MFP Blog Hop Day Three & StampinB Challenge

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

StampinB Challenge - One-Layer Card

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

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

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

MFP Blog Hop - Covered Bridges

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

Stampin'B Challenge - Anniversary Card

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

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

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

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

Stampin'B Challenge & MFP Blog Hop - Forest Gifts

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

Stampin'B Challenge

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

Stampin'B Challenge - Use Ribbon

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

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.

Blog Hop Day 3 and Stampin' B Challenge

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

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

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

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

Stampin'B Challenge - Friendship Sentiment

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

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 3 and Stampin'B Challenge

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

Stampin'B Challenge - Masculine

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