Clearly Sentimental about Success

*sigh* the last five days have gone by SO fast - I've so enjoyed being part of the MFT team this month!

Today I have a sample using this month's Triple Scoop set - Clearly Sentimental about Success.

I wanted to make a more masculine card this time around (albeit still with flowers and pearls!) The papers and flowers are from the Madeline range by Prima. I love the encouraging sentiments in this set - they're beautiful.

Ignore the slightly smooshed look of the sentiment on the inside of my card...user error due to a watery ink pad!

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

Join us tomorrow for the release party and the always amazing Shop & Hop - I've saved my favourite card to share with you!

• The MFT release is on Tuesday April 5th at 10 PM EST (that's Wednesday, 2pm in New Zealand!) The party starts at 8:00 PM EST. 
• There will be 13 new sets, 8 new Die-namics and a new Triple Scoop set you can earn for free!
• You can join in on the fun in the MFT forum at SCS - click here!
• If you'd like to see all the amazing teasers for today, please click on over to Kim's blog for a list of designers!

Stamps: Clearly Sentimental about Success (MFT Stamps) Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla (SU) Paper: Madeline (Prima) Ink: Chocolate Chip, Taken with Teal (SU) Dies: Dizzy Doily & Open Scallop Border Die-namics (MFT Stamps) Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders) Other: Choc Chip Marker and Ribbon, Buttons (SU) Cappuchino Twine (MFT Stamps) Pearls (Kaisercraft) Essentials #10 Flowers (Prima)

Teasers - Day 4!

I can't believe we're up to day four of teasers already! I have a couple of projects to share tonight, they're as different as night and day and that's what I love about My Favorite Things - there's something for everyone!

My first project is a tag that features Inspired by Spring. I love, love, love the images in this set! I'm just amazed at all the detail in the stamps, they're beautiful. I stamped the nest image and cut it out using the Textile Rectangle Die-namic. I added just a hint of colour to the eggs and the bird using watercolour crayons.

My second project features a new Claire Keay set - Hello Sunshine. You're going to fall in love with this adorable girl!

I coloured the image with SU markers and paper pieced the dress. There's the dizzy doily die-namic again - once this baby landed on my doorstep I couldn't stop using it!

Great sentiment, right? I've used the wonderful Open Zig Zag Die-namic again.

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

Here are some details about the release this month:

• The MFT release is on Tuesday April 5th at 10 PM EST (that's Wednesday, 3pm in New Zealand!) The party starts at 8:00 PM EST. 
• There will be 13 new sets, 8 new Die-namics and a new Triple Scoop set you can earn for free!
• You can join in on the fun in the MFT forum at SCS - click here!
• If you'd like to see all the amazing teasers for today, please click on over to Kim's blog for a list of designers!

Inspired by Spring Tag:

Stamps: Inspired by Spring (MFT Stamps) Cardstock: Early Espresso, Whisper White (SU) Paper: Granola (Basic Grey) Ink: Graphite Black (Brilliance) Dies: Textile Rectangle Die-namic (MFT Stamps) Long Rectangle Nestabilities (Spellbinders) Other: Twill, Ribbon, Hemp Twine (SU) Pearl Brad (K & Company) Metal Tag

Hello Sunshine Card:

Stamps: Claire Keay - Hello Sunshine (MFT Stamps) Cardstock: Barely Banana, Whisper White, Orchid Opulance (SU) Paper: Pixielicious (Cosmo Cricket) Ink: Graphite Black (Brilliance) Pumpkin Pie (SU) Dies: Dizzy Doily, Open Zig Zag Die-namics (MFT Stamps) Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders) Punches: Scallop Oval, Large Oval, Corner Rounder (SU) Other: Pumpkin & Orchid Ribbon, White Gel Pen (SU) Pixielicious Buttons (Cosmo Cricket) 

Color My World

Yay - it's Pure Innocence day! Welcome to day three of April teasers for My Favourite Things!

My card today uses the new You Color My World PI. She's one of five brand new PI's - you're going to love them all!

The sketch is this week's MFT Wednesday Sketch challenge - #13.

I coloured my girl with waterbased markers on watercolour paper, piecing the apron and shirt. I added a bit of Dimensional Magic to the paint colours and tip of the paintbrush. The papers I've used are from the Stella and Rose Gertie pack. I hand stitched with Pink Sorbet twine.

Inside I've used offcuts of paper...and one of the new Die-namics from this month's release - the Open Zig Zag border. I LOVE this die - it's so funky for those more modern cards.

Here are some details about the release this month:

• The MFT release is on Tuesday April 5th at 10 PM EST (that's Wednesday, 3pm in New Zealand!) The party starts at 8:00 PM EST. 
• There will be 13 new sets, 8 new Die-namics and a new Triple Scoop set you can earn for free!
• You can join in on the fun in the MFT forum at SCS - click here!
• If you'd like to see all the amazing teasers for today, please click on over to Kim's blog for a list of designers! 

Stamps: PI - You Color My World (MFT Stamps) Cardstock: Whisper White, Melon Mambo (SU) Paper: Stella & Rose Gertie (MME) Ink: Graphite Black (Brilliance) Melon Mambo, Tempting Turquoise (SU) Dies: Open Zig Zag Border Die-namic (MFT Stamps) Other: Pink Sorbet Twine (MFT Stamps) Button, Markers (SU) Embossing Folder (Provocraft) Dimensional Magic (Royal Coat)

OCC - Let's Get Girly!

This is my second post of the day, please scroll down or click here to see my MFT teaser post!

Happy Saturday! it's time for another OCC challenge, and this week Sharon has asked us to make something girly and incorporate a handmade flower, some bling and ribbon.

I'm also playing along with the Verve Diva Dare - Color Me Spring! It's getting colder here as we head into Winter, so it's nice to pretend it's not so chilly and use some soft colours.

I had so much fun making my ATC last week, that I made a new one with some paper scraps sitting out on my desk. The papers are from the Madeline pack by Prima that I am head over heels in love with! You'll see lots from this collection over the next wee while.

I did cheat a little - I altered my flowers instead of creating them anew. The large flower was sprayed with some home made Caribbean glimmer mist and I added the ripped and sponged Verve sentiment over top. I curled the edges of the smaller flower and added a decorative brad.

Ric Rac and Lace scream girly to me - I added both as well as lots of pearls for my bling!

Thanks for stopping by, be sure to head over to Our Creative Corner to see all the amazing design team creations, and link up your girly-fied project!

Stamps: Beautiful You (Verve) Cardstock: Early Espresso (SU) Paper: Madeline (Prima) Ink: Early Espresso (SU) Punches: Embossed Border (Fiskars) Other: Lace, Ric Rac, Leaf Ribbon (Unknown) Pearls (Kaisercraft) Essentials #10 flowers (Prima) Brad (Making Memories)

Clearly Sentimental about Music

Welcome to day two of the My Favourite Things April release teasers! Today I'm sharing a card made with last month's Triple Scoop set (click here for more info on the Triple Scoop program!) Clearly Sentimental about Music - which will be available for purchase along with all the other April sets.

My favourite thing about all the sets in the Clearly Sentimental line is how well they work with all the Die-namics to make quick and easy yet stunning cards. I've used papers from the Madeline collection by Prima today - I was so excited to flip through the pack and see that music note paper - I knew right away how this card would come together.

My sentiment is stamped on a panel die cut with one of the Sweet Stack Label die-namics, and adhered to a hand cut mat. I layered it over the 1/4" Rosette die and the Dizzy Doily - this is my fave combo of dies right now - but omgosh, did you SEE the new doily dies coming out this month!? Amazing!

I cut the musical notes, ran them through my Xyron sticker maker and added some Martha Stewart fine glitter in Onyx before running them back through the Xyron and adhering them to my card. I love the sparkle - with no mess!

I added some twine to my layer before adhering it to my card base. The Cappuchino twine is a perfect match for Soft Suede cardstock!

Isn't that a beautiful sentiment? and so true! I've finished off the inside of my card simply with some paper scraps, more twine and black rhinestones. 

Here are all the wonderful Die-namics I've used on this card:

 Here are some details about the release this month:

• The MFT release is on Tuesday April 5th at 10 PM EST (that's Wednesday, 3pm in New Zealand!) The party starts at 8:00 PM EST. 
• There will be 13 new sets, 8 new Die-namics and a new Triple Scoop set you can earn for free!
• You can join in on the fun in the MFT forum at SCS - click here!
• If you'd like to see all the amazing teasers for today, please click on over to Kim's blog for a list of designers!

Thanks for stopping by - it's time to get extra excited, because tomorrow is Pure Innocence day and there are five new cuties to love! 

Oh, I almost forgot - I finally got my facebook page set up and separate from all my family goings-on, so if you're a FB user and want to see updates that way, here's the link! 

Stamps: Clearly Sentimental about Music (MFT Stamps) Cardstock: Soft Suede, Basic Black (SU) Paper: Madeline (Prima) Ink: Graphite Black (Brilliance) Dies: Dizzy Doily, 1/4" Rosette, Musical Notes & Sweet Stack Labels Die-namics (MFT Stamps) Scallop Square (Sizzix) Other: Cappuccino Twine (MFT Stamps)  Onyx Glitter (Martha Stewart) Rhinestones (Kaisercraft)

It's Teaser Time!

Yippee - it's time! Today is the first of five days of amazing teasers for the My Favorite Things April release! I just have to take a moment to thank Kim, Jody and the entire MFT team for making one of my stamping dreams come true - it's been so inspiring and an honor to create with you all this month!

There are just so many new goodies being released this month....I've used Typewriter Alphabet, Own Your Story and the Fishtail Banner Die-namic for my card today.
*swoon* I'm telling you - this is THE best typewriter alphabet out there. I couldn't believe all the letter sizes and the awesome key images included.

Let's talk about that fishtail banner shall we? A new fave for sure! The teeny scallops on those circles are just adorable. I've popped my banner up on dimensionals, and used a piece of satin ribbon folded in half to "string" it all together.

The papers are from the Le Chateau collection by Kaisercraft. That polka dot paper is flocked - and let me tell you...that is one reason I LOVE Die-namics - I've had punches throw a little tantrum over flocked paper before - no problems like that with Die-namics!

The stamps on the inside of my card come from the Own Your Story set - I am not kidding when I tell you this is a HUGE set. I stamped a swirl from the set in kraft, then overstamped the sentiment in Brilliance Black. I hand cut the black border around the butterfly, and traced the Polka Dot Greetings die to get the perfect mat size.

Here are all the Die-namics I've used on this card:

Here are some details about the release this month:

• The MFT release is on Tuesday April 5th at 10 PM EST (that's Wednesday, 3pm in New Zealand!) The party starts at 8:00 PM EST. 
• There will be 13 new sets, 8 new Die-namics and a new Triple Scoop set you can earn for free!
• You can join in on the fun in the MFT forum at SCS - click here!
• If you'd like to see all the amazing teasers for today, please click on over to Kim's blog for a list of designers!

Thanks for stopping by - see you tomorrow with more new stampy goodness!

Colour Combo: Soft Sky, Kraft, Basic Black Stamps: Typewriter Alphabet, Own Your Story (MFT Stamps) Paper: Le Chateau (Kaisercraft) Dies: Fishtail Banner, Butterfly, Faux Crochet Border and Polka Dot Greetings Die-namics (MFT Stamps) Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders)  Other: Black Satin Ribbon (SU) Pearls (Kaisercraft)

With Gratitude

I was blog hopping this morning and realised I hadn't played along with Jen's SFYTT yet this month - that just wouldn't do! I needed a thank you for a special someone, so I pulled out one of my new fave paper packs, and spent some happy crafting time. 

I've used papers from the new Stella and Rose - Mabel range. These colours are just so gorgeous! My little Pure Innocence girl was a prize at one of the fab MFT launch parties - she's so cute! I've used the notebook edge die-namic, and the new pretty posies die, currently available as part of this month's VIP kit.

Inside I used the open scallop die - another one I picked up in my last order and some gorgeous Caribbean twine - ohhh I love this stuff, it's so soft and the colours are amazing!

Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla Stamps: Lil' Pumpkin (MFT Stamps) Paper:Stella and Rose - Mabel (MME) Dies: Pretty Posies, Notebook Edge and Open Scallop Die-namics (MFT Stamps) Other: Caribbean Twine (MFT Stamps) Riding Hood Red button (SU)

OCC - Artist Trading Cards

Hi everyone - hope your week is off to a good start! so sorry my OCC post is late, I've been a bit under the weather and everything just snowballed for a little bit!

This week Rebecca has challenged us to make Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) using a kraft + chocolate or black + white or cream + one other colour colour scheme. These little mini works of art are the perfect size to trade, 3.5" x 2.5" or pop onto a card front for a quick card. I like to display mine on a little easel on my desk - so I love to use inspiring quotes!

This came together so quickly using the amazing Die-namics from MFT stamps. I got a nice big parcel the other day, and I am in love with the new additions to my *ahem* growing collection! I just adore the rosette die layered on the dizzy doily, and look at that teeny rolled rose - so sweet!

I hope you'll play along at OCC this week - ATCs are the perfect jumpstart to your mojo!

Colour Combo: Kraft, Vanilla, Black, Marigold  Stamps: Clearly Sentimental about Harvesting (MFT Stamps) Paper: Newsprint (SU) Stella & Rose Mabel (MME) Dies: 1/4" Rosette, Mini Rolled Roses, Dizzy Doily Die-namics (MFT Stamps)  Other: Crochet Trim (SU) Rhinestones (Kaisercraft)

Adventures in Frosting

Hi everyone - I thought I'd pop in quickly and show you a couple of pics from my weekend adventures in frosting....my first 3D shaped cake! I should be writing an essay on Cleopatra, but I'm procrastinating while I wait for my coffee to kick in!

This weekend my friend Janine had a Marie Antoinette, dessert bar themed birthday party and she asked me to make her a doll cake. I hadn't made one before....but it couldn't be too hard, right?

It wasn't - it was fun! And a great excuse to tint some buttercream, the cakes I make Shanan are always chocolate on chocolate, not a lot of colour there!

Here she is all finished. I was inspired by a ruffle cake I'd seen in blogland recently. Conforming the ruffles to the skirt shape was a little tricky, but turned out oh-so-pretty.

Here she is on the desert table. After torting and filling the cake with chocolate buttercream, I crumb coated in vanilla using a thick enough layer that it could become the "petticoat" without showing the chocolate cake underneath. All the piping was done in a delicate raspberry buttercream with vanilla accents. 

I'm happy to say the cake was as yummy as it was pretty! thanks for the pic of the cut cake Bev!

I enjoyed this so much I definitely want to start decorating again, it was great to get out my kit and try some new techniques - though it doesn't really fit with the healthy eating thing we have going on here this year, so it might have to be on a for-hire basis! If you want a cake or some cupcakes and live in Wellington, give me a call! lol

Thanks for stopping by!

OCC - Reuse your Packaging!

Hi everyone - hope your weekend is going well so far! I just wanted to pop in and tell you about this week's OCC challenge. Rebecca is our hostess and her challenge is to "Reuse your Packaging! Use those boxes, cans, bags, plastic clamshells or embellishment bubbles you might usually throw out to create a fabulous project!"

Do you think I could find anything to use?! my recent purchases have all been 6x6 paper pads (yummy!) or have had little/no packaging. I guess that's a (good) sign of these reduce, reuse, recycle times!

The photo above is a decorated prima like tin, a great way to reuse gorgeous papercraft packaging - below is a photo of a tin I recycled. You can find the post for the tin here.

I hope you'll join us this week at OCC - I'll be on the lookout for something I can recycle!

Cupcake Lovin'

Happy Thursday! This week is going FAST! Thanks so much for all the comments and emails yesterday - I was so happy to share my stampy news with you all!

Today I whipped up a card for the MFT sketch challenge. The challenge happens every week - and every week someone wins a voucher to spend at My Favorite Things - up to $20 in value! The sketches are always amazing, and you could be a winner, so play along!

I made a card and matching pillow box using the gorgeous Stella & Rose Hazel papers by My Mind's Eye. LOVE this paper range!

I paper pieced my WTG girl (of course! I always love dressing these images in the cutest papers) I did have an email about my headless girl yesterday.....WTG stands for Who's That Girl? and the idea is she could be any of us! sweet huh? WTG is what first drew me to MFT Stamps - such a fresh and modern take on stamping.

I added some crystal effects to her mixing bowl and included punched shapes behind my brads, I love the layered look this gives. Are you sick of seeing the Faux Crochet Border Die-namic yet? no? good! I'm not done running this puppy through my 'bug!

I whipped up the pillow box using some of my scraps. I'm really trying hard not to store so many scraps, but hate throwing them out - so little projects are perfect. Have a great evening!

Stamps: Lovin' from the Oven, Clearly Sentimental about Food (MFT Stamps) Cardstock: Kraft, Vanilla Ink: Baja Paper: Stella and Rose - Hazel (MME) Dies: Faux Crochet Border Die-Namic (MFT Stamps) Pillow Box (Sizzix) Rectangle Nestabilities (Spellbinders) Punches: Scallop & Large Oval (SU) Other: Markers, White Gel Pen, Linen Thread (SU) Ribbon, Brads

It's Time To Fiesta!!!

...And I couldn't be more excited! I'm so happy to share that I'm this month's guest designer for My Favorite Things! You know I love their stamps and dies, and I'm so happy to design alongside THE most talented design team out there!

We're blog hopping tonight in celebration of the amazing VIP collection releasing right now (along with some other awesome new releases!) run, don't walk to get yours! More on the collection at the end of my post.

If you're following the hop, you should have reached me via the lovely and talented Eva, if you need to start at the start, head on over to Kim's blog.

My card uses the brand new Who's that Girl - Fiesta! stamp set, along with the gorgeous new Perfect Posie die and the exclusive Fiesta Sentiments mini set - yours free with your VIP purchase and never to be released outside the collection!

Can we just talk about this image for a second? A paper piecer's dream! I've pieced all those gorgeous ruffles, working from the bottom layer up to highlight the ruffle effect.

I love the new Perfect Posie die! After die cutting my flowers, I brayered the back of each one then curled the petal edges using a quilling tool (a toothpick would work too, or just your crafty fingers) before layering the flower together and adding a mini brad.

Inside my card I've used offcuts of the designer paper and stamped WTG again - using a marker to eliminate the border. I've used some of my favourite Die-namics, the Jumbo Scallop and Scalloped Scallop.

Here's what you get in this month's VIP collection:

• Who's that Girl - Fiesta! stamp set
• Fiesta Sentiments mini (VIP exclusive stamp set - will never be offered for sale or be available again $9 value, FREE)
• Pretty Posies Die-namics Die
• Basic Grey Luscious 6 X 6 Patterned Paper Pad
• Basic Grey Luscious Stitched Brads

Awesome right? Thanks for helping me celebrate my guest designer news and blog hopping with us - don't forget, the collection is available in limited quantities, go grab yours now! 

Colour Combo: Melon Mambo, Black, Lime Stamps: WTG - Fiesta! Fiesta Sentiment (MFT) Paper: Sultry (Basic Grey) Dies: Perfect Posies, Scalloped Scallop & Jumbo Scallop Die-namics. (MFT) Other:  Melon Ribbon, Markers, Crystal Effects, Sponge Daubers (SU) Brads (Basic Grey)