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