The assortment of cross-stitch Die-namics we have available presents an excellent opportunity to slow down the holiday season a bit while still feeling productive. If you haven’t tried cross-stitch before, it’s a relaxing way to wind down after a long day — the motions are soothing and seeing the pattern emerge before your eyes is so satisfying. The bonus is the result — a beautiful gift or card to share with a loved one…either framed, in bookmark form, or as a holiday card for them to display.
I love creating cross-stitch projects for friends and family during the holidays. It takes more time during an already busy time of year, but it’s so nice to relax in front of the twinkling Christmas tree while working on some stitched projects. This year we have some new holiday patterns for our Cross-Stitch Rectangle Die-namics as well as a few coordinating bookmark patterns for the Cross-Stitch Bookmark Die-namics (you can download them HERE). Today I’m sharing a couple of projects I created with some of the new patterns.
Before we get to the full project, I wanted to share a little tip for something I do any time I’m stitching a pattern onto my cross-stitch papercrafts. I always like to find Copic markers that match the DMC thread I’ll be using, and then I very carefully color the pattern onto my project before I start stitching. I do this for two reasons: so I don’t have the white card stock showing through after I have completed the stitching, and so I can easily work on the design without having to look at the printed pattern.
Once I have it colored on the panel, I do all of the stitching in a traditional ‘x’ design. There are many ways you can stitch a pattern so go with whatever you prefer. I almost always stitch in a solid color around my completed pattern but to save time, you can leave those holes empty and just stitch the design.
After I stitched the Christmas lights onto my panel, I layered it on a card base and added a stamped sentiment from the Festive Flamingos stamp set. The Christmas lights pattern is my favorite, so I also decided to stitch the coordinating bookmark. You could give these as a gift together, or you could keep them for yourself. 🙂
For my second card, I wanted to go with a more elegant design since we did the colorful rainbow lights on the first project, so I colored the ornament pattern onto a Cross-Stitch Rectangle and then stitched it with shades of aqua and purple. To add to the wow factor on this one, I decided to add some silver thread around the snowflake to give it a sparkly look perfect for the holidays.
I once again stitched around the design with white thread to fill the panel and then I added it to a Silver Sparkle panel before attaching it to the card base.
Don’t forget you can download these patterns (as well as a collection of others) HERE. We can’t wait to see what you create for the holidays!
DMC Thread:
Red 3801, Orange 3340, Yellow 726, Lt. Green 907, Dk. Green 3347, Aqua 964, Purple 209, Dk. Grey 413, Lt. Grey 168
If cross-stitching on fabric feels cumbersome or overwhelms you, give this method a shot! Card stock provides more stability, and the holes are much more apparent for stitching purposes. We’ve seen some amazing projects from you, but we always want more — we’re relentless like that 😉 Show us your work by tagging #mftstamps!
Another year in the books; another year that you all have simply blown us away with your talent, creativity, and attention to detail. Thank you for making MFT looks so good year after year!
Our judges have been working overtime narrowing hundreds of entries down to fifteen winners and it hasn’t been easy. Finally though, we’re able to debut our 2018 class of Superstars.
When choosing our winners, we were looking for cards using My Favorite Things supplies that embodied the following characteristics:
Great design
Superb execution
Clever uses of our product
Fresh approaches
As a reminder, we have five $250 winners from each category and one randomly selected $100 winner. We encourage you to click each winning entry as some of them have multiple photos that truly display their artistry and innovative thought process.
All of our winners will be emailed today regarding their prizes. Congratulations to you all.
Without further ado, meet your 2018 Card Design Superstars!
Congratulations to you all! There was some truly fierce competition so we hope you’ll take extreme pride in this accomplishment. We’d ❤️ for you to declare your win by using this badge on your blog. Link to this post and let the world know that YOU are a SUPERSTAR!
For the fourth year running, you’ve made our task an extremely difficult one. Thank you to our special guest judges (we know what an undertaking this is and how seriously you take your responsibility) and HUGE thanks to each and every oneof you that participated and made this year’s contest just as exciting and inspiring as our last. We hope you were inspired by our challenges, love the projects you came up with, and are all in for next year’s contest. Until then, happy crafting!
We’re five days into our annual Card Design Superstar contest and the entries are rolling in. We’d love to make this year our BIGGEST year yet — will you help make that happen?
If you’ve already entered, be sure to check and make sure your entry is visible. If you don’t see it, it may have been removed because of a rules violation or an error in the upload process. When you link your project, make sure you’re sharing a new project created for the contest, that your entry doesn’t include stamps, dies, stencils, or patterned paper from any company other than My Favorite Things, and that you’re linking properly — filling out the Inlinkz fields with the correct content. As a reminder, here is a full list of guidelines:
Create brand new/original cards using any theme you like. Previously posted cards will not be considered.
The maximum number of entries per participant is one card per category, for a maximum of three entries in all. Multiple entries in a single category will be disqualified. Each card may only be entered in a single category.
Use stamps, Die-namics, stencils, and patterned papers from My Favorite Things. Cards using other products will be disqualified immediately, so get creative with the MFT products that you have on hand! Use whatever card stock and inks you have available.
Submit your card(s) to the appropriate InLinkz collection linked at the end of this post on or before 10 PM EDT on Monday, September 17.
When submitting your card, please simply use your name in the Link Title section.
International entries are most DEFINITELY welcome! Please note however that we are unable to accept entries from Russia due to shipping prohibitions.
We have three categories for you to choose from — enter one or go for all three…what do you have to lose? At the very least you’ll have three fabulous new cards to add to your stash. That’s three people you’re about to make very happy! Each category has some VIP judges selected from our team to help out in the arduous judging process as well. Keep reading to find learn more about each category:
Clean & Simple Genius
Here is your chance to showcase your innate understanding of design. White space, color theory, and design rules are critical components of pulling off a beautifully clean & simple look. You understand that sometimes, less is more, and you aren’t afraid to show it!
Special guest judges: Inge, Karolyn, and Laurie
Coloring Virtuoso
Whether your preferred medium is paint, marker, or pencil, coloring is a skill you’ve honed since those early years spent with Crayolas and a favorite coloring book. The MFT collection of images is vast, so now is your opportunity to show off your exceptional coloring skills!
Special guest judges: Amy, Francine, and Torico
Innovation Master
We’re gaga for specialty cards. If designs featuring sliders, shakers, fancy folding, or 3D elements are your thing, have we got the contest for you! Let’s see your brain-bending looks! Balancing an elaborate idea with pitch-perfect execution and an eye for design is a true skill — one we know you’re up to the task to demonstrate.
Special guest judges: Barbara, Melania, and Rachel
NOW, it’s time for you to get busy. You have a few more days to come up with your very best entry for each category and upload it to the proper link collection. Make sure to check your entry before the deadline to make sure it’s viable as we’ll continue to remove non-compliant entries for the duration of the contest entry period — we want to ensure you’re hard work is recognized and appreciated!
Here are the criteria that will guide our judges decisions so keep these in mind as you craft your masterpieces.
Great design
Superb execution
Clever uses of our product
Fresh approaches
The fifteen winners will be revealed on the blog on Wednesday, September 26th, and our 2018 Card Design Superstars will be announced.
We hope that this year’s updated format will encourage you all to create something you love. Show us what you’ve got, superstar!
Enter your card for the Clean & Simple Genius Category HERE
Enter your card for the Coloring Virtuoso Category HERE
Enter your card for the Innovation Master Category HERE
Are you ready? It’s that time of year again…time to announce our annual Card Design Superstar contest!
We recognize and appreciate so many different card making styles — each is unique and relevant. While it would be impossible to categorize all of the different styles our customers represent, in an effort to encourage as many of you as possible to feel welcome and to participate, we’re continuing with the format we established last year by breaking the contest into three separate categories. Not only does this mean you have a chance to shine in a specific category or by displaying your versatility in all three, it also means we have an abundance of prize opportunities for you.
Be selected as one of our FIFTEEN 2018 Card Design Superstars (five winners from each of the three categories) and win a $250 prize from My Favorite Things! You’ll be able to use your prize code to choose from hundreds of products included in the exclusive My Favorite Things line. In addition to our fifteen superstars, we’ll also be randomly selecting one winner per category to win a $100 prize — that’s over $4,000 in prizes!
Get your creative motor running and start thinking about how you want to interpret our Superstar categories. In addition to our usual line-up of judges, we’ve also recruited the discerning eyes of nine of our talented team of creative contributors and they can’t wait to see what you’ve got up your superstar sleeves. Show us all that you’ve got what it takes to be a:
Clean & Simple Genius
Here is your chance to showcase your innate understanding of design. White space, color theory, and design rules are critical components of pulling off a beautifully clean & simple look. You understand that sometimes, less is more, and you aren’t afraid to show it!
Special guest judges: Inge, Karolyn, and Laurie
Coloring Virtuoso
Whether your preferred medium is paint, marker, or pencil, coloring is a skill you’ve honed since those early years spent with Crayolas and a favorite coloring book. The MFT collection of images is vast, so now is your opportunity to show off your exceptional coloring skills!
Special guest judges: Amy, Francine, and Torico
Innovation Master
We’re gaga for specialty cards. If designs featuring sliders, shakers, fancy folding, or 3D elements are your thing, have we got the contest for you! Let’s see your brain-bending looks! Balancing an elaborate idea with pitch-perfect execution and an eye for design is a true skill — one we know you’re up to the task to demonstrate.
Special guest judges: Barbara, Melania, and Rachel
Are you excited yet? GOOD. Now that you’re ready to dive into your crafting, a few guidelines to keep in mind:
Create brand new/original cards using any theme you like. Previously posted cards will not be considered.
The maximum number of entries per participant is one card per category, for a maximum of three entries in all. Multiple entries in a single category will be disqualified. Each card may only be entered in a single category.
Use stamps, Die-namics, stencils, and patterned papers from My Favorite Things. Cards using other products will be disqualified immediately, so get creative with the MFT products that you have on hand! Use whatever card stock and inks you have available.
Submit your card(s) to the appropriate InLinkz collection linked at the end of this post on or before 10 PM EDT on Monday, September 17.
When submitting your card, please simply use your name in the Link Title section.
International entries are most DEFINITELY welcome! Please note however that we are unable to accept entries from Russia due to shipping prohibitions.
What will the panel of judges be looking for?
Great design
Superb execution
Clever uses of our product
Fresh approaches
The fifteen winners will be revealed on the blog on Wednesday, September 26th, and our 2018 Card Design Superstars will be announced.
We hope that this year’s updated format will encourage you all to create something you love. Show us what you’ve got, superstar!
Enter your card for the Clean & Simple Genius Category HERE
Enter your card for the Coloring Virtuoso Category HERE
Enter your card for the Innovation Master Category HERE
It’s kind of refreshing to have a summer school class packed with willing and eager students…thanks so much for making our latest session such a pleasure and success! We hope you enjoyed your time with us as much as we did. While we’re all winners in this scenario, it’s time to announce the randomly selected winners of our Summer School 2018 vouchers. Let’s quickly return to our syllabus for a reminder of what our students were eligible for:
To be eligible to win a $15 voucher: Subscribe to our YouTube channel and comment on today’s video. Winners will be chosen randomly from comments on the YouTube video.
To be eligible to win a $25 voucher: Complete today’s homework and upload an image via InLinkz on today’s post. Winners will be chosen randomly from each day’s InLinkz entries.
To be eligible to win the $100 Grand Prize: Graduate from Summer School: Session 2 by completing all five days of homework (via the InLinkz on each blog post). One random winner will be chosen for the week!
Now, let’s get to the winners!
$15 Voucher Winners:
Monochromatic: Sue Abell
Focal Point: Melissa Spoelhof
Visual Triangle: Wendy Marsh
Rainbow: Lisa Miceli
Ombré: Wanda Radler
$25 Voucher Winners:
Monochromatic: Susan Lang (entry 3)
Focal Point: Dana Kirby (entry 32)
Visual Triangle: Cacia (entry 75)
Rainbow: Sentimentally Sue (entry 24)
Ombré: Crafty Patch Kid (entry 44)
$100 Grand Prize Winner: Kay Demonbren
Summer School 2018 is in the books. Congratulations to all of our voucher winners and a virtual high five to each and every one of our students!
To our winners, please email erica@mftstamps.com with your preferred email address to claim your prize!
We have seen so many incredible assignments turned in since summer school commenced! It’s certainly our pleasure to hand out some extra credit to a handful of our amazingly dedicated students. Let’s return to our syllabus for a quick reminder of what our students were eligible for:
To be eligible to win a $15 voucher: Subscribe to our YouTube channel and comment on today’s video. Winners will be chosen randomly from comments on the YouTube video.
To be eligible to win a $25 voucher: Complete today’s homework and upload an image via InLinkz on today’s post. Winners will be chosen randomly from each day’s InLinkz entries.
To be eligible to win the $100 Grand Prize: Graduate from Summer School: Session 1 by completing all five days of homework (via the InLinkz on each blog post). One random winner will be chosen for the week!
Congratulations to ALL of our voucher winners (as well as an A+ for everyone that took part in our first session of summer school.) If you loved this session, make sure to join us later this summer for session 2!
To our winners, please email erica@mftstamps.com with your preferred email address to claim your prize!
Today our fearless leader — a woman with incredible vision, unparalleled generosity, and a wicked sense of humor is celebrating a birthday. It’s a milestone birthday and we couldn’t let it pass without recognizing it here (surprise, Kim!) She’s brought so many people together that wouldn’t have had the pleasure of meeting otherwise…peers, coworkers, crafters, friends. We owe her so much and wish we could all see her in person today to give her a giant birthday hug.
Please join the MFT team today in wishing Kim the most wonderful birthday imaginable. ❤️
We’ve reached the end of our Meet the Designers feature that showcases our incredible creative team members — it’s been so fun learning a bit more about each of our designers! Our team hails from around the globe and we couldn’t do what we do without their talents.
What location do you call home? I am originally from Pennsylvania but I now live in Florida with my husband & three little ones (and 8 chickens, lol.)
What is your favorite current MFT product? That’s really hard to answer! I would probably tell you that my favorite product is whatever I am currently working with at the moment (I truly love ALL things MFT.) I really enjoyed working with the Just Beclaws stamp set that came out earlier this month.
What is your all-time favorite MFT product? Hmmm…I love all things Birdie Brown and any of the Stitched Die-namics, particularly the A2 Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics Set 2. I use that set quite often.
What are your hobbies when you’re not creating MFT masterpieces? I love spending time with my family. We go to the beach and go fishing most weekends. I also love to read mystery books. In addition to that, I spend most evenings during the week training in Krav Maga & Kickboxing (total opposites of card making, I know.)
Please share a favorite MFT project you’ve created: I couldn’t decide on an absolute favorite, so I picked two recent ones that I made and really loved how they turned out.
It’s time to SAVE BIG at the MFT Retirement Sale. Check out this incredibly diverse collection of hundreds of Die-namics, stamps, stencils, patterned papers, and supplies — all offered at a 50% savings! Treat yourself to some special new supplies because you deserve it.
All of these items will be retired as stock is depleted so grab them now if they’re on your wish list. You’ll find the limited supply of products in our Sale category – no coupon code required, but act fast because this sale is only valid while supplies last and the sale prices are good. Not valid on previous purchases. This sale is available for online retail orders only.
Check out a small sampling of some of the products included in the sale — don’t miss out!
Today, we’re continuing our regular feature showcasing a couple of our incredible creative team members. Our team hails from around the globe and we couldn’t do what we do without their talents.
What location do you call home? A village in Bedfordshire, England.
What is your favorite current MFT product? That has to be the Cross-Stitch dies — it’s been fun swapping my pencils and Copics for a needle and thread.
What is your all-time favorite MFT product? Well, the Stitched STAX are my go to dies for mounting my artwork on cards. As for stamps, that’s easy, Birdie Brown every time. I will always have a special fondness for The Whole Herd, after all, it’s the set I used to create the card below and where my MFT journey began.
What are your hobbies when you’re not creating MFT masterpieces? Since I was a small child I have been drawing, painting and embroidering, so you’ll often find me in my studio creating something. I also enjoy gardening, in fact my husband and I landscaped our gardens ourselves and for the past couple of years we’ve had a little vegetable patch. However, I am a bit embarrassed to admit so far this year I’ve managed to kill 4 cucumber plants, a butternut squash, and a sweet pepper, I suspect my green fingers are due to Copic ink rather than my skill in growing vegetables!
Please share a favorite MFT project you’ve created:
Creative Team member since: November 2017
What location do you call home? I live in Long Island, New York with my husband, my daughter (15), and my son (12).
What is your favorite current MFT product? I have so many current favorites! But if I have to choose one, I’d have to say the cloud stencils. I’ve been using them a lot lately — they really help to enhance your scene cards.
What is your all-time favorite MFT product? I absolutely love the Birdie Brown stamp sets! The images in the sets are always so adorable and super fun to color!
What are your hobbies when you’re not creating MFT masterpieces? When I’m not crafting, I enjoy gardening in the spring and summer and baking in the fall and winter.
Please share a favorite MFT project you’ve created:
