MFT Weekly Stamp Club!

Good Morning and WHAT an exciting day it's already been over at the divine MFT blog!!  Teaser days have started!  Can I get a huge YAY!!!  (wink!) Well in addition to our Teasers we also have our "regularly scheduled programming" hehe...which means that there is a fantabulous sketch as today is Wednesday!! 

And here is my interpretation of is using one of my very favorite Clearly Sentimental Sets - Pearls of Wisdom. 

All papers are MME - Lost & Found Two - Blush.  I paired them with SU! River Rock and Purely Pomegranate.  I stamped my sentiment in SU! Pom ink using the First Class Friends Die-namics as my focal point.

I added some fun stitching to my vertical panel that's behind my main layer and added a dark border around my pretty and light sentiment.  I added a row of self-adhesive pearls to off set the powerful postage stamp border.  I used white mini brads for the corners of the main layers.

I roughed the edges up just a tiny bit for some extra dimension and visual interest.  The inside is simply a layer of the SU! Pomegranate paper with simple stitching around the edges.

Don't forget if you play along and upload your creation to the gallery HERE by next Tuesday you have a chance to win the weekly prize!!

Thanks tons for coming by today!!  See you again tomorrow for another fabulous MFT Teaser Day!!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

MFT Teaser Time!! Who's That Girl?

Hello Hello MFT Friends and Fans!!  Yes!!  It's here and so exciting!!!  Teaser time, YAY!!!!  I am, once again, humbled and beyond honored to have been chosen to represent the amazing MFT company as Guest Designer for this wonderful release.  There are so many fabulous stamp and die sets coming out this week.  You will be in awe, that I am sure of!  (wink!)

This new release starts out with another amazing Who's That Girl - Puddle Jumper.  Can you stand the cuteness!?!?! 

I started by stamping her on X-press Blending paper with Momento ink.  I then colored her with my Copic and Prismacolor markers.  The Prismacolor markers don't have quite the flexibility in terms of color and marker type that Copics do but they are considerably less expensive and readily available at any big box art store (ACM, Michael's, etc).  So I do have a mix of both.  After I colored her legs, ground, puddle and sky behind her I proceeded to paper piece her raincoat and boots.  Ya...I'd love a pair of polka dotted boots like her! I used a layer of Glossy Accents for the puddle and set it aside to dry. 

I used papers from Cosmo Cricket's UPcycle line.  Fabulous fun colors!  I used Kraft and SU! Certainly Celery as my cardstock.

If they layout looks familiar, it should!  It's from MFTWSC18.  One of my most favorite MFT sketches!  After I was done figuring out my panels, layers etc I proceeded to stitch here and there to add some texture.  Once my main image was dry, I matted it and added a fabulous circle of bling around the exterior.

I used some yummy felt that I had in my stash to make a super fluffy, stitched heart to add to the top right corner of my image.  I've had a bit of a crush lately on the resin flowers that you see in the lower left hand side.  I get mine at Michael's and they are DIVINE!  They come in lots of colors and are a wonderful embellishment to have in your stash. 

GASP!  Yes, that's an umbrella DIE-NAMICS!!  SQUEAL!!!  So so so fun!!!  It has a large umbrella as one part of the die plus individual panels so that you can decorate the outside of it.  I cut my umbrella "base" with clear acrylic as I wanted the color of my card interior (the paper with the purses on it) to peek through.  I used other scraps from the front of my card to decorate the umbrella 'front'.  I cut the handle in a scrap piece of cardstock, coated it in Versamark ink and then silver embossing powder and heat set it.  Super swoon! 

For the background of my interior, I used the raindrop stamp that comes with the set, inked in Versamark ink and heat set with clear embossing powder to make them look more realistic.  It's a super subtle touch that looks amazing IMO!  ;)  I chose my sentiment, inked it onto River Rock cardstock and cut out using...wait...what are those OVALS?!?!?  Yes!!! MFT is releasing Oval STAX!!!  Just WAIT until you see the enormous amount of different sizes these come in!  It's unreal!  They are fabulous and snuggle in so nicely when using them to matte! Another MAJOR swoon!!

I used the same felt that I used for the hearts to back my sentiment oval.  I did a bit of stitching to snug it all together and voila...I was happy. 

I want to thank you SO much for coming by today.  I truly appreciate the time it takes you to comment.  I know you are going to be thrilled when you see all of the gorgeous creations that the uber talented Design Team has created and will be creating for you all week!  

See you tomorrow for another amazing Teaser!  

Crafty Hugs!

Meredith

As always here are the wonderful MFT Administrative bits and bobs:

Here are the details about the upcoming release on March 6th at 10 PM EST:

• You can attend the New Release Party on March 6th from 8-10 PM EST HERE in the MFT forum, where you can enjoy fun, games, and PRIZES!
• The MFT release, including all new stamp sets and Die-namics, is on March 6th at 10 PM EST.  You'll find all the newest products HERE at release time.
• The guest designer contest is ON!  Check out the forum for details on how YOU can win $200 in stamp sets and Die-namics, and play along with the MFT Design Team for a month.
• If you'd like to see all the teasers for today, please click on over to the MFT Blog NOW.  Be sure to leave comments as you go for the chance to win one of 2, $10 gift certificates given away daily.  The winners will be posted on March 6th just before the release party, on the MFT blog.

Die-namics used in today's creation:

• You can attend the New Release Party on March 6th from 8-10 PM EST HERE in the MFT forum, where you can enjoy fun, games, and PRIZES!
• The MFT release, including all new stamp sets and Die-namics, is on March 6th at 10 PM EST.  You'll find all the newest products HERE at release time.
• The guest designer contest is ON!  Check out the forum for details on how YOU can win $200 in stamp sets and Die-namics, and play along with the MFT Design Team for a month.
• If you'd like to see all the teasers for today, please click on over to the MFT Blog NOW.  Be sure to leave comments as you go for the chance to win one of 2, $10 gift certificates given away daily.  The winners will be posted on March 6th just before the release party, on the MFT blog.

Some Odd Girl - Roller Mae

Hi All!!  Popping in today bringing you a sweet image from Some Odd Girl.  This darling image is called Roller Mae.  Isn't she FABULOUS?  I love her 'vintage' style roller skates.  I totally rocked these during my entire 80's childhood!  (hehe!)  We are running digi features about every two weeks over at the Odd Girl blog.  And right now, this image is 25% off!! 

I colored her with my Copics using lots of colors!  Her rainbow legwarmers (or toe socks...remember those?!?!)  are my favorite!  I created texture on her jeans using an tiny scrap of denim fabric and my colorless blender ink refill.  First, you color your image.  Then you dab a bit of the refill onto the denim scrap and press onto the area where you want the texture.  The colorless refill will pick up the color leaving the texture in its place.  It's so fun!  I used a nice thick coat of Glossy Accents on her roller skates to get them to a perfect shine. 

The DP is from American Crafts.  I used a sentiment from the Lovey Tobie Clear Set.  I inked it with white craft ink, coated in white embossing powder and heat set.

Thanks for popping in today!!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

Paper and Such Challenge Time!!

Greetings Friends!!!  Today is a very fun day over at the Paper and Such Challenge Blog.  It's a brand new challenge, a favorite technique of mine, paper piecing!!  Come on over and join us!!! 

I've chosen to use the Paper and Such - Bitty Love set.  It's just so cute and lovely and was just waiting to be inked up!  I used a bunch of delicious scraps that have been on my desk recently pulling in bright colors and fun patterns.  I inked the image with Momento ink and colored with my Copics.  I used my Sakura glitter pens for the tiny bee and honey on the top of the pot.  I paper pieced the label on the front of the jar for a tiny bit of extra dimension. 

This is such a sweet set and it's really so lovely and quick to create with!  I can't wait to slip this cutie into one of my kiddies lunchboxes this week! 

See you tomorrow, here at Paper Canteen, with more fun posts!! 

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

Smeared Ink Weekly Challenge Time!

Hi All!!  Lots of posts going on this week on Paper Canteen!  One of which is my last post as a guest designer for Smeared Ink.  Thank you ladies for having me!  It's a true pleasure to create with such lovely and talented artists!

This week's challenge is called Black and Blue.  Here's my interpretation using one of the gorgeous French Fairies images.

I printed my image and colored it with my Copics.  I then cut it out using my Small Oval Nestabilities.  My card measures 4"x4".  I knew I wanted to go shabby and scrappy so I pulled out lots of blue, white and pearl elements.  I used some Ouchless Cardboard which I distressed with my Black Acrylic Ranger Paint Dabber before zig zag stitching the edges.  I then began to layer with a self-adhesive felt snowflake, some chipboard and acrylic accents, a vintage button and baker's twine, Tim Holtz decorative tape, pearls, floral pins and finally my very favorite embellishment right now, resin flowers.  Swoon!!

I also completed the interior of my card using some torn scraps and stamps from MFT.

(card interior)

I hope you have enjoyed my Black and Blue creation today!!  Please come on by the Smeared Ink Challenge blog and play along!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

Dilly Beans Weekly Challenge - "Smile"

Greetings!!  Sorry I've been super quiet this week.  It's school vacation and I've been spending a lot of time with my kiddies doing puzzles, reading books, snuggling watching movies, taking walks, etc.  We are super crafty all of the time so we're all enjoying hanging out and just enjoying time together before our fun, albeit sometimes hectic, schedule starts up again on Monday. 

But today I'm here with you bringing the weekly Dilly Beans challenge your way!  This week's challenge is called 'In Stitches'.  With Megan's amazing images this can be interpreted in so many ways!  Here's mine!

As you can see, I printed out #334 - Heart on two different patterned papers.  I then carefully trimmed them out and adhered them to my embossed card base which measures 3" x 5.5".  I hand stitched three big X stitched on each heart alternating sides. 

 

I adhered a scattering of tiny pearls and simply finished off the interior.  

I hope you come join us over at the Dilly Beans Challenge Blog!! 

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

MFT Weekly Stamp Club - Take A Hike

Greetings Everyone!!  I hope you are having a great week!  I am cozying down with my babies as they are on school vacation and we're having a nice restful week.  I am very excited to be here with you all once again designing alongside the amazing My Favorite Things Design Team ladies.  This week's sketch is a fabulous one!!

I must admit that I went a bit "rogue" on this one.  I dropped out the tab as I used my notebook edge punch and when I tried to nestle my tab in it just seemed to get lost so I eliminated that from my creation.  I also did not use a scallopy element on the bottom for the same reason.  And you'll notice that I have a flag in the center similar to last week's sketch.  I think I still had part of 59 on my brain!  (wink!)

For the background most layer (minty green) I used the elements that come with the Fred Bear - Take A Hike stamp set.  I inked them with my Ranger Ink Perfect Medium and then coated them with a dark green Perfect Pearls powder using a very fluffy paintbrush.  It's hard to tell in the photo but in person there is a fabulous shine to all of those background elements.   

As I mentioned above, I pulled out my never inked (gasp) Fred Bear - Take A Hike.  I must say, that I was in a super girly mood reaching for my MME - Fine and Dandy Girl paper pack so for my intents and purposes I have changed Fred into a girl!!  I colored her fur (all with my Copics) and added a bit of pink to her nose and cheeks as well as giving her a few pink freckles.  I paper pieced her boots using some of the pink polka dotted paper from the MME pack and then coating them with Glossy Accents.  Who says hiking boots can't be patent leather?!!  (wink!)  I also added a bit of Glossy Accents to her tiny hiking companion...the super sweet snail.

 

I did a bunch of different and fun stitching and layering on the front of the card as I was just adoring all of the fun colors and patterns within the 6x6 Paper Pack.  I used my Dizzy Doily Duo (the larger of the two) to back my main image. 

I used the scraps from the front of my card to create the interior.  I used a sentiment from the newly released Finishing Flourishes.  I inked it in Hero Arts Latte Chalk Ink for a bit of a difference from my standard black ink.

I used my ink blending tool to coat the edges with Distress Ink in Old Paper to make everything pop a bit more.  I added two fun Cosmo Cricket - Salt Air buttons - one tied with white yarn with a bit of Distress Ink swiped on it and the other with some rustic twine. 

Don't forget if you play along and upload your creation to the gallery HERE by next Tuesday you have a chance to win the weekly prize!!

Thanks for stopping in today!!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

Dilly Beans - Seeing Red

Good Morning Dilly Beans fans!!!  Today is another wonderful new challenge day at Dilly Beans!  Our theme this week?  "Seeing Red!"  This could be interpreted in so many different ways however I chose to create with the color red.  I've used one of Megan's new images #336 Girl & Butterfly.  She's SERIOUSLY one of my favorites.  Just gorgeous!!!  I've colored her with my Copics.  I printed her out five times.  Once for the image base that I've colored, and then the other four were simply to get the butterfly.  I colored the butterfly four times alternating between red and purple.  I then trimmed them all out, coated them with Versamark ink and heat embossed them with clear embossing powder. 

I then nested them together using dabs of Glossy Accents as my glue.  I wanted this embellishment to truly pop off of the image and come to life.

I then wrapped the butterflies with purple baker's twine to create the antennae.  I adhered the grouping on with another dab of Glossy Accents. 

My papers are all from my red and purple scrap bins.   I, once again, as I tend to do with Megan's images, have kept this simple, crisp and bold. 

I hope you come join us for another amazing challenge over at the Dilly Beans Challenge Blog!! 

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

Bombshell Tutorial - Crafty Creative Card Shapes

Greetings my fabulous Bombshell friends!!  I'm here today with a really simple and basic tutorial on how to make shaped cards.  I've had a few questions regarding these and I thought I'd show you two different ways to create cards other than squares and rectangles.  (although, I must admit...those are my "go-tos")

The first way I will show you is essentially cutting by hand.  I have a couple of old templates that were given to me when I worked on one of my first design teams.  I don't *think* they ever went to production as they were difficult to make due to the materials but you could do this with any shaped template, stencil, or free drawn shape you have.  If you have a Cricut, you could cut any shape and use it as a template in the same way I am going to show here.

I have cut my Kraft cardstock at 5 1/2 x 4 1/4.

I then laid my template (remember this could be ANY shape you have or would like) on top of my folded card leaving the crease at the top.

Trace lightly around the edges with a pencil and then cut on the line.

 I'll do it again with a different template.

Cool, huh? And no fancy equipment necessary!!!  Love that!

If you do have a Big Shot, Sizzix, etc here is how to do the same thing using any die cuts you have.  I've chosen two different styles of Spellbinder Nestabilities to use.  I have used the largest in each grouping to give me the most surface area for my card.

First, select the shape die you want to use.

You'll notice that I anchored my die just on the crease of my card, holding it in place with low tack painters tape.  That way it won't wiggle when it goes through my machine.

Now you will put it into your machine leaving the CREASE SIDE OUT of your cutting plates.  If you cut all the way through you'll have two pieces but they will not be connected.

Run the plates through making sure that that creased edge is hanging out the entire time.

Here is how it looks when it comes out.  Now all I need to do is take my snips and cut the excess away from the sides of the card.

And VOILA:

Sweet, huh?  Ok...one more time using a different shaped die.  Add cutting plate on top and run through leaving the crease side out.

Now all I need to do is cut those little areas to separate it from the outline and my card is ready to decorate.

And here are the four different shaped card bases I've created.  Whether by hand or machine this process is really simple.  Please don't hesitate to ask questions!!  You can either leave a comment in the comments section or come over to my blog Paper Canteen and send me an email with any questions!!

I hope you have enjoyed this crafty, creative shaped card tutorial!!! Please don't hesitate to ask any questions!!!  Just leave them in the comment section with your email so that I may get back to you with an answer!!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

MFT Weekly Stamp Club - Happy Birthday!

Do you know why I love Wednesdays so much?  It's because it's another fabulous week of My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club!!  And am I ever SOOOOOOOOOO excited to be here designing along side the amazing group of women that is the MFT Design Team!  It's a true honor and privilege.  This week's sketch - as they all are - is fantastic, simple and crisp!  

I needed a birthday card for my dear friend to give to her husband for his upcoming birthday so I went clean, masculine and earthy with my creation.

I've used all papers by Basic Grey - Oxford line and SU! solid cardstock.  I used the newly released Finishing Flourishes and Vertical Greetings Die and Stamp Set both inside and out.  I first stamped the beautiful flourishes in SU! Crumb Cake ink and my sentiment in Cherry Cobbler which I heat set with clear embossing powder.  In lieu of a straight banner I cut a banner out of my Night of Navy cardstock and crumpled it a bit with my fingers making the paper softer.  I then very haphazardly fan folded the banner back and forth crumpling more as I went.  I then held it together with my fingers and zipped it through my sewing machine for a bit of zig zag stitching.  I anchored the corners with some navy self adhesive pearls.  

My interior houses the Happy Birthday sentiment from the Finishing Flourishes set (if you have not yet picked this up I HIGHLY recommend it...I've used it at least four times in the last two days!) in Cherry Cobbler.  

I, once again, used the Crumb Cake ink to add a couple of beautiful flourishes to my sentiment panel.  To extend the Vertical Greetings Die, I simply cut it in half in the back and extended the edges out a bit for a layered look.

I hope you have as much fun with this sketch as I have!!  Come on and see the other amazing MFT Designers samples at the MFT Blog or over at the SCS Forum!!  And don't forget you have the chance to win a the fabulous weekly prize so come on over and play along with us!!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

Bombshell Montly Challenge

Good Morning my fabulous Bombshell Fans!!  Today we're still in the lovey mood as we create along with our Darling Bombshell Katie's Monthly Challenge!  

Here is the challenge information straight from the Bombshell Forum:

 

"Well it's February, the month of St. Valentine and as we all love Bombshells I figured lets have a Bombshell LURVE theme!! 
What goes through your mind when you think of love, maybe cherubs, chocolates music and whispering sweet nothings to your honeybun or perhaps something a little darker....broken hearts, tears and thoughts of sweet, sweet revenge.
So here's my Valentine challenge to you this month, I want to see what's in your hearts the good AND the bad If you like sweet nothings- great but lets see a little bit of your dark side too!!!
If you like the dark side of love then sweeten it a little !
So go where your imagination takes you and lets see the YING and YANG of lurve!!!"

Here is where I went with this challenge:

 

I used my first Bombshell love - Bombshell Angel.  She always has and always will make me swoon!!  I inked her up with Momento Ink and stamped her onto Copic Xpress blending paper.  I colored her in with my Copics.  I then inked her again, coloring her bodice in red, coating her in red glitter and then laying on a thick layer of Glossy Accents to make her entire outfit pop and shine!  I trimmed it out once it was dry and paper pieced it over the already colored Angel.  I LOVE how it came out!!   As a finishing touch I glittered up her sweet heels as well!  I added a baby brad to the center of her hair flower to pull in the silver from the corners of the card.  

Papers are all from Basic Grey except for the Kraft base which is from JoAnn Fabrics.  I did a lot of red stitching and kept all other embellishments at a minimum.  

I, of course, finished off the interior to keep everything happy and harmonious.  

Simple, sweet and easy peasy!  I hope you'll come play along with us right HERE!

I've already attach this beauty to my darling husband's Valentine's Day gift that I cannot WAIT to give it to him when he gets home!!

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith

Paper Canteen Valentine's Day Blog Candy Winner!!

 Thank you to all who participated in my blog candy give-a-way!!  Thank you to everyone who was so sweet and kind to put the picture on your sidebar!!  (you can take them down now) 

Without further ADO!!  Here is the winner of my amazing blog candy package!

I put all the names (yes I wrote them over and over and over) on tiny scraps of paper.  And when my husband got home I had him close his eyes and draw one winner!

YAY ROSALEE!!  Congratulations!!!  So thrilled for you!!

Now - I must sincerely thank you for all of your beautiful, thoughtful and fabulous questions and ideas.  I have compiled a list and I will be coming up with a schedule in order to answer them all!!  I will answer one question per week whether it be a written description, a photo or video tutorial or a creation request.  I will get all your questions answered!

Thank you again for supporting me!  I will definitely be back soon with more fabulous blog candy!!

Congratulations again to Rosalee!! 

Crafty Hugs!
Meredith