April Showers Bring May Flowers – MFT May Creative Challenge

By on May 21, 2013 in Design Team Creative Challenge

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 focus on flowers using our Die-namics dies.

Michele created this simple, yet BEAUTIFUL 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 on her card below.

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

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Scrap to Win with My Favorite Things

By on May 20, 2013 in MFT Scrap Sketch

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 MFTScrap8.

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 MFTScrap8. 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, June 23rd to play along.

We are thrilled to welcome our Scrap Sketch Guest Designer for May, Nicole Nowosad. You can see all of Nicole’s beautiful work on her blog, Just Nick.

Here is Nicole’s fantastic page.  I love her clever use of the rounded square die from Accent It – Labels and Tabs Die-namics for the background.

You will find the links to the products Nicole used on her page below.

Check out Melody and Tara’s beautiful scrapbook pages by clicking on their picture below.

 

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Our Favorite Finds

By on May 17, 2013 in 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.

Dawn

Stamps:  Pretty Poppies

Die-namics:  Sunflower

Stephanie

Stamps:  Pure Innocence Feeling Sassy: à la modes Big Birthday Numbers

Die-namics:   By the Numbers; Circle STAX Set 1; Crown Border; Fishtail Flags STAX

Kim

Stamps:  Pretty Poppies

Die-namics:  Poppies and Leaves; Fishtail Flags STAX

Wendy

Stamps:  Pretty Poppies; Clearly Sentimental about Mothers

Die-namics:  Poppies and Leaves; Fishtail Flags STAX

Candace

Stamps:  Vanity License Plate

Die-namics:  Vanity License Plate

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MFT Academy: How-to Add Grounding to Your Images

By on May 16, 2013 in MFT Academy
Welcome back to the MFT Academy!  Inge is your Guest Professor today and she’ll be showing you how to use Prismacolor Premier Pencils to ground your images in mud, grass, water, and snow.   Grounding your images gives your card a more finished look and ensures that your images don’t appear to be “floating”.
If you’re not familiar with Prismacolor Pencils you can find an introduction to working with Prismacolor Premier Pencils here.  
Supply List:
  • Prismacolor Premier Pencils
  • Paper Stumps
  • Gamsol (solvent)
  • Memento Ink: Tuxedo Black
  • Acrylic Block
  • Big Shot
To begin, we’ll start with PI Prehistoric Girl and add some mud below her feet.
Step 1:  Stamp PI Prehistoric Girl with Memento Tuxedo Black onto Sweet Tooth Card Stock.
Begin by drawing scalloped lines to the left and right of her feet using 943 Burnt Ochre.

Step 2: Dip your paper stump into solvent and blend the scalloped lines slowly using a circular motion. If you’re not familiar with how to blend Prismacolor Premier Pencils, you can read more in THIS MFT Academy Tutorial.

Step 3:  Using 947 Dark Umber, draw scalloped lines over the previously blended lines.

 

Step 4: Once again, blend with your paper stump and solvent, using a circular motion.
Step 5: Using 935 Black, draw in your scalloped lines again, over the blended area.

Step 6: Once again, blend with your paper stump and solvent, moving in a circular motion. Repeat the process of adding more depth to the ground, then blending, until you’re satisfied with the result.
Your ground is now complete!

Pure Innocence Prehistoric Girl
LLD Document It

LLD Journal It-For the Record

Blueprints 1 Die-namics
LLD Insert It-3 x 4 Notebookpaper Die-namics
Hemp Cord
Heavyweight Card Stock Sweet Tooth
Heavyweight Card Stock Natural
Heavyweight Card Stock Cotton Candy
Heavyweight Card Stock Sour Apple
Heavyweight Card Stock Jelly Bean Green
Button
Grounding with grass provides a springy, fresh look to stamped images. The image has been stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black on Sweet Tooth Card Stock.  

Step 1: Using 1005 Lime Peel, lightly shade around the feet using small, side-to-side strokes.

Step 2: Blend using solvent and a paper stump using the same small, side-to-side strokes.

Step 3: The ground closest to her feet will be slightly darker because of the shadow cast by her body. Add additional strokes to create deeper shading using 1097 Moss Green.

Step 4: Blend with solvent and your paper stump, making small, side-to-side strokes.

Step 5: Next, we will add blades of grass using 1005 Lime Peel.  Make small, upward vertical strokes to draw in the grass. Give the grass a more natural appearance by not drawing them identically to one other. The blades should be assorted lengths and thicknesses to give the ground a more realistic feel.

Step 6: Using 1097 Moss Green, draw in additional strokes of grass between and on top of those you’ve already drawn.


Step 7:  Repeat this process using the darkest green, 988 Marine Green, adding darker strokes over and between those you’ve already drawn.

Step 8: Blend very lightly using solvent and your paper stump.  Be sure to maintain the individual blades of grass.
Step 9: Using 943 Burnt Ochre, add some shadows at the base of the blades of grass.  Small, rough, uneven strokes are used here.
Step 10: Blend lightly with solvent and your paper stump.
The grass is now complete!

Pure Innocence Birthday Girl

Jumbo Fishtail Banner STAX Die-namics

Fishtail Flags STAX Die-namics

Dog Tag Die-namics

Open Scallop Doily Duo Die-namics

Blue Print 1 Die-namics

Hemp Cord

Heavyweight Card Stock Sweet Tooth

Heavyweight Card Stock Natural 

Heavyweight Card Stock Tangy Orange

Heavyweight Card Stock Bubblegum

There are many other ways you can ground your images. On this card, I demonstrate how to ground your image in a puddle of water.
Stamp the image with Memento Tuxedo Black on Sweet Tooth Card Stock.
Step 1: Using 1023 Cloud Blue, draw a curved, irregular line around her feet to create the border of a small puddle of water.

Step 2: Blend with solvent and your paper stump using a circular motion.
Step 3: Darken the outer rim of the puddle using 1103 Caribbean Sea.
Step 4: Blend with solvent and your paper stump using a circular motion.
Step 5: Using the darkest color, 1079 Blue Violet Lake, deepen the edge of the puddle and then blend with solvent and a paper stump.
Step 5: For the finishing touch, add a little shine and reflection to your puddle using Stickles Stardust over your colored area.

Pure Innocence Firefighter Girl

Fishtail Flags STAX Die-namics

Blueprint 1 Die-namics

Rounded Banner STAX Die-namics

Photo Corners Die-namics

Button Border Die-namics

Hearts A Plenty Die-namics

Blueprint 1 Die-namics

Hemp Cord

Heavyweight Card Stock Sweet Tooth

Heavyweight Card Stock Kraft 

Heavyweight Cardstock Tangy Orange

Adding snow to your winter-themed images adds a realistic touch.  Snow is white, but has some grey tones and sparkle.
Begin by stamping PI Warm Wishes with Memento Tuxedo Black on Sweet Tooth Card Stock.
 Step 1: Draw small mounds of snow by drawing in wide scalloped lines at her feet using 1050 Warm Grey 10%.
  
Step 2: Blend with solvent and a paper stump.
Step 3: Use 1051 Warm Grey 20% to darken the snow mounds.
Step 4: Blend with solvent and your paper stump.
Step 5: Add more depth with 1052 Warm Grey 30%.
Step 6: Blend to soften with solvent and a paper stump.
Step 7:  Make your snow glisten with a touch of Sitckles Stardust.

Pure Innocence Warm Wishes

Traditional Tags STAX Die-namics

Blueprint 1 Die-namics

Jumbo Fishtail Banner STAX Die-namics

Fishtails Flags STAX Die-namics

Say What? Die-namics

Let it Snowflake Die-namics

Hemp Cord

Heavyweight Card Stock Sweet Tooth

Heavyweight Card Stock Natural

Heavyweight Card Stock Kraft

Heavyweight Card Stock Sno Cone

Heavyweight Card Stock Berry Licious

Grosgrain Ribbon Sno Cone

Button

We hope you’ve enjoyed this tutorial and that you’ll be inspired to ground your images too!  Use the keyword MFTED7 in your gallery upload on Splitcoaststampers so we can admire your creations.
If you have any questions, email joanne@mftstamps.com, and we’ll be happy to help you.
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Stamp to Win – Wednesday Stamp Club

By on May 15, 2013 in 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 MFTWSC124 to the Gallery at Splitcoaststampers. Entries for this week’s challenge will close on Tuesday, May 21st at noon EST.

This beautiful card was created by Karen using this week’s sketch and our new Happy Hellos Die-namics.


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

 

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May Release Rewind – Part 2

By on May 14, 2013 in Release Rewind

Welcome to day 2 of our 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 May 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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May Release Rewind – Part 1

By on May 13, 2013 in Release Rewind

The My Favorite Things May Release was a hit! If you happened to miss out on Teaser Time, our design team is back today with our Release Rewind! Over the next two days, the design team will inspire you with even more brand new projects using the new stamps and Die-namics from our May Release! You can find all of the new release products HERE in the MFT Boutique.


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

 

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May Release Rewind Video

By on May 10, 2013 in Release Rewind

It’s been an exciting week here at My Favorite Things.  If you happened to miss out on Teaser Time, we’ve got our monthly Release Rewind video to share today that highlights all of the new stamp sets and Die-namics just released, along with some amazing projects from our designers.  You can find our new release HERE in the MFT Boutique.

You can find this month’s Release Rewind video HERE, or simply click play below.

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Our Favorite Finds

By on May 10, 2013 in 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.

Kathy

Stamps:  Document It – Right This Way

Die-namics:  Accent It – Reel Life; Accent It – Story Starters; Accent It – Labels and Tabs; Accent It – Cute Cameras; Lead the Way; Heart STAX

Candace

Stamps:  Big Greetings

Die-namics:  Fishtail Flags STAX

Dawn

Stamps:  You Move Me; Darling Dots

Die-namics:  You Move Me; Tag You’re It

Danielle

Stamps:  Pure Innocence Warm Fuzzies

Die-namics:  Button Border

Angel

Stamps:  Doodle Garden Sweet as Can Bee

Die-namics:  Circle STAX Set 1; Blueprints 1

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Stamp to Win – Wednesday Stamp Club

By on May 8, 2013 in 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 MFTWSC123 to the Gallery at Splitcoaststampers. Entries for this week’s challenge will close on Tuesday, May 14th at noon EST.

This week’s card was created by Barbara using the brand new Happy Hellos Die-namics.

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

And our May Guest Designers: Kim O’Connell and Tricia Traxler.

 

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