SFYTT - Hi-YA!

A new month means that its time for the next SFYTT sketch challenge, and yeah, so far I haven't missed one! Woo- hoo!  Did you know that Jen posts the sketch for the SFYTT followers on Facebook on Friday night? So, if you wake up early and want to stamp while everyone else is sleeping, you're in business!

I didn't get a chance to ink up Karate Girl for the MFT new release this week, so I've had her ready and waiting for her turn.  I paired it with the new Authentique pattern paper, I've got to say, I'm surprised by how much I love this yellow one in particular! Not normally a go-to color for me, but its fabulous!

You'll spy my handy Simply Scallops Die-namic and I've added a sentiment with the fish tail element included in the First Place Award Ribbon.  I love mixing and matching up all my Die-namics!

By the way, MFT Headquarters is on vacation this week but they're
having a free shipping deal - be sure to check out the details HERE

Hope you have a great weekend and get some fun stampy time! 

Perfect Pinwheel Die-namics and Stamp Set and a late PI Preview too!

I am sure that you'll be seeing many projects where this fabulous new Perfect Pinwheel graces the front of a card today, but I wanted to share a sample I made of a quick, cute and sweet pinwheel gift bag I made for one of my little daycare clients.

I can not disclose how many pixie sticks I consumed while making this little project, but suffice it to say..... YUM!   I like to keep a stash of small kraft bags on hand for quick little presents, I found some fun scraps to turn into a pinwheel and then attached the finished pinwheel to a Pixie Stick using a dimensional foam dot. 

Then I stitched around all the edges of the patterned papers, leaving the hand cut hill open along the top, so I could tuck my pinwheel into that little pocket....  I added a sweet little sentiment from the coordinating stamp set - there are so many fun ones to choose from!

I mentioned yesterday that I'm a big behind on my previews, so today I've got a Pure Innocence preview to share with you using Jen's Sketch For You to Try for July.  Did you know that MFT is this month's sponsor?  (Yeah me, I've completed ALL of the monthly sketches so far, and now we're more than halfway there!  Are you with me?)

I modified it a little to make a square card, and used vellum for my sentiment for the panel across the front.  Pattern paper is Sweet Threads from Basic grey.   I drew in the grass with my Prismacolor pencils, I've learned to not press so heavy, and to try to make my grass "wispier" and I think I like it better this way.  Practice, practice.

You'll see that I also tucked in the new Die-namics Solid Bracket Border along the side.  Love this one.....

Be sure to check the MFT Blog today for a full list of designers that have something sweet to share with you.  See you tomorrow with one more sample before the new release is available!!

Happy Birthday Karen!

Happy Birthday Karen!

Please help me wish a very happy birthday to my sweet friend Karen Motz!  I'm *quite* sure you already read her ADORABLE blog Paper Playhouse and if you don't oh my goodness you are missing out, she makes the ca-uuuutest things!  Be sure to swing by over to her blog today and leave her a little birthday wish!  I've got to say that I am SO blessed to have her in my life, she is one of the sweetest and most thoughtful friends a girl could ask for. 

((((hugs))))) girlie you're the greatest!

 

To celebrate Miss Karen's Birthday (that's what my kids call her...) today I'm making my second card of the month with Jen's Sketch for You to Try!  This is such a fun layout that I was excited to dig into it again.  

 

and since Karen and I were introduced by the Bella herself at Stamping Bella... of course I had to make a Stamping Bella themed birthday card - right? (Thanks Emily!)  ....You might also remember that Stamping Bella is the sponsor of this month's SFYTT challenge....

I do love those sweet Turtle Tots so I'm always excited anytime I get an occasion to grab my green markers and get going.  I've given the chocolate cake a coating of Glossy Accents for a really sugary frosting and a quick puff of liquid applique for the pom pom on the hat. 

Patterned papers are the My Mind's Eye Lime Tart paper pad. Cute cute stuff in that collection!

Be sure to add YOUR sample to Jen's SFYTT post - this year Jen has one new sketch a month, and if you complete all twelve, you're eligible for a prize!  Here's a little reminder on the details.....

1. The SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY {SFYTT} will be posted on the first Saturday of each month on www.iheart2stamp.com at 8am EST and will stay open to participants until the last day of the month, unless otherwise noted.
2. This is for fun! Interpret the sketch as you wish and embellish as desired. There are no vendor restrictions, but we would love to see you use the sponsor’s stamps!
3. Each month we will have a Designer of the Month that will be chosen from past month’s participants.
4. Come and play with us on each and every sketch! On Christmas Day 2011 a prize package worth over $200 will be given away to one very lucky and loyal SFYTT stamper that participates in EVERY sketch for the year.
5. To be eligible for the prize package, you must complete ALL of the sketches by each of the deadlines AND link your creation to the link system on that month’s sketch post (the first Saturday of the month). Everyone except for SFYTT Sisters are eligible for the prize package, including Designer of the Month and international players.
6. When posting your sketch creation on your blog, please post the sketch and link back to the sketch post on www.iheart2stamp.com. When posting to online galleries, please use the keyword “SFYTT.”

Skating by with an SFYTT

Good morning girlies, and I hope the Moms out there had a great day! Coffee and TiVO in bed, and a little crafty time in the afternoon.  A dinner I have neither to cook, nor clean up after. That's MY kinda day.
 
I think this little skater girl in Roll With It is SO cute, I couldn't wait to play with her again.  Jen's May SFYTT was calling my name, as was this ca-ute paper from Echo Park called Playground.  My girl isn't too girlie, she's sporty, except of course for her cutie pink helmet.  I've used "selective" stitching on this project, switching up the type of stitch used on alternating panels, and stitching only the corners on some panels.   

Here's Jen's original sketch - are you playing along?  Remember there's only ONE sketch each month, so be sure to knock that off your TO do list.  Check!  I'll admit that tiny panel worried me, but as it turns out, I loved it.  Funny how the one element you think will be the hardest is sometimes the thing you love the best about a project in the end?

Keeping the chitter chatter short today....  figure you girls listen to me babble often enough.

After a whirlwind two weeks, I'm looking forward to NOT hostessing a party next weekend. *giggle* though I do have some treats to bake for my little guys party at "Meet The Authors." (By the way, this is my favorite event of the WHOLE YEAR.)  How is the year already starting to wrap up?  It has FLOWN by.

Have a great day everyone. Be sure to carve yourself out a crafty half hour or so no matter how busy you are.  It is really SUCH an amazing stress reliever.....

Time to Celebrate

I'm sure you've seen by now, but Jen has changed her SFYTT to a monthly sketch, and I'm challenging myself to complete all twelve of them. Want to play along with me? Just look at this month's fabulous sketch, how can you resist?


This is a sweet little sketch, I'm sure I'll be making more than one card with this layout. But first, I reached for my brand new Little Girl from Echo Park. Pink, Aqua and Orange, that's SO me!

I'm using the adorable My Favorite Things a la Modes Time to Celebrate - the birthday cake is loaded with lots of Glaze pen for a nice, sugary icing. YUM!


You'll see the new Simply Scallops Die-namic here on my project (yes, again, I love it!) I love that it is wide enough for me to stitch right across the center for a little something extra. And the size of the scallops is totally perfect for cardfronts.

I'm doing a pretty good job of sticking to my plan to finish off the card insides... this Layered Labels die is just the perfect size to add a greeting to the inside. I used More Essential Sentiments to add Happy Birthday to the inside. I *love* the larger size of these sentiments.

Thanks for peeking at my card today. I'm really trying to convince myself that the spring will in fact arrive.... at some point!

Happy Little SFYTT!

Have you heard the fun news? Jen has switched up the Sketch For You To Try for 2011 - this year, she's offering one sketch a month, which is perfect, because it gives you SO much time to play along.

I'm challenging myself to complete each of the 12 sketches this year. And YOU really should play along too, want to know why? There is a big old prize at the end, awarded at random to ONE participant who completes each of the 12 sketches. And of course, the first sketch, was nothing but fabulous!

As you can see, I've fully moved onto Valentines, so I grabbed for my Pure Innocence: Happy Mail and lots of patterned paper from My Mind's Eye Animal Crackers. Sadly this sweet little stamp is currently out of stock, but be sure to check out the full line of My Favorite Things Pure Innocence!


I reached for the "xoxo" sentiment for the tiny flag I lifted it off of another of the PI Girls, I'm sure she won't mind, they like to share (um, unlike my kids...) The tiny pink woodgrain heart is courtesy of my much loved Die-namics Hearts a Plenty Die.

I love mixing brights and blacks for an extra bit of pop. Its also a good excuse for me to add a dash of TCP Divine Twine into my projects. Love. It.

So, here's the first of my SFYTT submissions for the year, looking forward to bringing you eleven more! *see if I claim it here as a goal on the bloggity, I'm less likely to skip any, I trust you'll all hold me accountable right?**

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!

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

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!

TCP Sneak Peek Week - Snowflake Girl

I hope you're ready for LOTS and LOTS of The Cat's Pajamas postings! Us "Cat Packers" will be sharing new TCP creations with you every day between now and next Monday. How fun is THAT?

Today I have a little Snowflake Girl creation to share with you. I'm all about scarves already, in fact, my five year old told me that he's buying me another one for Christmas. I'll act surprised, really I will. And eeks, how cute are her little Mary Janes? I reached for a former Sketch for You to Try from my fellow Cat Packer Jen. I will say, Jen's layouts are always a go to for me.

I used paper from Basic Grey Jovial for both my layers, and for my paper piecing too. You'll see that I've some stitching only selectively my project - its a new "thing" and I'm liking it. And, you eagle eyes will find one of the latest CutUps dies! It is an amazing border accent for your layers.

Be sure to check Alma's Blog each day to see who has previews for you! Hope you're ready for a FUN and ahem, super cute week!

Have a cuppa....

Did you know that you can find Jen's Sketch for You To Try posted on Facebook on Friday nights... so, if you happen to be in a mood to stamp, you can find the sketch a day earlier than she posts it on her blog? All you've got to do is become a fan of "Sketch for You To Try" on Facebook!

I am having such fun playing along with all the soon to be released goodies from The Cat's Pajamas. Let me say you won't want to miss Monday Night's Release party on Splitcoast. All I can say is that there will be prizes!

I paper pieced PJ's apron with both Ivory and Gingham paper for some contrast trim on the apron. I {heart} paper piecing! Do you see the tiny "soup" on the cup? that Alma, she's so clever!

Remember all the latest goodies that the team has been sharing will be available beginning Monday night! Be sure to check Alma's blog each day to see who's workin' the daily previews, and leave a comment on the posts for a chance to win ALL THE SETS!

Have a great day! New TCP Peek tomorrow!

Cheers for You!!

I have a boatload of graduation cards to get working on, and I was thinking today how much I've missed my sweet Turtle Tots from Stamping Bella. I reached for an assortment of Pure Poppy (from PTI) and white accents (my cousin's high school colors) and Jen del Muro's fun sketch from the weekend and got to work.

When you've got a sketch to follow and a color palette in mind, I find that a card comes together in a heartbeat! I was able to crank this out while the boys watched a little Harold and the Purple Crayon (a perfect rest-time show if you ask me...)

The trickiest element for me on this card was the buttons. I have a million different buttons, but not so many identical ones. I remembered my old SU button collections and grabbed three matchy ivory ones, centered them on 3/4 punchouts of Pure Poppy paper and then gave them a quick stitch into place with my The Cat's Pajamas button twine.

A quick PS for you is that I grabbed the sentiment from one of my MFT PI's (...book in hand...)

Have a great day!!

A late little SFYTT

I had this card completed for last week' Sketch for You To Try, but amidst a crazy week, I somehow forgot to upload it. Whoops. But, since I had fun making it, and since I pretty much like it, I'm sharing it now.

I'm addicted to this paper from October Afternoon's Thrift Shop, I picked mine up at Jacksonbelle Embellishments and let me say Lindsey had the fastest EVER shipping! Enabler Alert - when hooking up the link, I noticed a Mother's Day sale through tomorrow. 30% off the entire store - RUN!!

Its also a great opportunity to let you know that this week's Sketch For You To Try is being sponsored by My Favorite Things. A $25 gift certifcate AND a Jumbo Scallop Die-namic. Whoo Hoo! You'll find Jen's adorable sketch (which I will use and post before the next one goes up...) over HERE

A Doubly Sketchy TCP Tuesday.....

For a change, I'm right on time with my TCP Tuesday post this week. Groan, I can't believe I was so late last week...

Jen is filling in for with a sketch this week, and what a fun idea, she's doing a little replay challenge, pulling from an old sketch we used and now we'll freshen it up with new samples! And, lucky for me, its got a circular element in it, which for me is always a favorite!

I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that I'm probably not the only one who will be previewing upcoming sets today! So, be sure to pop around to visit the Cat Pack this week to see what they've got to share.

I'm going to let you in on a little secret, I loathe mushrooms. They gross me out in food, they gross me out in real life... but on paper they're okay. In fact, if they're polka dotted, they're pretty darned cute. (But I still won't eat them.... yuck!)

I stamped the larger and the smaller one to patterned paper so that I'd have easy peasy little cute toadstool tops, and then created a little paper scene with my nesties, scissors and tea dye ink. The sentiment was stamped in Brilliance, then coated with clear embossing powder and then zapped with my heat tool.

Now, with TCP's linen thread, there is *no* excuse for naked buttons. (Do you hear me, no excuse!!) I keep an embroidery needle threaded with each of the colors on my desktop. I use the needle to pierce the placement of each button and in a flash they are securely sewn onto my project. Perfect placement, no "au natural" buttons. You'll notice that I alternated between 4 and 2 hole buttons of the same size...

You know the deal... link up your project using this sketch to the guestbook on Alma's blog for your chance to get Swanky!

Because I am having SUCH fun playing around with the newest releases, I also put Jen's Sketch For You To Try to work with this sweet ballerina bunny. I thought this was such a great sketch to share just the little teeny bunny.

The set comes with this cool woodgrain pattern which I've stamped twice to the bottom 1/3 of my oval to create the dance floor.

I've broken up the sentiment "You are Tutu Much" (how cute is that....) onto two flags. I'm trying my best to channel Amy's fun treatments to fill up that space on the top right hand quadrant using a chipboard heart. The chipboard heart was given a healthy coating of Crackle Accents - the nested heart frame was stitched, and then given a healthy dose of Tea Dye ink.
Again, remember to thread up those buttons and mix up how you thread the holes for a bit of added visual interest.

Thanks SO much for stopping by today and have a beautiful day!

Love Owl-Ways - Embossed Hardware

I'm still playing with my Powder Keg Embossing powder.  This week, I tried it out on some bronze hardware I had in my stash.  First, I dipped it into my Versamark pad, then coated up my hardware to this pearlescent chocolate finish.  It has such a warm patina to it, I'm lovin' it!

For anyone that is interested, I have done a tutorial on the MFT "How'd They Do That" forum showing step by step how to change up the embellies you already have on hand to give them a special finish for your projects!

I got my printer all hooked back up after some crazy computer trouble here at home last week.  And, the very first thing I did was download and print this Chocolate Kiss Digital Paper pack from MFT.  

You'll see I also am still on a Kraft paper binge!  I stamped the birds and the branch to Kraft, then stamped the birdies again to a scrap of white paper.  While you can color with  Copics on the Kraft, it isn't the best for blending.  So I colored the owls separately and then added them back in place.  

This is my sample for Jen Del Muro's Sketch for You To Try this week.  

I had such trouble with the double embellie on the top left hand corner of the card.  What I really wished I had was some sort of flourish punch or diecut, and tried every sort of button, flower combination for that top corner.  Finally I added a little ribbon tab added a paper flower, embossed hardware, button, thread combo on top of that.

Have a wonderful day! Me, I'm off to work on a few more Valentines!