MFT Teaser Day2

Well, did ya'll think I forgot how to blog? I'm still here, life has just been getting in the way here lately. So let's "git to gittin'" and I'll show ya'll something coming your way from My Favorite Things! There's a new sentiment set in town called Clearly Sentimental About Emerson and it features lots of wonderful and uplifting quotes and phrases in some fresh and up-to-date fonts. Ya'll will definitely see another card from me using this set in the near future! For my card today, I paired it up with an older set that I LOVE, Boho Blossoms and made a cute Valentine-ish card that could be given to a great friend. I've got lots of em, so who wants it?
This next card is one that was actually "peeked" yesterday, so I'm going to share mine today! It's from the Love Birds set that includes this super cute bird image, a tree image and a few sentiments. It's perfect for some quick cards when you don't have lots of time to color. Speaking of coloring, see my fancy coloring on this one?
I used my Prismacolor pencils (for a change) and instead of doing a blending technique, I just drew little "crosshatch" lines and highlighted certain areas with a little darker lining. It took less than 10 minutes to color it and create the background as well. I may be doing a little tutorial on this if ya'll are interested. Let me know!



Anyway, there's more eye candy to be had, so pop on over to Kim's blog for links to all the designer's creations!

SUSIE Q-TIP: Sometimes you need a card for a certain occasion at the last minute, but don't have one on-hand to accomodate that particular instance. Here's an idea that may or may not work: See if you have a card already made that you could just swap the sentiments out with by gently pulling off that piece of the artwork and replacing it with another sentiment more fitting to the occasion. It worked for me recently and was not even noticeable. It also didn't work for me recently and I don't want to talk about it.

Masterpiece Friend
Stamps: Boho Blossoms, CS About Emerson (MFT)
Paper: Red, White, Light Blue, Heart Paper (MFT)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, Pure Poppy (PTI)
Accessories: Scallop Rectangle, Circle and Standard Circle Nestabilities, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Cuttlebug, Swarovski Crystals (MFT), Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Jody Boosters
Finished Size: A2

Love Birds
Stamps: Love Birds (MFT)
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery, Aqua Mist, White Perfect Panels (MFT), Nook and Pantry (BG)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black
Accessories: CM Square Punch, Fiskars Border Punch, Scallop Square Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, Scallop Oval Punch, Paper Piercer/Mat Pack, Ribbon, Button and Glitter Garnishment (MFT), Prismacolor Pencils, Twine, Jody Boosters
Finished Size: A2

TCPTUES94--A Great Sketch from Leigh

Well, Oscar seems to be adjusting well to his new home. My mom works, so yesterday was his first day alone without her. He was so happy to see her walk in when she got home, that he went straight to the back door to say, "please let me out". They immediately went outside, he did his business, and when they came back in, my mom gave him a new toy and all was right with the world, especially according to Oscar. I sure am going to have a high standard if there ever comes a day that we get another dog. Oscar rules!

Anyway, I'm sure I'll stop gushing about Oscar soon, but thanks for bearing with me. I just can't help it! So on to why ya'll are really here. I'ts TCP TUESDAY and we have a great challenge for you from The Cat's Pajamas! Leigh is our superstar Hostess with the Mostess and has come up with a great sketch that you will want to use over and over. Today, I've used the "muffins" (cupcakes?) and a sentiment that are included in the Loving Mew set which is part of the Kitty Kat Pack this month. I actually did a little masking for this card (Hi Joanne), but it was nothing compared to Leigh, the masking queen! I did have to cut out two cupcakes from my masking paper, though. (Want an easy tutorial? Let me know.) And see that awesome ribbon? It's also available from The Cat's Pajamas in several fun colors.

For now, though, here's a little run down on how you can play with us in the challenge for your chance to win $25 in Cat Cash:

--All challenge entries will go into TCP's monthly Swanky Stamper contest. This means $25 in Cat Cash for the winner to spend on new stamps from The Cat's Pajamas!
--Link your creation to the slide show/guest book on Alma's blog so that we can all see it!
--TCP stamps are not required (unless the challenge is a STAMP challenge from Susan when specific stamps are required), but are of course highly recommended.
--If you'd like to also upload your piece to Splitcoast Stampers, use the keyword TCPTUES94 for this week.

SUSIE Q-TIP: So a little later today or tomorrow, I'll have another little something from TCP that ya'll are going to WANT to COME BACK for! Trust me, it's BIG! Yep, that's my tip.

Stamps: Loving Mew (The Cat's Pajamas)
Paper: Kraft, Pure Poppy, Black (PTI), Bashful Blue (SU!), Runway Dots (Heidi Swapp)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Border Punch (MS), Copic Markers, Scallop Rectangle and Circle Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, CM Fine tip Black Pen, Glossy Accents (Ranger), Plastic Baubles, Ribbon and Button (TCP), Hemp Twine
Finished Card Size: A2

He's Not Heavy, He's My Brother

Well, I was pretty sure pigs were flying when my mom called and said she had decided to get a dog. After I picked myself up from falling out of my chair, I looked outside, and no, no pork in the sky. She has been thinking of doing just this for about a year off and on. Mostly off.
But she's like me...I want what I want and I want it now! Once we set our mind to getting our hands on something, we won't stop (whining for it) until we get what it is we're jones-in' for. Something clicked this weekend and the switch had been turned on...Must get dog. Must get dog now. So she found a rescue organization and they happened to have a Shih-Tsu which is exactly the kind she wanted. They apparently came highly recommended by several of her friends and even the vet she interviewed before even laying eyes on the dog, reassured her that this was the dog for her. I know for sure she wanted one that was fluffy. She doesn't like to see bony dog toes (which of course, my dog, the Rat Terrier, has).
So I'd like you to meet my new brother. Oscar. He's two years old, housebroken, crate trained, does tricks, so well behaved and is IN LOVE with my mom. He's already made himself at home in her house, taking over the ottoman, playing with his new toys and loves to ride in the car in his CARSEAT! Can we say spoiled already? He follows her around everywhere and does not like it when he can't see her (like when she takes a shower). He was startled by his reflection in the mirror too, and my mom had to reassure him he was the only dog there. Jealous much? Anyway, I just wanted to share. Oh and his toes are well hidden in all that fluff, so he's a keeper.

I'll be back tomorrow with my card for TCP Tuesday coming your way from The Cat's Pajamas. Leigh's got a great sketch for it!

Lovin' From the Oven VIP Blog Hop From MFT

Well, it seems as though I'm addicted to blog hops lately, right? Maybe so. They are just FUN!! Hopefully you came here from Sherrie's blog. If not, do not pass go, do not collect $200, but go to Kim's blog (trust me, it's better that Monopoly jail) and start at the beginning!

The featured product for this super cool blog hop is the newest VIP package from My Favorite Things, Lovin' From the Oven. I was so excited to see a set like this from MFT! We've got Who's That Girl slavin' in the kitchen. Can you relate? Most of the cards for this blog hop including mine, feature another new product, Nook and Pantry DP from Basic Grey that MFT is now carrying so that you can use it with this set--it's perfect, don'tcha think?

Here's what's included in the VIP package that can be yours TODAY ONLY for $30.60 (2 whole weeks before it actually releases with all the other cool and fabulous MFT stuff):
Lovin’ from the Oven Stamp set
Bakery Blend Buttons
Bakery Blend Ribbons
Sugar Glass Glitter (uber cool)
Sakura Clear Glaze Pen
Plus receive a FREE Clearly Sentimental about Food stamp set (value $9)--my sentiment on this card is one from this set--so snarky and I love it!!

Ok, all you skinny cooks out there, it's time to go mix it up with Jessie and see what she's cooked up for ya'll!

SUSIE Q-TIP: Stamp your main image on either a colored piece of cardstock or coordinating (but not too loud) pattern paper. Then paper piece everything on top of that. This photo shows you all the pieces I cut. It's a little disconcerting at first, seeing these arms flailing about all by themselves, but as it gets glued on, it's a fun look. (I use a Xyron "X" sticker maker for this also, just fyi.)



Stamps: Lovin' from the Oven, Clearly Sentimental About Food (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Dark Chocolate, Kraft (PTI), Confetti White, Nook and Pantry (Basic Grey)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, Chestnut Roan (Colorbox), Chocolate Chip (SU!)
Accessories: Scallop Rectangle Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, Sewing Machine/Brown Thread, Copic Markers, Arch Border Punch (MS), Flower (Prima), Pink Twill, Baby Braddies (MFT), Glue Dot, Jody Boosters
Finished Card Size: A2

It's a Kitty Kat Pack/Valentine Blog Hop!

Well, I'm here to KICK OFF the Kitty Kat Pack Blog hop for The Cat's Pajamas! I'm so excited to share with ya'll what TCP is offering for the Kitty Kat Packs this month to help start your projects early for Valentines Day!!

This month the Cat Pack is featuring cards using all of TCP's fabulous Valentine/Love sets. Alma has a sweet deal for you too---Your Kitty Kat Pack will include your choice of one of these sets:
Be Still My beating Heart
Loving Mew
Puppy Love
Hearts and Flowers
PLUS the new swanky Sweet Thing Valentine Glitter and Buttons!

It's the PURRRRRFECT PACKAGE to get you started thinking about L-O-V-E!!

For now, check out the blog hop lineup:
Susan--that's me. I hope you know you're here!
Jen
Amy
Leigh
Toni
Joanne
Tracy
Ana
Alma

Also, don't forget, it's "close enough" to TCPTUESDAY and I'm the Hipster Hostess with the Mostess, so here's all the info on how to play along this week: Let's use our TCP Valentine stamps we already have and make a Valentine card to get us in the MOOOOOD!!!

Here's the Nitty Gritty:
--All challenge entries will go into TCP's monthly Swanky Stamper contest. This means $25 in Cat Cash for the winner to spend on new stamps from The Cat's Pajamas!
--Link your creation to the slide show/guest book on Alma's blog so that we can all see it!
--TCP stamps are not required (unless the challenge is a STAMP challenge from Susan when specific stamps are required), but are of course highly recommended.
--If you'd like to also upload your piece to Splitcoast Stampers, use the keyword TCPTUES93 for this week.

SUSIE Q-TIP: Before inking up Sprinkle or Poochie here, make sure your black inkpad is nice and juicy. I reink it almost every time I use one of these images. Just remember to heat set it if necessary, so you don't smear it. Don't ask me how I know this. I don't want to talk about it.

Stamps: Puppy Love, Be Still my Beating Heart (The Cat's Pajamas)
Paper: Kraft, Pretty in Pink (SU!), Chocolate Kiss (MFT)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko), Chocolate Chip, Rose Red (SU!)
Accessories: Scallop Circle and Circle Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, Glossy Accents (Ranger), Copic Markers, Sweet Thing Glitzy Glitter, Sweet Thing Buttons (TCP), Twine, Glue Dots, Jody Boosters

It's a Verve-y Kind of Day

Well, today's a big busy day in Lilesland. The girls are out of school today (and Monday and are currently making forts with every blanket we own), we need to go do a little shopping for 2 birthday parties tomorrow and I've got lots of cards to make today. Why? Because tonight's the big Verve release! Here's the card I did for my Sneak Preview and an excerpt from the Verve blog:

"Hello Verve fans! It’s me, Susan. Are ya’ll ready for another Verve release? If so, hold on tight, because it’s going to be a wild ride! The stamps this time are exquisite, but we don’t expect anything less from Julee, now, do we? I’m sharing a card with you today using the new Celebrate You set. It consists of 7 stamps; 6 of which are some fabulous and unique sentiments and the last one is that fun flourish I used to make an awesome handcut border on this card. I thought the sentiment called for a masculine look, so that’s the direction I took (this time!). The sentiment and border is heat embossed. It reminded me of the trendy “tattoo” look in menswear, as I paired it with argyle paper and a little fleur de lis texture with some shimmer on the black panel. I can almost smell the cologne counter in Macy’s! Hunky!"

Anyway, if you're a Dirty Dozen Fan Club member, you can see a couple more of my sneak peeks on there, as today's the 15th of the month and the DD gallery is OPEN with 2 new fabulous designers! I've got some of my favorite projects to date in there this month! I'll be sad to see my term end next month.

Be sure and check out all the peeks on the Verve Blog for your chance to win some new stamps and I'll see ya'll at the Release Party tonight right HERE!

SUSIE Q-TIP: Go back to a simple layout you've done before and "revamp" it with tools or embellishments that you may not have had when you first used the layout. (Notice this is practically the same layout from my previous post?)

Stamps: Celebrating You (Verve)
Paper: Kraft, Basic Black (SU!), Argyle (unknown), White (PTI)
Ink: Versamark (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Fluer de Lis Embossing Folder, Cuttlebug, Black EP (Ranger), Heat Tool, Silver Brads, White Button, Silver Twine, Red Stripe Ribbon (SU!), Shimmerz Spritz, Jody Boosters
Finished Size: A2 (4.25 x 5.5)

TCPTUES92--A Baby Boy Blog Hop!

Well, I've been out of town again. I left last Friday to go on my annual scrapbooking retreat at Pine Cove out in Tyler, Texas. I just got back late on Sunday. We had a great time, despite the 16 degree temps, losing power for 9 hours on Saturday and the fact that I forgot my tennis shoes and had to wear my black ankle boots with 2 inch heels all weekend in the forest. It will be the retreat we won't soon forget! Anyway, before I left that day for my extreme scrapbooking adventure, I went to the hospital and saw Jen and little baby Nicolas! He is adorable, adorable, adorable (did I tell ya'll he's adorable?). Jen looked great too, especially since the Texas Longhorns had lost the night before.


Little does she know that we have dedicated today's TCP Tuesday challenge to her! Alma and the Cat Pack have decided to make this not only the challenge, but also a Baby Boy Blog Hop to welcome Baby Nicolas del Muro! Joanne is your Hipster Hostess with the Mostess and you can head over to her blog to start at the beginning. If you already knew that, you should have hopped over from Leigh's blog and next go on over to Alma's blog to see her cute creation along with Tracy's.

The challenge of course, is a color challenge, using Kraft, Chocolate Chip and Baby Blue. However, we DT members may have added a couple of colors covertly to match up with Jen's nursery colors as part of the surprise. We are sneaky like that. I panicked when I realized I don't have any TCP baby stamps, so in looking for a fun subsitute, I saw this cute little kite from the Puppy Love set and decided to use it instead. I stamped it in different colors and then another one on a seperate piece of cream, colored it, cut it out and popped it up, adding the little ribbon below it with hot glue (after trying for an hour to get it to go through some little bitty holes I punched--duh, hot glue to the rescue!).

But you don't have to panic. You don't even have to make a baby boy card! Just follow the simple rules to play along with this color challenge that ya'll can find over on Joanne's blog HERE to possibly win $25 in Cat Cash. Don't forget to cruise on over and see Alma for the last stop on the hop! Welcome home, Nicolas, welcome home.

SUSIE Q-TIP: For a softer look when making sentiment banners or letters like these, don't cut the notched end on such a sharp angle (BTW, I always cut both sides to the middle rather than turning my scissors in the inside corner. That makes it messy.). Flatten out that angle a little bit for subtle-ness. I hope that makes sense.

Stamps: Puppy Love, Coolvetica Alphabet (The Cat's Pajamas)
Paper: Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery (SU!), Cream Perfect Panels (MFT)
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, More Mustard (SU!), Walnut Stain (Ranger)
Accessories: Swiss Dot Embossing Folder, Cuttlebug, Large Scallop Scissors, Copic Markers, Buttons (PTI), Blue/White Gingham Ribbon, Hot Glue, Jody Boosters

It's Blog Hop Time with My Favorite Things

Well, tonight's the big night--the My Favorite Things release for January. I tell ya'll what, Kim sure knows how to start the year off with a bang, don't you think?! We are hopping tonight and you should have made your way over here from Kim's blog, so if you didn't, that's a good place to start so ya'll don't miss anything important! There's blog candy tonight, don'tcha know!

You may have seen the set I'm featuring before as it was part of a recent MFT kit.
But now this little guy is making his very own "De-buhooo" and is flying solo. The set is called Thinking of Hoo? and it comes with the owl sitting on the branch and the "thought balloon" all as one stamp, so it's super easy to use. AND it's available NOW! Then there are sentiments that you can put inside the balloon and some extra tiny hearts to play with. For my card, I paired it up with some MFT papers from the Summer Collection and used some of it to also paper piece the thought balloon.

So I'm sure ya'll have to agree that this release is one of the best, especially after you see all the eye candy the Design Team has in store for you tonight! Hop along now to Megan's blog (I'm so excited she's on the team now!) for some Chick Flick goodness!

SUSIE Q-TIP: Now that I have a wonderful new SMALL hot glue gun (as opposed to my other Black and Decker industrial size one) that Santa brought me, I'm keeping it close at my desk. Use it to easily glue a button onto the top of a pretty bow for a sweet touch.

Stamps: Thinking of Hoo? (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Kraft (SU!), Cream Perfect Panels (MFT), Summer Paper Pack (MFT)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Paper Piercer/Mat Pack, Copic Markers, Summer Ribbon, Buttons (MFT), Twine, Felt Heart, Jody Boosters, Hot Glue
ETA: I forgot to put the card size on here. It's 5.25 x 5.25"

MFT Teasers Day 3--Snow Adorable

Well, here I am again, blogging! Two days in a row, can ya'll believe it? I'm back because I am so excited about one of the newest Pure Innocence sets from My Favorite Things called Snow Adorable (Well, I'm excited about all of them, but this one is different!). This little cutie is the first Pure Innocence BOY! We are only on Day Three of the MFT Teasers and ya'll get to see this sweetness! I KNOW!! When will it stop? Never.

So I spent yesterday afternoon putting this together and had a fun time seeing his little face come to life as I colored him with his dog. I don't really have a lot of blue Copics to choose from (yet--some are in the mail!), so I did the best I could with what I had to work with. Well, actually I do have plenty of them, but they all seem to be in the turquoise range! How did that happen? I would have liked for his pants to be a darker blue, more like denim, but still show contrast. Maybe I'll try again when I get my new Copics. Anyway, be sure to check out Kim's blog again today for direct links to the other MFT sisters who are spotlighting this new set and the other FOUR new Pure Innocence sets coming this Wednesday. Ya'll also don't want to miss your chance to be January's Guest Designer for MFT. Get all the details HERE!

SUSIE Q-TIP: Create a "ground" with just a little swath of color under the feet of your main image. Add little black dots randomly (but not too much) with a fine-tip pen to tie it into the whole image.

Stamps: Snow Adorable (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Kraft, Bashful Blue (SU!), Enchanted Evening (PTI), Cream Perfect Panels (MFT), Spring Collection Yellow (MFT)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko), Chestnut Roan Cat's Eye (Colorbox)
Accessories: Pinked Circle and Circle Nestabilities, Spots and Dots Embossing Folder, Cuttlebug, Copic Markers, CM Black Fine-tip Pen, Silver Brads, Clear Snowflake (Heidi Swapp), EE Stitched Ribbon (PTI), Twine, Jody Boosters

I'm Back with My Favorite Things Teaser-Day 2

Well, I thought it was about time to get back into the swing of things since returning from our Disneyworld vacation. (Plus, I've been sick for two weeks.) So I'm jumping in with both feet here and offering up a little something I whipped up just last night for Teaser Day 2 from My Favorite Things. Today, several of us on the NEW 2010 MFT Design Team are sharing projects and cards using the newest Who's That Girl? set called "Who's That Chocoholic?" and another sentiments only set called "Clearly Sentimental About Chocolate". I've used both for my little project here.

I'm going to be needing a few little gifties really soon, so I thought making a cute little Mini Pizza Box (I think I'm addicted to making them. You can be too when you find Jen's instructions on SCS HERE) to hold some Hershey kisses would be just the thing (I'm making myself give them away or else I'll eat them all myself!). I kept it fairly simple since I'll be making 2 or 3 more of them and it came together super quick! Using all MFT papers from the Chocolate Kiss collection, I paper-pieced her dress and then dressed up the box as well! I also just had to add a little Glossy Accents to the chocolates to make them shine. A cute polkadot ribbon and bow (also MFT) finished it off on top.

I used one of the sentiments from the "Clearly Sentimental About Chocolate" set to give the inside of the box a little somethin'-somethin'. I think it's quite funny and very reminiscent of a "SUSIE Q-TIP"! Be sure and check out Kim's blog where she's linking all of us who are showing off these two sets today! The release is this Wednesday the 6th--ya'll don't want to miss this one!

On a personal note, I've got oh, around 400 pictures from our trip to weed through, but once I do, I am going to put a few on here if ya'll are interested in seeing a few of our Mickey Mouse adventures! We had a wonderful time! Thanks for being patient with me and my lack of blogging while we were gone. I am ramping up to getting back on schedule as we speak! (Especially since the girls will be back in school tomorrow and Eric will be back at work!)

SUSIE Q-TIP: When coloring large backgrounds or areas with Copic markers, don't be disappointed if it looks splotchy at first. Just go over it again with another layer of the same color and it should even out.

Stamps: Who's That Chocoholic, Clearly Sentimental About Chocolate (MFT)
Paper: Chocolate Chip (SU!), GP White, White Perfect Panels (MFT), Rasberry Fizz (PTI), Chocolate Kiss (MFT)
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Scallop Square and Labels One Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, Scor-Pal, Xyron Sticker Maker, Copic Markers, Glossy Accents (Ranger), Polkadot Ribbon, Button (MFT), Hemp Twine, Jody Boosters, Hot Glue