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Our Favorite Finds

Welcome to My Favorite Things Our Favorite Finds. Today is the day we feature beautiful cards and projects made by you, our incredibly talented customers! Our designers are always on the lookout, and we will feature five of our very favorites on the MFT blog each Friday. Be sure to visit the artists featured today and leave them a little love. You’ll want to check back each Friday to see if you’re one of Our Favorite Finds.

Aly

Stamps:  Journal It – Playlist; Document It – Rock On

Die-namics:  Accent It – Rock and Roll; Accent It – Cassette Tape

Wendy

Stamps:  Pure Innocence Graduation Boy

Die-namics:  Fishtail Banners

Sandra

Stamps:  Doodle Garden Sweet as Can Bee

Die-namics:  Circle STAX Set 1

Dawn

Stamps:  Who’s That Girl Plays Golf

Die-namics:  First Place Award Ribbon

Amy

Stamps:  Pure Innocence Birthday Girl

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MFT Academy: Die-namics Not Just for Paper

Welcome back to the MFT Academy!  Melody is your Guest Professor today and she’ll be sharing some fun tips and tricks using our Die-namics dies with an assortment of cutting materials. 

I love My Favorite Things Die-namics, in fact, it’s hard to remember how I ever made projects without them. Today, I’ll show you a number of different things you can cut with your Die-namics other than card stock.

I use a Big Shot to do all my die-cutting, using the standard recommended stack.  You can find recommended cutting stacks for assorted die-cutting machines at the bottom of THIS page.

When using alternate cutting materials, you can modify your sandwich stack to help increase the pressure placed on the die.  This will ensure the very cleanest cuts.  Add a sheet of paper or the Metal Adaptor Plate to your sandwich stack as a shim.  Running the sandwich stack through the machine twice is also advisable.  The pressure will vary from machine to machine, so you will need to experiment to see what works the best for you and your die-cutter.

Create Your Own Chipboard Embellishments:  You can easily make your own embellishments using My Favorite Things Die-namics and cardboard or light weight chipboard.
You may be able to find 12 x 12 sheets of thin chipboard at your local scrapbook store. You’ll also find thin chipboard all around your house.  Recycle cereal and cracker boxes, the back of paper pads, etc to create your own custom embellishments. Use corrugated paper to add texture and rustic detail.Chipboard embellishments add great dimension to a card or scrapbook page.  Follow these steps to create this glittered, chip board camera:
Cut all three pieces of the Behind the Camera Die-namics from chip board. Run twice through the die-cutting machine or add the Metal Adaptor Plate for the cleanest possible cut.
  • Paint the camera with black paint and allow to dry.
  • Add a second coat of paint using black glitter paint.
  • Cut the middle circle once more from card stock, stamp the sentiment and adhere the card stock to the chipboard.
  • Paint the smallest circle with black paint, allow to dry. Add a coat of black glossy accents.
  • Adhere the three circles together using dimensional adhesive.
  • Embellish with rhinestones.
Supplies:
Create durable chipboard elements with this technique.  For the next sample, the Keys and Locks Die-namics were cut once from black card stock and once from light chipboard. Liquid glue and black embossing powder has been added for an eye catching effect.
Supplies:
Die-namics will also cut a wide range of materials beyond card stock and chipboard.  Let’s take a look at some other products you can play with!
Fabric:

MFT Die-namics will even work with fabric, and will instantly add handmade charm to your project.
Iron-on patches are the simplest way to add fabric to your projects. The patches already have a backing which will stop fraying. Iron-on patches are readily available at your local fabric store.  Running the material through the die-cutting machine twice will ensure the cleanest cut.



Use scraps of fabric you may already have in your stash, or purchase small amounts at the fabric store. Most fabric stores have fabric quarters in the quilting section, which will include an assortment of patterns to work with. 
Add an iron-adhevise to the back of fabric before die-cutting. This adhesive backing will make the fabric easier to cut, and also helps reduce fraying. The package instructions clearly explain how to apply the iron-adhevise. Heat ‘n Bond Lite can be purchased at most craft and fabric stores.

Leave the paper backing on until after die-cutting. Since fabric is generally thinner than card stock, you will want to add an extra sheet of card stock or a piece of light weight chipboard to increase the pressure between your Die-namics and your cutting material.

Use fabric in place of patterned paper in your card-making. The red gingham fabric was cut with the largest Rectangle STAX.  The Heat n Bond adhesive backing can also be used to affix your fabric layers.  In this example, using an iron on low heat, the red gingham fabric was adhered to a layer of white card stock. This ensures that the fabric is smoothly adhered to the card stock.

  
Experiment with different fabrics to create flower embellishments. You can create this fluffy flower using chiffon and tulle with the Circle STAX and a Pink Lemonade Button. Since tulle is so very thin, fold it into a numbers of layers and also add an extra piece of lightweight card stock to your stack for a clean cut.
This sweet custom embellishment pairs perfectly with the Baby Onesie Die-namics.  As outlined above, Heat ‘n Bond Lite was applied to the back of the fabric to ensure a smooth cut.

 

Supplies:
Next I wanted to show you how quickly and easily you can make fabric yo-yo’s using the Circle STAX Die-namics.
Cut a circle using one of the dies in the Circle STAX Die-namics 1 or 2. I am using the largest circle in Circle STAX Die-namics 1. In this case, you can cut the circle with or without the adhesive backing, since we are not concerned about fraying.
Use a needle and thread to run a long basting stitch around the edge of the circle. I am using red thread so that you can see the stitches in my sample, but normally you would match the thread to the fabric. You can also use the basting stitch on your sewing machine.
At each end leave threads that are long enough for you to pull the two threads together in the middle. Knot your thread in the middle and cut off the excess thread.
Sew a button to the middle of the yo-yo.
Supplies:

Burlap adds rustic charm, along with lots of texture and dimension.  The iron-on adhesive is highly recommended when working with burlap, as it really helps reduce fraying.


Felted Die-namics:


Felt is a very popular cutting material for Die-namics.  Use it to create luscious flowers, or add soft fuzzy details to your cards and pages.  Whenever cutting felt, run it through your machine twice. Consider adding the Metal Adaptor Plate to the sandwich stack for the most crisp edges.
My Favorite Things Felt is a wool blend felt which comes in a wide variety of colors.  This felt works perfectly with Die-namics.  Use a low temperature glue gun or glue dots to hold the felted elements together.

Layer assorted cutting materials to fill your projects with depth and texture.   The base of this tag was cut from Kraft card stock, and then covered with burlap.  The Mini Hybrid Heirloom Rose has been cut from felt.

I hope you are now filled with lots of new ideas for ways to use your Die-namics.  The next time you are ready to throw out that cardboard box or packaging, give it a second look! During your next visit to the craft store, look outside the scrapbooking section to see what else you can add to your paper crafting projects.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this tutorial and that you will be inspired to use your Die-namics to incorporate new materials into your cards and pages. Use the keyword MFTED6 in your gallery upload on Splitcoaststampers so we can admire your creations!
If you have any questions, please email joanne@mftstamps.com, and we’ll be happy to help you!
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Stamp to Win – Wednesday Stamp Club

It’s Wednesday and time for the Wednesday Stamp Club Sketch Challenge here at MFT. Be sure to play along for your chance at the weekly prize, valued at up to $20 in vouchers to the MFT Boutique. You can submit your entry using the keyword MFTWSC121 to the Gallery at Splitcoaststampers. Entries for this week’s challenge will close on Tuesday, April 30 at noon EST.

This week’s card was created by Barbara using Vertical Greetings.

Check out how our designers got sketchy by clicking on each picture below.

And our Guest Designers:
 

 

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Scene Building with the My Favorite Things Design Team

The MFT Design Team Creative Challenge is a monthly feature where we are challenged to explore our creative side using a specific theme, product, or technique. This month we challenged the team to do some scene building with MFT stamps and Die-namics.

Michele created this ADORABLE scene card for this month’s challenge.  You will find all of the details on her blog, Paper Cuts.

You’ll find links to all of the products Michele used below.

Check out today’s Creative Challenge cards from our designers by clicking on each picture below.

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Scrap to Win with My Favorite Things!

It’s a new month and time for a new Scrap Sketch from My Favorite Things! Simply follow the sketch and upload your creation to Splitcoaststampers using keyword MFTScrap7.

There will be a random draw from all the participants who have uploaded their scrapbook pages to the Splitcoaststampers Gallery using this month’s keyword MFTScrap7. One winner will be chosen and will receive a $15 gift voucher to the MFT Boutique. If the winner used MFT stamps, they will receive $ 5 in bonus bucks, for a total of $20. You have until noon on Sunday, May 19 to play along.

We are beyond excited to welcome this month’s Scrap Sketch Guest Designer, Mel Blackburn!  You can see all of Mel’s beautiful work on her blog, Random Ramblings.

Here is Mel’s ADORABLE page.

You can find links to the products Mel used below:

Check out the scrapbook pages created by our talented designers by clicking on each picture below.

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Our Favorite Finds

Welcome to My Favorite Things Our Favorite Finds. Today is the day we feature beautiful cards and projects made by you, our incredibly talented customers! Our designers are always on the lookout, and we will feature five of our very favorites on the MFT blog each Friday. Be sure to visit the artists featured today and leave them a little love. You’ll want to check back each Friday to see if you’re one of Our Favorite Finds.

Nicole


Stamps:  Document It – Rock On; Document It – Playlist

Die-namics:  Accent It – Rock and Roll

Rosemary

Stamps:  Pretty Poppies

Die-namics:  Poppies and Leaves; Jumbo Fishtail Flags STAX

Dawn

Stamps:  Complimentary Greetings

Die-namics:  Mini Royal Roses; Royal Leaves

Bonnie

Stamps:  Pure Innocence Loads of Fun

Die-namics:  Postage Stamp STAX; First Place Award Ribbon; Oval STAX Set 2; Rectangle STAX Set 1

Steph

Stamps:  Document It – Captured Memories; Journal It – Calendar Basics; Journal It – Top Ten

Die-namics:  Circle STAX Set 1; Open Scallop Doily; Fishtail Flags STAX; High-Rise Alphabet Lowercase; Mini Hybrid Heirloom Rose

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MFT Academy: Recessed Stamping

Welcome back to the MFT Academy!  Barbara is your Guest Professor today, she’ll show you how to create this gorgeous clean and simple card with a step-by-step tutorial.


Recessed stamping is a great way to easily add dimension and add extra interest to your clean and simple designs without losing the CAS look. There are quite a few My Favorite Things stamp sets that will work with this technique, but today I’m using Lisa Johnson Designs Pretty Poppies paired with MFT’s Smooth White card stock.

Supplies:

Step 1: Cut card stock 4 1/8″ x 5 3/8″ to layer on an A2 size (4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″) card base.

Step 2: Lay out the dies and stamps to get a basic idea of how the design should look.

Note: Do not put your dies too close to the edge of your card front–no closer than 1/4″.

Step 3: Once the dies have been positioned, secure them to the card stock with removable tape.

Step 4: Cut out the dies, but do not throw the die cuts away; they can be used on another project.

Step 5: Using another piece of Smooth White card stock, stamp the images.

Step 6: Color the center of the bottom poppy with Copic markers using the following colors:

Step 7: Lay down YG91 in the center, then starting on the outside with W9, work back towards the green with W7, W5, W3,
and W1.

Step 8: Continue to blend the layers of color until your center looks like this:

Step 9: Trim out the images using a pair of scissors, leaving about 1/4″ margin.

Step 10: Test the images behind the die-cut openings to make sure the arrangement is properly aligned.

Step 11: Stamp the stems on the card front.

Step 12:  For this design, the stems needed to be longer. To accomplish this, ink up a portion of the stem stamp and extend as desired.

 

Step 13: Do another trial fit. There will be a gap where there’s no stem on the stamped image.

Step 14: To remedy this, line up the image precisely with the stamped stems and place light pencil marks where the stem needs to be extended onto the image.

Step 15: Stamp stems over the pencil marks.

Step 16: Stamp the sentiment.

Step 17: Place narrow strips of foam tape on the back side around the die cut holes.

Step 18: Remove the tape backing one at a time, and then lower the card front over the stamped images, lining up the openings and stamped stems. The back will look like this when done.

Step 19: Add dimensional foam tape to the back of the card front to ensure that  the card front doesn’t sag around the die-cut openings.

Step 20: Adhere card front to base card.

Step 21: Add embellishments as desired. This card only needed a few black dots to create balance.

As I mentioned at the beginning of the tutorial, there are quite a few MFT stamps and Die-namics dies that work well with this technique. Here is a card using LJD Sweet Roses and Die-namics LJD Roses and Leaves.

And here’s another using Inspired by Up, Up and Away and Die-namics Up, Up and Away.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this tutorial and that you will be inspired to try your hand at the technique. Use the keyword MFTED5 in your gallery upload on Splitcoaststampers so we can admire your creations!

If you have any questions, please email joanne@mftstamps.com, and we’ll be happy to help you!

You’ll find links to the product used in today’s tutorial just below:

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Stamp to Win – Wednesday Stamp Club

It’s Wednesday and time for the Wednesday Stamp Club Sketch Challenge here at MFT. Be sure to play along for your chance at the weekly prize, valued at up to $20 in vouchers to the MFT Boutique. You can submit your entry using the keyword MFTWSC120 to the Gallery at Splitcoaststampers. Entries for this week’s challenge will close on Tuesday, April 23 at noon EST.


This week’s card was made by Jodi using Inspired by the Wild Wild West.

Check out how our designers got sketchy by clicking on each picture below.

And this month’s Guest Designers, Kim and Tricia.

 

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April Release Rewind – Part 2

Welcome to day 2 of our NEW MFT Release Rewind!  If you happened to miss out on Teaser Time, the design team is here to inspire you with even more brand new projects using the new stamps and Die-namics from our April Release. You can find all of the new release products HERE in the MFT Boutique.

Take a tour of our new release products by visiting our designers, listed below.

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Operation Write Home Blog Hop – Winner Announcement

Thank you so much to everyone that stopped by as part of our recent Operation Write Home Blog Hop. If you missed the Spring Training Blog Hop, you can find the full list of participants on the OWH Blog.

The winner of the $25 gift voucher to the MFT Boutique is PMM who said:  ”So glad MFT is part of OWH support- such a great cause! And a great excuse to buy more MFT stamps and dies. ;D”

The prize will be sent via e-mail this afternoon.  We’re pleased and proud to work with Operation Write Home.  Click HERE to find out how you can help heroes keep in touch with their families.

 

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