MFT guest designer

You can't win if you don't try...right.  When I saw this month's challenge to put together a pretty package my wheels started spinning.  I have fall on the brain wishing for cooler temps and watching football.  I had this pumpkin baby hat made for a local craft fair but no one bought it.  I think if it was packaged like this it would have sold for sure.  I LOVE this Li'l Pumpkin set from My Favorite Things.  In fact this was my first purchase from them.  She is colored with copics on vanilla cardstock.  Her outfit and pumpkin are paper pieced from the Spice Case DSP collection from SU.  The medallion on top is made with the die from MFT and accented with a SU button and twine.  I hand wrote "for your" then stamped the Li'L Pumpkin from the stamp set.  I always call my son "pumpkin" he wasn't born in October but thanks to a nice case of jaundice he was quite orange for a while.  Well I hope you get some inspiration from this or just a chuckle :).

MFTWSC30

My mom sent me this new MFT stamps so what better way to say thank you than to make her a card with it.  I've used the MFT sketch for this week.  I used some retired DSP (playdate) and took flower and color cues from it.  The rolled rose die is so much fun and I have the best luck using it with felt and the big fat glue dots.  Sudden thought...new movie...my big fat glue dot!  Seriously what can't you fix/do with a glue dot?  Keep checking back...I'll be starting a brand new blog soon!

The Secret Garden

This spring my family and I were invited to attend a garden tour at a home in a historic neighborhood in Atlanta.  My husband couldn't go but I was able to take my son and meet my folks there.  This is the first MDS page I've done in a while due to computer issues.  I hope my mom will like it enough to use it as her screen saver on their new laptop.  The idea/layout came from Heather Sumers.  The background is basic grey with lots of real size square punches filled with color and a variety of DSP in the colors old olive, pumpkin pie, so saffron, choc. chip and baja breeze.  A couple embellishments and the vintage vogue stamp set round it out.

Thanks for looking.

Dad-you're an ACE

As promised here is my Father's Day card for this year.  I was lazy and just made three of the same-or I could say...they're so cute why try anything else.  My color inspiration came from the DSP.  Out of a 12 x 12 sheet I tries to pick 3 planes with space to have the banner fly behind it.  After I cut these pieces I took my colors from the planes...a really interesting and nice combo of baja breeze and tangerine tango.  I used the MFT die fishtail banner https://www.mftstamps.com/home/homepage.html
The die cuts are strung on jillybean soup baker's twine.  I made a small cut using a box cutter knife right behind the tail of the plane to thread the twine through.  The word DAD is using the American crafts rub on Molly font....I picked that up at Hobby Lobby for 2.99 on clearance!
Hope you enjoy and get some inspiration from this.

Happy Stamping!

Well scripted Father's Day

This is the Father's Day card I made for my dad last year.  I do struggle with masculine cards.  Men just don't appreciate ribbon and buttons.  I had seen this concentric circle design on Mary Fish's blog (if you haven't seen her blog it is amazing...I'm totally jealous of her new stamp space and that she lives in Tucson, AZ).  Mary recommended a geometric pattern.  My dad has always been a great woodworker and when I saw these sheets of veneer in Archivers I knew I had to incorporate it somehow into his card.  Not too many other details to provide as it is an easy to follow design and layout but if you have any questions please let me know.

Stop by tomorrow and I'll show you this year's design.  I was lazy this year and made all three the same (DH, DF, and FIL)

Baby Onesie-Side step card

Sometimes the internet is fabulous.  I've been lucky enough to reconnect with some friends from high school-OK I'm not afraid to say it- class of 1991.  One friend I've reconnected with is my home room buddy.  She is presently expecting her fifth child.  Makes me sound like a slacker with only one.  I know she is a great mom so I wanted to make her a sweet card.  The inspiration comes from Jackie Topa's blog http://jackietopa.typepad.com/addicted_to_stamping/2010/07/side-step-dresser-tutorial.html
I added some elements I'd seen on other blogs.  The base is So Saffron with edges sponged in more mustard.  The stamp on the drawer fronts is from the SU set Noteworthy.  The DSP is old shades of spring.  The drawer pulls are gold nail head bling and the shelf is pearl bling.  I stamped the onesie from SU set A Slice of Life on the DSP and then onto the DSP Pawsitively Prints II (still available) to paper piece it.  I made the hanger with some beading wire and needle nose pliers.

The sentiment comes from teeny tiny wishes.  I wanted to add some more baby elements but didn't have anything to scale.  In the future I'll be on the lookout for items to add to the scene.  Thanks for looking.

Mother's Apron Strings

I saw this card (http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1948318) on SCS and was inspired to create this card and tutorial.  Sorry it's not much in advance of Mother's Day if you are sending a card but maybe if you are lucky enough to be with your mom you still have a few days to knock this one out.  It is really easy to do and you can adapt it to what supplies you have.  It would be really neat if you have an actual apron to match it to.
1. Cut a 6" circle out of DSP and cut the circle in half.
2. Make a mark 1 5/8" in on each side on the straight "top" of the apron.
3.  Fold at a slight angle out which makes the sides flare out of the apron.
4. Cut a 1" strip of paper and use a border punch. (you could also scrunch some ribbon or tulle)
5.  Make a series of darts and adhere to the inside bottom of the apron.
6. Add two holes and eyelets at the top.  Add some ribbon and make a bow.
7. Add pockets to the front (these are from the heart trio punch)

I hope these directions and photos help.  If you have any questions just leave me a comment with your email so i can send a reply back.

I want to include also the Apron Poem.

THE PRINCIPAL USE OF GRANDMA'S APRON WAS TO PROTECT THE DRESS

UNDERNEATH, BUT ALONG WITH THAT, IT SERVED AS A POTHOLDER FOR
REMOVING HOT PANS FROM THE OVEN.
IT WAS WONDERFUL FOR DRYING CHILDREN'S TEARS, AND ON OCCASION
WAS EVEN USED FOR CLEANING OUT DIRTY EARS.
FROM THE CHICKEN COOP, THE APRON WAS USED FOR CARRYING EGGS,
FUSSY CHICKS, AND SOMETIMES HALF-HATCHED EGGS TO BE FINISHED
IN THE WARMING OVEN.
WHEN COMPANY CAME, THOSE APRONS WERE IDEAL HIDING PLACES FOR
SHY KIDS.
AND WHEN THE WEATHER WA COLD, GRANDMA WRAPPED IT AROUND HER
ARMS.
THOSE BIG OLD APRONS WIPED MANY A PERSPIRING BROW, BENT OVER
THE HOT WOOD-STOVE.
CHIPS AND KINDLING WOOD WERE BROUGHT INTO THE KITCHEN IN THAT
APRON.
FROM THE GARDEN, IT CARRIED ALL SORTS OF VEGETABLES. AFTER THE
PEAS HAD BEEN SHELLED, IT CARRIED OUT THE HULLS.
IN THE FALL, THE APRON WAS USED TO BRING IN APPLES THAT HAD
FALLEN FROM THE TREES.
WHEN UNEXPECTED COMPANY DROVE UP THE ROAD, IT WAS SURPRISING
HOW MUCH FURNITURE THAT OLD APRON COULD DUST IN A MATTER OF
SECONDS.
WHEN DINNER WAS READY, GRANDMA WALKED OUT ONTO THE PORCH,
WAVED HER APRON, AND THE MEN KNEW IT WAS TIE TO COME IN FROM
THE FIELDS TO DINNER.
IT WILL BE A LONG TIME BEFORE SOMEONE INVENTS SOMETHING THAT
WILL REPLACE THAT 'OLD-TIME APRON' THAT SERVED SO MANY WORTH-
WHILE PURPOSES.
REMEMBER:
GRANDMA USED TO SET HER HOT BAKED APPLE PIES ON THE WINDOW
SILL TO COOL.
HER GRANDDAUGHTERS SET THEIRS ON THE WINDOW SILL TO THAW.
THEY WOULD GO CRAZY NOW TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW MANY GERMS
WERE ON THAT APRON.
I DON'T THINK I EVER CAUGHT ANYTHING FROM AN APRON---EXCEPT LOVE.