My Favorite Things - October Hits & Highlights!

Hello again!

I'm back again today to share a project that was inspired by this month's Hits & Highlights Challenge, which was to create a design that includes current but previously released holiday products as well as brand new holiday products!  I had so much fun with this challenge!

Honestly, I forget about previous year's holiday release and get wrapped up in the current stuff, so I was really grateful for the opportunity to get some of my favorite holiday product from previous releases! I used the previously released Here Comes Santa Claus Stamp Set and coordinating dies, and paired them with the recently released Snow Globe Greetings (from this month's card kit), the Snowy Scene Builder Die-Namics, the Snowfall - Vertical Stencil and the Circle Extraordinaire Stencil!  I've listed and linked all of the MFT products that I used below.

Please click on through to the MFT Design Blog to be linked to the other inspiring projects that my teammates have created for you using current and previously released holiday products!  I hope it'll inspire you to get your older stamps and dies out and pair them with your new stuff to add to your holiday card stash!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I'll be back very soon with more crafty goodness, so I sure hope you'll come back again to check it out!  Have a great day!

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My Favorite Things - Hits & Highlights Creative Team Challenge: July Release Rewind!

Hello loves!

I'm so excited to be popping in today to share a project for this month's Hits & Highlights Challenge!!  We (the design team) were challenged to create another project featuring stamps and/or dies from the July release (including the mid-month kit/release)! I was super excited for a second chance to use some of the new products that I hadn't had a chance to use during the countdown!

When I saw the Cocktail Hour Die-Namics, I immediately felt like it had a 60's and 70's vibe.  So I went to work die cutting, using colors and elements that reminded me of the 60's.  The speech bubble sentiment is from the A Toast to You Stamp Set, from the mid-month release, and was die cut using the Peek-A-Boo Wheel Die-Namics.  It's so funny to me that these bar carts have come back in style - my daughter has one in her dining area, and it looks just as adorable as this one does!  I guess it's true that things eventually come back in style!  I've listed and linked all of the MFT Products that I used below.

Please click on through to the MFT Design Blog to be linked to the other fabulous projects created by some of my creative teammates! I'm sure you'll enjoy the projects they've created and be inspired once again by this month's release products!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I'll be huddled up in my craft room, stamping and die cutting my little fingers to the bone!  The August Countdown and Release is just around the corner - oh my!  Where did July go?!!  I'll be back tomorrow with TWO POSTS - one that includes a video!  So I hope you'll come back to check them out!  Thanks for stopping by - have an awesome day!

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My Favorite Things - April Hits & Highlights Creative Team Challenge!

NOTE:  This is the first of two posts on my blog today!  I hope you'll pop back in shortly to check out the project and process video that I created for you - it'll be up in about 30 minutes!

Well hello again!

Today a few of us from the MFT Design Team were challenged to create projects that either spin, slide or leap for this month's Hits & Highlights Creative Team Challenge!  I chose to make a project that features the Spin & Slide Channel Die-Namics and the Interactive Pull Tabs to make the turtle and the the snail meet in the middle.  Here's what it looks like before the tab is pulled:

And here's what it looks like after the tab is pulled:

I just love the turtle and snail images from the Cute Critters Stamp Set.  That little envelope is an image from the Tweethearts Stamp Set.  I used several interactive dies, besides the Spin & Slide Channels Die-Namics, to make both critters move towards the middle to each other.  Here's a picture of what the mechanics of the card looks like "behind the scenes," including the Spin & Slide Channels Die-Namics.

I've listed and linked all of the MFT Products that I used below.  Please click on through to the MFT Design Blog to be linked to the other interactive cards that my other teammates have created for your inspiration!  There's some super cute stuff to see, for sure!  Oh, and here's some info on a special sale for you, today only (I've linked the products for your convenience in locating them in the MFT Online Boutique)!!

Today only, enjoy 25% off the featured products: 

Leaping Slider Channels, Interactive Pull Tabs, Spin & Slide Channels, Spin & Slide Discs, Slider Elements

No code necessary.

That's it for me today, my friends!!  I'll be back in a few days to share my first project for the May Release!  Until then, I sure hope you have an awesome day!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

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My Favorite Things - Hits & Highlights Challenge!!

Hello friends!!

I'm popping in quickly today to share a project that I created for this month's Hits & Highlights Challenge!  We were challenged to "shake it up with the A2 Rectangle Frame Die-Namics and the A2 Rectangle Shaker Pouches!  Since I didn't have time during the release to play with the new A2 Rectangle Shaker Pouches, I was excited for this challenge!

I really wanted to create a beach scene using the Beach Scene Builder Die-Namics.  The sentiment is from the Beach Bunnies Stamp Sets!!  I've listed and linked all of the MFT products that I used below.

Please click on through to the MFT Design Blog to be linked to the other fabulous projects that my teammates have created for your inspiration using the new A2 Rectangle Frame Die-Namics and the A2 Rectangle Shaker Pouches!

SALE ALERT:  Today only, enjoy 20% off the two featured products - A2 Rectangle Frames Die-Namics and A2 Rectangle Shaker Pouches! NO CODE NECESSARY!

That's it for me today, friends!  I'll be back later this week with the first countdown post for the April Release!  I hope you'll come back then to check it out!  Have a great day!!

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My Favorite Things–February Hits & Highlights!

Hello friends!!

I’m back today with a super fun project that I created for this month’s Hits & Highlights feature!!  This month, the DT was challenged to play with our Tic Tac Toe pieces!!  Here’s what I came up with!

I adhered the the X’s and O’s from the Tic Tac Toe White and Tic Tac Toe Black to my red angled panel with some Glossy Accents.  They were super easy to adhere, and I think add a super fun and unexpected dimension to the card.  The sentiment was created by doing a bit of “stamp surgery” to two sentiments from the Birdie Brown Greetings Galore Stamp Set!  I’ve listed and linked all of the products that I used below.

That’s it for me today, my friends!! I’ll be back tomorrow with another sketch project for you, so I hope you’ll drop by again real soon!  Have a great day!

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My Favorite Things–November Hits & Highlights Challenge!

Hello friends!!

I’m popping in quickly to share the project that I created for this month’s Hits & Highlights Challenge!  Here’s the challenge posed to the design team:

Hits & Highlights this month is all about the bringing the feel of winter to your holiday with a cool palette featuring blues and purples…bring a little shiver of delight with wintry colors evocative of falling snow and twinkling lights.

And this is my answer to the challenge:

I just can’t get enough of the Snowflake Window Die-Namics.  It’s such a beautifully intricate die that just speaks to me.  So, I was thrilled to have another opportunity to use it on this challenge!  To satisfy the requirements of the challenge, I lightly blended some Salty Ocean  and Seedless Preserves Distress Inks to create the background.  The sentiment is from the Snow Globe Sentiments Stamp Set.  I’ve listed and linked all of the products that I used below, for your information.

Please click on through to the MFT Design Blog to be linked to the other beautiful projects created by my teammates for today’s challenge!  I know you’ll be inspired!

That’s it for me today, friends!!  I’m out of town at the moment, but I’ll be back very soon with more crafty goodness!  Thanks so much for stopping by – it’s the best part of my day!

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My Favorite Things–October Hits & Highlights: Merry & Bright!

Hello friends!!

I’m playing along with this month’s Hits & Highlights Challenge!  The MFT Design Team was challenged to feature products that include “merry” in the name or add brightness to our projects with our favorite lights.  I went with a Merry & Bright sentiment:

One of my all time favorite holiday sentiment stamp sets is the Hand Lettered Holiday Stamp Set.  The font in this set just makes me happy.  And the sentiments are perfect for any holiday project!  I’m also loving the new glitter paper that the MFT Online Boutique is now carrying, and the Holly Jolly Collection is perfect for the holidays!  I cut some 1/4” strips and adhered them to an image panel.  Then die cut the outside edge with the stitched rectangle from the Blueprints 29 Die-Namics.  The perfect finishing touch came in the form of that amazingly sparkly bow created using the Stitched Beautiful Bows Die-Namics.  I’ve listed and linked all of the products that I used below.

Please click on through to the MFT Design Blog to be linked to the other fabulous projects that my teammates have created honoring this month’s Hits & Highlights Challenge! I know you’ll be amazed!

That’s it for me today, friends!!  Thanks so much for stopping by today – it’s always the highlight of my day when you do! I’ll be back again tomorrow with a project inspired by this week’s Sketch Challenge!  Have a great day!

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My Favorite Things–July Hits & Highlights: Sun, Sand & Water!

Hola my friends!!

I’m playing along with this month’s Hits & Highlights Challenge over at the MFT Design Blog!!  This month’s challenge is Sun, Sand & Water!  I knew that this would be the perfect opportunity to try something that I’d been thinking about with the Aquarium Die-Namics.  We have a new Dollar Store in town, and I just happened to drop by during the grand opening.  While I was wandering the aisles, I found some aqua colored hair gel – and a light bulb went off.  First of all, it’s a dollar!!  Hello!!  And it’s the perfect color for the water in an aquarium, and the bubbles are so real life!!  Check it out!

I mean, come on!!  Could that hair gel be more perfect for the bubbly liquid in an aquarium?!!  I placed a very small amount into a 3.5” x 3.5” ziplock baggie that I just happened to have in my stash (what can I say – I’m a sucker for baggies! LOL).  When I say a small amount, I mean just enough for a very thin layer of gel so that when the bag is zipped shut, the baggie lays flat.  I placed a panel of acetate behind the aperture of the aquarium.  And then I adhered two layers of foam tape on the back of the panel, around the left, right, and bottom outside edges of the aquarium aperture.  And then, once I finished embellishing the “aquarium” (rock bottom created by the Stitched Snow Drifts Die-Namics, Kraft card stock, and my Copic Markers; seaweed made using the Grassy Edges Die-namics and some green vellum that I had in my stash; and the fish are from the Gill Friends Stamp Set and coordinating dies), I adhered the front panel to the card base, and dropped the baggie of hair gel into the “pocket” (the space between the front image panel and the card base).  The two panels hold the gel in place and protect it from leaking or exploding.  Brilliant, right?!!  Here’s a closeup of the gel and the life-like bubbles:

I’ve listed and linked the products that I used below – and who doesn’t need to make a stop at the Dollar Store for some hair gel?!!  It’s a dollar, people!!  LOL

Please click on through to the MFT Design Blog to be linked to the other awesome Sun, Sand & Water themed projects that my teammates have created for you!  No doubt you’ll be amazed by what you see!

That’s it for me today, friends!!  I’ll be spending the day in my craft room filming a couple of upcoming videos for you!  But I’ll be back very soon with more crafty goodness to share with you!  Until then, thanks so much for stopping by and have an awesome day!

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My Favorite Things–Hits & Highlights: COCKTAILS!

Hello my loves!!

Have you missed me?!!  LOL  I’ve been super busy behind the scenes doing gramma stuff and trying to get my July Design Team projects done! But I wanted to pop in and share  project that I made for the Retreat that I helped teach at the MFT Headquarters in Eustis, Florida!  We had 30 of THE most adorable ladies join us for five classes over three days, and I was blessed enough to teach one of the three hour classes.  The theme of this month’s Hits & Highlights Challenge just happens to be COCKTAILS, so my project fit the bill perfectly – BONUS!!

Yes, friends!  I broke out the Shrinky Dink to create some super fun glass charms and a tag for a fun gift presentation!  The MFT Products that I used are highlighted in the instructions and linked below.  Here’s how I created my project:

1. Die cut the Wine Tag Die-Namics from Smooth White Card Stock.

2. Using the grid from the Cross-Stitch Tag Die-Namics, die cut the grid from the bottom of the wine tag die cut.

3. Stamp the solid martini glass image from the Martini Time Stamp Set onto some Smooth White Card Stock using Spiced Marmalade and Picked Raspberry Distress Oxide Ink, blending the two colors at the stem.

4. Stamp the lemon image from the Martini Time Stamp Set onto some Smooth White Card Stock using Squeezed Lemonade and Twisted Citron Distress Oxide Ink, blending the two colors on the rind.

5. Die cut the solid martini glass and lemon using the coordinating Martini Time Die-Namics.

6. Stamp the sentiment from the Martini Time Stamp Set onto some Black Licorice Card Stock using Sweet Tooth Pigment Ink. Heat emboss it with white embossing powder. Die cut it using the Stitched Sentiment Strip Die-Namics.

7. Adhere the martini glass, lemon and sentiment strip to the upper portion of the wine tag using foam squares.

8. Stamp the Appletini, Chocotini, Martini, Shaker, Lemon, Lime, and three olives onto some Bright White Shrinky Dink using Jet Black StazOn. Die cut the images using the coordinating Martini Time Die-Namics.

9. Using a 1/8” hole punch, punch a hole in each of the shrinky dink die cuts. Hold each of the die cuts on a heat-safe surface using tweezers or a piercing tool, and heat the die cuts with a Heat Embossing Gun until the die cuts shrink and lay flat. Quickly place an acrylic block on top of the shrunken die cuts to make sure that they’re good and flat.

10. Loop one of the silver jump rings through each of the holes in the shrunken die cuts and close the ends using needle nose pliers.

11. Place crystal beads and one or two shrinky dink charms onto each of the four wine charm wires. Using the needle nose pliers, curve the flat end of the wine charm wires to ensure a secure closure when pinched together.

12. Loop the stretchy bead thread through the holes in the wine tag grid and the loops of the wine charms and secure the thread by tying a knot in the back of the tag.

Keep in mind that I had a few of the products that I used in my personal stash, but they can easily be obtained at Michael’s or JoAnn’s if you’d like to reproduce this project yourself.  Here’s a closeup of the projecct:

I’ve listed and linked most of the products that I used below.  Please click on through to the MFT Design Blog to be linked to the other spectacular projects that my teammates have created for you using the theme of COCKTAILS!  No doubt you’ll find some AMAZING designs to inspire you!

That’s it for me today, friends!  I’ll be in my craft room continuing to cross off the stuff on my “to do” list!  Thanks so much for stopping by today – I appreciate it more than you know!  Have an amazing day!

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My Favorite Things–May Hits & Highlights!!

Hello again!

Have you missed me?!! I know it’s been quiet around here!  I’ve been busting my booty to get some stuff done behind the scenes before I head to Florida for a fun class at the MFT store in Eustis!  I’m soooo excited!!  But I have a project to share for this month’s Hits & Highlights Challenge!  This month’s challenge was to feature magical creatures in our design!  Here’s my answer to the challenge!

I saw this challenge as the perfect time to whip out my Fairy Happy Stamp Set! Isn’t she just so precious?!!  I stamped her, die cut her, and colored her with Copic Markers.  I did the same with the butterfly images.  I stamped the sentiment onto some Limelight Card Stock and die cut it with the Slanted Sentiment Strip Die-Namics.  I’ve listed and linked all of the products that I used below.

Please click on through to the MFT Design Blog to be linked to the other magical projects created by my sweet teammates!  I know you’ll be amazed!!

That’s it for me today, friends!  I still have a few more details to take care of before I head south!  Thanks so much for spending a little part of your day here with me! I’ll be back again soon!

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My Favorite Things–Hits & Highlights/Flop Cards!

Hello friends!

I promised I’d be back with more crafty goodness, and here I am honoring my promise!!  Today, my creative teammies are here sharing our love of the Flop Card Die-Namics!!  Now, you all know that I’m a fool for anything that moves on a card!  And the Flop Card Die-Namics are super fun and EASY to use!!  Here’s what I came up with, using the Flop Card Circle Die-Namics.

So I thought it’d be fun to turn the circle from the Flop Card Circle Die-Namics into a vinyl record.  Does anyone remember those?  LOL  I used the Musical Notes Background on the right side of the card, and the sentiments are from the Jungle Vibes Stamp Set.  Cute, right?!!  Perfect for those “older folks” who actually owned real vinyl records!  LOL

And I’m sure you all won’t be surprised that this wasn’t my first response to the Hits & Highlights creative team challenge.  Because I struggle with reading directions . . . it’s a huge character flaw that somehow keeps popping up in my life!  So, here’s my FIRST flop card – but it doesn’t actually follow the spirit of the challenge.  Hee hee hee

So, if you don’t own any of the Flop Card Die-Namics, you can create your own flop card with dies that you might already have in your stash!!  I trimmed a 5.5” x 8.5” card base from Smooth White Card Stock, and scored it at 2-1/8” (just slightly at the top and bottom edges) and 4.25”.  Then I placed the Cloud Shaker Window & Frame Die on the 2-1/8” scored area, and used the partial die cut technique to cut only the right half of the die.  I left the die in place, and ran it through my die cutting machine a second time using an embossing pad.  It’s really easy to do!  But honestly, the Flop Card Die-Namics take all of the guess work out of making a flop card.

I’ve listed and linked all of the products that I used below.  Please click on through to the MFT Design Blog to be linked to the other flop card designs that my sweet teammates have created for your inspiration!  I know you’ll be amazed!

That’s it for me today, friends!  I’m working my little fingers to the bone in my craft room, but I’ll be back very soon with more crafty stuff to share with you!  Thanks for spending part of your day here with me – I sure do appreciate it!

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