My Favorite Things Stamps Day 3: Doodles and Dots

It's now Day 3 of the Release Countdown from My Favorite Things Stamps.  Only a few more days to go until the full release on the evening of December 10th!

I had a great time getting cards ready for today.  The stamps are by Sunny Day Doodles and are called Be Your Best Self.  For some unknown reason, I don't have any of the previous Doodles in my collection.  I'm glad to have this set and I'm sure more will find their way into my collection!  My first card leaves the sentiment mainly black and white and shows that the stamps work well in a very clean and simple setting.


Also on this card are the Layered Hearts Border Die, a "button" and background from Blueprints 6, and a tag from the Pierced Traditional Tag STAX. (BTW - if you ever decide to get the pierced tags, know that the non-pierced Traditional Tag STAX is just slightly bigger so are perfect for layering behind the pierced tags.)  The colors on this card are Electric Red and Steel Grey.
I also want to show you another stamps from Sunny Day Doodles Be Your Best Self because it is one of my very favorite quotes.  This card also shows off the new Polka Dot Cover Up Die-namics.  This card is a little bit fussier than the first card. I didn't color the entire sentiment - just gave it some pops of color.

The little flags are from Blueprints 10 which was introduced on Day 1 of the Release Countdown.  The button is Lemon Drop.  The cardstock colors are Grape Jelly (the darker purple), Grapesicle, Sour Apple and Lemon Drop.  I used the Pierced Rectangle STAX for the sentiment, but I cut it down a little bit.  It's easy with the pierced markings because they kind of lock into place.  Just slide the die up and down or side to side until it "clicks" into place and you have a perfect re-sized cut.

My card uses the current sketch from Mojo Monday.

One last card for today.  The other item being previewed today is a full alphabet and full set of numbers - in the round.  They are the Negative Dot Alphabet Die-namics and the Negative Dot Numbers Die-namics.  We have a big birthday coming up in my house in less than a month - and the numbers worked perfectly!

The sentiment is from Birthday Sentiments and the background is the Woodgrain Background.  The tag is the from the Pierced Traditional Tag STAX.  I needed something to top it off under the twine - so I used one of the pierced circle from Blueprints 10 and folded it in half.  The star in the circle is also from Blueprints 10.  The twine is Natural Hemp Cord.

I have said that one of my goals during my time as a guest for My Favorite Things is to show off colors. Since this card is for a teenage boy, I looked through my color ring and decided to show off Safety Orange. I have to admit that I thought that was a funny name since I would have expected something with that name to be an almost neon orange.  But this is a rich brown mustard color.  I really like blues with oranges so added Blu Raspberry which is the darkest of the aqua colors available at My Favorite Things.  Black seemed too dark so I finished it off with Steel Grey.

Be sure to head over (or back) to the My Favorite Things blog.  There is lots of great inspiration from the design team and be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win a gift certificate!

See you tomorrow!

CAS(E) this Sketch: A Merry Bow

This is my second post today.

The My Favorite Things Release Countdown can be found here.

It's time for a new sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch!

I have to admit to being a little stumped by this one. Not so much that I couldn't cut a triangle and follow the sketch - but I would like to have come up with something unique and different.  Not so much! But it is a great sketch for letting paper do the work for you.

I hope you play along with this one...let your paper do the work - or think outside of the box.  I look forward to seeing what you create.

• Stamps: Stampin' Up Tiny Tags
• Paper: Echo Park 'Tis the Season 6x6, Stampin' Up Old Olive
• Ink: Memento black
• Accessories: Simon Says Stamp Perfect Bow die (yes, I know I glued it together upside down!), Stampin' Up Jewelry Tag

My Favorite Things Stamps Day 2: Damask and Stitched Circles

We are on to Day 2 of the My Favorite Things December Release Countdown!!  Today includes some basics that are perfect for so many different cards.

The stamp set and coordinating die set is Mona Pendleton Designs Damask Designs.  It includes small patterns to large patterns, a border and even a couple of small damask flourishes to use with sentiments.  The circles are from the Stitched Circle STAX Die-namics and have that wonderful stitched pattern that add such a nice finished edge on die cuts.  The sentiment is from an earlier set called LJD Birthday Greetings.


I used the circle dies to create a telescoping look for the circles.  Because the damask designs come in different sizes, I could layer them up to create this look.

As I am creating these cards throughout the Release Countdown, I also want to focus on the colors.  I mentioned yesterday that the inks and colors from My Favorite Things were fairly new to me and that I am really happy with them.  Most of the colors are different from some of the other big brands.  On this card I used Steel Blue, a very nice gray color, and Fuse Green, a unique color that can take on yellow or green characteristics depending on the color it is paired with.  I first saw this combination used by Amy Rohl on this card and have wanted to try it ever since!
My layout is from the current Seize the Sketch.

Be sure to head over to the My Favorite Things blog.  You can see what all of the other designers have done with the damask and stitched circles.  And be sure to leave  comment for a chance to win the daily prize!

My Favorite Things Stamps: Day 1: Flowers, Blueprints, Knitting

I have been keeping a secret for over two months now.  I actually went back and checked. A very exciting email arrived in my inbox on September 23rd. It was from Kim van der Sanden of My Favorite Things inviting me to be a guest designer for the December release!!!  I almost missed this very important email.  I had actually ordered from MFT that very morning and the email from Kim was sandwiched between my order confirmation and processing emails - all from MFT Stamps.  When I finally saw it, I picked my jaw up from the floor, re-read it a few times to make sure that I wasn't dreaming, checked my class schedule and my other design team commitments to make sure I could make it work, and replied that I would be absolutely thrilled.

The day is finally here!  And the release is going to be so much fun!  I will have countdown posts from today through December 10th showing you highlights of this release, as will all of the other truly amazing My Favorite Things designers. The Product Launch happens Tuesday, December 10th at 10 pm EST and there will be another set of posts from myself and all of the designers.  Then there are Release Rewinds with even more inspiration on December 12th and 13th.  Phew!  (No wonder I didn't sleep well last night!)

I know this should be much less about me - and much more about the Release Countdown, so here it goes...

For Day 1, I was an overachiever today and did three cards.  (That's probably because I wasn't creative to enough to use all of today's products on one card!)  My first card uses the new Lisa Johnson Designs (LJD) set Grand Peaceful Wildflowers and the Grand Peaceful Wildflowers die set.  This is a super-size version of Peaceful Wildflowers, and includes brand new sentiments.  (FYI - I can't link the new products yet because they aren't available until December 10th.)



I do have to rave a little bit today over the MFT colors, inks, etc. I didn't have any of them before I got the big e-mail and I immediately ordered a couple of pads and a variety cardstock pack.  It's nice!  I have since ordered virtually all of it. The colors are just different enough from other major brands that they are definitely worth having. The ink stamps cleanly and the cardstock is heavy. They also carry felt, buttons and ribbon.

This card uses Brick Red ink (a gorgeous autumn red), Natural ink (brand new!) and cardstock, Steel Grey ink and Whip Cream cardstock (a new fave - it's off-white without looking yellow). I tied it off with the Hemptique Natural Twine that they carry in their store.

My next card shows off the new blueprint die set - Blueprint 10.  Do you have any of these yet?  The price can look a little scary, but just count up everything that you get and you'll quickly see they pay for themselves.  I am using the background panel with the round edges from the new blueprint set and a variety of the circles in the set.


The sentiment comes from LJD Cheerful Blessings - it's an older set that I've had for quite some time.  For my personal cards to people, it's the set that I go to most often.  The card base is Kraft. The other colors are Blue Raspberry, Razzle Berry, and Lemon Drop.  The button is also Lemon Drop and I've finished it with the Hemptique Natural Twine.

Finally, I had to do something with the new Pure Innocence set (and there's one more new set at the end of the release countdown).  I am a knitter....and I am often a knit-wit so I know this card will be used!


This card uses Sour Apple (this and other greens you will see on my blog this week have become my very favorite greens!), Lemon Drop, and Wild Cherry. The buttons are Lemon Drop. The texture on the red strip comes from LJD Western Backgrounds. The scallop edge comes from Blueprints 6.

I am using the MFT Wednesday Sketch that just ended this morning.  If you haven't played along with their weekly sketches - they are nice sketches.  There is a $15 prize to their store.  You don't  have to use MFT supplies, but if you do, the prize goes to $20.  I have to admit to getting a good start on my ink and paper collections by winning these prices!

Now you need to head over to the My Favorite Things blog.   First thing to do - follow the links to all of the other designers.  Second thing - leave a comment on the blog - MFT has huge release prizes, better than I've seen anywhere else.  And I know you will see something this week that you just have to have!

Thanks for dropping by!

Curtain Call: Christmas Countdown

It's time for a new challenge at Curtain Call.  Could it get any better than a Christmas countdown??

photo credit:  thesewingloftblog.com

Actually, it could get better.  Our sponsor for this challenge is Sweet Stamp Shop and they are offering a $15 gift certificate to the winner of this challenge!

I got to play along with my Sweet Stamp Shop goodies and used a number of sets.  Here's the card...

I used a Sizzix embossing folder to get the countdown.  From the Sweet Stamp Shop, I knew that I had to use the reindeer from Speedy Greetings - he is so...hmmm...sweet!!  I used a retired sentiment and, with my apologies, it is gone from the clearance section. The little sparkles are a weakness of mine.  Sweet Stamp Shop's Happy Hour set is really cute and a little quirky, and would be perfect for New Year's or any drinking occasion.  But I got the whole set for the sparkle stamps.  There are a number of sparkles so it was a good purchase...right??!
Be sure to head over to the Curtain Call blog for lots of design team inspiration!  You do not have to use Sweet Stamp Shop's stamps on your card - but you do get a chance to win some.  Create a card based on the inspiration and link up!  I would love to see you play along.

• Stamps: Sweet Stamp Shop Speedy Greetings, Happy Hour, Holiday Sentiments (retired)
• Paper: Papertrey Ink Kraft
• Ink: Memento Black, Copics, Stampin' Up Green Galore, Real Red
• Accessories: Divine Twine Holiday, Papertrey Ink Tag Sale 3, Sizzix embossing folder

Catered Crop: Animal House

The current challenge at Catered Crop is "Animal House". Linda says...

We’re going to get wild with this challenge. No, it’s not a Toga party or a food fight like the 1978 John Belushi classic. Just add wild life, pets, or any animal (dogs, cats, bears . . . ) anywhere in your challenge. And party on!

I was cleaning my desk yesterday afternoon and found one lone fall stamp still in my NBUS stash.  I had worked so hard to make sure nothing "fall" had to hang out in the box for the entire year - but I missed one.  However, I wasn't feeling "fall" anymore so I took this squirrel (which included a "Happy Fall" sentiment) and put him in a winter scene.  The poor little guy's acorns were all buried with the first snow..."Oh, Nuts!"


I did glitter the sentiment to make it look a little more snowy and I'm wishing I wouldn't have done that.  I worked so hard on that sentiment and now it's not very clear.  I put together the scene with a strong memory that there was an "oh nuts" stamp in the set.  Guess what?  There wasn't.  There is a "go nuts" sentiment.  Luckily, the various sentiments all had the right letters so I cut up my teeny tiny sentiments.  I don't mind cutting stamps - but not teeny tiny letters out of various sentiments.  Anyway...I got my "oh nuts" then I messed it up with the glitter - but I most definitely was not going to line up and stamp those letters again!
I hope you play along - but whether or not you do, you must check out the Pinterest board full of animal ideas that Linda has curated.  You can head over to Catered Crop to get the link (and be sure to check back in Sunday when the entire design team shows their creations) - or here is the direct Pinterest link.  There's another week to play along so you have plenty of time!

• Stamps: Papertrey Ink Nuts for You
• Ink: Memento black, Copics
• Paper: Stampin' Up Sahara Sand CS and dsp
• Accessories: Papertrey Ink Nuts for You dies, Lil Inkers Sentiment Flag die, Taylored Expressions Birch Tree Border die, My Favorite Things Snow Drift die

Happy Thanksgiving: Gratitude

Happy Thanksgiving to all who are celebrating today!! It is a day of gratitude and do you know what I am most grateful for at this moment - the fact that my husband does all of the Thanksgiving cooking!!

My card of Thanksgiving includes a wonderful sentiment - one that I most definitely could do a better job of living by.


A week or so ago, I mentioned my husband's leftover turkey soup and that I liked it better than the actual Thanksgiving.  It's also the reason that we rarely accept invitations to other's Thanksgiving meals - we wouldn't have the leftovers for the soup!  And I am going to share it here.  There's really nothing fancy about it - it's mostly just dumping in everything you have left over!

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Leftover Turkey Soup
1 leftover turkey carcass 2 bay leaves 1 pinch marjoram 1 pinch thyme 1 pinch basil 2 Tblsp butter 3 Tblsp flour 1/4 cup rice 1/2 cup chopped celery 1/2 cup chopped onion 2 cups fresh mushrooms 1 handful thin or medium egg noodles 1/2 cup chopped parsley 3 Tblsp sherry Leftover gravy, stuffing, potatoes, vegetables, cranberries, etc. Chicken stock
Take all meat off the bone and set meat aside. Cover with water, add spices, salt and pepper and simmer slowly for 3-4 hours. Remove bones and strain for stock.
Melt butter in saucepan. Stir in flour until smooth. Gradually stir in stock. (It should be 1 1/2 to 2 quarts, if not, add chicken stock). Bring to a boil.
Add rice, celery, onion and a handful of noodles. Simmer 25-30 minutes.  Saute mushrooms. Add to soup with diced turkey meat, all leftovers, and parsley. At serving time, add sherry.
Enjoy!

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My card uses the sketch from clean&simple stamping. I've used it twice this week - it must be a keeper!

I'm also playing along with Crazy 4 Challenges Thankful theme and Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes.

• Stamps: Sweet Stamp Shop Fall Gratitude
• Paper: Papertrey Ink Soft Stone
• Ink: Memento Black, Copics, Papertrey Ink Soft Stone (the small shadows)
• Accessories: Hemptique white twine, Neat & Tangled Crystal Clear sequins, Papertrey Ink Summer Sunrise button