PaperFections

MFT DT September Creative Challenge: Halloween

Are you in the midst of preparing for a frightfully sweet Halloween season? This time of year presents so many opportunities for crafting -- everything from party invitations and spooky greetings to decor items and delightfully wicked favors. My Favorite Things has challenged the design team to up our Halloween game by creating a plethora of seasonal projects! Here's what I have for you today -- a bunch of felt Halloween decor items! A dimensional pumpkin and drink coasters (click on any photo for a larger view): First is a 3D pumpkin I made out of the Red Delicious (apple) Die-namics -- just change the color and you instantly change it from an apple to a pumpkin! To create the pumpkin, I die cut two layers of Orange Fizz Felt at once. I just folded the piece of felt in half and ran it through my Big Shot, along with MFT's Metal Adapter Plate to ensure a good, clean cut. I did this five times. The dies cut through the felt like butter! Next, I picked up each double layer of pumpkin and folded each pumpkin in half, held them together and machine stitched on the fold (you could also... Read more →

Organization For Your Creative Space: Stencils

Welcome to this new monthly feature from the My Favorite Things Design Team! The monthly focus will always be on organization but the area and type of organization will change each month. I'm really looking forward to gradually getting different areas of my studio more organized and efficient AND seeing all the different suggestions from the team! Thin, versatile, durable -- stencils are all of that and more! If you haven’t amassed a collection of stencils yet, we’re confident that once you give them a try, you’ll become quickly addicted! Whether you use them as a mask for applying color or a texture medium, or run them through your die-cutting machine to add subtle texture, you’ll never run out of creative uses for these supply staples. This month, the MFT team is sharing their storage solutions for stencils. I planned on having a video for you today but unfortunately, it seems the new iOS8 operating system doesn't like my iPad. :( So here we go with some photos! I have my stencils organized by category, in a white wooden storage box which sits on my die cutting station/table, so they are easy to access if I want to dry emboss... Read more →

Leaf Negative WSC195

Hi, everyone -- I'm back with more Fall inspiration today, since I can't get enough of these beautiful Falling Leaves Die-namics from My Favorite Things! While cleaning up my desk after the end of last week's MFT September Release frenzy, I came across this leftover piece of negative die cut Wild Cherry cardstock and just had to put it to use! This week's Wednesday Stamp Club #195 sketch was my inspiration. As you can see, I loosely followed the sketch, but got just about all of the design elements included ... That's the fun with sketches, I think -- putting your own twist on them. You can find all the details about this week's sketch and prize info here (or click the sketch graphic). I also used this month's MFT Color Palette Challenge, since they are some of my favorite colors and I find them easy to work with. You can find all the details about the monthly color challenge here (and enter for your chance at winning a prize!). About my card: I inlaid two Factory Green die cut leaves into the Wild Cherry negative panel, stamped that great "Thanks" sentiment from the new Mason Jar Labels stamp set... Read more →

Fall Door Wreath

Fall is definitely on its way to the south here, so I'm celebrating the cooler weather today, with this door leaf wreath celebration card: You can find all the details on how to create it over in Ellen Hutson's the CLASSroom today ... I hope you'll join me! Read more →

Grateful Mini Album and Copic Video Tutorial

Hello and welcome to My Favorite Things September Release Rewind! The design team hopes to inspire you with more ideas for those new September products you've purchased and are patiently waiting on to be delivered, or to help you finish up your shopping if you are still on the fence about anything! (I'm having a few computer problems at the moment, so all products used are linked at this bottom of the post). Since Fall is one of my favorite times of year, I couldn't get enough of the gorgeous new Falling Leaves Die-namics, Thankful Thoughts stamp set and coordinating Words of Gratitude Die-namics, and Burlap Background, so I created this 5.50" square Grateful mini album: This album cover idea came about when I was die cutting a bunch of the Falling Leaves from different colors of cardstock for another project. I had left the dies intact when I received them (didn't break them apart) and liked how the formation and spacing looked and wanted to use the leftover negative space from this piece of Chocolate Brown cardstock. So I stamped it with the Burlap Background in Whip Cream Pigment Ink. Next, I inlaid all but one of the leaves... Read more →

MFT September New Product Launch!

The time has come . . . Welcome to the September New Product Launch from My Favorite Things! This is the design team's chance to highlight and share more of the new release products that are NOW AVAILABLE for purchase at the MFT Store! Be sure to leave a comment here on my blog post, to be entered for your chance at winning a $100 gift voucher (see last paragraph below for details)! Tonight I'm focusing on MFT's awesome newest illustrator, Miss Tiina's, adorable new Cute Critters stamp set and coordinating Cute Critters Die-namics! The first project I have for you is a cute fox pencil box (say that fast three times!): Isn't he adorable?!! Mr. Fox was stamped with Black Licorice Hybrid Ink onto Copic X-Press It Blending Card and die cut with his coordinating Die-namics. He was colored with Copic Sketch markers (colors listed below in Supply section) and popped up on foam tape on his tree stump (stamped with Chocolate Brown Hybrid Ink onto Kraft cardstock and shaded with E42 Copic marker). The pencil sentiment is from Birdie Brown's Class Act stamp set. It was stamped with Chocolate Brown Hybrid Ink onto Primitive Cream cardstock, die cut... Read more →

MFT Sept Release Countdown-Day 1 & Copic Coloring Video!

Welcome back to the final day of My Favorite Things September Release Countdown -- the new products will be available in the MFT Boutique TONIGHT, Tues, Sept 16 at 10pm Eastern! Some of today's new September featured products are the fabulous new Free with $60 product -- Many Thanks Die-namics: I love the large format and font of these three words ... they make thank you cards extra easy and pretty! Here, I die cut the top word from silver metallic cardstock and adhered it onto 3-4 more layers of the word cut from Smooth White cardstock. This really gives the die cut a lot of "presence", lift and stability: The word is adhered to a Smooth White panel silver heat embossed with the new Mini Chicken Wire Background stamp, die cut from the Blueprints 19 square bracket. The Rose with Overlay and Layered Leaves Die-namics were die cut from watercolor paper and watercolored with Wild Cherry and Factory Green Premium Dye Ink Refills, then topped with their coordinating outline dies cut from silver metallic cardstock -- both were popped up on foam tape. Once again, I used this month's fantastic MFT Color Palette Challenge for this card -- I... Read more →

MFT Sept Release Countdown-Thankful Falling Leaves!

Welcome back to the 5th day of My Favorite Things September Release Countdown -- just ONE more day until the new products are available in the MFT Boutique tomorrow night -- Tues, Sept 16 at 9pm Central! Today's new September featured products are some gorgeous new Falling Leaves Die-namics, along with a wonderful Thankful Thoughts stamp set and coordinating Words of Gratitude Die-namics. I combined them all on this 8-1/2" x 11" photo mat frame / decor piece: I started with a white photo mat, sized 8-1/2" x 11" with a 4" x 6" opening and stamped it with the new Burlap Background in Natural Hybrid Ink ... I love all the texture this background creates! Note: When creating decor projects, or anything to do with photos, I prefer using Hybrid Ink, so I'm assured the ink won't run if it accidentally gets wet. Below is the last portion of the frame about to be stamped: The edges of the frame were sponged with Chocolate Brown Hybrid Ink. Above, you can see the fantastic embossed details of the Falling Leaves, especially on the tan metallic cardstock I used. Here's another close-up (click any photo for a larger view): The leaves... Read more →

MFT Sept Release Countdown-Pure Innocence!

Welcome back to the 5th day of My Favorite Things September Release Countdown -- just 2 more days until the new products are available in the MFT Boutique on Tues, Sept 16! Today's new September MFT featured products are a darling new Pure Innocence addition -- Peanut Butter & Jelly and the new Pinking Edge Rectangle STAX Die-namics: I combined this adorable PI girl with the awesome new Lunchbox Die-namics to create a shaker card! Tiny PB&J "sandwiches" were made with the Mason Jar Mug Die-namics ice cubes to use as the shaker material, die cut from Primitive Cream and Natural cardstock and given a grape jelly edges with Lavender Copic Atyou Spica Glitter Pen: I used a piece of acetate over the Grape Jelly cardstock lunchbox front (adhered on the back of the lunchbox front) to contain the sandwiches. After applying foam tape around the edges of the lunchbox/acetate, I put a backing of Grapesicle cardstock, stamped with the sentiment in Steel Grey Premium Dye Ink, to contain the sandwiches. The girl was stamped with Black Licorice Hybrid Ink onto Copic X-Press It Blending Card and colored with these Copic Sketch markers: (Copic colors for each element are noted... Read more →

MFT Sept Release Countdown-Mason Jars!

Welcome back to the third day of My Favorite Things September Release Countdown! One more bit of blog navigation I wanted to mention before we get started today: If you are ever looking for a particular project here on my blog and don't have too good of luck with the Search or Category sections over in my right sidebar ==>, you can always try the Photo Albums (scroll down towards the bottom of the right sidebar). I usually keep the albums updated with each project, along with a link to the corresponding blog post -- I hope that helps! Today's new September MFT featured products include some fabulous new Mason Jar Mug and Mason Jar Die-namics, along with coordinating Mason Jar Labels stamp set -- so much fun! And these pretty Fresh Cut Flowers Die-namics are just a natural to go in the Mason jar, don't you think? :) I wanted to try and get the look of a vintage blue Mason jar, so first I die cut the jar out of Berrylicious cardstock, then from Vellum. The flower stems were die cut from Fuse Green cardstock and the flowers from Paver Red and Pink Lemonade cardstock ... I love... Read more →

MFT Sept Release Countdown-Birdie Brown!

Before we get started with My Favorite Things September Release Countdown today, I have a little bit of housekeeping about my blog I'd like to mention: I've updated my sidebar list of Favorite Tried-and-True Supplies & Tools (scroll down just a bit over there, under Categories ==> You'll also find some quick links to help you navigate to different areas of the MFT Boutique (store) ... I hope you'll find this list useful! (You can also navigate to the list from any page of my blog by clicking on the "Faves" menu link at the very top of my blog on the far right, under the header. Today I have a card using the fantastic new Blueprints 19 (one of my very favorite-of-all-time bracket frame shapes AND a square frame for square cards & projects -- SWOON!) ... and the adorable new Birdie Brown stamp set, Class Act: Sweet Birdie reminds me of my girls! This is such a cute, versatile stamp set for so many different types of projects, like teacher notes & gifts, student encouragement, lunchbox notes, bookmarks, and school scrapbook pages! I used this month's MFT Color Palette Challenge again for this card -- I adore these... Read more →

MFT Sept Release Countdown Starts-Day 7!

Hello and welcome to the first day of My Favorite Things September Release Countdown! Before we get started, I wanted to be sure you don't miss out on this fabulous sale: You still have about 24 hours left for the sale, which ends tomorrow (Wednesday) night, September 10 at 11:59pm Eastern. It's your chance to check out MFT's brand new, beautiful website, make a wish list, and even see a collection of the Best Sellers (at the bottom of the main page)! Just click < the link to the left or the graphic above to get started taking a look around! Now on with my countdown project! This card uses Lisa Johnson's awesome new Out on a Limb stamp set and coordinating Out on a Limb Die-namics (all products are linked in supply list below): I die cut the leaves out of a piece of Primitive Cream cardstock, then also die cut the leaves out of each of the pretty fall colors of MFT's Heavyweight Cardstock (Paver Red, Tangy Orange, Orange Fizz, Brick Red and Jellybean Green) and inlaid* the colored leaves flush into the die cut leaf negatives (just tape another piece of cardstock underneath the cut out leaves,... Read more →

Apple of my Eye

With school back in full swing, I was in the mood to do some scholastic themed stamping today! Here's what I came up with: I used the new monthly Color Palette Challenge from My Favorite Things: Along with MFT's current Wednesday Stamp Club sketch #192. You can play along with the sketch, too, for your chance to win a MFT gift certificate! Makes for a quick and easy card ... just choose a stamp set and go! My card base is Steel Blue, with a Primitive White panel stamped with the Notebook Paper Background in Grout Gray, then die cut with the rounded corner rectangle panel from Blueprints 6. Someone once asked me for a recommendation of my favorite/most used Blueprints Die-namics and I couldn't narrow that list down to just a few! There are great elements in every set -- like this perfectly sized and corner rounded panel that is just the right size to fit on an A2 sized card front! The Office Supplies Die-namics set was used to create the Steel Grey & Steel Blue clipboard, as well as the cute memo clip and paperclip. The Notebook Paper Background makes a perfectly sized piece of ruled notebook... Read more →

Leaf Shaker Card

Hello and happy weekend! Today over in Ellen Hutson's the CLASSroom I'm sharing how to create a shaker card out of some unusual elements . . . I hope you'll join me there and have a terrific weekend! Read more →

Birthday Butterfly

Hello and happy Monday to you all -- I hope all my U.S. friends are enjoying a little time off on this long holiday weekend. I had the chance to do a little stamping and have a birthday card to share with you -- it uses the current MFT Wednesday Stamp Club sketch #191. You can find out more about MFT's weekly challenge and how you can participate, to possibly win some stamping goodies (and find all the entry samples using this sketch) over at the MFT blog here. I started with a kraft cardstock panel and stamped MFT's new Spotlight Sentiments with Sweet Tooth pigment ink. Once dry, I highlighted one of the spotlight sentiments by coloring it with Pink Copic Atyou Spica Glitter Pen. Next, I placed strips of watercolored cardstock I had left over after trimming them from my September calendar (in the post below this one) in between the stamped rows -- I thought they gave just enough hint of color to accent the lower right pink panel and butterfly. The Pink Lemonade corner panel was sponged with Sweet Tooth ink through the Diagonal Stripes Stencil. It was topped with a kraft cardstock stitched circle (from... Read more →