My Favorite Things Guest Designer Entry

I wanted to share with you today my entry for the My Favorite Things Guest Designer contest for May.  I cannot believe we are already down to the last three weeks of school here in Kentucky but the timing couldn't be better for the theme on this challenge-  Be a Teacher's Pet!  It's actually Teacher Appreciation Week at my son's school this week so you know, two birds - one stone and all...  Although it could be tough to let go of this one!  Many hours of work and lots of anxiety-  I am harder on myself than anyone else could possibly be.

As soon as I read the theme I knew that I wanted to use the new A La Modes set - An Apple for Teacher.  Then I saw the A La Modes- You Rule set and loved it as well.  THEN I looked in my stash and saw BIG Greetings set and I knew what to do- Use them all ! :)



I immediately thought that I needed to focus on doing some type of gift set for a Teacher gift. There were already some terrific entries posted when I began my project so I wanted to make sure to try to be unique.  I had made a stationery box a few months back for a card class that I hosted and I hadn't seen many of them on blogs so this is where I started... I used a tutorial by Jackie Topa for the box and it can be found here . The box is very simple to make from one sheet of 12x12 cardstock, one sheet of 8 1/2 x11 cardstock and a 12x12 sheet of patterned paper.  It is designed to hold regular size cards, gift tags and 3x3 cards so I designed samples of each to go with the box. 

For the main cards I started by stamping ALM- An Apple for Teacher on X-press It blending cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.  I stamped her 4 times for coloring!! Whew!  These are all of the Copic colors that I used on her. Yes, all of those on that tiny little girl!! 

I decided that her shirt and the apple needed a bit more style and texture so I stamped those on patterned paper (SU! DSP in Wild Wasabi and Real Red) and then paper-pieced them onto the stamped image.  While I hate to cut little things out I truly think paper-piecing adds so much dimension and flair to a stamped image- painful but worth the look! Much like high-heels, right ladies? :)

I also decided to add a little stitching to my card using my Janome Sew Mini machine...I love that little thing!  Here is the final sample, inside and out-

Here's a closer look at the stationery box

I used the MFT Tag, You're It and Jumbo Scallop Die-namics on the outside along with Twine from The Twinery. 

The lid lifts off the box separately

and the box opens up to show three separate bins for the different components of the stationery set

Here's a photo of the empty box

Because I never know when enough is enough I added two more items to the gift set-  a jumbo clothespin photo holder and an altered composition book.

On this piece I used ribbon tabbed over and stapled to the cover to create a pencil holder.  Using the Vertical Greetings and Button Quartet Die-namics I created a custom book label for the notebook.

I added a sentiment with the Mix and Match Banners Die-namics.  I bought the buttons at Archivers but fail to remember what company manufactures them.

I really enjoyed this challenge and I hope you have enjoyed it too! I can't wait to see what everyone else comes up with using the wonderful stamps, supplies and Die-namics from My Favorite Things!  Wish me luck!!

Now I have to clean up this stamp room or else TLC may come calling for an episode of Hoarders: Buried Alive! 

Birthday Creations

Just sharing a few of my more recent birthday cards

Stamps : Taylored Expressions- Build a Treat, Stampin' Up! -Happiest Birthday Wishes

Die-namics:My Favorite Things- Oval Open Scallop Doily

Cuttlebug embossing folder- Seeing Spots



Stamps: My Favorite Things- Pure Innocence Make Mine a Double

Stamps: My Favorite Things- Pure Innocence - PI and the Pinwheel

Copics...what's all the hype?

Copics...what's all the hype?  I recently decided to give in and give them a try.  I have to tell you up front in my experience with coloring and other company's markers I just felt defeated-  you could always see lines and I never could seem to keep a steady hand.  Let's just say that I didn't expect much from changing markers but was I ever wrong! These markers may be expensive but they are so worth the cost if you are going to be serious about your crafting and card-making!  Sometimes it seems like they just color for you and take away all of the resistance to coloring your stamped images.  I had been the type of person before that wouldn't commit and buy a stamp if it were just a simple outline because I knew I couldn't make it look great.  Copics have changed all of that for me. I am still by far not a Copic master but I'm not afraid to play with them and try to advance my skills.

This particular image is a digital stamp, from Lori Boyd Designs.  Love her images!! They are just adorable don't you think?  I printed this image using my Canon printer onto Taylored Expressions Choice Snow White Cardstock and then colored with Copics. I love to ink up just as much as the next girl but this was so quick and easy using the digital stamp.  I highly recommend Lori's images-  you can visit her here .

What's wrong with this picture?

Feeling the pressure of creating a special card for my husband for Valentine's Day I must have cracked!  Do you see it?  What's wrong with this picture?

Give up?  the hearts behind the A La Mode girl...they are upside down!!  Man when I saw that after I had already glued it down...Oh well, what is it that they say-  if you wanted perfect you'd go to Hallmark? No mistakes, just creativity :)

Stamps:  My Favorite Things- Key to My Heart

Die-namics: My Favorite Things Oval Open Scallop Doily

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Miscellaneous Papers and Ribbons



I'd like to suggest that I locked myself in my stamp room (a.k.a. happy place) all weekend and created for hours and hours to do these next few posts.  The truth of it is though that I just went digging into my "archives" from the last few months to share some of my recent creations.  All of these cards were sent to friends and family over the last few months and I cringe at the thought that they are probably in a trash dump by now!  I'm pretty sure that at least my Mom would have kept hers, right ? :)  Anyway, hope you enjoy!

Rock On

My niece just turned 12 and I have to say it was hard to figure out just the right card to make.  She's just entered middle school and loves dance, music and all things zebra print.  Enter My Favorite Things Tweeny Teen Rock stamp set- it is the PERFECT fit for the occasion and sweet recipient.  Hope you like it!

MFTWSC68- Skater Boy

Those close to me know that I have become a HUGE fan of My Favorite Things stamps and dies in the last few months.  By following Jodi Collins' blog I was introduced to the Pure Innocence line and let's just say I fell in love.  As the mother of two boys I hardly ever get to put together "girly" scrapbook pages so it has been so much fun to work with these sweet little girls for my card-making.  With that being said,  I have 5 nephews so I still get to have fun making boy cards.  I was so happy to find the Skater Boy stamp within the PI line @ MFT.  Here is my latest card using this stamp and the MFT Wednesday stamp club sketch, MFTWSC68.  I was pretty happy with how it turned out :)

Supplies used:

Stamps- MFT Pure Innocence Skater Boy, By the Numbers

Dies- MFT By the Numbers

Papers-Doodlebug Designs Boys Only, SU! Basic Gray

Accessories- Doodlebug Designs Doodle Twine- boy assortment, SU! Pumpkin Pie Cordouroy button

It's official- I am a blogger!

Wow!  This was harder than I thought it was going to be...I typically would consider myself pretty computer savvy- after all, I spend at least 8 hours every day in front of a computer!  Let's just say that Microsoft Excel was a breeze to figure out compared to this.  I have to note my sincere gratitude for www.thecutestblogontheblock.com for having such a great and helpful site. The backgrounds and banner I am using are all from TCBOTB and totally free. If you are contemplating entering the blogosphere I would highly recommend a visit to this site to get started.
Let's see where this world takes me- I'm excited and nervous all at the same time :)