Hello!

As I was rifling through my patterned papers, I ran across this pretty yellow one, and my Pure Innocence Honey Bee came to mind. And I just so *happened* to have to clean up and put away my "Say What?" stamp set... but before I put it away, I thought I'd give it another inking.

I love that you can use the "Say What?" set and Die-namics die to add sentiments to any of your existing stamps, or make a FABULOUS Sentiment only card like Jody did here.

I sure hope you're ready for some serious enabling, because Teasers for the April release for My Favorite Things begins tomorrow. Be prepared to bag your sandwiches for work next week, and feed your family lots of pasta, because you're going to have a l-o-n-g wish list... just sayin'

....see you tomorrow....

You Rule!

Its Wednesday - which means that I've whipped up a little something for you using this week's amazing sketch from My Favorite Things. We're now up to our 13th sketch this year! And me, I'm still loving this new paper from My Mind's Eye - Stella Rose.


I still had a la modes: You Rule on my desktop, and its so stinkin' cute I wanted to ink her up again! And I used the additional sentiments to make it more of a "friendship" card than strictly just for a teacher. I stamped the A+ as well as the coordinating sentiment to the inside, and stitched everything up.....


I really, really hope that you'll ink something up for this week's sketch and add it to the Gallery on Splitcoast Stampers. After all, one lucky participant will win a $15 voucher to the MFT Boutique, and if you're using MFT Stamps in your sample, that will be a $20 voucher! We've got a release coming this coming Tuesday, so trust me when I tell you that you'll REALLY want a few extra bucks to spend.


Be sure to stop by the MFT Blog today for a full list of designers participating in this week's Wednesday Stamp Club challenge. I just *love* seeing what stamps came to mind for everyone with the weekly layout!

Blingy Rosette

Here's a real mixy.matchy card for you today. But sometimes that's totally the most fun... I dug through all the different papers in all the Stella Rose collections from My Mind's Eye and picked a whole bunch I loved, and dug out a variety of Die-namics I wanted to play with and some embellies and just had fun stamping.......


I *seriously* love the texture on this woodgrain patterned paper. I also had just enough of this polka dotted paper to make a Rosette with my Die-namics. Have I mentioned that I love that Die-namics make such wonderful use from all the smaller sized scraps. My circular center of the rosette was made with the Sweet Stack Die-namics.

Yesterday at Michael's, I found a new piece of bling, it is a set of graduated circles. .....swoon.... And I overlayed one right over the top of my rosette. So really, this card will not fit in an envelope, but who cares, it has felt, a rosette, bling, a real wooden button and cappucino twine. Who really needs an envelope anyways. :)

You've spied me using the More Essential Sentiments set again, and it is just that. Essential. I'm going to work on bulking up my stash of birthday cards, why oh why do I never have one ready to go. Would you believe I had to BUY A CARD the other day at Target (hangs head in shame...)

Please join me in wishing my sweet mom a Happy Birthday today! You can bet though that I'll have a card made up especially for her when I see her for lunch this coming Friday. I couldn't clearly give her a card that she's seen here first on the blog.... so I'll have another birthday card to share with you next week if you need ideas.

You ROCK my world.

Just a quick reminder that tonight is the new release for my friends over at The Cat's Pajamas. If you've read here a while, you know how I feel about the penguins... and this month, they've formed their own little rock band in the new set Idols. The set will be available beginning tonight, but lucky me, I was able to pick one up at Alma's in store event at Right at Home Scrapbooking over the weekend!

Combined with my new favorite paper My Mind's Eye Stella Rose (also from Right at Home) and the sketch from Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch.

I have a feeling this will be a go to set for my little boys. As a mom to a second grader, he's finding some of my stamps a little baby-ish for him, and this is one that I think will pass muster for friends birthdays etc. Also, he'd really love to play the drums in a few years. Personally, I'm praying he'll choose another instrument. Drums are expensive and um, lets be serious.... noisy!

Be sure to head on over to the TCP Member Company Forum for all the details on their amazing new release. But watch out, If need be, I'll fight you for a pinwheel CutUps die! *giggle*

My Heart Spins.....

I'm such a lucky girl! Kim from My Favorite Things and Alma from The Cat's Pajamas were here in Boston for the weekend for a tradeshow, had a full day of Make and Takes at my LSS Right at Home - which is 15 minutes from me. It was so fun to stamp the day away with the girls, pick up some new paper at the store (hush. don't you judge me, this girl loves paper.) and visit with my friends! Friday night we stayed up extra late chatting, I'm so sad that they are only here a few days a year. Miss you girls already!


Alma was sweet enough to bring some of the new, and otherwise unreleased stamps to the event. And of course, since I LOOOOVE me some Cat's Pajamas, I picked up a few! Here's a sneaky peeky at the new set titled "What a Blast!" Note: This set will be released Monday night - but if you're local (Boston, MA) there just MIGHT be a few left over at Right At Home! I wasn't fast enough on the draw and missed her fun new pinwheel CutUps Die, but you can bet I'll be buying it tomorrow night!

I just loved the sketch challenge that TCP recently ran for their weekly TCP Tuesday challenge, but was crazy busy this week. I used the Pennant CutUps from TCP for a quick and easy layout. You can bet I'll add this to my go to layouts.... Speaking of TCP Tuesday, if you didn't see already, TCP Tuesday now offers the chance at winning $10 in Cat's Cash just for playing (it is awarded at random to one lucky player each Tuesday!)

Don't forget that the Pajama Party for TCP's new release will be Monday night from 8-10pm EST over HERE on their forum. If you've missed out on all the amazing sneaky peeks the past week, then you'll find links to them directly from Alma's Blog. Seriously, seriously cute stuff people!

A Dozen weeks of sketches!

Can you believe that we've been doing our MFT Wednesday Stamp Club challenge now for a dozen weeks? I'm pretty excited about that. Even more excited that I've done all twelve so far....

You really want to be sure that YOU are doing this challenge each week. Why? Because there is a prize given at random to one participant each week, that's a LOT of chances to win! But hey, it gets better, because once a month, we select one lucky winner who has played along in ALL of the challenges in a given month, and give THAT person a prize too! Besides, I'm just saying, lots of those challenge cards end up as Favorite Finds on the MFT Blog each week. Just sayin. Prizes. Your card featured on the MFT Blog. You're playing right? *wink*

Okay, so this week's sketch is layers-a-liscious. But don't let it scare you, it is lots and lots of fun! Especially if Jody Morrow twists your arm into buying new papers that you're having fun playing with. HA!

I love this little Pure Innocence: Because You're Special and she's only been inked up once. GASP what a shame. And since I'm feeling a little spring fever this cutie was perfect....

Have you picked up any of the new twine that MFT carries? This is the Turquoise one and ooh, is it FUN FUN with my new Crate Paper. Girls, if you like the twine, I'd advise RUNNING to the MFT Boutique. Kim has already restocked it a few times, and it flies, literally like grows wings and flies out of the store.

Patterned paper is mostly from Crate Paper: Emma's Shoppe, except for the cute little pinky one, that is from the Neighborhood pack. Sorry peeps, the papers wanted to mingle.

Little bauble in the corner is the Die-namic Hearts a Plenty - you might have noticed, that I really, really love this die.

Okay, that's it for me today. I surely do HOPE to see your project in the galleries at Splitcoast! Be sure to check The MFT Blog for a full list of all the designers with samples today! Happy Stamping!

My Umbrella.....

After a beautiful weekend here in New England, it SNOWED today. Seriously? I was just sitting on my deck, enjoying an adult beverage yesterday. And today it snows. Groan.

I couldn't bear to think of snow, even in card form, so I inked up a little My Umbrella with a little bit of new Crate Paper: Emma's Shoppe.

Did you see last week that several Pure Innocence images are now available in Cling Rubber? You'll find our full line of Rubber Cling products here. I've been really pleased with the image quality of the a la modes, and so, I'm excited that some of the Pure Innocence images will now be made available this way too!

I gave her umbrella a shiny finish with a coat of Glossy Accents, and the rainboots and raincoat were given some shine with three coats of clear glaze pen. Here's a closer look....

I really was trying to hold out and not buy more paper. But really its all Jody's fault.

I also wanted to thank ALL of you who played along in my Blogaversary Challenge. Such FUN entries, and extra squishy hugs to all of you for your sweet comments. I've been a little quiet lately as I'm prepping materials for a big class this weekend, and a Make and Take for Kim at MFT on Saturday night. (Materials for 100 people. Yes 100. I've cut 800 Die-namics. Yes. 800 pieces.)

With the help of Random.org, I selected a winner (at random) from all the entries to my challenge. Congratulations to Kimberly - lucky number 27! Kim I'll be in touch to send you your Gift Certificate!!

Wednesday Stamp Club:

***I'm running a Blogaversary Challenge with a chance at a $35 Gift Certificate to My Favorite Things - be sure to check this post for all the details***

Okay friends, here's the truth. This sketch is beautiful, and has so many possibilities, but let me tell you, it scared the pants off of me. I considered going for (another) sentiment based card, but I figured you all might be getting of me doing that for these sketches week after week...

So, I thought I'd be brave....after all I did have new paper to use! This is Cosmo Cricket Upcycle and I though that the vintage patterns were perfect for our friends the Flapperdoodles.

I hadn't yet had a chance to ink up My Favorite Hello from the most recent release. I split up the pair to use one on the front, and one on the inside.... and got a laugh out of this sentiment from Say What? What's great about the MFT products is that you can mix them up for even more creative possibilities....


Even though this sketch scared me, I'm glad chose to tackle it because in the end, this little card puts a smile on my face. And its good to get out of your own head and try something new now and again right? I hope you'll give this sketch a spin yourself - I'll be looking for you in the Splitcoast Galleries!

I really do wish that Kim and Jody lived closer so we could enjoy a glass of wine and a laugh in person on a regular basis, but instead we have marathon phone sessions! Luckily, instead of a corded phone like the Flappers have....I have a fancy wireless headset so I can work, stamp, clean, cook and do laundry while we catch up!

VIP Kit - Shop HOP!

Do you want to be a VIP?

The My Favorite Things VIP Kit is here! Remember that this is a limited availability product, available only for one day - or as long as supplies last!! Otherwise, this Who's That Girl stamp set, and Die-namics Die set will not be available for purchase till their official release on April 5th!

This month, our sassy friend WTG is celebrating, she's ready for a Fiesta (and might I add, a few margaritas too?) I reached for a bright pink and lime color combination, pulling a few different Echo Park patterned papers together.

Yes, I'm now noticing that the music note paper is upside-down. Grr. Hey, she's had one 'rita too many. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

As part of this month's VIP Kit, you're receiving the new Die-namics Perfect Posies die. Three sizes of a five petal flower, and this is my FAVORITE flower die to date. It comes with companion centers, but I was excited to add a Die-namic Button Quartet and some twine to the center of mine. Like my patterned papers, I like to mix things up.

Don't forget that the two new a la modes, the Copic Ciao E Set, and FIVE new colors of cardstock have all been loaded into the store! Fun stuff - fun stuff! You'll find them all here in the Brand Spankin New Category

Okay now shoppers, the next stop on tonight's hop is Julie Dinn! I'll race you over there to see what she's put together for our Shop Hop!!

a la modes Teaser Time: You Mean the World to Me

***I'm running a Blogaversary Challenge with a chance at a $35 Gift Certificate to My Favorite Things - be sure to check this post for all the details***

Today is the second day of previews for a la modes previews for My Favorite Things. In my family, we're working hard to be good "greenies" so I was really excited about this new stamp set.

Of course there are days that I forget to bring in my reusable shopping bags (isn't it the worst when you get to the store and have a "d-oh!" moment when you realize you left your bags in the car?) but come trash day, I'm happy to say that we usually have more in our re-cycling bin than in our trash bin! (sweet) We've got a compost bin in the back that is filled and should be able to use some of that organic matter to fertilize our perennial garden this summer. (excellent) And we've made all our payments on our Farm Share at our local family farm, and I already can't WAIT to begin our weekly pickups. I've missed farm fresh veggies.... and the price of fresh fruit over the winter is ridiculous. I can't wait till all the U-Picks begin.

So, as you can see, I was pretty excited about this.....

Patterned papers are blues and greens from the new My Mind's Eye Stella Rose collection, along with a bit of vintage trim, and a twill bow. Do you spy the Dizzy Doily peeking out from behind my panel. Its SO pretty, and I love it as a tucked accent, its *just* the right size for a standard cardfront. I'm sorry to report it is currently out of stock, you girls sure do love your Doilies, but I know Kim is constantly re-stocking on those items, so hopefully it will be back soon!

Be sure to check the MFT Blog today for a full list of designers participating in previews today. We'll be back at 10pm EST to share the newest VIP Kit, and the store will be open with all the latest goodies. Um, can I just tell you there are new cardstock colors being added today too - you'll find them in the Brand Spankin New category.....they're fabulous. And if you missed it the last time, the TWINE has been restocked.

a la modes Teaser Time: You Rule!

***I'm running a Blogaversary Challenge with a chance at a $35 Gift Certificate to My Favorite Things - be sure to check this post for all the details***

Oh my goodness, do we have a FUN week lined up for you at My Favorite Things this week. Up first are two days of teasers for the new a la modes, then the VIP kit Tuesday night, and then our newest sketch challenge on Wednesday! Exciting, right? So, needless to say, I've been very busy preparing new projects to share with you!

Today's previews are for a la modes: You Rule! Whether you are a teacher, have kids in school, or a friend who teaches, you'll love this set. Its also a perfectly sweet pun to tell any friend in your life that they rule!

I chose to put together a card featuring a "quick release bookmark" for my son's second grade teacher. I colored up the little a la mode to look just like her with her jet black hair.


I stitched all around the tag for added durability, and also, just because I love how the stitching looks. I also added the sentiment full stitched, versus my usual sentiment flag thingy, there was too much of a chance of that getting shredded with use!

By un-tying the ivory twill bow, the bookmark is released, and the ribbon pull on the top unfolds from the back. I did stitch that ribbon in place so that it is truly secure.

Note: I also added patterned paper to the backside of the tag - for a fully finished treatment.

Here's a quick peek at the inside, just enough room for my little guy to sign his name.

This little card is tucked into my son's folder to give to his teacher today. Hopefully it brightens up her Monday morning a little. I can't even imagine 25 eight year olds on a Monday morning. Yikes! I don't think there is enough coffee in the world........

Be sure to check the MFT Blog for a full list of designers participating in previews today!

Roll with it!

***I'm running a Blogaversary Challenge with a chance at a $35 Gift Certificate to My Favorite Things - be sure to check this post for all the details***

I'm sure you've seen, but just in case, did you know that Kim Hughes has started her own company - Paper Smooches? I have so missed her fabulous and fun illustrations, and I'm just thrilled that she's set up her own shop! Yeah KIM! Let me just say that Kim has the fastest shipping *ever* I couldn't believe how quickly this set arrived in my mailbox!

I was completely giddy when I saw this newly released set titled Spiffy Scooters. Did you know that my husband and I actually own a Vespa scooter? We used to get lots of laughs from our friends about it, but now with gas prices being fully out of control, you can bet that this little baby is going to get a workout once the weather improves here in New England. My husband can commute for two weeks on TEN, count them TEN dollars of gas. Nice.

Though, I don't imagine he'd be too thrilled with me if I had it painted like this.....


I'm looking forward to the return of "scooter" dates this summer. Though, this summer he might listen to me that he can't park it on the sidewalk. Guess who was right about the fact that we'd get a ticket for doing that. I'll admit, I laughed pretty hard over winning that argument.

The image was paper pieced with the new Echo Park Springtime papers, and I stamped the clouds onto vellum for a soft cloud. After all, you don't want to be stuck out on the scooter in the rain, right?

just a little blogaversary - and a blogaversary challenge!

Hooray! It's my Fourth Blogaversary!
Happy Blogaversary ..... little blog.....

In every single way, I know that I am so so blessed to have my loyal readers, who leave such encouraging comments. I'm overjoyed that my hobby has turned into my job! Even more, the girls I've met through this stamping have become my closest of friends. Really, what more could a girl ask for?

In order to celebrate, I thought I'd kick off one of my ...just a little challenges... and one lucky participant is going to win a $35 gift certificate to My Favorite Things. All I can say is that I'm already working on samples for the April release, and once again girls, it is FAB-U-LOUS!

Here's *my* sample for my little challenge and if you scroll down you'll see what you can use to qualify for the prize!

I've used the a la modes: Miss You a Latte stamp, as well as the Say What Die-namic and coordinating stamp set, I've added the Little Open Scallop Strip across the bottom, and I just love adding a bit of stitched detail across the top rail of that die. Patterned papers are from Sasafrass - I *love* the color combination.

So, who's ready to play along and help celebrate? Same as last year, I'm going to give you a list of elements to work with, and you can choose any three to prepare your sample......

• Kraft Paper - yes, I'm still obsessed with it....
• Pink, Ivory and Orange as your color combination - I'm needing a little springy fix....
  
• Twine - I do *love* me some twine!
  
• Mixed Stitching - I've got straight, zig zag and "crazy" stitching on mine
• Ledger, Alpha or number paper - I've got this fun number grid.....
  

Remember, any THREE from the list qualifies. You can submit as many as you'd like, but they have to all be NEW projects - please don't link up prior creations that just happen to fit the challenge ;-) Submit your entries by Saturday, March 19th at noon est for your chance to win. One winner will be selected at random to win a $35 gift certificate to My Favorite Things!

Just add your project to the Mr Linky Below - please direct link your post - versus linking to the front page of your blog. Any questions? Just email me at stampedbyhand (at) comcsast (dot) net - spelled out here so the "spam-bots" don't get me!

Be Prepared

Did you see that My Favorite Things released Pure Innocence: Boy Scout and Girl Scout images? Totally adorable.... I'd had a chance to ink up the Girl Scout, for the release, but sadly I hadn't had a chance to work up something with the Boy Scout. And it was high, time I fixed that!

I reached for my October Afternoon Campfire paper pack, I just loved this one with the trail map on in. My older son is a Cub Scout and my little guy is counting the days till he can sign up. So between the Pinewood Derby, Popcorn Sales, Archery Day and the Rocket Derby.... scouting keeps us busy!

Hope you like this sweet little scout, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend. I'm looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend with my own little scouts. The snow has FINALLY melted around here and I know they'll be running around in the backyard, they're so glad to be able to run around and blow off some steam at long last!

Sketchy with Stella Ruby

Favorite stamps, new paper and a fun sketch. What a great start to a project!

Today is the newest Wednesday Stamp Club challenge for My Favorite Things, and I had a thank you note to write to a sweet friend. I reached for the Textile Rectangle stamp set, as well as my new My Mind's Eye Stella Rose papers. Oh my goodness, each of the packages is purely luscious!

Whether this is your first week joining us for the WSC or if you've been playing along each week, we're always glad to have company in our little weekly challenge. And, don't forget, one lucky participant will win $15 to the MFT Boutique. If the project selected at random happens to use MFT Stamps, well, then it is a cool $20 to shop with! Nice.

And what a fun sketch this week. I chose to go with LOTS of new papers, and only this one sentiment. However, I did pair it with the Perfect Petal Trio Die-namics, some vintage trim, and of course, a tiny gingham bow.




I hope you'll *squeeze* in some time to join us this week. Be sure to check in over at the MFT Forum, submit your project to the Splitcoast Galleries with this week's keyword MFTWSC10 and of course gander at all the eye candy that the Challenge team and select members of our Design Team have put together for you today. You'll find a complete link listing on the MFT Blog.

MFT Design Team Creative Challenge

Today is our My Favorite Things  Design Team Creative Challenge - and this month we're using Die-namics Dies to create some custom home decor. You might have seen that last month, I created a custom treatment for a lampshade using felt and the Rolled Rose Die-namic.

On a recent shopping trip, I ran across a beautiful felted pillow - and I so wanted it for my chocolate and ivory houndstooth chair, but the stickershock on a small pillow was *ridiculous* and I convinced myself that I could come up with a little something to fill up that chair....

I reached for my Rolled Rose Die-namic, my hot glue gun and my pile of felt. I found a pillow insert at Michael's, and with my handy 50% coupon, I got it for only $4. Score!  I grabbed some cotton canvas at the fabric store and got to work.  Happily I discovered that the fabric could be cut with my Carl Cutter. (nice.)  And measured off an exra 1" allowance on all sides for the seams.

The front is a small chocolate felt square, to which I've hot glue gunned nine Die-namic Rosettes into a bouquet, and finished off with a Seam Binding Bow.  Yeah me, I didn't even get a hot glue gun burn.  That stuff gets c-r-a-z-y hot. 

But then I was on a roll, playing with new paper, and dies, and a pack of Bling. (you know I'm slightly addicted lately...) and created a little frame to put next to my bed.  I swear, I think I have seasonal affective disorder, I've been a mess the last week. I'm done with dirty snow piles, I'm done with cold, and mud, and blech. I'm needing summer, and fresh air, and sitting on my deck with an iced tea.

Trying to pick myself out of my slump, I thought I'd create a pretty little reminder to myself to cheer up.... I found this shadowbox frame at HomeGoods for $9.00 - sweet!  I reached into my patterned paper box, and used some of the canvas scraps from the pillow I made above... 

The I paired my Butterflies Die-namic with the sentiment from Inspired by Butterflies. I love the way that these dies stack together....  and I've bent each of the wings up for added dimension.

of course I had to create flight trails with rhinestone bling......

and the matting that I created with this My Mind's Eye Lost and Found Paper features some "crazy stitching"  as well as a seam binding bow.... 

That's the great thing about this hobby is being able to put together a little something special to fill up an empty space on a bookshelf, or a perfect pick me up for a friend.  I love using bits of things in my crafty stash to make this place just a little bit more "me."

Thanks for staying with me through this marathon post today! Be sure to check The MFT Blog for a full list of designers participating in today's Design Team Creative Challenge!

Fairy Happy!

Oh goodness, I have so so much work to do, but new paper was calling my name. And, I had a long overdue card to create for a sweet little friend of mine.  I dug into my new Stella Rose paper from My Mind's Eye and I had a stamped, but not yet colored (GASP) Pure Innocence: Believe in Magic image from My Favorite Things.



I finished off the inside with coordinating elements and a little Die-namics Hearts a Plenty so that it is cute inside and out. I paired with a sentiment from More Essential Sentiments and left just a little space for a quick note.  (Come on, have I convinced you to purchase that set yet? It is so handy....)


Now... back to work! Have a great, great day!

SFYTT in March

Its time for the next Sketch For You to Try over on my friend Jen's blog. And I'll admit, this sketch gave me a little bit of pause, cause that's a lot of layers. But luckily, I just *happened* to have some new My Mind's Eye Stella Rose and I just *happened* to need a birthday card for one of my sweet little daycare babies.... I picked through my um, large, collection of Pure Innocence images and decided to use Love You with All My Heart


Whenever the girls run across one of my samples, they stop and say "Oh, Miss Joanne, pretty!" so I knew this little cutie would love a PI girl all colored up like her. Of course lots of stitching on this one....I'm thinking it is now beyond impossible for me to create a card without stitching it.

And yeah me, I finished off the inside as well with the new Upsy Daisy Die-namics. This fabulous flower building die includes blooms in three different sizes, as well as flower centers with this neat embossing for a realistic look. And nice large petals complete with embossing lines.  Fun stuff.

I'm off to prep for my upcoming class, and a set of make and takes for My Favorite Things.  Off to see what girlie movie I can watch on demand while I prep the afternoon away!  Have a GREAT day!