Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Happy Holidays - MFTWSC #48



Are you ready for this week's MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge? Here’s this week’s sketch. You can find the sketch on the MFT blog and also in the MFT forum on SCS, as well as in the weekly newsletter. The Design Team will be on hand to provide plenty of inspiration to get you started. 




I really LOVE this sketch! I can see it becoming one of my go to sketches. The Well Worn Label Die-namics set just works so well together--all I had to do was pick some patterned paper that worked and my job was done, LOL! I brought out a Christmas sentiment set from last year, Merry & Bright for the sentiment, then added a "pointsettia" made with my Upsy Daily Die-namics set. Some stitching and some twine finish it off!

Here's the inside with another sentiment from Merry & Bright.





That's it for me today--I promise! Thanks so much for stopping by--I'll be back tomorrow with another December teaser!

~Supplies~
Stamps: Merry & Bright (MFT)
Paper: Fossil; Bravo Burgundy (SU!); 25 Days of Christmas 6 x 6 (Simple Stories)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Antique Linen Distress Ink (Ranger)
Accessories/tools: Vagabond (Tim Holtz); Well Worn and Upsy Daisy Die-namics dies (MFT); twine, gold flat back beads, sewing machine



Peace - CTD #170



It's Color Throwdown time! This week Lynn is our host and she's chosen a really pretty palette.


I let my paper do the work this week, too. Along with a little help from my current favorite Die-namics dies, Christmas Ornaments. The only other thing I added was some twine with the sweet little tag, also from the Christmas Ornaments set..

Here's the inside, with a sentiment from Clearly Sentimental about Christmas. Add another card to the mail-friendly card stash :)





Remember, you do not have to have the exact colors to play the Color Throwdown challenge. If you don't, just use the closest you have. So, c'mon over to the Color Throwdown blog and play along with us this week. Please use the link service to post your card and please link directly to your card so we can find it easily. And please include a link in your post to the Color Throwdown. If you upload your card to a public forum, please use the keyword CTD170 so we can see your beauty all in one place. Hope to see you there! Be sure to check out what the other team members have come up with this week, including November's Guest Designer.

Barbara Anders (<--- You are here!) 
Lydia Fiedler (November Guest Designer)

Thanks so much for stopping by! I'll be back later with this week's MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge!

~Supplies~
Stamps: Christmas Ornaments, Clearly Sentimental About Christmas (MFT)
Paper: Fossil; Enchanted Evening (PTI); Blitzen 6 x 6 pad (Bo Bunny) 
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa
Accessories/tools: Vagabond (Tim Holtz); Christmas Ornaments Die-namics (MFT); twine



Little Black Dress - MFT December Teaser, Day One




Here are the details about the upcoming release on December 6 at 10 PM EST:
  • You can attend the New Release Party on December 6th from 8-10 PM EST HERE in the MFT forum, where you can enjoy fun, games, and PRIZES!
  • The MFT release, including all new stamp sets and Die-namics, is on December 6 at 10 PM EST.  You'll find all the newest products HERE at release time.
  • The guest designer contest is ON!  Check out the forum for details on how YOU can win $200 in stamp sets and Die-namics, and play along with the MFT Design Team for a month.
  • If you'd like to see all the teasers for today, please click on over to the MFT Blog NOW.  Be sure to leave comments as you go for the chance to win one of 2, $10 gift certificates given away daily.  The winners will be posted on December 6 just before the release party, on the MFT blog.
Oh, my heck! Would you just look at Who's That Couple? OK, so that's not the official name ;-) The official name is May I Have This Dance? and this is the set we're showing you today. Can you just not think of tons of reasons to use this? Anniversary, Valentine's, New Year's...ANY time!!

I had so much fun making this card. I wanted to incorporate the new Skyline Border Die-namics die (GASP, right?!) and I love the way it extends out of each side of the image panel. I wanted to give the impression that they were dancing on some rooftop at night and I think it worked. I have lots of layers of paper piecing on this image to create the dimension that I was after, but it was so worth the effort. The sentiment was stamped on one of the new Mini Tabs Foursome Die-namics die cuts--love the familiar shapes in a smaller size.

And on the inside is another sentiment stamped on a soon-to-be-released Oval Open Scallop Doily Die-namics die cut.







OK, so that's it for me this time. Thanks so much for stopping by! I'll be back later with this week's MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge!

~Supplies~
Stamps: May I Have This Dance? (MFT)
Paper: Sahara Sand (SU!); Black Licorice; Little Black Dress 6 x 6 (Basic Grey)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories/tools: Vagabond (Tim Holtz); Oval Open Scallop Doily, Skyline Border, Mini Tabs Foresome Die-namics dies (MFT); gem flourish



Tuesday, November 29, 2011

MFT November Creative Chat - My Desk



It's time for the MFT Creative Chat. The My Favorite Things Design Team Creative Chat is a monthly feature, where we are challenged to explore our creative spaces and share valuable organizational methods, tools, and shopping strategies with you. You'll be able to peek into our creative spaces, ask questions, and share your own ideas in the MFT forum.  This month, we were asked the following questions:  

Show us your desk.  How do you have things set up, and why?  
What are your "go-to" tools?  Tell us what you can't live without.
Visit Kim's Blog for a full list of designers that have taken up the challenge and get ready to delve into the minds of our creative team.

************************

OK, so my desk area is nothing special and not state-of-the-art but it works for me :) My "desk" itself is actually a folding table and I had my DH add some laminated boards to extend it out for an additional 6 inches in width, front to back. Doesn't sound like a lot but it made a big difference in usable space. 

This is the desk space in a nutshell. Sorry about the picture quality--I think my drop light was fighting with the ambient room lighting. It's all very cozy with lots of stuff within an arm's reach.


Now for a tour of specific areas. I got this little basket thingy from the bathroom decor section at Wal*Mart. The bottom shelf is perfect for my air compressor that I use with my Copic markers. On the second shelf I have my hot glue gun and glue sticks which I use when making rosettes. The top shelf keeps my heat tool, my air brush attachment, and a small flat iron handy for "ironing" ribbon. I also just loop the cord to my glue gun over the rail when it's not in use. You'll also see I keep a roll of paper towels and a milk jug full of water handy, as well.


Under the table I keep some non-stamping crafting supplies as well as a flashlight and my scoring boards and rolls of foam tape. And a footstool :)


I'm using some Sterlite drawers stacked on the left for drawer space to keep some things handy. On top of those drawers is a medium sized tote in which I store my stamping blocks, my small paper trimmer, and heat embossing supplies.


The top drawer holds most of my "sharp" things. Piercers, extra paper cutter blades, etc.


The second drawer holds all my glitters. I don't use a ton of glitter so I'm thinking I need to reevaluate this prime real estate. I could probably put this drawer to better use.


The bottom four drawers hold an assortment of punches and some miscellaneous items. MOST of them see little use now that I have such an awesome selection of Die-namics dies, so these drawers will be seeing an overhaul soon, as well. A few things, like some of my hole punches, Corner Rounder, and Crop-A-Dile get used enough to warrant keeping them close.


Now to the desk top. I must have my computer monitor and keyboard close :) Also at hand are pens, scissors, craft knife, and other tools that get used frequently. The turntable also houses a small spray bottle for water, Dew Drops, Crystal Effects, liquid glitter, etc. Also, front and center, is my Pure Innocence calendar and my ever-present drink--either coffee or Coke.


On the other side of my table is a smaller set of drawers. The top three hold my small ink pads. I use them A LOT so they have to be right at hand.


The second three drawers hold a vast array of adhesives. I can't be without ScorTape, glue dots, or foam dots/squares.


Another must-have tool for me is my ATG. I love it, pure and simple. As everyone said, it takes a little getting used to but in no time I was hooked.


My Copic markers are always right in front of me and never leave my desk. I found these X Cube boxes at Office Max and knew they'd be perfect. I only have Sketch markers so I can see at a glance what color I need. Also close by is my ScorBuddy, another tool without which I'll never be. I still use my ScorPal for larger template projects but my ScorBuddy gets used pretty much every stamping session. You'll also see a small canning jar sitting there beside my ATG. In it you'll find my small cutting scissors, both straight and curved, and an assortment of tweezers.


Here you'll see a few more can't-do-without items. A couple of sanding blocks: the Tim Holtz block is very fine grain and the white one is one you can find in the nail care area in most any toiletry section at drug stores, etc. I use them for distressing and also for smoothing card stock edges when my paper cutter blade needs changing. And my reading glasses--self explanatory ;-) 


Another couple of must-haves for me. Grid paper for precision and measuring (this one is from Stampin' Up!) and removable tape. I use it almost every day for keeping dies in place while they run through my Vagabond.


Here's a little trick my Stampin' Up demo showed me when I first started stamping. Because of this I never clean stamps--or almost never. When I sit down to stamp, I simply spray some water on a couple of paper towels in this little tray. As soon as I stamp an image I place it on the wet paper towel and it's automatically clean when I finish up and put my stamps back on their storage sheet. I do use StazOn cleaner when I stamp with StazOn but that is rare. This method works for everything else. Pigment inks may take a little bit of a scrubbing action, but other than that they're good to go!


And, finally, my A2 pieces of card stock. I showed this in our card stock segment but I thought I'd mention it again here since it is one thing that I like to keep handy--right on top of my Copic markers.


OK, that's it for me today! I hope I haven't bored you too much with all the pictures and maybe you've seen something you can incorporate in your stamping space. I'm looking forward to seeing what all the other designers have to show us--I'm hoping to get some ideas for improving MY space. 

Thanks so much for stopping by! See you back tomorrow for the first teaser of December!



Sunday, November 27, 2011

Happy Holidays



How sweet is this little cutie from MFT's latest release: Pure Innocence - Stocking Girl? Too sweet for words, isn't she?! This is going to be another card in which to include a little cash for a Christmas gift :) I stamped the image, colored with Copic markers and paper pieced, then cut her out. Then I popped her up on an Oval Dainty Doily Die-namics die cut, layered with off white paper which was stamped with the sentiment. I'm also using Simply Scallops, Medium for my border, and some twill, some twine, and a button to finish it off.

Here's the inside with another sentiment from the set.





Thanks SO much for stopping by today!

~Supplies~
Stamps: PI- Stocking Girl (MFT)
Paper: Whip Cream, Gumdrop Green; Cherry Cobbler (SU!);Yuletide Mat Pad (K & Company)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories/tools: Vagabond (Tim Holtz); Simply Scallops, Medium, Oval Dainty Doily Die-namics dies (MFT); twill, twine, button



Saturday, November 26, 2011

Holiday Hugs - C4C #115


Welcome! It's Crazy 4 Challenges time! This week, Joycelyn is challenging us to use snow in some form on our card or project. I've been wanting to ink up this sweet Pure Innocence - Holiday Hugs Snowman from MFT's latest release so this seemed like a good time to do it :) I decided to create a scene with him, so first of all I stamped the snowman image, then masked it with Eclipse masking tape and used my Copic air brush system to airbrush the back ground. Next I colored my snowman with Copic markers and then it was just a matter of adding die cuts to complete my scene. I'm using Sheltering Tree and Leaf Trio, Sunshine, Cloud Trio, and Wonky Scallop Border Die-namics dies for this.

Here's the inside with another copy of the snowman, who's sporting some holly on his stovepipe hat cut using Christmas Ornaments Die-namics.







And that's all for me for now! Thanks so much for stopping by! Be sure to check out what the rest of the design team has for you!

THEN, you know what to do--we'd love to have you come along and play with us. Just do your thing with the challenge and link it to Mr. Linky on the Crazy 4 Challenges blog. Please link directly to your project. And, if you upload to a public gallery, please use the key word C4C115.

~Supplies~
Stamps: Pure Innocence - Holiday Hugs Snowman (MFT)
Paper: Sweet Tooth, Black Licorice, Lemon Drop; Soft Suede (SU!); Neenah Solar White 130 lb.
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories/tools: Vagabond (Tim Holtz); Sunshine, Sheltering Tree and Leaf Trio, Cloud Trio, Christmas Ornaments, and Wonky Scallop Border Die-namics dies, Copic markers, pearls, foam dots



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