TLT - Sewing Faux or Real Anita Style

Greetings!  It's another TLT challenge, this time issued by sweet Anita - Stitching Faux or Real...I decided to do some of both!

I used Shopping Nikki and found something really cool while working on this!  You can see I added zig zag stitching to the main card, the decorative rectangle and then faux stitching on the main panel.

I really enjoyed coloring Shopping Nikki; I decided to add white enamel for her buttons but before the enamel was totally dry, I smashed them flat - how cool is that?  I LOVE how they turned out!

The rest is straightforward; nothing fancy, although I did paper piece each of the 4 shopping bags.  Love how that looks!

Won't you join us with your very own creation with faux or real stitching?  There is always a fabulous prize to be won and we love seeing what you create!  You can find all the deets HERE!

Hope to see your creation this week; thanks for stopping by and have a great week!  Hugs, ~M.



WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: Ladybug Crafts Ink Shopping Nikki 
Papers:  GKD Cream, PTI Simply Chartreuse, Hawaiian Shores, DP by MME
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, VersaMagic Wheat, Jumbo Java
Accessories:  Copics, nesties, white enamel, sewing, paper piecing

Repeat Impressions SOTW - Mountain Vista

Hi friends!  WOW; what an amazing weekend; our youngest daughter was in a basketball tournament; they went undefeated and won the championship Sunday evening.  Fun, fun, fun!

Glad you stopped by; it's another Stamp of the Week from Repeat Impressions; I love this image; you can do so many things with it!

I went for more of a tranquil-type card; ivory on ivory, some embossing, lots of Antique Linen Distress Ink, some crocheted ribbon, liquid pearls, button, twine and that's it!  I love the way it turned out; but it was REALLY hard to photograph!

I used one of my all-time favorite punches along the bottom - Arch Lattice.  I used a bit of Copics on the image, but not much, again I wanted to keep it very simple.  I added liquid pearls to each scallop of the nestie.

This week, and this week only, you can purchase this same stamp for 50% off - don't miss out; you can get all the details HERE.

Thanks for stopping by; hope you have a great week.  Hugs, ~M.


WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: Repeat Impressions Mountain Vista
Papers:  GKD Cream
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories:  nesties, Copics, ribbon from MFT Stamps, misc. button, twine and vintage tag

Viva la Verve - Week 4

If you are looking for my RI What If? Wednesday sketch, just click HERE.

Ah, I have LOVED playing along with Verve's Viva la Verve Sketches; this one uses the week 4 sketch and LOTS of fun, colorful DP!

I stamped the large outline flower from Verve's Great Friend set 3 times onto DP by MME and cut out each layer.  I edged each layer with VersaMagic Jumbo Java and curled up the edges just a bit - love that the DP is two-sided, so even the "back side" looks great!  The flower was layered onto Labels Nine nesties.  More DP for the background, a bit of straight stitching and zig zag stitching, then I stamped this adorable vintage tag I purchased from Mish Mash with "For You" and used the string from the tag to thread through 2 buttons and tie in a bow.  Love how it turned out; in fact, the card just makes me smile.  Love the bright, cheerful colors.

Thanks for popping by today and thanks for your special wishes on our anniversary yesterday.  It was an AMAZING day and next week we're off for a little rendezvous, just the 2 of us.  My mom will be watching the little ones for us.  W@@T, W@@T....I "might" be a teeny tiny bit EXCITED!  HA


Have a great week; hugs, ~M.


WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: Verve Visual Great Friend
Papers:  PTI Hibiscus Burst, Simply Chartreuse, DP by MME
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Memento Rich Cocoa and VersaMagic Jumbo Java
Accessories:  vintage tag, PTI buttons, nesties, spica glitter pen, PTI Hibiscus Burst ribbon

Repeat Impressions What If? Wednesday

This week, we have another fabulous sketch from Wendy - check it out HERE.  You can also see all the other amazing creations from the Rock Stars.  And don't forget to join us; we want to see YOUR take on this same sketch!

I had to use what I think has become my newest fave stamp from Repeat Impressions, Tulip Bouquet; it's so gorgeous!

I went with a very CAS card; a few layers, a bit of stitching, some sponging, coloring and ohh-la-la, I like it!  The image was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black and colored with Copics - pretty straightforward.  I did add some pearls per the sketch but then also added 3 tiny pearls to the stamped image panel.  These pearls are a light blue and perfectly match PTI's Aqua Mist.

Thanks for stopping by; can't wait to see what you create!  Have a great weeks; hugs, ~M.


WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: Repeat Impressions Tulip Bouquet
Papers:  PTI Aqua Mist, Sweet Blush and Basic Grey DP
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories:  nesties, pearls, Copics, stitching

Happy Anniversary JAG!

If you are looking for my TLT Blog Hop; please click HERE.

Today we celebrate 19 years of marriage - man, I am SO very blessed!

I used Verve Visual's "Get Your Diva On" challenge for my inspiration; those flowers, that heart (cuz you KNOW he has my heart), just lots of fun, fun stuff going on here!  Then I used week 3 of their February Viva La Verve challenge for the layout.

On one acrylic block, I laid out all these sentiments from Verve Visual's Love Notes and then a little heart at the bottom; all the sentiments had special meaning to me when I think of my hubby; I then used the Spiral Notebook Die from PTI and stamped the entire block of sentiments onto the die a couple of times.  LOVE the look.  I curled the top of the notebook die and the bottom right-hand corner and edged it in Chamomile Tea Dye Ink.

Of course I HAD to add a heart doily; the 3 flowers were made with MFT Stamps floral dies and used in place of the envelope on the sketch; I also added chocolate pearls to the center of each flower.  Did another scrunchy ribbon using PTI's sweet blush ribbon.

The heart was cut with Verve Visual's Jotted Heart Die, then I stamped the heart in 2nd generation Memento Rich Cocoa and added the sentiment in Pink Pastel Chalk.  I colored in the heart with Copics and then edged the heart and the entire sentiment with a Clear Spica Glitter pen.

Hopefully you can see some of the details in these shots; I just love how it turned out.  Yeah, it might be a little feminine BUT I know he will love it...cuz he loves me.

I am blessed, so very blessed!  I love you JAG!

Have a great week; hugs, ~M.


WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: Verve Visual Love Notes
Papers:  Basic Grey DP, PTI Dark Chocolate, Sweet Blush, Kraft
Ink:  Memento Rich Cocoa, Colorbox Pink Pastel Chalk, Chamomile Tea Dye Ink
Accessories:  Chocolate pearls, Copics, MS border punch, PTI sweet blush ribbon, Verve Visual Jotted Heart Die, Floral Dies from MFT Stamps, heart doily

TLT - Blog Hop

Greetings friends!  It's TLT Tuesday and we have some great N-E-W treasures for you!  Kerry is releasing some AMAZING new images; I just love these!  One lucky person will win the entire new release; meanwhile 4 other people will each win one of the images and these are SO WORTH IT!

And I don't want to forget the generous offer Kerry is making - ALL the images are available for preorder:

The stamps will retail for £6.99 but you can pre-order them for £5.99 until March 8th.

Be sure to grab the blog hop banner to display on your blog, follow along with the hop, submit your answer (adding all the numbers together) to lcichallengeblog@aol.com and then join the fun and create your own project using 2 papers, 3 flowers and 1 image.  My number is 5!

I'm first up on the blog hop; to see all the deets, begin HERE; up after me is Gorgeous Gaelle!

Meanwhile, I am working with "Amber", she looks JUST LIKE ME - ha ha ha....well, in my cheerleading days at least!  I cheered throughout Junior High and High School so I had to go back to my high school colors - red and white.  And with Domi's ingredients (2 papers, 3 flowers and 1 image) this is what I created.

The inside says "HOORAY"; this image and sentiments can be used for any occasion you want to celebrate.  I just *heart* this little girl!


I paper pieced her uniform to really make it pop and accented the stripes on her top and skirt with a white gel pen!  Great chance to use up more flowers too.  I can't WAIT to see what you create with these amazing new images, so don't wait - preorder yours TODAY!  Thanks for stopping by; head on over to Gaelle's blog to see her amazing creation!

Thanks for popping in; have a great week; hugs, ~M.


WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: Ladybug Crafts Ink 
Papers:  SU! DP, GKD White, PTI Pure Poppy

Accessories:  Copics, white gel pen, misc. prima flowers, misc. brad

Kaity-bug's Valentine

First, a side note; if you are Sandee from Sandee's Creations, please contact me regarding the Tulip Bouquet, I have the information you requested, but don't have any way to reach you!!

after shrinking

Our youngest daughter has a boyfriend...hmmmm...well, like a real boyfriend, her FIRST boyfriend - you know, not the kind where you change who you like every other day...make sense?  I should also mention this is my first experience with one of my kids having a boyfriend/girlfriend, LOL; so I'm a bit lost, a bit nosey, a bit protective - all those things; but what a great kid for Kaity-bug to like!  He's a fabulous kid, his family is GREAT and we've really enjoyed getting to know them.  Kaity-bug and he have basketball in common (serious basketball, favorite NBA players, favorite college teams, they love playing basketball with their teams, etc) and we love watching his team play when we get the chance!  I've told Kaity-bug several times that I like their relationship, it's full of respect and kindness - THAT speaks volumes to this momma!

Anyway, for Valentine's Day, she got him several miscellaneous things but what to put them in?  We decided to decorate another gift bag (like THIS one) in his college team's fave colors - black and gold/yellow (Wichita State University). 

And I seldom make shrinky dinks but I LOVE THEM; and this was a perfect time to use them.  We traced the letters of his name onto white shrink plastic, cut them out, stamped them with basketballs and then shrunk them.  We ultimately tied them onto the bag; I had wanted to use a ball chain for the letters so he could put them on a key ring or something like that, but ultimately the holes were too small.  That's OK, we can try it again soon!

We purchased the 3D basketball court and basketball at Hobby Lobby, I think they are adorable.

Anyway, straightforward, a basketball stamp, card stock, paper, felt, dies, shrink plastic and voila - a super fun gift sack!

AND for a bit more fun; here's pictures of Kaity-bug and her special Valentine!  Aren't they just the CUTEST?  LOL

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for sharing in this momma's first experience with boyfriends - so far, so good!  :D  Hope you have a GREAT Friday; hugs, ~M.

PS - sorry for the awful pictures, it was midnight by the time I finished the project and could take photos.  :D



WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: Misc. Basketball
Papers:  PTI Harvest Gold, Smokey Shadow, Misc. DP
Ink:  Staz On Pumpkin
Accessories:  shrink plastic, twine, PTI dies and felt, 3D basketball court & basketball

Sweet Treats + SFYTT February 2011

This is my last Valentine card I made this year...although I should probably warn you, my anniversary is JUST around the corner so you'll see another lovey-dovey card before February is over!  :D

I once again used Jen's Sketch for You to Try February 2011 - LOVE IT; I've already used it twice this month.  Yeah, check it out - it's that good!

This time I used Verve Visual's Sweet Treats stamp set along with a new die (Classy Label).  I colored the borders with a red Copic and added glitter; I layered the main image onto a Pure Poppy circle and then a Kraft decorative nestie - you KNOW how much I love those decorative nesties!  I layered all of these onto a white heart doily, ahhh love!

The DP is from Stampin' Up!, and yes, I've had it forever; I added this gorgeous chocolate ribbon from MFT Stamps and finished it with a pom pom ribbon from my LSS.  All this was layered onto PTI's Kraft, Dark Chocolate and mounted with dimensionals onto Pure Poppy.

I hope your Valentine's Day was extra special - ours was spent with a very sick little girl; in fact, I went to work today (Tuesday) at 6:30 a.m. to get my basic required duties done then I've been home with her all day.  Not sure if she'll be able to go back to school tomorrow or not.    :(

Anyway; hope you have a great week.  Thanks for popping in; I really do appreciate your visit!  Hugs, ~M.


WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: Verve Visual Sweet Treats
Papers:  DP by SU!, PTI Kraft, Pure Poppy and Dark Chocolate
Ink:  Memento Rich Cocoa, PTI Pure Poppy
Accessories:  Verve Visual Classy Label Die, Copics, Nesties, heart doily

TLT - Anything BUT a Card Mary J Style

Gift Bag, Close Up of Image

Oh yes, the Lovely Ladybugs are B-A-C-K with another challenge - ANYTHING BUT A CARD per Mary J.  (I might have cheated..let's see) - HA!

Full Gift Bag

Be sure to check out the Challenge Blog and join the fun; always a great prize and you know, I think those bragging rights are as good as the prize (tee hee)!!

I so love our challenges each week although this one was really tough for me; I was so limited on time due to a basketball tournament out of town, homecoming and a dance our oldest daughter attended. Sheesh - I'm exhausted; not to mention we have a sick little girl.  I had to pick her up early from school today.  :(

Gift Bag w/Matching Card

Poor tyke.

Anyway, I'm sure you're not hear to read about my crazy life - like yours isn't crazy too huh!

OK, I created a decorated gift bag and I LOVE IT!  I love all those circles on the background paper - aren't they so cool?  The paper is PTI's "It's Official" DP.  The gift sack is red (or PTI Pure Poppy when matching colors); I added a layer of Dark Chocolate, the DP and a strip of Simply Chartreuse felt.  And being ever so mindful of using my supplies, I used the "holes" from the decorative lace die for the bottom cupcake - hee, cool eh?  I also added clear sparkles to the cherries on the top cupcake & yellow sparkles to the center of each flower (hair & dress).

I colored in this little Cupcake Cutie and I may or may not have added those adorable white polka dots to her little dress!  :D  Can't help myself, so stinking cute!

Matching Birthday Card

This afternoon after I brought our sick baby home, I snuck downstairs to make a matching card!  Eeek....Mary J is gonna get me!  But what a great gift package; decorated gift bag and matching card - love it!

I added a triple looped bow to the card; the decorative scalloped circle opens to write your message inside; I tried to color the image on the card as close as possible to the image on the gift bag - I think I came pretty close.

AND before I forget, be sure to join us next week cuz the Ladybugs are going to be hopping with some BRAND NEW RUBBAH!  Oh yeah!!

Hope you've enjoyed all the creations by the Ladybugs and don't forget to join the challenge, we LOVE seeing what you create!!  Have a great week; hugs, ~M.




WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: Ladybug Crafts Ink Cupcake Cutie
Papers:  GKD White, PTI Pure Poppy, Dark Chocolate and Simply Chartreuse
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories:  Copics, white gel pen, nesties, PTI felt, Spica Glitter Pen

Repeat Impressions SOTW - Tulip Bouquet

This week, the RI Rock Stars are showing off the "Tulip Bouquet" - it's this week's Stamp of the Week at Repeat Impressions which means you can purchase this same stamp for 50% off - be sure to stop by The House That Stamps Built to get in on a great deal!

I went all CAS with classy lavender and purple; LOVE how this turned out.  I braided some ribbon through the decorative scalloped circle, adhered the final two ends on the back side (which is covered with a lavender nestie so no loose ends show); then made a double-bow with my bow easy and adhered it with glue dots.  The ribbon has wire in it, so it was a bit easier to manipulate and really stands its shape very well.

Be sure to check out what all the other amazing Rock Stars have created while you're visiting The House That Stamps Built.

I've had a crazy weekend with a basketball tournament Saturday and Sunday - 6 games in all; Kaitlyn played in 4 of those games, the other 2 were a friend we were watching.  Hour drive each way - that's 4 hours of driving and I'm exhausted.  I think Bleacher Butt makes me T-I-R-E-D!!!  LOL

Hope you've had a great weekend; thanks for stopping by to visit!  Hugs, ~M.

And before I go:  Happy Valentine's Day!  

WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: Repeat Impressions Tulip Bouquet
Papers:  PTI Lavendar Moon & Plum Pudding, GKD Cream
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories:  nesties, pearls, Copics, misc. gems

Another Teen Valentine

Believe it or not, I STILL have one more Valentine card to show you, but it has those "typical" colors; oh the ones I'm in love with - red, pink, cream, brown, kraft - scrumptious!

But today, I have another male teen card I needed to create and I used a new technique.  Oh, the technique's been around FOREVER, but since I'm not THAT old, I just tried it out - LOL!  Bouncing Brayer technique; I used the instructions on Splitcoaststampers by Charmaine - very, very simple.  Didn't work out "perfectly" but I still think it rocks!

This is just a flip card - flip it over, write your message and voila, good to go!  VERY simple! The image is another from the Inkadinkado set, like THIS one.  Super fun silhouette!

Well, we're off to a basketball tournament this weekend, we'll get home tonight about 11:30 p.m. and back again tomorrow - 1 hour and 15 min. drive each way - WHOA!  I, once again, hope those cleaning fairies show up; they've really let me down lately.  HA HA HA

Have a great weekend friends!  Hugs, ~M.


WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: Verve Visual Love Notes and Inkadinkado 
Papers:  GKD White, PTI Simply Chaurtreuse and Harvest Gold
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Spectrum Twist
Accessories:  brayer, nesties, Copics

Valentine Card - are you sure?

 L@@KIE!!!!  A valentine card in which I DID NOT use pink, red, or cream (but I did have to use Kraft and Brown) - AMAZING eh?  I know, SHUT UP and get back up off the floor and let's check this out!   LOL

I used Jen's Sketch for You to Try February 2011; GREAT sketch - so good, I've used it twice already (but the other one uses all those colors mentioned above, so I'm holding out on you for a few more days.  tee hee

This one uses these amazing papers from MME - Ooh La La For Him.  I used images from Inkadinkao (although I don't have the set name in front of me right now - sorry)!  I have one more card to show you with an image from this set - they are all ROCKIN'!

Inside View

This set also has this cool image of circles and such which I stamped in 2nd generation on the left-hand piece of DP; cool look.  I also once again stamped directly onto the Twill ribbon with Memento Rich Cocoa alternating the sentiment "You Rock!" and the 3 hearts - always love how that looks!

Thanks for looking; hope your heart palpitations have settled a bit knowing I made a Valentine Day card WITHOUT using those colors listed above.  HA HA

Have a fantabulous Friday; hugs, ~M.


WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: Verve Visual Love Notes and Inkadinkado 
Papers:  MME Ooh La La For Him, PTI Dark Chocolcate, Ocean Tide and Kraft
Ink:  Memento Rich Cocoa
Accessories:  twill ribbon, nesties, sponging

Me and my Tutu

Admit it,  you came back JUST to see me in my tutu didn't you?

Well...SURPRISE; it's my little ballerina pig (is there a resemblance do you think?)!   It's another great sketch challenge over at The House That Stamps Built AND I used this week's Stamp of the Week (Ballerina Pig) which YOU can purchase for 50% off this week only; just check the deets HERE! 

I had so much fun making this card cuz you KNOW I had to give her tutu some white polka dots!  :D  Isn't she cute?  The inside of the card says "Hogs and; Kisses" - love that!

Some misc. DP, Aqua Mist and cream card stock, quick simple and oh so fun.  Be sure to check out what all the Rock Stars have created then take some time yourself to join the fun!

Rock Stars:

• Ayana Posadas
• Dana Joy
• Darsie Bruno
• Harriet Skelly
• Joy Hadden
• Karen Hasheck
• Lynette Neus
• Makiko Jones
• Robin Kirkpatrick

Hope you are having a great week - STAY WARM wherever you may be.  As I type, we have 6" snow accumulation with 3-4" more expected tonight.  WOW; I've really had enough of winter!

AND thanks for stopping by ever so hopeful you would see ME in my tutu....Hayley, shame on you for looking for the whips!!

Hugs, ~M.


WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: Repeat Impressions Ballerina Pig
Papers:  PTI Berry Sorbet & Aqua Mist, GKD Cream, Misc. DP
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black & Rich Cocoa, PTI Pure Poppy
Accessories:  nesties, Copics,white gel pen