10/31/11

TLT - Distressing or Non-Traditional Christmas Colors SUE Style

Hey, hey - what a great challenge this week; not only did Sue choose the challenge, but we're bringing you another Stamp of the Month - which means you can purchase this image for HALF-PRICE the entire month of November!


I decided to do non-traditional colors AND monochromatic; this is the first time I've truly applied myself to doing mono-chromatic and I like it. A very CAS (clean and simple) card with a bit of embossing, some ribbon, some coloring and of course some snow!

The original panel was white, but I gave it a beige tint using VersaMagic Wheat and then edged it with VersaMagic Sahara Sand - all my colors were chosen from the Copics E grouping.



Thanks for stopping by to visit, be sure you stop by the TLT Challenge Blog and join us; great prizes to be had and we LOVE seeing all your creativity!

And go ahead, check out the amazing images at Ladybug Crafts Ink and while there, toss this cute little Nikki in your shopping cart for HALF-PRICE!

I'm also entering the Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Anything Goes!

... building a snowman, always fun! ...

Inside

Hugs, ~M.






WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps:  Ladybug Crafts Ink Nikki Building a Snowman
Papers:  GKD Cream, Dp by MME, PTI Dark Chocolate
Ink:  Memento Rich Cocoa, Memento Tuxedo Black, VersaMagic Wheat and Sahara Sand
Accessories:  Copics, Nesties, fluff stuff, misc. ribbon, quilt embossing folder

10/30/11

CIC 134


We are sponsored this week by

Thanks to them for sponsoring this challenge!!!


Our inspiration cake for this week:
I fell in love with the colors and since I'm a polka dot freak, that's what i went with! There just might be pumpkins on this cake; but I decided to go with a Christmas theme - HA! I'm such a rebel eh? I have an upcoming craft show and need to get some extra cards made and Christmas is just around the corner. 



I painted a piece of green card stock with white paint and then painted some large polka dots with the same paint; however, I didn't use quite enough paint b/c after I stamped the polka dots and lifted the stamp - some of the card stock came off too.  Eeeeekkkk...but then I decided it looked pretty neat, so I left it as it was! The green layer is mounted onto cream card stock with dimensionals.



The image is Christmas Usher from Penny Black. I stamped the image and cut it out; then stamped the skirt in vellum twice with Staz On pumpkin. You can't see, but I added glitter to the top layer of the skirt. I also adhered both layers of the skirt, just at the top, they are free to rise up a bit adding some fun depth and added a little orange ribbon belt.  

Her top is covered in dazzling diamonds; love this image - it's very large too!

So go ahead, take some inspiration from that amazing cake and then join the fun at Cupcake Inspirations!

Challenges entered:

Dream Valley Challenges - anything goes

... fall is in the air ...


Hugs, ~M.

WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: PTI Polka Dots and Penny Black Christmas Usher
Papers: Vellum, PTI Ripe Avacado and Cream
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Pumpkin Staz On
Accessories: misc. orange ribbon, Copics, Sparkle Gel, Dazzling Dianonds, Paint




10/28/11

Babies

Remember, TLT is doing "Oh Baby" this week and it's not too late to join the fun and show us YOUR creativity!

And since I showed you our youngest daughter earlier this week, I thought I would return and show you our oldest daughter...in her Halloween costume (she's 15).

Oh, we had such fun the night she dressed up - she attended her high school's Halloween dance and won 2nd place for her costume. I did her hair, eye makeup and lips and you might notice, she's quite the ham!

Enjoy!!

As always, thanks for stopping by even when it's NON-crafty related!

... Happy Halloweenie ...


Hugs, ~M.



10/27/11

Hambo Stamps - **NEW** Images

Freshly squeezed new rubbah in 'da house - oh wait...that's freshly squeezed juice!  :D

BUT Hambo Stamps does have new rubber to share with you; you can see all the new images an sentiments HERE! And that's not all, check out this amazing offer in celebration of HOGtoberfest:

To help celebrate HOGtoberfest and this new rubber release, Hambo Stamps has a little goodie for you! Include any of the new rubber designs or sentiments in your Pig Pen order - through October 31 - and a free stamp will be included with your order! The free stamp will be one of their current designs - no retirees here!

Isn't that great?

K, so on to my newest rubber image - SNOWMAN SLED - isn't he just the cutest? But wait, the sentiment is so cute too "Whee...wish you a season of joy!"




For the front, I layered on some vellum and edged it with cracked glass - I added Dazzling Diamonds to the other swirls of snow - mega sparkle! And my little snowman is totally 3D with lots of paper piecing and several layers for his scarf, head and glove!

Be sure to check out all the new images, totally worth spilling a little moolah in the Pig Pen!

Thanks for peeking in - I LOVE when you visit!

... WHEE ...

Hugs, ~M.



WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps:  Hambo Stamps Snowman Sled and Whee Sentiment
Papers:  PTI Hawaiian Shores, DP by MME, GKD White
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Broken China Distressed Ink
Accessories:  Copics, Nesties, paper piecing, cracked glass, Dazzling Diamonds, glue dots

10/25/11

TLT - Oh Baby Tams Style

This week, the TLT gals are making creations related to "Oh Baby" and although I wasn't able to make a card, I thought I would show you a picture of one of my babies!  :D

This picture was taken the day of the league volleyball championship tournament, as I mentioned before; the 7th grade team went UNDEFEATED this year - such a fun time they had!

Even though I couldn't play along, I hope you will!

Be sure to check out the amazing creations over at the TLT challenge blog!!


On a totally personal note; after almost 20 years of marriage, I can NEVER sleep when my hubby leaves on a business trip; therefore I have spent the last 2 nights in sheer turmoil of no sleep - in fact, I was up at 4:30 a.m. today. UGH...makes me miserable and you KNOW life does not slow down while he's gone - we have play practice, Halloween parties, costumes to finish, an anniversary to celebrate, not to mention my everyday job, etc. OH MY! Here's hoping for some decent sleep soon! LOL

Hugs,

10/23/11

CIC 133

We are sponsored this week by
One lucky person will win
Thanks to them for sponsoring this challenge!!!

Our inspiration cake for this week:


Anyone every buy 12 x 12 paper with die cuts and NEVER end up using those die cuts? Well I'm proud to say I used over half of mine from the "Boo to You" collection today on  my little project!

Each year at our elementary school, I sign up for a secret pal and we give them surprises throughout the year - this year they are doing it a bit differently - 3 or 4 people are assigned to "several" people rather than just one, so I made little treat bags for my 4 secret pals and then also for our son's teacher. This first picture is all 5 bags together. For 4 of the treat bags, I used a new die from Verve Visual - Curvy Bookplate Die with the matching stamp as the background - not that you can really see it, but its there.  HA!

Below is pictures of each individual bag:






Our 13 year old daughter helped me put these together so it went super quick - such fun and we'll deliver them to the teachers tomorrow as our son will be gone the rest of the week!

Be sure to join us this week at Cupcake Inspirations-how could anyone not be inspired by that delightfully ghoulish cake`!

... BOO to you ...

Hugs, ~M.

WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: Verve Visual Tag Time
Papers: PTI Orange Zest
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: black ribbon, Boo to You by MME die cuts, black chevron gift bags from Mish Mash, Curvy Bookplate die from Verve Visual


10/22/11

Hope You Can Cling To

SCS is sponsoring the 2nd annual "Hope You Can Cling To" challenge, a month long card drive benefiting breast cancer patients at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas.

Hambo Stamps is one of the sponsors for the event - seriously, you want to see some funny images and sentiments - go ahead, hop on over to the Pig Pen and check out their selection (HUGE sale going on right now too)! CLICK HERE!

Are you back? K, let's move on to my creation which is for Judy's Challenge - Treat Yourself! I used Hambo's super cute little cupcake and paper pieced both the wrapper and the frosting with a bit of accenting with Copic markers. I added white enamel as the accents on the frosting - seriously scrumptious cupcake eh?

I made a card quite some time ago with circles similar to this and liked it, so I decided to do it again - this time on a square card. Designer papers are from Echo Park and MME; I also added some funky stitching around the outer edge.

The inside is decorated also and I added some glimmer and splotches with Chocolate Glimmer Mist - just looks yummy!  :D


I look forward to sending this card off to MD Anderson Cancer Center and thanks to SCS for sponsoring such a great event! Hope you'll take time to join one, two or ALL the challenges over at SCS!

... cute little cuppies to you and yours ...

Hugs, ~M.


WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: Hambo Stamps Cupcake
Papers: PTI Dark Chocolate, Kraft, Sweet Blush, Pure Poppy, DP by MME and Echo Park, GKD White
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black and Rich Cocoa
Accessories: nesties, Copics, Janome Sew Mini, white enamel accents, 3D yellow glaze pen (candle flame)

10/20/11

Have a ball this fall!

Remember this tin I made - filled with Banana Laffy Taffy? Well, we saved it till our son's teacher's birthday this past week. She's a huge K-State fan so that's the card requested by our son! He was very clear on what colors I should/could use - HA!

Their colors are purple, grey and white, so I made a K-State little football player - I hear she was thrilled, so hopefully I did her team justice!

Of course the football player needed to have red hair, cause our son has red hair...same as the banana boy on the tin!  :D

This handsome young football player comes from Hambo Stamps and isn't that sentiment just perfect for him? I love how his shirt/jersey drags the ground!

And, I heard a rumor that Hambo Stamps HOGtoberfest has started - that's some serious fun over there in the pig pen - hurry and don't miss out on this great event! Just check out the sale page for all the deets (sale runs through Wednesday, October 26).

Thanks for stopping by to see my little K-State football player!
... happy fall ya'll ....


Hugs, ~M.


WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps:  Hambo Stamps Football Boy and Have a Ball
Papers:  PTI Plum Pudding,SU! Going Grey, GKD White
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories:  Copics, Nesties, 




10/19/11

The card that took half my lifetime...

OK, you KNOW that title isn't true, but it felt like that! My printer decided this past weekend it didn't desire to play nice with me.  :(

So I'm really delayed in getting my Cupcake Inspiration project done - and as I always say, when you leave home at 7:15 a.m. and return home after practices at either 8:30 p.m. or 9:30 p.m., it's just tough to squeeze all the time in. BUT the schedule is definitely slowing down for a few weeks - I should be able to stop pulling my hair out!  WHEE!!

Here's the deets behind the challenge:


We are sponsored this week by Prairie Fairy Designs.

One lucky person will win 5 digis of their choice!


Our inspiration cupcakes this week:

I loved using Gillian Brewing Spells - such an adorable image, love it! Of course as alluded to above, I began coloring the image on Monday and was just able to get everything finished up tonight! The layout is Mojo Monday #211. I flipped it around a bit and used my cute little spider up in the corner...and of course I had to add some googly eyes to him!

The extra you see below the card is the decorated envie!


I also added glossy accents to Gillian's glasses as well as the frog's eyes. See that bubbly brew - oooo, looking quite tasty, don't you think? Once it was colored, I added some glossy accents and sparkle for a bit of fun! The sentiment was self-created and added over a couple colorful nesties, "Eat, drink & be scary!".

Thanks for looking; glad you stuck with me to get my project done. 

And super quick before I go, we're looking for some new design team members - check it out:
Hugs, ~M.

... brewing special spells just for you...

WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: Prarie Fairy Image Gillian Brewing Spells
Papers: PTI Orange Zest, Summer Sunrise, Plum Pudding and Simply Chartreuse, GKD White, DP by MME (Boo to You)
Ink:  NONE!
Accessories: nesties, Copics, multi-liner gel pen for fuax stitching, glossy accents,clear glitter, dimensionals

10/17/11

TLT - Circles, Pink, Chocolate MICHELE Style


Hey, hey - that's MY challenge!

The other Ladybugs know how much I dislike choosing a challenge, so I threw together some of my fave things and called it a challenge.  :D

This week, the TLT gals are making creations with Circles, Pink and Chocolate - it can be a round card, a circle on a square card, circles in your DP - doesn't matter, we're easy to play along with ya know!

And remember last week when I made these tags:

I used ONLY the balloons from Birthday Cake Robyn. I loved coloring them; I cut one set of balloons out completely using a craft knife to cut around the strings and the other image, I cut out just the balloons - lots of dimension in the balloons! I also added a thin layer of glossy accents to the balloons.

Well this week I used the same image, Birthday Cake Robyn, but this time I used the whole image for another round card.  I LOVE round cards! I used two nesties for the front and back and then offset the scallops when I put the card together - love how that looks.

Yeah, just tilt your head sideways - it'll all line up for ya!  :D

I included a little snapshot of the inside - the pink paper has scallops along the top also.



DP is My Mind's Eye - OF COURSE - also used lots of Chocolate (fat free is good eh?) and pink. I paper pieced each of the balloons, I sponged the cream circle with VersaMagic Pixie Dust and Pink Petunia, colored Robyn's crown with a glitter pen - she's queen for a day, much like me on my birthday - and finished it up with a fun sentiment on the inside.

Thanks for stopping by to visit, be sure you stop by the TLT Challenge Blog and join us; great prizes to be had and we LOVE seeing all your creativity!

PS - on a personal note? Our daughter's 7th grade volleyball team went undefeated this year and took the League Championship Saturday - DANG, we had so much fun and what an amazing year!!!

Here's a picture of the group; our daughter is on the far right, bottom row (#1).  I'm one extremely proud momma!!!


... birthdays are always fun ...

Hugs, ~M.


WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps:  Ladybug Crafts Ink Birthday Cake Robyn
Papers:  GKD Cream, DP by MME, PTI Dark Chocolate
Ink:  Memento Rich Cocoa, VersaMagic Pink Petunia and Pixie Dust
Accessories:  Copics, Nesties, glitter pen, paper piecing

10/14/11

Carve 'em...

It's that time of year - Halloween - always such a fun time of year! I love this image from Hambo Stamps - Pumpkin Trio - but what makes it really great? The sentiment I used, "Carve 'em if you've got 'em (Happy Autumn)", gotta admit, the sentiment makes me chuckle!

Our kids LOVE to carve pumpkins...too ooey gooey and yucky for me, but my hubster and the kids can play all they want in that goo!  HA!

I used The Sweet Stop layout (#129) - it's an older layout making the rounds again and it's a good one!



I colored the pumpkins with Copics and sponged around the edges with VersaMagic ink. I used a yellow Spica glitter pen on the eyes (although tough to see in the photos). I used a black multi-liner pen to create the faux stitching and those lime green sparkly gems? I have had them F-O-R-E-V-E-R - love them and thought they were a fun touch. And I mustn't forget, I added "googly eyes" to my little spider...he's kinda cute eh?

The paper is last year's MME, "Boo to You".

Thanks for stopping by; hope you have a great weekend!

... happy halloweenie to you ....


Hugs, ~M.


WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps:  Hambo Stamps Pumpkin Trio and Carve 'Em
Papers:  PTI Smokey Shadow, Orange Zest, DP by MME
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black,VersaMagic green
Accessories:  Copics, Nesties, Spica glitter pen, sponging, multi-liner for faux stitching


10/10/11

TLT - TAGS Pinky Style

Oh, I really liked this challenge - LOTS!

The TLT ladies are back with another fabulous challenge - TAGS. But before I move on to my project, don't forget that Nikki Running with Buttercup is the "Stamp of the Month" which will be available for purchase at 1/2 price! What a steal!

Okay, on to my project - I made 2 tags to add to b-day gift bags in a heartbeat - just gussy up the b-day bag and tie on the tag, how cool is that? The tags were made so you can add your birthday message on the back - I love them, do you?





Even more fun? I used ONLY the balloons from Birthday Cake Robyn. I loved coloring them; I cut one set of balloons out completely using a craft knife to cut around the strings and the other image, I cut out just the balloons - lots of dimension in the balloons! I also added a thin layer of glossy accents to the balloons. The words were added from the It's Only Words 2, I cut the "Happy Birthday" apart and mounted with coordinating card stock.

Here's some photos of each individual tag as well as close-up pix of each.

Thanks for stopping by to visit, be sure you stop by the TLT Challenge Blog and join us; great prizes to be had and we LOVE seeing all your creativity!


... birthday balloons ...

Hugs, ~M.


WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps:  Ladybug Crafts Ink Birthday Cake Robyn and It's Only Words 2
Papers:  GKD White, PTI Raspberry Fizz and Simply Chartreuse, Spots by Echo Park
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories:  Copics, Nesties, twine, glossy accents, dimensional boosts

10/9/11

CIC 131 - Kenny K






















We are sponsored this week by



















This week's challenge is extra special! 
Kenny K's prizes will go to three winners!!!
1st Prize is 3 digi's
2nd Prize is 2 digi's
3rd Prize is 1 digi
How cool is that???? Thanks to them for sponsoring this challenge!!!

We have two inspiration cakes for this week! Choose whichever you like or both!

I bet you can tell which picture I used, eh?  :) And I used Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #138!

Sorry my post is short and sweet but life is CRAY-CRAY-CRAZY...a continuation of last week, but no worries, I'll beat it back in line in no time!

Be sure to join us this week at Cupcake Inspirations-the prizes are AMAZING!

Hugs, ~M.

WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: Kenny K Digi Image
Papers: PTI Raspberry Fizze, DP by Echo Park, GKD White
Ink:  VersaMagic Wheat
Accessories: nesties, Copics, PTI ric rac large die and large scallop die, black multi-liner pen for faux stitching`


10/6/11

Forever in Our Hearts + SFYTT

Hi friends - how's your week going?

Mine is going good; very busy as usual with a super busy weekend ahead.

The mother of one of the executive's I work for passed away last weekend; the service is tomorrow (Friday). Unfortunately we have a big event at work in which I'm handling the food, set up, coffee, etc. - breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack, so I won't be able to attend the service. Therefore, I wanted to make sure and send a sympathy card.

I'm telling you, EVERY card is easy when you use MME paper - I am so addicted to almost every single 6x6 paper pad they offer - LOL! But obviously that works well for me (think of me as the paper matching challenged chick - HA).

So, this is the card I came up with, once again I used Verve's Forever in Our Hearts stamp set - LOVE. THIS. SET. FOR. EVERY. SYMPATHY. CARD I've ever made - amazing! BTW, Verve is having a huge sale right now AND donating a portion of the proceeds to Breast Cancer Research - it's a great deal, check it out (no affiliation, just love their products)!

The layout is Jen's Sketch For You To Try for October - fabby sketch; loved using it here! I embossed the yellow paper and then rubbed on some VersaMagic Jumbo Java. I also sponged all the DP with Jumbo Java as well as distressing the 2 base layers. The chocolate baker's twine was originally chocolate and white but I changed it to chocolate and an aqua blue, using Copics, to match the paper - LOVE IT!



The main panel was stamped with the large and small foilage in a really soft VersaMagic blue - in fact, it's next to impossible to see in the pictures - but it's there!  I also stamped one of the birds in the upper right-hand corner, stamped the main sentiment and curled the corner.  I decorated the inside a bit too.

Losing loved ones is so difficult; I hope this cards brightens he and his family's day and let's them know I'm thinking of them.







Have a great weekend friends!
Hugs, ~M.




WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps:  Verve Visual Forever in our Hearts
Papers:  PTI Summer Sunrise and Dark Chocolate, DP by MME
Ink:  Memento Dark Chocolate, VersaMagic Jumbo Java and blue, PTI Summer Sunrise
Accessories:  Copics, sponging, cuttlebug embossing folder, PTI's chocolate baker's twine, Heidi Swapp distressing tool, MS border punch




10/4/11

Hambo Hoedown - Flower Monster Digi

Oh what fun - all the *new* Bacon Bits are posting today for the Hambo Hoedown using this ultra cute Flower Monster Digi... seriously, is he not the cutest monster taking a little chomp on that flower? LOL You get TWO sentiments with this digi and I chose to use the "If friends were flowers...I'd chews you!" - seriously adorable!

And the challenge: create a project that uses an item that starts with the first letter of your first name! And to be Queen of the Hoedown (coolest title evah), just check out the deets at the Hoedown page and then play along!

Since my name starts with an "M", I used my all-time favorite DP - My Mind's Eye (floral panel)!  :D

I used Karen's super cute Sweet Sunday Sketch Layout #137...I "might" have added a few more layers than the sketch shows but that's okay; layouts are a great jumping off point. Beyond that, I followed it pretty closely! And it just made sense to layer the Flower Monster Digi onto a flower nestie! I used a white gel pen to add some stitching.

A few other 'additions' to this card that you might not realize are there...I'll tell you what they are: the brown polka dots? They weren't there - that paper was a nice white color, so I stamped all the polka dots then aged the paper with PTI's tea dye ink and Antique Linen Distress Ink. AND I layered the little monster twice, and then layered the flower a 3rd time - isn't that fabby?  **love**

Hope you take time this week to join us over at the Hambo Hoedown.

... chewy monsters can be CAH-UTE ...

Hugs, ~M.


WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps:  Hambo Stamps Flower Monster Digi
Papers:  GKD white, PTI Simply Chartreuse and Dark Chocolate
Ink:  Memento Dark Chocolate, PTI Tea Dye Ink, Antique Linen Distress Ink
Accessories:  Copics, Nesties, sponging, white gel pen, PTI scalloped border die, pop dots,spica glitter pen