Friday 30 November 2012

MFP Blog Hop Day #4 Just a Note

November Blog Hop!


This Month's New Stamp Releases:
Big City Featured November 27
Amaryllis Definition Featured November 28
Mountain Selections Featured November 29
Just a Note Featured November 30 (Thats today!)

Please hop along with us!  You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets!  Just comment on the following blogs (including this one) each day for more chances to win!    You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day as the  names are drawn randomly.  All four winners will be announced on December 1, 2012 on the Mark’s Finest Papers blog.  You can go back and comment if you missed a day.  HINT:  The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!  The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST (12AM ATL) on Friday November 30, 2012

The holidays are right around the corner and now is the time to get your shopping done.  Why not avoid the crows and shop online with Mark's Finest Papers?  There are some great deals to be had!


Every Month there is a special extra stamp set released along with the main four.  The extra stamp set we have for you this month is called “Winter Scenes”.


Today's set is called "Just a Note".


Background stamps are great to have in your stash because they are so versatile  and this music sheet stamp is no exception. I showed you this card the other day, and I still have more!  Here is my first project:


I couldn't decide if I wanted to make a cream or white card so I decided to do both.  I started with the flowers.  I've never made flowers like this before, and they were super easy.  


I started by stamping a sheet of white and cream, and die cutting three larger circles from each.  I inked the circles, then cut each one into a spiral.  


I wrapped each spiral, starting with the outside end, around my craft pick. 


I secured my flower by gluing the bottom to the inside end of the spiral.  Once dry I inked the rest of the edges of the flower, and added a rhinestone to the centre of each one.


Once my flowers were done I constructed the rest of each card. I cut card bases, and matching panels.  I dry embossed the panels with an embossing folder, inked the edges and added some ribbon.  I adhered the panels to the card bases with foam squares.


I stamped the sentiments on banner strips that were also inked, and adhered those with foam squares to the front.


The centres were kept simple with a sentiment and a few music notes.

These cards are the same, but the sentiments are different.  I wanted to make one a birthday card, so I used sentiments from an old MFP set called "Today, Tomorrow, and Always" on the white one.  The cream card I turned into a note card by using sentiments from the "Just a Note" set.

I would like to enter these cards into the following challenges: 
  1. Pile it On - Anything but a Christmas Card
  2. Party Time Tuesday - Anything goes
  3. Simon Says - Anything Goes


I had a similar dilemma when I made my next pojects:


I knew I wanted to make some rosettes, and I couldn't decide on white or cream so as with my previous card, I made one of each.  I started by cutting two strips of each colour 1.75" by 11", and scored each strip at 0.5".  After accordian folding each strip, I glued the ends of them together - each rosette consists of two strips.  Once glued together I secured the rosettes with circles that had been die cut, heat embossed, and inked.  


The white one I decided to turn into a Christmas ornament. I simply punched a hole in the top and added some rhinestones to the image.  I may make a few more to put on my tree. :)


I was originally going to turn the second rosette into a Christmas ornament as well, but I decided to put it on a card instead.  I cut a kraft card base, and a matching panel that I dry embossed with my Cuttlebug.    I added ribbon to the panel and foam taped it to the card base.


Lastly I added a sentiment from "Winter Scenes" that was heat embossed on a leftover scrap of the stamped paper, and some rhinestones.



The centre was decorated with a stamped and inked piece of kraft matted with more music note paper.

I would like to enter the rosette card into the following challenges;
  1. Creative Card Challenges - Christmas
  2. Charisma Cardz Challenges - Christmas with a twist - no red green or gold.


As you can see I love this stamp set!  But this isn't the only amazing set this month, why not go to Mark's Finest Papers store and have a closer look at what is being offered this month.

Oh, and this is a blog hop after all so don't forget to check out what the rest of the DT has come up with!  And the main blog has lots of inspiration as well.  Happy hopping!



Here are the supplies I used on my projects:


Spiral Flower cards:

Card Stock: Gina K Designs  Pure White, Pure Ivory, Stampin' Up Very Vanilla, Neenah Solar White.

Stamps:  Marks Finest Papers Just a Note, Winter Scenes

Ink:  Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink Creamy Brown, Chestnut Roan

Embellishments: Scrappin' Supplies Rhinestones, ribbon fromstash.

Adhesive:  Foam squares, Scotch Quick Dry, glue dots.

Tools:  Paper trimmer, bone folder, scissors, Martha Stewart scoring board, Ranger Blending Tool, We R Memory Keepers Brad Setter (pick end), Cuttlebug, Spellbinders Nestabilities Standard Circles Large, Lifestyle Crafts Bloom embossing folder set.


Rosette ornament and card:

Card Stock:  Neenah Desert storm, Solar White, Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla.

Stamps:   Marks Finest Papers Just a Note, Today Tomorrow and Always.

Ink:  Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink Creamy Brown, Chestnut Roam, Versamark Watermark Ink.

Embossing Powder:  Stampin' Up!  Silver

Embellishments:  Scrappin' Supplies Rhinestones, American Crafts Premium Satin Ribbon, May Arts Curly Ribbon.

Adhesive:  Scotch ATG, Scotch Quick Dry, foam squares, glue dots.

Tools:  Paper trimmer, bone folder, scissors, Martha Stewart scoring board, Ranger Blending Tool, Cuttlebug, Spellbinders Nestabilities Standard Circles Large, Cuttlebug Graces Frame Embossing Folder 

Thursday 29 November 2012

MFP Blog Hop Day #3 Mountain Selections

November Blog Hop!


This Month's New Stamp Releases:
Big City Featured November 27
Amaryllis Definition Featured November 28
Mountain Selections Featured November 29 (Thats Today)
Just a Note Featured November 30

Please hop along with us!  You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets!  Just comment on the following blogs (including this one) each day for more chances to win!    You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day as the  names are drawn randomly.  All four winners will be announced on December 1, 2012 on the Mark’s Finest Papers blog.  You can go back and comment if you missed a day.  HINT:  The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!  The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST (12AM ATL) on Friday November 30, 2012

The holidays are right around the corner and now is the time to get your shopping done.  Why not avoid the crows and shop online with Mark's Finest Papers?  There are some great deals to be had!


Every Month there is a special extra stamp set released along with the main four.  The extra stamp set we have for you this month is called “Winter Scenes”.


Today's set is called "Mountain Selections".


This is another 'selections' set where images from previously released sets are brought together in smaller sizes.  They are great for those who like to build scenes, or to have many images to choose from.  This is what I came up with:


I started by stamping the various sizes of house stamps randomly over the piece of white card stock.  Once finished I inked the edges and matted it with some kraft.  I chose a piece of patterned paper, inked the edges and wrapped it in twine.  


After adhering the panel to the card base I foam taped the image panel over the twine.  I added a sentiment from the "Big City" set that was heat embossed on a banner strip of kraft, and added some green rhinestones.


for the centre of the card I adhered an inked piece of white then added a scrap strip that I had punched with a scallop boarder punch on both sides.

This is a really cute set, perfect if you like to build scenes, or if you like smaller images to use on your cards.   But this isn't the only amazing set this month, why not go to Mark's Finest Papers store and have a closer look at what is being offered this month.

Oh, and this is a blog hop after all so don't forget to check out what the rest of the DT has come up with!  And the main blog has lots of inspiration as well.  Happy hopping!



Here are the supplies I used on my card:

Card Stock:  Neenah Desert Storm, Solar White, Echo Park Sweet Day 6x6 pad.

Stamp:  Marks Finest Papers Mountain Selections 

Ink:  Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink Creamy Brown, Versamark Watermark Ink

Embossing Powder:  Martha Stewart White.

Embellishments:  We R Memory Keepers Baker's Twine Cream Soda, Scrappin' Supplies rhinestones.

Adhesive:  Scotch ATG, foam squares.

Tools:  Paper trimmer, bone folder, scissors, Martha Stewart scoring board, Ranger Blending Tool, heat tool.

Wednesday 28 November 2012

MFP Blog Hop Day #2 Amaryllis Definition

November Blog Hop!


This Month's New Stamp Releases:
Big City Featured November 27
Amaryllis Definition Featured November 28 (Thats Today!)
Mountain Selections Featured November 29
Just a Note Featured November 30

Please hop along with us!  You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets!  Just comment on the following blogs (including this one) each day for more chances to win!    You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day as the  names are drawn randomly.  All four winners will be announced on December 1, 2012 on the Mark’s Finest Papers blog.  You can go back and comment if you missed a day.  HINT:  The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!  The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST (12AM ATL) on Friday November 30, 2012

The holidays are right around the corner and now is the time to get your shopping done.  Why not avoid the crows and shop online with Mark's Finest Papers?  There are some great deals to be had!


Every Month there is a special extra stamp set released along with the main four.  The extra stamp set we have for you this month is called “Winter Scenes”.


Today we are using a beautiful set called "Amaryllis Definition".


I love MFP botanical themed sets and this one is no different.  I  have two cards to show you today, here is my first one:


Its always fun to take some time and get inky, so that is what I did here.  I started by spraying some dark teal mist on a manila tag, then spraying some dark silver mist over a hexagon mask.  Once the tag was dry (I used my heat tool) I cut the tag to fit the card front and stamped the flower image, and inked the edges.  I added some glitter pen, some white gel pen, and some ribbon.  I had crinkled some seam binding by wetting it, scrunching it up and drying it with my heat tool.


Once I had the tag, I cut a card base and a coordinating silver patterned panel.  After inking the patterned paper edges and adhering to the card front I adhered the tag with foam squares.  I stamped the sentiment on some scrap grey card stock, trimmed banner ends, and inked the edges with more charcoal.  The sentiment was adhered with foam squares some rhinestones were added to finish the card front.


The centre of the card was decorated with an inked piece of grey matted with more pattern, and stamped with a sentiment from the "Winter Scenes" set.


I love how the white gel pen makes the image pop.  

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
  1. Catered Crop -  Silver or Gold
  2. Creative Stamp Friends - Christmas


Here is my second card:


I started by stamping the image with Versafine on watercolour paper. I then coloured the image with  a water brush and my water based markers including the background.  Once done I rounded the corners and inked the edges.


Once the colouring was done I chose my card stock and coordinating patterns. I assembled the main panel, added ribbon, and adhered the panel to the card base.  The image was foam taped over the ribbon.  Lastly I added some rhinestones, I can't seem to finish a card without them these days!


The centre of the card was decorated with an inked piece of cream stamped with a sentiment from the Amaryllis set and 'Winter Scenes', matted with more pattered paper.  All done!

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
  1. Hiding in my Craftroom - Christmas cards
  2. Party Time Tuesday - Anything goes


The Amaryllis set is so pretty, it could be used for Christmas cards, or all year round.  But this isn't the only amazing set this month, why not go to Mark's Finest Papers store and have a closer look at what is being offered.

Oh, and this is a blog hop after all so don't forget to check out what the rest of the DT has come up with!  And the main blog has lots of inspiration as well.  Happy hopping!



I used the following supplies on my  cards:


Card #1:

Card Stock:  Stampin' Up! Basic Grey, Echo Park Dots and Stripes, grey scrap from stash, Ranger Manila Tag.

Stamp:  Mark's Finest Papers Amaryllis Definition, Winter Scenes.

Ink:  Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink Charcoal, Staz On Jet Black

Mists:  October Afternoon Grove, Smooch Spritz Silver foil

Embellishments:  Scrappin' Supplies Rhinestones, Sakura Gelly Roll White, Clear Star, May Arts Seam binding, curly ribbon.

Adhesive:  Scotch ATG, foam squares.

Tools:  Paper trimmer, bone folder, scissors, Martha Stewart scoring board, Ranger Blending tool, heat tool, Studio Calico Hexagon mask.


Card #2:

Card Stock: Stampin Up!  Old Olive, Lily Bee Design Jingle 6x6 Tiny Tablet, Stampin' Up Watercolour paper, Gina K Designs Pure Ivory.

Stamps:  Marks Finest Papers Amaryllis Definition, Winter Scenes.

Ink:  Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink Creamy Brown, Versafine Onyx Black.

Markers:  Stampin' Up!  Stampin' Write Bravo Burgandy, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Real Red, Always Artichoke, Summer Sun.

Embellishments:  Scrappin' Supplies Rhinestones, Sakura Gelly Roll Clear Star, May Arts Seam Binding.

Adhesive:  Scotch ATG, foam squares, glue dots.

Tools:  Paper trimmer, bone folder, scissors, Martha Stewart scoring board, We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, Waterbrush, Ranger Blending Tool, heat tool.

Tuesday 27 November 2012

MFP Blog Hop Day #1 Big City

November Blog Hop!


This Month's New Stamp Releases:
Big City Featured November 27 (Thats Today!)
Amaryllis Definition Featured November 28
Mountain Selections Featured November 29
Just a Note Featured November 30

Please hop along with us!  You have a chance to win one of the above stamp sets!  Just comment on the following blogs (including this one) each day for more chances to win!    You do NOT have to comment on all the blogs each day as the  names are drawn randomly.  All four winners will be announced on December 1, 2012 on the Mark’s Finest Papers blog.  You can go back and comment if you missed a day.  HINT:  The more you comment, the more chances you have to win and comments on the MFP blog count twice!  The deadline for commenting is 11PM EST (12AM ATL) on Friday November 30, 2012

The holidays are right around the corner and now is the time to get your shopping done.  Why not avoid the crows and shop online with Mark's Finest Papers?  There are some great deals to be had!


Every Month there is a special extra stamp set released along with the main four.  The extra stamp set we have for you this month is called “Winter Scenes”.


I am so in love with all of the sets this month.  Yesterday I told you that "Winter Scenes" is my favourite this month,  but today's set is definitely my second favourite.  Its called "Big City".


I love the two city-scapes and the word collage.  Here is what I came up with for my first project:


After I chose which stamp I wanted to use I found patterned papers and card stock.  I cut everything down, inked the edges and assembled the main panel with some twine and added it to the card base.  


The city was heat embossed on cream, and the sentiment was heat embossed on a patterned scrap   After inking and distressing the edges I added the image with foam squares over the twine, and the sentiment over the image.  Some self-adhesive pearls finished the card front off.


For the centre of the card I matted a piece of inked cream with another pattern, then a medallion was cut from a piece leftover from the front.  The sentiment was cut in half and adhered to opposite corners.


I love how this card turned out and I think it would be a great card to give someone before their first trip to a big city.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
  1. Fussy and Fancy Friday - Feeling Blue
  2. Deep Ocean - Pastel Colours
  3. Catered Crop - Silver or Gold
  4. Songbird Challenges - Deeper Shade of Blue


My second card was created to show on the main blog today:


This was a quick and fun one.  I started by cutting and scoring my card base.  I first stamped the word collage in middle of the card front with black, removing the ink from one word and adding red ink with a water based marker before stamping.  I then continued to stamp the word collage in black until the entire card front was covered.


I then stamped the modern city images in black on white, then fussy cut them out.  The image was added with foam squares at the bottom of the card.


I then stamped the remaining sentiments on white strips in red.  After cutting the ends diagonally I added them to the card with more foam squares.  Lastly I added some red rhinestones to emphasize the sentiment  and to add colour to the buildings.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
  1. Allsorts - Bring on the Bling
  2. Pile it On - Anything but a Christmas Card


I love this set, so perfectly suited to both clean and simple, and shabby chic projects.  But this isn't the only amazing set this month, why not go to Mark's Finest Papers store and have a closer look at what is being offered this month.

Oh, and this is a blog hop after all so don't forget to check out what the rest of the DT has come up with!  And the main blog has lots of inspiration as well.  Happy hopping!



Here are the supplies I used on my cards:


Card #1:

Card Stock:  Stampin' Up! Soft Suede, Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla, My Mind's Eye Indie Chic Nutmeg.

Stamps:  Mark's Finest Papers Big City

Ink:  Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink Creamy Brown, Versamark Watermark Ink.

Embossing Powder:  Stampin' Up!  Gold

Embellishments:  May Arts Jute Twine, Stampin' Up! Basic Jewels Pearls, My Mind's Eye Indie Chic Tape.

Adhesive:  Scotch ATG, foam squares.

Tools:  Paper trimmer, bone folder, scissors, Martha Stewart scoring board, Ranger Blending Tool, Tonic paper distresser, craft knife (for placing pearls).


Card #2:

Card Stock:  Gina K Designs Pure White

Stamps:  Mark's Finest Papers Big City

Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Stampin' Up! Real Red.

Marker:  Stampin' Up! Stampin' Write Real Red.

Embellishments:  Scrappin' Supplies rhinestones.

Adhesive:  Foam squares.

Tools:  Paper trimmer, bone folder, scissors, Martha Stewart scoring board, craft knife (for placing rhinestones).

Use it Tuesday #44 Uninked Stamp

Its the 4th Tuesday of the month which means its time for another Use it Tuesday challenge!  This time we are asking you to use an uninked stamp.  This was another fun one.  I know I often say that with the Use it Tuesday Challenges, but I find its true when you dig out treasures you forgot you had!  Here is what I came up with:


The stamp is a large background stamp from Hampton Art called "Woman Collage/Passport".  I bought it at Michael's on sale some time ago because I thought it was really pretty, and it sat in my stamp drawer collecting dust because I wasn't really sure what to do with it.  It's so big after all   I've taken it out on occasion to try and gain some inspiration but I was never successful until now.


This time I decided to just sit down and play with it until I got something that I liked.  Easy enough right?  I stamped the image diagonally on a manila tag and sat down to work.  I used some water based markers and my water brush to add some colour to the butterflies and the lady's face.



I then blended some inks over the top, masked the face, and sprayed a few mists.  Once the tag was dry I used some old bubble wrap from Christmas last year to stamp some white paint.  I didn't want it to be bright white so once the paint dried I added some creamy brown ink over the top.   I then cut the tag down to size and matted it.



For the background I decided to stay with my inky theme and used some Pink Paislee Mistables.  I blended some ink onto the patterned paper and sprayed it with more mists.  Once dry I added some banner cut ribbon, adhered it to the card front, foam taped the image, and layered the rest of my elements.



This was a really fun card where I got to play with ink, sprays, and paint.  Don't you want to play too?  Simply dig out one of your unused stamps and get stamping!  Create your project and link it up at Use it Tuesday by December 7th.  You could earn a chance to play along with us as a guest designer!  

And please, don't forget to include in your post what hoarded products you've used!!  Even if we love your project forgetting this step will mean you are not eligible!


These are the products I used to create my card:

Card Stock:  Neenah Desert Storm, Ranger Manila Tag, Pink Paislee Mistables.

Stamp:  Hampton Art Woman Collage/Passport.

Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Creamy Brown, Chestnut Roan, Rouge.

Mists:  Mister Huey Boss Lady, Manila, Shimmerz Paints Heavy Metal.

Embellishments:  Buttons from stash, Stampin' Up Twill Tape ribbon, May Arts Jute Twine, Stampin' Up Basic Jewels Pearls, handmade flower.

Adhesive:  Scotch ATG, Scotch Quick Dry, glue dots, Quickie Glue pen.

Tools:  Bone folder, paper trimmer, scissors, Martha Stewart Score board, Ranger Blending Tool, Bubble Wrap. 


I would like to enter into the following challenges:
  1. Deep Ocean - Pastel colours
  2. Pile it On - Anything but a Christmas card
  3. Paper Playtime - Anything Goes
  4. Pause Dream Enjoy - Anything Goes