SFYTT Finale!

I am giving you a little peek of the final card I made for Jen's SFYTT (Sketch for you to Try). If you'd like to see the whole thing, you'll have to hop (pun intended) on over to Jen's blog HERE.

Jen let me know that there will a drawing for those who participate in the sketch this week, so get over there and print out the sketch so you can play! :) You have a whole week to get your card done and post a link on her blog. Good luck!

Have a wonderful weekend!

How to Turn a SU Jumbo Wheel into a Set of 13 Stamps

I recently purchased this stamp set (Friends 24-7) and wheel (Friendly Words) from the newest SU catalog. I loved the elegance of both, but really wished that the wheel came as an actual stamp set, so I decided to alter it to meet my needs. I know this has done before, but for those of you who maybe haven't done this, I wanted to show you how. :)First, take a hobby blade and cut along the seam of the rubber that is adhered to the wheel.

Peel it off the wheel as shown. It comes off very easily.

Here is the rubber all peeled away from the wheel.

Now, grab a piece of cling foam (also known as easy mount). Cling foam runs about $3-$5 per 8 X 10 sheet. For this, I used about 1/5 of one sheet. Lay your rubber down on the foam (you are seeing the while liner) and draw an outline of the rubber with a pen.

Remove the rubber and cut out the piece of cling foam to fit your rubber.

Now, peel the liner from the STICKY side of the cling foam. One side is super sticky, the other side does not feel sticky to the touch. The cling side, is the side you adhere to your acrylic block when stamping. Tip: you can also adhere the cling foam to the sticker side of one of your wood mounted stamps.

Adhere the rubber to the sticky side of the cling foam.

Now, ink up the rubber with whatever ink you have laying around and stamp it on some scratch paper.

Plot out where you would like to cut the rubber. Here, I have drawn lines where I would like to cut. It will help you keep your bearings as you cut apart the rubber. Then, start cutting your rubber. I used a combination of a craft knife and my rubber scissors. There were some pretty tight spots, but I was able to cut with my craft knife in those areas without a problem. Just go VERY slowly when cutting with your craft knife.

Here is a shot of all the stamps I was able to cut from one jumbo wheel. I made a set of 13! YAY! The wheel was $8.50 plus about $1 for cling foam, giving me a set of 13 for under $10!

Here is an outline of where I cut. As you can see, I lost one section of rubber because the words ran over each other and it didn't make sense to use it. I placed an X on the area that I threw away.

Look at this gorgeous stamp! I would have paid $8.50 JUST for this stamp.

Look at how nicely this sentiment from the "Friends 24-7" set coordinates with one of the sentiments I cut from the wheel.

Here is another example of coordinating sentiments. One from the stamp set, one from the wheel.

For now, I just stuck the sentiments to the stamp case. Eventually, I will probably put them in an empty stamp box, CD case, or store them a little more safely. I don't want any of my stamps to get lost. :)

If you have wheels that you would like to use as a border, you can also unmount them and keep them whole instead of cutting them apart.

Look at all the wheels you have and decide if you would use them more as a "set" (like the set I showed you today), a wheel (as is), or as a one-piece unmounted strip (mounted on cling foam, but not cut apart).

Don't be afraid, you can do it! LOL

If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment on this post. Make sure to include your e-mail address so I can get back to you.

i {heart} sketches

Another week, another SFYTT! What is SFYTT? Sketch For You To Try!

Each Saturday, Jen issues a new sketch challenge over on her blog, i{heart}tostamp.

This month, I am her guest designer and have been playing along with the SFYTT Sisters.

I am showing you a little snippet of my card for this week, here on my blog. If you want to see the whole thing, you'll need to click on over to Jen's blog HERE.

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend! I plan to make up for lost time and stamp the weekend away! :) I have lots of new toys to play with.

Cutie Pie

I am starting to feel better, thank goodness. All that is left is my raspy voice and 14 boxes of kleenex scattered all over the house. LOL A couple more days and I should be "normal". LOL

While I was lethargic, I set up a "coloring zone" on my coffee table and stamped and colored images as I was watching TV and lounging on the couch. :) I have quite a few colored images to make into cards! YAY!

I colored Isabelle with a combination of Kohinoor and Prismacolor pencils and blended with gamsol and a blending stump.

The edges of the card were sewn with my Janome. Then, I used a bone folder to pull up the edges and distressed them a bit with my fingers by rolling, ripping and smashing the card stock.

The flower embellishment is a Heidi Swapp ghost shape. I stuck a ribbon brad through the center and tie a simple knot on top. The ribbon brads are super cool. I buy them at Hobby Lobby in multi-metal packs for $2.99 for 12... BUT I always buy them when they are half off. I only have a package (or 10) in my stash. heehee

I painstakingly stitched with my sewing machine all around the little circle punched sentiment. I used the manual dial thingy on the side so the stitches would be straight. In a perfect world, there is a machine that you can just press a button on and it perfectly stitches in circles. I am SURE there is something like that out there, but it probably comes at a price that I am not willing to pay. LOL

OK, enough blabbing from me, here are the card details:

Stamps: Isabelle Paper Dolls & sentiments, CHF houndstooth and polka dot

Ink: versamark, stazon black, memento black, white craft

Paper: PTI white, black, basic gray, raspberry fizz

Accessories: circle punches, Janome sewing machine, red line dimensionals, Prismacolor pencils, Kohinoor pencils, gamsol, blending stumps, Heidi Swapp ghost shape flower, ribbon brad, ribbon

Twisted Too Blog Hop

Welcome to the blog hop. You're not at the end quite yet. :)

I made this tote bag with the intention of stuffing it with tissue, chocolate and a gift card for some ice cream. When someone is sad, can you think of anything better to do? I have actually employed this tactic on one more than one occasion! :) (you know who you are!) Unfortunately for me (and my photograph) ANY pieces of tissue in this house are currently being salvaged for my darn cold. I mean really... what part of that is fair? Is it normal to be sick for almost 2 weeks? Today I came home from the grocery store with yet ANOTHER 3 pack of Puffs Plus. LOL The sentiment "It's a Straight From the Carton Kind of Day" is one of my favorites from the set. I submitted this sentiment and was so happy to see it in the set. :) Funny enough, the "Oh fudge!" sentiment is actually in the Here's the Scoop? stamp set. Heehee!

My other creation is inspired by my friend, Carole. She loves bright colors and I tried to channel her for this card. I used the brand new 6 X 6 paper pack and crystals from MFT. I even broke a rule! *GASP* Don't tell silver that I used gold ok? I NEVER and I repeat NEVER use gold, but silver just wasn't cutting it. The #1 rule is... if something looks weird, CHANGE IT! Unfortunately that meant I had to use gold. *wince* LOL

It's time again for a new release from MFT. Ready to get TWISTED?

Let's twist again... like we did last year! You KNOW what I am talking about, right?

Last February we released Twisted Sentiments, and it became a sleeper HIT.

Not for the faint of heart, this stamp set is twisted and oh so hilarious! Use it to say JUST the right thing... when the right thing may be SO wrong.

This set is available NOW right HERE. You can find the original Twisted Sentiments HERE.

Tonight, there are also 2 BRAND NEW printed, 6 X 6 paper packs available. You can find those HERE. They are brand new to MFT!

If you're just happening along the blog hop, please start at the beginning at KIM'S BLOG for the full experience. :) You want to see the other cool cards, right? :)

You should have been directed here from my pal, Cammie's blog. Surely she had something fabulous to share... she always does. :)

Guess where you're headed next?

Ready to click on over to the blog hop finale? You're ALMOST there! Just one more COLORFUL stop. I am SO super excited to send you to her. She is one of my very best stampin' friends! She is intelligent, kind, thoughtful and SO twisted! YES, I just called her twisted! I mean that in only the most loving way. :) It is only appropriate that she is coming back to MFT during the release of Twisted Too! After all, she is one of the most witty girls I know and I have NO doubt that she will come up with some really twisted cards using this new set!

Can I have a drum roll please?

Brbrbrbrrbrbrbrbrbrbrbrbrbrbrbrbrbrbrbrbrbrbrbrbrbbrrbrbrbrbrbrbrbbrbrbrbrbrbrb

Announcing... the anchor to this fabulous blog hop... the newest RE-addition to the MFT design team... none other than the fabulously talented...

Did you think I was actually going to print her name? NOPE! Click on over and find out who it is! When you do, make sure you leave her a comment welcoming her back and be entered for a chance to win a BRAND NEW Twisted Too stamp set!

What are you waiting for?

Click HERE for the finale!

Designer of the Month: SFYTT

Sorry for my absence this past week. I am sick with a BAD cold and let's face it... who wants to STAMP when they are sick? Not me. LOL Poking my ears out with a screwdriver sounds good though. LOL Do you ever get that feeling when you have a massive cold? Moving on from my whining...

Last week I failed to mention that I am Jen Del Muro's Guest Designer of the Month. :) I will be participating in her SFYTT (Sketch for you to try) every Saturday for the month of February. I LOVE her sketches and it has been fun playing along. :)

I posted a little snippet of my card here, but if you want to see the whole thing, you'll need to click on over to Jen's blog to check it out. It's against the rules for me to post it here and you KNOW how I am about rules. heehee

While you're at it, you might want to check out my card from last Saturday's SFYTT here.

Jen also links the creations from her SFYTT team, so make sure you check out all the eye candy!

I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend! I will be *hopefully* be sleeping off this horrible cold for much of mine.

Jody

Blog Star

Image was colored with Copic markers. I added lots of copper brads and a taffeta bow. To get the crinkled look, heat the ribbon with your heat gun until it starts shrivelling. NOTE: do NOT heat ribbon while card stock is on your foam paper piercing mat... ask me how I know that? UGH! LOL The patterned paper was printed myself using MFT's newest digi-paper pack, Chocolate Kiss. :) It's brown... and PINK... what else could you ask for? LOL

Stamps: Digital Girl MFT

Ink: Memento brown

Paper: Chocolate Kiss digi papers, white, chocolate, pink

Accessories: taffeta ribbon, copper brads, Prima flower (Fancies collection), Copic markers, Janome sewing machine, red line dimensionals

Blog Rockin' Blog Hop

This is the new Stephanie Fizer Chocolate Kiss digi paper pack available now HERE!

Welcome to the new release blog hop. :)

This card uses one of the new sets being release on Wednesday night. Digital girl brings you Who's That Girl sitting at her computer desk! The sentiments that go with this set are PERFECT for us computer junkies! LOL They mix and match with the previously release e-Girl as well! :)

If you're just happening along the blog hop, please start at the beginning at KIM'S BLOG for the full experience. :) You want to see the other cool cards, right? :)

This card uses the brand spankin' new digi paper pack by Stephanie Fizer... Chocolate Kiss! The paper pack is already up and on the site. :) My FAVORITE of the papers is the heart patterned one! SO CUTE! I love the hearts in chocolate and 2 shades of pink! I am SURE you all are cringing with the thought of me going on another pink and brown rampage! LOL You'll have to endure the two cards I have done at least, ok. :) I need to make a promise to myself to step away from the pink... at least for a couple days! LOL I just LOVE pink! :) Sorry, it's a sickness!

I drew a wood floor for Digital Girl to roll around on in her office chair. You know, I was looking back and Carole Burrage actually drew a wood floor on one of her Who's That Girl cards a LONG time ago! It's just such an awesome idea and I love the look of it!

The image is colored with Copic markers and bleached out with a Copic colorless blender. Note the word BLEACH. The "colorless blender" should be re-named the amazing bleach pen. :) I added some ribbon and copper hardware from WeRMK. (*note-I have about SIX boxes of this hardware and am fairly sure that it will rot or rust before I EVER use it all) The Prima is from the Fancies line.

As for the pink computer... I have a boring black one, but mark my words... my next computer will be PINK! LOL

OK, it's been a while, so let me get analytical and share some rules for this card! LOL

JODY RULES:

• When using patterned paper that has a striped feel to it, make every effort to keep your card elements in the same direction as the patterned paper. In this card, the heart and horizontally striped. I added my ribbon horizontally, and my sentiment horizontally. Also, the floor is horizontal. All the lines are going the same way and they are all happy co-existing. If I would have placed my ribbon vertically, it would have detracted from the general feel of the card and made it less cohesive. So, the general rule is don't create "crosses" on your card. It *usually* doesn't work. I like to joke with my friends that certain things make my eyes hurt. This is one of them. If you are making a card and something makes you wince... change it. :)
• Make sure your metal matches your colors. Often times, when using brown I reach for aged copper hardware. It just "goes". When choosing embellishments for a card, keep in mind the colors you are using, and the STYLE of the card. If you're making a clean, crisp card, shiny silver is probably the way to go. If you're using deep browns or something distressed, aged copper is a good choice. PLEASE don't ask me when to use gold... my answer will be: NEVER. LOL I am not a fan. Not sure why... I just don't really like it. LOL
  

Stamps: Digital Girl

Ink: Memento brown

Paper: MFT digi paper, white, brown, pink

Accessories: WeRMK hardware, Prima flower, SU ribbon, ric rac, Copics, Janome sewing machine, red line dimensionals, Sakura glaze pen (to WAX my wood floors), SU chocolate chip marker

You should have been directed here by Joanne! You know, that SUPER SWEET, awesome, heck-of-a-stamper!

Now, you need to HOP ALONG to the wonderful Kimmie who will be strutting her stuff with the new release sets! :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Simple Blinged Skirt

before adding bling

In my last post, I showed you Bailey's Bling Bet cork board. Of course I had to make Maddie something too, right? :) My girls both love bling!

I picked up this skirt-purse at Walmart for a couple dollars. Cute, huh? All I did with it, is stamp an M on the skirt with white craft ink and then add the Swarovski crystals (in her favorite color) to the letter. Easy peasy! Maddie loved it and made that super cute, baby cooing "awwwwwwwwww" that I love. :)

Gift cost:

$3 purse

$2.25 crystals

---------------

$5.25 total cost

Having an appreciative little girl: PRICELESS. :)

Time to make this: 10 minutes

The crystals I used are "hot fix". They can be applied easily using a special heat gun. You can even pick up the crystals with the heat tool and then lay them down where you want them. SUPER cool! Look for the tool and the crystals on the MFT site Wednesday night at 10:00 pm Eastern!

My Favorite Things (http://www.mftstamps.com/) is having a New Release Cocktail Party on Wednesday, February 4th from 9-10 p.m. EST. This month there are THREE new sets being released including a Who's that Girl set that is GOING DIGITAL!

Head over to the MFT forum on http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ to find out all the details and to find out how YOU can be the next MFT Guest Designer. We hope to see you there on Wednesday night.

Stamps: Bling Bet

Ink: White craft

Accessories: Swarovski heat fix crystals (MFT), Applicator (MFT)

Bling Bet Bounce

Hi all! Welcome to the MFT Bling Bet Bounce! What is Bling Bet you ask? Well, it is a new, super cute alphabet by MFT. :) It is designed to fit 4mm BLING! Cool, huh?

If you are just happening upon this amazing event, please start at the beginning at Kim's Blog!

When I thought of bling, I thought of my girls. After all, what little girl doesn't like shiny goodies? :) I searched my alterable shelves and found this cool little frames cork board. Who knows where (or when) I picked up this little gem. LOL I tend to hoard things! LOL

I stamped her name out using Bling Bet on the cork board using brown craft ink. Then, I used my gem heat tool thingy to attach all the Swarovski crystals in the centers of the holes on Bling Bet. I matched the crystals to her bedding which she was REALLY excited about!

I didn't feel it had enough going on, so I added a couple stamped images and some Prima flowers in the lower right hand corner. I also added some Swarovskis to 3 push pins to complete the project. I think she'll enjoy displaying her treasures on this little board. :)

I also made a little something for Maddie, so you'll have to check back soon to see what I came up with for her. :)

If you have been hoppin' along you came to me from my friend, Joanne. No doubt her project was amazing, it always is!

Next you will be hopping over to the fabulous Kimmie to see what she has in store for you! Be prepared to be amazed!

My Favorite Things (http://www.mftstamps.com/) is having a New Release Cocktail Party on Wednesday, February 4th from 9-10 p.m. EST. This month there are THREE new sets being released including a Who's that Girl set that is GOING DIGITAL!

Head over to the MFT forum on http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ to find out all the details and to find out how YOU can be the next MFT Guest Designer. We hope to see you there on Wednesday night.

Stamps: Bling Bet, Isabelle Paper Dolls

Ink: brown pigment

Accessories: Over 50 Swarovski crystals (ouch LOL), Prima flowers, heat tool