My Favorite Things Stamps...January Creative Challenge...Circle STAX

Hello stampin' friends! Welcome to the MFT Design Team Creative Challenge for January! This is a monthly feature, where the MFT Design Team members are challenged to explore our creative side using a specific theme, product, or technique. This month, we were challenged to create with our Circle STAX.  Be sure to check out the MFT Blog for a list of all participating designers who have a project to share with you today. 

I've been in a very scrappy mood lately so I thought I would make a layout using the Circle STAX and show how you can really make a great page with such a basic go-to shape.  The Circle STAX Die-namics 1 and Circle STAX Die-namics 2 offer such versatility and are an important foundational Die-namics set to have in your tool kit. Stacking various sized circles and adding open circles adds a playful feel to any scrapbooking page. 

I started by picking one of my favourite pictures of my daughter and I. It was taken when she was 4 years old by my friend Chris Ward who is a talented photographer. I then selected some soft pretty MME papers, The Sweetest Things, Tangerine and Honey 12x12 papers.

I started by cutting various sized circles using the Circle STAX 1 and 2.  I used the High-Rise Alphabet Uppercase and Lowercase Die-namics from corrugated cardboard to and my daughter's name as the title.  The various sentiments are from the You Make My Day Stamp Set, Document It - Off the Chart Stamp set, the Lovey Dovey Sentiments Sets, Document It - Days and Dates and Journal It - Calendar Basics. I stamped everything with MFT Wild Cherry Premium Dye Ink.  After I laid out all my elements and had everything positioned, I took  a quick picture of the page and printed it out. Then when I was ready to stick everything down I had the picture to refer back to, to ensure everything went back in the right spot.

I cut the tab from the Accent It - Labels and Tabs Die-namics from corrugated cardboard and stamped the date with the numbers from the Journal It - Calendar Basics layered the NEW Heart Doily cut from Sweet Tooth Heavyweight Card Stock over the gingham pattern paper cut with the largest die from the Circle STAX 1 Die-namics. I love this sentiment from the NEW You Make My Day Stamp set. I stamped it on pattern paper and cut it out with the Fishtail Flags STAX Die-namics. 

I love the NEW Mini Hybrid Heirloom Rose Die-namics and I cut several roses from Sweet Tooth Felt. I added Red Hot and Wild Cherry Buttons to embellish some of the flowers in place of the rolled rose portion. I added a red half-pearl to the flowers with the rolled rose.  Here you can also see a cute little element...I cut a circle with the Circle STAX 1 from pattern paper and then used the size down from the STAX 2 set to cut out the middle of the circle leaving a circle frame that I layered over another circle and the mini tab. I stamped the sentiment "I Heart You" from the NEW Lovey Dovey Stamp set on Sweet Tooth Heavyweight Card Stock cut with the round Mini Tab Foursome Die-namics.

I cut corrugated cardboard using the scallop die from the Jumbo Christmas Stocking Die-namics and inked it with Mixed Media Inx in Jasmine.  I tucked the layered scallops under the sentiment and added a felt Mini Hybrid Heirloom Rose and added a bow with white cotton trim tied with red twine.

Here you can see the open circles...I cut circles from pattern paper and then re-cut them using a smaller Circle STAX Die-namics, leaving a ring or open circle. I made a simple little embellishment by layering two circles and adding a Red Hot button.

I love circle tags and I used my Circle STAX Die-namics to make my own tag that is just the right size to fit my sentiment. The sentiment on this tag is from the NEW Make My Day Stamp Set. I cut the circle with the Circle STAX from Pattern Paper and corrugated cardboard and then punched a hole in the top of the circles with my Crop-A-Dile. I layered them and then tied the tag with some red twine and adhered it with dimensional adhesive squares. 

Well, thanks SO much for stopping by and having a wee look at my 12x12 layout using the very versatile Circle STAX 1 and 2 Die-namics. Please take a moment to pop on over to Kim's blog for links to the MFT Designers with creative ideas using the Circle STAX Die-namics.

Happy Stampin'!

Hugs,

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My Favorite Things...September Design Team Creative Challenge...No Patterned Paper!

Hello Stampin' friends! Welcome to the September MFT Design Team Creative Challenge. This is a monthly feature, where we are challenged to explore our creative side using a specific theme, product, or technique. This month, we were challenged to create a card or project with no patterned paper.  Be sure to check out the MFT Blog for a list of all participating designers who have a project to share with you today. 

 I must say that this was quite the challenge for me to not use ANY patterned paper!!! I absolutely adore patterned paper it is one of the things that I just can't really craft without but I took the challenge this month...NO PATTERNED PAPER, as scary as it was. So, I decided to make a Christmas card set.  It just so happened that my order of gorgeous MFT Heavyweight card stock arrived in time and it wasn't so difficult after all. I used MFT Heavyweight card stock in Kraft, Whip Cream Natural, Hot Fudge, Jellybean Green and Paver Red. The First card measures 5.5 X5.5 and the other four coordinating cards are A2 - 4.25 X5.5.

 I thought I would use this beautiful MFT Inspired By Christmas Stamp set. One of the things that I thought would be important on a card without any patterned paper is texture. So, I have added several different elements to the cards to add texture and interest. 

I have been wanting to use the Crystal Ballz that I've had in my stash for a while and thought it would add some pretty sparkle and texture to my cards. I stamped the image with VersaFine Sepia Ink, cut the image with my Circle STAX Die-namics and also used the Circle STAX  Die-namics to cut the double sided Crystal Ballz tape to fit the image perfectly....not need to trim around it...love that. I removed the backing, laid the double sided tape over the image and removed the top liner paper and sprinkled the Crystal Balls all over the image, making sure to get good coverage and patting them down a bit to make sure the were good and secure. I also embossed the Paver Red panel with a Cuttlebug embossing folder. I then cut some corrugated cardboard with the NEW Jumbo Fishtail Banner STAX Die-namics and used the NEW Large Fancy Flourish Die-namics and cut it up and added just a piece of it tucked up under the main panel. The sentiments were stamped with Schoolhouse Mix'd Media Inx and heat embossed with clear embossing powder. I also added some scrumptious Paver Grosgrain Ribbon.

Here is a detail shot...I wanted you to see the effect of the Crystal Ballz over the image but unfortunately it didn't photograph well but it is a very pretty effect. The little circle tag is from the Let's Toast Die-namics set...love this little tag. I stamped and embossed a sentiment from the IB Christmas set. I layered it over a circle cut form corrugated cardboard and tied it with some AC brown twine. 

I kept the inside of all the cards very simple; stamping and heat embossing the image and sentiment on Whip Cream card stock. 

On this card I have cut the Santa from the Inspired By Christmas Stamp set with my Oval STAX Die-namics and layered him over the Dainty Doily Die-namics cut from corrugated cardboard. I embossed the Whip Cream Panel and added the NEW Harlequin Border Die-namics cut from Jellybean Green Heavyweight card stock.  The sentiment is stamped on white card cut with the Sentiment Strips Die-namics and stamped in Mossy Mix'd Media Inx and embossed with clear embossing powder. 

Again a simple inside.

This card features the sleigh bells stamp from the Inspired By Christmas Stamp Set. I embossed the Whip Cream panel and added a Paver Grosgrain ribbon Bow.  I cut a Large Fancy Flourish cut from Hot Fudge Card stock and tucked pieces here and there.

This is the inside.

Another card with the sleigh bells...I cut the main panel with the NEW Jumbo Fishtail Banner STAX and used the Double Dots Border Die-namics.

Here is the inside.

The last card features the sleigh from the Inspired By Christmas Stamp Set. It is stamped in Leather Mix'd Media Inx and cut with the Rectangle STAX Die-namics. I tucked a corrugated Open Scallop Doily behind the main image, cut with the Open Scallop Doily Duo. I also used the Double Dots Border Die-namics and the Large Fancy Flourish Die-namics. 

And the inside...

Well, thanks SO much for stopping by and having a wee peek at the cards for this month's MFT Design Team Creative Challenge...NO PATTERN PAPER! Please, swing on by the MFT Blog to see links to all the designers that took the Creative Challenge this month!

Happy Stampin'!
Hugs,
 

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My Favorite Things Stamps...August Design Team Creative Challenge...Mini Books!

Welcome to The MFT Design Team Creative Challenge, this is a monthly feature, where we are challenged to explore our creative side using a specific theme, product, or technique. This month, we were challenged to create a mini-book.  Be sure to check out the MFT Blog for a list of all participating designers who have put their MFT stamps and/or Die-namics dies to work to create a mini book for you today!

It was such a great opportunity to do a little scrapbooking again...it has been so long since I did any and a mini-book was the perfect way to get my feet wet again! It was also the perfect time to use these pictures that we took 3 years ago when we went to Disney for Hannah's 10th birthday! I had originally intended to make a 12X12 album of this trip but I kept putting it off as I find 12X12 a little overwhelming now after working on 6x6 cards. This smaller 6x6 flip book was perfect size for me to preserve these Disney memories and I really enjoyed the trip down memory lane. I have to say that my husband was also very happy to see me scrapbooking again...he always love seeing the end result.

I have made this kind of flip book before and it is so easy. I think this Flip book pattern has been around for ages so I didn't include a tutorial and I already have a ton of pics for you in this post. One little note about my book...in the past I made a book like this using a sturdy double-sided patterned cardstock paper but this time I decided to make it from Kraft cardstock. I'm happy with how it turned out but unfortunately it is a little too think. I think I added too many layers (go figure) and now it is kind of bursting at the seams and doesn't  want to close. 

 

So here we go...I have lots of pics so bear with me...these are the first 2 pages as you flip open the book. I made this Mini Flip book 6x6 from Kraft cardstock and Echo Park, This and That, Graceful 6X6 and 12X12 papers.  On the cover I Stamped a sentiment from the Big Greetings Stamp set on pattern paper cut with the Fishtail Flags STAX Die-namics. I also used the Pretty Posies Die-namics and the Circle Tag from the Let's Toast Die-namics. I stamped the number 10 from the First Place Award Stamps set. I also used part of a sentiment from the PI Cute-a-tude Stamp set and stamped it on a mini Bracket Tab from the Mini Tab Foursome Die-namics. 

I used Medium Simply Scalloped border Die-namics, Pretty Posies Die-namics, the Leafy Flourish Die-namics and stamped a sentiment from the Clearly Sentimental About Audry Hepburn Stamp set on pattern paper cut with the Fishtail Flags Die-namics.

On this page I used the Open Scallop Doily Duo and another flower with the Pretty Posies Die-namics. I stamped the sentiment from the More Essential Sentiments stamp set on pattern paper cut with the Fishtail Flags and I used used the Just the Ticket Stamp and Die-namics set.

This is the next section opened....

On this page I used the Pretty Posies Die-namics and Leafy Flourish Die-namics again. I stamped a sentiment from the Complimentary Greetings Sentiment set, the Framed Greetings Die-namics and a few more Fishtail Flags.

On this page I used the Just the Ticket Stamp and Die-namics set again and the Fishtail Flags Die-namics. I cut a heart from burlap material with the Hearts of Plenty Die-namics and added a button with Button Quartet Die-namics. I stamped this sentiment from the Girly Graphic Tee Stamp set and stamped it on a portion of the Vertical Greetings Die-namics.

Here is the next section...

On this page I used the Open Scallop Doily Duo again and my Circle STAX Die-namics. I cut hearts with from burlap material and corrugated cardstock with the Hearts of Plenty Die-namics and added another cute button cut with the Button Quartet Die-namics. I used the new Triple Scallop Border Die-namics and a sentiment from the Clearly Sentimental About Audry Hepburn. I also used the Square and Rectangle STAX Die-namics to cut out my larger pictures and to make the mats. They are perfect for this and cut the photos perfectly.

On this small flap I used the Fishtail Flags STAX Die-namics, the Open Scallop Doily Duo and the Circle STAX Die-namics.  I used the Behind the Camera Stamps and Die-namics Stamp Set and the Typewriter Alphabet stamp set to and in the WDW to customize my Disney album. I also stamped a sentiment from the Pure Innocence Naptime on the Bracket Tab Die-nmaics.

This is the middle of the book totally open.

I think this is my favourite page in the book...I stamped a sentiment from the Behind the Camera Stamp Set on pattern paper cut with the Fishtail Flags.  On the side flap I stamped a sentiment from the Vertical Greetings on the Vertical Greetings II Die-namics. 

I add a little embellishment cluster with the Pretty Posies Die-namics and the Circle Tag from the Let's Toast Die-namics and the little tea cup is from the Always Time for Team Die-namics.

On this flap I stamped a sentiment from the Vertical Greetings II Stamp set on the Vertical Greetings Die-namics and the Fishtail Flags Die-namics.

 

I also really like how this page turned out too...

Here I used the Fishtail Flag Die-namics and I stamped a sentiment from the Say What Stamp Set.

I used the Open Scallop Doily Duo Die-namics again with another sentiment from the Behind the Camera Stamps set and I used the Typewriter Alphabet Stamp set again. I also used the Designer Label 3 STAX Die-namics and the Triple Scallop Border Die-namics. 

 

On this flap I used the At the Movies Die-namics and a sentiment from the Behind the Camera Stamps set.

When you open the flaps it reveals this section.

Here I used the small circle tag from the Let's Toast Die-namics and I stamped just a portion of one of the stamps from the Vertical Greetings Stamp set. I also used the Fishtail Flags and Pretty Posies Die-namics. I also stamped a sentiment from the Pure Innocence Fairy Girl stamp set.

Congratulations....you made it to the end! Thanks SO much for sticking with it and for stopping by and having a look at the Mini Flip Book that I made for this month's MFT Creative Challenge! I hope that it encourages you to use your MFT Stamps and Die-namics for your mini-books, albums and scrapbooking pages. I have lots of pictures left over that I couldn't squeeze into this mini book but this project has sparked my inner-scrapbooker and I think I will be tackling that 12X12 album that I was planning on making after all.

Now, head on over to Kim's blog for links to all the MFT Designers who have taken this Month's Creative Challenge and created gorgeous mini-books...I know you will be inspired!!!

Happy Stampin'!
Hugs,

 


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MFT Creative Challenge - Frame it!

Hello stampin' friends! Welcome to our June Creative Challenge! Our Design Team Creative Challenge is a monthly feature, where the design team is challenged to explore their creative side using a specific theme, product or technique. This month, we've been asked to Frame It! Be sure to check the MFT Blog for a list of all the designers who have put their MFT stamps and/or Die-namics dies to work to create a framed piece of art for you.

 

  

So, my friend and co-worker, Anna, asked me to make a framed piece of wall art for her daughter, Lauren, to hang in her bedroom. I picked up this really nice shadowbox frame at HomeSense for just $20 and the smaller 4X6 frame from Micheals for $7. Anna and I discussed the colour pallet she wanted so that the project would coordinate with Lauren's room. I thought this MME Miss Caroline, Fiddlesticks would go perfectly and then we picked 3 PI girls for the shadowbox framed wall art piece to represent some fun things that Lauren loves to do, like, playing with bubbles, running through the sprinkler and playing with a pinwheel! Anna also, asked if I could add some butterflies to the frame too! 

First, I wanted to create a lacy border around the interior of the frame. I found that I was able to tuck a Open Scallop Border Die-namics under the edge of the frame. So I cut approx. 12 Open Scallop Borders from cream cardstock and added an adhesive strip of Scor-Tape to the back. I roughly measured them out, determining where I could use a full 6 " border and strategically placing where the cut border pieces would go so that the scallop pattern was left intact. I also made sure that where the borders met in the corners there was a clean looking edge, almost a mitered edge. Once I had everything laid out, I removed the adhesive backing and adhered the borders all the way around the inside of the frame.

Then, I made 3, 6x6 panels to "house" my little PI girls so they weren't just floating around in the large frame and it would give me a base to later arrange my floral Die-namics and other embellishments. I used a ton of Die-namics on this project to decorate so be patient with me as I list them all, :) I'm loving my Dainty Doily Die-namics, so, I used the Dainty Lace Border Die-namics, Dainty Doily Oval Die-namics and the larger of the 2 doilies from Dainty Doily DUO Die-namics. My new beloved, Hibiscus flower Die-namics and the fabulous leaf that comes with, sure got a work out for this project, as did the gorgeous Botanical Beauty Die-namics. I cut several Rolled Flowers from Puff Cloud White, My Favorite Felt.  To embellish I used some velvet ribbon in pink, purple and yellow from my stash and purple bling sprinkled here and there.

After I made the large shadowbox project, I was on such a roll, that I made this small coordinating frame to be placed on Lauren's bedside table. I used MFT Pure Innocence Make a Splash, one of my all time favorite PI girls and coloured her with Copics and paper pieced her swimsuit. On the small frame you can see the Dainty Lace Border Die-namics and the Oval Dainty Doily, and I used the small Dainty Doily from the Doily Circles Die-namics, layered with the Perfect Petal Die-namics flowers and the Botanical Beauty Die-namics.  I also used the Mini Scallop Edge Die-namics. The little spray of flowers was added to the outside of the frame and adhered with my glue gun.  A sentiment from the Make a Splash set was stamped and cut with the Fishtail Flags STAX Die-namics, then I flipped the die cut peice around and re-cut it so the Fishtail is on both ends, then inked with Milled  Lavender Distress ink. I also used the Photo Corner Die-nmaics too, one on each of the panels.

Here are some detail shots of the Shadowbox frame. On the middle panel I cut a "Polaroid" frame with my Square STAX, like I saw on Joanne's card here. I cut a larger square from black cardstock and adhered it under the white frame. I think it really looks like a "Polaroid" too. Anna can add a pic of Lauren in this spot and I indicated such by stamping out the word "PHOTO" with the Wendy Alpha Stamp set on white card cut from the Ribbon die from the First Place Award Ribbon Die-namics. It is just lightly adhered with re-positionable adhesive so that it can be easily removed. I also cut several Fishtail Flags from various pattern papers and positioned them by the 3 panels. This also functioned as an "anchor" or "home" for adding in Die-namics flowers and embellishments.

I used the By The Letters, Uppercase Die-namics cut from corrugated card to spell out Lauren's name. On this panel I have used the Pure Innocence, Blowing Bubbles, I coloured her with my Copics and paper pieced her out-fit. I stamped one of the sentiments from the Blowing Bubbles set on white card cut with the new Traditional Tag STAX Die-namics and inked with Milled Lavender Distress ink and tucked it under a flowers made with the Flower Trio & Leaf Die-namics. I think if you visit me regularly you will know that I MUST ink all the edges of my papers...it is actually a bit of problem,lol....hence the name of my blog, so I thought I should mention that the papers, Die-namics die-cuts are inked with Tea Dye Distress ink.

I coloured the Pure Innocence, Sprinkler Girl with my Copics and Primacolour Pencils, then paper pieced her swimsuit. I cut the image out with my Oval STAX Die-namics and inked with Tumbled Glass Distress ink. It is matted on the Corrugated card cut with the Oval Dainty Doily. I used the Branch with Leaves Die-namics to fill in a quiet spot in the top corner of the frame by the Sprinkler Girl. I also added a sentiment from the PI Make a Splash Stamp set, stamped on white card cut with the smaller ribbon die from the First Place Award Ribbon Die-namics and inked with Milled Lavender Distress ink.

A little tip, many of the gorgeous Die-namics flowers cut and emboss, like the gorgeous new Hibiscus Die-namics. I brushed over the embossed line with my T0 and T1 Coipc Marker to just add a little more definition to the embossed detail. I also inked the edges with Tea Dye Distress ink. 

Here is the sweet, Pure Innocence, PI and the Pinwheel set. I cut a few Butterflies with my Butterflies Die-namics and the smallest butterfly from the Notched Tag Die-namics set, from chocolate cork material and added some purple gems to them.

I also added another sentiment from the PI and the Pinwheel stamp set...stamped on white card cut with the large ribbon Die from the First Place Award Ribbon Die-namics.

Well, thanks SO much for stopping by and for sticking in to the end of my project post for this month's Creative Challenge - Frame it! I had a lot of FUN making this frame and I hope Anna and Lauren like it! Now, skip on over to Kim's blog for all the links to MFT Designers who have taken up the Creative Challenge this month!

Happy Stampin'!
Hugs,




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