested in a half circle off to the side....its been sort of a while since I've added a ginormous bow... I think I've missed them!

Be sure to check Kim's blog today after 11 am for a full link list of designers participating today, and we'll see you tonight for the 10pm EST Blog Hop featuring our latest VIP Kit!

a la modes: Cheers!

Happy Monday everyone! Surprise, we've got a la modes Teasers for My Favorite Things both today and tomorrow, and then the VIP Hop on Tuesday night. (I told you, this month is flying by....)

This past weekend, I made a new friend at a Christmas Party. It is called a Pointsetta. And I don't mean the flower.... You can get the recipe for this tasty, and festive adult beverage here... and don't forget to add a few fresh cranberries for garnish... Mmm. They go down easy, perhaps a little toooo easy?

So today, my a la modes: Cheers isn't drinking your average bubbly, she's enjoying a Pointsetta. Trust me. You'll love the stamp, and the drink too!

Be sure to check Kim's blog today after 11 am for a full list of all the designers working with Cheers today. And I'll see you tomorrow for a peek at the other super cute a la modes tomorrow morning and this month's Who's That Girl at the VIP Hop tomorrow night! Have a great day!

Class Kits Available!

While cleaning up my desk this afternoon, I found FOUR remaining kits from my recent My Favorite Holiday class. The kit includes all the papers, die-cut shapes and embellishments and a set of full color instructions. You can see my sample cards here.... Papers from my favorite holiday collection The Girls Paperie Twig and Tinsel.

The kit does NOT include the stamps or pre-stamped images to complete the project. All the stamps are available from My Favorite Things, or you could use existing stamps in your *collection*

Priced at $15 via PayPal including first class shipping. There are four available at this time. Please email me at basilefamily at comcast dot net (I've spelled it out here to avoid spam-bots!) for details!

that thing called balance.....

Hi everyone, I have a Sweet Sunday card to share with you today as well as a sad announcement.

Of late, I've had a particularly hard time with that little thing called balance.... too much on the to do list, running around like a maniac and not sleeping as much (or as well) as I should. We'll shortly enter ski season, and I'm thrilled that both boys will be up on skiis this year and we have a few trips already planned. You can see how this *might* cut into my available stamping and blogging time - after skiing I usually totally crash - though somehow the kids never seem tired after a day on the mountain... what's up with THAT??

And, obviously I have to say yes to the family commitments and put my little hobby on the back burner just a little from time to time.....

So, sadly, this will be my last Sunday on the Sweet Sunday Sketch team. I'm looking forward to joining all of YOU on this side of the party, enjoying their beautiful creations, and looking for some time in the week to play along from time to time. I'm just trying to reduce my regular "commitments" so to speak.

So here, for the last time in any "official" capacity, is my Sweet Sunday Stampers sample of the week....

Karen's original sketch:

and my very Clean and Simple sample for the week..... (gosh, why don't I do clean and simple more often?)

Please head on over to Karen's blog to leave some love on her creation - they're always spectacular, and then join me in hopping around to see all the girls on the Sweet Sunday Sketch team.

Now, be sure to visit Karen at The Sweetest Thing to see what she's whipped up for this week's sketch, and you'll find samples by all of my sweet, and oh so very talented friends on the Sweet Sunday Sketch team:

• Karen Giron
  
• Jennifer Tapler
• Karen Motz
  
• Laura Fredrickson
• Lynn Put
• Sarah-Jane Kale
  
• Vicki Burdick
  
  

  
  

  

A Saturday Sketch For You To Try

Oh my goodness, another week has slipped right by. Watch out people, because the last few of this year are going to go by in a blink! Today I'm playing along with the girls on the Sketch For You To Try team, before they take a little break for the holidays.

Today, there's no sketch in particular for you to use, just look back through the archives and find one that inspires YOU! I didn't have to hunt back too far in the year to find the one I wanted to play with.... you would have originally seen this sketch on October 30th on Jen's blog.

I'm using a hodge-podge of papers here, Bo Bunny Double Dot in red, as well as this beautiful text printed paper from My Mind's Eye Lost and Found. This houndstooth scrap keeps showing up on my desk, and I keep finding smaller and smaller things to piece with it... I'm going to have to go on a hunt for more....

I've got a Die-namics Small Scallop Border die cut in felt, to which I added a strip of gingham ribbon. And, this might be the first ever time I've done a blonde PI. Lots of Glitzy Glitter on the heart. This cutie little Pure Innocence: Love You With All My Heart is sold out right now from My Favorite Things (sorry!) but I'm sure she'll be back in the store soon!

Be sure to check out all the girls on the Sketch For You To Try team to see what sketch they've all picked. Have fun blog surfing this morning, and wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Jen del Muro

Susan Liles
Amy Rohl
Amy Sheffer
Megan Lock
Amber Hight
Sony Christoph
Jodi Collins
Jenn Diercks
Kelly Lunceford
Leigh O’Brien

And, sweet Ana Wolfhart is playing along this week too!

Greatest Hits: à la modes - and a little enabler alert....

I am really excited that it is time for My Favorite Things Greatest Hits again. Its the time when we take a specific line of stamps out for a little walk, pairing up some of our *older* sets with the latest paper and accessories. Its a nice time to visit with all the stamps on my desk.....

Today we're all working with the à la modes line. This sweet line was introduced this summer, and I would declare it a runaway hit! These adorable tiny girls, paired with oversized images. Today, I'm using Time to Celebrate

I couldn't help but dig into some new paper that I picked up while teaching this weekend. It is Melissa Frances paper, and just so super super cute..... I paired it with the Die-namic Banner Strip Die and some new Chocolate twine that I picked up last week. ....warning.....I think I'm in love with chocolate twine.....

Do you see that the cake is decked out in Glossy Effects. My kids couldn't help but touch that frosting this morning and thought the effect was pretty cool.

Be sure to stop by Kim's Blog today at 11am for a full link listing to the sixteen designers playing along today! But before you go - ENABLER ALERT!

MFT's Christmas Comes Early Promotion

MFT loves to spoil our customers and this week is no exception. Christmas has come early for YOU. From December 7 though December 9, our MFT Santa will be slipping a little something extra into your "stocking". With each order of $25 or more (not including tax or shipping) placed during the promotion period, you will receive a FREE surprise gift with your order. We have a ton of gifts under the tree, and we'll pick one out just for you. It could be a stamp set, ribbon, or other crafty product. It'll be a surprise, so please don't send Santa a list. *wink*

Enjoy today's Greatest Hits posts and happy shopping!

A Box of Love

Here's a little number that I made for the last MFT Release, but for some reason, never got around to blogging. This little darling is a brand new Pure Innocence stamp set called "A Box of Love"

And as I mentioned the other day, I'm still grooving on this Twig and Tinsel paper from Girls Paperie, and I think all this red is just fabulous for Valentines day. Yes, I know it isn't even Christmas yet... but those of us that make cards are always gearing up one holiday ahead.


Mixed with one of my favorite neutrals Bo Bunny Double Dot and lots of MFT's Hot Fudge Cardstock. Please tell me you picked yourself up a Die-namics Hearts a Plenty Die. I will admit to being fairly obsessed with using it, on everything....

Off to figure out what to do with this week's box from our winter share at the local farm. It should have been called "Turnips, Beets and Squash" instead of "Winter Share". Anyone have a good turnip recipe? Bleech. I'm SO not a fan of all the turnip.....

Sweet Sunday

Good morning and welcome to another Sweet Sunday everyone!

This week's sketch from Karen has a great wide, but not too tall panel right across the front. Lately I've had a lot of square-ish type images to work with, not too much in this shape. So it was a fun challenge to hunt through my stamps to see what might work.


And I was reminded of this beautiful stamp from Stamping Bella - Branch with Birdies which I hadn't broken out in a year. I paired a bit of Bo Bunny Double Dot in Almond along with pattern papers from Basic Grey Jovial with a healthy dose of chocolate cardstock....


I grabbed a photo of this yesterday right before I headed off to teach for the day, and the light wasn't the best. I fiddled with it in Photoshop, but I still don't think the photo does the card justice. So, my guess is that I'll be re-shooting the card later today with some better lighting conditions...

Till then, I totally encourage you to stop by to see all the samples by my friends here on the Sweet Sunday Sketch team - if you ask me, its a great way to start of your morning right. And even more importantly, tuck a few minutes aside for yourself today to enjoy what YOU like and get some stamping done!

Now, be sure to visit Karen at The Sweetest Thing to see what she's whipped up for this week's sketch, and you'll find samples by all of my sweet, and oh so very talented friends on the Sweet Sunday Sketch team:

• Karen Giron
  
• Jennifer Tapler
• Karen Motz
  
• Laura Fredrickson
• Lynn Put
• Sarah-Jane Kale
  
• Vicki Burdick
  
  Have a GREAT day everyone and hope to see you soon with a better photo of my little card!
  
  

  
  

  
  

  

Sketch for You To Try.....

I got such a fun email from Jen the other day asking if I'd like to play along in this weekend's Sketch for You to Try - and here's the twist. There's no sketch! *giggle* Several of us are reaching back into the "archives" of Sketch For You To Try and playing along.

I was of course thrilled, because I always find myself reaching for those SFYTT's when I need a little jump start... So I dug back through the 2010 sketches and picked this beauty from June.

This stamp is Making a List from My Favorite Things. Lots of paper piecing opportunities with this one, I used a ledger paper for her note - and cut a sweet polka dotted shift. Lots of raggedy stitching on my mini circle panel and of course a Hearts a Plenty Die-namics.

Now that I'm looking at it... I made a classic *goof* in my project. Can you find it. Its pretty funny.

I am down to only a few pieces of this Girls Paperie Twig and Tinsel paper (eeks, good thing I'm teaching at Ink About It this morning where I can pick up some more!) Jen and I actually recently discussing that this paper is going to be great straight through Valentines, I'll just not be using the papers with all the green!

Jen, thank you SO much for inviting me over to play this week! Now won't you all join me in a peek at all the SFYTT team blogs - I always love surfing around on a Saturday morning to see how these girls will inspire me next.....

Jen del Muro

Susan Liles
Amy Rohl
Amy Sheffer
Megan Lock
Amber Hight
Sony Christoph
Jodi Collins
Jenn Diercks
Kelly Lunceford
Leigh O’Brien

TCP Tuesday - So, so late

Okay, its Friday, and The Cat's Pajama's challenge was posted by Sony on Tuesday. Battling this cold is sending me to bed early, and severely cutting into my stamp time. Ugh.

And, if we're being honest, Sony's color combo for this week scared me. I'm a purplephobe. Sony's color challenge is a polar freeze, with icy blue, aqua and purple. gasp. purple. Stopped me dead in my tracks.

Okay, hush..... there isn't so much aqua, but come on, I used purple! I started off using Mercy's sketch this week, but then I've added on my mini circle panel thing - that I've been on a tear with - you don't even want to know how long I had to sift through that button jar to find a purple one. Really. Long. Time.

If anyone is curious as to the paper I've used today it is a mixture of Cosmo Cricket Togetherness and Cosmo Cricket Mitten Weather.

Be sure to stop over to Alma's blog, and add your polar freeze creation to this week's challenge! If you're uploading to Splitcoast Stampers, be sure to add the keyword TCPTues137!

December Shop HOP!

I love the fun of the MFT Shop Hop after days of teasers. This is the time when we all take a stamp set and give it another whirl, you know just before you all complete those purchases.

Tonight, our December Temp Team is joining us in the Shop HOP so you're in for a ginormous blog hop! You should have started your journey up at Kim's Blog and come here via Melody's amazing blog (I just love her work, so amazingly detailed, so beautiful right?)

Tonight, I'm excited to play with one of the new Pure Innocence stamp sets, Love You With All My Heart, I've paired it with a little bit more of the My Mind's Eye Alphabet Soup paper that I'm so enamored with lately. And yes, you'll see that I've tucked another of those small circular panels that I've been on a tear with the last few days - today it is the anchor for my bow instead of a sentiment flag-thing.

Sweet Miss PI is paper pieced - which you know I love to do! My tip for you tonight is to make sure that when piecing you add details like extra sleeves or pockets pieced. Think about how the fabric would "turn" for a sleeve... those tiny details make such a world of difference, and only a few extra seconds to stamp the extra piece, trim it out and add in place.

From here, the next stop on your hop is Lesa Smaligo. I've *known* Lesa for a few years now as she is a true MFT "Junkie!" You can often find her on the Splitcoast Forum at our release parties and following along in our Wednesday Stamp Club challenges. So glad to have Miss Lesa with us on the December Temp Team this month - head on over to her blog Punkydoodle Papers to see what she's put together for the hop tonight! Happy Hopping and Happy SHOPPING too!