CTD # 144 & MFTWSC #22

How can it be a week already since the last  Color Throwdown and MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenges? Goodness, time is flying! Alas, it's true, and I've got a couple of fabulous challenges for you today. First, Cathy has chosen these colors for the Color Throwdown this week:

Sweet early summer colors, don't you think?

And 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.

OK, I know what you're thinking: Uh oh, it's a square card. Yeah, I don't do square cards. But I did this one and I love it. But don't go thinking I'm reformed, LOL! I won't be repeating this trick any time soon. Seriously, I couldn't figure out any way to make it A2 and still look good ;-)

You'll notice I went with white and a pop of color. And I added some embossing to give it some textural interest. I do love it. In addition to the embossing, I added interest with a Medium Simply Scallops Die-namics border strip, the sentiment, from Happy Thoughts, is using the Well Worn Die-namics set, and the flowers were made with Upsy Daisy Die-namics.

And here's the inside, with a sentiment from Clearly Sentimental About Love, more embossing, and another Medium Simply Scallops Die-namics strip.

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 CTD144 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! And please help us welcome June's Guest Designer, Betty Wright!

Broni Holcombe - Splashes of Watercolor
Danielle Kennedy - Wild Dragonfly Designs
Tammy Hershberger - Stamp Happy
Kristin Eberline - Mindless Creativity
Laura Pryor - Lil' Inker Designs
Cathy Rulli - Crafty Thoughts...
Carole Burrage - Mother's Little Helper

Betty Wright - Stamping To the Wright - June Guest Designer

Thanks SO much for stopping by!

~Supplies~

Stamps: Happy Thoughts, Clearly Sentimental About Love (MFT)

Paper: Sweet Tooth (MFT); Melon Mambo, Certainly Celery, Pumpkin Pie (SU!)

Ink: Smokey Shadow (PTI)

Accessories: Vagabond (Tim Holtz); Textile and Swiss Dots embossing folders (Provocraft); Medium Simply Scallops, Well Worn, Upsy Daisy Die-namics dies (MFT); foam strips, flat back pearls (craft store)

Take the Leap - MFTWSC #17

It's MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge time!! 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.

As you can see, I flipped the sketch this week. I'm using a sentiment from Clearly Sentimental About Success (this particular set is temporarily out of stock), along with my Layered Labels Die-namics dies, for my focal image.

My paper is from Echo Park's For the Record 6 x 6 pad. The scalloped layer of the green element was done with my Simply Scallops Medium border Die-namics die and the sweet flower with my Pretty Posies dies. The leaves were made with my Upsy Daisy Die-namics. Some baker's twine provided the two strip elements and it was done.

Another sentiment from the set and another flower complete the inside.

 
Thanks so much for stopping by! We hope you'll give the sketch a try--you could win a $15 gift voucher to the MFT Boutique :)

~Supplies~

Stamps: Clearly Sentimental About Success (MFT)

Paper: Black Licorice, Whip Cream (MFT); For the Record 6 x 6 pad (Echo Park)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories/tools: Cuttlebug (Provocraft); Layered Labels, Simply Scalloped, Medium, Pretty Posy, Upsy Daisy Die-namics dies, baker's twine (MFT); button (PTI); sewing machine; foam tape

MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge #16

Happy Wednesday!!! Are you ready for another MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge? I must say this sketch scared me when I first saw it, but after I started working with it I fell in love!! 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.

Soooo, here's my card. I stamped the violets from Inspired By Flowers, Set 1 on some patterned paper from Picket Fences (which is in the VIP Kit for this month, BTW) and colored them with Copic markers.

Then I adhered it to a Dizzy Doily Die-namics die cut. I used the new Open Zig Zag Die-namics die for the bottom border and part of the Sweet Stack Die-namics set for the sentiment panel.

Here's the inside, using another sentiment from the set and the Open Zig Zag Border Die-namics die again.

And here are the Copic markers I used.

Thanks SO much for stopping by!!

~Supplies~

Stamps: Inspired By Flowers, Set 1 (MFT)

Paper: Sweet Tooth, Grape Jelly (MFT); Picket Fence 6 x 6 pad (Lily Bee Designs)

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa

Accessories/tools: Cuttlebug (Provocraft); Open Zig Zag Border, Sweet Stack, and Dizzy Doily Die-namics dies (MFT); ribbon (craft store)

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

Wishing You a Beautiful Day - CTD #130 and MFTWSC #8

Good morning!! Are you ready for a couple of Wednesday challenges? I'm back with the Color Throwdown and this week's MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge. My bestie, Tammy Hershberger, is the host this week for the Color Throwdown and here are the colors she has chosen:

And, here's the MFT Sketch - another fabulous sketch that I know I'll go back to again.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.

 

So, here's my card. I decided to channel my sweet friend Silke and embrace some white. Nobody does that like Silke and I'll tell you, these colors really threw me for a loop. I sat and looked at the swatches for a long while before I decided to go with mostly white and use the colors for accents. And I ended up with a card I really like.

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 CTD130 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...

Joan Ervin, February guest Designer - Stamping With a Passion

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

 

~Supplies~

Stamps: Framed Greetings (MFT)

Paper: Sweet Tooth (MFT); Chocolate Chip, Pear Pizazz card stock, Pretty In Pink, Tangerine Tango, and So Saffron DSP (SU!)

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa

Accessories/tools: Cuttlebug (Provocraft); Framed Greetings, Faux Crochet Border, and Mini Rolled Roses Die-namics (MFT); pop dots, ribbon (craft store); leaf punch (Martha Stewart)

 

CTD #125 & MFTWSC #3

Can I just say I can't believe it's Wednesday again already? Man, time is flying!! OK, it *is* Wednesday so that means it's Color Throwdown day AND My Favorite Things' Wednesday Sketch Challenge day! It's also my day to host the CTD challenge, so without further ado, here are the colors I've chosen for this week:

Some nice soft, soothing colors :) And here's my card.

I'm using Basic Grey's Kioshi patterned paper since it had all the colors. The focal image sentiment, from More Essential Sentiments,  was stamped on MFT Whip Cream card stock with Memento Rich Cocoa ink, layered on more patterned paper and MFT Fossil card stock, using the Layered Labels Die-namics die set (temporarily out of stock). I used the Perfect Petal Trio Die-namics set for the layered flower and tied it together with twine and a button. The dark border looked a little plain, so I did some crazy stitching all around.

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 CTD125 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...
Lori Tecler, January guest Designer - Inking Aloud

This card is also for the MFT Wedneday Stamp Club challenge. MFT is super excited to announce that Wednesday Stamp Club will now be centered around a weekly sketch. We know your stamping time is precious, and we want you to maintain as much creative freedom as possible. Sketches are the perfect starting point to a card. Use it as a blueprint, and create a card using the stamp set and supplies that strike your fancy. You can turn to the sketches time and again for creative inspiration.

Here's this week's sketch:

A new sketch will be posted each Wednesday at midnight on the MFT blog. You'll also find the sketch in the MFT forum on SCS on Wednesday morning, as well as in the weekly newsletter. Our talented Challenge and Design Teams will be on hand to provide plenty of inspiration to get you started.
 

We encourage you all to play along, and to enter your card in the weekly draw for a $15 gift voucher to the MFT Boutique. Simply follow the sketch and create a card or other paper creation. You may use any stamps and supplies that you wish. Each week, a keyword is assigned to the sketch. All you need to do to enter, is upload your card to the gallery at SCS, and enter the given keyword in the keyword box, during the upload process. After the deadline, we randomly choose a winner from that week's entries and the winner will receive a $15 gift voucher. If the winning card uses MFT stamps, the participant will earn a $5 bonus, for a total of a $20 gift voucher! That is up to $100 per month in prizes, JUST for playing along. We hope you'll join us.

Thanks SO much for stopping by!

~Supplies~

Stamps: More Essential Sentiments (MFT)

Paper: Fossil, Whip Cream (MFT); Pear Pizazz, Blushing Bride (SU!); Kioshi 6 x 6 pad (Basic Grey)

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

Accessories/tools: Cuttlebug (Provocraft); Layered Labels and Perfect Petal Trio Die-namics dies (MFT); button (stash); twine (PTI); sewing machine; lace, ribbon (craft store)

MFTWSC #2 and CTD #124 - Be Mine

Lots to talk about today! First, it's MFTWSC time and we have a really fun sketch for you! I really love working with this 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 Challenge and Design Teams will be on hand to provide plenty of inspiration to get you started. 

We encourage you all to play along, and to enter your card in the weekly draw for a $15 gift voucher to the MFT Boutique.  Simply follow the sketch and create a card or other paper creation.  You may use any stamps and supplies that you wish.  Each week, a keyword is assigned to the sketch.  All you need to do to enter, is upload your card to the gallery at SCS, and enter the given keyword in the keyword box, during the upload process.  After the deadline, we randomly choose a winner from that week's entries and the winner will receive a $15 gift voucher.  If the winning card uses MFT stamps, the participant will earn a $5 bonus, for a total of a $20 gift voucher!  That is up to $100 per month in prizes, JUST for playing along.  We hope you'll join us in 2011.

And, it's Color Throwdown day, too! Today's challenge also has a special twist. A few weeks ago, one of our team members read a thread on Splitcoaststampers about a fellow Stamping Sister who is very sick. Katie Renz lives in Washington state, is a wife and mother of three and was diagnosed just before Christmas with stage 4 gastric cancer. The members of the Throwdown team felt the need to do something special for Katie. So, be sure to check the Throwdown blog for the details. 

And, today's colors are......

...chosen by the so very talented Broni Holcombe!

OK, on to my card. This really is a fun sketch! I'm using this Webster's Pages Postcard From Paris patterned paper since it has all the colors in it, and several Die-namics dies: Dainty Doily, Dainty Doily Border, and Mini Rolled Roses. I stamped the image from WTG Bottom Of My Heart (who appears to be temporarily out of stock) on a Perfect Paper Panel (also out of stock) and colored her with Copic markers and did some paper piecing.

And here's the inside, with a sentiment from Clearly Sentimental About You. Other MFT products I used are Hot Fudge and Berrylicious card stock.

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 CTD124 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, and help us welcome February's Guest Designer, Lori Tecleer!

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...

Lori Tecler, January guest Designer - Inking Aloud

Told you I had a lot going on today! Thanks so much for stopping by!

~Supplies~

Stamps: WTG Bottom Of My Heart, Clearly Sentimental About You (MFT)

Paper: Hot Fudge, Berrylicious (MFT); Rose Red (SU!); Postcard From Paris 6 x 6 pack (Webster's Pages)

Ink: Memento Rick Cocoa, Antique Linen Distress Ink (Ranger)

Accessories/tools: Cuttlebug, Victorian embossing folder (Provocraft); Mini Rolled Rose, Dainty Doily, and Dainty Doily Border Die-namics dies; Classic Circle Nestabilities die (Spellbinders); leaf punch (Martha Stewart); pop dots (craft store); ribbon (PTI); sewing machine

Love You With All My Heart - CTD #123 and MFTWSC1

The Color Throwdown team is back and ready to challenge you to some awesome colors this week! Tammy Hershberger is our host and here are the colors she chose.

And here's my card. I'm using PI - Love You With All My Heart, stamped on a Perfect Paper Panel with Memento Rich Cocoa, colored with Copic markers and paper pieced.

Here's the inside.

 

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 CTD123 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, and help us welcome January's Guest Designer, Lori Tecler!

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...
Lori Tecler, January guest Designer - Inking Aloud

This card is also for the MFT Wedneday Stamp Club challenge. MFT is super excited to announce that Wednesday Stamp Club will now be centered around a weekly sketch. We know your stamping time is precious, and we want you to maintain as much creative freedom as possible. Sketches are the perfect starting point to a card. Use it as a blueprint, and create a card using the stamp set and supplies that strike your fancy. You can turn to the sketches time and again for creative inspiration.

Here's this week's sketch:

A new sketch will be posted each Wednesday at midnight on the MFT blog. You'll also find the sketch in the MFT forum on SCS on Wednesday morning, as well as in the weekly newsletter. Our talented Challenge and Design Teams will be on hand to provide plenty of inspiration to get you started.
 

We encourage you all to play along, and to enter your card in the weekly draw for a $15 gift voucher to the MFT Boutique. Simply follow the sketch and create a card or other paper creation. You may use any stamps and supplies that you wish. Each week, a keyword is assigned to the sketch. All you need to do to enter, is upload your card to the gallery at SCS, and enter the given keyword in the keyword box, during the upload process. After the deadline, we randomly choose a winner from that week's entries and the winner will receive a $15 gift voucher. If the winning card uses MFT stamps, the participant will earn a $5 bonus, for a total of a $20 gift voucher! That is up to $100 per month in prizes, JUST for playing along. We hope you'll join us in 2011.

Thanks SO much for stopping by!

~Supplies~

Stamps: PI - Love You With All My Heart (MFT)

Paper: Fossil, Sweet Tooth, Perfect Paper Panel (MFT); Always Artichoke (SU!); Hopscotch 6 x 6 pad (Basic Grey)

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa

Accessories/tools: Cuttlebug (Provocraft); Little Scalloped Border and Jumbo Scallop and Scalloped Scallop Die-namics dies, twill, button (MFT); Petite Oval Nestabilities dies (Spellbinders); twine (PTI)