Saturday, July 31, 2010

MFT WSC728 Mimi'sTeaParty


please click photo to see more detail

i made a framed wall hanging for my daughter's room as my MFT Wednesday Stamp Club project. hope you'll play along-there's still plenty of time!

this started as an idea for a much simpler door knob style hanger, but as the scene started coming together, i found that i couldn't stop myself! thankfully, i had one last white 4"x6" dollar store frame in my stash!

i started by stamping all the images from MFT's Tea Party (Pure Innocence) onto perfect paper panels with memento tux black ink. i stamped the little girl twice so i could pop up an arm.

the little teddy that i placed in the tea cup comes from MFT's Cart Full of Friends (another Pure Innocence set, may be temporarily sold out).

i stamped the table 2 more times- once onto some Basic Grey patterned paper (olivia), and again on the wood grain patterned paper from MFT's Sheltering Tree digi paper pack.
i also stamped a third chair/PI girl onto the wood grain paper.

i colored everything with copic markers, then paper pieced all the bits (the pp table top, the table legs, the chair, the girl's arm) onto the paper panel images using a quickie glue pen. i then cut all the pieces out. i added a touch of bling to the shoe buckle (tiny swarovski crystal) and some spica pen on the heart & her hairclip.

i drew a floor onto a scrap of the wood grain digi paper using a colored pencil & ruler and cut that out too.
i started playing around with the pieces & figuring out how i wanted to place things. i used a piece of patterned paper from MFT's Chocolate Kiss paper pack as the main background.

since i was already down the rabbit hole, i figured i might as well hang out for a while- so i created a window for the scene using my mechanical pen & a ruler on a paper panel. i then doodled the hills & tree in the window with my mechanical pen, and then colored it in with copics.

the finished window really pulled the tea party/dollhouse scene together so i started gluing things down (i used Ranger's glossy accents to adhere all but the girl to the background- she's popped up on Jody's awesome dimensionals). the MFT ruffled ribbon (note the yellow ribbon is from the July WTG VIP kit) as a curtain to frame it all was icing on the cake!
i backed it with a scrap of brown cardstock to help support it in the frame. the glass was removed from the frame so the ruffles wouldn't get squashed!

i wanted to personalize this for my daughter, so i got out my new MFT banner day die-namic and created a name banner with scraps of the patterned papers and some MFT banana split cardstock (i think it's temp out of stock). i used memento paris dusk dew drop and the new MFT banner day alpha to stamp the letters. i pierced holes and used white embroidery floss to string the pennants together. i LOVE this die and alpha-- so stinkin' cute!

i had a bit more of the ruffle ribbon so i made ruffly (is that a word?!) flowers out of it by just curling it around a paper circle & securing it with hot glue. some buttons made perfect centers! one button was colored with a violet copic marker since i ran out of purple hearts- worked great!

i cut a strip of scrap MFT sno-cone cardstock with my MFT scalloped scallop die-namic and added a stamped row of cupcakes & cookies to it with memento rich cocoa ink. i thought this was perfect for finishing off the bottom of the piece. i LOVE these tiny sweets- they make me smile!

my daughter was so excited when she saw it all finished! we'll be hanging it in her room tomorrow!
if anything isn't clear or you have any questions- please let me know!

i thought it might be fun to share the little window with everyone so here's the JPG for ya:

to download it, simply control+click on the image (on a Mac) or right click it and save it to your computer. so sorry i colored it in before i scanned it- i'll try to remember that for future doodles!

here's the supply list all in one place:
stamps: MFT Tea Party, MFT Cart Full of Friends, MFT Banner Day Alpha
ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Memento Rich Cocoa, Memento Paris Dusk (dew drop)
paper: MFT perfect paper panels, MFT carstocks (banana split, snocone) MFT Sheltering Tree digi paper pack (wood grain pattern used), MFT Chocolate Kiss paper collection (pink splatter pattern used), Basic Grey patterned paper (Olivia line)
accessories: copic markers, MFT die-namics (banner day die, scalloped scallop die), MFT ruffled ribbon (yellow from vip collection), MFT swarovski crystal, spica pen (violet), buttons (my stash), frame (my stash), Jody's dimensionals.

thanks ever so much for looking! hope you're having a fun weekend!
{{GIANT HUGS}}
-g
^o^

Thursday, July 29, 2010

KKSC39 (aka solarcaine please!)


the amazing Michele Boyer is hosting at the Kraftin' Kimmie challenge blog-the samples were so fun that i had to play along!

for my card, i used Kraftin' Kimmie's Beach Bum Miles stamp, and i totally HAD to case/scraplift Andrea Murdock's sunburned buns on Miles- so dang cute- i couldn't refuse!!

i adore Kraftin' Kimmie stamps-they are whimsical, fun and just super cool! they make me smile whenever i see one!! i have a few waiting for me to ink them up, but there's TONS more on my wishlist! :)

this one came together very quickly once i picked the main color- blue! i fanned through my patterned paper pad & as soon as i saw the fishy paper, i knew it was 'it'- the reddish-orange fishies perfectly match Miles' sunburn LOL! i also was happy to play with my new wave die from TCP.

i also used a favorite MFT WSCsketch from Frances for inspo on part of this layout (specifically the semi-circles with the bow/button). this sketch totally rocks & i hope you'll try it out too!


if you look close, one little fishy on the front is popped up. he's hiding a water splotch mess. it's blaringly obvious to me, but it taught me that i didn't need to throw it out or freak out or start all over- just try to fix it & move on. my nephew is going to love this funny card anyway ('bum' humor is all the rage when you're 6 LOL) and i doubt he'll even notice my mistake anyway!it even looks worse in the photo than in person. i point this out to remind you to not be so hard on yourself too- mistakes will happen & it's really ok!!

the inside has lots of room to write a note:


deets:
stamps: Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Beach Bum Miles .
the sentiment is from Kimmie's Beachy Sentiments
ink: memento tuxedo black
paper: mft perfect paper panel, mft cardstocks (snocone, berrylicious), bazzill cardstocks (yosemite blue and a darker blue), patterned paper is from Me & My BIG ideas (the destination paradise pad)
accessories: copic markers, nesties, TCP wave die, TCP divine twine, buttons from MFT summer collection & my stash, dimensionals, glossy accents

thanks for looking! this was fun!
{{GIANT HUGS}}
-g
^o^

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

YAY for MFT-let's have CAKE!! WSC721


please click photo to enlarge

mr. mailman finally delivered my new MFT goodies yesterday-hooray!!! so even though it was past the deadline, i HAD to play along in MFT's WSC for the past week! you can find all the details & join in at this post on Splitcoast.
the challenge was to create a card or project featuring a banner! of course, i used my brand new MFT dienamics on this one-so so fun!!
and how i LOVE LOVE my new á la mode girl and Banner Day die- aren't they just adorable?! eeEEK! all my new goodies me so happy!!

here's more pics & info:
stamps: MFT á la modes Birthday Girl
ink: memento tuxedo black, tsukineko ink dauber in canary (edging)
paper: MFT perfect paper panel, MFT espresso scalloped note card, MFT cardstock scraps in: sour apple, bubblegum, banana split & berrylicious; Bazzill cardstock (blue Yosemite and white-orange peel textured), patterned papers are Basic Grey (Olivia)
accessories: copic markers, spica pens, sakura glaze pen, nesties, cuttlebug embossing folder (polka dots), MFT glitter garnishes, MFT felt, MFT die-namics (rolled flower, banner day die, open scallop border), TCP linen embroidery thread, ranger glossy accents, Jody's white dimensionals

note: adding embellies to the open scalloped die was inspired by 2 recent projects: one of Jessie's cards -where she used little brads & Nancy's awesome card that uses buttons- i just love this look! thanks for the inspo!!


here's the inside:

click images to enlarge

closer look at her sparkly details. there's glaze pen on the cupcake too-mmm looks like a choco chip cupcake:


here's a side view for dimension- i love the flower-so pretty & the rolled flower die-namic makes it so easy:


thanks for looking!! hope your week is going great!!
{{GIANT HUGS}}
-g
^o^

Monday, July 26, 2010

TGF saturdaySketch28


please click image to enlarge!

hello again! i've been a busy bee the past few days- no? i'm lovin' it!! really i'm desperate trying to keep myself busy while i'm waiting for tons of new goodies to arrive in my mailbox!!! has anybody seen mr. mailman? can you please send him my way? LOL!

this weekend there was another great sketch posted on the Club Anya blog. Pam's fab sketch is a classic 'go to' design-- so it was a no-brainer to play along!

i LOVE this Creeper Crew Thursday stamp purchased from The Greeting Farm and couldn't wait to practice coloring with her- so this was the perfect chance!! my 'Monday' and 'Wednesday' stamps should be here soon! they're just too cute, no?! i also used other TGF stamps in this card (sentiment is from Roll Call and the pattern stripes are from the amazing scrapbooking stamp set called Spotlight). if you don't have any TGF stamps- you MUST check out their digi's- they are way cute,very affordable, and then you can play along straight away!!

here's more pics & info:
paper: MFT espresso scalloped notecard, Bazzill blue cardstock (color name is yosemite), white cardstock, patterned paper is an old creative imaginations line called caution girl (i still love it!), bubblegum cardstock (inside card)

stamps:
TGF CC Tursday, sentiment is from Roll Call kit, background pattern strips (on the blue cardstock) from the Spotlight kit
ink: memento tuxedo black
accessories: copic markers, spica pens (on Thursday's shoes & belt buckles), nesties, 1.25" scalloped circle punch, creative imaginations skull brad (from caution girl line), heidi swapp cherry photo corner (card inside), thick foam dimensionals (Thursday and the sentiment are popped WAY up!)

a look at her sparkly sneaks (don't know why spica is so hard to photograph!)

click pics to enlarge them!

a peek at the inside- just lots of room for a note:


thanks for looking! hope you're having a great start to a new week!!
{{GIANT HUGS}}
-g
^o^

Sunday, July 25, 2010

berries for M.O.M.


click on images to enlarge

hello again! well, the postman still hasn't brought my new MFT goodies but thankfully Jody at MFT has created these AWESOME berry templates to help distract me while i wait! can i just tell you- these are FUN FUN FUN to make!!
even cooler- is that Jody has this amazing tutorial up on her blog showing how to cut these templates using a Cricut machine & a piece of software called Make the Cut (Jody is a MTC affiliate so link via her blog!) i am brand new to Make the Cut- so this tut could not have been more perfect to help me out!
i LOVE that my 1st gen cricut can cut this intricate template quick & easy and saved me the time & frustration trying to handcut! YAY!
like Jody's example, i used the MFT sunshine dienamic and felt to make the green tops for my strawberries- LOVE 'em!! Jody's instructions & assembly photos that come with this template set ROCK too!

my sweet mother-in-law's birthday is coming up so i'm sending her this set along with a Border's gift card (her fave store!) my berries are filled with 2 hard candies, but a handful of skittles fits nicely too!
i'm totally going to be making tons of these berries & baskets- who wouldn't LOVE to get one of these and the cricut makes it so quick & easy!!!
here's more pics & details:



Basket & Berry Deets:
berry basket & berries template: MFT's Berry Ensemble
paper: MFT redhot cardstock, Bazzill kraft cardstock
stamps: MFT In the Background (Stephanie Fizer)
ink: Memento rich cocoa
accessories: Tiny Bubbles cuttlebug embossing folder, MFT sunshine dienamic and felt, red buttons, TCP ivory linen thread, 1/4" scor-tape, MFT ruffled ribbon (from the Who's That Garden Girl VIP kit)

quick note: after the basket template was cut with my cricut, i simply stamped all over it using the In the Background stamp with cocoa ink-i love how it turned out and it could be stamped any color!! quick & cute!


card close:


card inside:



card details:
stamps: MFT's In My Garden Jolinne, In the Background. inner sentiment is from MFT's Love You Jolinne (temp sold out i think)
ink: memento tuxedo black, memento rich cocoa
paper: MFT perfect paper panel, MFT white scalloped notecard (from the WTG VIP kit last month), MFT redhot cardstock, Bazzill white cardstock (orange peel texutre) Cosmo cricket patterned paper (Garden Variety paper pack)
accessories: copic markers, MFT baby braddies, MFT buttons, nesties, sewing machine, thread, TCP ivory linen thread, Jody's dimensionals

card notes: i cut my dp into pieces and left a gap between them on the cardfront to allow some of the red to show through & give the eye a resting area since the paper is so busy!

sorry these photos aren't the greatest- my light tent is out on loan!
thanks so much for looking! hope you're having an awesome weekend!
Costa Rica link here
{{GIANT HUGS}}
-g
xo
^o^

Saturday, July 24, 2010

105º@9pm -oh yeah, it's hot!


please click image to enlarge

i'm not even kidding about the current temperature here in the high desert this evening! whew!
my friend & fellow MFT junkie Chris creates awesome projects! i noticed that she posted some super cute cards on her blog lately that feature some fab digi stamps from a company called Shirley's 2 Girls. Chris recently joined their DT, and i had never visited this company before, so i went & checked 'em out! turns out they have lots of cute digi's and a fun challenge going on too-funny enough the theme is 'heat' and 'hot'-- and since we're definitely staying inside with the AC blasting this weekend- i downloaded a couple images & played along! you should check 'em out & join in too!
i love this whimsical tea digi & it was great fun to color! this one really came together very quickly and i think it's pretty cute!
thanks to Chris for awesome inspo & enabling!

card deets:
digi image & sentiment: Tea Scandal by Shirley's 2 Girls
paper:MFT fossil scalloped notecard, Bazzill orange cardstock,
GinaK PureLuxury 80lb white cardstock (i print digi images on this)
ink: distress ink in spiced marmalade (edging/sponging)
accessories: nesties, cuttlebug swirls embossing folder, SU ticket corner punch, copic markers, pop dots, buttons, twine, MFT glittered garnishes (Spring collection)

thanks for looking!
if you're looking for my Costa Rica post- it's here!
{{GIANT HUGS}}
-g
^o^

Friday, July 23, 2010

CostaRica July2010


click photos to enlarge images
you can't tell- but those are a family of scarlet macaws flying overhead- taken on a beach in Esterillos Oeste, Costa Rica on one of our 14 magical vacation days. what an awesome adventure we had! i journaled only a bit-here's some of my notes:


from our hotel in San Jose
costa rica day 1- july4th we stayed in SanJose overnight- rented a car & got lost driving on skinny, treacherously curvy roads through small communities. we had to turn around when a giant split in the road made us stop altogether! the 1.5 hour trip took us almost 3 hours- what an adventure!
once we arrived to our hotel (Los Suenos) we hand fed an iguana at the restaurant while we waited for the rest of the family to arrive.



part of the road from San Jose to Los Suenos




looking out over the pool at the Marriott, Los Suenos


the view from Hotel9 on Playa Jaco

day2- awesome day at the beach with the kids- we made a local friend, Carlos, age 8 from San Jose- we boogie boarded and dug holes the sand. Carlos was so sweet and had a wide smile on his face every moment! the sand at Playa Jaco was tiny pebbles and bigger rocks- but the water was super warm!
the afternoon found us in Esterillos Oeste to watch the boys surf in rougher waters- but the shells on the beach, soft sand and warm water were amazing!! i got quite badly sunburned but what a fabulous day!


day 3 we hung at the hotel pool most of the day while the boys surfed Playa Jaco again. then we took a quick afternoon trip with the kids to Neofauna- a privately owned butterfly, frog & snake zoo. we got to drive our truck thru some water and up a windy mountain road thru the hillside. the kids got to feed a monkey some plantain slices & i met a very friendly & beautiful parrot. the endangered Blue Morpho butterflies at the farm were breathtaking and something we'll never forget!


other highlights of our trip include an over 4km hike through the rainforest to a waterfall. we saw tons of poison dart frogs and lizards but the hike was by far our family's most difficult to date.

if you're interested in seeing some of my family photos from the trip-feel free to check them out here

we had an amazing vacation and have all returned recharged and rested- something we haven't felt for quite some time! if you ever get the chance to travel to Costa Rica we highly recommend it & we hope to get back there someday! this week we're trying to get back into our work/summer day routines and i'm looking forward to some crafty time very very soon!!
{{GIANT HUGS}}
-g
xo
^o^

Thursday, July 1, 2010

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIM!!!


please click photo to enlarge

Today we are celebrating Kim's special day with a huge birthday bash!

Lots of my fellow MFT junkies, the amazing MFT design team, and so many of her fabulous friends are participating to show Kim how much we all love & appreciate her!

Kim is the owner of My Favorite Things, one of my favorite places to shop and hang out! She is always encouraging and inspiring, and her fun products & customer service are second to none! Not to mention she's kind, generous, has a great sense of humor, and is just an all-around cool person! i so hope i get the chance to meet her in person someday & give her a giant hug!!

Here's the linked list of participants, but make sure to visit the MFT Blog too!

Wishing you a happy & blessed birthday Kim!! You're the best!
{{GIANT HUGS}}
"Let the Wild Rumpus Start!"...WooHoo!!
stair step card deets:
stamps: MFT Fred Bear has a Birthday
MFT Pure Innocence Birthday Princess (1 of the sentiments)

ink: memento tuxedo black, memento rich cocoa

papers: MFT paper panels, MFT Chocolate Kiss patterned papers,
MFT espresso scalloped notecard, pink prism cardstock,

accessories: MFT DieNamics (sunshine, jumbo ric rac), MFT cork,
MFT felt, MFT earth girl button, copic markers, glitzy glitter, twine nesties, 1.25" scallop circle punch, Jody's red line sticky dots

here's a 3/4 view:

please click photo to enlarge

eclipse


click photo to enlarge

my dear friend Kayla and i went to the midnight showing of Eclipse late Tuesday/midnight Wednesday. it was a birthday gift for both of us (my birthday was a few weeks ago, her's was last Friday) and it was great to spend some quality time, and see our fave characters! if you're a Twilight fan, you gotta go see this movie NOW!

Kayla is Native American on her Mom's side, so of course, she's Team Jacob. i on the other hand am totally Team Edward (even when werewolf boy takes off his shirt LOL) so of course i had to make her a Jacob/Eclipse birthday card!

the card inside:

click photo to enlarge


here's the card supplies:
STAMPS: Joseph digi stamp from The Greeting Farm,
Sentiments from 2 MFT sets: Fairy Sweet Jolinne and Pure Innocence Birthday Princess
PAPER: digi image printed on Gina K's luxury white (120lb) cardstock, MFT espresso scalloped notecard, MFT jellybean green cardstock, cream cardstock scrap (inside), patterned paper is from October Afternoon (Thrift Shop paper pad)
INK: memento tuxedo black
ACCESSORIES: MFT dienamics (scalloped scallop), MFT cork, MFT felt, copic markers, nesties, twine, MFT earth girl button, dog bone clip (from local scrapbook store), pop dots

here's the whole gift package (Twilight colors of course):

inside was the Eclipse movie companion book, Twilight the graphic novel, a Jacob bookmark, another book, some homemade bath salts and some other goodies!

thanks for looking!
only 2 more days until we leave for vacation- YAY!!
{{GIANT HUGS}}
-g
^o^