At a recent church service, our Minister relayed the tale of the Good Samaritan, and although I’d heard the story before, I found myself quite touched.

I’ve also been thinking about a group of people in my life who were there for me in immeasurable ways during one of the roughest weeks of my recent life.

And on top of all of that, we’ve created a charity set that will be released next Wed with the March release.

So, with all of these things in combination, I wanted to do something to put a smile on someone’s face!

As stampers, there are TONS of people whose warmheartedness is demonstrated every day in some small and many not-so-small ways.

And while a little splurge and a few stamps won’t necessarily change the world, it can change a day, and sometimes a life.

We all know someone in the stamping community that could use a little perk right now.  Either through loss of income, family crisis, health challenge or any stressful situation.

Here’s what I am going to do – leave a numbered comment and nominate someone (no names are needed, only initials please) that you know is in *need* of a little photopolymer love, and on Monday I will choose one of the people you’ve listed as a random winner (I will email you for their contact info).  The person you nominated will receive a $50 MFT Stamp Shopping Spree OR the March Class in a BOX kit mentioned in the post below.

I will also give the person who left the comment (you) a pre-released Nite Nite Ellie set that will be released next Wednesday, March 4th!

‘Cause we can all use a little help…

Hi all!  We are starting something new for all of you who love to take classes, or learn using a hands-on approach, but don’t have a LSS nearby.  It’s called our Class in a BOX kit!

For March, the Class in a BOX kit has all the paper and stamps needed to make three cards.

The Class in a BOX contains:

Going Places

Congrats All Around

Let’s Go for a Walk

Gone to the Dogs

Summer Paper Pack

Summer Ribbon Bundle

Actual Retail Value for the package is $85.70, and our Class in a BOX kits will generally be offered at a savings of 20-25% from retail pricing, but since this is our debut, we are offering it for $59.99!  A 30% savings!

Happy stamping!

Happy Monday all!  Today’s Weekly Spotlight is “The Essentials” stamp sets, and your spotlight savings is either a FREE Behind the Scenes OR Setting the Stage stamp set with every order over $50 from now until Friday of this week.  And don’t forget the new MFT VIP package comes out this Wednesday, so there’s a perfect excuse for bumping up your order!

Michele has posted a really cool card for today, and I thought I’d show you some other great ideas made wth this set as well so you can see all the possibilities!

This was made by Cindy Haffner, and I love the inventive use as the main image.

Jen created this sweet and simple Hot Stuff card.

Sherrie created one of the coolest She’s Having a Baby cards ever.

Donna Baker created this super cute ATC using the frame from Setting the Stage.

Natalie Dever created this SWEET scrapbook page!

Hope this gives you some eye candy to enjoy, and have a great day!

Hi all!  I’m FINALLY posting all the honorable mentions to the March Guest Designer contest!

JuliaDream posted this yummy shopping card using Window Shopping and Meet Me at the Cafe, and altho you can’t see if from this angle, there is acetate where her hand is, making this like a real window!!  How cool is this???

deborahmegan posted this super cool adjustable display board!   You can move the “I’m” to the beginning of any of the items listed.  SO creative!

dlounds made this PRECIOUS Mermaid food box using Isabelle!  EEK, she’s too cute for words!

kerryj106 made this AMAZING birthday party assortment!  WOWSERS!

All of these gals are going to receive a little something from MFT to say thanks and congrats on a job well done!

Hi all!  Before I begin with the deets on this little ditty, take a look to your right.  No, your other right.  Just kidding! There is now an area where (as I make time) all of our weekly How’d They Do That?’s will be posted for easy reference!  Isn’t that the coolest???  This week, Candice had a FAB Copic tutorial, which of course inspired me to color up a storm.  Well, maybe not a storm, but at least one image!  Since tomorrow is Celebrate MFT Day, I had to party, and this is what party looks like to me.

In unrelated, but very important news, stay tuned to find out about how you can become an MFT TLC Member.  Here’s a thread that will fill you in on some deets.  Robert, our web guru, came up with a fabulous idea that I think you’ll love!

Happy stamping!

Supplies Used:

Let’s Go for a Walk

Congrats All Around

Copic Markers

Summer Paper Pack

Summer Ribbon Bundle

Brilliance Black Ink

Perfect Palette

I have only one true Craphead in my life, (she swears Craphead is an affectionate term of endearment, but sometimes I wonder…) Cammie.  This will most certainly be her birthday card this year, as it is fitting. (You should ALL ask her for a pic of the lovely and tasteful bracelet we gave her)

Here is a look at the inside sentiment…part of which came from You Take the Cake, and the other part from Twisted Too!  Surprise!  That’s what we are releasing tonight at midnight, and why you are hopping along the blog trail right now!

Next up on your hop is Tammy Nichols, a friend I made while on the stamping cruise in October, and a HOOT to spend time with!  She and her mom totally made the cruise for Alma and me.  We had such a great time with both of them, and I am so glad we met!

I had a little contest running the past few days to see who could tell me the set we were releasing tonight, and also the two new exclusive MFT products. There were a handful of correct guesses, and they all went in a pool to win.  Emma randomly chose the winner, and without further delay…..Theresa Momber, it’s YOU!

Theresa correctly guessed that we were releasing Twisted Too, and that the new products were….pause for effect….6 x 6 Paper Packs!!!

Yes!  Actual Paper Packs, in the same Spring and Summer patterns as our digi papers.  The patterns have been made smaller, specifically for card making, and I am THRILLED beyond belief to have them!

Here is a thumbnail of the Spring…

and here is the Summer.

Each pack contains 5 sheets each of 5 different patterns, for a total of 25 sheets.  They are conveniently bagged instead of bound. No ripped papers or sticky residue, all for $5.95 a pack.

I can’t begin to tell you how exciting it is to be able to offer something no one else has, and something I am overjoyed to get to play with.  It’s like giving birth, only without the pain and screaming infant!

Happy hopping…and there’s another, even more colorful, surprise at the end….hop at your own risk.

Copic markers are the product spotlight with My Favorite Things this week. You’ll see why with this weeks HTDT? feature by Candice!  I won’t say more….just make sure you check it out on Wednesday.

Your Spotlight Savings:

This week only, when you purchase a box of Copic markers (one set of 36), you will receive a FREE mini set of your choice.  Simply list your set selection in the comments section of your order.  Choose any set that retails for $9.  Want more than one box?  No problem!  This bonus is good for any number of boxes purchased.  Offer is good from 2/16-2/20.  (This offer not good in conjunction with gift vouchers.)

Here is a peek at the card created by Michele Boyer for today’s Weekly Spotlight, and in addition to being a gorgeous card, it is hilarious, as is her post!  There is also a good hint in her card for the contest mentioned in the post below…

Here is another of the Spring Sample Board cards.  I’ve combined 4 sets in this card, can you tell which ones?  The original design for this card came from Jody, she was helping me with design ideas for the board.  It’s actually quite difficult to design four cards using 1) one specific paper pack, and making sure to demo all 5 colors, (HUGE contest hint) 2) Using one ribbon pack and again demoing all 5 colors, 3) Using 5 stamp sets and demoing them all in easy to replicate, but noticeable ways.  That would be a fun challenge for everyone next time they really want to get the creative juices flowing!  And, as my experience details, it’s OK to phone a friend…I did!

Supplies Used:

Spring Paper Pack

Can Ya’ Dig It

It’s Elemental

Eggstra Special Easter

Punch a Bunch

Brilliance Ink

Copic Markers

Spring Ribbon Bundle

Happy Sunday/Monday all! (depending on when you receive notice this blog has been updated)  You are My Sunshine..I love that song and this sentiment, it makes me smile…

I had a clever, although not original idea, to make a little *garden* as the focal point of this card.  When I was creating the Spring Sample Board that our wholesale stores receive, I wanted to show some out of the box options for the sets.  Something beyond just seeing the main set image in a traditional way.

I stamped the seed packets, colored them and punched them out using the smallest square punch I had.  I then taped half a toothpick on the back to create the “stake” and mounted them to the front panel.

Since one of the sets in the Spring Sample Board is It’s Elemental, I used the ric rac stamp in an out of the box way to create the ground.

For some reason, the peas stake shows up crooked n this pic, but it doesn’t appear that way IRL, so who knows what happened!

I am running a fun little contest right now, if you’d like to enter, email your entry to kim@mftstamps.com.  Here’s the two questions you need to answer to be entered in the drawing:

1) We are releasing a new set Wed night (2/18), can you tell me what it is?  Here’s your hint…Let’s twist again…like we did last year!

2) MFT is releasing a Brand Spankin’ New exclusive product, (two of them actually).  Something we’ve never made before.  Can you tell me what it is?

All correct guesses will go into a drawing to win one of each!  The winner will be announced Tuesday night on my blog.

Have a great day!

Supplies used:

Can Ya’ Dig It

It’s Elemental

Spring Papers

Brilliance Ink

Spring Ribbon