The challenge for this MDS Monday challenge was to create a card using the Align feature of MDS. This feature is an easy shortcut when you want different elements on your project to be lined up. You can access it two ways – either in the ‘arrange’ pull-down menu at the top of your computer screen or by right clicking on the objects you want to line up. See the screenshot below to see all the options available with this wonderful tool. On this card, I used the ‘align’ feature to center the piece of Watercolor Wonder Designer Series Paper both vertically and horizontally on the card. I also used it to center the greeting label horizontally. I selected all three flags and used the ‘align’ to space them evenly horizontally and to line the tops of them up. If you haven’t been using this feature, I urge you to do so. If you have questions or need help, don’t hesitate to call me or email me. I am happy to help. :o) Supplies used in this card:MDS software digital download (130646), MDS software disc (130647), or 30-day Free Trial of MDS (130910) Background    Card Stock/Kiwi Kiss Stamps Natural Composition Overlays (130855) – 11, Color = 0,0,0 Cheep Talk (118834) – hello there, Color = 0,0,0 and talking bird recolored with coloring tool Punches 1.25 Square Punch,  Filled with:Watercolor Wonder Designer Series Paper (137077) – 5 Valentine Love – flag (from Valentine Love Ensemble (133327),  Filled with: Gingham Garden Designer Series Papers (134853) – 3, 6, 11 Order the supplies you need to create this project by clicking on the links above or visiting my online store.

The sketch for today uses tape to attach the main image to the background.

I started with Washi Tape from the Sent With Love Kit (132914) and Crisp Cantaloupe background. Then I began looking for an image that would fit the rectangular area. I found the saying ‘winter wonderland’ from the Chat Room Occasions stamp brush set which fit the space perfectly but the tape and background didn’t. So I decided to add a winter photo to the card and used a frosty looking background from the Winter Frost designer series paper. That set the color for the tape. I used the global search feature to check out all the different tapes I had in my MDS library and decided this one from the Fall Memories November Kit had the perfect pattern. It reminds me of wind-sculpted snow. I used the color picker feature to recolor the tape to match the color of the background. Then I added a tape from the Downtown Grunge Photobook Template because the color was just perfect. This card was not at all like what I started out to create but the process took over…I love it when that happens…and I love the end result. See for yourself!

I might add that this picture is one my DIL took of their yard in the Boston area last winter. You wouldn’t find such an accumulation of snow where we lived in Craig, AK, or here in Mount Vernon, WA.

Supplies:
MDS software digital download (130646), MDS software disc (130647), or 30-day Free Trial of MDS (130910)
Background
Winter Frost Designer Series Paper (135265) pattern 4
Embellishments
Fall Memories November Kit (135910) – tape 4 (re-colored)
Downtown Grunge Photobook Template (126056) – tape 3
Stamps
Chat Room Occasions (125159) – winter wonderland

Punches
Basics/1.25 Square Punch (comes with software)

Click on the links or visit my online store to purchase the supplies used in this digital greeting card.

It’s Terrific Tuesday again! My how the days and weeks speed by! Stampin’ Up! is really generous with this week’s new MDS downloads. There are 6 pages of them today! You can see them here and place your order for your favorite ones.

Yesterday I shared a card made traditionally using the Perfect Blend stamp set. Today I share a digital card using that stamp set. I am delighted that it is now available in digital form as well. The background paper is one of the Venetian Romance papers I used to fill the heart punches on yesterday’s scrapbook page. You can see that post here. Check out all the beautiful patterns of this paper!

Years ago I started drinking coffee as a social thing and though I am really addicted to my coffee (especially mochas), I still associate it with a social atmosphere. Yes…coffee and friends are made for each other. Since coffee and friends make the perfect blend, I invite you to grab a cup of coffee and spend some time browsing my blog with me.

Supplies:
MDS software digital download (130646), MDS software disc (130647), or 30-day Free Trial of MDS (130910)
Paper – Venetian Romance Designer Series Paper (13473)
Stamp – Perfect Blend (135242)
Embellishments – Brights Paper Buttons (126166) – recolored, Baker’s Twine Add-On Pack (127165)- crumb cake bow
Punch – Merry Medallion Punch comes with Merry Medallion Photocard Template (127569)

Place your order for these Stampin’ Up! supplies by clicking on their linked names or visiting my online store here.

I created this card for MDS Monday’s Challenge 28 to create a cluster of embellishments. I love the softness and feminity of this birthday card. One of the benefits of creating with MDS is that you can rearrange, add, and delete embellishments until you get the effect you desire. There are no scraps of wasted paper left over from your experimentation! To order the supplies I used for this card, just click on the linked names or visit my online store.

Supplies:

MDS software digital download (130646), MDS software disc (130647), or 30-day Free Trial of MDS (130910)

Background
Card Stock – Soft Sky

Embellishments
131329 Timeless Taffeta Trimmings – long bow  crumb cake (re-colored), 133903 Sara’s Sequins – lime green, 130080 Soft Blooms  – 5 blushing bride, very vanilla, and wisteria wonder, 124330 Basic Pearls and Rhinestones – pearl medium

Stamps
130859 Everything Eleanor – flourish and label
130167 Perfectly Penned – happy birthday

Can you believe it? Some kids have started back to school this week and many more will start next week.  Stampin’ Up! went crazy with eight new MDS downloads today! They range from the FREE Old School September Wallpaper and Old School September Kit, a Crazy, Mixed-up Love stamp set to a unique gift tag that you send on to someone else on a gift you give. Check out all the great downloads here!

I ordered the Chevron Punch and this delightfully colorful Old School September Kit. This will be my featured digital kit for September. Purchase this Old School September Kit through my online store and I will send you a video demonstrating how to make a scrapbook page and a digital card with it. The video will also include ideas on how to make the projects into hybrid one. The card above shows some of the elements in the kit and the index below shows the embellishments in the kit. There are 12 designer series papers and a 33 piece stamp brush set as well.

Later in the week I will share a project using the Chevron Punch. My mind is racing with the possibilities of this punch. Imagine being able to have chevrons filled with a wealth of different designer series papers and you don’t have to glue the little chevrons down. Yay!

Supplies:

MDS software digital download (130646), MDS software disc (130647), or 30-day Free Trial of MDS (130910)

Old School September Kit (134978)

Today is another Terrific Tuesday! Well, sort of. Digitally wise it is great because we get new downloads. You can view and order them here. I have been eying the Truly Grateful stamp set in the Holiday catalog trying to decide if I would use it enough to justify purchasing it. Now it is available in digital form. Yay! I discovered that the stamps are strictly line stamps and to not have the background show through, I placed punches behind the images. The theme of the card is Grateful for… and I added the ‘You’ because I am indeed truly grateful for you, my faithful readers.

The thing that makes the day less than terrific is that my darling little dachies were attacked by a couple of big dogs that should have been on leashes or chained up and weren’t. I didn’t see them until they were on top of the pups. Little One got bit, got loose from her collar and high-tailed it out of there. I was so scared that I wouldn’t be able to find her but she was waiting at the steps of our trailer when Scout and I got back. We spent the rest of the afternoon at the vet getting her checked out. She is going to be fine but is really sore tonight. I feel so sorry for her. However, I am truly grateful that she wasn’t seriously injured.

Now that you have read this blog post, leave a comment below about what you are truly grateful for. We might as well get practiced up on being grateful before Thanksgiving. :o)

Supplies:

MDS software digital download (130646), MDS software disc (130647), or 30-day Free Trial of MDS (130910)

Stamp brush sets – Truly Grateful (134928), Natural Composition Overlays – 9 (130855)

Other – 1.25 square punch, circle punch (come with MDS), Early Espresso 1/4″ Grosgrain ribbon (118851) and Early Espresso 1/4″ Grograin Ribbon knot (118852)

I love this sketch for challenge 263 on Create with Connie and Mary and I challenged myself to create a card with this sketch using MDS. I am really excited how the card turned out.

How did I get the stamped image cut into four parts? I opened a 4.25 x 5.5 greeting card in MDS. On the first page I added four photo frames and sized them the way the sketch was. Then I grouped them. On the second page of the card, I added the Extreme Surfboard stamp and resized it to fit. Then I saved the second page as a jpeg to my desktop. Next I went back to my grouped photo frames and dragged the second page into the frames. Voila…it was spread out across all the frames. I had fun choosing a greeting to fit the extreme stamp, and added Baker’s Twine for embellishment. I have a thing about naked backgrounds in MDS so I added the chevron overlay and changed the color to Baja Breeze to give a subtle texture to the Pool Party card stock.

I love playing with MDS and challenging myself to recreate traditional cards with MDS. If you are ready to join in the fun of creating with MDS, you have several options for ordering. I have listed them below. Just click on one of them to go to my online store and order. MDS is a great bargain at only $19.95. Included in this bargain is my expertise and tutoring. I am available and ready to help you learn to make exciting digital scrapbook pages and greeting cards.

Supplies:

MDS software digital download (130646), MDS software disc (130647), or 30-day Free Trial of MDS (130910)

Stamps – Extreme Surfboard (124218), Fantabulous You (129920) also comes with MDS, Decorative Overlays – chevron (129880)

Other – Crumb Cake Baker’s Twine (comes with MDS software)