Season's Greetings

When I saw this week's Clean and Simple sketch challenge, FTL208, I immediately thought "quick and easy Christmas".

So that's exactly what I did with supplies from My Favorite Things.  I created a quick and easy Christmas card that is nice and flat for easy mailing and it's definitely a card that can be reproduced with many different patterned paper backgrounds (or sentiments). This is card #28 for Project Christmas 2012.

I stamped the sentiment from Clearly Sentimental about Christmas onto Sweet Tooth card stock then layered it onto Gumdrop Green. I used the Double Scallop Border Die-namics to cut out the Red Hot strip which jazzes up this simple card. The patterned paper is Echo Park Very Merry Christmas.

On the inside I stamped another sentiment from Clearly Sentimental about Christmas and added a strip of patterned paper. Easy, Breezy, Beautiful, Christmas card! :-)

Here are the Die-namics I used:

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Smile and a Tutorial

I have a clean and simple card to share today. I used the new High-rise Alphabet Lowercase Die-namics from My Favorite Things to create a graphic, colourful, one-layer card.

As you can see, I cut out the word "smile" from the white Sweet Tooth card stock and used the negative cut as my card front. When I was trying to decide what colour to use for the letters on the inside, I thought about rainbows. They always make me smile so I went with a rainbow theme. Then I added the diamond detail along the left side using the Distressed Diamonds and the following colours of Versamagic ink: Mango Madness, Thatched Straw, Tea Leaves, Turquoise Gem and Purple Hydrangea.

Here's how I created the cut out word:

First I used a small metal file to file off the tiny tabs that attach the letters together. This step isn't necessary, but it ensures clean lines around your letters.

Next I drew a light pencil line along the bottom of the card and lined up my letter, cutting edge down.

Then I used some low tack tape to hold the letters in place on my card stock and ran the piece through my Vagabond.

Here's the cut card stock with the white letters still in place. I didn't end up using the white letters so I saved them for another project.

Then I used the same letters to cut out the following card stock colours: Grape Jelly, Blue Raspberry, Sour Apple, Lemon Drop and Orange Fizz.

To ensure the letters line up properly with the cut outs, simply fold the card base and use the negative space as a guide for adhering the coloured letters. Then presto...you've also decorated the inside of your card! :-)

Here are the Die-namics I used:

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Sassy Pants {MFTWSC89}

It's time to get sketchy with the MFT Wednesday Stamp Club and sketch 89.

I inked up Pure Innocence Cute-a-Tude for this week's challenge. She really makes me smile with her little attitude!!!

The patterned papers are from the My Mind's Eye Happy Day collection and I paired them with Pink Lemonade, Cotton Candy and Sweet Tooth card stock. I used the Flower Border Die-namics to jazz up the horizontal strips and the Fishtail Flags STAX Die-namics was perfect for the flag accent.

I stamped the image with Memento Tuxedo Black and coloured her with copic markers. I paper pieced her dress with two patterned papers and used the Mini Tabs Foursome Die-namics for the sentiment tab.

On the inside I stamped another sassy sentiment from the set and added a row of pink flowers for a girlie touch.

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 MFTWSC89. 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 the MFT Blog to view the entire list of design team participants...there's plenty of inspiration for you with today’s sketch!

Here are the Die-namics I used:

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

MFT New Product Tour - Surprise!

It's finally release time! Hooray!!! All the new products are available in the Brand Spankin' New section of the MFT Boutique.

The design team has a little more inspiration for you with a recap of all the new stamp sets so head over to the MFT Blog for a list of all the designers. Also, there's blog candy (a $50 gift voucher to the MFT Boutique) hidden on one designer's blog so don't forget to comment as you hop around.

I used the new à la modes Big Birthday Wishes for my card. She's just so fabulous and she looks so happy!

I stamped her with Memento Tuxedo Black and coloured her with copic markers. I paper pieced her top and the balloons with patterns from the Authentique Lively collection.

The layout is a loose interpretation of the September Sketch For You To Try. I used the Jumbo Fishtail Banner STAX Die-namics for the lower rectangle element and I just trimmed the end to the length I wanted. I used the Say What? Die-namics to cut out the Cotton Candy talk bubble and stamped two of the sentiments from the set. For the vertical element I used the Harlequin Die-namics to cut out patterned paper and Hot Fudge card stock, then I offset them in a pseudo argyle pattern.

I created the Bubble Gum felt flower by combining a couple of layers from the Flower Medley Die-namics and topping it with a Sweet Tooth button tied with Hemp Cord.

On the inside I added another sentiment from à la modes Big Birthday Wishes and echoed the harlequin from the front of the card.

Now it's time to head off and fill your cart!

Here are the Die-namics I used:

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

MFTeaser - Hello

Welcome to day seven of seven fabulous days of MFT teasers!

Today we're focussing on the new Die-namics for this release. I created a clean and simple card that uses the High-rise Alphabet Lowercase Die-namics.

I used the die cut letters to spell out the word "hello" directly onto my white card front. I used the negative space from the cut out letters and backed it with Kraft card stock for contrast. It was super easy to do. I simply placed the letters face down on my cut cardstock, centered them and lined them up, then taped them in place and ran the card stock through my Vagabond. The only tricky part was the two "l"s, because there's only one in the High-Rise Alphabet Lowercase Die-namics set. So, I placed the first "l" then I used the "i" as a spacer guide since it's the same width as the "l". I removed the "i" before running it through my Vagabond then just ran it through a second time with the "l" in place for the next letter. I stamped the bottom of the card with the Distressed Diamonds set using Memento Rich Cocoa ink. I wrapped some Hemp Cord around the layers and added a Kraft button.

Here's the view of the negative space.

On the inside I chose one of the sentiments from Clearly Sentimental about Coffee and stamped it with Memento Rich Cocoa. I used the smaller diamonds from Distressed Diamonds to stamp the pattern under the sentiment with Memento Desert Sand ink.

Now that we've teased and tempted you all week long, it's almost time for you to shop for your favorite Brand Spankin' New products from MFT. But first... it's time for our Die-namics Feature and Pre-Release Pep Rally! Our Design Team has been busy creating jaw-dropping and inspiring projects for you, and we've saved the best for last. We've taken an in-depth look at this month's Die-namics, while re-visiting the amazing sets being released tonight at 10 PM EST RIGHT HERE in the MFT Boutique. And while we are at it, how about we make your life even easier with a "cheat sheet" of all that's new?  Head over to the MFT Blog to print out a shopping list. Here are the details about the upcoming release:

• You can attend the New Release Party on September 10 from 8-10 PM EST HERE in the MFT forum, where you can WIN PRIZES!
• The MFT release, including all new stamp sets and Die-namics, is on September 10 at 10 PM EST.  You'll find all the newest products HERE at release time.
• If you'd like to see all the designers' posts 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 September 10 just before the release party, on the MFT blog.

Here are the Die-namics I used:

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen