Our Favorite Finds and Our April Favorite Find

By on May 2, 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.

We are mixing it up a bit today with five of our favorites from this week, along with our April Favorite Find! So let’s get started!

Dawn

Stamps:  Vertical Greetings II

Die-namics:  Pretty Posies; Royal Leaves

Angela

Stamps:  Sweet Roses

Rosemary

Stamps:  Doodle Garden Springtime Wishes

Die-namics:  Fishtail Flags STAX

Lai-Yoke

Stamps:  Doodle Garden Springtime Wishes

Bonnie

Stamps:  Doodle Garden I’m Raptor Round Your Finger

Die-namics:  Layered Heart Border;  First Place Award Ribbon; Sentiment Strips

Our April Favorite Find:

Angela Rivera caught our eye with this simple, yet STUNNING card using the new set, Sweet Roses. You can see all the details on Angela’s blog,  Angel’s Creative World. Angela wins a gift voucher to the MFT Boutique just in time for our May Release! Congratulations!

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May Teaser Time – Day 2!

By on May 2, 2013 in Teasers

Welcome to the second day of Teaser Time for the My Favorite Things May Release!  We are thrilled to have you join us as we preview all of the new stamp sets and Die-namics that will be available on May 7th, at 10 PM EST in the MFT Boutique.

We are SO excited to introduce you to a new line of stamps and Die-namics, created by our very own Mona Pendleton. Mona has a style uniquely her own, embracing mixed media and more. It only makes sense that her products are described as Mixed Media for the Modern Crafter.

We know you’ll adore her introductory stamp sets; Dandelion Wishes and Distressed Backgrounds. You’ll appreciate her companion Die-namics, Dandelion Stems and Toppers. BUT WAIT….there’s more! There’s even a brand new PRODUCT as well. We know you’ll be thrilled about our *new* MIX-ables Stencils. Paint, spray, mist, & more. And made in the USA, of course.

Make sure you visit the Design Team Members blogs as they are previewing Mona’s new products, and remember to leave a comment on the MFT Blog once for each day of Teaser Time. $75 will go a long way in helping you fulfill your *growing* MFT wish list!

  • You can enter to win by leaving a comment on the MFT Blog before Noon EST on May 7th. Only one comment per person, please.
  • Winners will be randomly selected from all entries and will be posted at 8PM EST on May 7th on the MFT Blog.

Up first today is Mona’s first set, the beautiful Dandelion Wishes.

Made to coordinate with Dandelion Wishes, Mona has also designed the Dandelion Stems and Toppers Die-namics.

You can see a quick video featuring Dandelion Stems and Toppers Die-namics HERE, or simply click play below:

Our new Mini Album Square Scallop STAX features a straight edge on the left side for binding.  The straight edge also allows for coordination with the Mini Album Bracket STAX, giving you the ability to mix and match your mini album page shapes.

You can see a quick video featuring the Mini Album Square Scallop STAX Die-namics HERE, or simply click play below:

Our new Mix-able Stencils can be used with paints, sprays, mist, and more.  The beautiful stencil we are introducing today is called Square Motif.

Happy Thursday! I am so excited about the release of Mona’s products. Her work is beyond beautiful, and her new line of products are sure to speak to your inner artist. Many of Mona’s projects are mixed media, and always leave me inspired. I *really* want to delve more into this area, so I took a tiny, baby step and created a canvas project. Let me start by saying again that this is a TINY, BABY step. I am not particularly courageous…yet. I’d even be willing to say I am kind of a wimp and was so afraid to go overboard that I did the exact opposite. But yet, I love the finished project, and keep telling myself I did a good job of practicing the Rule of Thirds, and will happily leave it at that. :-)


I started with an 8 x 10″ canvas and covered it with a trio of Gelatos colors. I hadn’t played with them before this project, but they are quite nifty! Once the canvas was colored and dried, I used my Distressed Background stamp set and covered it in Gelatos as well. I then misted it enough to get it wet and applied it to the canvas. When the stamping began, I made sure to support that back of the canvas to I could get a decent impression.

Once the background was dry, I inked up the flower stems from Dandelion Wishes and stamped them in Jellybean Green. Yep, our premium dye ink worked beautifully! Then I stamped both of the dandelion blooms first in Sour Apple and then in Jellybean Green inks. There were a couple of spots that didn’t stamp as clearly as I’d like, so I went over those using a dry paintbrush and the premium inks to fill in the bare spots.


After everything was completely dry, I felt the flower centers needed something so I added a pearlized center after having colored them with a violet Copic marker. I wanted a slight pop of a color that would complement the project, and I think the violet did just that.

I hope you’re enjoying Teasers so far, and are looking forward to being inspired each day by our amazing Designers. Make sure to head to their blogs for more ideas using these beautiful products, and also make sure you leave a comment on the MFT Blog for a chance to win a $75 gift voucher.

Take a tour of the new products, being released on May 7th at 10 PM EST, by visiting our designers listed below.

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

 

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Stamp to Win – Wednesday Stamp Club

By on May 1, 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 MFTWSC122 to the Gallery at Splitcoaststampers. Entries for this week’s challenge will close on Tuesday, May 7th at noon EST.

This week’s card was created by Barbara using Girly Graphic Tee.


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

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

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May Teaser Time Begins!

By on May 1, 2013 in Teasers

Welcome to Teaser Time for the My Favorite Things May Release! We are so excited to have you join us as we preview all of the new stamp sets and Die-namics that will be available on May 7th, at 10 PM EST in the MFT Boutique.

Since we know your wish list grows every month, we are offering the chance to win a $75 coupon code for use in the MFT Online Boutique on each of our 7 Teaser Days.

  • You can enter to win by leaving a comment on the MFT Blog before Noon EST on May 7th.  Only one comment per person, please.
  • Winners will be randomly selected from all entries and will be posted at 8PM EST on May 7th on the MFT Blog.

Are you ready?  Let’s get started!

We’re starting our May Teasers with Peaceful Wildflowers from Lisa Johnson Designs. The silhouette floral images in this set are stunning, and the mixed font sentiments are beautiful.

The new Wildflowers Die-namics, from Lisa Johnson Designs, was made to coordinate with the Peaceful Wildflowers stamp set.

You can see a quick video featuring the Wildflowers Die-namics HERE or simply click play below:

One of our newest Pure Innocence images making it’s debut today is the ADORABLE Pure Innocence Make a Wish.

We are introducing a brand new product to the MFT Boutique this release, the MIX-ables Stencils!  We have five new stencils releasing this month, the first of which is called Delicate Doily.  Use our MIX-ables Stencils with paint, sprays, mists, and more!

We are also introducing a brand new color collection to our Relenishments line during our May Release! Steel Blue will be available in our Premium Dye Ink, Premium Dye Ink Refill, card stock, and buttons, on May 7th at 10 PM EST.

Here you can see and compare the range of colors in our Blue Replenishments line.


I’m so excited that Teaser Time has finally arrived! We have SO MUCH in store for you, starting with this beautiful new set by Lisa Johnson, Peaceful Wildflowers. Isn’t it lovely? I can see this becoming a go-to set anytime I need something that’s easy to work and produces stunning results. And of course I paired it with the newest addition to the Blueprints line, Blueprints 3. I LOVELOVELOVE this one! There are such cute little elements included, and the card itself makes a non-traditonal square shape, which is a nice change of pace. I tend to live in an A2 world…

For my card, I decided to dabble in a little watercoloring, using our Blu Raspberry and Sour Apple ink pads. I stamped the flowers and stems on watercolor paper, and then after allowing a little drying time, went over the stems with a waterbrush to create a watercolored feel. I then took a dry paintbrush and added thin strips of Sour Apple ink along the sides to fill in the empty space. I think it added a soft, wispy look. Once the panel was completely dry, I used my glue pen to add dabs of glitter to various stems and in the center of each flower. I think it added a little pizzaz to an otherwise simple card, don’t you?

Make sure you leave a comment on the MFT Blog each day of Teasers for a chance to win a daily prize of $75. That will surely help with your growing wish list! Now let’s see what our amazing Designers have created just for you…

Take a tour of these new products, being released on May 7th at 10 PM EST, by visiting our designers listed below.

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

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Scrap to Win with My Favorite Things!

By on April 29, 2013 in MFT Scrap Sketch

Just a reminder that you’re all invited to play along in our monthly MFT Scrap Sketch! Simply follow the sketch and upload your creation to Splitcoaststampers using the included keyword.

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 uses 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.

Our Scrap Sketch Guest Designer, Mel Blackburn, is back today with another terrific page. You can find even more inspiration using this sketch here.

Below you’ll find the links to the products Mel used on her scrapbook page.

Here is this month’s sketch for you to follow along:

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Our Favorite Finds

By on April 26, 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. 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

By on April 25, 2013 in MFT Academy

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

By on April 24, 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 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

By on April 23, 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 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!

By on April 22, 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 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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