Pure Innocence Peeks

Hi all and welcome to day 3 of MFTeaser Time.  Today we are featuring the brand new Pure Innocence stamps!  They are SO adorable!  There are three new I sets releasing on February 3rd at 10 PM EST in the MFT store. 

Want to see Pure Innocence creations by all the designers?  Head on over to Kim's blog for a complete list of participants.

My first card today uses the new Pure Innocence set, Better Get Better.  I envisioned making a band aid looking card and this is what I came up with. :)  I cut a rectangle out of creamy caramel card stock and then rounded the edges using my oval nestabilities.  I used a piece of plastic canvas to pierce the holes in the band aid and layered a piece of card stock over the center to make it look more like a real band aid.  :)  The image was stamped in Memento black and colored with Copic markers. 

The sentiment was stamped in black and then embossed using clear embossing powder.  I made the bow with my Bow Easy.

I also finished off the inside with another sentiment that comes in the set.

Stamps: Better Get Better Pure Innocence by MFT (Available on Feb 3rd at 10 PM EST in the MFT store)
Ink: Memento black
Paper: creamy caramel, hot fudge, white
Accessories: May Arts ruffled ribbon, black baby braddies, Janome sew mini, Copic markers, paper piercer, red line dimensionals, various punches

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This card uses Blooming Good Day.  Aren't her pigtails ADORABLE?  Awwwwww!  :)

Stamps: Blooming Good Day
Ink: Memento black
Paper: White, hot fudge, My Mind's Eye Bloom & Grow patterned paper
Accessories: Janome sew mini, Copic markers, copper brads, Sugar Glass Glitter, red line tape, red line dimensionals

Am I in the Dog House?

Hi all!  I know I have been MIA the last couple weeks.  Am I in the dog house?  Sorry... *insert puppy dog eyes here*.  I was VERY well intentioned... hopeful... and I missed you all... REALLY I did!

I am constantly on a mission to win "Mother of the Year".  You know... the silent award that goes to Moms who go above and beyond the call of duty.  The type of mother who sits in a NOISY place for hours so her kids can have fun with friends... the one who drives their kids all over the place and does so with a smile.  Sometimes you "lose" Mother of the Year for the day.  Maybe on a day when your patience is wearing thin and you lose your temper for a moment.  No worries though... you get up the next day and move onward toward that award... Mother of the Year.  The Mother we ALL strive to be, right?

That leads me to my "excuse" for being MIA for the past 2 weeks.  Over the Christmas holiday, my family and I spent a couple days with my Mother in Law and SHE had won Mother of the Year that day month by buying her teen daughter a Shih Tzu puppy.  It was ADORABLE.  I am not really a "pet person".  I didn't have pets growing up, so the concept was pretty foreign to me, but I couldn't help but scoop up the puppy and kiss her.  Soooo cute (insert high-pitched, baby-cooing voice here).  My kids all LOVED the puppy too.  So much so, that over the next several weeks my daughters googled til they were blue in the face looking at Shih Tzu puppies on the web.  They found them for sale all over the place and we enjoyed fantasizing over getting one of our own one day.  Of course I want my kids to be happy and I had warmed up to the idea so much that I started looking for a Shih Tzu puppy!  LOL  Then, one day... 2 weeks ago... my hubby found a puppy for sale only an hour and a half away.  The thought of my kid's smiling faces and the joy a puppy would bring to our family motivated me to jump in the car with my hubby and go see the puppy.  And that was all it took.  I scooped her up and was ready to go.  Mother of the Year, here I come.    

Let me introduce you to Puffle:

She is a Shih Tzu puppy, born into this world on November 28th, 2009.  She is now a member of our family. :)  I sat her in my light box to photograph her.  LOL

She sat still for this ONE picture.  LOL  It's hard for me to capture her adorable face because of her markings on her face, but let me assure you, she is C-U-T-E and has an awesome personality.  Here is what the majority of the photos from the photo shoot looked like:

Puppy on the move!  LOL

Being a new puppy-Mommy is like having a newborn in the house.  I know you pet owners are nodding in agreement.  ;)  Being a FIRST-TIME puppy-Mommy, I have been a tad overwhelmed (under-statement).  I should have read a book... or made a "plan" first, but I didn't... so I have been winging it... and wishing the Dog Whisperer would come pay me a visit and train ME.  LOL  Thank goodness for my friends, who helped me through it.

Oh, and for anyone who is curious about her name, Puffle, she is named after a "pet" from a game that my daughters play called Club Penguin.  Want to see a Club Penguin Puffle?

After many nights of little sleep and feeling like a zombie... I adjusted enough to STAMP.  YAY!  :)

I used my MFT Chick Flick stamp set for this card.  I ADORE this image!  SO "me".  I LOVE watching movies. 

I used a Sakura clear Glaze Pen to make my popcorn bowl shiny.

I even finished the inside off!  (LOVE doing that)

Here is one more card I made:

Stamps: MFT Chick Flick
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper: White, Black, My Mind's Eye Love Me Do
Accessories: May Arts ruffled ribbon, silver brads, Copic markers, Janome sew mini, Sakura clear Glaze Pen, Prima burlap flower, SU brad, word window punch, paper piercer

 

It'll Be Okay

Hi everyone! I am back with yet another Pure Innocence creation for you! This card uses My Umbrella and the gorgeous Love Me Do patterned paper pack from My Mind's Eye.

She is stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black and colored with Copic markers. Her boots are covered in Christmas Red Stickles.

This card was made using a sketch I got from Cindy's blog for Crazy for Challenges. (C4C12)

I finished the inside, too!

Stamps: Pure Innocence My Umbrella (currently sold out of this image, but will be back in stock soon)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper: White, Black, Love Me Do by My Mind's Eye patterned paper pack

Accessories: Prima flower, silver brads, Janome sew mini, Copic markers, Sakura glaze pen, Christmas Red Stickles, red line dimensionals, May Arts ruffled ribbon, Oval punch, Scalloped oval punch

Tuesday Trigger for Moxie Fab World with TUTORIAL

Hi everyone and thanks for stopping by today. I woke up ready to tackle a stamping project that was inspired by The Moxie Fab World blog's Tuesday Trigger posted by Cath and provided by Maren. I had printed out the "trigger" (aka inspiration piece) and stared at it for a couple days, formulating my plan in my head. Thanks for the inspiration, Cath and Maren! This was fun!

Here is the Tuesday Trigger for those of you who haven't seen it on the Moxie Fab blog. It is a Bird Nest Charger from Pottery Barn.

I really wanted to capture every element of the trigger and make my card as close to a replica as possible, while employing some fun techniques along the way. I took pictures to chronicle the steps and as a BONUS... that means I have a tutorial to share with you again!

I wanted to mimic the shape of the charger, so I decided to make a round card. Start with a piece of kraft card stock (8 1/2 X 11) and score it at 5 1/2 (in half).

I used my Curvy Cutter and glass mat to create a circle card. Fold the card stock in half and then place the circular template over it. You'll want to cut out *almost* the full circle, leaving a straight edge along the top where the score line is. That will keep your card intact, while making it *mostly* circular. I used the 5 1/2" circle for my card.

Use a paper distresser to rough up the edges of the front of your circular card. I used a Tonic Tim Holtz distresser (my fave).

Next, I wanted to mimic the rough "plate holder" and really wanted it to resemble a bird nest. I grabbed my most INfrequently used tool... my paper crimper (shocker). I cut a piece of kraft card stock to 5 1/2 X 2 and then ran it through my paper crimper several times. This texturizes the paper AND loosens the fiber so it becomes more pliable.

I used my Tonic paper trimmer to slice off thin pieces of card stock.

Here is the stack I ended up with:

I grabbed some 1/2" red line adhesive and ran it around the perimeter of the circle card base. I needed to "ruffle" it to make it go around the circle and that is fine. It will all be covered anyway, so feel free to make it messy!

It will be very easy to remove the liner and then it will look like this:

I grabbed a small handful of my paper strips and rubbed them between my hands (as if you were rolling a snake while playing with play dough LOL). Go ahead and be "rough". You want to texturize the paper and get it all twisted together. Don't place them evenly in your hand. It'll look better if you have some strips of card stock sticking out with card stock strips at varying positions within the bundle.

Place it around your card base, concentrating on covering the outermost edges. It took 4 "twisty bundles" to cover the entire outer edge of the card. Here is how it looked as I went along:

Make sure to stick down any stray ends of card stock and play with it until you are happy with the look.

Cut a 4 1/2" circle out of white or cream card stock. I used white shimmery card stock to give it a more classy feel. Manipulate the card stock with your fingers to turn up the outer edges a bit. This will mimic the plate's upturned edges. Here, I sat it on the "bird nest" so you could see the edges of the circle more clearly.

Cut a 4" circle out the same card stock you used for the previous circle. This will be the panel we will build our branch on. I used a Sizzix die swirl for my branch. I die cut the shape using kraft craft card stock.

Adhere the branch to the circle of card stock. I used Diamond Glaze. Then, I die cut some leaf clusters using my SU "Little Leaves" Sizzlits die. You could use a leaf punch or even cut some by hand. Adhere those to your swirl "branch" as shown.

Next, I stamped one of the birds from Kim Hughes "Pretty Birds" stamp set onto a piece of patterned paper by Crate paper. You'll need one full bird and one extra wing.

Cut out the bird and the extra wing with your scissors. Adhere the extra wing to the bird using a Quickie Glue pen, to give it some extra dimension.

Adhere the larger white card stock circle to the center of your "bird nest" using white dimensional dots. Use plenty of them so that layer is well supported. Then, do the same with the panel that you have built your branch on.

Adhere your paper-pieced bird to the branch using red line dimensionals.

Stamp something cute inside. I used another bird image and sentiment from Kim Hughes Pretty Birds stamp set.

Here are some shots of the finished card:

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial! As always, if you replicate this card or are inspired by it, I would appreciate you linking back to my tutorial.

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Swinging from a Tree... Whee!: FULL Tutorial

*edited to add: Kelli Hull is the lucky winner for this blog candy!  Congratulations, Kelli.  Please e-mail me your mailing address and I will get your prize out to you. :)

Hi all and welcome back!  I am SO thrilled that you all enjoyed my "tree" card.  Your sweet comments have made me SMILE!  Thank you for your kindness! 

Today, I have the TUTORIAL ready for you!  Make sure to read the message at the end of this post.  You'll have a chance to win this card!  I had to make another one to write this tutorial, so now I have TWO and would love to share with one of my blog readers.

You can view the original post of my tree card right HERE.  Just as a reminder, here is the card I'll be showing you how to make.  I will take you along each step with full photographs and explanation.  The *only* difference between this card and the original, is I ran out of cloud patterned paper (pout), so I needed to use a different pattern from the pack (Love Me Do by My Mind's Eye).

My base layer is a 5 1/8 X 5 1/8" piece of patterned paper layered with a piece of black card stock measuring 5 1/4 X 5 1/4".  After stitching it together, I made my tree trunk using a piece of kraft card stock 5 1/8" long and about 3 inches wide (to start).

I hand-trimmed the tree trunk as shown.  Use a small oval (or circle) punch to punch a shape out of the tree trunk.  Then, tape a piece of kraft card stock to the back-side, covering the hole, with scotch tape.  This will add dimension without being over-powering.

Adhere as shown and then add a strip of green card stock cut to 1/2" X 5 1/8" along the lower edge of the patterned paper over the tree.  This is a small detail you might have missed in the original, but I love the hint of grass peeking out behind the white picket fence. 

Use the Martha Stewart deep-edge punch to create the white picket fence.  I started with a piece of card stock 3 1/2" X 5 1/8", then punched the shape.  After punching I trimmed it until it was 1 1/2" high.  (It's easier to punch a slightly larger piece of card stock and then trim down to the desired size.)

Adhere the fence over the green card stock along the lower edge of the card (still allowing the small black border underneath to show).

Now add a strip of white card stock cut to 1/4" X 5 1/8" centered on the bottom "rail" of the fence.  This is another small detail that will add dimension and depth to your card.

Now you'll need a 1/2" circle punch (another shape that is about 1/2" will be fine) and the word window punch from SU (if you don't have the word window punch, you can create a channel with your paper trimmer).  Cut a piece of green card stock to 3 X 1 3/4".

Punch two holes in the green card stock as shown:

Connect the two holes as shown, using the word window punch from SU (or your paper trimmer).  The channel should be approximately 3/8".  This is our "channel".

Now you'll need 2 pennies, some foam tape (I used strips that I purchased from Hobby Lobby).

Cut a small piece of foam tape (about an inch long) and adhere it to one of the pennies as shown:

Now, place the green channel over the foam strip:

Remove the liner from the foam tape and place the other penny directly over the one under the foam tape.  Your penny contraption will now be stuck in the channel, creating your sliding mechanism.  Go ahead and tilt it from left to right to see it slide.  :)  If the edges of your foam tape as sticking and are preventing your slider from functioning properly, douse the remaining sticky portion with some powder and blow off (I use a "can of air" for this).  The reason there is foam sticking out, is that prevents your mechanism from spinning.  If you were making a spinner card, you would place just a dimensional in the center of the 2 pennies, but the rest of the process is the same.

Now, we need to prepare the sliding mechanism to be adhered to the top of our tree trunk.  I snipped off the corners of my sliding mechanism to ensure that nothing peeks out beyond the tree top.  Then, I placed foam tape on all four sides of the mechanism to lift it off the lower portion of the card (which would prevent it from sliding freely, if you skipped using foam tape on this step).

Remove the adhesive liners and attach the mechanism to the top of the tree trunk as shown:

We need to get the Pure Innocence Start the day with "whee" image ready.  I stamped her with Memento Tuxedo black.  You'll need one full image and one partial, with only the rope clearly stamped. (shown below)

She was colored using Copic markers.  Don't feel the need to color neatly inside the lines.  You'll be cutting her out, so don't waste your concentration on making it perfect!  :)  The only part you need to be careful with is between the ropes.  That will be colored in a light blue color (or a color that matches your paper underneath).  Also, stamp the main image on a piece of patterned paper that coordinates with your color palette.  You'll need to make sure her clothing is stamped clearly, which is the only part you'll use.

Trim out the colored image completely as shown (be sure not to cut off her hair), and the extra rope.  Cut the two ends at an angle as shown.

Using Diamond Glaze, glue the ends of rope together as shown.  Be sure to just use a dab and clean off any excess glue that shows on the front side of your rope image to prevent unwanted glossiness.

Cut the clothing out of the patterned paper as shown:

Adhere the pieces of patterned paper to the stamped image as shown, using Quickie Glue Pen.  Do NOT use an excessive amount of glue, or you will have glue that squishes out the side.

Punch two circles out that are 3/4" (I used black card stock).  Cover each of them on one side with a 3/4" red line sticky dot that you can find in my sticky stuff store.

Remove the liners from the dots and sandwich the end of the rope between the two black circles.

Now adhere the back black circle to the penny using another 3/4" red line sticky dot.

I do want to point out that I adhered a 3/4" red line sticky dot to the TOP of my black circle.  The liner is very slick and allowed the swing to "slide" freely.  Do not remove the liner if you do this.  This is optional, and it will work without the additional sticky dot placed on top.  Now, you need to add sticky foam strips to THREE sides on the top side of the slider mechanism as shown.  Your slider will move more freely if you use a double layer of foam strips (that is what I opted to do).

Die cut the largest flower out of the Blossom set of Nestabilities.  If you don't have these, you could use a round shape or even a scalloped circle.

Adhere the tree-top over the sliding mechanism.  You won't place any adhesive on the tree top itself.  It will be held in place by the double-sided foam tape you used on the sliding mechanism.  (you could also opt to build your tree top leaves first and then adhere... it's up to you)

Punch a circle out of Punchable Red Line Adhesive sheet found here in my sticky stuff store using the purple Marvy punch shown.  You can also use a circle cutter, or even free-hand cut a circle.  The adhesive sheets will also work with Nestabilities.

Adhere the adhesive circle to the tree top.  Punch a zillion or so leaf clusters using the punch by EK Success shown HERE.  (LOL)  Okay, maybe not a zillion, but punch a bunch and be prepared to punch more when you run out. :)  Begin laying them down over the adhesive as shown.  Here is the first layer:

2nd layer:

3rd layer:

4th layer:

5th layer:

After you've laid down your 6th layer, your tree top should be almost all covered.

At this point, you'll notice a "dip" in the center of the tree. I didn't like the way that looked, so I place a 1" red line sticky dot over the leaf clustered to enable me to fill in the center more.

Cut some of the leaf clusters apart as shown to more naturally fill in the last portion of the tree.

Fill in the rest of the tree and cover as much of the final adhesive dot as possible using the smaller leaf clusters and single leafs.  You may need to press them in crevices using your scissors.

You may notice some of the adhesive underneath is still visible.  It will likely be only a couple spots if you made your tree full enough, but to make it less visible, I dabbed my treetop with my embossing buddy (you could also use baby powder) and then blew off the excess with a "can of air".  This makes all the remaining adhesive matte and less noticeable.

Now, you'll need to adhere the tree panel to a card base.  I used a card that is 5 1/2" x 5 1/2".  Make sure to use STRONG adhesive for this step, as this panel is quite heavy. (understatement LOL)

Now, let's finish off the inside!  Grab a piece of 5 1/4" X 5 1/4" black card stock, 5 1/8" X 5 1/8" white paper and a strip of 1 1/2" X 5 1/8" patterned paper that matches the front of your card.

Lightly adhere them together (no adhesive on the edges, only in the center) and stitch together using your sewing machine if desired.  Now let me show you a TRICK!  Below is the corner that I started/ended my straight stitch around the edge.  See the two threads sticking up from the front and the two that are coming out the back?  Do NOT trim those off!  Let me show you how to NICELY take care of them.

Flip your card stock over and lightly tug on the two threads that are sticking out the back.  You will see two little loops appear on the back of the card stock.

Grab the loop, or stick your paper piercer through it and lightly tug.  You will be able to pull the thread through, from the front to the back, and you will now have all 4 threads sticking out the back of the panel.  Tug on them lightly, and then tape down the ends with scotch tape (and trim off anything that is protruding out the tape).

Now flip over your card stock and check out the perfection!  :)  NO stray threads, no clipped off threads... just smooth stitches with a clean, polished look.

Stamp the adorable sentiment that comes in the stamp set, Start the day with "whee" and adhere your inside panel in your card.

Finished card:

Close-up:

Whew!  All done!  I hope you enjoyed the tutorial!  Who's ready to make one?  You can do it!  Would you like the chance to win the card made during this tutorial?  You all have shared your comments so graciously, that the least I can do to say THANK YOU is offer up this card (and some other goodies) as BLOG CANDY! 

What can you win?

• 
  
  The card shown in this blog post
  
  
  
• 
  
  Pure Innocence Heart Stripes stamp set (MFT)
  
  
  
• 
  
  Selection of Sticky Stuff from my Sticky Store (valued at $20)
  
  
  
• 
  
  Selection of die cuts from my Die-Cuts store (valued at $15)
  
  
  

That is a prize package worth $44 PLUS the hand-made card!

So, who wants to win?  I'll give you a couple ways to win and you can choose the option that words best for you.  Just to be clear, you only have to do ONE of things I list (in addition to posting a comment to this blog post letting me know which one you did).

To qualify to be entered in the RANDOM drawing, you need to post a comment to this blog post letting me know which option you chose and do ONE (or more if you want to) of the following things:

• 
  
  Post a link to this post, directing readers to this tutorial/blog candy give-away, on your blog.
  
  
  
• 
  
  Follow this tutorial and make a tree card (stamps used are up to you), post on your blog or online gallery with a link back to this tutorial.
  
  
  
• 
  
  If you do not have a blog or on-line gallery, you may post a comment on this post telling me anything you'd like.  :)  Plan to make this card?  Like my tutorial?  Want to comment on anything?  Just leave a comment and I'll enter you to win... it's all in the spirit of giving!  :)
  
  
  

The drawing will take place on Friday, January 15th.  I will post the winner no later than January 16th.  If the winner does not come forward to claim the prize, I will re-draw on Monday. 

PLEASE be sure to come back and see if you have won!  :)  If your comments posts as "anonymous", please leave your name or some sort of identifying verbiage.

Again, thank you SO much for your support and if you would like to continue visiting my blog, be sure to "follow" in the side bar, add me to your google reader, or sign up for e-mail notifications of my blog posts in the side bar.

Have a wonderful day and THANK YOU!

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P.S.  I have had many readers ask what type of thread I use.  I took a picture for you.  :)  It is pretty thick and compared to "normal" thread seems like ROPE when I am sewing, but I SO love the weight of it and I use it pretty much exclusively!

Thanks for stopping by!  See you soon!