Welcome to My Favorite Things Our Favorite Finds. Today is the day we feature beautiful cards and projects made by you, our incredibly talented customers! Our designers are always on the lookout, and we will feature five of our very favorites on the MFT blog each Friday.

Karli 

Stamps: Birthday Sentiments

Die-namics: Accent It – Rock and Roll; Stacking Stars; Fishtail Flags STAX; Circle STAX Set 1

Wendy

Stamps: Birthday Sentiments

Die-namics: High-Rise Alphabet Lowercase; Notebook Edge; Fishtail Flags STAX

Dawn

Stamps: Pure Innocence You Color My World; Clearly Sentimental about Art

Die-namics: Fishtail Flags STAX

Tricia

Stamps: Peaceful Wildflowers

Die-namics: Blueprints 1; Peaceful Wildflowers; Fishtail Flags Layers STAX

Laurel

Stamps:  Document It – Captured Memories; Document It – Right This Way

Die-namics:  Accent It – Story Titles

• Copic-friendly paper and Copic markers of choice
• Memento Ink Tuxedo Black
• Liquid glue
• Sharp detail scissors
• Optional, but helpful: angled tweezers, curved detailed scissors, craft knife
• Patterned papers of choice
• Stamps of choice: Pure Innocence Birthday Girl, Pure Innocence Goldfish Girl, Pure Innocence Bedtime Story

Paper Piecing Basics:

When choosing your papers, it’s important to consider the size of the area to be paper pieced and the scale of the pattern in the paper.  Think about what this would look like in real life; for example, you probably wouldn’t see this dress or balloon with large patterns.

Choose images with large open areas, as they provide the perfect space for a smooth expanse of pattern that is not too fussy in design.

If you will be coloring any portion of your stamped image, be sure to complete all coloring before adding paper piecing, otherwise, you might accidentally color onto your paper pieced elements.

Use sharp detail scissors; curved scissors are often helpful.  Cut along the center of the stamped line. This ensures your pieced element will be neither too small nor too large.

Let’s begin with a simple image with open areas, Pure Innocence Birthday Girl.

Step
1: Select the stamp and papers you want to use and stamp the image on
your base paper and as often as necessary on your patterned paper. For
this image, the dress and the balloon will be pieced, so it has been stamped three times; first onto white paper for the base, and then onto each of the two patterned papers.

You only need to stamp the areas of the image to be covered on your patterned papers, and some parts will be very small.  Scraps come in handy for this technique.

Step 2: Cut out the patterned paper.  Hold your scissors still while closing and opening the blades, and slowly turn the paper into the blades to maintain the best control.

Step 3: Run a marker around the cut piece to hide the white edge. This will help provide a smooth transition between the cut paper and the main image. Work from the back to avoid slipping and marring the front. Water-based markers bleed less than alcohol markers and are recommended.  However, alcohol markers can be used with success if done carefully.

Step 4: Color all portions of the image that will not be paper pieced such as skin, hair, and shoes.

Step 5: Adhere patterned paper to image using liquid glue.  This allows you a few seconds to slide the paper around
for the most accurate placement. Cover most of the area with a larger applicator.

Then, go around the edges with a glue pen to keep the edges down tight.

Step 6: Adhere patterned paper. Angled tweezers are optional, but often helpful for proper alignment.

This image is now ready to be used on a card.

The second card is a little more involved and introduces layers.

General Instructions:

Now that you’re familiar with the basic technique, you can begin adding some shading to build dimension and depth. Use a neutral color for shading.  Copic markers in the W range work well.  Start with a lighter color than you think you’ll need.  You can always add additional layers of color to deepen the shading.

With a more complex image like this, you will stamp, color, and add a second layer for arms and/or hands that are placed on top of your pieced layer. This provides dimension and texture to a flat image. This extra step creates a 3D effect with a more “natural” appearance.  Be sure to color small elements such as arms and hands, before cutting them out.

Decide where your light source will be coming from to determine where to apply shading. Lay down a narrow line for items close to each other, blend out more for items further away; darker area closest to item being shadowed

When making paper choices, vary the patterns: one floral, one striped, one with dots, etc., although two different floral patterns can work if one is subtle.  Keep at least one a subtle pattern, or as is found in some collections, a “solid” pattern. Too many strong patterns can look “busy” and detract from the overall design.  Here are the papers I chose for this card:

Step 1: Stamp the images. For this card, I stamped the image, or parts of the image, 7 times.

1. The main image
2. Shirt
3. Second arm to be colored
4. Fish food can
5. Second sleeve
6. Pants
7. Fish bowl stand

Step 2: Color the image, cut out the papers, and edge each piece with a marker. Note that I left a little extra on some of these pieces.   This helps avoid butting two pieces against each other, which is often difficult to do perfectly, and also makes for a much smoother transition from one paper to another. Some areas will have paper layered on top, so they don’t need to be trimmed off.

Step 3: When adhering the pieces, keeping in mind how the layers will fall. First the pants.

Step 4: Then add the top.

Step 5: Next the fish food can, followed by the second arm.

Step 6: And last, the tiny sleeve and fish bowl stand.

This view shows the dimension achieved with the layers.

Step 7: Add some shading under the added-on arm and sleeve, and under the edge where the top covers the pants, and it’s ready to put on a card.

For the last card, we will use paper piecing to build a scene using a more complex image.

Step 1: Stamp the image onto scraps of paper for each element in your scene. Examine the scene and, working from back to front, visualize the layers and which paper works best for each layer.  For Pure Innocence Bedtime Story, it has been stamped nine times.

1. The entire image has been stamped onto orange chevron paper, this will become the room’s wallpaper, the very bottom layer of our image.
2. This complete image was stamped to Copic-friendly paper and will be used for the headboard and the night stand and lamp base.
3. This image will be used for the Pure Innocence head.
4. This will be used to add Pure Innocence hands holding the book.
5. This layer is for the pillow behind her head.
6. This layer will be used for the turned down sheet.
7. This layer will be used for the book cover.
8. This layer will be the bed spread.
9. This layer will become the lamp shade.

Step 2: Color the image portions and cut out all the pieces. For small pieces like the extra set of hands, be sure to color first and then cut.  Tight areas, like that shown by the arrow, are easier cut out with a craft knife.

Here are all the layers, colored, cut out, and ready to assemble. I could have paper pieced the little PI’s pajama top, but to keep from adding another pattern into the mix, I colored it.

Step 3: Start to build the scene. Begin by adhering the bed/night stamp image to the “wallpaper” layer.

Step 4: Next, adhere the pillow layer.

Step 5: Add the turned-down sheet.

Step 6: Add the bedspread

Step 7: Adhere the colored PI layer.

Step 8: Next, add the book cover

Step 9: Add the hands and the lamp shade.

Step 10: Trim off the bottom, add shading with markers, and it’s ready to put on a card.

Low-key patterns were used in the card design, and a few from the scene were repeated in order to keep the card from looking too “busy”.

It’s Wednesday and time for the Wednesday Stamp Club Sketch Challenge here at MFT. Be sure to play along for your chance at the weekly prize, valued at up to $20 in vouchers to the MFT Boutique. You can submit your entry using the keyword MFTWSC125 to the Gallery at Splitcoaststampers. Entries for this week’s challenge will close on Tuesday, May 28th at noon EST.

This week’s adorable card was created by Tara using the new Doodle Garden Sweet as Can Bee.

Check out how our designers got sketchy this week by clicking on each picture below.

The MFT Design Team Creative Challenge is a monthly feature where we are challenged to explore our creative side using a specific theme, product, or technique. This month we challenged the team to focus on flowers using our Die-namics dies.

Michele created this simple, yet BEAUTIFUL card for this month’s challenge.  You will find all of the details on her blog, Paper Cuts.

You’ll find links to all of the products Michele used on her card below.

Pretty Poppies	Layered Rose Die-namics	Blueprints 1 Die-namics	Black Licorice Ink
Sweet Tooth Cardstock	Grape Jelly Card Stock	Lemon Drop Card Stock	Blu Raspberry
Wild Cherry Card Stock	Gumdrop Green Card Stock

Check out today’s Creative Challenge projects from our designers by clicking on each picture listed below.

It’s a new month and time for a new Scrap Sketch from My Favorite Things! Simply follow the sketch and upload your creation to Splitcoaststampers using keyword MFTScrap8.

There will be a random draw from all the participants who have uploaded their scrapbook pages to the Splitcoaststampers Gallery using this month’s keyword MFTScrap8. One winner will be chosen and will receive a $15 gift voucher to the MFT Boutique. If the winner used MFT stamps, they will receive $ 5 in bonus bucks, for a total of $20. You have until noon on Sunday, June 23rd to play along.

We are thrilled to welcome our Scrap Sketch Guest Designer for May, Nicole Nowosad. You can see all of Nicole’s beautiful work on her blog, Just Nick.

Here is Nicole’s fantastic page.  I love her clever use of the rounded square die from Accent It – Labels and Tabs Die-namics for the background.

You will find the links to the products Nicole used on her page below.

LLD Document It – Right This Way	Behind the Camera	Accent It – Labels and Tabs	Cute Cameras
Calendar Components	Mini Pennants Die-namics

Check out Melody and Tara’s beautiful scrapbook pages by clicking on their picture below.

Welcome to My Favorite Things Our Favorite Finds. Today is the day we feature beautiful cards and projects made by you, our incredibly talented customers! Our designers are always on the lookout, and we will feature five of our very favorites on the MFT blog each Friday.

Dawn

Stamps:  Pretty Poppies

Die-namics:  Sunflower

Stephanie

Stamps:  Pure Innocence Feeling Sassy: à la modes Big Birthday Numbers

Die-namics:   By the Numbers; Circle STAX Set 1; Crown Border; Fishtail Flags STAX

Kim

Stamps:  Pretty Poppies

Die-namics:  Poppies and Leaves; Fishtail Flags STAX

Wendy

Stamps:  Pretty Poppies; Clearly Sentimental about Mothers

Die-namics:  Poppies and Leaves; Fishtail Flags STAX

Candace

Stamps:  Vanity License Plate

Die-namics:  Vanity License Plate

• Prismacolor Premier Pencils
• Paper Stumps
• Gamsol (solvent)
• Memento Ink: Tuxedo Black
• Acrylic Block
• Big Shot

Step 2: Dip your paper stump into solvent and blend the scalloped lines slowly using a circular motion. If you’re not familiar with how to blend Prismacolor Premier Pencils, you can read more in THIS MFT Academy Tutorial.

Step 3:  Using 947 Dark Umber, draw scalloped lines over the previously blended lines.

 

Step 4: Once again, blend with your paper stump and solvent, using a circular motion.

Step 5: Using 935 Black, draw in your scalloped lines again, over the blended area.

Step 6: Once again, blend with your paper stump and solvent, moving in a circular motion. Repeat the process of adding more depth to the ground, then blending, until you’re satisfied with the result.

Your ground is now complete!

Pure Innocence Prehistoric Girl
LLD Document It

LLD Journal It-For the Record

Step 1: Using 1005 Lime Peel, lightly shade around the feet using small, side-to-side strokes.

Step 2: Blend using solvent and a paper stump using the same small, side-to-side strokes.

Step 3: The ground closest to her feet will be slightly darker because of the shadow cast by her body. Add additional strokes to create deeper shading using 1097 Moss Green.

Step 4: Blend with solvent and your paper stump, making small, side-to-side strokes.

Step 5: Next, we will add blades of grass using 1005 Lime Peel.  Make small, upward vertical strokes to draw in the grass. Give the grass a more natural appearance by not drawing them identically to one other. The blades should be assorted lengths and thicknesses to give the ground a more realistic feel.

Step 6: Using 1097 Moss Green, draw in additional strokes of grass between and on top of those you’ve already drawn.

Step 7:  Repeat this process using the darkest green, 988 Marine Green, adding darker strokes over and between those you’ve already drawn.

Step 8: Blend very lightly using solvent and your paper stump.  Be sure to maintain the individual blades of grass.

Step 9: Using 943 Burnt Ochre, add some shadows at the base of the blades of grass.  Small, rough, uneven strokes are used here.

Step 10: Blend lightly with solvent and your paper stump.

The grass is now complete!

Pure Innocence Birthday Girl

Jumbo Fishtail Banner STAX Die-namics

Fishtail Flags STAX Die-namics

Dog Tag Die-namics

Open Scallop Doily Duo Die-namics

Blue Print 1 Die-namics

Hemp Cord

Heavyweight Card Stock Sweet Tooth

Heavyweight Card Stock Natural 

Heavyweight Card Stock Tangy Orange

Heavyweight Card Stock Bubblegum

There are many other ways you can ground your images. On this card, I demonstrate how to ground your image in a puddle of water.

Stamp the image with Memento Tuxedo Black on Sweet Tooth Card Stock.

Step 1: Using 1023 Cloud Blue, draw a curved, irregular line around her feet to create the border of a small puddle of water.

Step 2: Blend with solvent and your paper stump using a circular motion.

Step 3: Darken the outer rim of the puddle using 1103 Caribbean Sea.

Step 4: Blend with solvent and your paper stump using a circular motion.

Step 5: Using the darkest color, 1079 Blue Violet Lake, deepen the edge of the puddle and then blend with solvent and a paper stump.

Step 5: For the finishing touch, add a little shine and reflection to your puddle using Stickles Stardust over your colored area.

Pure Innocence Firefighter Girl

Fishtail Flags STAX Die-namics

Blueprint 1 Die-namics

Rounded Banner STAX Die-namics

Photo Corners Die-namics

Button Border Die-namics

Hearts A Plenty Die-namics

Blueprint 1 Die-namics

Hemp Cord

Heavyweight Card Stock Sweet Tooth

Heavyweight Card Stock Kraft 

Heavyweight Cardstock Tangy Orange

Adding snow to your winter-themed images adds a realistic touch.  Snow is white, but has some grey tones and sparkle.

Begin by stamping PI Warm Wishes with Memento Tuxedo Black on Sweet Tooth Card Stock.

 Step 1: Draw small mounds of snow by drawing in wide scalloped lines at her feet using 1050 Warm Grey 10%.

  

Step 2: Blend with solvent and a paper stump.

Step 3: Use 1051 Warm Grey 20% to darken the snow mounds.

Step 4: Blend with solvent and your paper stump.

Step 5: Add more depth with 1052 Warm Grey 30%.

Step 6: Blend to soften with solvent and a paper stump.

Step 7:  Make your snow glisten with a touch of Sitckles Stardust.

Pure Innocence Warm Wishes

Traditional Tags STAX Die-namics

Blueprint 1 Die-namics

Jumbo Fishtail Banner STAX Die-namics

Fishtails Flags STAX Die-namics

Say What? Die-namics

Let it Snowflake Die-namics

Hemp Cord

Heavyweight Card Stock Sweet Tooth

Heavyweight Card Stock Natural

Heavyweight Card Stock Kraft

Heavyweight Card Stock Sno Cone

Heavyweight Card Stock Berry Licious

Grosgrain Ribbon Sno Cone

Button

It’s Wednesday and time for the Wednesday Stamp Club Sketch Challenge here at MFT. Be sure to play along for your chance at the weekly prize, valued at up to $20 in vouchers to the MFT Boutique. You can submit your entry using the keyword MFTWSC124 to the Gallery at Splitcoaststampers. Entries for this week’s challenge will close on Tuesday, May 21st at noon EST.

This beautiful card was created by Karen using this week’s sketch and our new Happy Hellos Die-namics.

Check out how our designers got sketchy this week by clicking on each picture below.

Welcome to day 2 of our MFT Release Rewind! If you happened to miss out on Teaser Time, the design team is here to inspire you with even more brand new projects using the new stamps and Die-namics from our May Release. You can find all of the new release products HERE in the MFT Boutique.

Take a tour of our new release products by visiting our designers, listed below.

The My Favorite Things May Release was a hit! If you happened to miss out on Teaser Time, our design team is back today with our Release Rewind! Over the next two days, the design team will inspire you with even more brand new projects using the new stamps and Die-namics from our May Release! You can find all of the new release products HERE in the MFT Boutique.

Take a tour of the new release products by visiting our designers below, listed below.