MFT Creative Chat - Creative Process

Welcome! This month the My Favorite Things team is tackling the Creative Process - how we go about making our cards. I was all set to shoot a video for you today, but my camera seems to be posessed, so until I can work out how to get it to turn on and stay on (I did recharge the battery!) this will be more type than chat, sorry!

95% of the time, I follow the same formula when making a card. The other 5% I gather a whole bunch of supplies I think will go together, and just start from there, but generally, here is my process.

Start with a task, or sketch.
Most of the time when I create I either have a sketch I want to complete, or a stamp set I need to use. If I have a sketch, I'll choose a stamp set I think will fit well. If I have a stamp set I'm using, I will usually do a quick sketch of how I think my card will look.

Choose paper
My next task is to always choose the paper collection I'm going to use. I look at my image, is it vintage? playful? does it correspond to a season or occasion? and choose my paper accordingly. Once I know what collection I'm going to use, I'll go through and pull two or three sheets from the pack that will work for my card. I have a couple of rules when using patterned paper. Generally, I use only one multicolour pattern and one or two monochromatic patterns so the card doesn't look too busy. I also try to mix up the patterns, not using two different polka dot papers for instance.

Colour
I'll match my ink or copic colours to those in the patterned paper for a harmonious effect.

Use Die-namics to layout my card.
One of the things I love the most about Die-namics is that the die itself is the same shape and almost the same size as the finished die cut. This means they are perfect for pulling out and laying on your card so you can play with layout and see how the layers on your card will work. This can save a lot of time and wasted cardstock if you decide one shape works better over another.

Nothing gets stuck till the end!
Not until I have all my layers and embellishments settled do I start to glue things together and layered on pop dots. This way I can change my mind right till the end, and it also allows you to think about embellishment placement and hide things like brad butts and ribbon ends between layers.

Use leftovers to finish the inside.
I always use the scraps of paper leftover and some simple stamping to finish the inside of my cards. It makes the whole thing feel more polished and I like that I end up with less scraps laying around!

Be sure to check out Kim's Blog for all the designers participating today - I'm sure we'll all learn something wonderful!

 Thanks for stopping by!  
 

MFT and Scor-pal Blog Hop!

Welcome! Today the My Favorite Things team are joining the Scor-pal team for a combined blog hop showcasing My Favorite Things and the wonderful Scor-pal!

I LOVE how easy the Scor-pal makes creating boxes, so I've come up with a little Oval Window Treat Box, perfect to hold a Valentine's treat or two!

Here's the video on how I made my box - apologies for the length, half the video is on decorating though, so you can skip that part if you wish. I just seem to be so scatterbrained and slow now I'm pregnant! (that's my excuse anyway!)

View the full size video on YouTube here.

Be sure to stop by the MFT blog to see a full list of designers from both teams who are going to knock your socks off with their gorgeous creations!

 Thanks for stopping by!  

Stamps:Notched Tag (MFT Stamps) Paper: MME Scraps Ink: Rose Red, Soft Sky (SU) Dies: Oval Tab, Mini Rolled Roses, Layered Label Die-namics (MFT Stamps) Other: Ribbon, Pearls, White Gel Pen

WSC 55 - You're Vintage!

I'm popping by quickly to share my card for WSC 55. I loved the clean lines of this sketch and kept it really simple, using the awesome Just my Type die and stamp set!

I love love love all the detail in this image! I like to stamp it in Brilliance ink, it seems to work well for me in picking up all that detail.

I love that sentiment too!

Be sure to check out Kim's blog for all the designers playing along this week - you won't want to miss their gorgeous creations!

To play along with WSC, create a card with the provided sketch and upload it to SCS using the keyword MFTWSC55. A new sketch will be posted each Wednesday on the MFT blog and also in the forum. Each week one random winner will win a $15 voucher to spend at MFT, and if you use MFT stamps on your creation, you'll get a $5 bonus taking your voucher win up to $20! We'll be chatting each week on the sketch thread, so come join us in the MFT forum!  

Here are the Die-namics I've used today:

 Thanks for stopping by!
 

Classic Kids VIP!

Yippee - it's that time again, the new MFT VIP collection is available here NOW! Remember, this is first come, first served!

I've used the adorable Blowing Bubbles set to create my gate fold card.

On one side of the gate fold card I have stamped the bubbles and sentiment on decreasing circles to give the impression of bubbles flying through the air. Did you know our oval doily dies are sized to work perfectly with the Pure Innocence images? I love that!

Inside my card I've used a sentiment from the exclusive set in the VIP kit. I've also used the fab new Monarch Border Die-namics included in the collection.

Be sure to head on over to Kim's Blog to see what all the amazing designers have come up with for this month's VIP collection!

Here are the Die-namics I've used today:

 

 Thanks for stopping by!  

Stamps: Pure Innocence Blowing Bubbles (MFT Stamps) Paper: Country Drive (Echo Park) Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento) Antique Linen Distress (Ranger) Dies: Oval Dainty Doily, Banner Strip, Monarch Border Die-namics (MFT Stamps) Other: Ribbon, Copic Markers, Rhinestones

WSC 54 - Paper Dolls

Welcome! I'm back today with this week's MFT Wednesday Sketch Club sketch. This is a fun one, with lots of room to show off some pretty papers!

I've used the adorable new Pure Innocence Paper Dolls - looks like you all loved this one as it is currently out of stock!

The Paper Doll Border Die-namic was perfect for this sketch, isn't it cute?! I omitted the flag element and included a Pretty Posies flower instead.

Inside I've used the top portion of the negative space from the Paper Doll Border Die-namic, love the cute shape it leaves behind!

Be sure to check out Kim's blog for all the designers playing along this week - you won't want to miss their gorgeous creations!

To play along with WSC, create a card with the provided sketch and upload it to SCS using the keyword MFTWSC54. A new sketch will be posted each Wednesday on the MFT blog and also in the forum. Each week one random winner will win a $15 voucher to spend at MFT, and if you use MFT stamps on your creation, you'll get a $5 bonus taking your voucher win up to $20! We'll be chatting each week on the sketch thread, so come join us in the MFT forum!  

Here are the Die-namics I've used today:

Thanks for stopping by!  

 

Stamps: Pure Innocence Paper Dolls (MFT Stamps) Paper: Vanity Fair (MME) Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento) Dies: Pretty Posies, Paper Doll Border Die-namics (MFT Stamps) Other: Vanilla Ribbon, Twine, Button, Brads, Copic Markers, Seeing Spots Embossing Folder

Creative Challenge - Masculine!

Hi everyone! It's time for another Creative Challenge with the My Favorite Things design team. This month we're focusing on Masculine cards. I know I find these more difficult than over-the-top girly cards, so we're bringing you a ton of inspiration to get creating for the guys in your life!

For guy cards, I have a few little tips I usually follow. I like to keep masculine cards more simple layout wise. I try and add a lot of texture, in lieu of girly embellishments. Metal embellishments are always great. I also tend to pierce and faux stitch rather than using actual sewing on masculine cards and usually keep to one or two patterned papers.

For this card I've used cork and hemp twine for texture, as well as jumbo eyelets. I cut my focal layer with the Clearly Sentiment Label Die-namic, then used By the Letters to cut out "dude". I used a white gel pen to outline the letters.

My banner is from the awesome All Star stamp and die-namics set. A row of piercing adds a little something to the card - it looked much more plain without that simple row of holes!

I've kept the inside of my card simple. I stamped the stars and sentiment from All Star, and added the letters left over from creating my focal piece.

Be sure to stop by Kim's Blog for the full list of designers participating today. I hope you're inspired to create a masculine project soon!

Here are the Die-namics I've used today:

  Thanks for stopping by!  

Stamps: All Star (MFT Stamps) Paper: Toy Box (Crate Paper) Ink: Night of Navy (SU) Dies: Postage Stamp Border, Clearly Sentimental Label, By the Letters Die-namics (MFT Stamps) Other: Jumbo Eyelets, Hemp Twine, White Gel Pen, Cork

Year in Review

I thought I'd do something a little different today and go through 2011, sharing my favourite projects. This might take awhile to load, I have lots of photos to share!

Personally, 2011 was awesome! My word for the year was Change...and change I did! I set a dream goal of becoming a MFT designer, and was so overjoyed to join the team mid-way through the year. I had a layout published - fun! I went back to study for a couple of semesters, and highly enjoyed it. I met some personal goals that I had...and best of all, a few weeks after my birthday, Shanan and I learned we are expecting our first child! While the first few months were hard, I'm so excited to be almost halfway and we'll soon find out if our little peanut is a boy or a girl!

I think my word this year HAS to be Family. I can't tell you how much it means to us to be starting ours. The only thing I ever knew for sure was that I wanted to have children with Shanan and I needed to be a mother. We've waited a long time, and the time is right! 2012 is going to be amazing! 

Onto stamping...It's no surprise that My Favorite Things features heavily in my crafting round-up for the year, over time I've stopped using all my old supplies, MFT just have everything I need! Die-namics were my crafty revolution this year - my stash is almost complete and my dusty old punches are finding new homes. I can get multiple Die-namics for the price of one punch and save so much room on storage, yippee! I was also lucky enough to guest design for Verve in 2011, it was a creative year!

So here we go - some of my fave projects from the past year!

January - Pretty Pastels. I started the year still colouring with SU Markers - I was so slow to jump on the Copic train! I couldn't do without them now though. Featuring PI - Better Get Better.

February - Great Teacher. I was lucky enough to win this set at a MFT release party. Who's That Girl was the stamp line that originally drew me to MFT years ago, I still love those headless girls! Featuring Teacher's Pet.

March - With Gratitude. I think these Stella and Rose papers from MME might just be my favourite ever. I still love looking at them. It was a gorgeous range! Featuring Li'l Pumpkin.

April - Flopsey Fishing. This was the month I got to guest design at MFT - such a dream come true! I still have this card above my desk to remind me every day how excited I was to design alongside this fabulous group of ladies. Featuring Flopsey Fishing.

May - Shoot for the Moon. I just love red and aqua together and remember having a blast making this card. The circle panel is woven from strips of paper. Featuring Clearly Sentimental about Success.

June - Rock my World. June was a quiet month on the blog. Behind the scenes I was busy getting ready to join the MFT team in July! This card featured on my announcement post. Featuring You Are Unrepeatable.

July - Ticket to the Moulin Rouge. This is definitely my favourite card from my first month at MFT. I can't decide if I like the front of the inside better! Featuring Just the Ticket.

August. I can't show you my favourite thing I made in August as it's currently featured in NZ Paper Chase magazine....but there's a teaser for you! I promise I'll share when I can!

September - Talk Nerdy to Me. September started with my birthday and ended with finding out I was pregnant, what a great month! I also began to feel like my Copic colouring was much better than when I started. The key is practice! Featuring Talk Nerdy to Me.

October - Contempo Cage Tent Card. I had such fun making this card! These might be my second fave papers for the year. There's a video for this one here. Featuring Contempo Cage.

November - Vintage! I don't make vintage cards often, but they are so fun. All that sponging and distressing! Here I've also used crackle paint. Featuring Vintage Cameo.

December - Jump for Joy! The cherries on this flip top card just make me happy! Featuring PI Jump for Joy.

Whew, 2011 was busy! The year seems to go by so fast, and I'm hoping the next few months speed by so we can meet our beautiful baby!

Thank you SO much for stopping by to see what I've been creating and for all your lovely comments. They all make me so happy and it's so rewarding sharing the things I love with you all!

 Thanks for stopping by!