Thinking Of You - CTD #135 and MFTWSC #13

Hi, all! I'm back today with another Color Throwdown and MFTWSC card. And today I'm the host at the Color Throwdown. Yeah, I picked these colors ;-) But, once you see what the DT has for you, you won't think them too off the wall, I promise :)

And here's the sketch--another fun one from MFT! 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 Challenge and Design Teams will be on hand to provide plenty of inspiration to get you started.

 

And, here's my card. I can't say I was inspired by these papers but they sure do work for this color combo :) Cosmo Cricket's Circa 1934 collection is perfect for it. I shuffled patterns around until I got what I liked and went from there. I tore a page from an old book (bought at Goodwill for $1 just to have on hand for this purpose) and stamped the carnation from Inspired by Flowers, Set 1 with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, then colored the flower with Copic markers. This paper is very absorbent so you have to be careful not to go to the stamped line. I added some shading by just streaking some darker shades of red.

Then I tied some  red crinkled seam binding around, added a sentiment flag, and tied on a button. I'm using my Little Open Scallop Strip Die-namics die for the scalloped border. And here's the inside, with the carnation stamped again and another sentiment from the set. I just love the flowers in this set--so botanical :)

Remember, you do not have to have the exact colors to play. 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 CTD135 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!

LeAnne Pugliese - Wee Inklings

Broni Holcombe - Splashes of Watercolor

Danielle Kennedy - Wild Dragonfly Designs

Tammy Hershberger - Stamp Happy

Kristin Beuter - Mindless Creativity

Laura Pryor - Lil' Inker Designs

Cathy Indelicato - Crafty Thoughts...

Keva Brown, March guest Designer - How Now, Brown Kow

Thanks SO much for stopping by! I always love it when you do.

~Supplies~

Stamps: Inspired by Flowers, Set 1 (MFT)

Paper: Black Licorice, Wild Cherry, Whip Cream (MFT); Fine Linen (PTI); old book paper; Circa 1934 6 x 6 pad (Cosmo Cricket)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories/tools: Cuttlebug (Provocraft); Little Open Scallop Strip Die-namics die (MFT); seam binding; button, twine (PTI); Copic markers R22, R24, R27

Flourishes 1, 2, 3 Create Kit

Hi there, everyone! Did you see the new kits that Flourishes introduced a couple of weeks ago? Well, they went so fast that last Monday they introduced another one. And, yep, you guessed it...they flew off the shelves, too! So today, we have yet another kit to introduce that I'm sure will follow the other into sold out-dom. Yeah, that's a word ;-)

Here's what's in this kit: 

Basic Grey Hello Luscious Paper Pack

1 Yard 1-1/2” Yellow Silk

1 Yard 1-1/2” Green Silk

2 Yards Hot Pink Cotton 5/8” Ribbon

1 Yard Hot Pink Crochet Lace

9 Silver Ribbon Slides

70-plus square light and dark pink rhinestones in two sizes

You can find out more about the kits and purchase them HERE. For my card, I'm using one of my favorite Flourishes stamp sets, A Year In Flowers, Set 1. I stamped the pansies on Classic White card stock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored it with Copic markers. I'm using Basic Grey's new Hello Luscious paper along with the hot pink cotton linen ribbon from the kit. 

After I colored the image, I cut it out with my Grand Calibur and a Labels Seventeen Nestabilities die and matted it with a Labels Eight die, and the sentiment and mat were cut with Classic Oval dies. To finish it off, I tied a piece of that fabulous hot pink cotton linen ribbon around in a bow. Oooo, that stuff ties like a dream!!! Love it!!

Want to see more of this kit in action? Check out what these designers have for you:

• Cindy Lawrence
• Jan Marie Caruso
• Julie Koerber
• Sharon Doolittle

 Here are the Copic markers I used.

Thanks SO much for stopping by today!

~Supplies~

Stamps: A Year In Flowers, Set 1 (Flourishes)

Paper: Classic White (Flourishes); Early Espresso (SU!); Hello Luscious 6 x 6 pad (Basic Grey)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Early Espresso (SU!)

Accessories/tools: Grand Calibur, Labels Eight and Seventeen and Classic Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders); ribbon (Flourishes); Copic markers

What's Cookin'? Taylored Expressions March Key Ingredients

Happy Sunday! OMGosh! It's gotten COLD here again in South Central Virginia! It was really nice all week and now this! Yuk! 

OK, on to my card :) I'm using the brand new Taylored Expressions Sketch! Yep, that's right, Taylor has started up her sketches again! I'm so thrilled--I always loved her sketches and really missed them. Just create a card using the sketch as inspiration and upload it at SCS for a chance to win a gift certificate to the TE store. You can find all the details on her blog HERE or at the new Taylored Expressions Company Forum on SCS HERE. Hope to see lots of you folks playing this week!

Here's my card using the sketch and the March Key Ingredients Kit. I stamped the images from From the Heart and the sentiment is from From the Heart Funnies. I colored them with Copic markers and punched them out before adding a little red mat and popping them up on foam dots.

Then I tied that luscious yellow ribbon around and added the sparkly brads. All of the papers, the ribbon, and the brads are from the kit. To find out more about Taylored Expressions' Key Ingredients kits, click HERE. The kits take all the guess work out of matching patterned paper, card stock, ribbon and embellishments. Check it out!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

~Supplies~

Stamps: From the Heart, From the Heart Funnies (Taylored Expressions)

Paper: Taylored Expressions March Key Ingredients Kit

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa

Accessories/tools: Cuttlebug (Provocraft); Classic Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders); ribbon, brads (Taylored Epressions March Key Ingredients Kit); foam dots (craft store); 1 1/4" round punch (EK Success); Copic markers

Get Well Soon - Crazy 4 Challenges #80

Here I am back again with another Crazy 4 Challenges card. This is Silke Ledlow's last week as host for this month and she has another fun sketch for us to wind it up.

We have a sponsor again this week, as well: Sparkle Creations. You can get all the deets at the Crazy 4 Challenges blog.

And here's my card. I kept it pretty CAS, the best way to showcase this fabulous new die from PTI--Turning A New Leaf. It coordinates with the set by the same name, one of my favorite PTI sets, so I was really happy to see this die added to the line up.

Remember those poofy flowers we were all making last year about this time? Before all the flower dies came out? I had a hankering to make another one of them - for old time's sake, LOL! Seriously, I do love them still. 

Okey dokey, that's it for me! Sooooo, NOW, be sure to check out the samples by the rest of my crazy girls...er, I mean the Crazy 4 Challenges team ;-)

• Cindy Haffner
• Frances Byrne
• Jessie Rone
• Joanne Grzelak
• Joycelyn Turner
• Lynda Benden
• Maria Bell
• Silke Kittmann
• Silke Ledlow
• Tammy Hershberger
• Vicki Garrett
  

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 C4C80.

Thanks so much for dropping in today! I'll be back tomorrow with another fun card so I hope you'll stop by!

~Supplies~

Stamps: Turning a New Leaf, Healing Touch Sentiments (PTI)

Paper: Kraft, Rustic White, Distressed Dots, Ripe Avocado (PTI)

Ink: Dark Chocolate; Tea Dye (PTI)

Accessories/tools: Cuttlebug (Provocraft); Turning a New Leaf die, button, twine (PTI); scalloped punch (EK Success)

Flourishes Friday Free For All!

Happy Friday!! Since it's Friday, that means it's Flourishes Friday Free For all! That's when I get to show you another card from the latest release. Today I have another Lenten Rose card. I love this set--just love it!!

I stamped the image on Flourishes Classic White card stock with Memento Rich Cocoa ink and colored it with Copic markers. Then I tore the edges and sponged them with Antique Linen Distress Ink.

My patterned paper is from 7 Gypsies Victorian collection and I edge distressed it pretty heavily--extreme distressing, as Emily called it at the release party. A perfect description! Then some fancy lace, a button and some twine finished it off. I like that contrast--elegant and rustic.

Don't forget to check out what the rest of the awesome Flourishes team has for you today:

• Christine Okken
• Cindy Lawrence
• Danielle Kennedy
• Dawn Burnworth
• Jan Marie Caruso
• Julie Koerber - D T Coordinator
• Leslie Miller
• Stacy Morgan

Remember that this is the last day for the New Release Bundle--you can get all four sets for 10% off today only!

Aaaaaaand, don't forget the Gambler's Sale is still in full swing--prices have dropped to 45% off selected items! Check it out--you don't want to miss these bargains!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

~Supplies~

Stamps: Lenten Rose (Flourishes)

Paper: Classic White (Flourishes); Kraft (SU!); Victoria 6 x 6 pad (7 Gypsies)

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa; Antique Linen Distress Ink (Ranger)

Accessories/tools: distressing tool (Tim Holtz); lace (craft store); twine, button (PTI)

Happy Bird-day! - CTD #134 and MFTWSC #12

Hi, there! I'm back today with another Color Throwdown and MFTWSC card. Today's colors are brought to us by Danielle:

Fabulous combo, right? And here's the MFT sketch for this week.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 Challenge and Design Teams will be on hand to provide plenty of inspiration to get you started. 

And, here's my card. As you can see, I flipped the sketch.

I stamped little PI You're So Tweet on a Perfect Paper Panel with Memento Rich Cocoa ink, colored her with Copic markers, and paper pieced her little jumper. For the sentiment element, I used the Rounded Banner Die-namics dies. I used the Simply Scallops Die-namics die for the green border and my new fave flower, Upsy Daisy Die-namics dies for the flower.

Here's the inside--another copy of PI and another sentiment from the set.

 And here are the dies I used:

And here's a little something you might want to know about:

Spring Cleaning Sale

We've been spring cleaning here at MFT!  We found a huge number of products that were limited edition, retired, or are retiring, and we have filled a big box full of our finds.

  

From Wednesday, March 23 though Friday, March 25, we are having a Spring Cleaning Sale.  When you place ANY order that requires shipping, you will receive a freebie with your order.  It could be a full spool of ribbon, a patterned paper pack, or any other item out of our Spring Cleaning Sale box.  It'll be a suprise... a little extra reason to look forward to receiving your order.  You have three days to take advantage of this fun sale, so get your wish list together and go shop HERE in the MFT Boutique.

  

*The Spring Cleaning Sale freebie is ONLY good for orders that require shipping.  If your order is ONLY for digital products, you will NOT receive a freebie.  We're sorry, but the shipping department cannot take requests for the freebie.

Remember, you do not have to have the exact colors to play. 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 CTD134 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! The Color Throwdown has a sponsor this week so get all the deets at the Throwdown blog.

LeAnne Pugliese - Wee Inklings

Broni Holcombe - Splashes of Watercolor

Danielle Kennedy - Wild Dragonfly Designs

Tammy Hershberger - Stamp Happy

Kristin Beuter - Mindless Creativity

Laura Pryor - Lil' Inker Designs

Cathy Indelicato - Crafty Thoughts...

Keva Brown, March guest Designer - How Now, Brown Kow

Here are the Copic markers I used:

Thanks SO much for stopping by!

~Supplies~

Stamps: PI You're So Tweet (MFT)

Paper: Whip Cream, Perfect Paper Panel (MFT); Old Olive, Marina Mist (SU!); Cafe Mediterranean Mat Stack (DCWV)

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa

Accessories/tools: Cuttlebug (Provocraft); Upsy Daisy, Simply Scallops, and Rounded Banner Die-namics dies (MFT); baker's twine, buttons (PTI); sewing machine; Copic markers

Thank You - Taylored Expressions March Key Ingredients Kit

Mornin', everyone! Today I have a card made with this month's Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients kit.

Such a simple design but I think it turned out so sweet! Everything I used on this card, except the stamp set, the ink, and the button twine, is included in the kit. The papers are MME Stella and Rose, Gertie collection, and they are some of the prettiest papers I've seen in a while. LOVE.

So, a couple of paper patterns, accented with ribbon, set the base for this gorgeous tea pot from Taylored Expressions' creativiTEA set. The shape border is also from the set. I stamped it with Memento Rich Cocoa ink and cut it out, then stamped the sentiment on it. I popped it up on some foam dots, then added the twine-tied buttons. Finally, I stamped the teapot with Memento Rhubarb Stalk ink, cut it out, and popped it up, as well.

If you haven't seen the projects that the Key Ingredients Team has posted at the Key Ingredients blog, you need to. Just sayin' ;-) You can find the Key Ingredients Blog HERE, and if you want to see the Key Ingredients Gallery, click HERE.

Thanks SO much for stopping by today!

~Supplies~

Stamps: CreativiTEA (Taylored Expressions)

Paper: Taylored Expressions March Key Ingredients Kit

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa and Rhubarb Stalk

Accessories/tools: ribbon, buttons (Taylored Expressions March Key Ingredients Kit); foam dots (craft store)

First Ever My Time Made Easy Color Challenge!

My Color Throwdown sister, Kristin, asked if I'd be interested in making a sample for the first MTME color challenge and I said YES!! Love me some color challenges :)

Here are the deets:  make a card using these colors and upload it at the MTME blog HERE. If you also upload to a public gallery, please use the keyword MTMEPPC01. AND, if you play along with all four challenges in a month, you will be eligible to win a Perfect Prize Package of your choice! 

The colors for this week are Red (Real Red), Light Pink (Pink Pirouette), Ivory (Vanilla), and Light Green (Celery). What a pretty color combo--I just couldn't refuse!

And here's what I came up with. With those colors I just had to do something with flowers, KWIM? So, I brought out my MFT How Does Your Garden Grow set.

I stamped the flower stalks with Certainly Celery ink and added the die-cut flowers using my Flower and Leaf Trio Die-namics (temporarily out of stock) dies. I added some sweet grass with Certainly Celery patterned paper and my Fresh Cut Grass Die-namics die. I added some sweet little yellow buttons for the flower centers, and tied a pink button on with some red baker's twine. Finally, I stamped the sentiment from MFT's Thanks a Bunch set (also out of stock).

 

So, head on over to the MTME blog and play along with the challenge--this is your chance to get in on the very first one!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

~Supplies~

Stamps: How Does Your Garden Grow, Thanks a Bunch (MFT)

Paper: Whip Cream (MFT); Certainly Celery, Real Red, Pink Pirouette, Certainly Celery DSP (SU!)

Ink: Certainly Celery (SU!); Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories: Cuttlebug (Provocraft); Flower and Leaf Trio and Fresh Cut Grass Die-namics dies (MFT); buttons (PTI); baker's twine; linen twine (TCP)

Belated Birthday Wishes - C4C #79

Happy Saturday! Hope you're ready for another fun challenge! Silke Ledlow is our host again today at Crazy 4 Challenges and she's chosen a great color combo for us today.

Pretty, huh? This is the first chance I've had to play with some new PTI stuff--I've had it almost a month, so it's about time, right?

First of all, I stamped Background Basics: Newsprint on a Kraft base with Dark Chocolate ink. Then I added the sentiment from Mat Stack 3 at the very bottom. Next, I stamped a piece of Hibiscus Burst card stock with Background Basics: Tin Types and more Dark Chocolate ink. After I cut the border with a Medium Scallop die, I tied a Hawaiian shores twill bow around.

For the button card (OMGosh, but I LOVE this concept!!)), first I die cut the card from Rustic White card stock, then stamped the two elements with more Dark Chocolate, then sewed the buttons on. Finally, I popped it up on some foam and it was done! I'm loving it!

Okey dokey, that's it for me! Sooooo, NOW, be sure to check out the samples by the rest of my crazy girls...er, I mean the Crazy 4 Challenges team ;-)

• Angela Wood
• Cindy Haffner
• Frances Byrne
• Jessie Rone
• Joanne Grzelak
• Joycelyn Turner
• Lynda Benden
• Maria Bell
• Silke Kittmann
• Silke Ledlow
• Tammy Hershberger
• Vicki Garrett
  

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 C4C79.

Thanks so much for dropping in today!

~Supplies~

Stamps: Button Boutique, Background Basics: Newsprint, Background Basics: Tin Types; Mat Stack 3 (PTI)

Paper: Kraft, Rustic White, Hibiscus Burst (PTI)

Ink: Dark Chocolate (PTI)

Accessories: Grand Calibur (Spellbinders); Button Boutique, Medium Scallop dies, buttons (PTI); foam dots, thread (craft store)

Flourishes' Birthday Pennants Blog Hop!

When Flourishes first laid eyes on two of the brand new die sets fresh off the production line at Spellbinders, we just knew that we needed a stamp set to coordinate with these funky and fresh dies! Are you ready to take a peek?

This fun set just screams celebration and offers 6 different pennants and flags all designed to coordinate perfectly with Spellbinders Nested Pennants (S5-028)&  Spellbinders Lacey Nested Pennants (S5-029). There are also 9 sentiments and 8 accents in the set that you can use to deck out your pennant shapes in fun and different ways! Want a little more to coordinate with your cards? How about our new Strips and Stripes background set? This set offers three strips to use together as one background or separate as three different strips that coordinate with our Birthday Pennants set! Since the set was just released last night, we can show you it in its entirety now!

Birthday Pennants

Strips and Stripes

For my first project, I used both sets to make a card. Very simple design, but those pennant images pack a punch when done up in some bold colors. I liked playing them off of the black strip and added the little colored rhinestones as accents.

And, just to show how versatile these images are, I made a little Spring banner. I'd been wanting to do this ever since I saw the new Lacey Nested Pennant dies, so I've been giving it a little thought and here's what I came up with. I had to hang it on this cabinet for this picture because the whole thing won't fit in my light box stretched out. 

First, I cut out the base of my pennant with the largest Lacey Nested Pennant die, using my Grand Calibur. Then I cut the top layer out of Prima's Sparkling Spring paper, in the same manner, with the largest Nested Pennant die.Then I just started embellishing.

 

Here's a close up of one end. I used Strips and Strips to stamp the headers and the paper that I used for the rosettes. I also stamped some of THESE flowers with it for each end.

 And the other end.

It's going to be hanging in this doorway--I couldn't get a good picture of it here without using my flash. It's so SWEET, I just love it!!

Because we just knew this set was a match made in heaven with the Spellbinder's Pennant Dies, we asked some of their ever-so-talented designers to join the Flourishes team for a little show and tell! Make sure to hop on over and see....

Barbara Anders - you are here

Christine Okken

Cindy Lawrence

Danielle Kennedy

Dawn Burnworth

Julie Koerber

Leslie Miller

Stacy Morgan

Jan Marie Caruso

Heidi Blankenship

Beth Pingry

Margie Higuchi

Holly Simoni

Mona Pendleton

AJ Otto

Latisha Yoast

Deborah Young

Kazan Clark

Terre Fry

Thanks SO much for stopping by! Have fun at the hop--I'm heading there now!

~Supplies~

Stamps: Strips and Stripes, Birthday Pennants (Flourishes)
Paper: Classic White (Flourishes); Rose Red, Basic Black (SU!); Spring Moss (PTI); Sparkling Spring (Prima)
Ink: Rose Red (SU!); Pear Tart, Bahama Blue, Cottage Ivy, Lady Bug (Memento)
Accessories/tools: Grand Calibur; Lacey Nested and Nested Pennant dies (Spellbinders); ribbon, buttons, twine, rhinestones, multicolored jute twine; flowers (Prima); glittered chipboard letters (Making Memories)

Flourishes Sets Are In the Store!!!

Wow... did this week go fast and did we have fun! As we wrapped up YET ANOTHER fun and fabulous Release Party, it's time to report that all of our sets being released for March are now in the store and are ready for YOU! Want to see them in their full glory? Introducing....

Lenten Rose

 Spring Is Sprung

 Birthday Pennants

 Strips & Stripes

You'll have to stay tuned for samples of our Birthday Pennants and Strips & Stripes sets -- look for our Design Team to show off their creations tomorrow along with some very special guests! Since our Birthday Pennants set is designed to coordinate with Spellbinders Nested Pennants and Nested Lacey Pennants, we've asked some of Spellbinders' finest designers to join us for a good old fashioned blog hop. So, stay tuned! See you back here tomorrow!

Can't wait to get your hands on these stamps? Just click HERE to go shopping! :-)

DID YOU CHECK OUT FLOURISHES FIRST EVER SPEED CHALLENGE? Click HERE to find out how you could QUICKLY win this entire release!