Merry Christmas {SFYTT}

I know, what was I thinking, making a SFYTT Christmas card when today is Halloween, for candy-corn-sake??! Well, you see, it goes something like this: I had been inspired by this post of Mish Wooderson's, and then a few new supplies I'd ordered from Emma's Paperie landed on my doorstep this week...put the two together along with Jen's SFYTT, which just happened to be lying on the floor next to my EP goodies, and I couldn't help myself!

The vanilla card base is ever so lightly stamped with PTI's script background in Ranger Distress Ink (Old Paper), and the fun glittery polka dot layer is from Making Memories Mistletoe collection, both sponged for a little shabby vintage funk appeal. The thin scalloped layer is stamped with the same script in vanilla pigment ink and then topped with a thin strip of ivory felt, stitched in place. Other PTI elements are the MC sentiment and ivory & red buttons. Finally, the chipboard finial is from Tattered Angels (one of my EP purchases), and is sponged around the edges and then sprinkled with glitter, making it look all holiday-ish!

Let's take a peek at the SFYTT peeps and bid a fond farewell to Lorelie, Jen's October Guest Designer.

Jen & Lorelie
Amy
Kelly
Leigh
Susan

Have a fun and safe Halloween!
Amy

boo-hoo!

I've had such a great time, a really great time, as Sharon Johnson's October Stamp Simply DT Guest, so I'm boo-hooing that the month has flown by so quickly! You can bet that I'll continue playing along, so stay tuned for more stamp simply installations!

Here are the deets for this week's challenge:

3 Panel Accordion - Accordion cards are some of my favorite things to make, and that's just what we'll do today. We're taking it easy with just 3 panels today. Your accordion may be as large or as small as you like it. It may serve as table decor or it may tie closed as a little gift waiting to be opened. Anything goes -- just do a 3 panel accordion card. But beware -- they are ADDICTING!!! Be sure to check out all the DT girls links to get some GREAT ideas and to get your juices flowing!

Sharon is sooo right about these accordian panel creations becoming quite addictive. I had every intention of making a Christmas themed accordian after having so much fun making this one, but I got distracted being "mom" and "wife", and that's OK, too!

I'd like to share instructions for my Boo accordian with you, because for me, the time it takes to make one of these is sometimes consumed by tweaking the measurements and layers to fit the ideas in my head. That's why I was so excited about making another Christmas accordian--because the measuring was all figured out!

1. cut base card stock 8 1/4 x 4 inches
2. score at 2 3/4" and 5 1/2" (or simply 2 3/4" in from each end)
3. fold panels and trim "tag" corners using your favorite method -- measure precisely or just wing it! (I actually measured 3/4" from each corner, marking lightly with pencil and cutting diagonally from point to point, through all layers with my guillotine cutter.)
4. cut 2 1/4" kraft squares and 2 3/8" black squares for each panel; stamp and/or decorate as desired
5. the patterned paper strips are cut 1 1/4" x 4", V-trimmed at one end, lined up on base and trimmed at top as needed.

Those are the measurements I used, but obviously you can tweak them and decorate each panel as you desire. I am really loving my buttons and felt lately, so I couldn't stop until I'd incorporated those elements as well. I can't wait to see what the rest of the Team Stamp Simply has done, so let's not delay:

Sharon
AJ
Barb
Barbara
Deb
Janine
Jenny
Julie
Tammy

Thanks again, Sharon and the SS crew--it's been MY pleasure!
Amy

Materials
Stamps: Carved and Candelit (retired SU!)
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Kiwi Kiss (SU!); Distress Ink Walnut (Ranger)
Paper: Basic Black, Kiwi Kiss (SU!); Kraft (PTI)
Patterned paper: Mistletoe (Making Memories); Jenni Bowlin 4x4 papers
Everything else: Thickers, staples, felt (loops), buttons & button twine (PTI)

Skating with Sprinkle

Yesterday marked TCP Tuesday #82, with Joanne as our HHWTM and a cool color challenge. I'd hoped to give you a fun sneak peek at a soon to be released set from TCP, but it just wasn't working. Instead, I pulled out Kitty Christmas and inked up skating Sprinkle. I see Sprinkle has opted for her hand muff in lieu of her mittens to keep her hands toasty warm while she's out on the pond, working on her Triple Lutz, leaving her mitts on a nearby snowflake! Ü

I added a few background snowflakes from Deck the Hall, sparkles here and there (Ranger Stickles), a sparkling Thickers "hi" (sounds like your lisping), and a fun button tied length of rope twine. The patterned paper is from Making Memories Mistletoe collection. Oh yes, and those hand drawn black lines edging the tag...yes, sadly those are my doing. After assembling the entire card, I decided that the tag needed "something" to make it pop...so I attempted to draw the lines with everything else attached (and in the way!)...why do I do that?! Are you like me, adding things here and there after the fact?! Sometimes it works out, sometimes it don't (excuse the improper grammar, it just seemed to help me make my point)!

Be sure to come out and play with us this week using this cool color combo and your favorite TCP stamps! Look to Joanne's blog for all the swanky deets and link your creation to Alma's guest book slide show. One last thing before I go...there will be a whole slug of swanky new TCP sets released in 2 weeks, so be sure to mark TCP Tuesday (10/10/09) on your calendar for the TCP Holiday Hop featuring awesome eye candy--I can't wait!

Amy

Noel {SFYTT}

Seriously, this card came together in less than 15 minutes, start to finish, and I really like it! I was looking through some "old" stuff, and came across these glitter sticker letters from Making Memories and this felt tree sticker from American Greetings. Actually, my two oldest kiddos picked up the stickers for me at Target last year, so I'm excited to finally be using them. I've been seeing so many cool things made with either vintage sheet music or reproductions in the form of patterned paper and thought a bit of my grandma's old organ music would work perfectly. Just to add a little extra color, I stamped a row of PTI's Polka Dot Basics II and really like the added color and funk.

Since I already had my sentiment all set with my sticker letters, I took the opportunity to use the horizontal layer from Jen's sketch as an extra spot for embellishments--PTI's red buttons. The patterned paper is Making Memories Mistletoe (love that stuff!).

Let's see if there's Christmas in the air with any of the other SFYTT sisters:

Jen & Lorelie
Amy
Kelly
Leigh
Susan

Have a great weekend, all!

Stamp Simply #110

Hip, hip, it's hip to be square! This week's Stamp Simply Challenge, in the words of our fearless leader, Sharon Johnson:

Feeling Square - Today's challenge has to do with shape -- squares. NO rounded corners on todays card -- so that means NO oval or circular punches or die cuts -- only square shapes. The card must be square, any size, as long as it's square and all layers added must have squared corners. Only your small embellishments can be round or oval -- so you can use buttons, brads, primas, etc. as embellishements, even though they may be round. So if you're feeling a little square, today is YOUR day!

My card uses Sweet Bee by The Rummage Bin in Perfect Plum, Spring Moss and Vanilla. The subtle backgrounds (dots, script, pussy willows) are stamped in Sahara Sand, with touches of vanilla around the edges to soften things up a bit. My only not-square element is the tied plum button, and I love that it also softens the sketch and stands as the token round embellishment.

I'm excited to see what the rest of the SS crew has squared up for our viewing pleasure!

Sharon
AJ
Barb
Barbara
Deb
Janine
Jenny
Julie
Tammy will be back next week...

See you Saturday with another SFYTT!

Give Thanks!

Happy TCP Tuesday, and welcome to the TCP blog hop! You may have arrived here from Jenny's blog, but if not, you can start at the very beginning with our hostess with the mostess, Toni. The blog hop is featuring the release of a 2 new sets: Baby Doll (alphabet) and Gobble It Up!. You've seen a few sneak peeks of both sets here in the past week or so, but if you missed them, I'll link you up:

Baby Doll
Gobble It Up -- Poochie
Gobble It Up -- Sprinkle

I've used a few of the images from Gobble It Up along with Baby Doll to create this fun, Tri-Shutter card. I first saw this type of card on Val Stangle's blog about a month ago and fell in love with her mix of patterned papers and the overall look she achieved. Here's a link to SCS for the Tri-Shutter Tutorial.

Now, if you leave a nice little comment at each blog along the hop, you'll have a chance to win both sets! Make sure to check Alma's blog on Friday for the blog hop winner. Also, be sure to check out Toni's blog for this week's TCP Tuesday Inspiration Challenge. Ready for more fun and inspiration with these two sets? Ok then! Head on to Joanne's blog for sumpin' real nice!

Have a swanky Tuesday!

Believe SFYTT

I fell in love with this and a few of the other PTI sets from their September release, and if I remember correctly, I told you I'd be back with a few more PTI designs using those purchases. I'm holding true to my word with today's SFYTT card that's a little fun, a little formal and a little, perhaps, masculine.

The colors are Not Quite Navy, Old Olive and Real Red, with a fun cork circle and a couple of buttons. I topped the larger button with a gold jingle bell because the stocking paired with the Believe sentiment reminded me of the The Polar Express and it's message of believing...ah, can't wait to start playing that holiday music and preparing for Christmas! Lastly, I stamped a row of Text Style across the olive layer and tied it up with PTI artichoke grosgrain, layering it over a piece of designer series paper from the current SU! Holiday Mini.

Let's see what the girls are up to:

Jen & Lorelie
Amy
Kelly
Leigh
Susan

Have a great weekend!

Card ingredients
Paper: Not Quite Navy, Old Olive, Christmas Cocoa DSP, Vanilla
Ink: NQN, RR
Stamps: Stocking Prints, Tree Trimming Trio, Text Style BG
Embellishments: cork, buttons & avocado ribbon (PTI), jingle bell

Stamp Simply #109

This week's Stamp Simply challenge is to create a gate fold card. Mine is pretty simple, straightforward -- a 8.5 x 5.5 sheet of cardstock, scored 2 1/8" in from each end, resulting in an A2 card when folded. The patterned paper is cut at 2 x 5 3/8" on the outside, and my inside vanilla layer is 4 x 5.25" or you could even go with 3.75 x 5", too.

I made this card for a wedding we're invited to on Saturday, and that I'm playing for as well. Their invitations were very simple in kraft, embellished with printed leaves, so I kept with fall colors. My patterned paper is from DCWV Indian Summer Fall Stack, layered on Dusty Durango, with a 1" Chocolate Chip belly band. The belly band is topped with chocolate grosgrain and a die cut vanilla oval, stamped with their initials using PTI's Fresh Alpha and a damask from Vintage Labels. The "J" was computer generated using Edwardian Script font.

Just a little tip on layering the oval atop the ribbon: I fashioned my bow for length and the look I was going for, but before attaching my stamped oval, I cut another same size oval and stapled the ribbon to it; then attached my stamped oval on top. I did this because I didn't want that ribbon slipping and sliding around, and the layered ovals also hid the staples.

The inside panel is stamped with retired SU! -- leaf from Botanicals and the sentiment from one of the All Year Cheer sets.

Let's see what the rest of the Stamp Simply girls have done with their gate fold cards, and BTW, I am having a ball participating in these challenges this month--a great group of girls and fun challenges!

Sharon
AJ
Barb
Barbara
Deb
Janine
Jenny
Julie
Tammy

Have a great Thursday eve/Friday, and remember to use keyword: ssnotime109 when uploading to SCS. See you Saturday with a new SFYTT!

American Art Stamp Sale!

A quick post today, no time to chatter, but I wanted to share a few things I posted on the American Art Stamp blog today. If you think you "need" any of these stamps, they're all 30% off right now, serious deals!

Too Old


Holiday Fun


Vermouth


Wine Princess

TCP Tuesday #80

Happy TCP Tuesday, all! I'm so excited to be your Hipster Hostess with the Mostest this week, and I've got a fun (and easy!) supply challenge for you. Before I give you the challenge deets, I just want to mention that we're adding the supply challenge into the TCP Tuesday mix, and I'll be your hostess on those weeks.

Without further adieu, I'm challenging you to use buttons this week. I know, buttons are everywhere these days, so you can choose to use buttons in a way that you are comfortable with, or you can get your creative juices flowing, and use buttons in a way that you've never tried before. Remember, it's totally up to you whether you tie those buttons or leave 'em naked -- no judging here!

I'm highlighting a new alphabet being released later this month, called Baby Doll, and it's just plain fun! It's a bit bigger than Alma's previously released alpha, Nightie, and a little curly-curvy in all the right places. Today, I've used it to create a mini {BOO} banner. I cut the pieces for each flag 2 x 2.5. I then cut diagonally from each side of the 2" width to the bottom center by making a tiny mark at 1" (center) and then lining up the corner to center on my cutting blade...clear as mud? In essence, the width of the flag is 2" and the length (top to bottom) is 2.5". Let me know if you have any questions, and/or if you're totally confused and really want to try one of these, here's a tutorial from Splitcoast that will help you out!

Here's one more for you, using a combo of Baby Doll and Nightie--a match made in heaven! I've used the Mojo Monday Sketch 108, along with some of the same patterned paper (Making Memories Mistletoe) as I used above. A big pink ribbon holds my die cut cork heart in place, and this time my buttons are naked--see, you can swing both ways!

Ok, now for a few more deets regarding TCP Tuesday, and remember that you can now link your creation to Alma's blog on her cool new slide show guest book sign in--it's really cool (and easy!):

• All challenge entries will go into the monthly Swanky Stamper contest. That means $25 in Cat's Cash to spend on new stamps at The Cat's Pajamas.
  
• Link your card to Alma's blog, which really means you'll be uploading it into her guest book/slide show (cool and easy, remember?!).
  

Get out those TCP stamps, buttons and thread (or not, on the thread) and start creating. Button, button, whose got the button???!

Warm Winter Wishes SFYTT

Not too much stamping on this one today, girlies, but I sure did have fun with this Cosmo Cricket Oh Joy! paper pack. Lots of piercing around the edges of my {country love} Frosty, with sponging and buttons here and there. When I first picked up this paper pack last June, I had a hard time mixing and matching the papers, but with the punch out snowman/hat/scarf already coordinating, adding in the rest of the layers for the sketch was a breeze!

Other deets include a PTI sentiment from Stocking Prints, buttons and twine, along with sponged edges using Ranger Distress Ink in Walnut, and a few machine stitches.

Jen has a SFYTT Goodie Bag Giveaway going on at her blog, so BE SURE to check it out! Let's see what the SFYTT sisters have done with this great sketch of Jen's (just a heads up--they're ALL great sketches this month...again!):

Jen & Lorelie
Kelly
Amy
Susan
Leigh

I guess this cute snowman is very appropriate today since I woke up to snow on the ground...not enough for a snowman, but still! Have a great weekend Ü

Stamp Simply #108

I'm so lucky to be part of Sharon Johnson's Stamp Simply challenge team as October Guest Designer, and here's my creation for this week's challenge:

Krafty Black -- Today's challenge is in honor of all those who LOVE Kraft paper. The added element is that we MUST use black paper as well -- anything else goes, as long as you have both Kraft and Black paper in your creation. And, if you don't own Kraft paper, do your best to use whatever you have that is as close as possible. As always, we're an easy bunch. We just want you to play and have some fun with us!

There you have it, a fun and pretty easy challenge (for a kraft and black lover like me, anyway)! My creation is one of these fun little totes made with SU!'s Top Note die and a mini paper bag. Here is my original source for these fun little bags: akjuda on SCS.

Just a little background on the monogram - KBA: it stands for King Bee Apiary which is owned and operated by a wonderful friend and co-worker of mine. She and her hubby have started a little honey bizness (get it?!), selling hand made soaps and honey. I can tell you from personal experience how wonderful both products are! Anyway, I just had to have this set from The Rummage Bin, Sweet Bee, and thought it would make a great little monogram for my friend's bizness with the king's crown hanging on that big ol' B. The K and A are from PTI's Fresh Alpha, so clean, so crisp!

Just for a bit of added regal-ness, I ran the kraft card stock through my Big Shot with the argyle embossing plate from SU!. I think I'd probably die cut the kraft layer first, and then emboss secondly, because it lost a bit of it's embossing the second time I ran it through with the Top Note die. I know, some of you are probably thinking, yah-duh, didn't you think of that first? I have to tell you that sometimes when I get an idea, I just run with it, impulsively at times, and don't "think" of all those things...kwim?!

Have a fantastic Thursday night/Friday all, and please play along with this "krafty" challenge, using keyword: SSNOTIME108 at SCS and/or linking your creation over at Sharon's blog. Be sure to check out the rest of the SS sisters by clicking on their names below.

Sharon
AJ
Barb
Barbara
Deb
Janine
Jenny
Julie
Tammy

I'll be back Saturday morning with another fabulous SFYTT!

Odds and Ends...

Just a couple of cards I made in the last week or so that I wanted to share with you. The first is a confirmation card made for a friend to give away, and the second is a card I sent to a friend's dad, who is battling cancer right now.

Damask Designs (PTI) is such a versatile set, I just can't say it enough! The bible verse is computer generated and then stamped over in pink, embellished with a single pink rhinestone and tied up with Offray black satin ribbon.

I had the hardest time getting a clear picture of the 2nd card, so forgive the quality. It's a bit hard to see in the photo, but the chocolate layer is embossed with SU!'s argyle folder. To achieve the multicolored leaves, I first inked the entire stamp in mustard ink, then pumpkin and then a light touch of red ink here and there. After that, I wiped off most of the tree trunk ink off with a tissue and then inked the trunk and branches with a chocolate marker.

That's it for today, folks, but make sure you stop by tomorrow for my next Stamp Simply Challenge! In case you missed it, I'm lucky enough to be playing along with Sharon Johnson's Stamp Simply crew this month as guest designer--whoo hoo!

You're a treat!

Quick post to share a card I posted on the American Art Stamp blog today. My card uses one of Karen Stolper's whimsical girls from the Halloween 2 cling set. Papers are from DCWV Indian Summer Fall stack, and the sentiment is computer generated (inspired by this card made by my sweet and enormously talented friend, Kelly Lunceford).

Thanks for stopping by today!

P is for Poochie & Pie!

It's TCP Tuesday, and Leigh has a fun sketch for us this week as our hipster hostess with the mostess, so hop on over to her blog for all the swanky deets!

My sketch card uses the soon-to-be-released Gobble It Up set, with Poochie doing his best balancing act, showing off extreme baking skillz in his latest pie creation. Papers are from the Indian Summer Fall stack from DCWV, and the "P" is from another soon-to-be-released alphabet from TCP called Baby Doll--yer gonna luv it!

Have a great Tuesday, and don't forget to make use of Leigh's swanky sketch this week!

happy B-day {SFYTT)

It's a new month and that means a whole new month of fabulous SFYTT conjured by the sketch master, Jen del Muro! I needed a break from the holiday stamping I've been doing that past few weeks and remembered this new set I got from CHF, Sweet Bee. There are so many possibilities with this set (baby, birthday, hubby, sweet heart), and although it's a bit intimidating to me right now, I do believe I will have the best luck using the "less is more" theory of creativity. I know what you're thinking--this card is anything but "less is more", but really, the stamping is pretty minimal, just lots of different patterns going on--sorry if it makes your eyeballs wonky!

The combination of paper is Cosmo Cricket Early Bird (red polka dot), Jenni Bowlin (black/cream prints) and a bit of SU! So Saffron. The fun accessories include a circle of rhinestones from Me and My Big Ideas, buttons from Papertrey Ink as well as the button twine, ribbon by Offray and a stick pin from Heidi Grace. Oops, just about forgot about the fun felt ric rac--also by Offray.

Let's get on with it and see what the SFYTT sisters have for us:

Jen & (new!) October Guest Designer
Amy
Kelly
Susan

and...we just might have a new SFYTT sistah with us today: Leigh O'Brien (yeah!!)

Have a great World Card Making Day today!

A {WCMD} Gobble from Sprinkle!

Welcome! You may have happened upon my blog from the Moxie Fab World Countdown to World Card Making Day blog hop. Cath has been our tour guide around the world this week, making her final stop in the states, if you will. I was so very thrilled when Cath asked little old me to join the hop, and it really got me thinking about the annual WCMD event. I'll be spending a few hours stamping with a small group of friends tomorrow and am thoroughly looking forward to it! What are your plans for WCMD?

Before I share a card with you, I have to tell you that Cath has offered up some jam packed fabuloso prize packages each day this week, so don't forget to stop along the entire blog hop and leave a little love in the comment section at each blog in order to increase your chances at winning today's prize package showcased at Moxie Fab World.

There is another Blog Tour going on that spotlights 25 fabulous paper crafters that you must check out HERE. You'll be able to visit their blogs for additional card making ideas as well as a 25% off discount code to use at the Paper Crafts online store.

In addition to all that, you can upload your very own creations to the WCMD gallery and become eligible to win a prize on both the Paper Crafts Connection blog and the Moxie Fab World blog! Prize winners will be announced on Tuesday, October 6. Finally, you can also enter the WCMD contest where you will have the chance to be published in the March/April 2010 issue of Paper Crafts magazine. Whew, I know that was a bit of information overload, but the bottom line is this: have fun on WCMD and if you can, visit Moxie Fab World and/or Paper Crafts Magazine for lots of ideas and contests!

The card I'm sharing with you today is two-fold for me. I am showing off a fun Sprinkle Thanksgiving image that will be available to you mid-month from The Cat's Pajamas. Secondly, I'm joining Sharon Johnson and her Stamp Simply crew for the month of October--fun, fun! The Stamp Simply challenge for this week is ABC/123--making letters and numbers our focal image (keyword: ssnotime107). Sprinkle, with her paper pieced feathers, is doing her best to steal the show from the chocolate covered chipboard letters, but they've got her surrounded! Be sure to see what the rest of the girls have done with their ABC's and 1-2-3's: Sharon, Jenny, Jennifer, AJ, Barbara, Deborah, Janine, Julie and Tammy.

Have a wonderful Friday and be sure to give yourself a little stamping love on Saturday for WCMD!