A Gift For You

I'm so excited about this month's new products release at My Time Made Easy.  

The image in today's card is from the Holly Jolly set.  There are several cute elves and a reindeer in this set.  I can't wait to use them all!  

I used copics to color the image and Spellbinders die to cut it out.  I used SU's  Pink Pirouette to sponge around the edge.

The designer paper is fabulous!  I used Mrs Candy Claus paper from last month's release.  I punched out the top and bottom of the striped strip of paper with a Martha Stewart snowflake punch and then added some pearls for a little feminine touch.. not that it needed it, I think it brings out the snowflakes a little better.  

The flower die is from MFT and the leaves are a MS punch.  I thought it was a little fun to make the flower from a green dp and the leaves from the striped dp.  It was a another fun little touch.

I hope you enjoyed your visit today - I truly appreciate it!  Don't forget to hop on over to MTME's Blog and play along with our Pretty Pattern sketch shown below.   

Lil Sweet Pea

My next door neighbor has a new baby girl!  I made this sweet card to take to them.

I used MTME's digi set Tending the Garden to make the seed packet.  I printed the frame onto light pink paper and then used copics to darken the edges.  I colored the peas and pea pod with copics too.  

I used Spring is Here for the paper.   I popped up the center of the seed packet and the pea pods with pop dots, added some ribbon and a little bling center and I was done!

Thank you for you visit - I appreciate each visit and comment so much!  Please head on over to the MTME Pretty Patterns blog so play along and enter.  I'd love to see you there!

You've Been Boo'd!

I have another Halloween card for you today.  I don't normally make Halloween cards but MTME has such cute ones that I couldn't resist!

I used MTME's "A Spooky Surprise" for my card.  I grouped the pumpkin, ghost and jack-o-lantern together and added the sentiment, "You've Been Boo'd" together and printed them up.  I printed up 3 more jack-o-lanterns and cut them out.

I used copics to color them and popped them up with pop dots.  I used a Martha Stewart punch to make the border around the card.  It is actually behind the orange card.  See how it is partly open in the photo below?

You can see the dimensions of the jack-o-lantern in the photo below.

The spiderweb was a little tricky.  I didn't want to have to use black in but since printers don't have WHITE ink it's all I could do... I made a black background and then turned the spiderweb white and placed it on top of the black background and then printed it up.  No matter what color I used to print onto the black cardstock, it just wasn't going to show up.

The orange with white polka dot paper is from some old Creative Memories paper.    I added some orange brads and put some star dust stickles on them so they will shine and I added some ribbon.  I used clear glue dots to hold the middle of the bow and the ends in place.

I hope you will join us for this week's sketch challenge!  Go on over to My Time Made Easy's blog to check it out!

Other challenges:
Stampylandchallenges - Halloween
Stamping Scrapbooking Challenge Central: Halloween

Trick or Treat, smell my feet!

My oldest son, Justen, used to say "Trick or Treat, smell my feet!" every Halloween when he was a little boy.  He would laugh and giggle thinking it was the funniest thing ever.  I laughed at him enjoying saying such a silly little saying and then hearing his little sister trying to repeat it was priceless.

Here is my version of the cute Trick or Treat saying:  

I used MTME's digi stamp set:  A Spooky Surprise.  It was fun to line up the witche's feet with the words and the spider.  I colored the feet (and shoes of course) with copics.  The MTME digi paper is from Traditional Halloween.  If you click on either photo you can see that there are little spiders in between the orange and purple diamonds.  

This week we are having a sketch review.  You can choose from sketches 12 - 18,  I chose sketch #13.  I rotated the sketch to the right and instead of a flower I added a bow.

Don't forget about our design team search going on right now!  It's not too late to enter!  You can go here to read all the details.  Even if you aren't applying for the DT position, come and play along with us.  You can go here to choose which sketch is your favorite!

Thank you for your visit.  Each visit and comment is greatly appreciated.  

Other challenges:

My Craft Challenge: color challenge

Stamping Scrapbooking Challenge Central: Halloween

Sympathy Rose

I made a sympathy card for the parents of a young boy who passed away from several congenital diseases.  The father works with my husband and we want to reach out to them since we can sympathize.  It was one year ago (Oct 4, 2010) that my own daughter passed away from her heart & GI congenital diseases.  It's going to be hard but we want to reach out with love and support.  I wanted this card to be feminine mainly because I will be reaching out to the mother and she and I haven't met yet.  I wanted this card to express my appreciation to her for all she did for her son over the years.  I understand the sacrifices that a mother of a special needs/chronically ill child makes... and I also understand the bond between that mother and child.  

I used MTME's new digi stamp set Well Rounded and the digi paper Wildflowers.  

The white paper is a shimmery white stripped paper.  I took a couple of pictures to show the pretty stripes.  I don't remember what it is called but I've had it on hand forever.  I also used light pink lace and white flower trim from my stash.  

I love the rose in the digi stamp set I mentioned above and I wanted to color it with copics so I took the time to reverse the effects of the rose stamp which is a black silhouette and outlined in white.  I used the eraser tool and erased the black areas and then used the paint bucket to color the white outline to black.  That way I could print up the black outline and color it pink with shading and highlights.  

I first tried using the color bucket to color the different parts of the rose in 3 shades of pink and I really like how it turned out.... but that is for another project and another sketch!  (Are you curious?  I hope so - then you'll just have to tune in next time to see it!  mwuahahahahaha!)  

I hope you enjoyed the card even though the occasion is a sad one.  I hope to make the day just a tiny bit easier for the parents by letting them know that they aren't alone.  

Hope you stop by the MTME blog to see what the other designers have made for you!  And don't forget about the DESIGN TEAM CALL!

~Design Team Call~

The sketch team is having a Design Team call.

• Requirements: Participate each week (having your card ready the night before the sketch goes up).
• Pay off: Access to MTME digi images & digi papers! (I LOVE THIS PART!)

Easy as pie!  If you think you’d like to be a part of our sketch team all you have to do is participate in each Pretty Pattern Sketch Challenge over the next 4 weeks (9/28 – 10/19), linking your entries up to the appropriate post!  Oh yeah, don’t forget to leave us a comment letting us know you are interested.  It’s that easy!!

Please link your projects up to the MTME Pretty Patterns Sketch challenges on the blog here.

Other challenges:

First Annual Link for Pink (Breast Cancer Awareness) - use PINK

Happy World Card Making Day

Today is World Card Making Day!  I am so excited to share a Christmas Card with you today as we go through Operation Write Home's  blog hop.  If you haven't heard of Operation Write Home it's an amazing program where card makers can send hand-made cards to soldiers who then use them to write home.  The soldiers received hand-made cards for all occasions to use to send special messages to their loved ones who are left at home while the soldiers are deployed.  What a wonderful program indeed!

For today's Christmas card I had a lot of fun using my Big Shot and my Cricut!  I also used one of my favorite stamps sets by Gina K Designs, Heirloom Ornament Stamp set.  

I stamped the image with Purely Pomegranate (Stampin' Up) ink and then embossed it with clear embossing powder.  You can probably see the embossing a little better below.

It is a delicate card with all the swirls but I like it.  The card base is cut out using Spellbinders Parisian Motifs.  The white shiny snowflake is cut out using a Cricut cartridge called Winter Lace.

I added a little bling and a bow and it was done!  This cute card is small enough that it could hang on a Christmas tree.  I just might have to make one for each of my siblings this year!  (but shhhh, it's a surprise!  lol)

Thank you for stopping by!  I appreciate every visit and comment.  Have fun visiting the rest of the participants in the hop!

And don't forget to visit the link below to see MANY other crafters who are participating in World Card Making Day!

Baby Moose, Autumn Leaves & a DT Call!

Autumn is in the air!  At least it is at night here in Southern AZ.  We're still in the mid 90's during the day but down into the 60's.  It's nice to get some cool air for a change.  Sure beats 100+ for highs and 90's for a low!   Since it's beginning to feel like Autumn I thought I'd make a card using the fun Autumn digi papers from My Time Made Easy for this week's sketch.   For the Design Team Call info, scroll down.

I used MTME's Color Infusion.  I wanted to change the green leaves to yellow and with digi papers it easy-peasy!   Lauren has a quite a few video tutorials on how to use the digital files and you can do it all by using a FREE digital program called GIMP.  I use Photoshop Elements 5.0 but they basically work the same.  If you have a specific question, I'll be happy to try to help you.  I'm no expert so you know that "If I can do it YOU can do it!"   Also, when you purchase any digi product it comes with instructions for use.  I'm having a lot of fun with these great digi papers and stamps.

I turned the sketch on it's side so I could use the tree patterned paper on the right side of the card.  I combined the digi stamps Happy Hallows and Wonderful Woodland Creatures.  Don't you think the baby moose is so cute?!  I tried to match my copic marker colors to the designer paper colors and had a few of the flower-leaves falling to the ground.   

I embossed the raspberry colored cardstock with the QuicKutz "leaves" embossing folder.  I couldn't decide which side I liked better the embossed or de-bossed side but ultimately I chose the de-bossed side.  I liked it so much that I used a larger piece than what was in the sketch so you could actually see it.  :)  

Thank you for your visit!  I appreciate each visit and comment!  I hope you will stop by the MTME Pretty Patterns blog and join in on the fun!  The sketch is below.  

~Design Team Call~

The sketch team is having a Design Team call.

• Requirements: Participate each week (having your card ready the night before the sketch goes up).
• Pay off: Access to MTME digi images & digi papers! (I LOVE THIS PART!)

Easy as pie!  If you think you’d like to be a part of our sketch team all you have to do is participate in each Pretty Pattern Sketch Challenge over the next 4 weeks (9/28 – 10/19), linking your entries up to the appropriate post!  Oh yeah, don’t forget to leave us a comment letting us know you are interested.  It’s that easy!!

Please link your projects up to the MTME Pretty Patterns Sketch challenges on the blog here.

Halloween Kitten

I am soooo late with this post!  I was supposed to have it up on Thursday morning for my MTME Pretty Patterns sketch design team but I was sick at the beginning of the week and then pulled a muscle in my back.  I couldn't even sit for more than just a few minutes at a time so making a card wasn't "in the cards" (doh!).   I'm doing quite a bit better, thankfully, so I finally have a card to share!  

I used MTME's Purr-fect Pumpkin digi stamp as the focal point.  I also used Color Infusion digi paper.  I printed the sentiment, "Happy Halloween" onto white cardstock and punched it out using Stampin' Up oval punch.  The pink polka-dot paper is from DCWV's Cherry Limade paper pack as is the pink paper that frames the sentiment and the image.

I just love these new images and papers from My Time Made Easy.  Come by their blog and enter our pretty pattern sketch!  Below is this week's sketch:

  

Thanks for stopping by!  I appreciate each visit and comment.  

Happy Birthday to..... ME! and more!

That's right!  Yesterday was my birthday... and the day before that was my sister's birthday.  I have a nephew who's birthday was on the 10th and my dad's birthday is on Saturday.  I also have a niece who's birthday is coming up in two weeks on Oct 3rd.  She just missed one of the busiest birthday months for my family.    I was so happy to find out that this month's theme for the TE Blast for the Past Blog Hop was "BIRTHDAY".  We could do either a new baby theme (and congratulations to Taylor for the birth of her first baby, Madelyn Grace, last week!) or a regular birthday.  I chose a girly birthday theme.

I used TE's Moka Olivia for the image and I cheated a little and used the sentiment from Moka Taylor for the "Happy Birthday".  Next month I'll be able to use Moka Taylor legally.  hehe!

I paper pieced the dress and hair band on Moka Olivia.  I think she's so cute!  

I used TE's Shopping Bag and labels die.  What a fun little bag!  I cut the top down a bit and added some glitter rick-rack for the handle.  Real tissue paper is on the inside.  In retrospect I should have put a lighter pink in it so it will show up better in the photos.  

Here's another angle so you can see the cute bag. 

The paper I used is DCWV Cherry Limeade Stack.  Lots of yummy colors, patterns and shininess.  ooooooooooohhhhhhh, shiny!  

Thank you for stopping by!  I hope you enjoy the rest of the blog hop!  

Witch Way

I have a little cutie to share with you today, Witch Way single digi stamp.  Isn't she cute?  I didn't want to color her with boring black and grey so I decided to use blue with a little pink to go with the paper, Trendy Forest.  I love this release!  

Here's a close up of the cutest witch around!  I colored her with copics and then cut her out (with her kitty of course).  I cut a circle out of yellow embossed paper.  I tried to get the embossing to show up in the photos but it doesn't show like I wanted it to.  I popped the witch up on pop-up dots and also popped up the moon to give ia a more 3-d dimension.  I think it's cute that my husband loves it when I layer with pop-up dots.  He's such a sweetie to get involved in my crafting.  :)

Below is an angle which shows the dimensions better.  

I really enjoyed using this week's sketch.  Please stop by and play along with us at My Time Made Easy Pretty Pattern sketch.  

 Thank you so much for stopping by!  I truly appreciate each visit and comment.  

Other challenges:
Make it Monday: anything goes
Simon Says Stamp:  use a film or song title as inspiration:  BEWITCHED!

Cute Turtle and sketch

Are you ready for another Pretty Patterns Sketch?  When I first saw the sketch all I saw was a flag of the USA... then I saw the awesome NEW PRODUCT over at My Time Made Easy and just knew I could find something else to do with the sketch.  I LOVE the new digi stamp sets and paper!  

I saw this cute turtle in the Wonderful Woodland Creatures and just HAD to use it first.  I've printed them all up and can't wait to use them! 

The horizontal line between the flowers made me think of the sketch... or the stripes can be vertical... but for the use of the sketch I had them be horizontal.  Then I remembered some great ribbon that I had in my stash and decided to use them as stripes in between the lines of the flowers.  I hope it's not too much!  And who can use ribbon and NOT have bows?  Not me!   

I used copics to color the turtle and tried to match him up with the colors of the paper.  I used Spellbinders to cut the background paper.  Love the lacy borders!

Below is the sketch.  The other design team members have made some great cards with different ideas then mine so head on over to My Time Made Easy's blog to check them out!

I hope now that summer is over and school has started, that we can get back into our routine. Don't forget to make some time for yourself every day if possible.  I hope you get a chance to play along with our sketch challenges.  

Other fun challenges:

The Ribbon Carousel Challenge: anything goes - use ribbon

Papertake Weekly:  Anything Goes

Stamp Something: use digi stamps

Cupcake Inspirations: 

Chase After Your Dreams

I made this card for a friend of mine who's daughter is in the hospital fighting leukemia.  This sweet girl, named Jessi, was born with CHD (congenital heart defects), has other developmental delays and issues and now has leukemia.  If you would like to send her a card, please let me know so I can send you the hospital address.  She is such a sweetie, I hate that she is battling such a terrible illness.  

I wanted to make a girly card with bright colors because I think that Jessi would like it.  Her mother, Jen, knows about how much my Jessica loved butterflies so I decided to send them a little bit of my Jess (butterflies on the card) to watch over them.

I used the digi stamp set: Chase Your Dreams  and the butterflies are from Tending The Garden.  I used the digi paper pack Fun Flowers.

I colored girl and butterflies with copics.  I hand-cut out the butterflies and use my Spellbinder's Nestablilities to cut out the focal image and sentiment.

I thought that the butterflies needed something behind them to help them stand out against the bright background.  I used a Martha Stewart punch to accomplish that.  I think the punch is called doily or has the word doily in it.  

Thank you for stopping by.  Don't forget to go to MTME's Pretty Pattern Sketch Blog  and see what the other designers have prepared for you.  I hope you will join us this week and play along with our sketch pictured below. 

Last but not least, My Time Made Easy has some great new releases for you today!  There are some great digi stamps, digi paper packs and cut files!  You can also check out Lauren's blog to see some great project ideas using the new products.  

Have a great weekend!