Clownmom Creations

CCEE - Australia Day

2012-01-26T00:01:00.004-05:00

I just joined the CCEE gals on their design team. As today (January 26) is Australia Day, we were to make a card that is Aussie-related. I chose their national colors of green and gold. I have been having fun making CAS cards lately, so that's what I did today.

I inked up a rectangular acrylic block alternately with Memento Bamboo Leaves and Dandelion and then stamped directly onto the card base. Then I stamped the chair and tree with Versafine Onyx Black over the green and yellow -- and clear embossed it. I have found I like the look of the line frame on CAS cards, so I drew the frame with a Bamboo Leaves marker.

Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers - Adirondack Summer
Paper: MFP Fresh Cream
Ink: Memento Bamboo Leaves, Dandelion; Versafine Onyx Black
Accessories: Clear embossing powder, Memento Bamboo Leaves marker

MFP Blog Hop - You Are Cherished

2012-01-20T00:01:00.004-05:00

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's January Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Love Remains Featured January 17
Cowgirls Rule Featured January 18
Sending Happy Thoughts Featured January 19
You Are Cherished Featured January 20

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the blogs listed below (don't forget this one) each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!)We will announce all four winners on January 21, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win!) The winners will be chosen at 11PM EST on Friday January 20, 2012.

The last set for this month's blog hop can be used for Valentine's Day, as both of the images are in the shape of hearts. As you may be aware, these images (like yesterday's) also coordinate with other MFP sets. The front of my criss-cross card uses the wreath of black-eyed susans; whereas the insert uses an image from another set, Black-Eyed Susans for Encouragement. After coloring the wreath, I cut it out and mounted it on a heart-shaped panel and centered it. The designer paper for this set is the same as one from yesterday, Basic Grey's Cappella, which coordinates very nicely with the MFP August Greens cardstock.

I stamped the pansy heart with Versafine Satin Red and clear embossed it,, then colored the pansies using Copic markers. After embossing the white card base with a Sizzix Valentine embossing folder, I attached a piece of Authentique Uncommon designer paper and a thin strip of the same MFP Red Hots cardstock as the Lacey Circle shape behind the heart.

Again, I remind you to comment on the following blogs for your chance to win some stamps. We're so happy you joined us this week for our blog hop. Good luck in the drawings.

Lois (you are here)
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary
Dawn M.
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Harriet
Kathy
Silvia
Brenda
Mark's Finest Papers

MFP Blog Hop - Sending Happy Thoughts

2012-01-19T00:01:00.004-05:00

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's January Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Love Remains Featured January 17
Cowgirls Rule Featured January 18
Sending Happy Thoughts Featured January 19
You Are Cherished Featured January 20

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the blogs listed below (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! (You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day! The names are drawn randomly!)We will announce all four winners on January 21, 2012 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. (HINT: The more you comment, the more chances you have to win!) The winners will be chosen at 11PM EST on Friday January 20, 2012.

Sending Happy Thoughts, today's featured set, consists of "postage stamps" using several images which are included on other Mark's Finest Papers' sets. This gives a lot of versatility to the stamps. My first card is an example of that versatility. The image on the front is from today's set, whereas the flower and bee images on the insert are from Happy Pansies.

My second card uses just the rosebud postage stamp image colored in three different shades. I cut out the postage stamps and mounted them on a piece of MFP August Greens, with a contrasting layer of Deepest Mahogany. The designer paper that is peeking out from behind is Basic Grey's Cappella -- which has that same soft green color interspersed with a darker brown. The sentiment is cut out using a Spellbinders ribbon die.

Be sure to comment on the following blogs to increase your chance of winning some stamps.

Lois (you are here)
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary
Dawn M.
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Harriet
Kathy
Silvia
Brenda
Mark's Finest Papers

MFP Blog Hop - Cowgirls Rule

2012-01-18T00:01:00.005-05:00

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's January Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Love Remains Featured January 17
Cowgirls Rule Featured January 18
Sending Happy Thoughts Featured January 19
You Are Cherished Featured January 20

I think today's set, Cowgirls Rule, is my favorite of this month's release. I made another criss-cross card today, using MFP Dark Chocolate Bar and some Heidi Grace designer paper. My contrasting cardstock is Later Afternoon Sun, so I colored the roses on the boots yellow. The insert is a fairly simple birthday wish.

I love the image of the little girl and her horse! When I colored the saddle, I made it a sort-of-mahogany color to coordinate with the Basic Grey Boxer DP I used as a background for the focal image. The sentiment is attached using some brown/white bakers twine threaded through eyelets.

Remember to comment on all the following blogs to increase your chance of winning.

Lois (you are here)
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary
Dawn M.
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Harriet
Kathy
Silvia
Brenda
Mark's Finest Papers

MFP Blog Hop - Love Remains

2012-01-17T00:01:00.011-05:00

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's January Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Love Remains Featured January 17
Cowgirls Rule Featured January 18
Sending Happy Thoughts Featured January 19
You Are Cherished Featured January 20

My first project for today's set, Love Remains, is a criss-cross card made with several images from the set. If you've never made a criss-cross card, you can find the directions in the Resources section of Splitcoaststampers. My card base is MFP Razmataz Berry, a 100-pound cardstock, with designer papers from Authentique's Uncommon paper pack. I colored the rose images with Copic markers R00, R01, R11, R12, R14, BG93, BG96, and a Prismacolor marker PM-192. I cut out the large rose and popped it up onto a strip of MFP August Greens and pale green ribbon. The insert is August Greens and Snow Storm Smooth. I added some bling for interest. I did find out you shouldn't use Memento ink on ribbon. After I photographed my card, I noticed that the ink was bleeding into the ribbon. (Lesson learned!!!)

My second project is a set of four coasters. The rosebud on the front coaster is from Love Remains, and the others are from various other MFP sets. The background image is from MFP Background Fun, stamped in Palette Charcoal. You can find these coasters in the photo frame section of Michaels.

Here are all four of the coasters.

Remember to comment on all the following blogs to increase your chances of winning.

Lois (you are here)
Vicky
Anne
Pat G.
Karen H.
Patty P.
Mary
Dawn M.
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Nancy
Bonnie
Harriet
Kathy
Silvia
Brenda
Mark's Finest Papers

A Sketch Challenge and More

2012-01-12T00:23:00.003-05:00

In the next couple of weeks I am going to be joining a challenge team, the CCEE Stampers. To get my feet wet, I'll be doing the challenges but not as an official member. Today's challenge is a sketch drawn up by Frances Byrne, StampOwl on Splitcoaststampers.

I used a new set from Mark's Finest Papers, a Heinrich Company, called Love Remains, which will be released next week. The set includes both a full rose and a rosebud, a trio of leaves, and seven sentiments.

I also made a card for the SCS Ways to Use It challenge -- to use stickers on your card. I've recently realized that I could actually make CAS cards, something that came as a total surprise to me. One thing I like to add to a CAS card is the line frame around the edge of the card. My required stickers on this card are the butterflies -- from a sheet of Startform stickers. The rose is from the same soon-to-be-released set from Mark's Finest Papers, a Heinrich Company -- Love Remains.

I'm looking forward to playing with the CCEE stampers, a few of them who were on the Stampin' Bs with me for several years.

Card #1
Stamps: MFP Love Remains
Paper: MFP August Greens, Snow Storm Smooth; K & Company Julianne DP
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copic markers, Circle nestabilities, Eyelets

Card #2
Stamps: MFP Love Remains
Paper: MFP Premium Heavy White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Cottage Ivy
Accessories: Copic markers, Starform butterfly stickers, Memento Cottage Ivy marker

MFP Sneak Peeks

2012-01-11T19:14:00.005-05:00

My challenge cards for yesterday and today were sneak peeks of a new set called Sending Happy Thoughts that will be released by Mark's Finest Papers next week. My first card was for yesterday's SCS color challenge (Blushing Bride, Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze). I didn't have the exact colors, but I think the ones I used were pretty close. This stamp set includes three postage-stamp images (a rosebud, a pansy, and a black-eyed susan) and three sentiments.

My second card was for today's sketch challenge. I did rotate the sketch to accomodate the black-eyed susan image.

I'll try to post a few more sneak peeks before next Tuesday, when our official MFP Blog Hop starts.

Card #1
Stamps: MFP Sending Happy Thoughts
Paper: MFP Precious Pink, Red Hots, Snow Storm Smooth; Prima Sweet Fairy DP
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copic markers, Ribbon

Card #2
Stamps: MFP Sending Happy Thoughts
Paper: MFP Greener Grass, Snow Storm Smooth; Basic Grey Curio DP
Ink: Memento Bamboo Leaves, Cottage Ivy
Accessories: Copic markers, Buttons, Bakers Twine

Inspiration Challenge

2011-12-31T14:22:00.007-05:00

As I have mentioned many times before, the Inspiration Challenge on Splitcoast is my favorite of the week. Today's site, Embroidery Everywhere was chock-full of inspiration. I actually did three projects based on the embroidered images on the site.

The first card was inspired by this Tranquility Tree. A fellow-SCSer Mary (a/k/a jandjccc) sent me some window diecuts (while I wait to order and receive the dies) to use. What a great diecut! I stamped the image from a Mark's Finest Papers, a Heinrich Company, set called A Trip to Lancaster, coloring it with Copic markers. I embossed the cardbase with a Sizzix bricked embossing folder and then glued on the window scene.

My second card was inspired by this Retro Lemonade image. I used a layout from Page Maps to get started. The lemon was stamped twice -- one of which I cut out and popped up. I used DP from Basic Grey's Nook and Pantry paper pack.

My third project was actually made initially for Speedy's Friends Challenge #88 -- to use a snowflake. Looking for something that would be appropriate for a snowglobe and snowflakes, I found this embroidered snowman. It's hard to see behind all that glitter, but there definitely are snowflakes stamped on the paper. I bought the snowglobe kit from Hobby Lobby and used a retired set from Mark's Finest Papers, a Heinrich Company, called Snowman Country. I love that little snowman!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.

Masculine Cards

2011-12-24T14:37:00.004-05:00

I've been trying to add some masculine cards to my stash this week. Here are two of them:

The first one was done for Friday's Free4All challenge on Splitcoast -- to make a tri-fold card. One of my favorite types of tri-fold card is the Joy Fold Card. You can find the directions for this fold in the Resource Section of SCS. I used Green Forest and Hazelnut Tan cardstock from Mark's Finest Papers, a Heinrich Company, for the panel bases, and two different designer papers from Basic Grey's Oxford paper pad. The image, a new favorite, is from MFP's brand-new set New Pines, and stamped onto MFP Fresh Cream.

On the inside I stamped the single pinecone and overstamped the sentiment in Versafine Olympic Green.

My second guy card was made for the Inspiration Challenge on SCS. Pam Stang had suggested Urban Art Loft as the inspiration site this week. Believe me, it is chock full of all kinds of inspiration. I chose this print as my inspiration. I used the barn scene from MFP's A Trip to Lancaster for the main image, coloring it with Copic markers. The paper I used was MFP's Deepest Mahogany, Hazelnut Tan, Desert Tan, and Snow Storm Smooth. I added some trim with a thin strip of the Deepest Mahogany.

So I've got a few more guy cards in my stash now. Several birthdays are coming up, and I will surely use these. Thanks for stopping by my blog and hope you have a very Merry Christmas!

MFP Blog - New Pines

2011-12-15T00:01:00.011-05:00

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's December Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Pucker Up Featured December 13
Pussy Willows Featured December 14
Ice and Snow Featured December 14
New Pines Featured December 15

I'm still making Christmas cards, so in addition to an image from today's set, New Pines, my first card has a Christmas sentiment from another MFP set, Greetings of the Season mini set. I still had some MFP Robin's Egg cardstock on my desk from one of yesterday's cards, so I stamped the two trees onto it rather than on white. To "cover up" the blue on the trees, I added some snow -- by way of Polar White Flower Soft.

I think my last card of the blog hop is my favorite. Masculine cards are always a challenge, but these pinecones made it so much easier. Stamped on MFP Corn Husk cardstock and colored with Copic markers, I matted them with several layers (MFP Deepest Mahogany and Corn Husk) and popped the panel up on pop dots. The background paper is from Basic Grey's Oxford paper pad.

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! We will announce all four winners on December 16, 2011 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. The winners will be chosen at 11PM EST on Thursday December 15, 2011.

Lois (you are here)
Vicky
Anne
Connie
Linda
Karen H.
Patty P.
Geri
Dawn M.
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Brenda T
Bonnie
Harriet
Tammylee
Silvia
Mark's Finest Papers

Card 1
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers - New Pines & Greetings of the Season mini set
Paper: MFP Greener Green, Robin's Egg; Basic Grey Jovial DP
Ink: Versafine Olympia Green
Accessories: Clear ep, Polar White Flower Soft, EK Success trees border punch, White gel pen

Card 2
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers - New Pines
Paper: MFP Deepest Mahogany, Corn Husk; Basic Grey Oxford DP
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa
Accessories: Copic markers, MS border punch, Baker's Twine, Pop dots

MFP Blog Hop - Pussy Willows & Ice and Snow

2011-12-14T00:01:00.013-05:00

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's December Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are
Pucker Up Featured December 13
Pussy Willows Featured December 14
Ice and Snow Featured December 14
New Pines Featured December 15

My gatefold card for the Pussy Willow set is rotated from yesterday's gatefold card layout. I love pussy willows -- they remind me of my childhood. When I was a kid, we used to put pussy willows in jars of colored water. As the water was drawn up into the stems, the pussy willows would change color. I had rows of different colored pussy willows sitting on my window sill.

For my second card, I stamped the large and small branches onto a piece of MFP Hurricane Gray cardstock to make my own background. Using a layout from Page Maps, I made one of the sentiments from this set into the focal point of my card.

The second set for today is Ice and Snow. My gatefold card is pretty straight forward. I stamped the trees onto a piece of MFP Robins's Egg cardstock, which is slightly mottled, giving the sky a realistic look. I cut one side off to make the image asymmetrical and added the deer image.

I love the icicles from this set and stamped them across the top of the background piece, adding some Icicle Stickles, and then stamped the large snowflake with some Memento Summer Sky ink. The sentiment was cut out using Spellbinders Labels Four (both regular and small sets) and popped up with pop dots. I punched out some snowflakes and scattered them around.

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! We will announce all four winners on December 16, 2011 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. The winners will be chosen at 11PM EST on Thursday December 15, 2011.

Lois (you are here)
Vicky
Anne
Connie
Linda
Karen H.
Patty P.
Geri
Dawn M.
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Brenda T
Bonnie
Harriet
Tammylee
Silvia
Mark's Finest Papers

Card 1
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers - Pussy Willows
Paper: MFP Flecked Dirt, Snow Storm Smooth; Authentique Journey DP
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Distressed Tumbled Glass
Accessories: Copic markers, Labels Eleven, Sponge applicator

Card 2
Stamps: Marks's Finest Papers - Pussy Willows
Paper: MFP Bang Up Blue, Hurricane Gray, Snow Storm Smooth; Authentique Journey DP
Ink: Versafine Blue Lagoon, Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Clear ep, Ribbon, Corner rounder

Card 3
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers - Ice and Snow
Paper: MFP Dark Night Navy, Sparkling Silver, Robin's Egg; Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses DP
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Tim Holtz Distressed Faded Jeans
Accessories: Clear ep, Stardust ep, Ribbon, Modern Label punch, Pop dots, Snowflake brad

Card 4
Stamps - Mark's Finest Papers - Ice and Snow
Paper: MFP Premium Heavy White, Dark Night Navy
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Summer Sky; Tim Holtz Distressed Tumbled Glass
Accessories: Icicle Stickles, Labels Four (large and small), Snowflake punches, Pearls, Pop dots

MFP Blog Hop - Pucker Up

2011-12-13T00:01:00.016-05:00

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's December Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Pucker Up Featured December 13
Pussy Willows Featured December 14
Ice and Snow Featured December 14
New Pines Featured December 15

I like doing fun folds, so my first card for this month's blog hop is a gatefold card. I used the large lemon image for my focal panel, coloring it with Copic markers. The patterned paper is from Basic Grey's Nook and Pantry paper pad. How appropriate was that paper with its sliced lemons and other fruit.

For my second card I used the smaller lemons and cut them out with circle nesties, matted in two different papers from Basic Grey's Urban Prairie DP pad. I punched the top of the background paper with an EK Success border punch.

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day for more chances to win! We will announce all four winners on December 16, 2011 on the Mark's Finest Papers blog. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. The winners will be chosen at 11PM EST on Thursday December 15, 2011.

Speedy's Friends and Inspiration Challenge

2011-12-03T11:31:00.004-05:00

I made two cards for this morning's Inspiration Challenge on Splitcoaststampers. The inspiration was appropriate for the season -- lots of hand-blown glass Christmas ornaments by Christopher Radko. I chose this retired ornament as the inspiration for my first card, which is also for Speedy the Cat's Friends challenge of using your favorite embellishment. I used the icicles, large snowflake and sentiment from a soon-to-be released set from Mark's Finest Papers. a Heinrich Company, called Ice and Snow.

The icicles were stamped in ColorBox Silver pigment ink and embossed with Detail Silver embossing powder. Using Copic Opaque White paint, I colored them in and then added some Icicle Stickles. The sentiment and snowflakes were stamped in Stampin' Up Whisper White and embossed with Winter Wonderland embossing powder, which has some silver sparkles in it. I guess my favorite embellishment would be ribbon, especially when paired with a stickpin or two.

I did wind up making two cards for the inspiration challenge. I chose this little church ornament as the starting point for my second card.

Colored with Copic markers in the same colors as the ornament, this church reminds me so much of the mission church I attended as a child in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. This week's SCS sketch challenge seemed to be a good layout to highlight the church scene. The designer paper is from the Authentique Wonder paper pad.

Card 1
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers - Ice and Snow, unknown small snowflakes stamp
Paper: MFP Dark Night Navy, Sparkling Silver, Snow Storm Smooth
Ink: ColorBox Silver Pigment, SU Whisper White
Accessories: Copic Opaque White paint, Ribbon, Stickpins, Stickles, Winter Wonderland embossing powder, Detail Silver embossing powder

Card 2
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers: Christmas in the Country
Paper: MFP Cherry Slush, Snow Storm Smooth
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Distressed Tumbled Glass
Accessories: Square nesties, Copic markers, Stickles

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.

Gift Card Box

2011-12-02T00:01:00.005-05:00

Yesterday I was part of a joint blog hop with Technique Junkie Newsletter and Mark's Finest Papers, a Heinrich Company. I was was totally blown away with one of the projects done by a fellow MFP design team member, Geri Utterback. She made a gift card box from one of the tutorials on the Technique Junkie 3D and Fun Folds CD. I knew I had to make one of those boxes, and here it is.

I used MFP Cherry Slush and Greener Green cardstock and some Paper Pizazz designer paper for the panels.

The sentiment on the front is from a retired MFP set, but the Santa on the inside is from a mini set called Snowball Fun. I "borrowed" Geri's chimney idea for the card holder, inking up the Sizzix Bricked embossing folder with SU Whisper White ink before I ran the cardstock through my Cuttlebug. I used some Detail White embossing powder to bring out the pattern of the bricks.

I will be making several more of these gift card boxes because I tend to give many gift cards at Christmas, and these boxes are so much more creative than an envelope! Thanks so much, Geri, for your wonderful inspiration.

Technique Junkies Newsletter/Mark's Finest Papers Blog Hop

2011-12-01T00:01:00.007-05:00

Hello and welcome to The Mark’s Finest Papers a Heinrich Company, and Technique Junkie Newsletter joint Blog Hop! The Technique Junkie Newsletter is excited to show case their new 3D and Fun Folds CD.

The Technique Junkie Newsletter has been publishing rubber stamping technique tutorials since 2002. The 3D and Fun Folds CD contains 70 step-by-step technique tutorials in pdf format – perfect dimensions, perfect directions and great pictures for every step. Visit www.techniquejunkies.com/ for more details about the CD and the Technique Junkie Newsletter.

A fantastic group of design team members from both the Mark’s Finest Papers, a Heinrich Company, and the Technique Junkie Newsletter, have helped put together this fabulous Blog Hop to kick off the 3D and Fun Folds Cd.

We have a Blog Hop happening each day with an opportunity for you to win many prizes from some of our wonderful advertising companies! Please stop through EVERY DAY and take your time visiting each blog! You have until 11:59pm EST December 2nd to leave comments on as many blogs as you can to win the Grand Prize.

On Saturday, December 3, Pat from Technique Junkie Newsletter will announce the winners from each company. Be sure to hop along on each day! There will be FIVE WINNERS! On Monday, December 5th, Pat will announce ONE LUCKY WINNER with a GRAND PRIZE with a bundle of prizes from all of the participating businesses.

If you have been following along already you should have come from Created by Ann. If you are only starting here, please head back to the Technique Junkie Blog and go from there. You won't want to miss any stops along the way – in order to win you will need to comment on everyone’s blog AND Pat Huntoon’s Blog. There will be an additional chance to win by playing along in her Blog Hop!

Here are my projects for the hop. The first one is the Top Note Box. This church scene from MFP's Christmas in the Country is one of my favorites. I colored it with Copic markers in shades of gray and sponged the sky with Tim Holtz Distressed Inks Tumbled Glass and Chipped Sapphire. I wrapped some silver cord several times around the rectangular panel and added the sentiment, which I punched out with a Word Window punch.

You can make either two or four sections for the inside -- depending upon what you want to put in there. I attached the lid with a square piece of black vellum.

My second project is a Desktop Perpetual Calendar Box. The sentiment on the front is from an MFP set called Brick Wall, and I thought the Sizzix Bricked embossing folder would be a perfect complement. I finally got the "ink up the embossing folder" technique mastered, and I love the way it turned out. The flowers were made with a 3-piece Sizzix accordian-fold flower die set, which is also available from Mark's Finest Papers, a Heinrich Company.

The tutorial also includes the calendar pages.

Your next stop on the hop is Chris Dickinson, but just in case there are any hiccups, here is the whole list of celebrants on this Blog Hop!

The Technique Junkie Newsletter Blog
Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company Blog
Geri Utterback

Ann Clack

Lois Bak (that's me)

Chris Dickinson
Patty Penn

Pat Huntoon

Friends of Speedy TV Challenge

2011-11-29T17:32:00.003-05:00

This week's challenge on Speedy TV is to use your favorite sketch. I like color blocking, and I've used this sketch with both squares and circles as a background. I'm in full Christmas card mode, so I used the challenge to make another card for my stash.

Unfortunately, this particular Mark's Finest Papers' set is retired, but I do love these cardinals. I stamped the smaller cardinal four times for the corners, and the larger cardinal I cut with a Labels Thirteen die, using my matting technique for the green layer. The cardinal images were colored with Copic markers -- R43, R29, R59, G40, G82, E33, E35, and outlined with BG10. It's hard to see, but I used some gold Smooch paint to outline the large cardinal panel.

If you aren't aware, Technique Junkies Newsletter is having a blog hop this week. Several MFP design team members are participating on Thursday. Be sure to check out all the projects this week. You have a chance to win the Grand Prize.

Featured Stamper Challenge and More

2011-11-27T10:12:00.005-05:00

Today's challenge on Splitcoast Stampers is the Featured Stamper challenge. I CASEd this card from JBgreendawn's gallery because I liked the "woodsy" feel of it. I kept that theme and also the layout -- although I did add another layer (the blue one).

I love the "airy" feel of this forest scene with its little stream and icy trees. I tried to increase the icy feeling by adding some Stickles. This image is from a new set from Mark's Finest Papers, a Heinrich Company, called What a Fox.

These two cards were made for both of Friday's SCS challenges -- the Ways to Use It challenge (to make a Christmas card highlighting black, in honor of Black Friday) and the Queen for the Day challenge, whose Queen was Dawn Lusk, a very talented artist.

Both of these cards were made with Christmas in the Country, another set from Mark's Finest Papers, a Heinrich Company. I just love that church scene. It reminds me of the little country mission church I attended back in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

I've got a wonderful announcement to make here. Technique Junkies Newsletter is having a Blog Hop this week (Monday through Friday), showing many of the 3-D projects included in their new CD. Several members of Mark's Finest Papers, a Heinrich Company, design team will be part of the hop on Thursday. Be sure to check out the hop all week.

MFP Blog - What a Fox

2011-11-23T00:01:00.008-05:00

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's November Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Peaceful Nuthatch
A Trip to Lancaster
What a Fox

What I liked about this scene is the "airy" look of the bare trees and the reflection in the water. It did not require much coloring -- just the sky and the fox. I did add some brown to the trees, but I'm not sure that was really necessary. The Polar White Flower Soft brought some texture into it -- giving a little more sense of winter.

I fell in love with the sentiment I used on the treat box for this set! The large single fox is sitting there just checking you out! The trees in the background are from another MFP set -- A Walk in the Woods.

Here is the inside of the box. See -- he did bring you chocolate!

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day! We will announce all three winners on Thanksgiving Day. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. The winners will be chosen at 11PM EST on Wednesday November 23, 2011.

Lois (that's me)
Vicky
Anne
Connie
Linda
Karen H.
Patty P.
Geri
Dawn M.
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Brenda T
Bonnie
Harriet
Mark's Finest Papers

MFP Blog Hop - A Trip to Lancaster

2011-11-22T00:01:00.007-05:00

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's November Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Peaceful Nuthatch
A Trip to Lancaster
What a Fox

Today's set is A Trip to Lancaster. I am originally from Pennsylvania, and one of my close friends when I was young was Mennonite, a Protestant sect similar but not the same as Amish. While sharing basic beliefs, Mennonites are not as outwardly different from other Christian groups as the Amish. (so much for the religious history lesson!) In doing my research for today's card, I came across many sites which listed "Amish Barn Stars." Apparently many Amish barns have stars on them, similar to the "hex signs" or "distelfinks" you find on Amish barns. So I used an embossing folder with stars as the background for my card.

My "cheese container treat box" today does NOT contain candy. While Amish children don't eat candy, the Amish do bake cookies. So my treat box contains cookies. I painted the box black and used MFP Hurricane Gray as the scallop layer. The buggy is popped up on pop dots. Note the "slow moving vehicle" sign on the back of the buggy. These are required to be attached to the buggies to alert other drivers on the road. Some of the stricter orders of Amish refuse to attach these signs because they oppose the use of bright colors.

And here is the box open.

Please hop along with us! You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets! Just comment on the following blogs (don't forget this one), each day! We will announce all three winners on Thanksgiving Day. You can go back and comment if you missed a day. The winners will be chosen at 11PM EST on Wednesday November 23, 2011.

Lois (that's me)
Vicky
Anne
Connie
Linda
Karen H.
Patty P.
Geri
Dawn M.
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Brenda T
Bonnie
Harriet
Mark's Finest Papers

MFP Blog Hop - Peaceful Nuthatch

2011-11-21T00:01:00.008-05:00

Hello! Welcome to Mark's Finest Papers a Heinrich Company's November Blog Hop!

This month's New Stamp Set Releases are

Peaceful Nuthatch
A Trip to Lancaster
What a Fox

My first card for this month's hop is made with the sweet little nuthatch sitting on a fence. For my background, I took a sheet of designer paper from DCWV's Photo Stack 2 and reduced it to 50% and then matted it on MFP Dark Night Navy. I added a strip of diecut icicles cut from a Marianne Design die I found at StampFest last year. I thought the icicles would complement the icicles on the fence. The image was stamped on a piece of MFP Snow Storm Smooth and cut out with a rectangle nestie, matted in another piece of Dark Night Navy and angled on the card. The image is colored with Copic markers, the sky with Pebbles Pearlescent chalks.

Last month one of the former MFP design team members, Carol Hurlock, posted a video tutorial on how to make a cute little candy box using an empty Laughing Cow cheese box. I loved it! So I decided to make several myself. Here is my first try -- using the single nuthatch from this month's set. Because it's going to be used as a little Christmas favor, I used some glitter designer paper from a DCWV matstack. To provide some depth, I stamped the nuthatch three times, cutting the bird and the pinecones out and layering them -- popping up the layers on pop dots. Coloring was done with Copic markers.

Here's the box with the lid open. As you can see, I put some Christmas wrapped candy kisses inside. BTW, there is another red scalloped piece of glitter paper on the back.

Lois (that's me)
Vicky
Anne
Connie
Linda
Karen H.
Patty P.
Geri
Dawn M.
Marilynn
Chrissy
Karen K.
Pam
Debbie
Brenda T
Bonnie
Harriet
Mark's Finest Papers

Playing Catch-up -- Again

2011-11-13T09:11:00.006-05:00

I admit it -- I have been very remiss in posting to this blog. Sometimes life in general gets in the way of publishing for fun. I won't say that I will be better in the future -- but I'll certainly try.

I did participate in this weekend's Virtual Stamp Night mini challenge on Friday night. I wasn't able to make all my cards as the challenges were posted, but I did follow the 45-minute rule. My first card also qualifies for this week's Friends of Speedy the Cat challenge on the Mark's Finest Papers Blog -- to use your favorite technique. I love to mask. You can obtain lots of depth on a flat surface this way. The VSN challenge was "A Marshmallow World," and we were to put clouds (marshmallows?) on our cards. Using several of the trees from A Walk in the Woods, I created a little bit of the forest, stamping and masking as I went along. The clouds were created by sponging against a scallop circle.

This VSN Challenge was "Let It Snow." We were to use a product like flower soft or flocking to create faux snow on our card. I used an old set from Lizzie Anne Designs called Christmas in the Country. I love that snowman and the little Charlie Brown Christmas tree! I added my Polar White Flower Soft on each of the panels.

One other VSN challenge was to make a card depicting your favorite Christmas song. I won't say this is my FAVORITE Christmas song, but it is the one that brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it -- Mary, Did You Know? Here is the last verse:

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy is lord of all creation?
Did you know
That your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know
That your baby boy is heaven’s perfect lamb?
This sleeping child you’re holding
Is the great I AM.

I used a Stampin' Up set called Holy Triptych along with some MFP Dark Night Navy and Sparkling Silver cardstock to create my card.

Finally, today's Featured Stamper is Itsapassion (a/k/a Anne). I didn't have to go very far in Anne's gallery to find something to CASE. I had placed her Butterfly Postcard in my Favorites earlier in the week. I changed her butterflies to cardinals and moved the postcard embossing folder a little forward. I had purchased that folder a while ago and had never used it. I sponged the postcard folder and the tulip folder with Tim Holtz Distressed Antique Linen.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today. I hope to be able to be a bit more consistent in posting in the future.

MFP Twelve Days of Christmas - Day 8

2011-10-24T00:01:00.005-04:00

Here we are, starting the second week of our Mark's Finest Papers' 12 Days of Christmas blog hop. I have seen so many wonderful, creative projects so far -- and today is no exception.

Candles and Christmas go together like bread and butter or salt and pepper. The first time I ever did stamping on candles I was amazed at how easy it was. With the help of my sister I followed the tutorial on Splitcoaststampers and was so pleased with the results. The images on my candles are from Cardinals in Winter and Greetings of the Season. Because the tissue paper on which you actually do the stamping is so thin, you can reverse the images before you melt them into the candle wax. I found the trick to making the images lie flat is to hold the waxed paper really tight against the candle and not to hold the heat on any longer than is necessary. Once the wax has melted enough to show an even shine on the waxed paper -- stop!

I thought it would be nice to show you how the arrangement looks when the candles are lit.

Be sure you check out all four projects for today:

Pam

Debbie M

Lois (that's me)

Linda

This is the end of my participation in the 12 Days of Christmas blog hop. Thanks for stopping by and looking at my projects. I hope you enjoy the rest of the hop. And hopefully you have gotten some great ideas for your Christmas projects.

Matting a Spellbinders Labels Die

2011-10-22T08:31:00.013-04:00

I’ve been asked on several occasions how I make a narrow mat behind a Spellbinders die when the difference in sizes in the set are really much too wide for attractiveness. Some of the Spellbinders Labels sets do have “small” versions, Labels One and Labels Four, for example. But most of the Labels dies do not. So I have written this tutorial hopefully to make it easier for you do accomplish the look you want.

First of all, stamp your image, color it as usual and cut it out with your die. For my sample, I am using Labels Twenty-One – which has five dies. I am using the two largest dies in the set. I like the look of the white “border” around the edge of the diecut, so I sponged in the sky before removing the die.

I have found that the easiest way to make that narrow mat is to use the same die that I used to cut the focal image or background. Turn it over (blade side UP) and, using a pencil, draw around the outside of the die.

You can see the pencil line pretty well – even on dark cardstock. The cardstock I used for this card is Mark’s Finest Papers’ Dark Night Navy. But, as you can see, the pencil lines are still quite visible.

Then cut it out with your scissors. I usually turn the mat over so that there is no chance of seeing any of the pencil lines.

My card will have two different-sized layers, so I cut out a piece of designer paper with the largest die in the set – and then repeated the process of drawing around the die and cutting it out with scissors.

Here again is my finished card. You can see the difference in sizes of the two die cuts, but the narrow mat sets them both off nicely. I hope my tutorial was helpful.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.

Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers - Country Christmas
Paper: MFP Dark Night Navy, Snow Storm Smooth; DP from a stack of holiday paper I bought several years ago
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Tim Holtz Distressed Tumbled Glass, Chipped Sapphire
Accessories: Spellbinders Labels Twenty-One, Eclipse Masking Tape, Sponge Applicator

MFP Twelve Days of Christmas - Day 5

2011-10-21T00:01:00.007-04:00

I hope you've been getting a lot of inspiration from all the the wonderful projects our design team members have presented so far. Speedy the Cat has been hanging out at the MFP Blog, where the action starts each day. Today's projects are acetate boxes.

I used the tutorial in the Resources section of Splitcoaststampers for my first box. The cute little snowman is from MFP Snowman Country.

My second box is somewhat larger than the first, and I confess I don't remember where I saw the directions for this one. I was making it from memory. The top and bottom pieces are empty ribbon spools, covered in designer paper. The wreath is from a new MFP set called Holly Greetings.

Be sure to check out all four blogs in today's hop.

Day 5 Acetate Box Oct 21
Lois (that's me)
Joanne
Patty
MariLynn

MFP Twelve Days of Christmas - Day 2

2011-10-18T00:01:00.006-04:00

Welcome to Day 2 of the MFP 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop, which starts on MFP Blog. Today's projects are coasters. I have done several sets of coasters for Christmas gifts this year and am sharing one of the sets with you today. I used images from several MFP sets for my coasters. The background on each one is from Musical Holiday. The other sets used were Bells on Bobtail, Greetings of the Season, and Cardinals in Winter.

The set of coasters I bought at Michaels come in a nice stand, as you can see in this photo below.

If you haven't already, be sure to visit the other three DT members' blogs for their projects. I have to say that I was blown away with all of them. Here are the links for today's participants:

Day 2 Coasters Oct 18
Patty
Lois (that's me)
Geri
Connie

MFP Twelve Days of Christmas - Day 1

2011-10-17T00:01:00.009-04:00

Speedy the Cat at Mark's Finest Papers likes to get a head start on special Christmas gifts and memories for friends and family. He gathered the design team at Mark's Finest Papers to bring you 12 days of exciting paper crafting gift ideas to get that holiday mojo flowing. The hop runs for 12 consecutive days, starting today! Start off on the MFP Blog and relax with a cup of eggnog (or sprig of catnip, your choice) as Speedy leads you though a short, daily hop. You'll find your holiday paper crafting ideas and supplies at Mark's Finest Papers.

Today's ideas are Bind-It-All projects, mine being a small 4" x 4" photo album. I covered the front and back pieces with Christmas paper and added two strips of gold sticker lines to create a frame -- and then bound the album together. After stamping the small cardinal from MFP Cardinals in Winter onto some Snow Storm Smooth cardstock, I cut it out using a Spellbinders Heirloom Ornament die and sponging around the edges with Tim Holtz Distressed Barn Red. I added a few gold pearls and attached the ornament to the cover.

If you haven't already checked out the other projects for today, here are the links for the participating DT members:

Day 1 Bind-It-All Oct 17
Lois
Markie
Patty
Faith

We hope you enjoy our "12 Days of Christmas" in October. We'll be sharing lots of fun and creative projects with you over the next twelve days and hope you'll be able to incorporate some of them into your holiday planning.

MFP Blog Hop - Ginger Cookies

2011-10-14T00:01:00.004-04:00

Hello! Welcome to the October 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!

This month's new releases are: Holly Greetings, Christmas in the Country, Snowball?, Country Thanksgiving, Cardinals in Winter, and Ginger Cookies. For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers. Again, I'm not an official participant in the blog hop, but I'm so glad you stopped by.

Nothing is as much fun at Christmas time as gingerbread men. I'm sure as children we all read the story about the gingerbread man -- "Run, run as fast as you can. You can't catch me -- I'm the gingerbread man!" As with my first card this week, I used Jovial DP on my tri-shutter card, as well as some gingerbread men and women buttons.

My second project is a gift bag and matching gift card. Perhaps some fortunate person will receive some ginger cookies at Christmas, packaged in the bag.

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set: Ginger Cookies? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)

For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Ginger Cookies. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.

Emily
Nancyruth
Neva
Faith
Dawn
Marilynn
Patricia
Chrissy
Karen
Pam
Joanne
Markie
Carol
Mark’s Finest Papers

I hope you have enjoyed yourself this week. We were so happy to show you our new sets and perhaps inspire you.

MFP Blog Hop Day Three & StampinB Challenge

2011-10-13T00:01:00.006-04:00

Hello! Welcome to the October 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!

This month's new releases are: Holly Greetings, Christmas in the Country, Snowball?, Country Thanksgiving, Cardinals in Winter, and Ginger Cookies. For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers. I'm not an official member of the Blog Hop today, but I'm glad you stopped by to see what I've created with today's two sets.

My first two cards are not only for the MPF Blog Hop but also for the Stampin'B challenge of Birds, Birds, Birds. I used the forest scene from Cardinals in Winter for my tri-shutter card.

My second card uses the larger single cardinal as the focal point -- surrounded by a Spellbinders window diecut.

The images from Country Thanksgiving are just delightful. And the crows from Planted with Love match the crows in this new set, as you can see on the long narrow panels of my tri-shutter card. It's always nice when you can combine sets that coordinate so nicely.

My second card is relatively simple -- a blocked background and vertical focal panel.

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Sets: Country Thanksgiving and Cardinals in Winter? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)

For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Country Thanksgiving and Cardinals in Winter. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.

Emily
Nancyruth
Neva
Faith
Dawn
Marilynn
Patricia
Chrissy
Karen
Pam
Joanne
Markie
Carol
Mark’s Finest Papers

MFP Blog Hop - Christmas in the Country/Snowball?

2011-10-12T00:01:00.008-04:00

Hello! Welcome to the October 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!

This month's new releases are: Holly Greetings, Christmas in the Country, Snowball?, Country Thanksgiving, Cardinals in Winter, and Ginger Cookies. For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.

The church in Christmas in the Country reminds me of the little mission church I attended in the Pennsylvania town I grew up in. Coloring is done with Copic and Prismacolor markers -- with sponging on the sky with Tim Holtz Distress inks. I added some Flower Soft to look like snow.

My second card is pretty simple. It's difficult to see, but I put crystal glaze inside the fenced area to make it look like an ice pond.

I love the fun images in our second set. That snowman has a twinkle in his eye -- just looking for someone at whom he can throw that snowball! I used a brand-new Spellbinders Star Circle die to coordinate with the stars on his hatband.

Don't you love the eyebrows on that penquin? Makes him look a little bit like Groucho Marx!

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Sets: Christmas in the Country and Snowball? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)

For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Christmas in the Country and Snowball?. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.

Lois (that's me)
Vicky
Dawn
Anne
Peggysue
Connie
Linda
Karen
Patty
Liz
Geri
Lynn
Debbie
Mark’s Finest Papers

MFP Blog Hop - Holly Greetings

2011-10-11T00:01:00.004-04:00

Hello! Welcome to the October 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!

This month's new releases are: Holly Greetings, Christmas in the Country, Snowball?, Country Thanksgiving, Cardinals in Winter, and Ginger Cookies. For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.

I have decided to have a "theme" for my blog this week. I love doing fancy fold cards, so I will have a tri-shutter card made from each one of the six sets.

Basic Grey's Jovial DP is one of my favorite pads of designer paper, so I used several of the sheets on my first card. The wreath was colored with Copic markers.

My second card is more traditional, although it's a bit larger than an A2 card in order to accommodate the large ornament diecut. I stamped the owl twice, cutting out one and popping it onto the one stamped on the diecut piece.

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set: Holly Greetings? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)

For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Holly Greetings. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.

Lois (that's me)
Vicky
Dawn
Anne
Peggysue
Connie
Linda
Karen
Patty
Liz
Geri
Lynn
Claudine
Debbie
Mark’s Finest Papers

StampinB Challenge - One-Layer Card

2011-10-06T00:01:00.003-04:00

I was the hostess for this week's StampinBs challenge, and I asked the team to make a one-layer card -- with one proviso: it could not be a white card. I chose Desert Sand for my card.

After embossing the pumpkins at the bottom, I scored the straight lines to make a "frame." I brushed on some pearlescent chalk for coloring and stamped the sentiment in brown.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.

Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers - Country Thanksgiving
Paper: MFP Desert Sand
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa
Accessories: Sizzix Pumpkin Patch embossing folder, Pebbles pearlescent chalks, Scor-Pal

Stampin'B Challenge - Halloween

2011-09-29T00:01:00.005-04:00

This week's Stampin'Bs challenge was very timely. Our hostess, Faith, made it an easy challenge -- do a Halloween card. This was the perfect opportunity for me to make some more cards for my mom's assisted living facility. Each year my sister and I make a total of 90 Halloween cards for the residents there. I usually make duplicates of each card so they go together quicker. It doesn't take a whole lot more time to make four cards than it does making one -- when you're making the same card! Here are three of my cards.

Thanks for stopping by. We'd love for you to play along with us.

Stampin'B Challenge - Dies

2011-09-22T00:01:00.000-04:00

The Stampin'B challenge this week was hosted by Vicky Gould. She asked the team to make cards using at least two different Spellbinders dies. My dies were Labels Eight and Leaves.

Autumn's Glory is its colorful leaves. I cut three of them using some scraps from my scrap accordian folder, so I'm not sure exactly what cardstock they are. I sponged them with Tim Holtz inks -- Antique Linen/Rusty Hinge and Mustard Seed/Dried Marigold. The card base is Mark's Finest Papers Natural Vanilla Bean on which I stamped the large leaf image from MFP Autumn Glory in several Memento colors -- Rich Cocoa, Rhubarb Stalk, Potters Clay. After cutting the Labels Eight piece from another scrap of Natural Vanilla Bean, I traced the die onto MFP Dark Chocolate Bar and cut it out with scissors. This gives a narrower mat than if I had used the next size larger Labels Eight die.

The diecut leaves are popped up on pop dots to give some texture.

Thanks for stopping by and looking at my card.

Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers Autumn Glory
Paper: Mark's Finest Papers Natural Vanilla Bean, Dark Chocolate Bar, scraps of tan and yellow
Ink: Tim Holtz Distressed Antique Linen, Rusty Hinge, Mustard Seed, Dried Marigold, Wild Honey; Memento Rich Cocoa, Rhubarb Stalk, Potters Clay
Accessories: Labels Eight, Leaves Shapeabilities, Sponge applicators, Pop dots

Inspiration Challenge and Speedy's Friends

2011-09-17T10:47:00.004-04:00

The Inspiration Challenge over on Splitcoaststampers introduced us to a very yummy site, The Creative Cake Academy. The cupcakes shown are just amazing! For my inspiration I chose the purple-decorated cupcakes, one of which had daisies on it. My card also qualifies for Speedy the Cat's Challenge this week -- to make a one-layer card.

To give my card a little texture, I first ran it through my Cuttlebug with the Scrollwork embossing folder -- and then brushed the embossing with some Pebbles Pearlescent Chalks. The image is from Mark's Finest Papers set, Greet the Day with Gerber, stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black and colored with Copic markers.

I actually did two cards for Speedy's Friends' challenge -- this one a Halloween card. I inked up the Sizzix Branch Tree embossing folder with Memento Tuxedo Black and then ran it through my Cuttlebug. To give an eerie look, I sponged around the tree with London Fog. The cute little ghost is from Mark's Finest Papers Halloween set from last year, called Broom Rides, and the witch is actually the watermark from Get Your Broom On, a new set this year. After I finished my little scene, I made a "frame" around it using a black marker.

Thanks for stopping by and looking at my cards.

MFP Blog Hop - Get Your Broom On

2011-09-16T00:01:00.005-04:00

Hello! Welcome to the September 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!

This week's new releases are: Autumn Glory, Boo To You, Covered Bridges, Get Your Broom On. For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers. Again, I'm not an official part of the hop, but thanks for stopping by my blog.

Here we are -- the last day of the Blog Hop, and we have another Halloween set. For my first card, I decided I was going to add only a touch of orange to an otherwise black and white card.

When I saw the image that I used on my second card, I immediately thought of the three witches in Macbeth -- "Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and caldron bubble." As I mentioned the other day, I love Halloween. My sister and I make Halloween cards for the residents of the assisted living facility where my mom lives -- 90 Halloween cards in all.

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set:Get Your Broom On? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)

For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Get Your Broom On. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.

Emily
Nancyruth
Neva
Faith
Dawn
Marilynn
Patricia
Chrissy
Karen
Pam
Joanne
Markie
Carol
Mark’s Finest Papers

MFP Blog Hop - Covered Bridges

2011-09-15T00:01:00.005-04:00

Hello! Welcome to the September 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!

This week's new releases are: Autumn Glory, Boo To You, Covered Bridges, Get Your Broom On. For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.

While I'm not an official member of the blog hop today, thanks for stopping by my blog to see what I've created with Covered Bridges -- which might be my favorite set this month.

My first card for today is serving double-duty. In addition to being for the MFP Blog Hop, it is also for the Stampin'B DT challenge -- to use two border punches. I used the wavy border for the top and the plaid border for the bottom -- with a snowy scene between them. After coloring the bridge scene, I added some Flower Soft for the snow on the trees and on the ground.

I thought of my second card as an inspiration challenge. When my late husband and I moved from Pennsylvania to Florida some 43 years ago, my brother gave me something to remind me of my Bucks County, Pennsylvania, roots -- that picture of various landmarks in Bucks County. As you can see, the image in the upper right-hand corner is a covered bridge. So I used some wood-grain DP to make a "frame" around the covered bridge on my card.

By the way, that picture is still hanging in my living room. Bucks County, Pennsylvania, was a great place to grow up!

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set: Covered Bridges? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)

For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Covered Bridges. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.

Emily
Nancyruth
Neva
Faith
Dawn
Marilynn
Patricia
Chrissy
Karen
Pam
Joanne
Markie
Carol
Mark’s Finest Papers

MFP Blog Hop - Boo to You

2011-09-14T00:01:00.004-04:00

Hello! Welcome to the September 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!

This week's new releases are: Autumn Glory, Boo To You, Covered Bridges, and Get Your Broom On. For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.

Don't you just love this little ghost? Even if you're not a fan of Halloween, you have to admit he's pretty cute. While I love to color, not a whole lot was needed on this card -- just the jack-o-lantern and a little shadowing on the ghost.

When it comes to Halloween, I think I never grew up -- I love this holiday! I have 15 co-workers, and I am making treat box cards for them this year, using the tutorial on Splitcoaststampers. I made labels for the Hershey nuggets inside, stamping Speedy the Cat on them.

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set: Boo To You? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)

For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Boo To You. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.

Lois (that's me)
Vicky
Dawn
Anne
Peggysue
Connie
Linda
Karen
Patty
Liz
Geri
Lynn
Debbie
Mark’s Finest Papers

MFP Blog Hop - Autumn Glory

2011-09-13T00:01:00.006-04:00

Hello! Welcome to the September 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!

This week's new releases are: Autumn Glory, Boo To You, Covered Bridges, and Get Your Broom On. For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.

My first card using today's set, Autumn Glory, is a side-step card, which is fun to make. What I like about side-step cards is that you can use many images on your card. In fact, I incorporated the basket of leaves from another MFP set, Autumn Fun, along with some punched autumn leaves.

I thought Speedy the Cat sitting on that small pumpkin (which is actually the logo stamp for this set) would look cute on this card.

For my second card, I created the background by stamping the large leaf several times in different fall colors and then just added the sentiment. I found this marvelous EK Success garland punch in Joann the other day and had to include the pieces on my card.

My third project is a centerpiece made with two candles on which I "stamped" the images. Actually, the candles aren't stamped. You stamp the images onto tissue paper, color them and then cut the tissue paper very close to the image. Place the cut images onto your candle, wrap it with waxed paper and then heat them with an embossing tool just enough to melt the candle wax -- and the tissue melts into the wax. I found the plate in Old Time Pottery and added some foliage and the glass pebbles.

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set: Autumn Glory? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)

For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Autumn Glory. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.

Lois (that's me)
Vicky
Dawn
Anne
Peggysue
Connie
Linda
Karen
Patty
Liz
Geri
Lynn
Debbie
Mark’s Finest Papers

Stampin'B Challenge - Anniversary Card

2011-09-08T00:01:00.003-04:00

Anne Harmon (jdmommy) is the hostess for today's Stampin'Bs challenge. And she appropriately asked the team to make an anniversary card -- it's her 48th anniversary. Congratulations on 48 years of marriage, Anne!

Mark's Finest Papers' set Pears and Hollyhock is the perfect set for an anniversary. The sentiment "You make a fine pair" is so appropriate.

I used the smaller of the two pears in the set and stamped two of them. Using a Martha Stewart "around the corner" punch set, I created the border, which I sponged with Tim Holtz Distressed Wild Honey.

Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers - Pears and Hollyhock
Paper: Mark's Finest Papers - Snow Storm Smooth, Spring Leaf, Lemon Slice
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Distressed Wild Honey
Accessories: Martha Stewart punches, Copic markers, Sponge dauber, Pop dots

Stampin'B Challenge - Pin or Clip

2011-09-01T00:01:00.002-04:00

Our StampinBs challenge hostess this week is Emily, and she asked us to make a card using any kind of a pin or clip. When I first started card-making, I bought all kinds of clips and never really used many of them! Emily forced me to pull some of them out! I chose a double spiral clip for my card.

After stamping and coloring my wisteria image, I constructed my card and then added the sentiment panel with the double spiral clip.

Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers - Butterflies and Wisteria
Paper: Mark's Finest Papers - Fresh Cream, August Greens, Snow Storm Smooth; Basic Grey Cappella DP, Wisteria DP
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Tim Holtz Distressed Bundled Sage
Accessories: Labels Eight, Corner rounder, Double Spiral clip, MS butterfly punches, Copic markers Sponge dauber, Pop dots

Stampin'B Challenge - Easel Card

2011-08-25T00:01:00.003-04:00

Brenda was our challenge hostess this week at the Stampin'B blog, and she wanted us to make a round or square easel card. -- which are always fun. One of the other Mark's Finest Papers design team members, Anne Harmon (a/k/a jdmommy) gave me the courage to try coloring this black-eyed susan in blue, a very non-traditional color.

Following the SCS tutorial for making a round easel card, I cut the blue circles and then a couple of white circles. I didn't want the card to have too many layers, so that strip of blue was cut using two different circle nesties at the same time and gluing it onto the white piece -- after I stamped and colored the flower.

I used a glittery brad for the "bumper" to hold the easel open.

Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers - Black-Eyed Susans for Encouragement
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper: Mark's Finest Papers - Breezy Blue, Snow Storm Smooth
Accessories: Circle Nestabilities, Copic markers, Brad

Stampin'B Challenge - Distressing

2011-08-18T00:01:00.003-04:00

The Stampin'Bs challenge this week was to have "distressing" on your card -- not my normal style, but I was going to give it a go. I made a sort-of vintage card, using some lace and a cameo image from Mark's Finest Papers' set, Grandma's Boudoir. I stamped the cameo twice -- once with Memento Potter's Clay and once with ColorBox gold pigment (and then embossed with detail gold embossing powder). I cut the center of the Potter's Clay cameo out and glued it to the gold one.

I tore the edges of both the white panel and the antique gold panel and sponged with Tim Holtz Distressed (how appropriate) Antique Linen. Then I put on the gold cord to look like a gold chain.

Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers - Grandma's Boudoir, Background Fun (for the Happy Birthday)
Paper: MFP Corn Husk, Dark Chocolate Bar, Snow Storm Smooth; unknown dotted DP
Ink: Memento Potter's Clay; ColorBox Gold pigment; Tim Holtz Distressed Antique Linen
Accessories: Detail Gold embossing powder, Gold cord, Lace, Sponge dauber

Cabinet Refinish

2011-08-15T22:29:00.010-04:00

Some time ago, I inherited a sewing cabinet from my grandmother. We always called it her Martha Washington sewing cabinet, although it is just a replica -- probably made sometime in the 1920's. I had seen several cabinets in a restaurant about two years ago and decided I wanted to change the look of my cabinet, which I keep just inside my front door.

This is what the cabinet looked like before I started my project. My friend Bonnie was quite upset when I told her that I was going to paint it. I looked on-line to make sure I wasn't going to ruin a valuable antique. Because it is a replica, similar cabinets were selling for under $200. So I didn't think it was like I was ruining something that could possibly bring me thousands of dollars!

The "invisible" hinges on one of the side compartments were broken at some point, and my grandfather attached small decorative hinges on that side. So I decided I would look for some decorative hinges for the end compartments. Unfortunately for me, the internal hinges presented me with a problem -- I couldn't screw in all six screws on each hinge because they were hitting the metal within the wood. So I screwed in as many as I could and then cut off the tops of the screws with a bolt cutter and glued them into the remaining holes.

But I'm getting a little ahead of myself -- I did that AFTER I painted the top.

After stripping off the varnish, I painted the base of the cabinet with almond spray paint and the top and legs with aqua -- three coats of each. Then I put on three coats of polyurethane. The cabinets I had seen at the restaurant were stenciled around the top. I had never done stenciling before and didn't want to make this my initial try, so I used rub-on butterfly decals.

I had looked for two years for the right knobs. I finally found them at Hobby Lobby, of all places. The wall against which the cabinet sits was originally peach -- which was fine when the cabinet was a dark color. But the almond color would have melted right into that peach color. So I brought the color of my kitchen around the corner and painted the area below the chair rail the nutmeg color of the kitchen. I love the way it turned out.

I hope my friend will not be too disappointed when she sees the finished product. I'm trying to decide if I want to put some contrasting stripes on the spindle legs. But that will be for another day!

MFP Blog Hop - Fun on the Farm

2011-08-12T00:01:00.005-04:00

Hello! Welcome to the August 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!

This week's new releases are: Black Eyed Susans for Encouragement, Butterflies and Wisteria, Forest Gifts, Fun on the Farm. For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers. I'm not an official member of the Blog Hop today, but I'm glad you stopped by to see what I've done.

Today's set, Fun on the Farm, is aptly named. This is such a fun set with its cute little farm animals. My first card is a Side-Step card, which is fun to make. I think I used every image in the set on this card.

Paper: MFP Desert Sand, Spring Leaf, Snow Storm Smooth
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copic markers, MS fence punch, Sizzix border grass die, Word Window punch, Pop dots

My second card brings shades of Robert Redford.

Paper: MFP Hurricane Gray, Blue Skies, snow Storm Smooth
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Distressed Tumbled Glass
Accessories: Copic markers, Plaid ribbon, Labels Three, Pop dots

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set:Fun On The Farm? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)

For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Fun On The Farm. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.

Emily
Nancyruth
Neva
Faith
Claudine
Dawn
Marilynn
Patricia
Chrissy
Karen
Pam
Joanne
Kittie
Markie
Mark’s Finest Papers

Stampin'B Challenge & MFP Blog Hop - Forest Gifts

2011-08-11T00:01:00.007-04:00

Hello! Welcome to the August 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!

This week's new releases are: Black Eyed Susans for Encouragement, Butterflies and Wisteria, Forest Gifts, Fun on the Farm. For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.

While I'm not an official member of the Blog Hop today, I am showing two cards from today's set, Forest Gifts. My first card is also for the Stampin' B challenge, which is to have clouds in your card. I found this set fun to color. My card is pretty CAS, with minimal layers, but I added some interest by scoring an additional frame around the image. I added some stratus clouds to fulfill the requirement of the Stampin'B challenge.

Paper: MFP Dark Chocolate Bar, Corn Husk, Snow Storm Smooth
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copic markers, White gel pen, Scor-Pal

My second card was a bit more involved. The front is pretty straight forward. I backed the same image as my first card with some DP from a DCWV Photo paper pad and added a banner with the sentiment.

It's the inside that has all the interest -- it pops out! I attached the chipmonk to a piece of twine and hung him in the opening.

Paper: MFP Naturals Ivory, Hazelnut Tan; DCWV Photo 2 paper pad
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Tim Holtz Distressed Bundled Sage
Accessories: Creators Companion, Cuttlebug Vintage Corners die, Labels Three Nestabilities, Memento Rich Cocoa marker, Twine

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set:Forest Gifts? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)

For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Forest Gifts. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.

Emily
Nancyruth
Neva
Faith
Claudine
Dawn
Marilynn
Patricia
Chrissy
Karen
Pam
Joanne
Kittie
Markie
Mark’s Finest Papers

MFP Blog Hop - Butterflies and Wisteria

2011-08-10T00:01:00.005-04:00

Hello! Welcome to the August 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!

This week's new releases are: Black Eyed Susans for Encouragement, Butterflies and Wisteria, Forest Gifts, Fun on the Farm. For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.

Again, I've made two cards with today's set, Butterflies and Wisteria. I stamped the smaller flower onto some lavender DP and used that as my background. I used two different colors of baker's twine to attach the butterfly charm.

Paper: MFP Snow Storm Smooth, Spring Leaf; Prima Sweet Fairy DP
Ink: Memento Grape Jelly, Tuxedo Black, Bamboo Leaves
Accessories: Copic markers, Mega Curved Rectangle Nestabiities, Baker's twine, Charm, Pop dots

My second card uses just one of the sentiments as the focal point, adding a few of the butterflies, which have been stamped on vellum and cut out. There is lots of sponging around the edges of the background paper.

Paper: MFP Lily Pad, Snow Storm Smooth; Prima Sweet Fairy DP
Ink: Memento Bamboo Leaves, Tim Holtz Distressed Wild Honey
Accessories: Labels 13 Nestabilies, White gel pen, Sponge dauber, Pop dots

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set: Butterflies and Wisteria? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)

For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Butterflies and Wisteria. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.

Lois (that's me)
Vicky
Dawn
Anne
Peggysue
Connie
Linda
Karen
Patty
Roxie
Vicki
Liz
Geri
Lynn
Mark’s Finest Papers

MFP Blog Hop - Black Eyed Susans for Encouragement

2011-08-09T00:01:00.005-04:00

Hello! Welcome to the August 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!

This week's new releases are: Black Eyed Susans for Encouragement, Butterflies and Wisteria, Forest Gifts, Fun on the Farm. For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.

I've made two cards using today's set, Black Eyed Susans for Encouragement. I recently discovered Nestablings -- strips of pearls/rhinestones in the shape of Nestabilities. What a find! I added white pearls to the Diamond-shaped diecut, and does it ever dress it up!

Paper: MFP Fresh Cream
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa
Accessories: Nestabling, Copic markers, Prima pearl flourishes, Ribbon, Stickpin

My new favorite type of card is the center-step card. I framed the image with a Fleur de Lis rectangle shape and mounted that on the center section and added some Basic Grey DP to the other strips.

Paper: MFP Morning Sun, Dark Chocolate Bar, Snow Storm Smooth; Basic Grey Cappella DP
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa
Accessories: Fleur de Lis Nestabilities die, Copic markers, Flower Soft, Rhinestones, Pop dots

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set: Black Eyed Susans for Encouragement? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)

For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Black Eyed Susans for Encouragement. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.

Lois (that's me)
Vicky
Dawn
Anne
Peggysue
Connie
Linda
Karen
Patty
Roxie
Vicki
Liz
Geri
Lynn
Mark’s Finest Papers

Inspiration Challenge & Dare to Get Dirty

2011-08-06T12:37:00.009-04:00

As I've mentioned before, the Inspiration Challenge on Splitcoaststampers is my favorite challenge of the week. And, as the annual Dare to Get Dirty challenges were going on this week, I wanted to incorporate both challenges into one card. (As it was, there were 37 challenges in the DTGD event!) I found this canvas artwork on the Inspiration website and thought I could do something with it.

So, this is the card I came up with -- for both the Inspiration challenge AND also one of the DTGD challenges -- to use piercing, suggested by Bev Gerard. My late husband was a huge train enthusiast, and he had a collection of pewter locomotives. That one pictured with my card is a replica of a Japanese Class C-62 locomotive.

Here are some more of my Dare to Get Dirty cards. This one, suggested by Karen B. Barber, was "Marker Layering," but not with Copic markers, which blend so nicely. Karen used Stampin' Up markers, but I used Memento markers.

Suzanne Dean's challenge was a sketch. I used some PTI stamps and papers to create this card.

Betty Wright gave us an interesting challenge -- create a card with products/colors which begin with the first letter of the letters in your name. This is how I went with this one:

L = Labels 21
O = Olive green
I = Indians
S = Sketch Challenge 148

B = Birthday, Brown
A = Arrow
K = Kaleidacolor ink

Holly McMillen gave also gave us a sketch. I love this little ghost from MFP Broom Rides.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.

Stampin'B Challenge

2011-08-04T00:01:00.004-04:00

I was the hostess for this week's Stampin'Bs challenge. I asked the rest of the team to make a square birthday card with piercing. In case you'd like to know how I came up with this challenge, there is a story involved. Some time ago there was a challenge involving paper piercing. After making my card, however, I realized that the challenge was "piecing" not "piercing." So I've got a card done and no challenge! What to do? What to do? I know. My next challenge to the Bs will be "paper piercing!"

There's not a whole lot of stamping on my card -- just the birthday sentiment. I stamped it on Mark's Finest Papers Corn Husk and then cut it out with a circle nestie. In my craft supplies are pieces of plastic canvas left from when I was doing plastic canvas needlepoint, so I used a round piece as the template for my piercing. I glued the circle onto a Spellbinders Parisian Motifs diecut in MFP Dark Night Navy and mounted it on a square of Prima Reflections DP.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.

Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers - Flourishes and Frame
Paper: Mark's Finest Papers - Dark Night Navy, Corn Husk; Prima Reflections DP
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Spellbinders Parisian Motifs Shapeabilities die, Paper piercing tool, Circle Nestabilities, Pop dots

Dare to Get Dirty

2011-08-02T13:43:00.008-04:00

Every year over at Splitcoaststampers, they give a wonderul gift to Fan Club members -- the chance to play with the "dirty girls," members of the Dirty Dozen Design Team. For an entire week, present and previous members of the Dirty Dozen issue challenges -- five or six each day. And the rest of us can pretend we're part of the elite! Here are some of the cards I've made so far this week.

This card was for Dini's cupcake challenge and Lisa's polka dot challenge . I used one of the mini sets from Mark's Finest Papers for this.

RoseAnn's challenge was a one-layer card -- not my usual style. But I combined it with this week's Technique Challenge, which was to stamp the sentiment on top of the image stamp. That gave it a little depth. I colored the poppies with the palest shades of Copic markers so that the sentiment would really show off.

These next two cards are sneak peeks of soon-to-be-released sets from Mark's Finest Papers, Fun on the Farm & Butterflies and Wisteria respectively. Look for them next week.

This card was for Amber's sketch challenge. I had some hay DP in my stash and thought it would make a good background for those fun farm animals.

This card, in addition to being for Chupa's sketch challenge, was also for the SCS color challenge of White/Gray/Turquoise.

I'm on vacation this week, so I've got lots of time to play in the dirt pile with the SCS "greats." If you belong to the SCS Fan Club, you can play along too. Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Stampin'B Challenge - Use Ribbon

2011-07-28T00:01:00.002-04:00

As hostess for the Stampin'Bs this week, Faith asked us to use ribbon on our cards -- pretty easy challenge. I decided I wanted to use the ribbon some way other than simply tying a bow, so I used it as the stem of my sunflower -- and also in the three loops on the side of my focal panel.

I hadn't used that single sunflower from Mark's Finest Papers' Planted With Love set before, so this was my opportunity to showcase her. I colored her with Copic markers and then punched her out with a 2" circle punch and popped her up at the top of the "stem." The leaves were made with one of the dies from Spellbinders Foliage set, cut from MFP Spring Leaf and sponged with Tim Holtz Distressed Bundled Sage. The background is made with six squares of Cosmo Cricket Material Girl DP mounted on the same MFP Fresh Cream cardstock as the base.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today. Happy stamping!

Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers - Planted with Love
Paper: MFP Fresh Cream, Spring Leaf, Snow Storm Smooth; Cosmo Cricket Material Girl DP
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Distressed Bundled Sage
Accessories: Ribbon, Spellbinders Foliage Shapeabilities, Oval punches, Pop dots, Sponge dauber

Stampin'B Color Challenge

2011-07-21T00:01:00.002-04:00

Vicky Gould gave us a color challenge this week -- brown/black/ivory. I confess I was in a hurry and didn't put a whole lot of thought into my card this week. I stamped the train with Versafine Onyx Black onto a piece of MFP Corn Husk and clear embossed it. After scoring around the edges and adding the brads, I mounted the panel onto a piece of Basic Grey DP (unknown pad) and matted it with MFP Deepest Mahogany. The card base is MFP Vanilla Cream.

If you'd like to play along with us, head on over to the Stampin'B Blog. The pewter train is from a collection of about 25 that my late husband had.

MFP Blog Hop - Adirondack Summer

2011-07-15T00:01:00.006-04:00

Hello! Welcome to the last day of the July 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop! We hope you've enjoyed looking at our new stamps.

This week's new releases are: Little Birds With Big Mouths, Planted with Love, Lilacs in the Summer, and Adirondack Summer.For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set: Adirondack Summer? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)

For your chance to win: Comment on the participating Design Team members' blogs listed below TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Adirondack Summer. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.

As I mentioned yesterday, I attended StampFest Orlando a couple of weeks ago. I bought this frame die there. I thought it would give you a "look outside" at what could be my back yard -- although my palm is considerable bigger than the potted one shown.

My second card is a simpler, monochromatic one. I confess I channeled a fellow DT member for the "feel" of this card. I love the way Joanne (jojot) makes cards with rounded corners and piercing. And, by the way, she is the one who introduced me to that dimpled corner punch!

Be sure to comment on the following DT members' blogs for your chance to win today's set. Thanks so much for joining us this week. We hope you have gotten lots of inspiration!

Emily
Nancyruth
Neva
Silvia
Faith
Claudine
Dawn
Marilynn
Patricia
Chrissy
Karen
Pam
Joanne
Kittie
Mark’s Finest Papers

Blog Hop Day 3 and Stampin' B Challenge

2011-07-14T00:01:00.004-04:00

Hello! Welcome to the July 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!

This week's new releases are: Little Birds With Big Mouths, Planted with Love, Lilacs in the Summer, and Adirondack Summer. For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set: Lilacs in the Summer? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)

For your chance to win: Comment on the listed below Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Lilacs in the Summer. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.

I'm not an "official" blog hop participant today, but I appreciate your stopping by my blog today. Actually, my first card was also made for this week's Stampin'Bs DT Blog challenge. Our hostess Pam wanted us to use lots of bling and embellishments on our card. I recently attended StampFest Orlando, and in one of the booths I found lots of bling that match Spellbinders Labels dies. How cool is that!!! The Labels die I used on my card is Eleven. I stamped the smaller bunch of lilacs and colored them with Copic markers. Please note that the sentiments above and below the lilacs are actually one stamp. I cut it in half for the purpose of this card.

Other embellishments on my card are the punched butterflies with darker pink pearl bodies. The colors in the Basic Grey Porcelain DP complement the colors of the lilacs.

My second card is somewhat simpler. I embossed the white cardstock with a Cuttlebug folder and colored the butterflies with the palest shade of Copics -- R0000, YR0000, and V0000 -- just enough to make them show.

Be sure to comment on all of the following DT members' blogs to be eligible to win today's set.

Emily
Nancyruth
Neva
Silvia
Faith
Claudine
Dawn
Marilynn
Patricia
Chrissy
Karen
Pam
Joanne
Kittie
Mark’s Finest Papers

MFP Blog Hop -- Planted With Love

2011-07-13T00:01:00.005-04:00

Hello! Welcome to the July 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!

This week's new releases are: Little Birds With Big Mouths, Planted with Love, Lilacs in the Summer, and Adirondack Summer. For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set: Planted With Love? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)

For your chance to win: Comment on the listed Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Planted With Love. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.

I was in Michaels a couple of weeks ago and spied some items in their clearance section I thought I could use for this week's blog hop. They are the "props" with my cards today -- the seed box and the garden gloves. ($3 a piece!)

My first card uses the watermelon seeds image from Planted With Love. I tried to make my card carry that theme -- green cardbase, pale green and white matting, and the unknown red DP even has little black circles (watermelon seeds?) in it. I used the "ink the embossing folder" technique for the horizontal panel in the center. I stamped the image again and cut out the watermelon to glue to the front of the seed box.

I tried to get a country look for my Sunflower card. I thought the layout might look like a quilt -- using two pieces of DP from Cosmo Cricket's Material Girl pad. Not a whole lot of additional explanation is needed for this card.

Don't forget to visit the following DT members' blogs for your chance to win today's stamp set.

Lois (that's me)
Vicky
Dawn
Anne
Peggysue
Connie
Emily
Karen
Patty
Roxie
Vicki
Liz
Geri
Lynn
Mark’s Finest Papers

MFP Blog Hop - Little Birds With Big Mouths

2011-07-12T00:01:00.004-04:00

This week's new releases are: Little Birds With Big Mouths, Planted with Love, Lilacs in the Summer, and Adirondack Summer. For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set: Little Birds With Big Mouths? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)

For your chance to win: Comment on the listed Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Little Birds With Big Mouths. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.

I used the Birdhouse image for my first card today. After coloring it with Copic markers, I cut it out and glued a straw (which I had cut in half lengthwise) to the back -- to serve as the pole. The DP for both of my cards today come from a K & Company pad called Julianne. I cut a blue piece with Labels 13 to back my popped-up birdhouse, matting it in white.

I punched some greenery using a Martha Stewart punch and popped on a flower at the base of the "pole." To add some texture, I put some Ultrafine Razzberry Fizz Flower Soft on the flowers cascading down the side of the birdhouse.

I used the nested birds for my second card. Aren't they rather funky looking birds? I brought in some turquoise with the sentiment, matting and brads for the eyes. I added some ribbon and a charm. The diecut is Labels 4 -- both regular and small. I like that Spellbinders added some "small" versions of the labels. It's a lot easier than tracing around the edge and cutting by hand.

Don't forget to comment on all the participating DT members' blogs today for your chance to win today's set.

Lois (that's me)
Vicky
Dawn
Anne
Peggysue
Connie
Emily
Karen
Patty
Roxie
Vicki
Liz
Geri
Lynn
Mark’s Finest Papers

Inspiration Challenge and Speedy's Friends

2011-07-09T09:12:00.002-04:00

Happy Saturday, Everyone! My favorite day on Splitcoaststampers - the day of the Inspiration Challenge. I was a little worried though when I read the name of the inspiration site and took a look at the home page. Neither "posh" nor "vintage" are my style, but I felt better when I came upon this dress, not that I would ever in a million years purchase it!

I did think I could use it as inspiration for a card. One of my favorite images is the tiger in Mark's Finest Papers set, Big Cats. And today's challenge on the MFP Blog is to use a diecut as a background mat. The largest Labels Eight diecut fits very nicely onto an A2 cardbase. I stamped the tiger onto MFP Snow Storm Smooth with Versafine Onyx Black and clear empossed it. The Copic markers I used to color him are E00, E08, YR14, RV21, and Y38.

After adhering the tiger-print mat, I placed the matted tiger panel on with Pop dots to give the card a little dimension. This set makes great masculine cards, which don't usually need a whole lot of embellishment.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.

Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers - Big Cats
Ink: Versafine Black Onyx
Paper: Mark's Finest Papers - Snow Storm Smooth, Dark Chocolate Bar; DCWV Safari Chic DP
Accessories: Copic markers, Labels Eight, Rectangle Nestabilities, Pop dots, Clear ep

Stampin'Bs Challenge - Beach Scene -- & A Request

2011-07-07T00:01:00.006-04:00

This week's Stampin'Bs challenge was posed by Anne Harmon. She wanted us to make a beach scene -- with sand, either real or stamped. I don't use it often, but I do like Mudd Puddles -- which basically is sand and glue. After I stamped and colored my beached boat, I constructed my card and then added a little bit of Mudd Puddles around the boat. I think it gives some more texture to the picture.

I'm sending this card to a wounded soldier in a VA hospital in Maryland, who likes the beach. If you'd like to read a little bit about him and maybe drop a spare card into the mail, here is the information which was posted on Splitcoast. I'm sure he and his family would appreciate your thoughtfulness.

Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers - Sand Surf Relax
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Danube Blue
Paper: MFP Dark Night Navy, Red Hots, Snow Storm Smooth; October Afternoon Seaside
Accessories: Copic markers, Mudd Puddles, Button, White gel pen

Stampin'B Challenge - Diecuts & Piercing

2011-06-30T00:01:00.003-04:00

Faith (Markie's Mom) picked a great challenge for the Stampin'Bs this week -- two of my favorite things: diecuts and piercing. Actually, she wanted us to use TWO diecuts. So I used two new ones I got recently, a Labels 13 and a Ribbon Banner.

My image is the large waterlily from Mark's Finest Papers set Floating Along, colored with Copic markers and then cut out using the Labels 13. Because I wanted a smaller mat than I could have gotten using two dies, I laid the die upside-down on a piece of MFP Aqua Light cardstock and traced around the edge. I then cut it out. The sentiment also comes from Floating Along, and I cut it out using one of the banners in Spellbinders' four-piece Ribbon Banners set, sponging inside the die with Tim Holtz Distressed Tumbled Glass.

After cutting a piece of Prima Sweet Fairy DP to fit the front of an A2 card, I glued it down and then attached my stamped, matted image, adding the ribbon banner. Then I pierced the corners. Voila! I was done. Thanks for stopping by.

Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers - Floating Along
Paper: MFP Snow Storm Smooth, Aqua Light; Prima Sweet Fairy DP
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Distressed Tumbled Glass
Accessories: Labels 13, Ribbon Banners, Copic markers, Sponge dauber, Pop dots, Paper-piercing tool

Teapot Tuesday

2011-06-28T00:01:00.004-04:00

I'm a relatively newcomer to the SCS Teapot Tuesday challenge, hosted by Cindy Motherway (Mothermark). Cindy has got to have the most vivid imagination of anyone I've ever "met." Each week she invites us to a teaparty, describing a situation, and asks the party-goers to make a card based on her story. In most cases, she asks the participants to send their cards to a worthy cause, which she also describes.

This week's challenge story was "Back to School." The challenge was to have a number on your card and additional items to count. For more information, check out the thread. On another note, I recently attended StampFest Orlando and purchased a set of Inky Antics stamps called Catterpillar HoneyPot Set. If you're not familiar with their "HoneyPot" line, they utilize honeycomb paper for the opened centers of the finished card. I used these stamps and honeycomb paper for my Teapot Tuesday card.

The front of my card fulfills the requirements of the Teapot challenge -- Cuttlebug embossed numbers and two apples! Almost anyone can count to two!!!

Inky Antics has a challenge on their blog at the moment for HoneyPop cards. As you can see, I used red honeycomb paper for the apple inside the card. This honeycomb paper makes such a cute card! Don't you just love that inchworm with his bow tie!

Stamps - Inky Antics Catterpiller HoneyPop Set
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper - GP White, DCWV adhesive Red
Accessories - Cuttlebug and Number Collage folder, Sanding block, Copic markers, Labels Four Nestabilities die, Crystal Effects (on glasses), Red HoneyPop honeycomb paper, Spica glitter gel pen

Stampin'B Challenge - Friendship Sentiment

2011-06-23T00:01:00.002-04:00

Joanne was the hostess for this week's Stampin'B challenge, and she asked us to use friendship sentiments. I've been wanting to use these little buttons I found a couple of weeks ago at Hobby Lobby, and fortunately Mark's Finest Papers Sew What? set had a friendship sentiment in it.

I found this nice layout in this quarter's Page Maps sketches and used Cosmo Cricket's Material Girl DPs on the layers. I especially like the rows of different colored tape measures.

Many years ago I was into making miniatures. One of my projects was a country store, which I put together in an old aquarium. One corner of the store has some sewing items, including this treadle sewing machine and a dressmakers form.

Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers - Sew What?
Papers: MFP Snow Storm Smooth, Cosmo Cricket Material Girl DP
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Distressed Bundled Sage
Accessories: Buttons, Labels Thirteen Nestabilities die, Sponge dauber

Stampin'B Challenge - Punched Border

2011-06-16T00:01:00.003-04:00

The Stampin'B challenge this week was to use a border punch. I really like plaids; and, when I recently saw this EK Success plaid border punch, it spoke to me. And I listened! I thought it would look good on a masculine card, so I used a new set from Mark's Finest Papers called All Aboard and made a definite guy card.

After stamping the image, I colored it with Copic markers and matted it with both red and black cs. It didn't fill up the entire horizontal space, so I added the little panel with railroad tracks. The train station in the stamped image reminds me of a train station near the rural town in Pennsylvania where I grew up! That little pewter locomotive is part of my late husband's train memorabilia.

Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers - All Aboard
Paper: MFP Speedy the Cat Black, Red Hots, Snow Storm Smooth
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copic markers, EK Success Plaid border punch

MFP June Blog Hop - Day 4

2011-06-10T00:01:00.005-04:00

Hello! Welcome to the June 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!

This week's new releases are: All Aboard, Poppies Poppies Poppies, Sand Surf Relax, and Floating Along.

For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set: Floating Along? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!) I'm not an official part of the Blog Hop today. But I'm thankful that you stopped by to see what I did with today's set. To get the chance to win Floating Along, be sure to comment on the blogs of the team members listed below.

Some time ago I saw a tutorial for a recessed window card and thought that the large water lily would look pretty in that setting. I made the card base using MFP Lily Pad and Prima Sweet Fairy DP. The background for the water lily is a mottled cardstock called Aged Berry. After stamping and coloring the water lily, I cut it out and popped it up in the center of the "window." Then I decorated it with some pearls and the punched butterfly.

For my second card I used a layout I found on Page Maps, using DPs from the Prima Fairy Flora paper pad.

For my final look into my late husband's train memorabilia, I chose a few of the Hallmark ornaments from a set of tin trains. I hope you enjoyed that I shared some of his passion with you.

For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Floating Along. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's blog post.

Emily
Nancyruth
Neva
Silvia
Faith
Claudine
Dawn
Marilynn
Patricia
Chrissy
Karen
Pam
Joanne
Kittie
Sharon-Guest Designer for June
Mark’s Finest Papers

MFP June Blog Hop - Day 3 and Stampin'B Challenge

2011-06-09T00:01:00.004-04:00

Hello! Welcome to the June 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!

This week's new releases are: All Aboard, Poppies Poppies Poppies, Sand Surf Relax, and Floating Along.

For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set: Sand Surf Relax? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!) I'm not an official member of the Blog Hop today, but I'm glad you stopped by to see my projects. To get a chance to win today's set, be sure to visit the Design Team Blogs listed below.

My first card is serving double-duty: MFP Blog Hop and Stampin'Bs challenge. I was the hostess this week. One of the things I'm trying to force myself to do is making more CAS cards. I'm not really comfortable leaving lots of "white" space. So this was actually a challenge more to myself than to the rest of the team. 1-2-3 was my challenge (one layer, two stamps, three colors). One of the things I like to do with CAS cards is embossing a frame around the focal image using Nestabilities. So after I stamped the large conch shell, I embossed the Labels One nestie around it and then sponged in the blue.

Another thing I like to do is create cards that are not standard A2 cards. I joined Technique Junkies some time ago, and one of the techniques in the June/July 2011 newsletter was a Telescoping Card. What a clever idea!

In my former life, I was a cross-stitcher. I had joined a group of stitchers who would do round-robin projects. Each person started a project and then sent it along to the next person, who sent it along to the next person, etc. One of my projects was this train, which is hanging in my upstairs hallway.

For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Sand, Surf, Relax. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's blog post.

Emily
Nancyruth
Neva
Silvia
Faith
Claudine
Dawn
Marilynn
Patricia
Chrissy
Karen
Pam
Joanne
Kittie
Sharon-Guest Designer for June
Mark’s Finest Papers

MFP June Blog Hop - Day 2

2011-06-08T00:01:00.006-04:00

Hello! Welcome to the June 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!

This week's new releases are: All Aboard, Poppies Poppies Poppies, Sand Surf Relax, and Floating Along.

For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set: Poppies, Poppies, Poppies? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if the winner has already purchased this set!) Be sure to visit the DT blogs listed below if you want a chance to win this set.

I decided that I would make two cards using Poppies Poppies Poppies, but that they would not be standard A2 cards. Instructions for both cards can be found in the Resources section of Splitcoaststampers. My first card is a Center Step card. I used DP from Cosmo Cricket's Pixie-Licious paper pad, along with some Basic Grey half-pearls.

My second card is a Swinging Z-Fold card. I decided that I wanted red poppies this time, so I used Copic markers R20, R24, R27, R29. The DP is from DCWV Crafty Stack.

This train is a limited edition piece from Trains Gone By, made from Georgia marble.

For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win POPPIES, POPPIES, POPPIES. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's blog post.

Lois (that's me)
Dawn
Anne
Peggysue
Connie
Emily
Karen
Patty
Roxie
Vicki
Liz
Geri
Lynn
Lagene-Guest Designer for June
Mark’s Finest Papers

MFP June Blog Hop - Day 1

2011-06-07T00:01:00.006-04:00

Hello! Welcome to the June 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!

This week's new releases are: All Aboard, Poppies Poppies Poppies, Sand Surf Relax, and Floating Along.

For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.

So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set: All Aboard? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!) In order to win, be sure to visit the blogs of the rest of the DT listed at the end of this post.

When I first saw today's set, I got a lump in my throat because my late husband was a train enthusiast. One of the sentiments in this set is "Choo Choo," which is the name our grandkids called him. He would definitely have loved this stamp set.

My first project is actually a little box I made using the tutorial on Splitcoaststampers. After making the box, I covered it with some harlequin DP I had in my stash -- it matches the design on that cute little locomotive.

For my card I stamped the train station scene and then colored it using Copic markers. I thought the map DP was rather appropriate behind the focal image.

As I mentioned above, my husband loved trains and had lots of train memorabilia in his "train room." I'd love to share some of that with you during the Blog Hop. You probably noticed the pewter trains I included in the photos of my projects. They are part of a set I bought him from the Franklin Mint -- birthday and Christmas presents for several years. Below are three more locomotives from that set.

For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win ALL ABOARD. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's blog post.

Lois (that's me)
Dawn
Anne
Peggysue
Connie
Emily
Karen
Patty
Roxie
Vicki
Liz
Geri
Lynn
Lagene-Guest Designer for June
Mark’s Finest Papers

Stampin'B Challenge - Masculine

2011-06-02T00:01:00.002-04:00

Our Stampin'Bs challenge hostess for this week was Brenda (Benzi), who asked us to do a masculine card -- using brown, black and one other color of our choosing. I chose RED.

Take Time & Father's Day from Mark's Finest Papers is one of my favorite sets to make masculine cards. I just found a DCWV matstack called Tattered Time, which has some great DP to go along with the images from the stamp set.

My cardbase is MFP Licorice Whips, a 100-lb. cardstock. I stippled the Desert Sand with some Memento Rich Cocoa to give it a little texture. The rest is pretty self-explanatory. Thanks for stopping by my blog today.

Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers - Take Time & Father's Day
Paper: MFP Licorice Whips, Ripened Tomato, Desert Sand; DCWV Tattered Time DP
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Memento Rich Cocoa
Accessories: Stipple brush, Brads, Circle Nestabilities

Stampin'B Challenge- Collage Card

2011-05-26T00:01:00.002-04:00

I don't often do collage cards, but that's what the Stampin'Bs challenge was this week. I used images from Mark's Finest Papers' Garden Fairies set, stamping some of them with Memento London Fog randomly on the Sweet Fairy DP from Prima. Two of the images, the fairy silhouette and the butterfly, I stamped with Memento Bahama Blue on smaller scraps of the same DP, matted them with MFP Bang Up Blue, and glued them to the outer edge -- cutting off the excess.

I added the punched-out butterflies, flowers/brads, and rhinestones; as well as the sentiment punched out with a circle punch and popped up with a Pop Dot. I actually like the way it turned out!

Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers - Garden Fairies
Paper: MFP Premium Heavy White and Bang Up Blue; Prima Sweet Fairy DP
Ink: Memento London Fog and Bahama Blue
Accessories: Circle punches, MS butterfly punch, Rhinestones, Prima flowers, Brads, Pop dot

Inspiration Challenge and Speedy's Friends

2011-05-21T12:10:00.004-04:00

Today's Inspiration Challenge on Splitcoast was Spotted Moth, an on-line shop with lots of unique handmade clothing and accesssories. In working my way through the myriad of lovely items, I was looking for something that would enable me to also make a card for Speedy's Friends' challenge of a tone-on-tone card. When I reached this lovely dress, I knew I had a winner!

I found some pretty pink patterned paper (that was a mouthful) in the Basic Grey Olivia paper pad, put one piece on some MFP Premium Heavy White cardstock and matted the other with MFP Snow Storm Smooth. I like to use the heavyweight cardstock for card bases, but I don't want to waste it on matting. The dianthus is colored with Copic markers, then cut out and popped up on pop dots. I actually stamped part of it twice, and popped up one of the petals a second time.

In addition to my card, I also got a head start on my Christmas list. I had seen some very nicely done coasters by Geri, another member of the Mark's Finest Papers' design team. She told me she found the coasters at Michaels. My best friend loves everything Southwest, and I thought a set of these coasters would be a good gift. I used images from three different MFP sets -- Southwest Cowboy, Regal & Proud, and Bold & Free. The coaster I made for the challenge is this one, inspired by this feather necklace.

Here is the entire set of coasters.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.

Card:Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers - Butterflies, Dianthus and Flourishes; Daffodil and Anise
Paper: MFP Premium Heavy White, Snow Storm Smooth; Basic Grey Olivia DP
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Accessories: Copic markers, Pearls, Pop dots

Coasters:
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers - Southwest Cowboy, Bold & Free, Regal & Proud
Paper: MFP Hazelnut Brown, Corn Husk
Ink: Tim Holtz Distressed Tea Dye, Memento Potters Clay
Accessories: Coasters, Sponge daubers

Stampin'Bs Challenge - a Spring scene

2011-05-19T00:01:00.004-04:00

NancyRuth, who is currently on hiatus, was hostess for this week's Stampin'B challenge. Her challenge was to make a spring scene. Whenever I think of spring, I think of pastel flowers, so I used the wheelbarrow filled with flowers from Mark's Finest Papers set, In My Mother's Garden. The grass is from another MFP set, Tropical Vacation. After I colored the image and cut it out using a Spellbinders Labels Five die, I sponged in the grass and sky. The colors in the Basic Grey Olivia DP were perfect. BTW, do you see Speedy sitting there? He's trying to decide if he should jump up into the wheelbarrow!

I added some ribbn and the stickpin, and I was finished. If you'd like to play along with the Stampin'Bs, we'd love for you to do that!

Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers - In My Mother's Garden, Tropical Vacation
Paper: MFP Premium Heavy White, Spring Leaf; Basic Grey Olivia DP
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Tim Holtz Distressed Bundled Sage, Tumbled Glass
Accessories: Copic markers, Spellbinders Labels Five, Ribbon, Stickpin, Oval punches, Sponge daubers

Inspiration Challenge and Speedy's Friends

2011-05-14T10:11:00.005-04:00

True to its name, the Inspiration Challenge chose a very inspirational site this week -- Doodletart Glass. It was a beader's heaven, with beautiful hand made glass beads. I was so inspired that I actually did two cards.

My first card, inspired by this bead, was done in monochromatic blue colors for the Speedy's Friends' challenge over on the MFP blog. I realize that gerber daisies do not naturally come in blue, but asters (which look very similar) do. So maybe this is card should be called Blue Asters instead of Blue Daisies.

I used three different designer papers from Prima's Sweet Fairy collection, piercing the edges. To give a little interest, I did an out-of-the-box cutting of the image panel and added some stickles to the centers.

My second card, which actually was the first one I did, was inspired by a purple bead. I learned a valuable lesson when I made this card. Ultra smooth paper is not a good choice when coloring with Copic markers. The paper doesn't absorb the ink very well. I'll remember that next time! I cut the flourish using a Sizzix die and added some Prima flowers.

Because I donate lots of birthday cards to the assisted living facility where my mom lives, I like to make most of my cards into birthday ones. I used the same sentiment (from MFP Bearded Iris) on both cards.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today. Blogger has been rather wonky this week; so, if you didn't get a chance to check out the Mark's Finest Papers blog hop of brand-new sets, take the opportunity to go back and look at all the beautiful creations the Design Team put together for this release.

Card #1

Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers - Greet the Day With Daisies

Paper: MFP Premium Heavy White, Bang Up Blue; Prima Sweet Fairy DP
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Palette Beau Arts Blue
Accessories: Paper piercing tool, Stickles

Card #2
Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers - Bearded Iris
Paper: Super Ultra Smooth Vanilla, August Greens; Prima Sweet Fairy DP
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Distressed Milled Lavender
Accessories: Sizzix Flourish #2 die, Copic markers, Petite Ovals Nestabilities, Prima flowers, Brads, Sponge dauber, Pop dot

Inspiration Challenge and Speedy's Friends

2011-05-07T13:07:00.003-04:00

Because the SCS Inspiration Challenge is my favorite, I actually did two cards today. The site for today was Henrietta's Handbag, a shop with lots and lots of very creative handbags. As I was looking through the bags, I came across this felted bag, which immediately made me think of the American flag, with its stars and stripes. The bag has dots and stripes, but you get the idea! For my card I used a brand-new set from Mark's Finest Papers called American Made, which will be released on Tuesday. Speedy's Friends challenge was all about paper, ink, and stamps -- no embellishments. So there are no pearls, no Prima flowers, no ribbon on this card.

I actually did two cards for the Inspiration Challenge. This card is a little more fun, inspired by this funky market bag.

I didn't have an image of a lily pad the right size, so I cheated and Googled "lily pad" on the internet and found one that would work. So I printed it and cut it out.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today. I hope you liked what you found.

Card #1
Stamps - Mark's Finest Papers - American Made
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black and Rhubarb Stalk; Tim Holtz Distressed Faded Jeans
Paper - MFP Snow Storm Smooth, Ripened Tomato, Dark Night Navy
Accessories - Cuttlebug and Stars embossing folder, Spellbinders Labels Trio, Sponge dauber, Spica silver glitter pen

Card #2
Stamps - Mark's Finest Papers - Our Side of the Pond and Whispering Winds
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper - MFP Snow Storm Smooth, Lime Squeeze
Accessories - Copic markers, Pebbles pearlescent chalks, Labels Four Nestabilities, Pop dots, Computer for lily pad image

Stampin'Bs Challenge -- Flower Soft, Liquid Applique or Glitter

2011-05-05T00:01:00.004-04:00

The Stampin'B challenge hostess this week was Faith, and she gave us a choice. We could use Flower Soft, Liquid Applique or Glitter. I chose Flower Soft. Actually I chose three varieties of Flower Soft.

After I stamped the wheelbarrow from Mark's Finest Papers In My Mother's Garden and colored it with Copic markers, I then stamped the little grass images from MFP Tropical Vacation to create some "ground." I cut the image out using Spellbinders Labels Twenty-One and sponged the edges. I used Ultrafine Flower Soft in Citrus Crush and Raspberry Fizz, plus regular Flower Soft Fuschia on the flowers.

I have found that you can sometimes make a nicer mat (narrower) if you draw around the edge of the die and cut it out with scissors. By using the same die as your inside piece, you get a 1/8" border all the way around.

Stamps - Mark's Finest Papers In My Mother's Garden and Tropical Vacation
Paper - MFP Premium Heavy White, August Greens, Snow Storm Smooth; K & Company Julianne DP
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black; Tim Holtz Distressed Bundled Sage and Tumbled Glass
Accessories - Flower Soft (Ultra Fine and Regular), Labels Twenty-One, Sponge daubers, Pop dot, Copic markers

Stampin'B Challenge - Monochromatic

2011-04-28T00:01:00.002-04:00

This week's Stampin'B hostess was Joanne, who challenged us to make a blue monochromatic card, with an additional requirement of paper piecing. I chose this cute little elephant from Mark's Finest Papers new set Oh Boy, It's a Girl! I stamped him on a white scrap and cut it out with a circle nestie. Then I stamped it again on the DCWV Nursery DP, cut it out, and colored the ribbon.

I didn't want to take too much away from him, so I just added some blue buttons for embellishment. The background DP is from the same paper pad, matted on MFP Breezy Blue. Now, if I knew someone who just had a baby boy, I'd be ready!

Stamps - Mark's Finest Papers Oh Boy, It's a Girl
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper - Mark's Finest Papers Premium Heavy White, Breezy Blue, Snow Storm Smooth; DCWV Nana's Nursery Boy DP
Accessories - Circle Nestabilities, Buttons, Twine

Never-Ending Card

2011-04-24T13:21:00.005-04:00

Today's Featured Stamper on Splitcoaststampers is Shelly (Freshn'Sassy). In looking through Shelly's gallery, I saw several Never-ending cards, a technique I had not done before. There are several tutorials on-line for this technique -- one of them has a video. What better way to try a new technique than by CASEing someone else. So even though today is Easter, I decided to do a Christmas card.

The card base is made with Mark's Finest Papers' Red Hots (a 100-pound cardstock) and the designer papers are from Stampin'Up's Deck the Halls DSP, matted on MFP Deep Olive. Very little stamping on the front -- just the JOY from MFP's Seasonal Poinsettias.

When you open the first fold, this is what you find. The images are from MFP Greetings of the Season.

For the second fold, I stamped the cardinal and split him in half so he would fit on the two vertical panels.

The back of the card is just designed paper. Even though I had fun making this card, I'm not sure I'll ever try it again. But I had to be able to say that I did it at least once!

Stamps - Marks' Finest Papers - Greetings of the Season, Seasonal Poinsettias
Paper - MFP Red Hots 100-lb paper, Deep Olive, Naturals Ivory; SU Deck the Halls DSP
Ink - Memento Rich Cocoa, Rhubarb Stalk, Tuxedo Black
Accessories - Circle punches, Copic markers

StampinB - Mother's Day

2011-04-21T00:01:00.001-04:00

Vicki Dutcher was the hostess for this week's Stampin' Bs challenge; and, because Mother's Day is coming up in a few weeks, she asked us to make a Mother's Day card. I used the large iris from Mark's Finest Papers' brand-new set Bearded Iris and colored it with Copic markers. After cutting it out with a Spellbinders Petite Oval Nestabilities die, I sponged around the edge with Tim Holtz Distressed Wild Honey. The background paper is SU Apricot Appeal DSP. I added a ribbon and stickpin.

How would you like to have a little fun and get a FREE stamp set from Mark's Finest Papers. MFP is hosting a Birthday Card swap over on Splitcoaststampers, and everyone who joins the swap will receive this mini-set.

To be able to participate in the swap, you have to be part of the Swap Users Group on SCS. If you aren't a member yet, here is a link to how to become a member. MFP is going to have on-going swaps; and each time you join, you'll get another free stamp set. So, in addition to the beautiful cards you receive from fellow swappers, you'll get a BONUS!

Mark's Finest Papers - Blog Hop Day 4

2011-04-15T00:01:00.008-04:00

Welcome to the MFP April Blog Hop! This month, we are releasing 4 NEW SETS!

Our New Sets are: In My Mother's Garden, Bearded Iris, Oh Boy, It's a Girl and Garden Fairies.For your convenience, all 4 stamp sets are available for purchase TODAY!

We have a NEW Blog Candy Contest! BE A GUEST DESIGNER!***

What do you need to do to qualify? Just comment on the Design Team blogs during the blog hop. The winner will be announced on the Mark’s Finest Papers blog on Saturday, April 16, 2011.

***See the MFP blog for all the contest rules and PRIZES!

I'm not part of the official Blog Hop today, but thanks for stopping by to look at my creations. I had fun with the Garden Fairies set.

My card has lots of glitter. I had made a glitter card once before and loved the way it turned out, and I thought a fairy needed lots of glitter in her life. After making the background, I placed a sheet of acetate over the "frame" and attached it with the ribbon. Then I placed the stamped diecut on top of the acetate and added a little bling!

My box was made as a gift to a co-worker who has been having many health problems, and I wanted to make her feel a little better. She loves fairies -- has all kinds of them all over her office. I had received some Christmas cookies in the box and kept it because I liked the unusual shape. I just covered the lid and added the stamped fairy, which is colored with Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol. I wrapped some ribbon around the edge of the lid and across the top, adding a bow and a flower. I gave it to her last week, and she loved it. I am so glad!

My brother-in-law gave me these Lladro-like clowns for Christmas many years ago.

Be sure to visit the "official" blog hop stops and comment in order to be eligible to win a guest designer position for Mark's Finest Papers. Be sure to check out the MFP Swap on Splitcoast. If you have any MFP stamps, you might like to join us.

Emily-

Karen-

Patty-

Roxie-

Vicki-

Liz:

Claudine-

Dawn-

Nicole -

Marilynn-

Peggysue-

Connie –

Emily N.-

Neva

Silvia

Patricia

Chrissy

Guest Designer, Lillian

Mark’s Finest Papers

MFP Blog Hop - Day Three and Stampin'B's Challenge

2011-04-14T00:01:00.006-04:00

Welcome to the MFP April Blog Hop! This month, we are releasing 4 NEW SETS!

Our New Sets are: In My Mother's Garden, Bearded Iris, Oh Boy, It's a Girl and Garden Fairies.For your convenience, all 4 stamp sets are available for purchase TODAY!

We have a NEW Blog Candy Contest! BE A GUEST DESIGNER!***

What do you need to do to qualify? Just comment on the Design Team blogs during the blog hop. The winner will be announced on the Mark’s Finest Papers blog on Saturday, April 16, 2011.

***See the MFP blog for all the contest rules and PRIZES!

My first card for today's set, In My Mother's Garden, is for both the MFP Blog Hop and the Stampin'Bs challenge. I was the hostess for this week's challenge -- my challenge was to use a square, a circle and an oval somewhere on your card. My square is obvious -- it's a square card. In addition, I used the lacey square Nestabilities die to make a border around the image panel. The circle also is pretty obvious -- the sentiment is on a circle nestie. The oval is a little less obvious. If you take a look at the top of the watering can, you will see it is an oval-shaped can. I hope that's not cheating. Of course, it's not cheating -- the hostess of the challenge would NEVER cheat!

I actually stamped the watering can twice, popping up the second (colored) image and adding some stickles to the flowers. The background paper is from Basic Grey's Green at Heart paper pad.

My second card needs very little explanation. After stamping the trellis I cut the top to go around the trellis and matted it with MFP Dark Chocolate Bar. All coloring was done with Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol. There are also stickles on the flowers of this card.

Like the clown on Tuesday's post, this clown was also made by my mother. (Crafting is in my genes, you see.) She knew I loved Elvis, so she found some material with Elvis' image all over it and made the stuffed clown. This trapeze is hanging in a corner of my dining room.

Be sure to check out the rest of the team's creations using In My Mother's Garden. Comment on each post to be in the running for a guest designer position with Mark's Finest Papers. And be sure to check out the MFP Swap on Splitcoast. If you have any MFP stamps, you might want to join us.

Lois (that's me)

Vicky

Dawn L.

Anne

Emily

Karen

Patty

Roxie

Vicki

Liz

Claudine

Dawn M

Nicole

Marilynn

Geri

Lynn

Neva

Silvia

Guest Designer, Lillian

Mark’s Finest Papers

Mark's Finest Papers - Blog Hop Day 2

2011-04-13T00:01:00.008-04:00

Welcome to the MFP April Blog Hop! This month, we are releasing 4 NEW SETS!

Our New Sets are: In My Mother's Garden, Bearded Iris, Oh Boy, It's a Girl and Garden Fairies.For your convenience, all 4 stamp sets are available for purchase TODAY!

We have a NEW Blog Candy Contest! BE A GUEST DESIGNER!***

What do you need to do to qualify? Just comment on the Design Team blogs during the blog hop. The winner will be announced on the Mark’s Finest Papers blog on Saturday, April 16, 2011. ***See the MFP blog for all the contest rules and PRIZES!

I recently joined Technique Junkies, a subscription newsletter, which is chock-full of fun techniques. My first card was made with one of these techniques. As you can see in the second photo, there are a series of messages tucked inside the card. This card set was originally made as a baby shower gift. However, baby had other ideas; and she was born by C-section the day before the baby shower! Inside the little can is a pair of baby socks. There is a tutorial on SCS for this pop top container.

My second card is a little simpler, with a color-blocked background, which I ran through my Cuttlebug using the Lattice Square embossing folder. I found some Colorbok Sticky Stitches somewhere (don't even remember where!) and ran strips along the edges of each of the different color blocks. I thought it sort-of looked like a baby blanket. The cute little giraffe panel is popped up on dimensionals.

In the real world I am a bookkeeper. My son Doug gave me this Emmett Kelly accountant figurine for Christmas one year. I actually have several Emmett Kelly clowns in my collection.

Be sure to visit all the participating blogs today and comment in order to be eligible for the opportunity to be a guest designer next month. And be sure to check out the MFP Swap on Splitcoast. If you have any MFP stamps, you might want to join us.

Lois (that's me)

Vicky

Dawn L.

Anne

Peggysue

Connie

Claudine

Dawn M.

Nicole

Marilynn

Geri

Lynn

Emily N.

Patricia

Chrissy

Guest Designer, Lillian

Mark’s Finest Papers

Mark's Finest Papers Blog Hop - Day 1

2011-04-12T00:01:00.010-04:00

*** See the MFP blog for all the contest rules and PRIZES! ***

My card for today's set, Bearded Iris, was made using the Delft Tile Technique, which was spotlighted on SCS a couple of week's ago. After following the tutorial directions for making the background, I cut a Labels Eight die cut in MFP Dark Night Navy and another one from the Snow Storm Smooth piece on which I had colored my large iris.

After seeing Geri's animal tiles she made using the MFP African Veldt set, I was inspired to use a set of coasters my sister had given me several years ago, which had sat dormant in my supply closet. I stamped the potted iris four times, coloring each one differently -- after I had Googled "Bearded Iris" on the internet to get four different varieties.

This is a photo of all four coasters.

I had shared some of my salt and pepper shaker collection with you previously, so I decided to share some of my clown collection too. This is the first clown I received. It was a gift from my mother, who did marvelous creations in ceramics. I have many of her pieces throughout my house.

Make sure you stop by all the design team's blogs and comment in order to be eligible for the wonderful opportunity to become a guest designer for Mark's Finest Papers.

Lois (that's me)
Vicky
Dawn L.
Anne
Peggysue
Connie
Emily
Karen
Patty
Roxie
Vicki
Liz
Geri
Lynn
Emily N.
Neva
Silvia
Patricia
Chrissy
Guest Designer, Lillian
Mark’s Finest Papers

Stampin'B Challenge

2011-04-07T00:01:00.003-04:00

There was a little confusion as to exactly what this week’s Stampin’Bs challenge was. What was definite was the colors required – Navy and Green. What was a little blurry was whether the card should include stripes – or dots – or plaids. So the hostess, Emily, decided to make any one of those three okay. I chose my favorite pattern -- plaid.

I found some navy and green plaid DP in my “blue” drawer. It was quite masculine-looking, so I went with a masculine card. My card base is Navy, matted with a Light Green (MFP Pistachio Fleck). I stamped the pocket watch with Versafine Majestic Blue and clear embossed it. After cutting out the watch (leaving a little bit of the pistachio showing), I popped it up on dimensionals. Both the vertical piece and the sentiment circle have some distress sponging.

Stamps: Mark’s Finest Papers – Take Time and Father’s Day Paper: Mark’s Finest Papers – Dark Night Navy, Pistachio Fleck; Chatter Box Tie Plaid DP Ink: Versafine Majestic Blue Accessories: Clear embossing powder, Martha Stewart border punch, Ribbon, Circle Nestabilities (plain and inverted scallops), Sponge dauber, Pop dots

Stampin'B Challenge - Make Your Own DP

2011-03-31T00:01:00.005-04:00

First, let me apologize for the "funky" way this post has formatted itself. I've been having all kinds of problems with Blogger this week! Our Stampin'B hostess this week, Vicky Gould, asked us to make our own background paper -- no DP, just stamps. While not technically "background" paper, I did make the patterned paper at the top of my card, using the smallest rose and leaf from Mark's Finest Papers set, Roses for You. After stamping the roses with Memento Tuxedo Black, I masked them one at a time and stamped the leaf image around the roses; then I colored them with Copic markers. One of my favorite places to find layouts is Page Maps ,where I found this layout. After cutting out my patterned paper with the largest Labels Nine die, I matted it with some MFP August Greens, cut with scissors to match the shape. I have found that, if you trace the die on cardstock and cut it out with scissors, you can get a very nice mat (not too wide). Then I punched the opening for the ribbon and ran it around all the layers, tying a nice bow. I stamped the sentiment with Memento Bamboo Leaves and added the pearl flourishes. Thanks, Vicky, for the challenge. It was time-consuming but quite satisfying. -------- Stamps - Mark's Finest Papers Roses for You Paper - MFP Speedy the Cat's Cream, Strawberry Freeze, August Greens, China Blue Eyes Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black, Bamboo Leaves Accessories - Copic markers, Ribbon, Labels Nine, Pearl Flourishes --------- Thanks for stopping by my blog today.

Inspiration Challenge - Ruche

2011-03-26T09:27:00.004-04:00

It's been a week since I've posted to my Blog -- life does get in the way of fun, you know. Anyway, as I've said before, the Saturday Inspiration Challenge on SCS is my favorite one of the week. You can go in any direction you'd like with your creations.

My first card, a Clean and Simple design, was inspired by this "floating with butterflies ring." I used some brand-new DP for my background -- Prima Fairy Floral -- and matted it with MFP Aqua Light. Using a square nestie, I created the embossed frame around the aqua/DP square.

The butterfly was punched with a Martha Stewart punch and attached at the center with some Scor-tape, allowing the wings to float. The sentiment, from Mark's Finest Papers' Daffodil and Anise set, is stamped with Versafine Deep Lagoon and clear embossed.

Because of all the wonderful inspiration on the Ruche site, I had to make a second card -- using this buttons print as the starting point. All the DPs on my card are from Cosmo Cricket's Material Girl paper pad, matted in MFP Dark Chocolate Bar cardstock.

The SCS sketch challenge this week was quite interesting. I was able to use three different patterns from the Material Girl pad -- making the buttons the most prominent. Speedy's Friends' challenge this week was to use both heat and dry embossing and also to have at least one element popped up. I stamped the mannequin in Versafine Sepia and clear embossed it. Then I stamped it again using Versafine Toffee, clear embossed it, and colored the skirt using Memento markers. After cutting out the skirt, I attached the waist using Scor-tape and popped up the bottom. The sentiment is also popped up. All images are from Mark's Finest Papers' Sew What? set.

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Thanks for stopping by.

Inspiration Challenge - Kirkland's

2011-03-19T10:02:00.003-04:00

Today is Saturday and time for my favorite SCS challenge -- the Inspiration Challenge. Today's site is Kirkland's, a home decor store. We used to have a Kirkland's in the mall; but, like so many chains, they have left the mall and are strickly on-line.

My first card was inspired by these lovely pillows, which come in several colors, but I liked the brown and blue the best.

I stamped the vine from Mark's Finest Papers Brick Wall set several times with Versafine Sepia onto a panel of MFP Breezy Blue, turning my block each time so that the pattern was varied. Then I clear embossed it. I used this week's sketch as my layout, so there wasn't much more that I needed to add -- the Martha Stewart buterfly and a sentiment from the same set.
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Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers - Brick Wall
Paper: MFP Snow Storm Smooth, Flecked Dirt, Breezy Blue, Morning Sun
Ink: Versafine Sepia
Accessories: Clear embossing powder, Martha Stewart butterfly punch, Gold half-pearls

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My second card was a little more involved. Inspired by this charger, I cut three strips of MFP cardstock (Spring Green Parchment, Hazelnut Tan, and Desert Sand) and glued them down on a piece of paper. Then I cut the circle with the largest Classic Circle nestie and distressed it with Tim Holtz Tea Die ink. I cut the leaves using a Sizzix die and stamped the bird from MFP Tweet Blessings.

I then mounted the circle onto a 4 3/4 inch square card of MFP Corn Husk, added the sentiment and baker's twine -- and I was through.

Thanks for stopping by my blog.

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Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers - Tweet Blessings

Paper: MFP Corn Husk, Spring Green Parchment, Hazelnut Tan, Desert Sand

Ink: Tim Holtz Distressed Tea Dye, Versafine Sepia

Accessories: Sizzix Leaf die and Floral Lattice folder, Spellbinders Circle die, Baker's Twine, Clear embossing powder

Stampin'B Challenge - Pink Thank You

2011-03-17T00:01:00.002-04:00

As hostess for this week's Stampin'B challenge, Emily wanted us to make a thank you card using spring colors -- one of which had to be pink. I colored my Mark's Finest Papers' gerber daisies using Copic markers in several shades of pink. One of my favorite techniques is Reverse Masking. I like the way it can highlight your image.

I cut out the daisies using a Labels Eleven nestie and mounted it on some Basic Grey Two Scoops DP. The strip down the side was made with a Martha Stewart border punch. It's not quite a CAS card, but it is flat and shouldn't take any extra postage.

Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers - Greet the Day with Gerber
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Distress Mustard Seed
Paper: Mark's Finest Papers Snow Storm Smooth, Basic Grey Two Scoops DP
Accessories: Labels Eleven Nestabilities, Martha Stewart border punch, Copic markers (R11, R12, R14, BG93, BG96)

MFP Blog Hop - Day 4

2011-03-11T00:01:00.005-05:00

Welcome to the MFP March Blog Hop! This month, we are releasing 4 NEW SETS!

Our New Sets are: Just Dandy, African Veldt, Grandma's Boudoir, and Fish You Were Here. For your convenience, all 4 stamp sets are available for purchase TODAY!

We have a NEW Blog Candy Contest! BE A GUEST DESIGNER!

PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY!

All Blog Hop participants will have the chance to win a Month Long GUEST DESIGNER position on our Senior Design team! That’s right! ONE lucky winner will receive a Guest Designer package that will include April 2011’s Four New Release sets, a selection of Premium Papers, and beautiful embellishments. The winner will also receive a Guest Designer Watermark, Blog Button and have the choice to participate in the April 2011 Blog Hop!

What do you need to do to qualify? Just comment on the Design Team blogs during the blog hop. EACH DAY that participants comment on all the Design Team blogs, their name will be entered once in the random drawing. Each participant has the opportunity to have his/her name entered up to four times. (There are four days of the blog hop, so there are up to four entries per person.) The winner will be announced on the Mark’s Finest Papers blog on Saturday, March 12, 2011.

Although I'm not officially a part of the blog hop today, thanks for stopping by and taking a look at what I did with today's set, Fish You Were Here.

When I first saw today's set, I swore that I would never use the "fish you a merry Christmas" sentiment. It seemed way too "punny" for me. BUT, I decided to be a good sport and use it.

After I stamped the fish and colored him with Copic markers, I cut him out using one of the Spellbinders Heirloom Ornaments dies, sponging in the shading before removing the die. Do you think that ornament hook looks like a fish hook?

About five or six years ago, I made a gel (water) card using the tutorial on Splitcoaststampers. I thought this might be the time to make another one.

I made the porthole by cutting the silver cardstock with two circle nesties and adding some eyelets. I wouldn't try mailing this card -- for one thing, it's very heavy; and for another, I'd be afraid that the zip lock bag would break or leak!

Please visit the rest of the design team members' blogs and see their creations.

Emily-

Karen-

Patty-

Roxie-

Vicki-

Liz:

Claudine-

Joanne T.

Dawn-

Nicole -

Marilynn-

Peggysue-

Connie –

Emily N.-

Neva

Silvia

Patricia

Chrissy

Guest Desinger, Ted

Mark’s Finest Papers

MFP Blog Hop Day 3 and Stampin'Bs Challenge

2011-03-10T00:01:00.008-05:00

PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY!

All Blog Hop participants will have the chance to win a Month Long GUEST DESIGNER position on our Senior Design team! That’s right! ONE lucky winner will receive a Guest Designer package that will include April 2011’s Four New Release sets, a selection of Premium Papers, and beautiful embellishments. The winner will also receive a Guest Designer Watermark, Blog Button and have the choice to participate in the April 2011 Blog Hop!

What do you need to do to qualify? Just comment on the Design Team blogs during the blog hop. EACH DAY that participants comment on all the Design Team blogs, their name will be entered once in the random drawing. Each participant has the opportunity to have his/her name entered up to four times. (There are four days of the blog hop, so there are up to four entries per person.) The winner will be announced on the Mark’s Finest Papers blog on Saturday, March 12, 2011.

My first card using today's set, Grandma's Boudoir, is for both the MFP Blog Hop and the Stampin'B Challenge to use bling on your card. As you can see, my bling is the pearl and rose flourish. I'm glad I didn't live in the era of wearing corsets. That looks sooo uncomfortable. But, as the sentiment implies, the corset made you look marvelous!

My second card is a little plainer. I stamped the cameo twice -- once in silver pigment ink and then embossed with Detail Silver embossing powder; and again with VersaMagic Aegean Blue chalk. After cutting out that portion of the blue cameo that would be the stone, I pressed Versafine on it and embossed with clear embossing powder -- twice, to give it a nice shine. Then I glued it down onto the silver image.

The layouts for both of my cards were found on Page Maps.

Make sure you visit the rest of the team members' blogs to see what they did with this lovely set.

Lois (you are here)

Vicky

Dawn L.

Anne

Emily

Karen

Patty

Roxie

Vicki

Liz

Claudine

Dawn M

Nicole

Marilynn

Geri

Lynn

Neva

Silvia

Guest Desinger, Ted

Mark’s Finest Papers

MFP Blog Hop - Day 2

2011-03-09T00:01:00.007-05:00

PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY!

All Blog Hop participants will have the chance to win a Month Long GUEST DESIGNER position on our Senior Design team! That’s right! ONE lucky winner will receive a Guest Designer package that will include April 2011’s Four New Release sets, a selection of Premium Papers, and beautiful embellishments. The winner will also receive a Guest Designer Watermark, Blog Button and have the choice to participate in the April 2011 Blog Hop!

What do you need to do to qualify? Just comment on the Design Team blogs during the blog hop. EACH DAY that participants comment on all the Design Team blogs, their name will be entered once in the random drawing. Each participant has the opportunity to have his/her name entered up to four times. (There are four days of the blog hop, so there are up to four entries per person.) The winner will be announced on the Mark’s Finest Papers blog on Saturday, March 12, 2011.

For my first card using today's set, African Veldt, I used the reverse masking technique to spotlight this giraffe.

After making the circle in a scrap piece of paper, I sponged on Tim Holtz Distressed inks in two colors - Tumbled Glass and Faded Jeans.

I made this Criss Cross card using MFP Deep Olive and patterned papers from DCWV's Safari Chic paper pad. The elephant head is colored with Copic markers.

Don't forget to check out the rest of the design team members' blogs. Next stop on the hop is Vicky

MFP Blog Hop - Day 1

2011-03-08T00:01:00.010-05:00

PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY!

My second project is not a card -- but a tissue box cover. I know a lot of people who have allergies, and dandelions tend to bring out the worst in them. So I figured a box of tissues might come in handy.

Be sure to comment on all the blogs to qualify for the prize. Next stop on the hop is Vicky .

Inspiration Challenge - Cath Kidston

2011-03-05T13:18:00.006-05:00

It's no secret that the Inspiration Challenge is my favorite of the week. This week's site was a British store Cath Kidston. I founds lots and lots of inspiration there -- thus, my three cards for the challenge.

My first card was inspired by this fabric, with its blue background and reddish pink roses. I found some DP in a new paper pad by K & Company called Julianne. The only problem was the roses on the DP were cream-colored. So I grabbed a couple of Copic markers and changed the colors.

The cameo is from a soon-to-be-released set from Mark's Finest Papers, called Grandma's Boudoir. I stamped the image twice, once in silver on the pale blue cardstock, and a second time on cream. After cutting out the blue "stone," I embossed it twice with clear embossing powder and then glued it down on the silver. I outlined the blue panel with some silver stick-on lines and mounted it on my card with pop dots.

My second card was inspired by this kilt pin, with its sewing theme. It's pretty self-explanatory. Images are from MFP's Sew What? set and DP is another one from October Afternoon's The Thrift Shop pad.

The thread spool charm was originally brass, but I pressed it into the silver pigment ink and embossed it with detail silver embossing powder. Then I wrapped some blue embroidery floss around it to match the charm on the pin.

I hadn't planned to make three cards today; but, as I was looking through my October Afternoon Thrift Shop DP pad, I found the some paper that immediately reminded me of this fabric swatch -- and another card was inevitable.

This is one of my favorite Mark's Finest Papers' sets, Roses for You. I colored it with Copic markers and cut it out with oval Nestabilities. I added a little drop of Crystal Effects for the dew drop. All of the layouts for my cards today came from Page Maps. Thanks for stopping by and looking at my Inspiration Challenge cards.

Stampin'B Challenge - Music

2011-03-03T00:01:00.001-05:00

Joanne asked us to use music on our Stampin'B cards this week. I used the opportunity to showcase a new stamp set from Mark's Finest Papers -- Grandma's Boudoir. The cameo was stamped twice: once in gold and again in pumpkin. I cut the center of the pumpkin image out, around what would be the stone. I then stamped it with Versamark and clear embossed it -- to give it a shiny look, similar to what a cameo would look like. I then glued it to the gold image and cut it out using a Labels Ten die.

I like the look of sheet music on a card. I cut a small piece and sponged around the edges to give it a vintage look, sponging the back corners so that the rolled portion would look distressed too. I mounted the sentiment in the center after gluing down the corsage pin/ribbon.
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Stamps: Mark's Finest Papers - Grandma's Boudoir
Paper: MFP Speedy the Cat's Cream, The Paper Studio Cream Sheet Music DP, K & Company Julianne DP
Ink: VersaMagic Chalks Jumbo Java and Pumpkin, ColorBox Gold, Tim Holtz Distressed Antique Linen
Accessories: Spellbinders Labels Ten, Corsage Pin, Ribbon, Sponge dauber, Gold half-pearls

Stampin'B & Technique Challenges

2011-02-24T00:01:00.004-05:00

I work for an association management company, which manages twelve not-for profit associations. One of our services is putting on their annual meetings, which obviously requires a meeting planner. One of the women in the office was just notified that she passed the test and received her Certified Meeting Planner (CMP) designation. I made a congratulations card for her, using the Bargello Design technique, this week's Technique Challenge on SCS. This card also qualifies for the Stampin'B challenge to use a flower on your card.

Following the direction Joan Ervin gave for the Bargello Design, I used papers from g*c*d studios' Melody Ross paper pad for the strips. I made the flower using several punches, then sponged around the edges and put together with a brad. The sentiment is part of an all-sentiment set from Mark's Finest Papers set called Flourishes and Frame.

This is another card I made using that same technique, using papers from DCWV's The Crafty Stack and images from Mark's Finest Papers' set called Sew What?

Thanks for stopping by today.