Joyeux noel {SFYT}}

I cannot (cannot!) believe it's the last Saturday in October already, but alas, it is Saturday, so that means another great Sketch For You To Try. I had a little free time this morning to stamp because hubby shot a deer and promised George that he could go with to drag it out of the woods, which meant quiet stamping time for me (also known as "bliss")! Here's what I came up with...

I wanted a clean sorta vintage look, so I pulled out a favorite CHF set that puts me in that vintage mood. I stamped and embossed the snowflakes and sentiment using clear embossing powder and then embellished the main image layer with rhinestones and a felt bird (SU! Birds and Blooms die). Linen thread grounds the bird, giving her a spot to rest for a bit.

Finally, I did something I haven't done before and don't know if I'll try again: I used hot glue to secure the ruffles in the black grosgrain. I did this for stronger holding power (since I'd decided to ruffle the ribbon AFTER I'd secured the woodgrain embossed layers) and while that ribbon is not going anywhere soon, the hot glue was a bit tricky, and yes, I burned my fingers a bit, snort!

Here the list of SFYTT sisters playing along this week:
Jen del Muro & Lesa Smaligo

Amy Sheffer
Amber Hight
Jodi Collins
Megan Lock
Sony Christoph
Susan Liles

Hope you're all enjoying Saturday as much as I am (so far) and have a little time to get crafty this weekend!
~Amy

Gettin' JiFFy!

Happy Friday! I'm pretty darn excited to be playing along with the JiFFy Girls this month...yep, feeling pretty darn JiFFy here in Wisconsin! Truth be told, I've admired every girl on the JiFFy blog roll for a very long time...they're all rock-stars, I tell ya!

In compliance with the official JiFFy guidelines, I need to let you know that the Michele Boyer sent out this month's image: Zoe in a Heart Mug (Stamping Bella), and Lori Craig sent gorgeous patterned paper: Moonrise Luminous from SEI. Great image, great paper--these JiFFY girls sure know how to make a girl feel "real special"!

I can't wait to see the rest of the JiFFY crew, so let's move it, but before I do, I just want to thank the JiFFy crew for having me along!

Carole Burrage
Ali Miles
Michele Boyer
Lori Craig
Julie Campbell
Kim Hughes

Have a great Friday...hope to see you back tomorrow for this week's SFYTT.
~Amy

TCP Tuesday 132: Miss Ewe!

It's a color challenge for TCP Tuesday this week: red, pumpkin and pink! I decided to go with an open image -- "doodle on your notebook paper" sorta look with a stripey scarf for my cute little ewe (Sheepish). I've also used The Cat's Pajamas' CutUps banner die to reinforce our color theme with "ewe" stamped in Versamark using our Nightie Alphabet.

This card is for my TCP buddy, Leigh, cause I miss her! Leigh recently had surgery for a herniated disc in her neck that was causing the problems with her shoulder and arm. I can't wait for her to get back in the saddle and wow us with her TCP creations again! On that note...Leigh, don't be waitin' by the mailbox for this card--you know it always takes me forever to get them mailed!

As for the TCP Tuesday deets, link your card to Alma's blog and check out our hipster hostess, Sony, for more eye candy using this week's color combo.

~Amy

MFT WSC: Tag, you're it!

Today's Wednesday Stamp Club challenge is titled: Tag You're It! Create a tag or a project featuring a tag and use keyword MFTWSC10272010 when you upload to Splitcoast for your chance to win a $15 gift certificate to My Favorite Things! Check out Kim's blog post (the MFT blog) at 11am EST today for a full list of the girls playing along with today's challenge.

Here's my tag, featuring Presents For You from the Pure Innocence line. The "noel" at the bottom of the tag was inspired by a layout I saw in my latest Pottery Barn catalog, and thought these papers from The Girl's Paperie Tinsel and Twig line went well with the "sorta" clean vintage look I was aiming for.

Hope you get a chance to play along...why not get started on a Christmas gift tag for that "someone special" on your list? I think this tag will go to one of my sweet nieces...hmm, which one is most likely to NOT throw it in the garbage?! Ü

Belated Boss's Day Wishes

A quick post to share a Boss's Day card I made for our elementary school principal...a little late, but as the saying goes: better late than never! So...I ran out of room and chipboard, so Boss's Day is actually Boss' Day in my world..thinking they might just want to change it to my way, ha!

Have a great day!
Amy

Congratulations {SFYTT}!

Today's SFYTT is sponsored by Laura Pryor of Lil' Inker Designs. Laura designed a cute, cute stamp set with a matching flag die. The die gives you that perfect flag every time, and the stamp set comes with a variety of borders and sentiments. Check it out at Lil' Inker Designs. Laura has a cute sample for today's SFYTT as well. You could be the lucky recipient of Laura's set just for playing along with today's sketch and linking it to Jen's blog. Good luck!


I paired my Lil' Inker Designs set with MFT's a la modes-Picture Perfect. Paper is Crate Paper Restoration, along with a fun ric-rac border cut with my Die-namics Jumbo Ric-Rac and Lemon Divine Twine from The Cat's Pajamas.

Here is Jen's original sketch, followed by the SFYTT crew playing along today...

Jen del Muro & Lesa Smaligo

Amy Sheffer
Amber Hight
Carole Burrage
Jenn Diercks
Jodi Collins
Kelly Lunceford
Megan Lock
Sony Christoph
Susan Liles

Have a great weekend!
~Amy

George's {Leaf Man} Cow

I just had to pop in today to share a fun little project George and I made yesterday after reading Louis Ehlert's Leaf Man. We had a great time hunting for leaves and creating our own cow like the one in the book. If you stop here regularly, you probably know how {in love} George is with cows...we have cows everywhere, and now a cool leaf cow to add to his collection.

Here is the book cover...

Now...if anyone knows where I can find a cow costume in a size 4-5, please help me along...I've had absolutely no luck finding one in George's size. Everything I've seen in the stores and online fits up to 18 months or adults. Might have to seek out a pattern and try my hand at sewing one...eek!

Have a great Thursday!
Amy

MFT WSC: It's in the Bag!

Today's My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club challenge is to decorate a gift sack or treat bag. I'd seen this super cute and fun idea over at Taylored Expressions blog and knew I had to pair the idea with my Pure Innocence set, Lather Rinse Repeat.

I had a sheet of kraft cardstock printed with MFT Stephanie Fizer-Halloween Dotty digi-papers and paired it with aqua cardstock die cut with my MFT medium Die-namics scallop to match my tubes of bath salts. A little-lot of Diamond Stickles, a button and twine finish off the embellishments here.

Stop by the MFT blog at 11am today for a complete list of the WSC participants and be sure to scroll through all the sneak peeks Kim has been showing this week--I love, love, love the new a la modes-What's Cooking!

Remember to add your project to the Splitcoast Galleries using the keyword: MFTWSC10202010 for your chance to win $15 at My Favorite Things.

TCP Tuesday 131: Think Pink Supply Challenge

Today's TCP Tuesday challenge is to use anything pink for your embellishments. The Cat Pack has decided to do a little Think Pink Blog Hop to coincide with the Think Pink Customer Blog Hop. Be sure to hop along to Carole's blog after you've finished here, and then keep hopping until you reach Alma's blog, where you'll find out the winner of the Think Pink Customer Blog Hop at 12pm PST. Are you confused? If so, I apologize, and just keeping hopping!

I've used pink buttons and pink ribbon on my Forget About the Cake card. A little extra sumpin'-sumpin' would include Diamond Stickles on the candle flames and Crystal Effects on the frosting. Sometimes those little extras can give your cards that little "it needs something"!

Be sure to check out Alma's blog for complete TCP Tuesday details as well as the place to link your creation. You may also upload your pink creation to Splitcoast using keyword: TCPTUES131.

Amy

Happy Monday!

Just a quick note to head on over to the My Favorite Things blog today to see who is up as MFT's Fab Friend...can you guess?!

Season's Greetings {SFYTT}!

Is this a great sketch, or what?! I love all the possibilities for patterned paper layers, embellishments, depth and texture! Here's what I came up with using Taylored Expressions Snow Day Project Pantry Kit, The Cat's Pajamas CutUps Pennant die and a sentiment from Kim Hughes' Christmas Critters set.

This is the first time I've ordered Taylor's Pantry Kits, and I tell you what--I love them! All of the guess work is done for you--the card stock matches the patterned paper, and there are cute cute embellishments and ribbon included. Can I tell you how many hours I've spent trying to find the "perfect match" to some of my patterned papers?! I will definitely be ordering more from the TE Pantry! Ü

Let's see what the rest of the SFYTT crew has done with today's sketch, shall we?!

Jen del Muro & Lesa Smaligo

Amy Sheffer
Amber Hight
Carole Burrage
Jenn Diercks
Jodi Collins
Kelly Lunceford
Megan Lock
Sony Christoph
Susan Liles

MFT WSC: Wanna Play?

It's {My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club} day, and today's challenge is called: It's All About the Boys. So...I've used the adorable Pure Innocence set, Dog-gone Cute, sans the sweet little puppy, and paired up this sweet boy with a sentiment from another PI set, Wyatt Says WOW. My card also uses some fun MFT Die-namics--Sheltering Tree and Fresh Cut Grass.

An important change to our MFT WSC participants: please upload your project to Splitcoaststampers.com using keyword--MFTWSC10132010 in order to be eligible to win some MFT cash. As always, please hop over to Kim's blog at 11am EST for a list of the WSC Challenge Team participants.

Thanks for stopping by today!
Amy

TCP Tuesday 130: HOPE

Today's TCP Tuesday challenge is an inspiration piece brought to us by this week's hostess, Toni Armstrong. You can check out her blog for the inspiration piece, and then be sure to link YOUR TCP Tuesday project to Alma's blog for your chance to become the next Swanky Stamper of the Month and/or win some Cat Cash! Finally, we'd love to see your project over at Splitcoast Stampers, using keyword: TCPTUES130.

My HOPE banner is in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and uses The Cat's Pajamas' CutUps Pennant die along with Babydoll Alphabet. The paper is My Mind's Eye Alphabet Soup.

There you have it: a banner of HOPE!
~Amy

Live Your Bliss {SFYTT}

Last night I sat down to work on my SFYTT card with good intentions of doubling up my stamping efforts, making either a wedding or baby shower card that I need for the weekend. Instead, I reached for a couple of new-to-me stamp sets and came up with this "just for fun" card.

I love that I was able to combine some of my favorites: my favorite color combo (kraft, black, chartreuse, ivory), my current favorite embellishment trend--banners, and a somewhat clean and simple look. Hope you enjoy it, too!

Here's today's original SFYTT along with a list of the girls from the crew...

Jen del Muro & Lesa Smaligo

Amy Sheffer
Amber Hight
Carole Burrage
Jenn Diercks
Jodi Collins
Kelly Lunceford
Megan Lock
Sony Christoph
Susan Liles

Have a great weekend...I'm off to do a little grocery shopping with Kendra and George. Ü

Amy

Card ingredients...
Paper: Kraft, Ivory, Chartreuse, Black (PTI); patterned paper (Jenni Bowlin)
Ink: Kiwi Kiss (SU!), Versafine Onyx Black
Stamps: Mega Mixed Messages (PTI), Madison Ave. "Pretty Stamps" & Market St. "Adore" Stamps by My Mind's Eye-Lost & Found Collection
Accessories: linen thread (SU!), butterfly (Vintaj Arte Metal Decoratives), notebook die (PTI)

School Staff Appreciation Cards

I was asked to make cards to be placed in gift baskets for our school kitchen staff, maintenance crew and bus drivers. Here's what I came up, with the bus card created using a purchased template from Lynn Pratt.

ETA: In case you're wondering why I've left the horizontal layer hanging over the edge...these are card fronts, trimmed to 4 3/4 x 6 3/4" that will be placed on 5x7" cards that are currently being distributed for staff signatures.

Bus Drivers

Maintenance Crew

Kitchen Staff

Thanks for stopping in...be back Saturday with my SFYTT card!
Amy

MFT WSC: Miss You a Latte

Today's {My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club} challenge is a sketch, and a great sketch at that! I've used a brand spankin' new A la modes, Miss You a Latte girlie...I think she's just adorable! Please excuse my coloring on her cuppa(s), but I just couldn't get nice blending tonight, and then it was getting late, so I had to just go with it. There are only so many hours of natural sunlight in the day, and I was cutting it close in order to get a decent photo. Note to self: buy a light box!

Finally, here is the original sketch, which I tipped on its side, along with a link to Kim's blog where she'll have a nice, tidy list of links to the other MFT Wednesday Stamp Club participants around 11am today. Now, go and have a great day!

~Amy

TCP Tuesday 129: Best Witches

Welcome to TCP Tuesday! Lot's going on at The Cat's Pajamas this week, including a TCP-Think Pink-Customer Blog Hop until October 18th and this week's TCP Tuesday sketch challenge. Check out all the details Alma's blog.

My card is using a bit of "pink" in the patterned paper I've used as well as the pink hat and dress that Witchy is wearing. She's so adorable that I hate to even call her 'Witchy', but I guess there are good witches in the world as well, right? You know, like Glinda...and me, ha ha ha ha!!! Really, I'm not a witch, but sometimes I can be a little, oh...witchy. Back to the card, already! Just wanted to call a little attention to my matchy-matchy buttons. You know you like 'em, and if you don't have the TCP CutUps button die, you MUST get it...seriously, it is a must-have crafting essential...no kidding.

Ok, get out there and whip up something real swanky with Leigh's sketch this week. Here is the sketch in its original form:

~Amy

Lather. Rinse. Repeat. {SFYTT}

I'm stuck on Pure Innocence and My Mind's Eye Alphabet Soup.

A match made in heaven.
Here they are in this week's Sketch For You To Try...



Here's Jen's original sketch and the rest of the crew, along with a new Guest Designer for October!

Jen del Muro & Lesa Smaligo

Amy Sheffer
Amber Hight
Carole Burrage
Jenn Diercks
Jodi Collins
Kelly Lunceford
Leigh O'Brien
Megan Lock
Sony Christoph
Susan Liles

Have a great weekend!
Amy