The Difficult Takes Time {MFTWSC25}

It's time to get sketchy with the MFT Wednesday Stamp Club sketch #25.

I ♥ this sketch with all the circle elements!!! I just LOVE working with circle panels and I know I'll be going back to this sketch time and time again.

I kept this card quite simple and used a lovely sentiment from Clearly Sentimental About Success. I used the decorative doily die-namic for the base circle and for the decorative element I layered the medium sized flower from the flower trio die-namics onto the leafy flourish. A few pearl accents, a little frayed burlap distress ink on some of the edges and I called this one done! I didn't even sew on it because I really like the simplicity of these layers just the way they are. The patterned papers are from Crate Paper's Portrait collection.

Here are all the sketchy details:

There's a prize each week for one participant, chosen at random. You may use any stamps and supplies that you wish. Each week a keyword is assigned to the sketch, and this week's keyword is MFTWSC25. All you need to do to enter is upload your card to the gallery at Splitcoast and enter the given keyword in the keyword box during the upload process. After the deadline (noon Eastern on Tuesday) 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!

Be sure to head over to Kim's Blog to view the entire list of design team participants...there's plenty of inspiration for you with today’s sketch

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

MFT Who's That Girl? blog hop and shop!

It's time to hop and shop for the newest à la modes and the Who's That Mermaid VIP collection. Be sure to start at Kim's blog so you don't miss any of the eye candy!!

You can get your hands on the WT Mermaid set a full two weeks before it's officially released!!! This is a LIMITED QUANTITY collection and is only available while supplies last. Here's what's included in the Who's That Mermaid VIP collection:

Who's that Mermaid VIP Collection $31.90
Who's that Mermaid stamp set
Mermaid Sentiments mini (VIP exclusive stamp set - will never be offered for sale or be available again $9 value, FREE)
Large Rolled Rose Die-namics Die

Is that not an amazing package of products!!! So would you like to see what I created? I {heart} how this turned out, if I do say so myself.

I chose patterned papers from the Basic Grey Hello Luscious collection and paper pieced the mermaid. The rest of the image is coloured with copics. I had to add a little glitter to her bodice...just had to!!! A few rhinestones and some pearl swirls add even more bling.

Isn't that large rolled rose just gorgeous!!! After I cut out the paper I crumpled it up really well to break down the fibers and curled back the petals a little before rolling it up. The catch a wave die-namic was a natural pairing with this image. The layout is the Deconstructed Sketch #2.

And I did a little more stamping on the inside with some of the small accessory images from the set.

Now you're off to see what the talented Eva created. I just know she'll have something super special!!!

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

MFTeasers - à la modes Day 2!

We have another fun new à la mode from MFT again today, You Are Unrepeatable. She's so hip and cool with her iPod!!!

Be sure to hop over to Kim's Blog for a complete list of all the designers sharing samples today. And don't forget about the VIP hop tonight at 10pm Eastern.

I stamped my à la mode with Memento Tuxedo Black and coloured her with copics. Her shirt is paper pieced with one of the patterns from October Afternoon 5 & Dime. I made this card for my friend's birthday this week...she's blonde, so I coloured the à la mode's hair blonde, but I think I need more practice.

Not sure what line the music paper is from but it works perfectly with this theme. I added a double scallop border along the bottom and tied in the colours with the fun ribbon. A flower cut out with the pretty posies die-namics filled in the open space perfectly. The layout is SC337.

I repeated the layout on the inside but used the simply scallops medium die-namic instead.

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Floral Place Card Holders

This is my third week as the featured artist on the Our Craft Lounge blog, and this week I created an adorable set of six summery place card holders.

It all started with some large binder clips and the Pretty Petals stamp set from Our Craft Lounge. The flowers in this set are so gorgeous!!!

I was in a cutting mood so I decided to paper piece the flowers and leaves in their entirety, and gave my copic markers the day off. I pulled out my Basic Grey Green at Heart paper pad and set to work. The oranges, pinks and purples are such a fun combination, and so cheery too!

I added some Rockin' Pink Sparkly Fluff to the center of each flower for a pop of bright colour and a hint of sparkle and texture.

Here's a picture of the back of the flower so you can see how I attached it to the metal clip. I applied a blob of glue (that's the technical term) to the back of the flower, placed the metal end in the glue and topped it with a circle of patterned paper to keep it all in place.

I used these for place card holders, but you could also use them to hold a photo, or as a fun and decorative way to close up a gift bag, and they might even work as a book mark too.

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

MFTeasers - à la modes Day 1!

There are two more fabulous à la modes this month and today the MFT gals are sharing samples using I've Met My Match. How adorable is she leaning on that big tennis racket!!!

Today is my anniversary so I used this set to make a fun card for hubby...the sentiments are just perfect! She's stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black and coloured with copics, but I paper pieced her little dress. I'm loving the colours and patterns in the My Mind's Eye Lime Twist Life of the Party collection...it's so fresh!!

I used Jen's June Sketch For You To Try for the layout. The blue raspberry strip down the center is a perfect match for the colour of her tennis racket and I added a scalloped edge to each side using my open scallop die-namic. I couldn't resist blinging out the circle and the ribbon tab from the first place award ribbon die-namics was the perfect element for the sentiment.

I kept the inside nice and simple with a few layers and some gorgeous hot fudge as the base layer. Then I stamped the image with Colorbox blue lagoon and the sentiment with black. 

Be sure to hop over to Kim's blog for a complete list of all the talented MFT gals who are sharing samples today. I know there will be lots of wonderful eye candy!!!

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Sweet Sunday Snow Buddies

It's time for this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge, SSSC122.

I've completely fallen off the Christmas card making wagon the past couple of months so I'm trying to get back on...one foot at a time. Otherwise, I'm really going to be kicking myself come November!

So this is Project Christmas 2011 card #14. I used the fun Fred Bear-Snow Bear set from My Favorite Things. The image is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black and coloured with copics. I added some white liquid applique to the falling snow and dusted it with glitter before heating it.

I used the ribbon dies from the First Place Award Ribbon die-namics for the layer under the circle. In case you're wondering "hey, that looks longer than the size of the die", you're correct! I needed to 'stretch' the die cut ribbons so I just cut them slightly off-center, pulled them apart, and hid the space under the image circle! I used my Let it Snowflake die-namics for the blue snowflake embellishments and topped them with a red button. The patterned paper is from Basic Grey Jovial collection and I used Hot Fudge as a layering colour.

I hope you'll play along with week and link your creation on Karen's blog. Now it's time to see what the rest of the Sweet Sunday Stampers came up with.
Dana White
Jen Tapler
Lynn Put
Sarah-Jane Kalé
Vicki Burdick
and Karen Giron

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Oh Crop!

I have a super cute little belated birthday card today, using the new Green Acres set from Taylored Expressions.

The fences and hay stacks were all stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black onto choice buttercream and either coloured with copics or paper pieced. That adorable little sheep is from the Farm Puffies pack. He's so soft and squishy and those googlie eyes crack me up! The layout is Mojo195.

I used the chicken wire impression plate on the kraft layer and cut the scalloped strip with my medium scallop border die. A little ribbon from my stash and three brown brads finish the details. The patterned papers are from the My Mind's Eye Stella Rose Gertie collection. I apologize for not photographing the copic markers. I only used two colours on the fence, E44 and E47.

The monthly TE Customer Blog Hop is quickly approaching and the deadline to sign up is Monday, June 20th. Read all the details here and I hope you'll play along!!

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Hi, Sweetness

Card Positioning Systems has great weekly sketches and MFT is sponsoring this week's sketch, CPS222. 

I used Pure Innocence-Lily of the Valley for my card today. I remember growing up we had a BIG patch of lily of the valley flowers in our front yard and I would always pick a giant bouquet for my mom. The delicate little bell flowers are so small in comparison to the huge leaves, and they have such a wonderful fragrance.

I stamped her with Memento Tuxedo Black and coloured her with copic markers. I did a "Jodi" frame around the image and added three purple Twinkles for a little bling. 

The patterned paper is all from My Mind's Eye Lime Twist Happy Go Lucky paper pad and I paired it with rich razzleberry from SU. I used my scallop ribbon border die-namic for the center strip but it wasn't quite as wide as I wanted so I cut it in half lengthwise then adhered it to the top and bottom edges of the striped paper. 

I hope you'll find some time to play along this week...you know whenever MFT is involved there's a fabulous prize!!! You'll find all the details over on the CPS blog. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen