Clean and Simple on a Sweet Sunday

Good morning! Today I've got a little Clean and Simple Sunday thing going on. I have been *dying* to dig into this beautiful My Mind's Eye paper that my sweet friend Jody sent to me for my birthday.


And I thought that it was just perfect to share the latest Die-namics: Stacking Stars from My Favorite Things which will be available as part of our upcoming November Release!


This fabulous die set cuts a total of five stars in assorted sizes in a single cut. I think it is truly fabulous, and a great shall we say "necessity?" in your crafting arsenal!

Today is also the day that we share previews for the Happy Thoughts stamp set. This was our previous Triple Scoop set - it covers a variety of all happy cardmaking occasions and is a great basics set to have adding flexibility to your other sets, or perfect for those Die-namic and sentiment only cards that are SO fun to make!

Remember that Kim will have links to all the girls participating in previews today after 11am EST.

This is also my sample for this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch challenge. A great sketch if you ask me, in that it is well suited to any number of stamp sets... patterned papers etc. Lots of room for interpretation!


Please be sure to pop around to visit all my friends on the Sweet Sunday Sketch Team so that you don't miss a thing!

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

MFT Teasers Begin - Just Chillin'

I'm so excited that teasers have begun for My Favorite Things for the month of November! Our newest stamps and accessories will be available on Wednesday, November 3rd at 10pm. But, every day, from now till then, we'll be sharing some previews with you.

AND, every day, two stamp sets will be given away, you have a chance at the two sets simply for leaving love on the Design Team blogs, you'll never know who the secret candy holders are... you'll have to check Kim's blog each day to see who has won!

Today is also the day that the newest Guest Designer Challenge will be announced. It is YOUR chance to wow the team with your mad talents, and earn the chance to play along in the following month's previews. Oh right, and WIN OVER a $100 in stamps! That's right, the winner earns the following month's release. Sweet! Be sure to check the Splitcoast Stampers Member Company Forum today to find all the details!

Enough of my chitter, chatter, are you ready to see a preview?


As a mom of boys I was THRILLED to see the newest Wyatt stamp Just Chillin. And we live in Boston, where it will snow quite often.... The boys love snow days, skiing and have already begun discussing their plans for a giant snow family, and a backyard igloo. (Secret confession: Would it be so wrong to admit that I'm super glad they're old enough to go build a snow family while I enjoy a cuppa coffee from the kitchen window?)


The boys are close enough in age that I've got to clearly identify what presents belong to whom at Christmas. So I thought an oversized gift tag would be not only a fun project, but also a pretty handy one! I'll have to make a second one - because with two boys, someone's feelings will be hurt if there is only one tag....

I used an Impression Obsession Shake it Pouch, and filled it with Glitzy Glitter for a fun interactive snow-globish tag. Patterned paper from Animal Crackers by My Mind's Eye. A felted snowflake thanks to the amazing Let It Snowflake Die-namic.

Be sure to check Kim's blog today after 11am for a full list of designers - you won't want to miss a bit of the eye candy with three new sets being unveiled today!

And, if you're wondering where I got this amazing tag shaped diecut it is from Jody's Diecuts. Fabulous! And I'm awfully glad I picked up a big assortment of them, this is SO fun!

Happiness is Handmade

Yesterday, I spent from noon till 7pm in the kitchen. First it was 60 cookies for the second and kindergarten class celebrations, then it was cleaning up that mess and making dinner.

Then I decided since I'd already trashed the kitchen, that I might as well go ahead and make Pumpkin Whoopie Pies. Since, after all, I'd roasted and pureed a pumpkin for that reason the other day....

At 8pm after I'd cleaned everything up, and frosted the pies, I realized that I really, and I do mean REALLY needed to color something. To sew something. And, this week's My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club theme was just perfect for my day of baking.

Tag, You're It!

One Pumpkin Whoopie Pie with Cream Cheese frosting, in a glassine bag. Handmade tag tied on with gingham ribbon and linen thread. Happiness really IS homemade.

And, if you haven't picked up this adorable a la modes: What's Cooking - you might want to reconsider. She's totally fabulous, and in my case, exceptionally useful!

Be sure to play along with us in the Wednesday Stamp Club challenge adding YOUR tag to the SCS gallery using the keyword MFTWSC10272010

A Beary Hot Color Combo

Its The Cat's Pajamas Tuesday and Sony is our hostess this week. She's got a HOT color combination for us today. And lets be honest, this one was scary like a freaky movie for me. But The gauntlet had been thrown, and I wasn't about to run away.

Pink, Orange and Red. I think Carole must have whispered this one in her ear... Lucky for me, my new Crate Paper had all the colors I needed.

A quick tour through blogland gave me a sketch to jumpstart my paper trimming. Its this week's Mojo Monday Sketch (thanks for a fun one Julee!!) A Beary Good Year hadn't been inked in a while.. and I just got to enjoy some delicious Starbucks with my friend Karen today, so I was feeling inspired...

Red cardstock, pink ribbon, orange patterned paper. Yikes! Scary. But in the end, as loud as it is, I simply adore this card. See, its good to challenge yourself.

I do hope you'll play along with us in this week's challenge. Come join us on the TCP Member Company forum to chat, and to share your sample! Remember we're always on the lookout for our Next Swanky Stamper - will it be you? Maybe.... but you've got to play along!

It's In the Bag!

You still have a few days to play along in this week's Wednesday Stamp Club challenge for My Favorite Things. The theme this week is It's in the Bag!

I'm not sure if its just me, but sometimes my household projects inspire card projects. So, as I was working up a batch of home made applesauce, I decided I'd gift one up for my grandmother.

I reached for my WTG: Harvesting and paired it with a sweet sentiment from Polka Dot Greetings. You'll see I used the Polka Dot Greetings as the tab for my tag. The tag will also work perfectly as a bookmark once removed from the gift bag.

I totally recommend stocking up on plain kraft bags in a few sizes this time of year. You'll find them at your local craft store, and even in the crafty aisle at Target! They're handy to have for any last minute gifting and can easily be dressed up with a quick bit of patterned paper and ribbon.

Lastly, I added a quick sleeve to my jar of applesauce and secured with a satin bow. A quick circle punch (or nestie circle) of patterned paper for the top of the jar just to pretty it up.

I do SO hope you'll come and play in the Wednesday Stamp Club Challenge - you can enter your project in the Splitcoast Stampers Gallery using the keyword MFTWSC10202010 for your chance at a $15 gift certificate to the MFT Store - just in time for our next release!

A Happy Birthday - Sweet Sunday Sample

Good morning! This week, I used the (awesome) Sweet Sunday sketch that Karen had given us to put together a special little something for my niece who is turning two today!

And what paper and stamps go better for a little birthday card for that cutie than My Mind's Eye Animal Crackers and Pure Innocence stamps? I reached for Pure Innocence: Something Special Just for You and customized the card by adding Bling 'Bers (sorry currently out of stock....). I've used some black, white and bright for my colors, I love the contrast with that POP of black against the pinks.

I've finished the card off inside and out with a little technique that Michele and Jody use that I just love... the image was stamped softly on the inside, almost like a watermark, and I've added one of the coordinating sentiments to the inside. This is a great way to add in more of the patterned paper from your stash, and I'll admit it, my messy handwriting always fouls up the insides of my cards. So, now its nice and neat!

Now the fun part, be sure to hop around to visit all the girls on the Sweet Sunday Team to see how they've interpreted this week's sketch. And, of course, be sure to add YOUR sample to Karen's inLinkz so we can see where this sketch takes you!

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

What's Cooking.....

I'm behind the eight ball in that I hadn't had a chance to ink up my new a la modes which were released from My Favorite Things this past week. And Mercy has a great, multi-layered sketch this week - I had to *stretch* the square panel on her sketch in order to make it work.. but I love it!

I picked up this fun paper from Little Yellow Bicycle at my LSS the other day, I did add in sentiment treatment using my Polka Dot Greetings Die-namic Die, and of course I created a "bow-tunity" using my favorite twill ribbon. I knew it would be just perfect for What's Cooking

Lately, I'm getting into the custom of finishing off the inside of the card - I just re-purpose some of the scraps leftover from my card, and a light grey ink, was just perfect for stamping the image again to the inside.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! I'll be back tomorrow morning with my Sweet Sunday Sketch creation! Have a GREAT day today!

Who's a Teacher's Pet?

Hope you're having a blast hopping along through all of the Design Team creations for this month's My Favorite Things VIP Kit: Teacher's Pet. You should have come here by way of Jessie - she is a sweet as she is talented! If you're just joining in, then please be sure to start over at Kim's blog because you've already missed more than half of it! *giggle*

Knowing that this stamp set was coming up, I picked up this school themed paper pack from Crate Paper, but lucky YOU, if you purchase this month's VIP kit, it is included! Its fabulous paper, with alpha and number themed papers, and one with school buses. Fab-u-lous!


I've been volunteering quite a bit in the school this year, I'm on photocopy duty for the second grade teacher every Wednesday morning. So, you see, this woman with the stack of papers, might be me. Oh wait, I'm usually dislodging paper jams.....


I of course paired it with some of my favorites... Hot Fudge and Fossil cardstocks, Chocolate Gingham ribbon and lots of stitching!

While I was at it, I finished off the inside with a coordinating piece of patterned paper and this sweet "Thank You" which is one of the sentiments included in the set.


Now that I'm a Substitute Teacher, I have NO idea how these amazing teachers do such an outstanding job day in and day out. Its hard work!! When I leave after a day of subbing, I want to go home for a nap.

Your next stop on tonight's Hop is JULIE! I'm sure she's got something completely spectacular to share with us this evening, so hang on, I'll follow you there!

TCP Tuesday - A Think Pink blog hop!

To help celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness month, my sweet friend Amy has challenged us to use pink in our The Cat's Pajamas Tuesday challenge this week.

If you've just happened into our hop, you'll want to start up at Amy's place so that you don't miss any of the projects along the way. If you've come here from Jen's blog, then you're in exactly the right place...

For me, that's not so much of a challenge since I simply adore pink! Today I've mixed some pink patterned paper from October Afternoon, as well as some pink ribbon, a pink button, and of course, the pink Divine Twine.

That fun pinking sheared edge was cut with the help of the new CutUps dies - here I've used the Big Pinking Border and the image is called Little Bird from The Cat's Pajamas most recent release.....

Little miss Tweet has a paper pieced pink Jacket, the rest of the scene was colored with Copic markers. Your next stop on our TCP Tuesday HOP today is my dear friend Julie, she's the newest member of our Cat Pack! I will meet you over there, because I can't wait to see what she's put together for the occasion!

Come Stamp with Me!

I just wanted to post a reminder about a few of my upcoming classes for anyone that is local! You'll find all the details on THIS post on my blog - but here's a quick preview....

I've got a class next weekend at Ink About It in Westford - using one of my favorite sets - Framed Greetings. We'll be making a three pack of cards, along with envelopes and a clear box! Your card set will be ready to go for any little gifts you might need!

I'm ordering all the supplies for my next round of classes as well - two Pure Innocence cards and one a la Modes all from MFT! This is just one of the cards we'll be making.....

We'll play with Copics, paper piece, add felted Die-namic snowflakes and leave with three *adorable* cards!

Classes will be offered at Ink About It in Westford, Right at Home Scrapbooking in North Attleboro and Colorful Creations in Hyannis.

I hope to see you there!!

Sunday, you're so sweet.....

Its another Sweet Sunday Sketch challenge, and it was a great excuse to stamp up a hopelessly delayed Thank You note to a dear friend.


My design is pretty clean, with just a simple "thank ou" on the main panel, and of course, a whole lot of sewing.... but that little scalloped piece threw me. I reached for a little bit of vintage trim and for my three circular elements I strung three buttons together, and for a twist, I left the thread between them, and adhered them as a chain of buttons, instead of three individually set buttons.


I'm using Inside and Out: Thank You from Paper Trey Ink. I really needed a great all purpose Thank You set, and I think this back to basics type set will be perfect. I was able to finish off this card with a beautiful coordinating sentiment on the inside.

Be sure to stop by all of the girls on the Sweet Sunday Sketch challenge team to see what they've put together. You'll find the original sketch from Karen Giron on her amazing blog The Sweetest Thing

then be sure to hop around to visit all the girls - I just love seeing the twist everyone puts on the sketch each week - fun!!

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

Masculine Cards - Wednesday Stamp Club

This week's Wednesday Stamp Club challenge from My Favorite Things is one that might take you right out of your comfort zone, but it is surely a card that we need to make from time to time.

This week It's All About the Boys! - Play along with us by creating masculine or boy themed projects.

Important note: To simplify things, we're streamlining the entry process for ALL Wednesday Stamp Club challenges moving forward. To enter, be sure to add your project to the SCS galleries using the keyword MFTWSC10132010

My sample this week is a card that I'd recently made for my dad. He's a big reader - via Kindle, so I can't go to the store and pick him up a new book anymore. So instead, I made him a reading themed card using Clearly Sentimental About Books, and tucked a amazon.com gift card in there so he could load up that Kindle.

I'm sure you've noticed, but I'm a wee bit obsessed with the Open Scallop Die-namic. I used lots of chocolate accents to pull this card together, and yes, I'm using a bow on a masculine project, but my Dad wasn't worried, he was busy counting layers (....my family likes to count up how many layers I add to a project, and then pass it around commenting on how HEAVY they are. makes me laugh every time....)

Now your project this week doesn't have to be masculine per se, it could be for a little boy. Be sure to stop by Kim's blog at 11 am for links to all the designers participating today. I can't wait to see YOUR project in the galleries! Remember, one lucky participant wins $15 to the MFT Store each week! Get stamping!

{heart} Ewe!

This week, Toni is our hostess for our TCP Tuesday challenge. Its an inspiration challenge this time, inspired by a sweet pink and white teacup. You'll find all the details HERE on Toni's blog.

Before I share my project with you, don't forget to upload YOUR project to our The Cat's Pajamas Blog Hop! You'll find the entry on the right hand side of Alma's blog - and here's why you'll want to play along - the Best of the Best will be picked to win the new release and play along with the Design Team on Release Day! So go ahead, get those The Cat's Pajamas stamps inky and play along with us! I can't wait to see your entry!

I reached first for this piece of pink and pink striped paper from My Mind's Eye, but it was sitting next to this piece of argyle patterned paper, and I couldn't put it down. So, while the card is *mostly* pink, I did cheat a little bit and include this fun blue patterned paper.

This fun sketch is from 2 Sketches 4 You - its a nice and clean sketch, with plenty of room for interpretation no matter what your stamping style is....


As usual, lots and lots of stitching on this card, because really, it makes me happy. Sweet sewing machine, I looooove you. For the sentiment I inked only a portion of the sentiment and used a heart die-cut for "Love Ewe"

I'm finding myself in love with the Divine Twine from the Cat's Pajamas - I used the Cotton Candy pink here, and I'm obsessed with the black version. Don't have Divine Twine yet? Oh my lord, you need to fix that! *giggle*

Okay people, get stamping, cant' wait to see your entries in the TCP Customer Blog Hop!

MFT's Greatest Hits - Who's That Girl

This week, we are celebrating Who's That Girl's Greatest Hits. Enabler Alert!!! As part of the event, we are offering a SALE! From October 12 through October 14, use the code WTG to save 15% on all in-stock Who's That Girl stamp sets. (the newest WTG, Winter in the City is excluded from this promotion) If there are one or two Who's That Girls that you haven't picked up yet then go ahead and pick them up!

I'll admit that I have so many favorites within this collection but my new "Harvesting WTG" clearly hasn't seen enough ink. So, while its still nice, fall sweater weather, I thought I'd give her another whirl.

Plus, it is always fun to mix up my existing stamps with some new paper. I'd picked up this Restoration from Crate Paper, but hadn't had a chance to put it to work yet. I thought this woodgrain paper was just perfect for a little apple picking - I used it for one of my panels, as well as for a little paper piecing for the apple basket.


You'll recognize this sketch from Jen's SFYTT this week. Its a great one, though, really, isn't it always!?!

Since I was love-loving this paper, I went ahead and finished off the inside too - this is a perfect set for doing that since there are a ba-zillion sentiments. And, since I was using a Hot Fudge cardbase, I needed to finish off the inside anyhow....


Now, be sure to head on over to the MFT Blog, and follow the links for a tour of some of the team's favorite Who's That Girl stamp sets from the past.

Sweet Sunday Witchy

Happy Sunday everyone! I'm back in the routine of getting my Sweet Sunday cards done. Dare I say that *maybe* I'm finally on a roll with our new back to school routine?


This week you'll be surprised to see that I have a card without a million and a half layers. Right? This week's sketch made me think simple, and I thought it best to dig into this new Toil and Trouble paper from Girls Paperie before Halloween arrives.

I've been leaning heavily on black accents lately, so today jumped in and went for a black cardbase too. Isn't this sweet Witchy so adorable? I subbed this week's scalloped piece for a thin strip of this fun green pattern paper, some stitching and a length of bakers twine. (...love that stuff...)

Be sure to stop by Karen's blog to see her orginal sketch, her gorgeous sample, and also to submit YOUR project to her inLinkz!

And grab your cuppa coffee and pop around to visit all my friends on the Sweet Sunday Sketch Team:

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

Rolled Rose Die-namic

I made this project the other day, and had really hoped to share it with you before the MFT release, but the weather, and thus the lighting, was just not cooperating!

Mercy's Sketch this week is SO fun that I knew right away I wanted to make something scrappy with all those little lines. I dug through my ginormous paper stash and settled on this fun scrap from Crate Paper - the thin strips are ledger scraps from Girls Paperie which have been zig-zag stiched and then distressed.

You see, I was simply dying to make a Die-namics Rolled Rose felted flower. It seriously takes a second, and look how sweet....

I used the Die from the Framed Greetings Die-namic and Stamp Duo as an anchoring piece with lots of distress ink all around, and added a sentiment flag with Happy Thoughts.

Happy Thoughts is this month's Triple Scoop Set - which means when you buy three full sized sets, you can add Happy Thoughts onto your order for free! And free, well, that's pretty great right!?!