Sites of the week

Holiday and New Year Greetings! This will be my last post of 2010, as I plan to take this time to spend time with family, enjoy the holidays and recharge my creative mojo so that 2011 is the best yet! I hope that this holiday season finds you all well and that the new year brings you all the best. I leave you with one last creation for the year…

These are ornaments/tags cut from the largest ornament Nestabilities. I then layered it with Webster’s Pages houndstooth or Girls’ Paperie Tinsel & Twig and a glittered paper rosette. The sentiment is from Hero Arts {it’s been in my stash for a few years}. I ended up making several of these and then packaging them in a cello bag and giving them to Ellie’s preschool teacher.

A couple notes about the upcoming new year…

SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY WILL BE BACK ON JANUARY 1st! Remember, we are switching to a monthly sketch and you will definitely want to play along! See you then!!

When I first got a peek at this bear from The Cat’s Pajamas set, Big Bear, I literally said “awwwww.” I just think that he is too stinkin’ cute for words! So, when Alma posted this week’s TCP Tuesday challenge sketch, I knew exactly which set to use. I wanted this guy front and center {with some of that houndstooth paper from Webster’s Pages…of course!}.

Here’s the sketch for the this week’s TCP Tuesday challenge…

You can find all the details for this challenge on Alma’s blog. There’s a chance to win some Cat Cash {money to spend on cute TCP stamps}! GOOD LUCK & HAPPY STAMPING!!

Welcome to your next stop along the December VIP Hop for My Favorite Things! Did you hop along from Frances’ blog? If not, be sure to rewind and start HERE on the MFT blog. All along the way you have seen some pretty cute creations using the new WTG set, but I have something a little different up my sleeve. I have been hard at work designing a new template just in time for holiday gift giving! I think this is something that you are going to like!

THE SWEET SURPRISE GIFT BOX!

A note about MFT templates…

Our newest templates come in a zip file with many formats:

* PDF: traditional print & cut version.
* SVG: for use with the Cricut Expression and Make The Cut or Sure Cuts a Lot software
* Ai & DXF: for use with Wishblade, Pazzles, and KNK machines
* GSD: for use with the Silhouette

This sweet lil’ box holds a variety of gifties and can be used year round. Included with the box template are matting layers for the inside and outside of the rounded flaps and also a gift card holder that fits inside the pocket of this box…all for only $3.95.

Sit tight as I take you on a little tour of this new template…

Here it is shown closed with the belly band on {instructions for belly band included on instruction sheet of template}…

A detail shot of the belly band off of the box…

This picture shows the belly band off, and the inside flaps closed. The flap that was over the front of the box has now been opened and flipped behind for the photo…

Take a peek what Ellie is getting inside of the box…

Here the flaps are open and I will write a personal message on one of the matting layers {included with the template} to make it a little more personal…

Just a little recap before I send you on your blog hoppin’ way…

* Sweet Surprise Gift Box is a new template on the MFT site
* You can print or cut this template
* $3.95 price tag includes matting for the flaps and gift card insert
* Instructions for belly band are also included
* Versatile template can be used year round

Alright, keep hopping along to the sweet and talented JODY MORROW’s blog where I am sure that she has a super creative creation waiting just for you.

Holiday greetings! Welcome to DAY 2 of Teaser Time from My Favorite Things. It’s just about time for 2 more a la modes and a new VIP Kit to be released. Today the design team is featuring the new a la mode, Key to My Heart. I am just in love with this line from MFT and this sassy image is close to my fave!

A little about this release:
2 a la modes and the MFT VIP Kit will be released tonight {Dec. 14} at 10pm EST
A link to all sneak peeks can be found on the MFT blog at 11am {be sure to scroll down if you missed yesterday!}

I gotta say that I love this card! I colored her dress is a vibrant {and sexy} red. I’ve never even tried to pull off a red dress, so I guess I will live vicariously through my coloring LOL!! The key is colored in what I hope appears to be antiqued gold/brass. I added a couple hearts from the Hearts a Plenty Die-Namic {can’t seem to put that one down!}.

The inside is sweet and simple, with a sentiment from this set and another heart from the Hearts a Plenty Die-Namic. The Open Scallop Border is also a MFT Die-Namic that is very cute versatile {key to me loving it!}. I hope you aren’t sick of this houndstooth paper from Webster’s Pages, yet! I can’t seem to let it leave my desk!

Well, I gotta get going and get crack-a-lackin’ on some Christmas goodies. I might just have something a little special for you later today on the MFT VIP blog hop. See ya then!

Last week I mentioned that there are some changes coming to Sketch For You To Try. I know that you all have been tapping your feet anxiously awaiting, with bated breath, any bit of information I could possibly spill on this subject. Hahahaha! Yea, it’s really not that big of a deal, but there are some switch-a-roos that I want to let you know about…

First, we bid adieu to Jenn Diercks as part of the SFYTT Sisters. Jenn, THANK YOU for all your contributions and I wish you the best in your future endeavors.

On that note, I want to welcome Kerry Johnson to the team! I’m sure that you will LOVE what she has in store for all of us to see!

Don’t forget that this is our last SFYTT of 2010. You can pick ANY old sketch to play along with from now until the end of the year. Why are we taking some rest and relaxation? Because we will be kicking off the year with…

———>A MONTHLY SKETCH!<----------

Yep, no more weekly sketches. SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY will be a monthly sketch. You will be able to see the new sketch on the first Saturday of the month, along with the new Designer of the Month {chosen from SFYTT participants}. Don’t think that is the only time you will see the sketch, though! You will see the sketch throughout the month from the SFYTT Sisters, but there will only be ONE sketch per month. More deets coming on NEW YEAR’S DAY!

Why? To that I say, “Why not?” The truth is that there are a TON of sketch sites out there and I almost threw in the towel do to the saturation of these challenges. I love doing these sketches and I’d like to believe that there is a following out there, too I know that time is limited and it is hard to play along with each and every challenge that you like that is out there in the blogosphere. So, by doing this I am taking myself a step back from the saturated “market” and hopefully make it easier for you to play along, as well. I have to admit that there is a bit of relief on my part, too. It’s a lot of work to come up with each sketch and create samples each and every week {etc., etc., etc.} while balancing home life…by that I mean a pre-schooler and almost 1 year old. I know you know what I mean!!

Oh, and by the way…we are working hard on sponsorships, too, and already have SEVERAL lined up! I am sure that you will like what you see come 2011!

Ok, enough of the “this, that and the other thing” coming next year. Let’s get on with the final SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY of 2010! You can choose ANY previous SFYTT to play with. I went back into the vault to December of 2008 {why does that sound so long ago?} and am playing with this one again…

I remember not being totally in love with my original card, so I am glad that this one turned out MUCH MUCH MUCH better! I used the My Favorite Things stamps set, Grow Love Plant a Tree, by Stephanie Fizer paired with the Sheltering Tree and Leaf Trio and Hearts a Plenty Die-Namics {also from MFT}…

Detail and inside shots…

I’m sure that all the SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY Sisters have more inspiration for you to take a peek at, so be sure to check out what they have created…

Susan Liles
Amy Rohl
Amy Sheffer
Megan Lock
Amber Hight
Sony Christoph
Jodi Collins
Jenn Diercks
Kelly Lunceford
Leigh O’Brien
Carole Burrage
joining in on the fun a little early…Kerry Johnson

and Ana and Joanne, too! Thanks girlies!!!

I’m still keeping my eye out for next month’s Designer of the Month from all of this month’s participants. Just link your creation to the link system below and when you upload to any online gallery, please use the keyword SFYTT.