MCT 22nd Edition Release Blog Hop: Happy First 29th Birthday!

Well, hello there and Happy New Year (almost)! Welcome to the My Creative Time 22nd Edition Release Blog Hop! If you've arrived here from Tracy's blog, you're headed in the right direction. If not, head on over the Emma's blog to start this Hop from the very beginning.

My BFF, Stephanie, will be celebrating a BIG birthday in January. No, she's not turning 30 - she's turning ALMOST 30!!! I've decided that instead of her EVER turning 30, we'll just celebrate the anniversary of her 29th birthday every year. So this year will be her first ever 29th birthday.

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This cute little card is 4" square and uses very simple layering to achieve a bold effect. Here's a quick little cheat sheet on the stamps I used:

Happy, "TH", and banner die: Chocolate Greetings (the "TH" was masked using the "BIRTHDAY" stamp)
FIRST: Label Font
29: Circle Font
BIRTHDAY: Vintage Sentiments

Most of the layers were popped up, and I hand-cut the candle and flame. I used my white gel pen to make the stripes on the candle and my Copics to color in the flame. I then glittered the flame with Star Dust Stickles.


***BLOG HOP GIVEWAY ALERT***

For our Blog Hop giveaway, there will be 2 winners chosen from ALL the comments combined!  This FIRST winner will have a "GUEST DESIGN SPOT" for our next release & the SECOND winner will win a $25 Gift Card to the My Creative Time Store!  All you have to do is leave a comment here along with the rest of the design team's blogs AND also leave a way for us to contact you!  Emma will use random.org to pick the lucky winners! Just leave a comment on all blogs in this hop for more chances to win! The deadline is Sunday, January 6th at midnight! Emma will announce winners on her blog on Tuesday, January 8th!  EASY PEASY!!! GOOD LUCK!

This Just In: Emma has done it again! She's taken something awesome (this release) and made it even BETTER by adding a SALE!!! Starting right now through Sunday, January 6th at 11:59 pm, you can save 20% off your ENTIRE purchase at My Creative Time with the coupon code: NEWYEAR.

There's still more fun to come in this Hop! Click on over to our Guest Designer, Courtney's blog to she what she has in store!

I hope you were inspired!

- Veronica

MCT 22nd Edition Sneak Peek: Devoted To You

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas! It seems like it comes and goes so quickly. The tree isn't even down and the leftovers aren't finished - but by golly, we're moving on to Valentine's Day! *giggle*

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For today's sneak peek, I'm showcasing two new stamp sets that will be released on December 31st by My Creative Time. The Love Collage stamp is a great background stamp that covers the front of an entire A2 (4.25" x 5.5") card. On my card, I used a little leftover Christmas magic to create the sweet little plastic tag that hangs from the bow.

Confession: My Christmas Magic is really just a Shrinky Dink. First, I cut my Shrinky Dink paper with my Tag Dies set. Then I stamped my Love Collage stamp onto the rough side of the tag and heated it up with my heat tool. Be sure to have a tweezers or bone folder nearby to help guide the Shrinky Dink to NOT fold in on itself and stick together. 

The pink heart on the tag was cut using the smallest of the new Stitched Heart Layering Dies. I stamped "Devoted to you" from Lots of Love (due to release on the 31st). The basic layout and color scheme was kept simple to show off the tag and adorable patterned paper from the Echo Park Love Story 6x6 Paper Pad.

Thanks so much for dropping by today. I'll see you back here again on Monday for the Release Blog Hop!

I hope you were inspired!

- Veronica

P.S. Did you notice how clear and pretty my photo came out today? The Hubs bought a new fancy dancy camera for us to take on our cruise a couple of weeks ago and I'm LOVING it for taking pictures of my projects. Thanks, Honey!

MCT 12 Days of Christmas - Day 8: Hey, That's MY Stocking!

Welcome to Day 8 of the My Creative Time 12 Days of Christmas!

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Looking around at all of the Christmas decorations I have up in my home, I noticed something was missing: our stockings didn't have any names on them! Of course, Santa knows which stocking belongs to each of us. But how will we know on Christmas morning which one is ours?

I suppose I could just look inside to see which one has coal in it. That would be The Hubs' stocking. *giggle*

Since my handwriting is not very pretty and the style of our stockings doesn't really lend itself to glitter glue letters, I made these sweet little tags (in our Christmas colors, of course) to hang on our Christmas socks.

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The tag base is made with MCT's XL Label Die and new Stitched XL Label Die. I also used the Curly Label and Stitched Curly Label Dies for some added dimension. After die cutting our names with the Lowercase Fun Dies (Speaking of FUN, here's a fun fact: I actually go by "Ronnie" in real life), I popped them up onto the banner die from Vintage Stitched Label Dies and popped that up on my tag. Of course, it just wasn't sparkly enough as-is, so I dotted the letters with my Star Dust Stickles.

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For a more polished look, I added jumbo eyelets to the tags before threading my ribbon through to tie to the stockings.


HUGE GIVEAWAY ALERT!
Okay, since it's Christmas, Emma decided to give away TWELVE of her FAVORITE things to ONE LUCKY person! She will announce one of the prizes for each day in her video! So by the 12th day, you will see ALL 12 items that ONE lucky person will be receiving! All you have to do is leave your comments each day! It's that simple!

**VERY IMPORTANT** 
Please leave your contact information so we can contact you IF YOU are the lucky winner!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

I hope you were inspired!

- Veronica

MCT 12 Days of Christmas - Day 4: Gift Card Package

Ho Ho Ho! Merry Christmas!

Today is Day 4 of My Creative Time's 12 Days of Christmas. So far ALL of the projects have been fabulous, right?

This Christmas, The Hubs and I are giving several gift cards as presents. I just love gift cards! They say, I have no idea what you really want, but I'm pretty sure I know where you want it from. But then I have to figure out how to wrap the gift card. Of course, the MCT Embossed Gift Card Holder Die is a great option! But with so many gift cards to give, I like to have variety.

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Today's project is a gift card holder made out of a cassette tape case.

Note to anyone under the age of 21 reading: Cassette tapes are like .mp3s on strips of really thin brown plastic-y ribbon. If you ever try to use one, I recommend having a pencil nearby. *giggle*

My Mom has a whole box of these plastic cases and gave me two last week to figure out what we could use them for. Hey, Mom! Check this out! *giggle*

First I cut my patterned paper to fit and adhered it inside the case. I used a double-sided patterned paper so it would look pretty when shut and opened.

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The belly band was made out of a strip of green card stock. I then used several MCT dies (listed below) to create the label. The sentiment was stamped from It's a Magical Season and the bell (colored with my Copics) is in the From Our Family To Yours stamp set. All layers were popped up (surprise!) and the bell was glittered with my Star Dust Stickles.


HUGE GIVEAWAY ALERT!
Okay, since it's Christmas, Emma decided to give away TWELVE of her FAVORITE things to ONE LUCKY person! She will announce one of the prizes for each day in her video! So by the 12th day, you will see ALL 12 items that ONE lucky person will be receiving! All you have to do is leave your comments each day! It's that simple!

**VERY IMPORTANT** 
Please leave your contact information so we can contact you IF YOU are the lucky winner!

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I'll see you again on Day 8!

I hope you were inspired!

- Veronica

Dies used for label: Vintage Stitched Label Die (and banner die from same set), Curly Label Die (cut twice, placed two together to create a 'taller' shape), Stitched Circle Die.

MCT Black Friday Blog Hop: Christmas List

Happy Delicious Leftovers Day! Well, that's what day it is around here, anyway. I'll be meeting family at my in-laws' house today for a yummy lunch filled with all of the Turkey Day trimmings! Mmm..mmm...

With Thanksgiving over, the Christmas Season has officially begun! Now that we've spent time being thankful for everything we have, we can start shopping for more! *giggle*

Thanks for joining the MCT Design Team for today's Black Friday Blog Hop. Hopefully, this little Hop gives you a break from the hustle and bustle (aka trampling and biting) that's taking place in malls around the country. I've you've come here from Tracy's blog, you're headed in the right direction. If not, take a trip over to Emma's blog to start this Hop from the beginning.

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To keep my Christmas budget on track and my gift-giving organized, I created this handy Christmas List that I can keep in my purse to know exactly who is getting what and how much I've spent. Won't The Hubs be so proud of me?

This little organizer features the brand new Stitched XL Label Die on the front cover (layered on top of the original XL Label Die).

The year was stamped using the Circle Font stamp set that was just released last week. After stamping the year, I punched it out with a 3/4" Circle Punch and layered it on top of a 1" circle. The whole year is then popped up onto the banner die that came in last week's new die set: Vintage Stitched Label Dies. 

I stamped "Christmas" from Warm Holiday Fun (I isolated the word "Christmas" by covering the rest of the sentiment on my stamp with a post-it, inking it up, removing the post-it, and stamping onto my die). "LIST" was stamped using the new Label Font stamp set.

I also used Warm Holiday Fun to stamp my scroll (shaded with Copics), scroll sentiment, and white sparkly stars in the background (which were embossed in white). After adhering my ribbon to the front and back of the organizer, I popped up and layered my pieces onto the front.

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The inside of my organizer has two pockets: one for my gift list (which I created in Photoshop and printed myself) and one for gift receipts. I've added a little diagram below on how I created the folder for this simple organizer.

And now a word from Emma:

Thank you for joining us for our very FIRST "MCT Black Friday Blog Hop"! Okay, not only are we having a SALE, but we are ALSO releasing 2 new stitched dies that YOU ALL have been requesting for a LOOOONG time! IF you own the "Curly Label Die" & the "XL Label Die", we now have Stitched dies that will layer on top of those! Are you as excited as we all are??? 

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Wait, we are NOT stopping there, I have ALSO had several requests to sell my "Teeny Tag Dies" by themselves (for mass producing purposes) GUESS WHAT???? We now have them selling in my store by themselves! Sit back & please enjoy this hop as we all showcase the BRAND NEW "Stitched Curly Label Die" & the "Stitched XL Label Die" along with many other MCT products!

Please use the code: BLACKFRI (all caps) to get a 20% discount off your purchase! Sale will end Sunday, Nov 25th @ Midnight!

**GIVE AWAY ALERT**

Well, this wouldn't be a party with out a giveaway.....right??? Well, we are keeping this simple! Just leave your comments along with a way to contact you, should you win! Random.org will be picking TWO lucky winners to win $25 worth of MCT product of YOUR choice! GOOD LUCK!

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Thanks so much for stopping by for today's Black Friday Hop. I'm your last stop.

Have a great weekend! I hope you were inspired!

- Veronica

MCT 21st Edition Release Blog Hop

Welcome to Day 2 of My Creative Time's two-day Release Blog Hop. I've you e arrived here from Tracy's blog, you're on the rich track. If not, shoot on over to Emma's blog to start today's Hop from the beginning.

Today, I'm showcasing the brand new stamp set, Label Font. I've created a very simple, masculine card for my brother, Dan, who is getting "pinned" in December (like a graduation for Nursing School). I am so proud of him for making the decision to go back to school in his mid-twenties and sticking it out. He's going to make an awesome RN!

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For this 5.5" square card, I used a very simple technique: layering. Adding layers gives your project dimension and depth without a lot of work.

On the card base layer, I stamped the argyle pattern from the Coffee Break stamp set in a coordinating ink to my paper.

On the off-white layer, I stamped "Congrats" using Label Font and "you did it!" from the Teeny Tag Greetings stamp set.

I paper pierced above the sentiment for a little added interest and wound twine from Liz's Paper Loft Boutique around the top layer and secured it with a little knot.

It's easy to forget sometimes that less can be more. (I know I have a habit of believing that "more" only comes with MORE!!!) *giggle*


***BLOG HOP GIVEWAY ALERT***

For our Blog hop giveaway, there will be 2 winners chosen from ALL the comments combined!  You have a chance to win a "SURPRISE GIFT BAG FULL OF GOODIES"! All you have to do is leave a comment here along with the rest of the design team member's blogs AND also leave a way for us to contact you!  Emma will use random.org to pick the lucky winners!  All you have to do is leave a comment on all blogs in this hop for more chances to win! The deadline is Sunday, November 18th at midnight! EASY PEASY!!! GOOD LUCK!

Label Font Stamp Set

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Thanks for stopping by today. I'm your last stop on today's Hop.

I hope you were inspired.

- Veronica

MCT 21st Edition Sneak Peek: Gift Tag

I'm a terrible wrapper.

You might be surprised to know that I'm not that bad of a rapper. But wrapping presents is not my 'gift'. *giggle*

My Mom on the other hand...

Holy. Smokes. Now, that woman can WRAP! She's quick, she's efficient, and I'll be darned if all of her presents don't turn out like gift-ual masterpieces.

Alas, I didn't inherit the wrapping gene from her.

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To camouflage my awful wrapping talent, I like to dress up my packages with pretty ribbons & bows and gift tags! I trick the gift recipient into 'oooohhhing' and 'aaaahhhing' over the details that she completely MISSES the crooked corners, missing paper on the bottom (does this happen to anyone ELSE?), and gobs of tape I use to keep the darn thing shut.

This gift is for a not-so-discerning recipient: my soon-to-be-6-year-old niece, Evelyn (Evy, for short). After wrapping her gift in kraft wrapping paper (one of my faves), I tied a pretty polka dot ribbon around the package and added my bow and tag.

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The pink bow was made using a 12 x 12 piece of patterned paper and this tutorial. So easy. I cut the gift tag using MCT's Tag Dies. After cutting the tag out in the patterned paper, I layered it onto a kraft tag (for re-enforcement). Then, I cut the tag again in pink. I used the brand spankin' new MCT Lowercase Fun Dies to cut Evy's name out of the pink layer (using the 'negative' of the name left on the pink layer, not the die cuts themselves). The pink layer was then popped up onto the patterned layer for a little added dimension.

The rosette was handmade by cutting two 1.5" x 12" strips and accordion-folding them (1/2" folds). I glued the ends together and adhered a kraft circle to the front and back with my glue gun. I also added the little flag from the Echo Park This & That Accessories Pack.

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Sneak Peek Giveaway Time!
With all of our Sneak Peek weeks, Emma likes to do some FUN giveaways!

 ***All you have to do is leave comments on our blogs! You do NOT have to comment on every blog, BUT if you do, you will just have more chances to win!

 ***SPREAD THE WORD TO THE WORLD ON FACEBOOK about this release & whatever connections you may have! Let us know on My Creative Time's Facebook page that you did so! OR you can just tag Emma in your post!

 Emma will randomly pick & announce all winners on Thursday, November 15th during the release happening @ 8:00am PST in her video! GOOD LUCK!

 Log onto to your Facebook now & let start spreading word!

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Thanks for stopping by to see my Sneak Peek today! I'll see you again later this week for more MCT goodies!

Be sure to head over to Emma's blog to see what the other designer's have in store for you using this die set today.

I hope you were inspired!

- Veronica