My Favorite Valentines

In 2011, MFT is working harder than ever to inspire you, and we have come up with something we think you'll really enjoy. Our Design Team Creative Challenge will be a new monthly feature, where we challenge our design team to explore their creative side using a specific theme or product.

This month, we asked the team to get creative for Valentine's Day. It's a great occasion to get crafty, and put your supplies to good use. Are you ready to get some ideas for your Valentine's Day gifts? Be sure to visit the MFT Blog today for the list of participants - you'll see everything from cards to gift ideas and everything between.

Today I wanted to go a little "shabby" its not a style I often do, but this was a lot of fun! I tucked a Peppermint Pattie inside a glassine bag, and then created a multi-layered rosette to decorate the front of the bag.

Here's how I put together this custom embellishment for my little Valentine Treats.....

Lost and Found paper from My Mind's Eye with the 1/4 inch Rosette - I diecut the piece once and then cut it in half.

The second layer of the Rosette was cut twice in MFT's Fossil cardstock with the 3/8 Rosette. I like to use Jody's Dimensional Dots to hold mine together. They're PERFECT for the job. Once my Rosette was assembled, I painted the edges with some Ranger Crackle Paint and set it aside to dry.

Guess what nests PERFECTLY inside the new Dainty Doily (oops, already sold out!)from MFT? Rosettes! I cut my doily from vellum, and it makes a fabu-u-lous little doily. I coated it with Shimmerz paint for a shabby shine and the edges got all rolled up and antiqued. ....I sort of loved that part....

I cut a tiny pink heart with my Hearts a Plenty Die-namic and then coated it with Diamond Glaze, and then poured on a layer of Glitzy Glitter.


Finally, I wrapped the glassine envelope with a bit of text paper, layed over a Cotton Twill bow and a little bit of rhinestone bling. Lastly I tied on my Rosette embellishment with a bit of TCP Divine Twine in pink. My favorite part.... I added a bit of magnetic tape to the back of my Rosette so that it could be a decorative fridge magnet.

I ran all my materials through my Big Shot a few times so that I've got enough Rosettes and Doilys cut for all the boys teachers. I've just got to turn on a good stamping show and get the last few pieces assembled. And, once the candies are tied up tight, I won't be so tempted to *eat* them!

Don't forget to stop by Kim's blog today to see all the Valentine ideas that our team has to share with you.

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!

Greatest Hits - Pure Innocence

Good morning!! I'm sorry for my long absence from blogging - my husband and I headed off on a weekend adventure to California, and I had a million things to do to prepare, and thus no "pre-blogging."

Today however is a FUN day! The girls on the My Favorite Things Design Team have prepared our monthly Greatest Hits group posting for you today and this month, it is focused on Pure Innocence. YEAH! If you didn't notice - I truly adore this line.

Greatest Hits is such a fun posting each month, when we take a particular line of stamps out for a little fun. Bringing our "older" stamps out to play with our "newer" paper and accessories!

I've paired "Merry Kissmas" with the new Cosmo Cricket Mitten Weather paper, my Little Open Scallop Strip, and the Polka Dot Greetings Die-namic (sorry, currently out of stock....)poking out as a tab.

I'm finally getting into the habit of cutting matching paper twice, for an inside and out look. For me, this is especially helpful since I have such a hard time fitting greetings onto my cardfront. (And, um, it also justifies my excessive paper purchases? *giggle)

Be sure to visit Kim's blog today after 11 am for a full list of designers participating in Greatest Hits today! Its so fun to see the variety in what everyone chose to work with!

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.

Greatest Hits - Jolinne

Getting both boys off to school and prepping class kits for this weekend, it has been a complete whirlwind around here. Its all good, just c-r-a-z-y! So I hope you'll forgive me my very simple layout on today's Greatest Hits post for MFT, but it was nice to just sit and color a while and not worry too much about how all the papers would get laid out.

Today is our monthly Greatest Hits post, when we take a particular line of stamps out to play. This month, its Jolinne. I'll admit sadly that I'd not yet inked this cutie. I love her coy expression with her shoulders shrugged and her eyes closed.

You'll want to swing by Kim's blog today after 11am EST, she'll have a list of all the designers with Jolinne samples to share today. And if you're feeling inspired to add to your collection, then today's the day - you can use the code JOLINNE to save $5 on any Jolinne set

I'll make a little admission here too, sometimes I get nervous coloring Miss Jolinne's hair, there's just so much of it, and I don't want to blend it too much, I wanted it to be all piecy with highights and lowlights. Then I remembered a cool trick from Mel - she used to scratch the surface of her hair with a paper piercer or a needle, and then color over it. Its cool how it takes to the color differently. Have a great day everyone, I forgot that today was a no school day when I did my daycare calendar and I have MORE than a full house today. Wish me luck.....

MFT's Greatest Hits

MFT's Greatest Hits is quickly becoming one of my favorite projects. This month, we're all working with the My Favorite Things Clearly Sentimental Line.

For my project, I reached for the "Clearly Sentimental about Summer Vacation" set. We go without luxuries like a house-cleaner, or a "yard boy" (a.k.a. landscaper) and you've never seen a couch in sadder shape than the one in my den, (my husband won't let me get a new one till I'm done with daycare from our house) but we always have some money tucked aside in the budget for travel.

I've found another paper line, that I'm loving. So, don't say you haven't been warned. My Mind's Eye So Sophie. I have a feeling you'll be seeing a little bit of it. ;-) I've added a bit of the Crochet Trim that Kim carries, and a ribbon that lately I can't live without, thin width chocolate gingham.

And, while you're checking out all of the Clearly Sentimental projects today, Kim has a special offer for you. Get a full sized Clearly Sentimental set for $10 with orders over $30 - use the shopping code CSPROMO (Please note: the Clearly Sentimental set of you choice must be added to your cart)

Remember that today after 11am Kim will have a full listing of designers participating today, enjoy all the eye candy!

MFT's Greatest Hits

I'm really so excited about today's MFT's Greatest Hits post, because we're all celebrating Mr (or is it Mrs?) Flopsey.

From sipping a cup of tea, to baking pies and celebrating all sorts of holidays, you'll find a Flopsey that suits whatever stampy mood you're in over at My Favorite Things.

One of my very favorite ever Flopseys is Birthday Flopsey - you can add candles to the cake, or turn it into a stack of presents and tie a ribbon around in a bow.

Since this sweet bunny hasn't seen ink in a while, I freshened him up by letting him play with my new friends.....Die-namics!

I cut two sets of Die-namic clouds so I could have one medium and two small clouds, and I also cut two stacks of grass for an extra full border. Once I added them in place with a bit of adhesive and then trimmed off the excess, I gave a quick stitch all around my panel to hold everything in place, and just because I like how that finished edge looks.

I simply *love* how quickly you can add sweet accents and scenes to your projects with these Die-namics elements.

I've used the Outdoor Essentials felt collection here the colors are gorgeous, the felt so luscious and the price, well, its just totally sweet!

Be sure to stop by the MFT Blog today after 11 am for a list of all the designers participating in today's Greatest Hits post.

Enabler Alert! Kim at MFT has a special running Thursday June 10 and Friday June 11 only you can use the code FLOPSEY for $3.00 off any Flopsey set! Happy Shopping!

MFT Greatest Hits - Fizer Month

You may remember that last month, many of us on the MFT Team put together a little Greatest Hits posting using all different Who's That Girl sets.

This month, we thought we'd play again, this time we're sharing different stamp sets from the MFT Presents - Stephanie Fizer collection.

I am loving doing this, because my go to techniques change over time, and of course, so do my go to tools and paper packs. I love freshening up a set with all my latest goodies.

This sweet girl from Rainy Day Friends in her froggy coat just makes me smile! And, she's just perfect for paper piecing!

I love when project comes together quickly. I ran my Die-namic Clouds through my Big Shot twice, and used one medium and two small clouds. I crumpled them for added texture on my project, and gently inked the edges for definition. For a quick grassy grounding, I added a green Die-namic Jumbo Scallop. MFT Adornmnents were just the perfect size for some buttons on her raincoat.

Please hop on over to the MFT Blog today after 11 am for a full list of designers participating in today's Greatest Hits! You'll find all the Stephanie Fizer stamps here - and valid only Thursday May 13th and Friday May 14th you can get 15% off of Fizer sets by using the code is FIZER (please note that this special savings offer is valid only for Stephanie Fizer sets!)

MFT's Greatest Hits

On a recent cleanup of my stamp area, I was thrilled (albeit stunned) to see exactly how many stamp sets I have. As I lovingly leafed through them all, I considered what a shame that I don't play with some of my favorites on a more regular basis.

So, together with many of my design team buddies on My Favorite Things, we're having fun, getting some of MFT's Greatest Hits inky!

I reached for one of my very favorites "Coffee? Tea?" and mixed it up with some of my new favorite paper My Mind's Eye Quite Contrary.

See, for me, that's the fun of bringing out some treasured favorites, they get to come to life with new paper. New favorite techniques. Fun stuff.

This month, for MFT's Greatest Hits, we're all showcasing sets from the original line, Who's That Girl. We've already chatted and have a fun lineup planned for next month too.

Now seriously, I hope that you'll reach into your favorites and get some MFT inky this week. Because, after all, you just never know when your creation will be spied for the regular Tuesday feature on the MFT Blog - Our Favorite Finds.

Be sure to head on over to Kim's Blog for a complete listing of all the designers participating today! In fact, I'm off to surf around to see all the Who's That Girl beauties that the girls have put together for you today!