TCP Tuesday 146 {Ooops!}

This week's TCP Tuesday features a color challenge set by Sony: pink, teal & chocolate! I've used one of my favorite bunnies from The Cat's Pajamas, Deep Breath, accompanied by my latest favorite CutUps dies, Big Scallop and Stamp Trio.

Be sure to check out Sony and Alma's blogs for all the TCP Tuesday details. Participating in the weekly TCP Tuesday challenges enters you for a chance to win TCP cash among other swanky things, so don't miss out! You can also check out weekly Pick of the Litter in The Cat's Pajamas Member Co. Forum and daily swank posted on the TCP Facebook page found here. Last, but not least, upload your swanky creation to SCS using keyword: TCPTUES147.

Thanks for stopping by...
~Amy

MFT Wednesday Stamp Club {Splash}!

I strayed a bit from this week's sketch (#8 if you're counting), using my Die-namics Banner Strip Die & Alphabet in lieu of the die cut label featured in the original sketch. I think the no-nonsense look and feel of the banner compliments the image I chose for my card, Pure Innocence-Splish Splash. I fell in love with this little PI boy the minute I laid eyes on him. He's always having such a good time with his BFF, pup. I tried to mimic a water-colored look using Copics to color the image, leaving tiny patches of open white here and there along the edges. An arteest I am not, but I'm satisfied with the outcome.

Check out Kim's blog for a list of all the girls playing along this week, and stop by the MFT Member Co. Forum over at SCS while you're uploading your sketch #8 card (keyword: MFTWSC8)! Remember, you can win some cash to spend at the MFT Boutique just for playing along!

Thanks for stopping by!
~Amy

Happy Birthday, etc...

I've got a few miscellaneous cards to share today, starting with my daughter's 18th birthday card that I made earlier this month...still hard to believe that she's "18"! This card uses stamps from My Mind's Eye (Lost & Found Market St. Adore Stamps) and PaperTrey Ink (Polka Dots II, Birthday Bash Sentiments) as well as border dies from The Cat's Pajamas (CutUps Large Scallop) and My Favorite Things (Die-namics Little Open Scallop Strip).

The next two cards are variations on a theme (ah, that reminds me of my piano recital days when I was younger...once I played "Variations on a Theme by Paganini"...loved that piece & thought the name sounded so 'cool'!). Anyway, these two cards feature another TCP CutUps die, Buttons, along with PTI's Turning a New Leaf, Birthday Bash Sentiments and Tea for Two.

Lucky me, I'm home today on a snow day and hope to squeeze a little stamping time in during George's nap this afternoon!

~Amy

Wednesday Stamp Club Sketch 7

Another great sketch from the My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club, and it worked perfectly with the new Die-namics Fly a Kite die which I was dying to use this week! I paired my die cut kite with a sentiment from my Die-namics Framed Greetings Stamp Set for a perfectly balanced match.

Check out Kim's blog for a list of all the girls playing along this week, and stop by the MFT Member Co. Forum over at SCS while you're uploading your sketch #7 card (keyword: MFTWSC7)! Remember, you can win some cash to spend at the MFT Boutique just for playing along!

Thanks for stopping by!
~Amy

Speak Softly & Carry a Big Stick

Julie is this week's hostess with the mostess for this week's TCP Tuesday Technique Challenge: use a non-traditional card making element - CANDY - on your card! With Valentine's Day just passed, let's get creative with those yummy treats!

I've always liked the Teddy Roosevelt quote, "Speak softly and carry a big stick.", so I thought it would most appropriate to have our TCP "Teddy", PJ, carry a big stick (of Extra Peppermint) for this week's challenge. There are several versions of PJ available from The Cat's Pajamas, and this sweet little bear is from the original PJ set, Happy Camper. I just love the size of PJ from this set, a bit smaller and a breeze to color. I've used Copics E37, E57, E35, E33 and E31 for today's version with a bit of R20 on his ears. Also incorporated into my card is my growing favorite border die, CutUps Big Scallop Die.
ETA: the font used on the sentiment is LD Franks Friends, and I purchased it from the Silhouette online store.

With all that being said, it's time to check out Julie's post for the details of TCP Tuesday, and please be sure to check.it.out because there have been a few little changes to our TCP Tuesday. Speaking of ch-ch-ch-changes...I'd like to welcome our newest addition to the litter, Tori Wild, and I mean that with the utmost respect! Welcome, Tori! One last really FUN change is a daily "Pick of the Litter" showcasing fabulous TCP creations that will be featured both on Facebook and in our SCS Member Company Forum, so check it out!

That's quite a bit of yacking for me, so I'm going to sign off!
~Amy

Quick Kid Valentines

If you're still looking for last minute Valentine ideas (especially non-candy Valentines), here are a couple for you! Below are Valentine door hangers for George to give to his friends at daycare tomorrow. We decided on a cow theme flanked with foam hearts. George is a cow fanatic, and I just happened to have a cut file of this darling cow that I purchased from the Silhouette online store, so I resized and cut them out using my Silhouette. LOVE that machine for it's ability to cut fine details perfectly every time! Each door hanger measures 3.5" x 8.5".

Here's another door hanger in pink...



Next up are Valentines for my teenagers. They measure 4.25 x 4.25 (when folded) with an inside flap to hold some Valentine smackeroos (aka money-honey!). This one uses PTI's Polka Dot stamp set, letters cut with my Silhouette, and my beloved CutUps Heart Trio die from The Cat's Pajamas.



Last up is a goofy Valentine for my 15 y.o. son using PTI's Woodgrain stamp set along with The Cat's Pajamas Love Letters stamp set...LOVE this set! This card also uses CutUps dies, Big Scallop & Stamp Trio.



When I saw this TCP card on Susan Liles' blog, using a photo of Heidi the cross eyed Opposum, I knew I had to copy her idea for my Hank. I hope he gets a kick out of it, and if nothing else, he'll enjoy the smackeroos inside, ha!



That's it for today. I know I'd promised to post Kendra's 18th birthday card and another SFYTT this weekend, but I thought a few Valentine ideas might be a bit more timely! Happy Hearts Day to you all!

~Amy

TCP Tuesday 145: Inspiration!

Jen is this week's hostess and has a fabulous graphic for this week's Inspiration Challenge for TCP Tuesday, so head on over to her blog if you haven't already seen it. Also be sure to upload your card or creation to SCS using keyword: TCPTUES145...easy peasy! Speaking of easy peasy, take a look at my entry for TCP Tuesday:

I had planned to angle the card with the sentiment on the vertical, but when photographing, I really liked it on the horizontal as well. Which do you prefer? Ü

Another CAS (clean and simple) card for you this week using my favorite alphabet set from The Cat's Pajamas, Nightie, along with one of the first CutUps dies, Flower Buttons. I also took a cue from the colors of the inspiration photo as well, a combo that I think really 'works' for a guy valentine, so keep your eyes peeled in the event I get a little more stamping time this weekend. I do promise to put up a picture of my DD's 18th birthday card at some point and another version of the February SFYTT.

Have a great Friday!
Amy

Wednesday Stamp Club Sketch 6

For this week's MFT WSC sketch, I went clean and simple (CAS) with single layers, simple stamping and a light touch on the embellishments. I think this sketch a la CAS is perfect for that quick birthday, thinking of you or thank you card, and I plan to use it often!

MFT ingredients used today:

• Die-namics Framed Greetings Die and Stamp Set
  
• Die-namics Banner Strip Die and Mini Alphabet Stamp Set
  

Check out Kim's blog for everyone playing along with today's sketch, and don't forget to upload your sketchy creation to SCS using keyword: MFTWSC6 so we can see it!

Happy Wednesday...
Amy

Anita Be Stampin' {SFYTT}

This month's sponsor for SFYTT is Anita Be Stampin', and I'm thrilled to be working with a sweet set called Love Bear. I think this set is perfect for all the younger folks on your Valentine list, and it has a variety of perfect Valentine's Day sentiments, all on sweet red rubbah that stamps like buttah!

After coloring in my image with Copics, I squeezed a bit of Copic colorless blender solution on a scrap of an old sock (a clean one!) and dabbed it all over the bear, before coloring in the heart. I like the dappled look, but I probably should've gone back and added a bit more color as it seems my bear has faded a bit. I guess I was going for the traditional Pooh Bear colors, but he could be colorized a bit more... ETA: It was bugging me so much that I did go back and added some color and reshot my photo in natural light this morning...feeling much better now!

Be sure to check out the rest of the SFYTT team and upload your SFYTT card to Jen's blog, where you can find out all the details about this month's contest as well!

Jen del Muro with guest designer Becky Carafa
Amy Sheffer
Amber Hight
Jodi Collins
Megan Lock
Sony Christoph
Susan Liles
Kelly Lunceford
Leigh O'Brien
Kerry Johnson
Carole Burrage

TCP Tuesday 144: Sketch Challenge

A hot cuppa is still in order here in Wisconsin with below zero temps last night and again tonight, so what better way to warm up than with a little stamping! My TCP Tuesday 144 card features an image from You Suit Me, paired with a sentiment from Like You A Latte, and my new favorite solid heart stamp from Love Letters. I can't seem to step away from my 6x6 pad of Cosmo Cricket Circa 1934 papers lately, so I apologize for the redundancy of my color palette!

The TCP Tuesday details are as follows:

• Leigh is our hipster hostess for this week's sketch (it was a fun challenge, my friend), so check out her blog for her original sketch (plus she's got a really cute card that you don't want to miss).
• Stop over at Alma's blog to see who's playing along and to add your sketchy card to the list!
  
• Upload your card to SCS using keyword: TCPTUES144.

BTW, the link to Alma's blog will take you to the top, so scroll down a few posts to reach her TCP Tuesday 144 post. I want you to see the posts since then because there are so awesome TCP Tuesday cards featured as well as the February POTM, so grab a hot cuppa, sit back and enjoy!

Amy

MFT Wednesday Stamp Club Sketch 5

Welcome to another week of My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club, Pure Innocence Ladybug in sketch #5! I've used my new Die-namics Little Open Scallop Strip and paper from MME (Fine & Dandy Tickled Pink 6x6 pad) with this week's sketch, and I'll go ahead and admit that I'm sorta thinking it all came together sweetly! I will admit that I'd like to redo the sentiment, but I really wanted to use that sentiment and it wasn't fitting anywhere else, so I called it "done" and stuck to my guns!

Check out Kim's blog for a list of everyone playing along this week, and then upload your sketchy card to SCS using keyword: MFTWSC5, easy peasy!

Have a great Wednesday!
Amy