MFT Pure Innocence Teaser

I'm excited to be here with another MFT teaser as part of my MFT June Guest Designer stint. If you're a regular visitor here you know how much I {heart} the Pure Innocence line, so I just had to play along with today's PI sneak peeks! MFT has a huge release on June 2nd, including lots of new PI, so be sure to keep up on all the happenings at Kim's blog.

My mud buddy is colored with Copics, trimmed out and popped on top of a combination of papers from Cosmo Cricket's Garden Variety 6x6 mini deck. If you're wondering about that swell felt border, it's none other than MFT's new jumbo RicRac Die-namic...ain't it sweet?! The RicRac die will also be released on June 2nd and the currently available felt is My Favorite Felt Outdoor Essentials.

Just for fun, I added some mini gems to her "seed packet" and dirt pile, sort of like tiny seeds of wisdom, knowledge or (dare we say) juicy news?! I'll let you decide on that one!

I'm actually going to use this card as a birthday card for a co-worker of mine, so I masked out the "ies" in " mud buddies" and replaced it with a "y" from another PI set. It was much easier to do than I'd anticipated and I'm pleased with the result! The "Happy Birthday" is from another MFT set, Who's That Birthday Girl.

Thanks for popping in today. You'll find a full list of MFT Teasers today on Kim's blog 11am or after, so be sure to take a look-see for more PI sweetness!

Amy

MFT Teaser {SFYTT}

I'm so fortunate to have won the MFT guest designer spot for the June releases, and today I'm participating in day 2 of their 6 days of June Teasers. You can bop over to Kim's blog for a list of all the MFT gals with teasers for today. I'm also using Jen's SFYTT which has the perfect horizontal layer where I used the soon-to-be-released MFT Dienamics Jumbo RicRac die!

My card also features other MFT goodness, including the (formerly released) PI Flower Girl and a soon-to-be released new Die-namics RicRac and sentiment. The sentiment is from What a Day!, a great little set with all sorts of possibilities. I chose to pair "I love" with "Saturdays" because I DO love Saturdays for many reasons! Let's see: Jen's SFYTT, no work, home with the family, putzing around in my pj's, etc, etc.! Doesn't Miss Flower Girl look likes she ready for some Saturday fun?! Must be planning to do a little stamping, huh?

Here's a closeup shot of the sentiment stamped on a MFT Die-namics cloud with piercing around the edges. Speaking of piercing around the edges, that's all I got from my sewing machine last night. I was sewing along the edge of the card base, got ready to turn the corner and realized my bobbin must have been empty. Rather than starting all over, I decided to just go with the "pierced" look and I think it's just fine!

Let's see what other SFYTT inspiration Jen and the rest of the crew has for us, and then don't forget to check out Kim's blog for the rest of the MFT Teaser lineup. Have a wonderful holiday weekend, all!

Jen & Iwona
Amber
Amy
Jenn
Kelly
Leigh
Sonja
Susan
Jodi
Megan

Embellish Magazine Blog Hop

Welcome to the Embellish Magazine blog hop, jam-packed with creativity, tips, inspiration, and prizes! I was so excited to have a card chosen for the premiere issue of Embellish Magazine, so being asked to take part in this blog hop was the cherry on top! I'll fill you in on the details, and then we'll move on to my card...

For your chance to win, leave comments on every blog. Embellish is offering four prizes for 10 lucky winners. The winners will be randomly selected from each of the blog hop participant blogs. A comment left on each of the blog hop participant's web site will give you an entry to win one of the prizes, which include Lawn Fawn stamps, May Arts twine, Subscription to Embellish Magazine, and A New Design crinkly stained ribbon.

Each of the blog hop participants is using the color combination featured in the premiere issue of Embellish Magazine: kraft, turquoise, red, chocolate. Twine was another required element, something I've been using more and more of lately...love the texture it adds, and sometimes it adds just the right touch of neutral.

A few of the details...twine, felt flower and scallops, woodgrain embossing and a scripty bird.

So glad you stopped by today, either by chance or as part of the Embellish Magazine blog hop! Don't stop here though, keep on hopping and commenting for your chance to win some great prizes.

Participants:

Embellish Blog http://embellishmagazine.com/blog/

Ryann Salamon http://ryannmarin.wordpress.com/

Tessa Wise http://craftygrl.blogspot.com/

Charlene Austin http://www.willowandpaisley.typepad.com/

Renee Van Stralen http://reneevs.blogspot.com/

Lori Roop http://thepaperyard.blogspot.com/

Julie Campbell http://stampedinhisimage.blogspot.com/

Sara Martina Parker http://sarahmartina.wordpress.com/

Tammy Fite http://www.stampwithtammy.com/

Heather Pulvirenti http://heatherpulvirenti.blogspot.com/

Regan D'Agostino http://stampymcstamperson.blogspot.com

Emily Niehaus http://emmielouwho.blogspot.com/

Maile Belles http://mailebelles.blogspot.com/

Tiffany Johnson http://tiffguam.com/

Anya Schrier http://aschoss.blogspot.com/

Leigh Ann Baird http://stampingwithannieb.blogspot.com/

Amy Rohl http://inkaboutme.blogspot.com/

Mariana Grigsby http://marianagrigsby.wordpress.com/

Kelly Marie Alvarez http://www.blog.lawnfawn.com/

Michelle Woerner http://stopandstamptheroses.blogspot.com/

Tina Fussell http://travelingmama.net/

Maureen Plut http://www.buttonsandbling.blogspot.com/

Brenda Weaver http://sweetpapertreats.wordpress.com/

Julie Lacey http://stampsandtaxes.blogspot.com/

Ashley Cannon Newell http://ashleynewell.blogspot.com/

Embellish Blog http://embellishmagazine.com/blog/

Card ingredients
Papertrey Ink:Text Style, Mega Mixed Messages (stamps); Woodgrain Impression plate; Vintage ink system, button twine; kraft & dark chocolate cardstock
Dies: MFT scallop; SU! Birds and Blooms; Spellbinders Label die
Other: October Afternoon patterned paper

TCP Tuesday says: Happy Birthday, Alma!

Today's TCP Tuesday is a special one! We've put together a jam-packed blog hop to celebrate Alma's birthday, so get ready for some "woody" birthday wishes from the TCP design team past and present, along with TCP friends! Yes, you read that correctly: woody wishes; my idea of a segue to our supply challenge this week.

I challenge you to incorporate some sort of wood-like element in your creation, for instance: wood grain paper, stamps, impression plates, or a stamp like the tree stump from Happy Camper, or the wood floor from Tutu Much.

For my fun loving birthday card for Alma, I chose a piece of wood grain paper from Cosmo Cricket from which I free hand cut a tree stump. Sadly, I have more felt on my card than wood, but sometimes I just go with the wind, and this was one of those times (no pun intended)!

Here's a little peek at the opposite side of the card...

Don't forget to stop at Alma's blog and wish her a big ol' Happy Birthday as well. Tracy is next on the hop, so when you're done here, hop on over to her blog. Lastly, we've got updated "deets" for our TCP Tuesday challenges, so please read below to make sure you're in the running for all the swanky prizes as you play along...

TCP Tuesday Details:

Play along with us and add your own design to your Splitcoast Gallery using keywords TCPTues111 or to your blog and then use the Inlink button at the bottom of Alma's corresponding blog post to add your design. You could be eligible to be the next Swanky Stamper of the Month and win 25 smackeroos, that's $25 in Cat's Cash.

1. Each a week one of The Cat Pack will host a challenge.

2. The challenges will vary {stamp, technique, color, theme, sketch, etc.}

3. You will have until the end of the month to complete the challenge.

4. Post your design using the Inlink Button at the bottom of this post. Your design must be linked and visible to Alma's corresponding blog post to be considered.

5. TCP stamps are not required, but of course, highly encouraged. {Unless it is a challenge calling for a specific stamp}

6. There will be one winner each month. They will be deemed that month’s Swankiest Stamper and get $25 in Cat’s Cash {money to spend on the TCP site!}.

7. Only designs posted to this blog post will be considered for the Swanky Stamper.

8. The newly crowned Swanky Stamper will be announced on the First of the Month and have his/her winning entry posted on The Cat’s Pajamas website where he/she will reign for the entire month.

Have a swanky Tuesday!
Amy

Materials used: Happy Camper (TCP), cloud dies (MFT), felt from my stash, Copics, scallop edge punch (SU!), button twine (TCP), patterned paper (Cosmo Cricket).

Reach for the Highest Star {SFYTT}

A good friend of mine asked if I'd make a graduation card for her to give to a young gentleman graduating from college, so I took the opportunity to use Jen's great sketch for the occasion. I've seen some great graduation cards using argyle, so I used a piece of October Afternoon paper from their 8x8 Report Card pad.

I left the inside of the card "open" for a personalized message. Stamps used are from PTI's Star Prints.

I hope you'll have some time to play along because this is a really fun sketch! If you do, remember to link your card to Jen's slide show. Ok, let's see what the rest of the crew has for inspiration:

Jen & Iwona
Amy
Amber
Jenn
Jodi
Kelly
Leigh
Megan
Sonja
Susan

Have a great weekend!
Amy

MFT VIP Blog Hop!

This is my first official MFT blog hop, and I'm so excited to be joining this uber-talented group of ladies to kick off the VIP Package for June! I have the chance to play along with the girls this month because I was chosen June Guest Designer--happy dance! The VIP package includes the following and is only available for a limited time, so don't delay:

WTG Goes Green VIP $35.85:
Who’s That Girl Goes Green $17.95
What a Day (FREE, $9 value)
Twill Ribbon Collection $5.95
Die-namics Edge Die (Be one of the FIRST to get a NEW Die-namics die, which will be officially released on June 2nd) $11.95

Additional release for May 18th @ 10 PM EST: (set is fully released on this day)
Costumes from Wonderland $15.95

You got a little peak at WTG Going Green above. I sewed up a little reusable lunch bag from a piece of canvas that I've had lying around for a few years, and topped it off with a fun tag featuring a few of the stamps from the set. I stamped the main image on kraft cardstock in Versafine Onyx Black and embossed the image with clear EP. Then I just colored in the "green" apples and her "green" shoes with Green Apple Smooch. To finish off my WTG, I paper pieced her outfit using papers from October Afternoon's Garden Variety mini deck.

As I mentioned, this is a MFT blog hop, so it's time to hop along to Christina's blog for something sure-to-be-green and spectacular! Remember, the VIP is only available May 18th 10PM EST through May 19th, so 'go green' today with MFT!

~Amy

Ruff Day?

Happy TCP Tuesday! Toni has an awesome inspiration piece for you today, so bop on over to her blog to see it...and while you're there, check out the challenge details, including how YOU can become Swanky Stamper of the Month, and how you can also win some Cat Cash!

After looking at the inspiration piece, I knew I had to use lounging Poochie from By The Sea, but I needed to add a cast to Poochie's leg, so I used the cast and a sentiment from You Sick Thing, and it worked out swimmingly! You're probably wondering about the cast, right? Well, a week ago, our sweet Idgie (mini dachshund) was run over and broke her leg, right above the ankle. It was quite a scare, but I'm happy to report that she's doing really well with her cast and we're praying for a full recovery!

Thanks for stopping by today, and I hope you get a chance to play!
Amy

birthday wishes {SFYTT}

For today's SFYTT card, I used some of the same design elements as a card I posted earlier this week. That card and today's card are heavily inspired by Ashley Newell's style. Check out her blog to see what I mean--that girl has got it goin' on!

Here are the fun elements in today's card: PTI stamps, MFT jumbo scallop Die-Namics (squeal with delight!), cork, Melissa Frances butterfly, Jenni Bowlin 4x4 papers, felt, stick pins and scrunchy ribbon tied with MFT linen thread. I love the texture of the combination of the materials and the natural look as well. I hope you're inspired to try this week's sketch. Here's a whole lot more inspiration for you...

Jen & Iwona
Amy
Amber
Jenn
Jodi
Kelly
Leigh
Megan
Sonja
Susan

Have a great weekend!

~Amy

A TCP Tuesday Hot Dog!

I hope you're still hungry for that TCP Tuesday {hot dog}...cause I'm a little late with your order, ha! So sorry about the delay in my TCP Tuesday post...I don't know where the week has gone. Anyway, Leigh is our hipster hostess this week and she has a great sketch, so please check out her post right here for all the details.

See you tomorrow with another SFYTT!
Amy

Thank you so much...

Just a quickie post today to show you a thank you card given to my loving sister yesterday. I found a little morning stamping time yesterday and was smitten and inspired by this card by Ashley Cannon Newell...thanks to you, too, Ashley!

Happy Monday,
Amy

My George {SFYTT}...

Before I share my SFYTT card with you, using the above, fabulous sketch from Jen, I have to give you a little background on my youngest son, George. George is 2 1/2, loves farming with his cows, tractors, round bales and skid loader (or "skoader" as he calls it), baseball, fishing and he also loves Idgie, our 2 year old mini dachshund. Just the other day, he was pretending that Idgie was a "black sheep" as he herded her here and there. So you see, Idgie wears many hats in George's life: black sheep, favorite dog, or even...a cow! With that being said, I was inspired to use this week's sketch to create a "George and Idgie" love story sort of card using MFT's Boy & Dog-Doggone Cute!

You see, if George had his way (which he does most of the time), Idgie would be able to 'moo' just like his cows, and judging by the loving way she's looking at him on today's card says it all: she'd 'moo' if she could!

My Favorite Things is sponsoring today's SFYTT with a $25 gift certificate and on of their Die-namics jumbo scallop dies, so make sure you play along and link your creation to Jen's blog! You'll see more MFT goodness on a few more of the SFYTT samples today, so let's get on with roll call.

Jen & Iwona
Amy
Amber
Jenn
Jodi
Kelly
Leigh
Megan
Sonja
Susan

Before I go, I just want to share a couple shots of the "real" George and Idgie.

Real farming at Uncle Mike's...

Play farming with Idgie...


Have a great weekend, and a Happy Mother's Day if I don't see you tomorrow!
Amy~

Another {duh} moment...

I consider myself a pretty well-rounded, somewhat intelligent person...ok, that was totally out of character for me to say nice things about myself publicly...but what I'm about to say next will somewhat diminish my braggart-like slip. This past Tuesday was Cinco de Mayo, right?! I didn't have my TCP Tuesday card finished yet, right? Well, why in the blue blazes didn't I share this little TCP goodie with y'all?! Ugh...story of my life: a day late and a dollar short! Here it is anyway...

And here are a few details...

So, with that, I'd like to wish you all belated Happy Cinco de Mayo! And, BTW, I had a great CDM...daughter Kendra made fabulous PW Enchiladas while I sipped a margarita(s)...love that girl!

Amy~

P.S. Speaking of my fabulous kids...my SFYTT tomorrow is going to be featuring my youngest kiddo, George, so please stop back.

One sketch, two cards

I had two cards to make the other night, one for our school nurse and the other for our school janitor's birthday, so I used the same sketch for both. The school nurse card is also my TCP Tuesday card for the week, using the set You Sick Thing, hosted by Susan.

Obviously, the above card was given to our beloved school janitor, and the next one up is for our beloved school nurse, Sue. They are two people we surely couldn't get along without in our elementary school!

Be sure to check out Susan's blog for all the swanky TCPTuesday 108 deets!

Amy~

My Favorite Bookworm

Another great sketch from Jen + MFT's I {heart}books = a fun customized birthday card! This one will be going to a co-worker who is the best reading teacher I know...Happy Birthday, Judy!

My post is going to be short and sweet because I need to meet a couple of my stamping friends in (aaack) 30 minutes! Hope you find some time to work Jen's sketch this week, and if you do, be sure to upload to Jen's slide show over at her blog.

Here's the sketch crew with new faces, including Jen's May Guest Designer and Jodi Collins, a regular to the sketch team. Welcome, Jodi!

Jen & May Guest Designer, Iwona
Amy
Susan
Leigh
Kelly
Jodi
Amber
Jenn
Megan
Sonja

Have a great weekend!
~Amy