My Favorite Things Blog Hop--Cuddly Style!

Welcome to this leg of the My Favorite Things blog hop! You are now about two-thirds of the way done. Don't poop out on us just yet---there's a prize to be had at the end! If you've missed the first part of the hop, you better get a move on and head over to Kim's blog to take in all the sheer beauty the design team has to offer you this month and get the full effect of the hop!

In case you haven't heard, there are four new stamp sets making their debut tomorrow (more details below). This one is another special charity set with $2.00 from every set sold over the next 6 months going to benefit kids with Cerebral Palsy (like Carole's son, Carter) via the non-profit Euro-Peds clinic in Pontiac, Michigan. It's appropriately named "Cuddle Up Carter" after her son. He is a such a cutie and makes wonderful strides whenever he visits this clinic. I love hearing from Carole about how well he did after their trips there and it just makes my heart burst for her every time I do. What a proud mama she is! Thank you for also supporting this cause.

Here's some more important information about this release:
My Favorite Things is having a New Release Cocktail Party on Wednesday, April 1st from 9-10 PM EASTERN. Head over to the MFT forum HERE to find out all the details and to find out how YOU can be the next MFT Guest Designer. We hope to see you there on Wednesday night!

I hope you like what you've seen so far. The next link in this chain is Natalie, so head on over there to see the awesomeness she is presenting!

SUSIE Q-TIP: When paper piecing, run the cut out pieces through your sticker maker and then adhere them. This way, there are no small edges popping up. It also saves time.

Stamps: Cuddle Up Carter (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Night of Navy, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue (SU!), PTI White, Baby Boy Ribbet, Ribbet (Cloud9Design), Chloe's Closet (MM)
Ink: Palette Noir (Superior)
Accessories: Star Border Punch (The Paper Studio), Cuttlebug Embossing Border, Mini Oval Scallop Punch, CM Oval Cutter, Copic Markers, Navy Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals

A {Ray of Sunshine} Sketch For You To Try

Well, I just couldn't wait to use my new Spring Sprouts set again that my sister, Sara illustrated for My Favorite Things, especially after I saw THIS card that Carole made last week--ACCKK!! I loved it! So when it came time to work on Jen's Sketch For You To Try for today, I asked all my stamps who wanted to come out to play and it just so happens that Spring Sprouts raised its hand first. Now that's fate. I kept a young-at-heart type theme with it and even hand-drew in the smiley-face on the sun, all the time thinking about the little kindergarten girl I keep in the mornings until it's time for her to go to school. This little girl is so sweet and I have truly enjoyed keeping her. (She's even accidently called me mom and said 'I love you' as she's hopped out of the car and skipped on into school.--can I get an "aaawwwww"!) Her mom is doing her student teaching and that's about to come to an end in a couple of weeks. I must say that I will really miss taking care of this little girl (and her brother in the afternoon is just as fun) and I think this card will be for her and her family. She really is a little ray of sunshine! Anyway, I know we will still see her often as her and Audrie have definitely become best buds. Speaking of Audrie, I sign her up for this fall's kindergarten on Monday. Another one of my little rays of sunshine is sprouting so fast and I'm not sure I'm ready to see her hop out of the car and skip into the school just yet.

SUSIE Q-TIP: Instead of always having a white panel for your main image, go crazy and cut it out and mount it on a colored piece of cardstock that you have given some sort of texture to such as scoring or dry embossing.

Want a little more sunshine in your day? Check out what these balls of fire have made for this sketch for this week:
Amy R.
Amy S.
Kelly
Carole

Stamps: Spring Sprouts (My Favorite Things by Sara Williams)
Paper: So Saffron, Kraft (SU!), White (PTI), Rudolph (American Crafts)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Scor-Pal, Copic Markers, Yellow Brads, White Paint Pen, Grosgrain Ribbons, Dimensionals, CM Black Fine-tip Pen

Viva La Verve!!

Well, I still felt a little more crafty last night after redoing yesterday's TCP card. So when we got back from the McDonald's night school fundraiser, I DVR'd Dancing With the Stars and Biggest Loser (2 of my must-see TV shows), and sat down to make another card. This time, I checked out the Viva La Verve Challenges and fell in love with this sketch. Well, Amber likes to put a little "twist" on the sketch--that sly thing! This time, it was to see to it that your card was Clean and Simple (CAS) and you could only use one embellishment. Small problem--I don't "do" clean and simple. I like sewing and brads and ribbon and schtuff. I'm an "oh, just throw it all on there and see how it looks" kind of stamper! So I decided to push myself and purposely chose this challenge (VLVMAR04). I went ahead and fell back on an old standy by color---umm--YELLOW and went for a monochromatic look as well. I used a flower from the Miracles Blossom set and the verse (that I LOVE) is from Everlasting Life (both from Verve). I'm loving my Slice machine and I made the flower panel with the Noteworthy card. My ONE embellishment is the yellow Prima flower with the big rhinestone in the center. Does that count as two? I'm still not sure if this qualifies as a Clean and Simple card. I guess it's clean and simple "for me". Anyway, I'm still going to use that keyword (CAS) when I upload it to Splitcoast. I hope nobody throws tomatoes at me (I don't like them).

SUSIE Q-TIP: Notice a theme here? When you're backed into a corner with a challenge or sketch and don't know where to start, fall back on a familiar color combo to put yourself back into your comfort zone.

Stamps: Miracles Blossom, Everlasting Life (Verve)
Paper: Summer Sun, Georgia Pacific White, October Afternoon
Ink: Palette Noir (Superior)
Accessories: Scallop Circle and Circle Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, Slice/Noteworthy Card, Paper Piercer/Mat Pack, Copic Markers, White Gel Pen, Prima Flower, Adhesive Rhinestone, Dimensionals, Glue Dots

It's TCP Tuesday!

Well, after the kids being off for a week, we are trying to get back into the groove of our regularly scheduled programming. Oh and speaking of programming, BOLT comes out today. This is such a cute cute cute movie, ya'll just have to see it! We will be bringing it home to live with us very soon. Anyway, today is another TCP Tuesday brought to you by The Cat's Pajamas! My madly talented friend, Leigh O'Brien is coming at us with the last of her wonderful sketches and will be passing the torch onto Carole (another genius sketch artist) for the weeks to come. Sometimes you just need a break, right? I worked on this card until the wee hours of the night last night, but once again had to tear it apart and start all over this morning. What is UP with that here lately? So this is how it finally turned out and I love love love it (aside from the fact that the main panel is enormously crooked!)!

YOU are cordially invited to play along and here's all the juicy details:

1. Each a week one of The Cat’s Pajamas DT members will host a challenge.
2. The challenges will vary {stamp, color, theme, sketch, etc.}
3. You will have until {this} Saturday night to complete the challenge.
4. Link your project on this week’s hostess’ challenge announcement. This week you will link your project HERE on Leigh's blog.
5. TCP stamps are not required, but of course, highly encouraged. {Unless it is a challenge calling for a specific stamp}
6. There will be one winner each month. They will be deemed that month’s Swankiest Stamper and get $25 in Cat’s Cash {money to spend on the TCP site!}.
7. When uploading to SCS, please use the keyword TCPTUES51 for this challenge.
8. Alma will post the entries from the week the following Monday on her blog.
9. The newly crowned Swanky Stamper will be announced on the First of the Month and have his/her winning entry posted on The Cat’s Pajamas website where he/she will reign for the entire month!

SUSIE Q-TIP: Be careful when crafting and talking on the phone at the same time. This may cause you to be impaired and adhere things crookedly. The glue I use dries super fast and does not allow for hardly any mistakes unless you correct them right away. Apparently talking about the boring stuff (like laundry and cleaning) makes you lose your concentration.

Stamps: Havin' a Pow Wow (The Cat's Pajamas)
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red (SU!), Chloe's Closet (MM), My Mind's Eye
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch, Circle Punches, Stitched Zig Zag Punch (EK), Cinnamon Stickles, Copic Markers, Red Glitter, CM Glue Pen, Silver Rhinestones, Sparkly Flower, Red Satin Ribbon, Dimensionals

Verve Project Parade

For this Springy Verve Project Parade themed "Egg-stra Special", I just couldn't get the idea out of my head to do something with EGGO waffles as a little play on words as my "Egg-stra" Special project, but it just didn't ever make it to fruition (wonder why? I know, it was a dumb idea!). So I then decided to make some sort of basket to hold candy or eggs in. I came across M. J. Albright's wonderful tutorial for making a woven Easter basket.
Her tutorial calls for certain SU! envelopes. Well, I didn't have any of those so I did a little measuring and came up with my version just out of some cardstock. I created four woven sides and then adhered them together with Tacky Tape.
I have to confess that I could not decide what color or ink color to make the butterflies from the Beautiful Kindness set. I ended up embossing eight different ones and cutting out ten other butterflies until I settled on these embossed in clear EP onto the Certainly Celery cardstock. My hand hurts now! I then made 4 scalloped rectangles and cut them to fit inside the basket with the scalloped edge folded over the outside, added the ribbon handle, (went to the store for some more Easter candy since we can't seem to be able to keep any around here), and finally added the candy bag and tied the tag on it (it says "for you" from the Chocolate Bunnies set). I really love how it came out! I know it will be appreciated by someone who is very "Egg-stra" special!

So do you want some new Verve??? Play along with us during our Project Parade for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to the Verve Stamps store. All you have to do is create an egg-stra special spring project and link it up with the Mr. Linky form HERE. Entries will close at 8PM Mountain on Saturday, April 4! Verve Stamps are not required, but we do LOVE to see 'em if you got 'em!

And to put a little spring in your step, we'll be picking five random commenters over on the VERVE BLOG over the course of the parade who will win their choice of any Verve Stamps set. You never know which Diva will be drawing, so if you see a project you like, be sure to leave the girls some love! :) Good luck and thanks for visiting!

SUSIE Q-TIP: When trying to decide what color/ink etcetera to use on a project, if it involves embossing, go ahead and emboss as many as you may need. That way, if that's the route you choose to go, you won't have to go back and make more. Save them if you decide "not for this project" and you can recycle them into another card.

Stamps: Beautiful Kindness, Chocolate Bunnies (Verve)
Paper: Certainly Celery, Marigold Morning (SU!), Chloe's Closet (MM), Bloom & Grow (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Chocolate Chip (SU!), Versamark Dazzle (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Clear EP, Heat Tool, Cropadile, Large Silver Brads, Scallop Square Nestabilities, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Cuttlebug, Mini Scallop Oval Punch, CM Oval Cutters, Tacky Tape (Provo), New Leaf Grosgrain Ribbon (PTI), Hemp Twine, Buttons, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

A {Little Blue Box} Sketch For You To Try

Well, I know I've never received a little blue box from Tiffany's, but when Jen brought me back this stamp from her trip to New York City, it was almost just as good (now that's a stamper's perspective, huh?). I'll save the "little blue box" event for my husband...someday. I couldn't wait to use this stamp and realized that today's Sketch For You To Try would be the perfect venue for its maiden inkage.
I think it's an old fashioned sales ticket. I think it's just so cool! I took this up close picture so you ya'll could see the detail. That's why this card is pretty much unlike any other I'm used to making. I wanted the image to stand for itself and to only be complemented by the signature white Tiffany's bow and by the bottom three elements that came from my new Damask Designs set from Papertrey (told ya'll I'd be getting it soon). Today is my oldest daughter, Shelbie's birthday and I'm giving it to her. She would never think she's worth something from that store (even though we all are and more), but I want her to feel like it. She's turning 17 and we've been down a rough road together. I'm sure we'll both get a laugh when she finds the $25 Old Navy gift card enclosed.

I'm sure all my Sketch For You To Try sisters have some fabulous creations on their blogs to get your mojo going with this sketch. We'd love to see you play, and if you do, be sure and use our favorite keyword--SFYTT when you upload to Splitcoast!
Check these hotties out (because they're worth it!):
Amy R.
Amy S.
Kelly
Carole

SUSIE Q-TIP: I hardly ever think to stamp directly onto my card base. Try this with some striking color combos and go for the "less is more" approach to a card or project.

Stamps: Tiffany & Co. (Renaissance Art Stamps), Damask Designs (Papertrey)
Paper: Basic Black (SU!), Papertrey White, Patina (Bazzill)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Slice Machine/Noteworthy Card, White Satin Ribbon, Glass Rhinestones, Dimensionals

Check Her Out Bunny

Well, have you seen this card anywhere before? I'm super excited and just had to share. Yesterday I got a comment on it from Jenn Balcer (Mrs. Splitcoast Wonderwoman) saying that it was chosen to be the featured card on the gallery page of SCS (yep, go about halfway down). YAY!! A little later I found out it was also going to be the card used as the picture for the Easter gallery on the MAIN page of Splitcoast as well!! It's in the TOP STORY! Well, shut my mouth! It's plastered all over the place! Well, not really, but I'll take that wording any day if having my cards shown is what it's all about! I love this card, actually. I used one of my favorite Easter sets for it from Verve called Chocolate Bunnies. As soon as I got it, I knew I just HAD to paper piece that Easter egg and this paper from My Mind's Eye called Check Her Out fit the bill perfectly! It's so fun and springy. I also stamped the "egg trio" in Versamark Dazzle on the green piece for a little sparkle. Anyway, I'm off like a herd of turtles. The girls have worn me out this Spring Break week!! I'll try to get a little stamping done today in between smiling and looking at the SCS homepage...and smiling again. Thanks, Jenn.

SUSIE Q-TIP: You CAN paper piece! However, you need a good sharp pair of detail scissors. I love my Cutter-bees that I picked up at Michael's for about $10. They cut all the way down to the wee point! I also recommend another pair of them for ribbon cutting only. Greatness.

Stamps: Chocolate Bunnies (Verve)
Paper: Regal Rose, Certainly Celery (SU!), Papertrey White, Check Her Out (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Palette Noir (Superior), Versamark Dazzle (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Scallop Square Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Copic Markers, White Brads, Tag, White Grosgrain Ribbon, Threading Water Punch (Fiskars), Dimensionals

Put A Spring In Your HOP!!

We are blog hoppin' again with MFT!! If you haven't already, you should start at the beginning over on Kim's (The MFT Lady's) blog. Otherwise, you just hopped on over from Amber's blog and I'm sure you loved what you saw there! Today, 2 new sets from My Favorite Things are being debuted and they have special significance for MEEEE!! Some of you may know who my sister, Sara is (she's done a few awesome blog makeovers here and there--starting with mine). Well, Kim contacted her about illustrating some stamps for her a while back and THESE ARE THEM!! I can't tell you how excited and proud I am for her! She is amazing and has always been a talented and artsy girl. I'm the oldest by nine years and I've watched her grow into one of the most wonderful women I know. She is down to earth, a great mom of two and very dedicated to whatever she sets her mind to. I am honored to call her my sister. So when I was making this card, this sentiment from the Spring Sprouts set was SO appropriate! The flowers and vase come from her other set called Funky Flowers. I actually did a little masking on this card--both regular and reverse masking. In fact, I did the How'd They Do That tutorial on masking over on the MFT forum AND I'm hosting a challenge in the What's Up Wednesday forum to use masking! I hope you'll get to play. I used this cool stuff I had only heard a little about called Eclipse Masking Tape. OH MY GOSH!! I'll never go back to Post-it notes! It's got the same sticky stuff on the entire back side of it and it couldn't be any more easier to use. You've GOT to check it out. Kim's including it in the "Hook-up Bundle" (a whole shabang of some great stuff including these two flower sets!) for this release in the perfect A2 size over on the MFT website! Anyway, I hope you love these sets and I truly can't wait to see what ya'll come up with using them. I know you will love them as much as I do. I'm so lucky to have such a talented family! Now, on to more hopping! Put a spring in your hop and get on over to Michelle's (flaxychick's) blog for some more fabulosity!!

SUSIE Q-TIP: When using the masking technique, always remember to just save the masks you cut out with that stamp set. They are totally reuseable and that will save you all kinds of time.

Stamps: Funky Flowers, Spring Sprouts (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Barely Banana, Old Olive (SU!), Papertrey White, Chloe's Closet (MM)
Ink: Palette Noir (Superior), Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive (SU!)
Accessories: Helmar Acid Free Glue, Prismacolor Pencils/OMS, Scallop Rectangle Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, Eclipse Masking Tape, Vintage Buttons, Sewing Machine, Orange Thread, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Twill Tape (Taylored Expressions)

A {Moto Moto} Sketch For You To Try

Well, finally here's my card for Jen's Sketch For You To Try! I had made (well, almost completed) another card last night, but it was TERRIBLE!!! I usually keep working at a card, even though I'm not pleased with it, until it's decent. I hardly ever just trash something and start all over. Well, it was already 12:30 and this one was beyond help, so I went to bed with a totally different idea in my head. Here's where that idea landed. I like this card MUCHO better than the cardipotomus I did last night! So thanks for being patient with me. I used my new Floral Symphonyset from Verve and just stuck with some "can't go wrong" earthy go together colors (notice the Kraft and Yellow?). Cardipotomus was hangin' in the mud with some funky colors that I was trying to make work, but he wasn't cooperating (Soft Sky, Wild Wasabi, Blush Blossom---can YOU do it?). I saved some of the elements from it and will try to work them into a card later on...maybe.

Anyway, it's time to get cracka-lackin' and check out what my other SFYTT sisters have come up with: Kelly, Carole, Amy S. and Amy R. Our new Guest Designer for this month is Jenn Dierks, so be sure and give her some lovins on Jen's blog too!

SUSIE Q-TIP: If you must trash something you've worked on for quite a while, save some of the main elements, leave them within eyesight on your desk and try to work them into a card later on. For example, the pieces I saved from my card last night was an embosssed butterfly that I had cut out and some Nestabilities shapes. Those took too long to make to just throw them away! Sometimes looking at it fresh a few days later spurs a new design.

Stamps: Floral Symphony (Verve)
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Barely Banana, Always Artichoke, Kraft, Printed Paper (SU!), Papertrey White
Ink: Palette Noir (Superior), Always Artichoke (SU!)
Accessories: Paper Piercer/Mat Pack, Oval Nestabilities, Heart Blocks Embossing Folder, Cuttlebug, Brads, Vintage Buttons, Hemp Twine, Border Punch (EK), Copic Markers, Dimensionals, Glue Dots

It's TCP Tuesday

Well, this week's Hipster Hostess with the Mostest is none other than Jen del Muro. She's given us a color challenge that is "seasonally appropriate". These colors are perfect for Easter or Spring cards, or even a swanky baby card or two. Here's the challenge: use Light Pink, Light Yellow, Light Blue and an optional Brown (any shade) for your card or project. When I heard one of the colors was a yellow, OF COURSE I HAD to play! (I like Yellow.) For this card, I used the new set, Hearts and Flowers and blended the pastels with some Krafty goodness. I think I am seriously in love with Kraft paper. I've always liked it, but it just goes with everything and I can't stop using it! I did a little sponging around the edge of the circle with some Ballet Blue, and then highlighted it with some Stardust Stickles. I love how they brought out even more of the blue sponging. Other than that, this card is pretty simple and combines a few of my favorite elements. Now I need to go and handle a few of my least favorite elements...the huge pile of laundry I need to fold!

SUSIE Q-TIP: Kraft paper---If you have issues with it, I challenge ya'll to use it with almost any color combo for a cool look. Also, use your white gel pen for faux stitching, but make a second row of the stitching to add even more of a "border".

TCP Tuesday is for everyone...so just to remind you, here's how you can join in the TCP Tuesday fun:


1. Each a week one of The Cat’s Pajamas DT members will host a challenge.
2. The challenges will vary {stamp, color, theme, sketch, etc.}
3. You will have until {this} Saturday night to complete the challenge.
4. Link your project on this week’s hostess’ challenge announcement. This week you will link your project to Jen's blog HERE.
5. TCP stamps are not required, but of course, highly encouraged. {Unless it is a challenge calling for a specific stamp}
6. There will be one winner each month. They will be deemed that month’s Swankiest Stamper and get $25 in Cat’s Cash {money to spend on the TCP site!}.
7. When uploading to SCS, please use the keyword TCPTUES49 for this challenge.
8. Alma will post the entries from the week the following Monday on her blog.
9. The newly crowned Swanky Stamper will be announced on the First of the Month and have his/her winning entry posted on The Cat’s Pajamas website where he/she will reign for the entire month!

Stamps: Hearts and Flowers (The Cat's Pajamas)
Paper: Kraft, Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink, Barely Banana (SU!), Papertrey White, Kraft Printed Paper (SU!)
Ink: Ballet Blue (SU!), Palette Noir (Superior)
Accessories: Circle and Scallop Circle Nestabilities, Flower Die, Cuttlebug, Paper Piercer/Mat Pack, White Gel Pen, Sponge, Stardust Stickles, Blue Button, Copic Markers, Dimensionals, Glue dots, Pink Pirourette Striped Ribbon (SU!)

MFT A Go-Go

Well, how's everyone liking the time change so far? It makes me tired! We went to the Fort Worth Zoo yesterday and it about wore us out. This morning came far too quickly! We had a great time, though. The weather was perfect and it was just a wonderful day to enjoy being outside. On a side note, it cost us $40 for 2 adults and 2 kids to go---when did going to the zoo get so expensive? It seems like just a few years ago, it was like three bucks a person to get in! What are those animals eating anyway, caviar? Those shovels they use "inside the cages" must be made of gold!
Anyway, on to some MFT goodness. You know My Favorite Things just had a new release last week, right? Well, here are some more of the cards I made for all the festivities. These first two are some little critters/monsters (?) from the set called Hooga Booga (or as Carole refers to them...Hug a Booger). They kind of remind me of that kid show on Nick Jr. called Yo Gabba Gabba! I have to admit, it's kind of cute!!
This last one is a "Stairstep/Accordian" card. Ya'll know I don't usually do unusual folds or anything like that, but I really wanted to showcase all the monsters from this set called Monsters Ink. My first thought was to mask them and put them all standing together (I'd still like to try it), but that was going to be WAY too time consuming, so I thought about this type of card and having them all pop up for the party! It was fun cutting the first couple out, but after that, the fun died and only started back up when it came time to use my Scor-Pal (ya'll can find the directions I used HERE) and actually put the thing together. Imagine that. Head on over to the MFT site--there's all sorts of specials going on, and don't forget that $2 from every Nite Nite Ellie set sold will be going to St. Jude's Children's Hospital.

SUSIE Q-TIP: In the first card, I added the little stripes to the arms and legs of that "hooga" and colored them different colors. The second card has the little hearts stamped inside the clouds and on the grassy part. Think of ways to add/alter your stamped images to make them even more fun.

Hooga Love
Stamps: Hooga Booga (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue (SU!), Papertrey White, Cheeky Collection (Making Memoires)
Ink: Palette Noir (Superior)
Accessories: Copic Markers, Paper Piercer/Mat Pack, Orange Brads, Shimmerz, Circle and Scallop Circle Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, Dimensionals, Orange Grosgrain Ribbon

Sending You Smiles
Stamps: Hooga Booga (MFT)
Paper: Yo-Yo Yellow, Regal Rose, Old Olive (SU!), Papertrey White, Spring Paper Pack (MFT)
Ink: Walnut Stain (Ranger), Ballet Blue, Gable Green, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Wild Wasabi, Rose Red (SU!)
Accessories: Scallop Square Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, Circle Punch, Felt Flower, Bride Flower (Michael's), Prismacolor Pencils, Copic Markers, Gel Pens, Blue Striped Ribbon (May Arts), Dimensionals, Sponge

Monsters Ink Stairstep/Accordian
Stamps: Monsters Ink (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Regal Rose (SU!), Papertrey White, Spring Collection (MFT)
Ink: Palette Noir (Superior)
Accessories: Copic Markers, Scor-Pal, Circle and Scallop Circle Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, Orange Button, Green Polkadot Brad (The Paper Studio), Silver Brad, Orange Grosgrain Ribbon, Silver Twine, Scallop Scissors, Glue Dots

A {Taylored} Sketch For You To Try

Well, hi there, friends! Jen has a very unique Sketch For You To Try if I do say so myself. It kind of had me stamp-stumped, but I'm sure ya'll will do fine! I think it was just me being over tired this week. However, I do like how this came out---sort of scrappy! I used the new Branching Out set from Taylored Expressions (borrowed it, actually). For each Branching Out stamp set sold over the next three months, Taylored Expressions will donate $7.00 to Eden Projects. You can find more info about that on Taylor's blog HERE. Anyway, is it weird that I made the branch going straight up? I wanted to leave a lot of white space to counter the large gingham print from the paper I chose. Who'da thunk? When I picked up this paper pad from Making Memories, it was my least favorite piece, but (like Kelly), found myself using it first! I kept this pretty simple to match the sweet "flavor" of the sentiment. I'm wishing my red brads matched a little better, but it is what it is. Reds are so hard to match sometimes, aren't they? So I need to get going "just because" I have a lot to do today (shopping, haircuts, projects, cards to make, you know the drill). I hope you get to play along!

Here's my SFYTT sisters creations: Kelly, Carole, Amy S. and Amy R. Our new Guest Designer for this month is Jenn Dierks, so be sure and give her some lovins on Jen's blog too!

SUSIE Q-TIP: Complete blending is not always necessary when using a coloring medium (markers, pencils). Sometimes the starkness and choppiness of the colors adds to the quirkiness of your project. (and we all know, mine are usually quirky!)

Stamps: Branching Out (Taylored Expressions)
Paper: Kraft, Bashful Blue (SU!), Pure Poppy, White (Papertrey), Flower Patch (Making Memories)
Ink: Palette Noir (Superior)
Accessories: Threading Water Punch (Fiskars), 1/8" Hole Punch, Paper Piercer/Mat Pack, Buttons, Red/White Gingham Ribbon, Copic Markers, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Scallop Rectangle Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, Red Brads

Verve Sneak Peeks Week

Well, have ya'll seen what's been going on over on the Verve Blog? It's Sneak Peek week! This will be Verve's biggest release yet and ya'll are in for some great stamping goodness! There are 8 new sets and 5 Plain Janes coming your way and the release party is almost upon us. (More info. on that is below.) Here's the new Bunny Duet single stamp (it comes by itself) which is so fun! There are so many possibilities for this one, but when I first looked at it, it made me chuckle! Who ME, chuckle? (Yep, at just about everything!) It made me think about those old timey pictures where the folks are just standing there in their best duds...(kind of Victorian?), but so serious! So I thought these bunnies needed a little vintage feel to them. There's lots of sponging and distressing going on here with a little bling added to the mix (she had to dress up for her big picture day, don't you know!). The Prima flowers and bunny bows have Shimmerz painted onto them to dress them up even more. These bunnies are all decked out for ya'll and their big "premiere"!

Be sure and stop by the Verve Blog all week for more peeks and chances to win the new releases. Winners will be announced at our release party on Sunday night (it starts at 8 PM ET in the Verve Forum on SCS—so mark your calendar NOW)!

SUSIE Q-TIP: For a deeper and richer effect with a sponged look, first sponge a lighter color ink, going a little further in toward your image. Then go back around with a darker color ink, sponging not so far in as to cover up the lighter color.

Stamps: Bunny Duet, Circular Sayings (Verve)
Paper: Close To Cocoa, Very Vanilla, Groovy Guava, Bravo Burgundy (SU!), Laundry Line (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Palette Noir (Superior), Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel (SU!), Chestnut Roan (Colorbox)
Accessories: Slice Machine, Noteworthy Card, Prima Flowers, Shimmerz, Paintbrush, Brad (7 Gypsies), Pink Adhesive Rhinestones (Kaiserkrafts), Arches Punch (Martha Stewart), Paper Piercer/Mat Pack, Sewing Machine, Brown Thread, Sponges, Copic Markers, Dimensionals, Glue Dot

My Favorite Things Blog Hop!

Well, how's it Hoppin'? I hope you bounced on over here from Cammie's blog (there's no telling what she said about me!). If you just stumbled on over here, I would highly recommend starting at the beginning of the hop by going to Kim's blog at My Favorite Things. Yep, it's a new release Blog Hop from My Favorite Things. The release this time consists of 5 new sets that are all fabulous! This one, however, is the one closest to my heart. It's called Nite Nite Ellie. As you all know, Jen del Muro and I are not only SFYTT sisters, but also really close girlfriends (we met through Splitcoast and later found out we were only 10 minutes away from each other!). She actually designed the concept for this set based on her sweet (most of the time) daughter, Ellie! Ellie is really good at going "Nite Nite". I know because I've been there during her bedtime routine. When I'm over at her house, she makes sure I watch her as she brushes her teeth and shows me what a big girl she is (ask Jen how many toothbrushes she has!). I've even had the privilege of reading her a bedtime story once, and I don't think she passes those tickets out to just anyone...I'm just sayin'. She thinks "Ms. Sus-sus" is the bomb (most of the time)! So cute! Anyway, I think it's a wonderful little set that can be used for so many things. How about some scrapbook pages or sleepover invites? Even better news: This set will be a charity set for MFT. Two dollars from each retail set sold will benefit St. Judes Children Hospital for the first 6 months of release (but just making sure, no, Ellie is not sick--it's just a darn good charity)! Are you ready to see more hop-a-liciousness? Head on over to Paula's blog, Paper Possibilities. She's got something FABULOUS to share, I can just FEEL it!

SUSIE Q-TIP: From here on out, you will find something new in MFT's HTDT (How'd They Do That?) forum during release week. A small handful of design team members will be posting in the Tips & Tricks thread for each month's release, and revealing several of the little things they learned while using their release sets. Basically, you'll be getting advance knowledge of little things you can do to "pump up the volume" (or how to avoid mistakes) with your cards once you receive your own sets. When it's my turn to post to this thread, undoubtedly you will be learning "what not do" and hopefully you won't make the same mistakes I did! I'm sure I'll be a regular contributor!

Stamps: Nite Nite Ellie (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Barely Banana, Certainly Celery (SU!), White, Lavender Moon (Papertrey), Princess (K & Company), Pink Mini Dots (Making Memories)
Ink: Palette Noir (Superior), So Saffron (SU!)
Accessories: Copic Markers, Vintage Buttons, Prima Flowers, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Cuttlebug, Heart Lace Punch (Fiskars), Tiny Flower Punch, Yellow Mini Brad, Tag, Swiss Dot Ribbon (Papertrey), Dimensionals, Glue Dots

Tea's Company---An MFTeaser

Well, lots going on here in Susieville! I'm knee deep in projects that I've made for 2 releases this week and still working on more! To make my day even brighter, I've got two 5 year olds over here, pretending to "spy" on me! I wonder if they've wire tapped the phones, too. I don't know if I can stand the covertness. The Witness Protection Plan is looking pretty good right now. Anyway, I aim to tease, so here's my first MFTeaser for you from My Favorite Things! It's made with the set featuring your favorite rabbit, and it's called Tea With Flopsey . Below is all the info about the release (I hope to see you at the party!). I've got to get moving here before my little "spies" come up with a plan to overthrow me because I'm not getting their Kool-Aid quick enough.

My Favorite Things is having a New Release Cocktail Party on Wednesday, March 4th from 9-10 PM EASTERN. This month there are 5 new sets being released including a Who's that Girl who is hanging with her peeps!

Head over to the MFT forum on www.splitcoaststampers.com to find out all the details and to find out how YOU can be the next MFT Guest Designer. We hope to see you there on Wednesday night.

SUSIE Q-TIP: The ribbon treatment on this one was made from a mistake, but I like the way it turned out even better than my original plan! I had accidently cut the pink ribbon too short to knot it onto the wider green ribbon. So I simply folded it in half and put some tape on it to stuff it behind the main panel and made it stick under there. Then I didn't like how plain that was, so I tied the brown striped ribbon sideways onto the pink. LOVE it!! I now plan to use that little trick more often!

Stamps: Tea with Flopsey (MFT)
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Kraft (SU!), Papertrey White, Sweet Pea (Treehouse Memories)
Ink: Walnut Stain (Ranger), Always Artichoke (SU!)
Accessories: Copic Markers, White Gel Pen, Circle Punch, Pink Button, Brown/Tan Stripe Ribbon (May Arts), Pink/Brown Polkadot Grosgrain, Olive Satin Ribbon, Dimensionals, Corner Rounder, Glue dots