Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

I want to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday season. 

I truly appreciate that you take a few minutes out of your day to stop by my blog and all the wonderful comments you leave keep me inspired and creative. It really makes my day knowing my creations make other people happy. Thank YOU!!!

I whipped up a quick Christmas card with Inspired By Christmas from MFT, using Mojo220 for the layout. I stamped Santa with versamark ink onto kraft card stock and heat embossed him with vanilla embossing powder. The patterned papers are from the My Mind's Eye Signature Christmas 6x6 paper pad. I cut out the lacey strip with my faux crochet border die-namic and added a strand of pearls for the vertical element.

This card just happens to be card #1 to kick off Project Christmas 2012...and the Christmas card making cycle begins again.  :-)

Enjoy the holiday!!!
Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Pocket Birthday {MFTWSC51}

It's time to get sketchy with the MFT Wednesday Stamp Club and sketch 51.

This week's sketch has a tilted panel...hmmm. I think I'm actually getting used to tilted panels. Still not saying I love them, but they're growing on me. I admire people who can place things tilted on their own, without a sketch. Unless a sketch calls for a tilted panel, I seem to be stuck placing everything nice and straight. But I think these weekly sketches have really helped me grow in that respect.  :-)

For my card today I reached for Pretty Pocket stamps and die-namics. I haven't used this set in ages and it was calling out for a little stampy action.

These fun patterned papers are from the Basic Grey Picadilly 6x6 pad. I'm loving this paper pack with all the bright colours. I started by cutting out the pocket with the Pretty Pocket die-namic then I stamped the stitching lines with black ink around the pocket. I embossed the pocket with my swiss dots embossing folder for a little texture.

To decorate the pocket I pulled out my prima donna petals die-namics. I cut the largest flower from puff cloud white felt and the other layers are cut from card stock. The leafy flourish die-namics was perfect for cutting out the green accent under the flower.

I adhered the pocket with foam tape so I'd have space to tuck a tag inside. I turned this into a birthday card by stamping one of the sentiments from Clearly Sentimental about Birthdays onto blue card stock that I cut out using the largest of the well worn greetings die-namics.

Here are 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 MFTWSC51. 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!

Here are the die-namics I used:

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

MFT VIP Collection - Pure Innocence In the Air

It's time for this month's VIP collection from My Favorite Things and it's another cute one with two Pure Innocence sets!!! Be sure to hop over to Kim's blog for a complete list of all the designers participating in this New Product Tour.

Here's what you'll get with the Pure Innocence In the Air VIP Collection for just $25.95:

• Pure Innocence Jump for Joy stamp set
• Pure Innocence Plane Amazing stamp set
• In the Air Sentiments mini set (a VIP exclusive stamp set - will never again be offered for sale, a $9 value absolutely FREE)
• Rolled Scallop Flower Die-namics die

The Pure Innocence In the Air VIP Collection is limited quantity product, so don't hesitate to place your order. This is your chance to purchase these brand new products two full weeks before they're released in the MFT Boutique.

I'll start with Pure Innocence Plane Amazing. A little pilot...just like me!!! Except I've never worn a jumpsuit, but it would be fun! Don't you just love the little wings on her suit?!?

She's stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black and coloured with copics. I added clear glaze pen to the lenses for a more realistic look. The patterned papers are from the My Mind's Eye Lime Twist Fly a Kite 6x6 pad.

The layout is Jen's December Sketch For You To Try and I used the airplane shape from the You Move Me die-namics to cut out the orange and green planes. I stamped the sentiment onto a white tab that I cut out using the ticket tab die-namic.

On the inside I used the new skyline border die-namics with another airplane and the flat bottom cloud die-namics. I stamped another sentiment from the set directly onto the skyline border.

Now it's time to skip along to Pure Innocence Jump for Joy. When I was little I used to skip up and down the street in front of our house, and played plenty of jump rope at school recess. This little sweetie just makes me smile!!!

You might notice that my image looks a little different than the image in the stamp set. Well that's because I inked the image but omitted the jump rope so I could add a honeydew twine rope down by her feet. Her legs are perfectly placed for the rope either going over her head (like the stamp) or going down under her feet (like I've done).

I paper pieced her dress with one of the patterns from one of the old My Mind's Eye Quite Contrary collections (which I still love!) and the rest is coloured with copics. I used the oval open scallop doily die-namic to cut out the pink layer.

The new rolled scallop flower die-namic was perfect for creating the three floral accents and I stamped the sentiment onto one of the new mini tabs foursome die-namics. Oh, and the crown border die-namics is tucked under there too.

On the inside I used one of the sentiments from the VIP exclusive In the Air Sentiments mini set stamped onto pink that I cut out with the sweet stack labels die-namics.

Here are the die-namics I used:

Happy hopping and shopping!!!
Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Sweet Sunday Christmas

It's time for this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge, SSSC148. This is going to be the last sketch of the year since we're taking a little break for the holidays.

I made this card back on Nov 30th...the day I received this fun Echo Park Winter Park 6x6 paper pack. I knew right away that the snowmen would be a perfect backdrop for a Christmas sentiment from Clearly Sentimental About Christmas by MFT.

I used my let it snowflake die-namics to cut out the snowflake embellishment from Cherry on Top and Puff Cloud White felt.

I hope you'll play along with this week's sketch and link your creation on Karen's blog. Now it's time to hop around and see what the rest of the Sweet Sunday Stampers created.

• Dana White
• Jen Tapler
• Karen Giron
• Lynn Put
• Sarah-Jane Kale'
• Vicki Burdick

Here are the die-namics I used:

See you back here on January 1st for the next sketch!!
Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Quick Gift Tag

I needed to wrap a gift last weekend, at the last minute, of course, and I couldn't send the gift off without a cute tag on the bag, so I whipped this one up in about 15 minutes using supplies from MFT. The gift bag itself was large and shiny silver, so I didn't photograph the entire bag, just the tag itself.

I used the tag you're it die-namic to cut out the base of the tag from My Mind's Eye 12 Days of Christmas patterned paper. Then I layered some pink card stock and another patterned paper which I cut out using the scallop ribbon die-namic. A strip of green ribbon and the base was complete.

To adorn the base I reached for my Christmas Ornaments stamps and die-namics set. I created a 3D ornament by cutting out five of the same die, folding them in half and adhering the sides together. So simple, yet quite effective! I "hung" the ornament with a rhinestone strip then added the "Holiday Cheer" sentiment beside it. I attached the tag to the gift bag using a clothes pin that I covered with patterned paper.

Here are the die-namics I used:

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Christmas in the Heart {MFTWSC50}

It's time to get sketchy with the MFT Wednesday Stamp Club and sketch 50.

Wowzers!!! Fifty sketches...that means there are only two weeks left in the year. Can someone please tell me where this year has gone?!?

I'm doing a good job squeezing in some last minute Christmas cards for my stash. And this is another one that's nice and flat...easy for mailing.

I used Clearly Sentimental About Christmas and the layered labels die-namics for the focal point. The dizzy border die-namic was perfect for adding a lacy touch along the edges of the center strip. The patterned papers are from the My Mind's Eye Signature Christmas 6x6 pad. A little stitching, some paper piercing, and this card was done. Quick, easy, and pretty!!!

Here are 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 MFTWSC50. 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!

Here are the die-namics I used:

This makes card #46 for Project Christmas 2011.
Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

MFT Creative Challenge - Mitten Ornament Gift Card Holders and a Tutorial

It's time for the monthly designers creative challenge with My Favorite Things. This month's challenge was to "Wrap It Up" so I created some fun mitten shaped ornaments that are perfectly sized to hold a gift card. I created a pattern for the mitten and uploaded it at the end of my post, and there's a photo tutorial too.

In 2011, MFT is working harder than ever to inspire you, and we have come up with something we think you'll really enjoy. Our Design Team Creative Challenge is a new monthly feature, where we challenge our design team to explore their creative side using a specific theme, product or technique. This month, "It's a Wrap" Be sure to check the MFT Blog for a list of all the designers who have creative gift solutions for you today!

Let's start with a group shot of the three mitten ornaments. I didn't use any stamps on this project but I used plenty of die-namics to adorn the mittens.

I made this first one out of corrugated cardboard. I just love the texture and feel of it.

I decorated the cuffs of each mitten the same way. First I cut a piece of felt using the small scallop border die-namic (I used puff cloud white felt on this mitten), then I layered on a strip of ribbon and rhinestones.

To create the bird accent I cut out the bird from cherry on top felt using the homespun birdhouse die-namics. The leaves were cut out of sour apple felt using the leaves from the upsy daisy die-namics.

And here's the inside, showing the gift card.

Next I made this blue mitten using blue skies felt on the front and blue card stock on the back for a little stability. The pink border on the cuff is cut from strawberry ice cream felt and the patterned paper is My Mind's Eye 12 Days of Christmas.

I created the snowflake embellishment using the let it snowflake die-namics, strawberry ice cream felt and white card stock. I topped it with a corduroy button and some blossom twine.

Here's the inside and a tip: felt is a little more slippery than card stock and the gift card tends to sink down into the bottom of the mitten on this one, so you may want to put a dab of adhesive on your gift card to keep it in place.

Next I made this red mitten from card stock. I ran the front piece through my swiss dots embossing folder to add a little texture before stitching the front and back together. The patterned paper on the cuff is Echo Park Season's Greetings and the hanging loop was created with maraschino red twine.

To create the embellishment I used the fancy flourish die-namic to cut out the green flourish and the flower was done using the upsy daisy die-namics.

Here's the inside.

And now for a photo tutorial:
First you'll want to print the pattern and cut out the two pieces. This is a really primitive, hand-drawn pattern. Nothing fancy here, but if you follow the tutorial it'll all make sense. (I hope this downloads and prints properly.)

Trace around the pattern and cut out the front of your mitten. Note that you'll cut the front piece slightly shorter than the back to reveal the gift card.

Trace around the pattern and cut out the back of your mitten.

Here are the two pieces all cut out, showing the front piece is shorter than the back piece.

And here they are all stitched together. You can also use adhesive around the edges to assemble the mitten.

Next fold your card stock for the cuff and line up the edge of the pattern on the fold of the card stock. Trace around and cut out.

This is what you should end up with.

Then just embellish as desired and attach the cuff to the back of the mitten. I didn't add a closure to the front of mine. If you want to hang it as an ornament, simply punch a hole in along the fold of the cuff and add a twine loop.

Here are the die-namics I used:

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen