MFT Monday - Home Decor/Alter it

Happy Monday everyone! Last Wednesday Joanne B. inspired us all to make Home Decor items, and I decided (after much mind changing) to make a cute little Tea Tin with the tins I bought in December from Kim.I thought this adorable Flopsey would be perfect, and was happy to finally ink him up after I HAD to have him LAST year!! I stamped him on a perfect panel and colored him with copics. I don't have enough colors to match this beautiful blue-green, but I was able to make a close enough approximation by blending a few colors. Guess that means I'm getting better!!I cut him out and put him on a nestie oval of Love Me Do paper from My Mind's Eye, which was layered on a red textures scalloped oval. I used Sticky strip to adhere the paper to the tin, and then cut a circle to match the top and stamped the greeting from PI Snow Flurries on the top and added my Heidi Grace ghost snowflake. LOVE those - thanks Rebecca!!!

Ok...gotta run, but have a great Monday and I'll be back soon!

CHA Make and Take: Taylored Expressions

The second best thing about going to the CHA Supershow (after getting to meet so many amazingly talented people) was the make and takes!! Several of the stamp companies had free make and takes at their booths (and many also had make and takes at the splitcoast booth!!) I think the company I did the most with was Taylored Expressions, since they had 6 different ones at their booth, plus one at the SCS booth. I did a total of 3 of theirs (would have done more but Jackson was not that patient!!)I had never bought anything from TE before CHA, but don't worry...I fixed that right quick!! In fact, I bought several of the stamps they used for their make and takes (yes, their marketing worked great on me!) and can't wait to get them inky!! This card is one of my favorites, and I just love the sentiment that goes with this goldfish bowl. My friend Rachel helped me color the image (since Jackson was VERY fussy during this one!) and I love how it turned out! She did a fabulous job considering this was her first time using Copic markers. I can't wait to give this card to my husband - he'll love it!I hope you all have a fabulous weekend. We aren't peeking anything for Paper Pretties this week since we combined our January and February releases into one...so our next release will be March 1st. But be sure to check out the great sale going on (all acrylic stamps are currently 35% OFF - but this won't last much longer!) and the new DIGI stamps we have. Some of our older sets are being retired out of acrylic and rubber, but will stick around as Digital stamp sets, so you can still have all your old favorites.

Prettie Wednesday Happy Birthday Hop!

Happy Wednesday all, and Happy Birthday Wendy!!! This week we're combining our Wednesday Challenge Hop with a celebration of amazing artist and Prettie Girl Wendy Bond's birthday. The challenge issued by Jackie is to use buttons - her exact quote was "Buttons! That's right, I want you to use Buttons as you main embellishment...you can use other ones, just make BUTTONS scream on your card!" As usual, we're hopping along this week, so if you didn't arrive from Julie's blog head on back to Christie's. And don't forget, we'd love to have you play along with us - just upload your card to the Paper Pretties Challenge gallery with the keyword PWC88 by Tuesday, February 3rd at 5pm EST for your chance to win a $15 gift certificate to the Prettie Boutique!For my card I used the Made with Love set (which is on sale this week for 20% off along with Dreamboat) and some Nana's Kitchen paper from DCWV. I paper pieced Lexi's apron, and colored the rest of the image with my copics. She is cut with the Labels Four die (I am LOVING these dies lately!) and popped up with some dimensionals. I used some SU! buttons tied with some new thread I just got from Mike's. She's finished off with a spiral clip and some Baja Breeze satin ribbon.I also finished off the inside of this card with some more designer paper and the sentiment.Now to get this in the mail. Be sure to hop along to Jackie's blog to see whatever eye candy she's left for you and then keep on Hoppin' to Wendy's and leave her some Birthday LOVE!

MFT Monday a day late...

CHA was awesome! I had so much fun meeting all kinds of famous stampers like Beate Johns, Jenn Balcer, Carolyn King (Cammy) and others. I met up with some old friends (Jodi, Donna, Jackie P and Jackie R) It was just so amazing to meet in person these women I had communicated with online for so long! The stuff was cool, but for me it was all about the people.I finally got a chance to play along with last Wednesday's stamp club challenge from Kim at MFT (who I also got to see in Anahiem!) on Monday. This time it was all about texture!I finally inked up my Egg Girl PI stamp and stamped her on a cream Perfect Paper Panel (did you all read how much I love these things yesterday??? They ROCK!) and cut her out with my oval nesties. I colored her with copics and paper pieced her dress with some of this gorgeous Nook and Cranny paper from Basic Grey. I also used the Nook and Cranny paper for the various layers on the card, along with some chocolate chip cs.I added this gorgeous maya Road lace, and then stuck some tiny pearls into each bump of the scalloped layer, and then added the greeting and Voila - finished card! I LOVE this stamp, and you'll be sure to see several more with her soon. For now, I'll be back tomorrow with this week's Prettie wednesday card and challenge for you all! Have a happy Tuesday!

Gate Fold LaLa

Last Wednesday LaLa Land Crafts challenged us all to make a card using a different kind of fold, anything except a simple single fold card. I decided to make a gate fold card using Winter LaLa and this fabulous Basic Grey Marakesh paper.LaLa is stamped on a Perfect Paper Panel from MFT. When I visited Kim in Florida last month, she gave me a few Perfect Paper Panels to try when I admitted I had never tried them. She is as bad as a drug dealer giving the first hit for free. Those things are AWESOME! The color soaks right in without having to use too much ink. Just fabulous!!

I scored my base card using my Score-Pal, then I cut some panels from the Marakesh paper and layered them on Riding Hood red cardstock. Finally, I punched out the photo corners and added the black brads to them before adhering them to the corners. I tied the card closed with some Bashful Blue satin ribbon, then popped Lala on top with some dimensionals.I added some layers inside and stamped a greeting from the new SU! sale-a-bration set. Be sure to check out the LaLa Land Crafts blog on Wednesday to see the next challenge!

SU! Friday

So, I'm supposed to be in Southern California right now, but my flight got cancelled this afternoon because all the airports (except LAX) got closed down. So, I'm now flying out early Friday morning. Wish me luck!!Here's a card I made recently using my new SU! stuff. I love the new bird punch, and this paper (from the SAB catalog) I did lots of sponging on here and am starting to like Bermuda Bay more then ever before...hhmmm.Sorry so quick, but I'll try to post some CHA stuff from L.A. once I get there!!

Prettie Pink Wednesday (PWC87)

Welcome to another Prettie Wednesday! Did you all check out the amazing new sets that were released Friday night? They're amazing! now if you didn't get here via Julie's blog, head on back to Christie's so you don't miss any loveliness today!This week Kristy challenged us all to make a card using her favorite color pink, white, and a favorite color of our own. I decided to use brown (since I can never decide WHAT my favorite color is!) as my added color. I used this gorgeous watering can image from Something Special (on sale this week along with Unknown Blessings for 20% off!) and of course colored it grey (because I generally do) and this time I'm REALLy happy with the results. I LOVE my copic markers!!! Now, my husband would take one look at this card and say "but you can't have grey with brown!" (I have to give him simple rules for self-dressing!!)I used the new DSP from SU! (LOVE it!) and the cute new pink epoxy brads. The layout for this is this week's Mojo Monday (#122) which I just loved! Now, for more Prettieness, hop on over to my pal Jackie (I get to see her soon at CHA!!) and have a wonderful day!

How to Enter: Make a card using pink, white, and one other color as your combo; ribbon, and a new technique (for you) and any Paper Pretties stamp set(s) you have. Upload the card to the Paper Pretties gallery and use keyword PWC87.

Deadline: 6pm EST on Tuesday, January 26th.

Prize: $15.00 coupon to the Paper Pretties Boutique.

MFT Monday - No Coloring???

For Kim's MFT Wednesday Stamp Club last week, she challenged us all to make a birthday card with some wonderful MFT line art stamps, but then not color them in. What was she thinking? I just got a new set of Copic Ciao markers that I'm DYING to color with, and here she's telling me NOT to??? How cruel!Well..I figured why not play along - but I decided to make two versions of each card. One where I let the recipient color it in, and one where I get to color (which makes me much happier!) Of course, I haven't had time yet to color mine in, so here are the first 2.I used some new nana's kids paper from my fellow Prettie Girl Jackie for my little boy card, and for my little girl card the dp comes from a Christmas Glitter stack of DCWV paper. These cards were super fun to make, and I can't wait to use them at some upcoming birthday parties Julia has over the next few weeks. I know they'll love getting to color in their own cards!

Purely Innocent Valentine

I am still head over heals with this new Pure Innocence line from My Favorite Things (as is everyone else from what I've seen in the blogosphere lately!) Joanne's Beloved challenge was a perfect excuse to ink them up and play!It has been quite a while since I watercolored, and I thought it would be fun to pull out my aquapainter and ink pads to try again. It took a while to find some watercolor paper (and this tiny piece was ALL I could find!!) I stamped Flower Girl with my Brilliance Black ink and left it for a while to dry. I watercolored her (following the fabulous tutorial Joanne created!) and then got to work on the rest of the card.I thought I could also use this past week's color challenge from SCS which was Pretty in Pink, Rich Razzleberry and Chocolate Chip. I substituted the retired lighter pink from SU! because I thought it would look better. I put my card together with some Bella Rose paper (Thanks Jane!!) and some more fabulous Princess Satin Ribbon. The heart is cut with the new heart embosslit from SU!, then I used my word window punch to punch out the sentiment. The bow is topped with a piece from the new Sweet Pea felt collection - TONS o' fun!I decided to finish off the inside of the card as well, so I added some white cardstock accented with the same dp as the outside, layered on more pink. I added a few stitches with some chocolate embroidery floss (would have sewed on it, but my machine still doesn't work!) and then I stamped the little girl in pink as well. I wish I had done a little more with the front, but at least it is done within the time limit, and I did get more work done this weekend toward a clean and organized stamp room, so that is a good thing! I'll be back with more MFT goodness tomorrow!

Prettie Wednesday Peek Revealed!!

Here at last is the full card I made for this past Prettie Wednesday challenge to use stitching on a card featuring Bundled Up Cooper! Isn't he just adorable?? You can see all the Prettie Girl's full cards today...so be sure to check them out!I used this wonderful Retro Paper Stack from Frances layered on bashful blue and a chocolate chip card for the background, then inked up Cooper and colored him in with my copics. I punched the snowflake border for my bashful blue layer, then didn't like it and switched to scallops, but I still used the little snowflakes on the image! I stitched the DP layer to the bashfull blue using my friend Michelle's machine - gotta get mine fixed ASAP because I think I'm now addicted to sewing on cards!! I had a great time at the release party last night! Head on over to the Pretties Boutique to check out all the new stamps now available!!!

Stampin' Up! Friday today...

Hey everyone...I know Christmas is over, but I wanted to share this card I made for my very good friend Michelle. She saw it in progress, but I think she liked the final version more than expected. I stamped the santa sleigh first, then added the trees. Next, I stamped the moon with an old circle stamp from big pieces or some such set with versamark, colored some snowy ground with my versamarker, and embossed it with clear embossing powder. Next, I took an empty kaleidacolor pad and inked it up with Night of Navy, Not Quite Navy, Vintage Violet, Blue Bayou and Brocade Blue (I think) and brayered on the background.I layered this on white to make the moon and snow pop, then put it on a night of navy 5.25" square card base. I added the sliver ribbon by using my slit punch. I'm quite happy with the result!

Hope you have a wonderful Friday, and I hope to see you/chat with you at the Paper Pretties release party tonight starting at 5pm PDT!

Prettie Peek Wednesday Hoppin' Contest

Howdy everyone, and welcome to our weekly Prettie Wednesday Challenge blog hop, but with a twist. Remember that on the 15th at 8 pm EST we'll all meet in the Forum at Paper Pretties to celebrate and find out who the grand prize winner of our Blog Hop contest is! For now, if you didn't arrive from Julie's blog head on back to the Prettie Mama herself Christie to see what she has to share with us all!

This hop is not like our typical release hops, instead the Design Team will not only be showing you previews of all the wonderful stamps we will be releasing this month, but we will also be show casing one super cute stamp and you get to try and guess what our adorable Cooper is doing! In order to win our super cute Cooper from this hop, you'll need to collect all of the clues from the blog hop - 10 in all and submit your answer to Jackie (babitoons@gmail.com). Answers must be in by 8am EDT on the 15th to qualify.

This week's challenge is to include stitching of some sort on your card. I actually went to my friend Michelle's house to use her sewing machine (since mine still isn't working properly) and it stitched through this paper like a dream!! In my little tiny peek here you can see the stitching and the sponging...but I also used some fun punches, ribbon, and my copics (of course!) All the Prettie girls will share their full cards at the release party Friday night, or come back here to see it on Saturday. In the mean time, I feel a FROST coming on...(hint, hint!!) Oh...and you can still enter to win our weekly challenge contest by creating your OWN Prettie card with stitching and uploading it to the weekly challenge gallery by next Tuesday, January 19th at 7pm EDT.

Hop along to Jackie's to see her peek and get her clue! And I'll chat with ya Friday night!!

More Pure Innocence fun!

I finally got a chance to play with Frances and Cindy's sketch for last week's My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club. I had lots of fun trying to find 3 different patterned papers that I liked together, but am very happy with the ones I chose. They are from the Holiday Glitter Stack by DCWV from a few years ago. Based on the sketch, I knew I would need some fun patterns for this one. I used my SU! circle cutter for the circle layers, and I love how easy it was to cut both layers. I added some ribbon and a button to make one of Joanne B's trademark buttony-bows, and then added my nestie cut, cuddlebug folder embossed heart on top with some dimensionals.For the image, I chose Merry Kissmas, one that I stamped while at my mom's last month (I'm trying not to buy EVERYTHING I want, but to show a small amount of restraint - not always working!) I colored her in with my copic markers and then cut her out. Isn't she just darling?? I popped her and her snowman buddy onto the heart with some more dimensionals.Lastly, I decided to add something inside the card, since I actually had a recipient in mind already. A friend of mine from Julia's class knit me the cutest little coffee cup cozy (you know, to use instead of the cardboard ones they give you at Starbucks!) and I wanted to give her a thank you card (I've already asked her to crochet me some flowers for my cards so I figured I needed to butter her up some too!) I added a strip of the dark blue snowflake paper and then the sweet sentiment on a tag. I still left plenty of room to write my note. Now if only my sewing machine worked my cards would look as amazing as Joanne B's or Jody Morrow's, right?? A girl can dream, can't she?? :-D

My Favorite Mondays

Since I'm totally getting back into my My Favorite Things stamps, I decided to start making Monday s MFT Mondays! I should have something created with the awesome sketch Frances made for last week's Wednesday stamp club, but I haven't finished that yet, so instead I'm sharing the project I made for the most recent MFT Guest Designer contest.The challenge was to take inspiration from new years and make something that sparkled. I decided to make a gift out of some glitter, and top it off with the mushroom topper and then make a matching card. I so love this little fairy girl, and I really loved paper piecing her dress with this gorgeous Basic Grey Bittersweet paper I recently purchased. I used a diferent pattern from the Bittersweet pack for the mushroom and a layer on the card. I also added some glittered garnishes to make dots on the mushroom...love those things!!For the sewing on the card base, I tried to use my old machine, but it just isn't working nowadays...so I used it to punch the holes (wow was that ever faster than using my paper piercer!!) and then I hand stitched the thread through. I used a scallop edge punch on some chocolate chip cardstock to layer under the bittersweet designer paper, and for even more sparkle, I added a self-adhesive rhinestone to each "bump."For the main image, she is of course colored with my copic markers, and then I cut her out with one of my new nestie label sets. LOVE this shape!! After piecing her dress, I added some sparkle to her wings and wand with my spica clear glitter pen. I just love these sweet little Pure Innocence sets - they are SOOO much fun to color and dress. Can't wait for my latest order to arrive with all the newest little sweeties!!Speaking of MFT - did you all see the AMAZING card Jody made with the new Pure Innocence Whee stamp?? The one where the little girl actually swings in her tree?? Wasn't that amazing? Well, she created a tutorial for us all so we can make one too! I can't wait to try it out myself, but you all should go take a look and try it for yourself as well (and perhaps win the card for yourself - but I'm hoping to do that!!)

Prettie Peek Bubble Time

Today's project showcases the December Stamp of the Month, Bubble Time. I just love this stamp!! I decided to decorate a clear paint can I picked up at one of my LSS's when they were having a sale this week. I thought I'd make a cute little bucket of bath supplies as a birthday gift for a friend. I included some amazing bath salts from the Dead Sea and a fun hot pink bath scrunchie.To decorate the lid, I stamped Sophia on some whisper white cardstock, then colored her in with Copics. I added some lines on the floor for tile and colored her walls blue. I cut it out with my circle nesties and layered her on a regal rose blossom. I finished off the bucket with lots of ribbons and the adorable sentiment, "Bubbles Bubbles everywhere, on your nose and in your hair."Don't forget, we are celebrating Paper Pretties' 3rd anniversary this month! To celebrate, we'll be having a big Anniversary party in the forum on Friday, January 15th starting at 8pm Eastern time (that's 5pm for us California girls!) and of course, LOTS of prizes. We also have a special contest planned for our Wednesday blog hop, so you won't want to miss that!

Christi and Jackie also have peeks for you today, so don't forget to check them out! Have a wonderful Sunday everyone!

Prettie Peek: Its Eggstra Special!

I'm so excited about today's card. I have to admit...I just created this yesterday when I realized, oh my...the 15th is coming up fast...I bet I have to post a card tomorrow morning! And, with sleeping baby in arms, I got to work. It's amazing to me how much I can get done with the use of only 1 arm! Guess I'll be set if I ever have a serious accident with a chipper shredder - so long as it's my left. ;-)Today, I'm sharing an adorable new Cooper stamp called Eggstra Special Easter. I so love Cooper, and especially now that I have my little guy, I'm even more attached to him. I tried to give this little guy reddish hair, since Jack's hair is looking QUITE red (especially in the sunshine.) Given my limited number of copics still, I think I did ok. He's stamped on some whisper white cardstock and colored in with - what else - Copics markers. And I added some sparkle to his egg with my spica glitter pens. I really love his little cargo shorts and Birkenstock sandals - truly looks like a California boy at Easter time since I know Christie the Canuk likely still has snow that time of year!!I used some old SU! designer paper along with So Saffron and Almost Amethyst cardstocks, my nesties (including a new set of tag dies from spellbinders) and some saffron ribbon.

This month, we are celebrating Paper Pretties' 3rd anniversary! I can't believe I joined this amazing team of talented and creative women just two years ago, so much has happened since then, and it's been an amazing ride - I've loved every minute! To celebrate, we'll be having a big Anniversary party in the forum on Friday, January 15th starting at 8pm Eastern time (that's 5pm for us California girls!) and of course, LOTS of prizes. We also have a special contest planned for our Wednesday blog hop, so you won't want to miss that!

Jennifer and Christi also have peeks for you today, so don't forget to check them out! And I'll be back with another peek for you all tomorrow!

The MFT Lady and some Pure Innocence

Wow...what a fun cocktail party in the MFT forum last night! I know I'm way over on my crafting budget already this month - how about you??

While in Florida last week, my mom and I got ot go visit Kim, the MFT lady! We met her first 2 years ago when Julia and I were visiting Florida from Germany and had a wonderful lunch with her in beautiful Mt. Dora. Kim is truly a wonderful, sweet person - as are all the people in her family! We had such a wonderful visit with them all (and it was even the day after Brianna's birthday so she was still quite thrilled with her new car!) It is times like this that I am reminded why the stamping industry is the best there is - because it is mostly run by women who really care about other women!! Oh...and her husband is just as sweet as the story about the new Whee stamp set implies, and then some! :-DHere is Kim with Jackson. I like taking Photos of Jack with all my stamping favorites better than photos of myself right now!Now for the project. This is a little box I made for Kim before going to visit her using the adorable little Pure Innocence Fairy Girl and the butterfly/mushroom card template. I just made a simple open top box and attached the mushroom pieces to the sides. Then, I just had to add my sweet little Fairy Girl to the front of the box. I of course filled the box with some yummy Lindt truffles...I hope Kim enjoyed them!!
Have a great Thursday everyone!!

PWC85 Prettie Wednesday is getting Sketchy!

This week's Prettie Wednesday Challenge is a sketch challenge provided by our amazing Frances! I just love this sketch, but I also LOVE tall cards! If you didn't get here via Julie's blog, head on back to Christie's new blog to start the hop off, that way you won't miss any Prettie Goodness!I've used the Snowbunny stamp for this sketch, colored with my copics (of course!) I changed up the sketch a little bit (put the scallops away from the center panel instead of into it) but for the most part stayed true. I also used my new label nesties that I got on sale before new year's - I also ordered some new Copics and can't WAIT for those to arrive. I currently have only about 23 Copics, so getting a set of 36 will be AMAZING for me!!!I added some Princess Pink striped ribbon that I ordered along with those markers from Kim at My Favorite Things (I got to go visit her while in Florida - will write more about that later and share a photo!!) and some adorable little Glittered Garnishes Kim gave to me. All together with this luscious bittersweet paper from Basic Grey, and I was pretty happy!Now if you'd like to play along with us Prettie Girls, just create your own card using this sketch and any Paper Pretties stamp, then upload it to the Pretties Weekly Challenge gallery with a keyword of PWC85 before Tuesday, 1/12/2010 at 8pm EST and YOU could win a gift certificate for $15. Cool, huh???

Hop on over to Jackie's place to see what prettieness she has for us all today, and have a happy Wednesday!

Happy 2010!!!

wow, that was weird to type. I hope you all had a wonderful New Year's Eve celebration ringing in the new year! We spent our New Year on an airplane flying home from our trip to Florida. It's nice to be home again!
This card is one we'll be making at my first hosting of an SU! workshop in over 6 years! This time, I'm having a workshop at home that I'm NOT the demonstrator for!! I'm quite excited about it. My friend (and former downline) Michelle and I created this card together for the make and take for my party before I left home, and I just love it!! So...if you live in the area and want to come, drop me a line!! ;-)This card uses some new designer paper and satin ribbon from the Occasions mini catalog, and the new punch from the Sale-A-Bration catalog. Oh...I just can't wait!!

Enjoy your