MCT 32nd Release Blog Hop: Anchored in Hope Card

Today is THE DAY! All of the fabulous new products that have been 'sneaked' by the designers this week are available for purchase right now. If you've been following today's Blog Hop, then you've arrived here from Kim's blog. If not, you can start this Hop from the beginning at Emma's blog.

Today I'm showcasing one of the anchors dies from the Anchors & Heart Dies set. I also used the watercolor background from the Build a Scripty & Watercolor Background stamp set.

I wanted this card to be big and bold without a lot of fuss. I cut the anchor twice - once in my patterned paper and once in gray - to give it a shadow.

An anchor is a symbol for hope. This card will be given to my sister-in-law, Kim, who just joined our running team, Hope Water Project, this year and is running the Detroit Half Marathon (her first). I've been sending encouragement cards to my family members who have joined our running team and I know she could really use one. She's recovering from foot surgery right now and looking forward to getting back to training.

FREE to the first 150 shoppers

***Emma's Birthday Month FREEBIE***
Since this was Emma's Birthday Month, she wanted to do something EXTRA SPECIAL for this release! She is giving away this FUN, new Social Media Dies Set to the FIRST 150 shoppers! YEP, you heard that right! This set will go to the FIRST 150 shoppers for FREE! You do NOT have to add it in your cart. Emma and her shipping crew will automatically include it in your package if you are one of the first 150 shoppers! IF you happen to come through AFTER the 150th shopper, no worries because this will be available for purchase.
How do you know if you're one of the first 150 shoppers?
After the first 150 shoppers come through, you will see this set available for purchase along with the new release items!
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***BLOG HOP GIVEAWAY***
For our Blog Hop Giveaway, Emma is giving away a $50 gift card to the My Creative Time store to ONE LUCKY winner! To enter, just leave a comment on each of our blogs! You are NOT required to comment on EVERY SINGLE blog, but the more you comment on, the better chance you have for winning!
VERY IMPORTANT: PLEASE leave a way for us to contact you with your comment in case you are the lucky winner!
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***SALE ALERT***
Our sale is starting NOW! Use the code: MAY2014 to receive 20% off your entire purchase! Sale ends on June 6th at 11:59pm PST!
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You've got one more hop to make. Head on over to our guest designer, Cheryl's, blog to see what she has up her sleeve today.

I hope you were inspired!

- Veronica

MCT 32nd Edition Sneak Peek: Lifesaver Father's Day Card

Hey there! Today is Day #2 of the Sneak Peeks for the 32nd Edition at My Creative Time. We're showcasing two new stamp sets: Stripey Background and Lost At Sea. I used these two sets together to create a simple, masculine Father's Day card for my father-in-law.

To achieve the 'weathered' look on my white card base, I simply inked my Stripey Background stamp, stamped it once on scrap paper and then again onto my card base. A little bit of twine around my lifesaver adds some texture to the card.

Be sure to check out what the other designers have created for today on Emma's blog.

I hope you were inspired!

- Veronica

MCT Whatever Wednesday: Owl Baby Card

It's an exciting season of life for my husband and me. Friends all around us are starting families and it's so much fun to be a part of that with them. Before you get too excited, No - I am not pregnant. We've got another year or so until that happens, but in the meantime, it's great to celebrate with friends!

*****Story behind the project to follow. If you just want to see the project feel free to skip this part*****

I love to give a small congratulatory gift when we find out that friends are pregnant. Usually, I stick to a theme that makes sense for the new parents and try to keep it gender-neutral since it's too early to know for sure. Apparently, all of the themes I look for do NOT come in gender-neutral designs when I need them. So I've been known to buy 2 outfits - one for a boy and one for a girl.

When our friends, the Fishes, found out, I bought fishy onesies. When the Fenders found out, I bought guitar onesies. Now that the *Smiths (name changed to protect the pregnant who aren't announcing yet) are expecting, we decided to stick to an owl theme because Mrs. *Smith LOVES owls.

This time I took The Hubs with me to find some gender-neutral (or dual) onesies featuring owls. That was a bust. We could find NO gender-neutral or boy owl clothes at all. When The Hubs suggested we purchase receiving blankets or toys, I had to explain about the belly.

"You see," I told him, "women drape new baby clothes over their bellies to imagine the wee one inside wearing it." He looked at me confused. "It's a thing," I told him. He still doesn't quite understand what it's all about, but he's decided to concede and just take my word for it.

After leaving a couple stores disappointed with the selection, I had an idea. A crocheted owl hat for newborn photos would be PERFECT! The only problem: I do NOT crochet.

Not to worry, though. My awesome Grandma does. So I sent her a free pattern I found online, met her at Joann's to purchase the yarn a couple days later and before week's end she had crocheted THE most adorable hat ever.

*****For those interested in the project only: start here*****

Hat crocheted by my fabulous Grandma. Free pattern found on Repeat Crafter Me

Of course, I had to make a special card for the expecting parents to go along with the hat. I kept it simple so the gift would be the star of the show. Tonight we're meeting the mommy-and-daddy-to-be for dinner. I'm so excited to give them their gift!

MCT Products Used
Classy Girl Accessories (baby buggy)
4x4 Journal Die
Birthday Buddies (owl)

I'm so glad you were able to stop by today! Be sure to head over to the MCT blog to see what the other designers have created for Whatever Wednesday!

I hope you were inspired!

- Veronica

MCT Designer Challenge: You & Me

Hey there! Today's Designer Challenge is a color challenge. We had to use the colors found in our inspiration photo on our projects. Want to play along? Enter your new project on Emma's blog!

For my project, I used the colors in an unconventional way - all together! I've been LOVING the look of clean, mostly white cards lately and learned a new technique at a scrapbook convention last weekend, so I thought I'd combine the two.

I cut the "&" sign out of the top layer of white and stamped the flourish from Springtime in Paris in multiple colors. To achieve that look, I simply colored the stamp itself with my water-based markers (I use Stampin' Up!) randomly, gave it a good 'huff' (by breathing on it in a "huuuuhhhh" sound - this moistens the ink) and stamped it on the base layer of white. (See, Mom? I knew we didn't need that lady's 'special stamps'. We have AWESOME stamps from MCT!!!)

The "YOU" and "ME" were taken from the Chocolate Greetings stamp set.

Just a little bit of time for a BIG impact! Check out more awesome color challenge projects at the MCT blog.

I hope you were inspired!

- Veronica

MCT Made In Minutes: Floral Birthday Card

It can be really difficult for me to make something "in minutes". Usually, I spend a lot of time adding layers and tons of embellishments and a card that was supposed to be easy peasy ends up taking an hour or more.

Sometimes simple is the way to go, though.

This card was created for my sister-in-law's birthday. She's three days older than me and I make sure she knows it!

I used Build a Pretty Flower, Pretty Spring Wreaths, and Floral Sentiments on a single layer of card stock to make this card super simple, but elegant. The bright colors are so cheery and the black outlines, swirls and dots add great contrast.

Thanks for stopping by to check out today's project. Be sure to pop by the MCT blog to see what other great Made In Minutes projects the designers have created today.

I hope you were inspired!

- Veronica