MFT Teasers - Filled with love.....

Only two days of teasers before all the latest stamps and accessories will be available from My Favorite Things. I'm thrilled that the illustrator of Loveosaurus is back with a new image for us, this time a sweet little girl in a set called Heartfelt. Is it just me or does her jacket remind you of the Hannah Anderson catalogue? I love their clothes.....


And for a totally different, love filled look, how about a quick peek at the Inspired by Love set? You'll see I've stamped the sheet music as a background for a felted Die-namics Hearts a Plenty (I told you, I simply can not put it down....)


Its a clean and simple type card, which I think is going to be just perfect to tuck into my husbands suitcase on one of his many (many, many) business trips. For anyone that might be curious, the patterned paper on this card is the new Cosmo Cricket Circa 1939.

Don't forget to stop by Kim's Blog every day for a full list of designers participating in previews!

Have you been loving the upcoming stamp sets? What is your favorite so far? If you've been thinking about throwing your name into the hat for the Guest Designer Contest, today is your day. The entries will close this evening, so get stamping, get stitching and join us over HERE!

Pure Innocence Monday!

Are you ready for Pure Innocence Monday? Probably my FAVORITE day of Teasers each month....

Today the My Favorite Things Design Team and our December Temp Team are sharing creations with FOUR new Pure Innocence images! Hooray! I have two completed for you today and I have another one in the works for our New Release Blog Shop Hop on Wednesday night.

This cutie is titled "Hello Cupcake" I've paper pieced that cute little dress as well as the cupcake liner (I pieced it out of Kraft paper....) the little sprinkles are loaded with clear glaze pen for added shine.


You'll see my new favorite carding element, the Die-namics Hearts a Plenty Die. Really. You need this one. I'm also giving you a peek at another new one. Do you see the strip of flowers. Eegads, totally CUTE right? It is the Die-namics Flower Border. You'll see that tiny self adhesive pearls (or rhinestones, or baby braddies) fit perfectly in the center.



And as a mom to two young boys, I always love when a new boy themed Pure Innocence is added to the collection. Are you ready for "Splish Splash?" I've got more of that adorable My Mind's Eye Alphabet Soup paper to show you again today, this time, I'm working with the boyish pack.

For the sentiment treatment, I added a set of Die-namic Stacking Star and tucked my sentiment flag inside. You'll see that they are actually nesting star pieces, so I reversed one of the pieces for a little extra something-something finished it off with a linen threaded button. Here's another masculine ribbon treatment - flat length of twill, finished with a twine bow. Perfectly boy-ish if you ask me.



Don't forget, the call for Guest Designer Entries for My Favorite Things is ON! And you only have till tomorrow night to Stitch It Up! You'll find all the details here, and Yours Truly is one of the judges... come on... wow me with that stitching!

Be sure to check Kim's Blog every day for a list of all the designers participating in previews. With the December Temp Team working with us this month, you have a HUGE list of designers sharing stamp sets each and every day! ENJOY!

MFT Teaser - Textile Rectangles - a day late.....

I'm a day late with my Teaser for My Favorite Things, but boy did I ever have fun making this card - and if I'm being totally honest, I sort of have a little crush on it.... So I'm sharing it with you even though the team has moved onto a new set of stamps today.

I've done something that makes some people nervous... mixed my papers. *giggle*

I've picked the pretty red brocade from Girls Paperie "Twig and Tinsel" to go along with this black and ivory polka dot basics from Girls Paperie "Paper Girl" The woodgrain paper is from Crate Paper Restoration - I love mixing up the papers and letting them mingle with new friends in the drawer!

I adore the new shape of the Textile Rectangle Frame Stamp Set - and of course the beautiful sentiments that have been designed to fit in this beautiful frame! It is another of our Stamp and Die-namic Duo - another must have if you ask me for beautiful, thoughtful and truly useful cards!

I used a Versamark chalk ink to stamp the border and since I wanted a really nice, bold sentiment, I stamped the sentiment with Brilliance ink. You do have to set it aside a moment to dry so you don't smudge it, but in my humble opinion, that step makes all the difference.

Lined up the coordinating die and ran it through my Big Shot. Love. This. Die.

And don't be surprised if you see me adding felted hearts to all my projects the next few weeks with the Hearts a Plenty Die-namics.

I'll see you tomorrow for Pure Innocence Teasers!

MFT's Guest Designer Contest -

Good morning everyone! I am SO excited to be one of the hostesses for this month's Guest Designer Contest for My Favorite Things. The Guest Designer contest is YOUR chance to win the following month's release - this case, January's release, and join the Design Team in daily previews.

My sweet friend Lisa and I are the hostesses this month, and we have a FUN challenge for you! Designed around one of the things that we both love to do best!

Stitch It Up!

Wow us with your stitching this month for the Guest Designer contest....you can use hand sewing, machine sewing, faux stitching or adding sewn embellishments. We'll be looking for really clever ways to add handmade charm to your projects this month, be creative with any type of stitching in your work this month.

Now, if you don't have a sewing machine, that's totally fine, there are so may ways to add hand or faux stitched details to your project too! We'll be looking for the most clever and charming entry to win our hearts - and of course, to win the upcoming release too!

You'll find all the entry details on THIS thread on the MFT Member Company Forum.

So with that challenge in mind are you ready to see my sample? I used the sweet Pure Innocence: Don't Open Until (currently out of stock - sorry!) for my sample, and colored with Copics for her face, but used my Prismacolor Pencils for the image. I added cross stitch detail to my panels, and to adhere my Die-namics Hearts A Plenty die (part of our last VIP Kit and available as part of our December 1st release!)


I love adding a mix of both hand and machine stitching to my projects, I think it lends such a sweet charm. I also love any sort of *extra* that you can add to your Die-namics to personalize your project....


To coordinate with my card, I added a mini tote created out of felted diecut squares. They've been machine stitched together and then I hand stitched on a handle from Twill Tape, buttons and of course, a stitched Die-namics Hearts a Plenty diecut.

Currently this tote is holding a Gift Card Sleeve, but don't you think a little girl would love filling this with hairbands, or tiny trinkets, or a few dollars to go shopping with mom?


I can't wait to see YOUR samples for the MFT Guest Designer Contest - What will you Stitch Up? I'm sure you will all AMAZE Lisa and I!

Teaser Time: Tweeny Teen

Hooray! It is officially Teaser Time for My Favorite Things - you know the time of month when we begin to taunt you with all the latest new images? Yeah!

Our newest stamps and accessories will be available on Wednesday, December 1st - and we'll have previews each day between now and then. Be sure to stop by Kim's blog each day at 11 am for a full listing of all designers participating in previews. I'll be back in a few hours with this month's Guest Designer Challenge - which you will NOT want to miss. It is your chance to wow the judges (in this case myself and Lisa Henke) for your chance to join the team in daily previews next month - and WIN the new release!

Today I have a preview of our new (and ummm. ADORABLE!) Tweeny Teen: You Give Me Wings. I'll warn you, I'm fully on a bender with the My Mind's Eye Animal Crackers (for girls) I'll have another card with it a little bit later today.

I'm hoping to sneak into my stamp room and play with some more of the new goodies later today. Two sick kids and a dead fridge last week made for very, very little stamping. Eegads!

The Cat's Pajamas: New Release Blog Hop!

We've only been taunting you with the new releases from The Cat's Pajamas for the last week, so I'm happy to announce that they're available for sale. With four new CutUps dies and ten new stamp sets, WOW there is SO much new Swanky Goodness out there tonight!

I sure do hope that you've popped on over after being amazed by what Amy has put together for you tonight. If you've just tumbled into our hop, then be SURE to start on over at Jen's blog so that you don't miss a single (amazing) thing tonight!

I just love Big Bear - today he's stamped to kraft paper and colored with Copic Markers. He's a perfect size if you want to paper piece him - and he's got nice large areas if you love to color. As part of tonight's Design Team Hop we're all using CutUps dies to make your own embellishments.


I've paired the snowflake die with a button in the center with a bit of linen twine. You'll also see a bit of the Apron CutUps die peeking out at the bottom of my pattern paper. I love love love the way these dies work with felt, for such a warm handmade accent to your winter projects.

Now, there's really no time like the present to get shopping because have you seen the news? For The Cat's Pajamas, Black Friday starts on Tuesday and ends on Monday. From Tuesday, November 23 through Monday, November 27 we'll give all orders shipped in the US FREE Shipping. That's right FREE Shipping for almost a whole week. And if you live outside the US, shipping will be only $3.oo to ship your whole order.

Now that you've listened to my banter, you'll want to head off on your next stop on our hop - The Amazing Susan Liles a.k.a. Susie-Stamp-A-Lot. She is as sweet as she is talented, and I'm always picking up new tricks from her Suzy Q-Tips. Happy hopping everyone!!

A Swanky Little Pennant Banner

I know I've already posted today - but I would be remiss if I didn't share with you a fun project from The Cat's Pajamas that I'm working on using my CutUps Pennant Dies. Because as long as you're shopping tonight, you might as well pick yourself up these dies. They're amazing. The set includes pennants in two sizes, with coordinating scalloped pennants too! You may have seen that the dies when flipped upside-down make amazing Christmas trees. But also, the pennants themselves are an amazing home decor piece for any holiday.

Me, I've been working on a Christmas one - the best part, this is a project you can work on with your kids, they can help pick the paper, assemble the pieces, and maybe even help crank the elements through your Die-Cutter!

Another fun thing is that this is a great way to use up your scraps! Scrap usage is always a big deal for me! The more I can use of this years favorite paper, means the more paper I can buy next year guilt free.....

The banner is sort of hard to get a good picture of in place, so here's a full photo... you see my husband isn't a huge fan of me putting holes in our newly painted walls (eye roll) so I've tacked this to the back of the mirror over our fireplace.

And now - how about a few photos close up of the individual pennants? I added a wide striped ribbon bow to the center adding a red button and some Divine Twine (of course) to the center. The pennants are all hanging from a length of twill tape... jingle bells are hand tied between each pennant with Divine Twine (did you heed my recommendation yet and get some... really I'm not kidding, you NEED this stuff.)

I've used CutUps border dies are fabulous accents for banner toppers and that amazing CutUps snowflake to adorn some of the panels. Sweet. Again, I'm all about multi-purpose for my purchases.


Now, there's really no time like the present to get shopping because have you seen the news? For The Cat's Pajamas, Black Friday starts on Tuesday and ends on Monday. From Tuesday, November 23 through Monday, November 27 we'll give all orders shipped in the US FREE Shipping. That's right FREE Shipping for almost a whole week. And if you live outside the US, shipping will be only $3.oo to ship your whole order.

Tonight is our New Release party on Splitcoast Stampers and then we'll kick off our New Release HOP beginning at midnight. Hope to see you there. Don't forget to add the the CutUps Pennants to your order, you KNOW you need them!

TCP Sneak Peek Week - Your Gift

Tonight's the night! All the new stamps and accessories from The Cat's Pajamas will be released this evening! And check it out ----
For The Cat's Pajamas, Black Friday starts on Tuesday and ends on Monday. From Tuesday, November 23 through Monday, November 27 we'll give all orders shipped in the US FREE Shipping. That's right FREE Shipping for almost a whole week. And if you live outside the US, shipping will be only $3.oo to ship your whole order.

So.....be sure to buy some stamps and CutUps for Santa to fill your stocking with, or if you have a good stamping buddy, now's the perfect time to grab a little somethin' somethin'!

Our new release party will be TONIGHT on Splitcoast Stampers - right here on THIS thread. Be sure to join Alma and the Design Team for Sneak Peeks and Surprises (um, can you say give-aways?!?) I've got another preview for you today, using the teeny, tiny bunny from the Mew Paper Arts line in Your Gift


Is it just me or is he ever adorable climbing the tree to put the star on top. In my house, this will be me, climbing the tree placing the decorations. My husband isn't a fan of decorating the tree, and my kids will help for about 15-30 minutes before they get bored. The best part, admiring the tree once fully lit with a cup of coffee and all the other lights in the house out.

Be sure to check Alma's blog to see who else is sampling today. Its always so fun to see how everyone else puts the new stamps into action! Hope to see YOU tonight!

Sweet and PC Christmas

I'm once again combining my Sweet Sunday Sketch sample along with a The Cat's Pajamas Preview, because its just not *right* to have new stamps and not share them! *giggle*

So today, meet P.C. Christmas . with the Politically Correct Santa that is. Instead of having his reindeer haul him all over the planet, he's got a nifty Santa powered glider - no animal cruelty, no mess, and maybe even a sleeker Santa by the end of the night too - oh, boy I crack myself up eh?

I was thinking of a canvas sail for his glider - thus my neutral tones. I think its old school meets green technology -- right? This will be the perfect card for my green lovin' husband ....


Patterned paper you will most likely recognize from me by now, it is The Girls Paperie Twig and Tinsel and I added an embossed panel of Kraft using one of my Cuttlebug folders. You'll see that I cheated (...again...) with the sketch and used a main panel oval instead of a circle...

If you haven't bought any Divine Twine yet from The Cat's Pajamas, I'm telling you go grab yourself some! Between black and red - I tell you, they go with *everything* and have been a huge hit at my recent stamping classes.

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 (I think is off this week, but leave her lovely blog some love!)
  
• Vicki Burdick

Poppin Petal Treat Trio

Hi everyone! Today I've got a fun project to share with you using one of MFT's Templates. Since I am the proud owner of a new Cricut, I used the Poppin Petal Treat Trio SVG files, but you can also use the "print and cut" files if you don't have a digital cutter.

It is so handy to be a crafter particularly this time of year when you need little hostess presents, or thank yous for special people like the mail lady, the bus driver, school secretary etc.


The three little boxes can be filled with whatever YOUR recipient enjoys - tiny tea light candles, chocolate covered cranberries (YUM!) Hershey Kisses, or even the Via instant Starbucks coffee.

I printed out the box template three times out of Girls Paperie Twig and Tinsel paper and then cut the carrier with some Bazzil cardstock. Using my Cricut I cut out all the pieces in my stamping area, then carried my Scor Pal and the pieces up to my TV to watch a movie while I assembled.

I have a few tips and tricks for embellishing your carrier --which I thought I'd share.

I printed out coordinating handles from this fun red and white paper in the Girls Paperie Collection. The template will cut out a total of four handles. Two for the outside, and another two to go on the inside, so that it is finished inside and out. (so smart right?) I added MFT Baby Braddies both for extra strength for the handles, and also because they are cute.

If you wanted you can also stitch the handles in place - so long as you do your stitching before you assemble the carrier. It goes through easy peasy as long as everything is still flat!


The template also cuts out these little half moon shapes. They are coordinating box flaps. I used both sides of the patterned paper a little mixy-matchy feel. After filling the boxes, I just added a little ribbon bow (keeps me from eating the treats inside, and also, I love the contrast of the black gingham with the green, red and ivory)


For the front of the carrier, I added a label cut from the Die-namics Polka Dot Greetings, and stamped a sentiment from Merry and Bright and cut that out with an oval die. I added a Die-namic Let it Snowflake with felt and a Divine Twine tied button. Look how nicely it coordinates with my Miss You a Latte card from last month for a fun coffee themed gift set!

I really do hope you'll try out the MFT Templates for some of your holiday gift giving! I have got to say this was such a fun project to work on!

The Cat's Pajamas: Sneak Peek Week - Define Good

You've meet the The Cat's Pajamas Penguins, Sprinkle, Poochie and our dear friend PJ the Bear. But have you met the long eared sweet bunny which was part of our last two most recent releases? Actually, now that I write this.... don't think this guy has a name yet.... any ideas?

All I know is that he's apparently been very, very good with this giant pile of presents! I've added shiny Glitzy bows to each of the packages.... I wanted to show off the fabulous new The Cat's Pajamas CutUps die. This lacy, snowflake is just beautiful, and a few of the girls on the team have actually even used it for embossing. Amazing! Again, I have to say I LOVE the versatility of these dies.

I've finished my snowflake off with a button and a bit of Divine Twine - and yes, another peek at the Apron CutUps - those loops are such a fun design element that I've loved tucking into nearly all my TCP projects this last week!

I'll be back on Sunday with a peek at a fun new Santa set from The Cat's Pajamas. Alma has already done a little peek here and I'll have my version on Sunday as part of my Sweet Sunday Sketch post!

Don't forget that Alma and the Cat Pack will be partying over on the Splitcoast Member Company Forum and we so hope you'll join us. Let me just say that there will be PRIZES involved and sneak peeks too!

The Cat's Pajamas: Sneak Peek Week

Morning everyone! The fun of The Cat's Pajamas Sneaky Peek Week continues every day through next Monday! Fun times right?? Up today is Merry Wishes from the new Ou Ou Illustration line. Aren't these kidlets super cute?

As you can see, I'm still loving this red, cream and black color combination and this amazing paper from The Girls Paperie. And yes, a peek at another CutUps Die too! This one is called "Icing"

I love the open lines on this series of stamps, its perfect whether you love to color, or like me, love to paper piece. The tiny heart in her hands was given a few rounds of Glaze Pen for a little extra shine. I love that this set is perfect for a sweet holiday card, but will still be useful all winter through - Valentines anyone?


The layout for this little lady is a sketch is courtesy of Jen Del Muro from a few weeks ago and found here. Be sure to check Alma's Blog every day to see who on the Design Team will have previews for you. How's that shopping list coming for the release? *wink* Be sure to come and chat with us on our Splitcoast Stampers Member Company Forum! Remember, new stamps and accessories are being previewed each day from now till our release on Monday, November 22nd!

The Cat's Pajamas: Sneak Peek Week

Today I am sampling for two new stamp sets from the Ou Ou Illustration line over at The Cat's Pajamas. I love this pair of cuties with their hot cocoa mugs.

Up first is "I like you a latte" which I've paired with the negative of the Apron CutUps border. Don't you love when you find that the negative space a diecut creates is also equally fun? I think its like an oversized spiral edge, right? You'll also find another CutUps shape on the bottom of my card....don't you just love that bracket?

The patterned paper I've used here is Basic Grey Jovial - filled with lots of "classic Christmas" patterns.

Now for the girlish stamp set titled "You Suit Me" I love her pigtails, bows and that adorable long scarf. Side note, can you believe I didn't paper piece either of these projects? ....I can't either....

On this card, I left the new CutUps die cut on a wider width of paper, not just the loopy edge. I'm all about versatility in my dies. This is a former Mojo Monday sketch that I modified to add in a sentiment flag. For this card, I went with the "whimsical Christmas" feel using patterned paper from Snow Day from Crate Paper.


I've used Divine Twine on both of my projects today. If you haven't grabbed any Divine Twine yet, you really DO need to remedy that with your next order from That Cat's Pajamas. Its amazing, and I seem to use the black, or the red on just about everything lately....

Be sure to visit Alma's Blog each day for a listing of the designers who will be showcasing sets as part of Sneaky Peek Week! Don't forget the new stamps and accessories will be available on Monday, November 22nd with a New Release Party on our Member Company Forum on Splitcoast Stampers!

My Favorite Things: VIP Hop

Is it me, or is this month going by in a blink? I don't *quite* know how it is possible, but it is time for our My Favorite Things VIP HOP!

If you've done this with us before then you know the details, but just in case, the VIP Kit is a limited offering, available one day only. It is your chance to get your hands on the latest Who's That Girl, and an exciting assortment of products two weeks in advance of the official release date.

If you're just joining the fun, you'll want to start over again at Kim's Blog or else you will have missed many stops along the way. If you've popped over after drooling over Jessie's project then you are in just the right place!

The VIP Kit is available here for $42.90 (retail value is $55.85 so you're actually saving $12.95) and includes the following:

• From the Bottom of My Heart WTG
• From the Bottom of My Heart Additions (VIP exclusive full-sized stamp set - will never be offered for sale or be available again)
• Hearts a Plenty Die-namics die
• Curio Basic Grey 6 X 6 Patterned Paper Pad

Now that I've reviewed all the details, are you ready for my project? I was so lucky to get my hands on one of the new Cosmo Cricket Circa 1939 pads at my LSS this past weekend. The colors are just perfect for me, black, red, yellow and pale blue. And of course, just right for Valentines projects too. I paired it with Jen's Sketch for You to Try from this week, and added lots of stitching to my Hearts a Plenty Die-namics.


If you've taken one of my classes, or read here a while, you'll know that I'm very particular about my paper piecing. This stamp is a dream for piecing though. I simply stamped her dress onto patterned paper, and then stamped a second set of arms and a heart to pop on top so that the layers are correct. Its a pretty easy cut, no crazy small pieces, just one cut all the way around! Easy peasy! The heart was given a double dose of Clear Glaze Pen for extra shine.

That's it for me tonight, your next stop on tonight's HOP is the sweet, and oh so very talented Julie! Happy hopping, then happy SHOPPING!