I have mentioned numerous times that my daughter Alexa LOVES writing poems. Many of you asked to hear some of them.

This is so special and important to me because these are things that medical professionals tried to convince me she would never do (I knew better!) and now this AMAZING, beautiful, strong willed, loving, smart and sweet girl is the brightest spot in my life. I can’t even imagine having to go through it without her. The gift I would have tossed away. How sad the thoughts make me. She is precious. She is just like everyone else. She has good days, bad days, she laughs, she cries, she feels happiness and pain….she understands everything though she may not always say it right at that moment. She truly sees the world through an amazing set of eyes. She touches lives everywhere she goes. She brings something special to the world.

I think she is very good at writing her poems.  I just LOVE reading what she thinks about or associates a topic with. All the memories she expresses on her own! A true gift to our family. I find her ability to express herself in this way so wonderful for her, but selfishly myself too. I feel like I can really get into what is often in her head, but may go unsaid, or unexpressed. To actually hear what she feels and thinks about things in such a manner touches my heart. I truly cherish every word she writes.

I love being able to see her do so well with her reading and writing skills too as these are vital to her future independence in the big world. I truly believe someday she could make a career writing. She says she wants to be a “story writer” someday. I fully plan to encourage that dream she has for herself! The world in going big places with the Internet, she could easily be employed in this manner someday.

My friend Kristin said I should publish her poems in a book for her, and I think I will do that!

Her biological father currently has the book of ALL her poems from last year and I am PRAYING he gets it back to me. He has had it for several months and I don’t think he cherishes it nearly the same as I. Looking back I never should have let him take it with him when he did! UGH! I keep asking for it. I bet he lost it. OK let’s not go there. This is a happy post! LOL!

SO today I am sharing a poem she wrote after her doctors appointment on Wednesday. She asked me for a subject, as she was stumped. I told her to write what she thinks about Spring!

Here it is

—————————————

Spring Is

By Alexa Kauppila

Grass grows

Pretty butterflies

The birds are singing

Bunnies are born

The trees are blowing in the wing

The leaves open

Spring is here!

————————————-

This is Alexa today.  Getting her to smile for me was quite the chore. She was in a “mood”. You the kind when they wake up and the first words out of their mouth is something like “Leave me alone, and don’t look at me” (OH! BOY!!) Anyway, I reminded her that I needed a photo of her holding her poem for my post today so she gave me a little smile.

(she drew some grass, flowers, clouds, a sun and a butterfly but its very light)

That is how she thinks and views the world. So simple, and to the point. She is very black and white. There is no gray with her. She is literal and tangible. To her, if it can be seen, felt or heard it doesn’t exist. She takes everything in. Even things you don’t think she is paying attention to, it is all there, somewhere inside her. Sometimes she doesn’t know how to say it, but she can write it.

I look forward to reading these with her someday when she is all grown. When I had children I never REALLY realized they would actually grow up, and so fast.

Thanks for letting me share a very happy piece of my life here with you all.

Spend time with your children TODAY, because tomorrow they are a day older.

(that was from my friend Kristin too-She read it to me while she was at Caribou Coffee, and it has stuck with me, so I thought I’d share it with you too).

Well let me just say thank you to everyone who has taken the time to stop by and comment! I also received many emails from you all and that was really sweet! It means so much to me. I’m sure you all can imagine the time, thought, and effort that goes in to each project, let alone the HOURS spent posting it all! Crazy. Thank goodness I truly LOVE what I do 😀

I am working on the regular posting again through the month, so that will be good! I’ve missed posting daily, and I can’t promise it will be EVERYDAY but I will do my best to get something done. Again no promises, but I am making an effort.

I’m very excited about what is to come here and at My Time Made Easy ™ LLC! I think you will be too 😀 Things just get better and better 😀 In case you missed it I am sponsoring/teaching a class at the next Stampin Around event!I will be there at Wholly Scrap Saturday April 17th! Details —->CLICK HERE! You definitely will want to sign up soon as space is LIMITED!!!

I want to ensure that I do continue to use out “older” stuff, with our “newer” stuff. While designing my sets I always try to work on making them work with others at some point. I enjoy versatility! Not only in my templates and stamps set but often in my creations….

Sometimes you just need a generic card. No “real” occasion, just something generic stamped on it. My DT member Pam mentioned in one conversation how the “A gift for you” sentiment from the Bringing Home Baby © would be perfect on ANY gift/card/tag. So I definitely took that to my craft room (thanks Pam!!) and came up with this

I am in LOVE!

These colors are so rich, vibrant and really call out that Spring is coming. (to me anyway)

Do not expect me to ever tire of this All A Flutter © butterfly set! This set is VERY special to me, as it was designed for my daughter Alexa and all the PSF’s who have supported us during her cancer treatments. Obviously butterflies have a very profound meaning to me personally.

While I haven’t really been around in a while to chat it up with all my PSF’s I always hold each of them close to my heart. They truly helped me get through the most difficult time in my life. I don’t know how I could have gotten through some of it without all of them behind us. Their letters, cards, and chatting it up in our group all hours of the day and night. Kept me sane while we lived at the hospital. They were my angels on earth.

When Alexa completed her treaments all my PSF’s got this charm from Tiffany & Co. for her (hers was on a necklace but I couldn’t find it on the site)

It was to signify her long journey through fighting her cancer-like the caterpillar in his cocoon, and her new beginning, as she transformed into the butterfly. Honestly Alexa isn’t allowed to wear it (yet!) Only on very special occasions where she will be chained to my side! LOL! I will give it to her when she is older and responsible enough to understand the sentimental value this has for our family.

Alexa is comping up on 3 years of remission this May! Her hair is getting so long, and is as thick and shiny as it was before. We are living a “normal” life again for the most part.

The butterfly in my set was designed after this amazing gift, that forever touched our hearts. The shape is quite similar. Admittedly I do wear it time to time. Always when we go for her bi-monthly check ups to check and be sure the cancer hasn’t returned. I feel like it brings me comfort and reminds me to have Faith that God has a plan for Alexa. Far greater a plan than I could ever dream up. So I trust in that.

Now let me share some details of the card.

The tag was the start of it all! I love anything on an angle! Adds so much interest. This is one of the tags from Tag You’re It © (also available in PDF). I stamped my sentiment from Bringing Home Baby ©, then I stamped one of the smaller dashed line flourishes in the corner. I then added a mini Prima Rose to it.

My butterfly was stamped on Lineal White cardstock in a green ink from momento. I then inked up the solid wing prints from All A Flutter © in a lavender color, and dabbed some darker ink to the wing centers then stamped. The paper texture really adds the the look of this butterfly!!

On the right panel I stamped the larger flourish pattern from Fanciful Flourishes.

You will really love this set 😀 Added some more roses, and some ric rac ribbon and lace.

Perfectly elegant in just a few minutes!

I have more to share tomorrow. My daughter Alexa is going to share a poem she wrote about Spring! She is very excited I am going to share it here tomorrow 😀 I’m so proud of all her writing how can I not?

 Till tomorrow…..

Supplies:

Pretty Impressions stamp set: All A Flutter, Bringing Home Baby, Fanciful Flourishes

Cardstock from Couture Cardstock: Lineal White, Carousel, Thistle Stalk, Wool Scarf, Quest

Pretty Pieces Cut Files: Tag You’re It, Flutters and Flowers

Other-corner rounder, and lace

Where on earth has everyone been? I’m getting a complex! LOL!!

Maybe its the nice weather?

Its been very quiet here. What have you all been up to? I know you are around because the store is buzzing with orders, but HERE where all the eye candy for the store has been has been eerily silent.

Have you all enjoyed the projects shared over the last 10 days? I love hearing your feedback on what you liked, what you loved and maybe even what you hope to see from me.

I did a “test” this month sharing peeks 3 days early and am wondering how you all liked that? Should I do that again next month or did you love the original idea of INSTANT gratification and seeing everything on the first? I am doing my best to continue to improve, and YOU the customer are what helps me do that.

So let’s hear it!

Now how about my news?

If you aren’t in New England then you may not care, but if you are this might pertain to you!

I am sponsoring/teaching a class at the next Stampin Around event!

I will be there at Wholly Scrap Saturday April 17th! Details —->CLICK HERE! You definitely will want to sign up soon as space is LIMITED!!!

I am going to use a stamp set and template from my MAY release! Everyone will get an early peek :D. I hope to meet you there!

Now how about a card?

 Tis the season for all sorts of blahs and sickness as the weather turns, so I thought I’d whip up a Get Well card

Wishing you….

a speedy recovery.

This is one type I never have enough of, and always seem to need.

Once I created the All A Flutter © set I KNEW I needed a flourish set. I mean I think it is a staple for each company to have their own!! When I designed my set I was careful to make sure I had a variety of flourish styles, and sizes. I wanted a “go to” set that had something for everyone! With my flourish set you can use it on it’s own, with butterflies, as flowers stems, with sentiments or build your own flowering flourish! You can even used the dashed lines, pierce in between for a faux sewn look! Gotta love that!

As you can see the large flourish from Fanciful Flourishes © makes the PERFECT butterfly trails! That was definitely intentional, given my love for butterflies!

Now speaking of flourishes, how about that butterfly!! This butterfly is from All A Flutter ©. When I created the PLAIN open lined butterfly I had big plans for that! I knew paper piecing, layering the wing prints from the set, of stamping in smaller patterns would prove to be a JAW DROPPING possibility! So here I used the small flourish from the So Sentimental © set (designed to match the Fanciful Flourishes © set) and stamped the flourish pattern on either side of my wings!  It looks like a whole new stamp!!

There are 2 flourish patterns in the set. They go in opposite directions. That is so they can be stamped on either side of the frame that is in the set, and it just so happened to be perfect in the butterfly wings too! I just made sure to mask on side of the butterfly as I stamped it. SO PERFECT!!

I used the leaves in the Fanciful Flourishes © set to stamp some leaves under my Prima flowers that you see here. It is a subtle detail.

Now I used that same flourish that you see in the butterfly to stamp my own pattern on the bottom portion of my creation! I stamped all of the images in brown ink. On the bottom layer I did some stamping of the same flourish in white craft ink for a softer “fill in” of pattern! I used a white gel pen to dot my flower centers!

Quick and easy.

The sentiment is from So Sentimental ©. This is a must have all occasion set with sentiments and matching verses! Great for either the outside or INSIDE of any card! OR use it anywhere else!

Well I will return tomorrow with another card for you!

I hope you enjoy the gorgeous weather we are having! Spring feels so close now! I cannot wait 😀

Thanks for stopping by.

Supplies:

Pretty Impressions stamp set: All A Flutter, So Sentimental, Fanciful Flourishes

Cardstock from Couture Cardstock:Santa’s Beard, Oat, Ganache

May Arts ribbon, PRima Flowers, Adhesive Pearls, White Gel Pen

Today is the MTME design team group post day! Hope you have time to check it out.

Soon the winners of the contest will be posted. Stay tuned.

Make sure you take some time to stop by and visit  each design team member for some truly amazing projects! Each one is different from the last.

 Check them all out

For my project today I created a 3 dimensional frame for a little girls room.

I love making room/home decor. It is so fun to make something personal for someone, that can always be displayed, especially when that is a new little someone! I adore girly stuff and had a blast making this using the Bringing Home Baby © stamp set.

I printed some of the Bringing Home Baby Girl © paper-the paisley, floral ric rac, and stork pattern, and adhered it inside my frame, under the mat. It looks just like a baby quilt in person.

I found this 5 X 5 Keepsake frame at Michael’s on SALE for $4!! It was originally ocean themed and came with seashells. Dumped those out and made it all my own.

The main circle is actually glued to the outside of the glass.

There is some amazing dimension here too. You can see some by this side shot.

I stamped the carriage on some Lineal White cardstock on both my main circle layer, and some scrap

I purposely lightly stamped the solid carriage pieces with the colored ink so that you could see some of the texture in the carriage .

The center panel is paper pieced with the floral ric rac pattern. I printed it smaller, and love how perfect it fit.

I also used a small oval punch to create my “baby” inside the carriage.

The circle layer has some lace trim layered behind it. It really adds to the girly feel of this creation.

Tied complete with some dual sided satin ribbon….this project came together in just a few minutes!

Supplies from today’s post:

Keepsake Frame

Pretty Impressions stamp set: Bringing Home Baby ©

Cardstock from Couture Cardstock:  Lineal White

Matte Photo Paper (super for printing digital paper :D) Printworks Matte Photo Paper (Target)

Pretty Impressions Digital Paper: Bringing Home Baby Girl

May Arts Ribbon, Prima Rose, lace trim

Thanks for stopping by, and checking out everything we’ve shared the last week.

I still have more tomorrow so stop back by!

Don’t forget to enter our giveaway! —>CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS 

Today Catherine Doucette has a super cute and amazing project for you…..

Words from Catherine:

One of the many things I love about Lauren’s templates, is how you can create many different things with the same template…you just need to use your imagination!  Hop on over and take a peek at what I thought the “Cute Lil Chick” cut file looked like :0)

Be sure to stop by and visit Catherine Doucette

Now it is my turn to share…….

Big Dreams Canvas

Now how about creating your own canvas? Something inspirational that makes you smile.

Your stamps and papercrafting supplies can be used for SO many amazing creations! Don’t limit your creativity to just cardstock.

There is nothing like taking your materials and making some amazing wall art! It can be SO SIMPLE and still be a WOW!

It is so fun to personalize your home and or workspace or make something inspirational. I love creating “wall art”.

I recently found this pink plain canvas at Michael’s. I fell in love with the color, and knew it wouldn’t take much to create some wall “art”.

“May you succeed far beyond your biggest dreams”

This sentiment is from the So Sentimental © set. I love it! Now talk about inspiring.I stamped it in pink ink, onto a punched label.

I used some Making Memories paint and “painted” on my large swirly flourish from Fanciful Flourishes ©.

I then cut some sweetheart colored cardstock using the Flutters and Flowers Cut File © and layered it onto my canvas, where I wanted my butterflies.

For my butterflies I used the outlined butterfly image from the All A Flutter © set. I stamped it in versamark onto vellum cardstock. I then used some detail white embossing powder and heat set it.  I also used the small flourish image from the So Sentimental © set, and stamped it on one side of the butterfly wing on either butterfly. Once cooled, I cut out the butterflies and adhered them to my canvas over the cardstock butterflies, using a clear glue dot

My flowers were created using the NEW! Fanciful Flowers Cut File © I used one of the scallop flowers in the set. I love making my own flowers.

I cut them from white cardstock. I cut each set of petals (3 total) resizing to 75%. I used some paint to “paint” my paper. Once dry,  I ran them through my crimper in various directions for a fun texture, and distressed look. To complete the look I sponged on some ink. Each one is layered with dimensionals.

Once the flower was complete I added it to my canvas!

I tied on some butterfly ribbon I purchased at Michael’s a few months back. Just that little something extra

This project took about 25 minutes in all.

This will look so amazing on the wall of my girls room. To think it cost me only $2.50 to make!

I hope you give this a try some time 😀

Supplies:

Pretty Impressions stamp set: So Sentimental, Fanciful Flourishes, All A Flutter

Pretty Pieces Cut Files: Flutters and Flowers, Fanciful Flowers

cardstock: Couture Cardstock sweet heart and vellum

button, pearl, label punch by SU!, paint, canvas

Come back by tomorrow because our entire team has some more samples for you to keep you drooling and get those creative juices flowing!

Sorry this is late.

I had much to do and I am caring for my 1 yo niece! I forgot how much they fill up the day and that you can’t turn your back for a SINGLE second! Thank goodness I have 3 of my own helpers! It has been a while since my own children were that small. I often wonder how I got anything done. I so enjoy having her. She is just the sweetest thing on 2 lil feet.

OK projects for today…..you need to go and see Tracey’s project! You are sure to be inspired. Also check out her projects from earlier in the week 😀

Words from Tracey:

“Even though I have girls, I do have LOTS of nephews, and I enjoy making things for them as well, though I think I’m naturally inclined towards girl stuff, lol.  Today I have a twist on an old favorite, and something new…”

You won’t want to miss it—-> Visit Tracey Cuccia <—-click there

Now for my project.

A Happy Life

Now that saying says it all doesn’t it?

This is a sentiment that I have personally always wanted. I feel that it is a wonderful “wish” for someone and is perfect for a few occasions such as New Home, Marriage, Wedding Shower, New Baby, even a promotion….any new beginning. So Sentimental © is sure to have something to suit every occasion.

I have a bridal shower to attend in a couple of weeks and knew that was just the sentiment for my card. I am giving a gift card to one the the places that they registered. Since it is a bridal shower I decided that the It’s A Shower © template would make the perfect focal point for my card.

I used one of the tag shapes from the Tag You’re It © Cut File (also available in PDF) and welded it to another tag to create my tag card! That is something that is fun and easy to do. I really love the shape of this too. I resized this one to be about 4 1/2 inches wide (and whatever that converted to tall! LOL! Just click “maintain proportions”). Normally I like to resize by percent to ensure all my pieces are the same scale. For this, since I was doing a card with the same shape it was easy to just use “inches”.

I layered on my Ga Ga for Gingham ©paper and Carousel cardstock layer. I then stamped my flourish from the Fanciful Flourishes ©stamp set. I added liquid pearls to the flower centers. I then got to sewing! I just went around it 3 x’s in a whimsical pattern. Then I stamped my “A Happy Life” sentiment from So Sentimental©.

Now for the umbrella…

I resized my It’s A Shower © Umbrella and all the pieces to 60% the original size. I mentioned when this 3D It’s A Shower © Umbrella was released that it could also be used on cards, so here it my sample!

I created my umbrella from the Fanciful Flourishes © paper in Fortune Teller. Prior to assembling, I added the scallop layer in white. I used my copic markers to lightly color in some of the white in flower pieces on the paper! It was PERFECTION!!! Then I added some liquid pearls to the flower centers. Once dry, I assembled my umbrella template, making my back piece flat, so it would adhered flat on to my tag card.

 I then filled my umbrella with tulle, and some tiny Prima roses I had. Then attached to my tag shaped card base.

I think this looks so stunning! It is perfect for my gift card.

I am wrapping this in a gusset cello bag, and tying with some lavender floss. DONE!

I really loved how this turned out, and think it will be much appreciated. It isn’t your typical card.

BRIDAL SHOWER TIP:

To accompany my gift card….I am making the larger 3D version of this template for the actual shower as well. The idea for it is that each guest is filling out a slip of paper with either their marriage wishes for the couple, or marriage advice! Once everyone has thier slipped filled out, I will wrap the tuelle around it (like in the store sample) and they can treaure all the advice for many, many years to come.

Supplies:Pretty Packaging © template: It’s A Shower

Pretty Impressions stamp set: So Sentimental, Fanciful Flourishes

Cardstock from Couture Cardstock:OSW white, Carousel

Matte Photo Paper (super for printing digital paper :D) Printworks Matte Photo Paper (Target)

Pretty Impressions Digital Paper: Fanciful Flourishes, GaGa For Gingham

Pretty Pieces Cut Files: Tag You’re It

Tulle, Prima Flowers, Liquid Pearls, Ribbon from MS, sewing machine

Thank you for coming by and seeing another day of projects! I still have much to share too 😀

Please return tomorrow for even more ways to use the products from our latest release at My Time Made Easy ™ LLC

 2 posts today-so scroll down.

ATTENTION ALL MTME CUSTOMERS!! This is a giveaway post! So read all of it.

We have a giveaway! (well 2 actually) But we want to see YOUR samples!

 Once you enter (details below) I am going to pick my favorite project and they are going to win our ENTIRE April release!! That release will be valued at almost a $100! Your project will also be featured on our websiteas a sample with a link to your blog/gallery!! So do your best work.

What is the additional Give Away?

Canda Craft is sponsoring a give away of the SURE CUTS A LOT!! This is the additional software needed to utilize SVG files. It works with ANY of the Cricut Machines and you are able to resize all our templates/cut files 😀

The winner of this giveaway will be chosen via www.random.org

(NOTE: All our templates ARE available in PDF too as well as SVG, GSD, DXF, GSD)

This software is an AMAZING value!! All you have to do to enter to win is something we ALL love to do-CREATE something!

How do you enter to win?

Link your creations on Katies Blog —->HERE! 

Make ANYTHING using ANY of the My Time Made Easy™ LLC products. 

You don’t HAVE to spend money to enter. We have a FREE Pretty Packaging template called Cutesy Cover, a FREE set of Pretty Printables Paper and a FREE Digital stamp image called Water & Waverly Wiggles! So no reason not to play along.

You have until the 8th to make your creations-so what are you waiting for?

Today our Design Team member Kristin Bueter has some cards for you to view! You won’t want to miss the versatility she shares with you today using ONE lay out and 4 different color combination/patterns.

——————————————————————-

When you think baby boy you generally think BLUE. It is the obvious choice, and let’s face it, perfect!

I really enjoy making gifts using some non-traditional colors at times. You can get inspired to use new and fun color combinations by browsing clothing! Obviously clothing has all the latest color trends and combinations you may never have envisioned.

Take this sweater I saw at Target

This is one of those times that I used a clothing item to inspire a gift. You most likely wouldn’t look at this and think BABY would you?

This is what the outcome would possibly turn out to look like if you did!

Baby Boy in Brown

How is this for a boy themed carriage?

I used the Bouncing Baby Buggy © for this creation.

I used my Argyle Amazement © set to create the pattern on the carriage panels. I used the squared pattern in one of the diamonds for some texture. For the bottom portion I used GaGa for Gingham paper. I printed the brown pattern  on Nomad cardstock.

Sure Cuts A Lot software recently upgraded their software, and now it has a super new baby selection shapes! (Just in time for my release :D) ENTER TO WIN a SCAL program at Katie Cotton‘s blog!!

I used the button image from the baby file for my wheels and carriage hood detail. It was perfect! The scallop shaped are from our NEW! Fanciful Flowers Cut File. We have a super scallop like flower shape in there 😀

Now look at that CUTE teddy bear!

I was really inspired by the BABY GAP gift card I purchased for our friends recent birth of a sweet baby boy name Milo. It matched my color scheme to perfect too! Don’t you love happy accidents?

I wanted to put in in this carriage but didn’t want it to get “lost”. So, I cut the bear shaped file from my SCAL software to adhere the card to. I couldn’t leave it plain…….so I did this

I made him about 4 inched from Kraft cardstock. Just like the bear on the gift card I used the dots from the Argyle Amazement © set, and the solid heart image from the You’ve Got Mail © set to create his face. Tied on some butter yellow ribbon from Martha Stewart and BAM! Adorable baby card holder, that looks ULTRA cute sitting IN my carriage (with yellow Easter grass)!

The ribbon in the front is by May Arts too. it’s a stitched brown ribbon. I’m in love with May Arts! They are in CT so I get my stuff in LESS than a day! I kid you not. I order in the afternoon and its on my doorstep at like 9:30 am!

OK focusing back on the project….

The back of the carriage is the perfect place for adding a tag or personalizing!! I used the NEW! Tag You’re It cut file for the back tag on this one. I stamped some images from Bringing Home Baby ©. This set really is SOOOOO cute and perfect with this template too!

Here is my tag detail.

The sentiment “Expecting a bundle of joy!” fits in this tag perfectly!! Of course I made the carriage 3D. It is easy to cut out the top portions. I added brads to the wheels. I made my carriage from Kraft ink then “distressed it” Yellow pearls were a simple touch.

You could write the baby name in the carriage base too! (I did that later)

So now we have a personalized gift for a new bundle of joy.

Go searching store of catalogs to inspire your next FAB creation!

 MTME has everything you need to make coordinating your own personal cards, gifts and tags easy and affordable!!

Thanks for stopping by.

Supplies from todays post:

Pretty Packaging © template: Bouncing Baby Buggy

Pretty Impressions stamp set: Bringing Home Baby, Argyle Amazement, You’ve Got Mail

Cardstock from Couture Cardstock:  Oat, nomad, ganache

Pretty Pieces Cut Files: Tag You’re It ©, Fanciful Flowers

SCAL pieces: Teddy Bear & Buttons

May Arts & Martha StewartRibbon, embroidery thread, adhesive pearls, buttons

(Sorry this is late! I hit the wrong post time-I set it for NOON instead of midnight! OH! BOY!!)

Sometimes you need to keep it simple!

Not every projects needs all the bells and whistles of layering and fine detail.

Let’s face it, we don’t always have a half hour (or more) to spend creating something. Sometime we have maybe 15 minutes. MAYBE! Just because you have little time doesn’t mean you can’t make your own packaging and still make it special.

I decided I would share with you a “under 15 minute” creation using the NEW! Card Catch All © template and Fanciful Flourishes © stamp set. Honestly this box went together quicker than MOST cards I make!!

Taken with Teal

Now this went quickly because my Cricut did the cutting! That right there it saved me time.

I cut my Card Catch All © and the All A Flutter © butterfly (resized) from Black Lineal cardstock. That texture alone dressed this up (you cannot see it in the photos) It went together in MAYBE 4 minutes.

I tied around a teal wired ribbon from May Arts. I wanted a SIMPLE WOW factor so I used my gift as my FOCUS and color inspiration, rather than embellishing and having my packaging be the initial focus and WOW!

Look how the colors of my bath set stand out against the black. My template base is just plain colored textured cardstock. Nothing fancy. The simple teal bow picks up the colors in my bath products and really adds to the plain box.

Now the box DESIGN itself is very elegant, and can stand alone because of its killer curves!! You will definitely fall in love with it.

Inside this box I did utilize the divider.I have body wash, body lotion, body spray and in the back a large bag of bath salts with a Serenity bath oil!

Perfect gift set.

My only “decoration” on this box was the circle tag I stamped in black using one of the leaf flourishes in the Fanciful Flourishes © set. I added the smallest of the flowers to the flourish in white raft ink, the added adhesive rhinestones that I colored in teal to match my project. I punched it out with a circle punch, and layered it onto a piece of white vellum, then adhered to the back of the template. That set makes gifts like this so simple. I LOVE that set!!!

The butterfly was “colored” by dabbing on some versamagic ink in a teal color. I added some stamens to the back, then adhered it to the bow that was tied around my bath salts bag.

All under 15 minutes!

Now we do have another project for you to view today! Keeping it simple…..

From Pam Imholz

Here is what Pam had to say

  A tisket a tasket…

 A pretty birthday basket…

Yes girls I have “A Gift For You” to share today so stop by and see a

 simple birthday basket for that special someone in your life. 🙂

Visit Pam Imholz for the full project and details!

Here are the supplies from today’s project:

Supplies:

Pretty Packaging © template: Card Catch All ©, All A Flutter

Pretty Impressions stamp set: Fanciful Flourishes ©

Cardstock from Couture Cardstock: Black Lineal and Lagoon

Ink: Black and craft white

Other : May Arts Ribbon

As always thanks for stopping by.

Tomorrow I will have some more eye candy for you as will one of our designers! See you then!

There is just SO much that can be done with this month’s release!

Today Mona Pendleton is sharing something special!

Be sure to check her out!
Also Katie Cotton has a GIVEAWAY on her BLOG for the SCAL software!!! This comes courtesy of CandaCraft! If you have been wanting the software for your Cricut, so you can cut SVG files the go head on over and enter to win!!

OK time for my project!

I’m so excited.

I know many of you are intimidate by templates still. You really don’t need to be. ALL my templates come with very clear step by step written directions with photos. It really is easy, I promise. We even have a FREEBIE for you to try risk free!!! We have a freebie for our templates, digital paper and digital stamps! If you try it and need help or have a question, just email me! I do my best to help any/everyone to the best of my own abilities 😀

I encourage those of you who have tried my templates to write a review on our website! This is really helpful to others! Simply click on a product to read a review, or write one yourself. There are tabs to guide you.

OK speaking of templates……

Bouncing Baby Buggy ©© is an especially versatile template! I have so many ideas for it, my head just SPINS!! I know many of you are still seeing “child themed” projects, given the samples you’ve seen thus far, and the template “name”! I hope today will totally change your mind.

How about using the Bouncing Baby Buggy © template to create a Wheel Barrow??

Yes! This is seriously a Wheel Barrow made purely out of cardstock 😀 Isn’t it SO pretty! I about did a cartwheel over this one!

This template is so perfect paired with our newest release  So Sentimental © and the Fanciful Flourishes ©Pretty Impressions stamp set! Those two sets are a match made in HEAVEN!! So many ways to use them both, and they were designed to coordinate too (like everything we do at MTME!)

The colors used are Santa’s Beard,  Pasture, Thistle Stalk, Acorn Squash and Oat are perfect for Spring. I’m so in love with these colors. I am also in Love with Couture Cardstock! They have GORGEOUS textured papers and amazing colors to choose from. I feel like I have been able to add even more WOW to my projects with all the colors I have now.

I pulled up a photo that I GOOGLED of a actual wheel barrow when creating this. My first attempt was true to the actual wheel barrow style, and the wheel/handle bars were on the outside of the template.They covered my stunning design so I made them go under my decorative layer for my new and improved version!

The wheels are the same wheels (for size comparison if you were wondering) you receive in the template. I just made mine purty 😀 That STUNNING May Arts ribbon helps too.

This could easily be for a Wedding, house warming, gardening party….tea…..anyone!!!

Here you can see a closer view of the flourish pattern stamped in a green, and the added flowers stamped in rusty orange. It was so quick and easy but really POPS. I love that I can build my flower pattern, or choose no pattern at all.

The “Best Wishes” and sentiment from are So Sentimental © . The tag was cut using the So Sentimental Frame which is a perfect match to our set!! It makes the perfect cut every time 😀 The oval is created using a SU! Oval punch. Quick and easy.

Look at this GORGEOUS flower that I created myself to add to the flourish! The flower was created from our coordinating cut file Fanciful Flowers I will be taking some time soon to show how I create these. I think it really adds to this project.

When I think gardens I think bunnies! So I added a delicious Lindt Chocolate bunny to my Wheel Barrow

He come with a red ribbon around his neck……

I removed it an added my own to match my project.

I did put a block inside do he didn’t fall to the bottom! LOL!!  It is now hidden by grass! Now is the time of year to stock up on “grass” filler too. I use it all year round.

This is the other side of the wheel barrow.

It is ALWAYS important to make your project look complete on all side. Don’t get lazy 😀 or messy!

This could also get filled with flower/vegetable seeds, maybe a small planter?!  You could fill this up with all sorts of yummies.

Or just like me…this cute lil chocolate bunny.

Here are the supplies from today’s project:

Supplies:

Pretty Packaging © template: Bouncing Baby Buggy ©

Pretty Impressions stamp set: So Sentimental ©, Fanciful Flourishes ©

Cardstock from Couture Cardstock: Santa’s Beard,  Pasture, Thistle Stalk, Acorn Squash and Oat

Ink: Studio G ($1 at Michael’s)

Pretty Pieces Cut Files: So Sentimental Frame, Fanciful Flowers

Other : SU! Brad, May Arts Ribbon, Copic Air Gun, Paper Crimper, corner rounder

As always thanks for stopping by.

Tomorrow I will have some more eye candy for you as will one of our designers! See you then!