Patchwork Flopsey

Hi, everyone! Have you seen today's MFT Wednesday Stamp Club (WSC)? The theme is A Patchwork Easter. You can find all the details HERE. I made this card this morning before I went to volunteer in Caroline's Kindergarten classroom. Guess what I helped them with? Their Easter egg hunt! Flopsey would have fit right in! It is a GORGEOUS spring day here today, perfect for their egg hunt outside. The kids were SO cute! :)

Anyway... I used some October Afternoon Ducks in a Row paper to create the patchwork on the front of the card, then I did some zig zag stitching between the squares. I colored with Copics and used Prismacolor pencils on the ears, cheeks, and ground line. I gave the basket a woven appearance by drawing lines with my Copic Colorless Blender.

I finished the inside of the card as well.

The kids will be home from school soon, then I'm planning to spend some time outside! I hope you're having a great day -- thanks so much for stopping by!

Christina

Not-So-Simple Sympathy Card

Happy Monday, everyone! I hope you had a great weekend! Ours was very good. Of course, we watched plenty of NCAA basketball (heartbreaking losses for both XU and UK!). Megan was in a school performance of Godspell yesterday, and it was a great way to prepare for Easter!

Anyway, on to my card! I needed to make a sympathy card, and I had wanted to keep it Clean and Simple. Well, it took on a life of its own, and it wasn't so simple in the end. I ended up with layers, sewing, sponging, and embellishments -- I just couldn't help myself!

I was totally inspired by this beautiful BasicGrey Kioshi paper (FYI: It coordinates beautifully with Stampin' Up! Soft Subtles inks!). I'm happy with how well everything coordinates -- it was just one of those happy stamping moments! :)

I'm finishing up samples this week -- Previews begin Saturday! Both All That Scraps and My Favorite Things are releasing sets on Wednesday, April 7! I'm a little biased, but I think these sets are some of the cutest yet!! Kim has already posted the first Freeze Frames over on the MFT Blog so be sure to check 'em out! :)

That's all for today! Thanks so much for stopping by!

Have a great day!
Christina

Stamps: Silhouette Blooms I (Cornish Heritage Farms) Ink: Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Apricot Appeal, Pale Plum, Chocolate Chip (SU!) Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Whisper White (SU!), Hot Fudge (MFT) Paper: Kioshi 6x6 pad (BasicGrey) Other: Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), corner rounder, border punch, sponge, dimensionals (SU!), ribbon, braddies (MFT), sewing machine Card Size: 5.50" x 4.25"

Sunday Supper: Tortilla Soup

Hi there! It's been way too long since I've posted a Sunday Supper, I know! I found this recipe in my recipe box and realized I hadn't made it in a while. It's an easy crock pot soup, perfect for these busy days!

Tortilla Soup

2 lbs. ground chuck, browned
1 can kidney beans (do not drain)
1 can hominy, drained
1 can pinto beans (do not drain)
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 can rotel
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 cup water
1 pkg. taco seasoning
1 pkg. Hidden Valley Ranch dry mix

Mix all ingredients together. Cook in crock pot on high for 4 hours. Serve with shredded cheese, sour cream, and tortilla chips.


Enjoy! Thanks so much for stopping by today. I'll have something stampy to share with you tomorrow! Have a great day -- don't forget to spend some time around the supper table! :)

Christina

Glitzy Stars

Hello! Happy Thursday! Yesterday Kim posted this week's challenge for the MFT Wednesday Stamp Club (WSC). It's all about using Glitzy Glitter! You might remember the Glitzy Gear I made a few weeks ago; I was happy for a reason to get out the glitter again! This time I created a clean and simple card, drawing inspiration from the sentiment (part of the MFT set Clearly Sentimental about Emerson).

I had a pack of foam stars (purchased for next to nothing at Michaels), and I applied silver Glitzy Glitter to three of them. What a quick and easy way to jazz up those embellishments!

I hope you have a chance to play along with Kim's glitzy challenge! I'd love to see your creations!

Thanks so much for the visit today -- have a fantastic day!

Christina

Spring Flowers and Good Wishes

Hi there! Have you seen this month's Project Parade over at Verve Stamps? You can find the details on THIS post on the Verve Blog. The theme this month is Fun with Flowers, and I wanted to play along! I chose this image and sentiment from Beautiful You. I really thought this winter would last forever, and I've never been so glad to see spring arrive!

I hope you're not tired of seeing this Beloved paper, because I still have a little bit left! ;) I used Cuttlebug dies to make the paper flowers. I inked all the edges and did lots of machine stitching. The half pearls and ribbon are from SU!.

This card will be going to Susan and Eric Liles. Eric has just been diagnosed with cancer -- you can read about it on Susan's blog HERE. I know they'd appreciate everyone's prayers and good wishes.

Thanks so much for stopping by on this spring day. I hope you're having a good one!

Christina

Thanks a Bunch

Happy Saturday! We've had some gorgeous spring weather here -- sunny, blue skies, and temps near 70 degrees! My mind has been wandering outside during the day, but I did get a chance to make this card last night. I saw on Blogabella that the Bellarific Friday challenge for next week is a sketch, so I got an early jump on it!

I guess I had spring flowers on my mind, because I paired Daisybella with my new BasicGrey Green at Heart paper (I *love* this paper!). I paper pieced the flower and added a MFT Glittered Garnish to the center. I was able to curve the sentiment before attaching it to the acrylic block, and I cut a curved mat for it. I finished the card with some SU! ribbon and machine stitching.

Well, we have two birthday parties and a soccer game today -- I'm planning to get out and enjoy this beautiful weather! I hope you have something great in the works for your day, too! Thanks so much for stopping by!

Have a wonderful day!
Christina

Plenty of Piercing

Hello! Happy Thursday! When I saw this week's TCP Tuesday challenge at The Cat's Pajamas, I knew I wanted to play. The challenge, hosted by Amy, is to use your paper piercing tool. I used to use mine all the time, but now those pierced holes are replaced by machine stitching on most of my projects! I had a lot of fun with this card, and I really like the retro look of it! I did a lot of piercing -- it's a great stress reliever! ;)

That's all for today -- one more day 'til the weekend! The days are just a blur lately! I hope you're having a great one -- thanks for stopping by!

Christina

Stamps: It's a Mod, Mod World (TCP) Ink: True Thyme, Riding Hood Red (SU! retired), Vintage Touch Chai (PTI) Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, True Thyme (SU! retired), Whip Cream (MFT) Paper: The Boyfriend Mini Deck (Cosmo Cricket) Other: paper piercing tool, twill, MFT Braddies, dimensionals Card Size: 5.50" x 4.25"

Baby Bump VIP!

Hi there! It's time for the MFT VIP Blog Hop! If you didn't start at Kim's Blog, be sure to go back so you don't miss anything! What's MFT VIP, you ask? Well, it's a chance to get your hands on the newest Who's That Girl? image for one day only, three weeks before the release! Here's what you'll receive in this month's VIP Package:

Baby Bump VIP $32.50
Baby Bump stamp set 15.95
Baby Bump Ribbons 5.95
Baby Bump “Diaper Pins” 4.95
10 pack fossil (Kraft) scalloped note card set (A2) with envelopes 5.50
Baby Bump additions FREE ($9 value)

Oh my goodness -- could this set be any cuter? I think not! I only wish I looked this chic when I was pregnant! :) I paper pieced her top and the bags, and I colored the rest with Copics. The ribbon and buttons are available at My Favorite Things.

Here's a closeup of the image and sentiment. I used a Prismacolor pencil to add some shading to her top.

That's it for my stop! Next you'll be visiting Cindy Haffner -- I'm sure she has some eye candy for you! :)

Thanks so much for hopping by!

Christina

Friends Furever

Happy Saturday, everyone! Today's card is one I made for a sad occasion. My sister-in-law's family just had to euthanize their dog, as he had been suffering from cancer. I wanted to let them know we're thinking of them. This set, MFT's Friends Furever, immediately came to mind. I altered the ear on the dog by omitting the ones on the image when I was inking it, then drawing in the new ear. Now it looks more like their beloved Lab, Alby.

The sketch is Mojo Monday 129. It's different, but it was fun to work with! The paper is from Cosmo Cricket's Garden Variety Mini Deck. I inked all the edges and machine stitched around all the panels.

I hope this card brings them smiles and good memories. Alby will defininely be missed!

Thanks so much for the visit today -- I hope you're having a great weekend!

Christina

Mercy's Sketch

Hello! TGIF! Here's a card I made with Mercy's Tuesday Sketch #64. I did some machine stitching, and I inked all the edges of the cardstock and paper. The stamp is from the Plain Jane collection at Verve Stamps. I'm still using up my Be Loved paper -- this sentiment seemed to go with it perfectly! :)

That's it for today! I hope your weekend is off to a good start! Thanks so much for stopping by! :)

Have a fantastic Friday!
Christina

Stamps: Psalm 37:4 Plain Jane (Verve Stamps) Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa (Tsukineko), Vintage Touch Chai (PTI) Cardstock: Kraft, Ruby Red, Very Vanilla (SU!) Paper: Be Loved (My Mind's Eye) Other: Labels One Nestabilities, chipboard heart, twine, brads, border punch, dimensionals, sewing machine Card Size: 4.25" x 4.25"

I Stamped!

Hi there! Happy Wednesday! Thanks so much for hanging in there with me during my little "break"! My mojo was lacking, and there were things I needed to take care of at home, but I think things are returning to normal!

This week's MFT Wednesday Stamp Club was just what I needed to get the creative juices flowing again. You can see all the details HERE. The challenge is to use a MFT Template and a Pure Innocence image -- and here's my card:

The image is Boy & Dog - Dog Gone Cute, and the template is Kathy Daume's Dog Bone template. I distressed and inked the edges of the cardstock, and I used a Creamy Caramel marker to create some faux stitching. The boy's clothes are paper pieced with Origins 6x6 paper. I used Copics and Prismacolor pencils to color the images and to add shading to the paper piecing.

I'm hoping to get back downstairs for more stamping later on! Thanks so much for visiting today! :)

Have a fantastic day!

Christina

Lookin' for My Mojo...

Hi, everyone! Happy Saturday! I'm feeling a little mojo-less these last few days. Last week was a whirlwind of samples, blog hops, and releases, and it's left me lacking in the creative department. Does that ever happen to you -- please tell me yes!?!

Anyway, this weekend my husband and son are in Chicago having some much-needed "bonding time," and I'm home with my girls. I'm enjoying watching movies, reading, and just chillin' with my little ones. I'm sure this down time will restart my mojo, and I'll be back soon with something stampy to share!

Thanks so much for stopping by today -- have a wonderful weekend!

Christina

It's Time to Shop and Hop!

Hi there! It's time to Shop and Hop with My Favorite Things! All the new releases are available right HERE, right now! :) If you arrived here from Michele's Blog, welcome! If not, you'll want to go back to Kim's Blog and start from there so you don't miss a thing!

I'm thrilled to be sharing Tweeny Teen - Rock On with you! Think of her as the big sis' of those adorable Pure Innocence cuties! I have teenagers, so I can definitely relate to this set! I found in my stash some retired papers that looked teenager-y to me, and I created this CD holder. My kids are always making CDs for the car or to give to friends. I thought this would be a fun way for my daughter to give a CD to a friend!

I paper pieced the image in several layers, and I also pieced the iPod. I used Prismacolor pencils to add some subtle depth and dimension to the chair and to her pants. The rest of the image was colored with Copics, and I sponged around the image circle.

When the bow is untied, the CD is revealed inside. I added another sentiment inside the flap!

You're finished at my stop -- now you're off to visit the fantastically talented Sherrie Siemens! I can't wait to see what she has created! :)

Thanks so much for hopping by! Have a great night!

Christina

MFTeasers - Last Day!

Happy Wednesday! I'm back with my last MFTeaser before tonight's release! Today we're previewing the sets Who's That Birthday Girl?, Invitation Only, and Clearly Sentimental about Birthdays. I used two of the sets on this card. The layout is the sketch for this week's Wednesday Stamp Club.

I used some of my Nook and Pantry 6x6 paper, and I paper pieced the birthday cake from Who's That Birthday Girl?. I stamped the candles on top and colored them with Prismacolor pencils. I stamped the sentiment from Clearly Sentimental about Birthdays directly over the cake. The Glittered Garnishes and ribbon are from MFT.

Be sure to stop by Kim's Blog after 11 am for the links to all of today's MFTeasers!

Tonight is the Release Party! Get all the deets HERE! Join us for fun from 8-10 pm, then get ready to Shop and Hop when the sets go live at 10:00!

That's all for now! I'll see you back here tonight for the Hop! Thanks so much for visiting!

Have a great day!
Christina

CC Designs Spring Sugarplums Blog Hop!

Hi there! Welcome to the CC Designs Spring Sugarplums Blog Hop! There are so many images in the Spring Sugarplums release, so the DT is doing a Hop to show you all the fantastic ways you can use them! If you just happened upon my post, be sure to start at the beginning by going to Ria's Blog! You can also find a master list of all the participating DT members by going to the ATS Blog.

I chose this sweet Trevor image for my card. He reminds me of my son when he was little -- how I wish he'd bring me flowers now! I kept the design simple and boyish, with some distressing, twine, and a button. The paper is by October Afternoon.

I'm your last stop on the Blog Hop -- I hope you like all the samples you've seen! These adorable Sugarplums and all the new March stamps will be available tomorrow (Wednesday) at 10:00 pm at All That Scraps!

Have a great day, everyone -- thanks so much for hopping by! :)

Christina

MFTeaser: Pure Innocence!

Hi there! I'm back with my second post of the day! This time, I have MFTeasers! All of today's previews are of Tweeny Teen, Boy & His Dog, and Pure Innocence. I have a couple PI cuties to share with you: Sunshiney Day and 4 Leaf Clover.

For the Sunshiney Day card, I used October Afternoon Hometown paper and one of the Peony Nestabilities to create a sunny card. I inked the edges of the paper and cardstock with Summer Sun ink, and I popped up the little butterfly. The yellow Glittered Garnishes are also from MFT.

I finished the inside of the card, and I stamped just the butterfly above the corner of the sentiment.

On the 4 Leaf Clover card, I used a heart punch to create the leaves of this large 4 leaf clover. I scored the centers and inked the edges, then I placed the PI image on dimensionals in the center. The paper is Garden Variety by Cosmo Cricket.

Stop by Kim's Blog after 11 am to see the list of designers who have teasers today! Don't forget the release Wednesday night at 10:00 pm! Also, there's still some time to enter the MFT March Guest Designer Contest -- you can find all the details HERE!

The previews continue tomorrow -- I hope you'll be back!

Have a great day! :)

Christina

Easter Pixie!

Happy Monday! It's a busy day -- this is my first of two previews today! I'll be back with my MFTeaser a little bit later, but now I have an adorable new Swiss Pixie to share with you! This is one of two CC Designs Easter Swiss Pixies, and I used her to make this tag.

I colored with Copics, then I created the glow and ground line with Prismacolor pencils. I sponged around the edges with SU! Pretty in Pink ink, and I applied some white Fun Flock to the bunny's tail.

Stop by the ATS Blog to see more samples and to find out how you could win your own set! Tomorrow the ATS team is having a Blog Hop featuring the Sugarplums Spring Kit, and on Wednesday night all the new stamps will be released at 10:00 pm! Don't miss it! :)

I'll be back with my second post in a bit -- thanks for stopping by!

Christina

Stamps: Swiss Pixies Easter (CC Designs) Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko), Pretty in Pink (SU!) Accessories: Labels Four Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Copics, Prismacolor Pencils, Prima flowers, button, twine, Perfect Plaid ribbon (MFT)