OH boy I am busy as a bee these days!!

The next release from My Time Made Easy ™ LLC is ALMOST here!! I can’t even wait. I have a ton of stuff to share soon. My creativity is on OVERDRIVE!

Plus doing daily activities with the kids has kept me busy.

I know many of you are wondering what I am up to these days, and right now……….. business stuff! I’m so enjoying every moment and have never felt so liberated or creative!! Sadly I’m still in “tight time” mode so I have been absent here-sorry!

If it makes you feel any better SCS has been having blog issues anyway! I also didn’t realize just how much I would have to do too! LOL! I guess you never really do.

SO I have a post today and tomorrow <—which will be a HUGE early peek at SOME of what is to come from MTME in February!!

I cannot say thank you enough for the huge hit my first release has been and all the love and support. You helped make my dream a reality! The emails have been especially wonderful 😀 Thank you!

OK let’s get to the eye candy!

A few months ago I was asked by Kendra from Character Cafe  if I would guest design for them in January.Of course I was happy to oblige!! Granted life got very hectic but it was refreshing to take a break from all work, no play, to get INKY again.If you have yet to hear of the Character Cafe , they sell Digi Stamps, which I am getting more familiar with as time goes on 😀  Today they are hosting a Digi stamp/template challenge-so be sure to check it out—> HERE! You can see ALL the details!  They have until next Thurs. 10pm EST to enter. 

The winner will receive the Character Cafe  new Valentine Releases (there are 3 of them) as the prize.

They’ll also receive a 15% off Discount Coupon for The Character Cafe Store, a winner’s badge for their blog and they’ll be featured on our website with a link to their blog/gallery.

The Design Team is playing along too

Piali, Rachel, Sara, Meredith and Billie!

Now here is my contribution

 My daughter Amber has a birthday party to attend next weekend. The girl is turning 6. She got her a gift card, and we thought we’d package it up all pretty and girly, and add some candy to it too! So for my guest spot (and the challenge) I thought I’d use the In a Pinch © Pretty Printable template   This is a close up of what we came up with Dream Come True Amber helped me browse the store and chose Fairy Belle for the gift image. She was definitely perfect for the Fairy themed party.I colored her to look like her friend.  I stamped her on a nestabilty tag, colored her with Copic markers and added some Stickles! 

The sentiment is by JustRite Stampers January Release Loving Thoughts Centers 1-5/8″

“You are a dream come true”. I thought that was perfection!

I added the patterned paper to the bottom and trimmed it with some American Crafts ribbon.

I went on to use another new release

Plant a Little Love Borders & Centers Round to make my own patterned paper. I just randomly stamped then colored it, adding some Shimmerz to them in the end.

Well I was on a mini roll….so I went and created a card too!

I didn’t have time to do what I planned, but at least I got the card created!

 Sunflower When I saw that particular image I was so drawn to it! I love flowers!I just re-sized the same image to create this one.Clean and simple. Just my style 😀 I used a glitter pen on the sunflower petals, but it didn’t show up-sorry. Trust me though, pretty in person!Makes me FEEL Spring! The gingham paper is a SOON to be released pattern 😀 Stay tuned!I want to thank the team at Character Cafe for trying out the templates, and having me play along! It was fun. Thanks for stopping by Tomorrow I have a sneak peek at ONE of our next stamp releases and a template!! You won’t want to miss it!  

Where did the week go?

Where have I been?

I have been “around”, just the kids have been keeping me busy! I know that is a common phrase I have shared on here the last 2 months….but it is getting better. As the hustle and bustle from the holidays wind down…and I get back to stamping all will be right with the world!

Alexa had her post cancer check up. She never talks to me on the way there! EVER! No matter what I try to drag out of her. This time she shared with me that she hates going back to that hospital. She said “I was really sick and I stayed there a really long time. Everything hurt me and all my hair fell out.”

WOW! What can you say to that. She can often have a hard time with her expressive communication (but she writes everything she thinks in poems and stories) so when you do “have a moment” to get in her head as to what she is thinking it is rare and beautiful. Granted that time heart wrenching, but nice to know why she may be so quiet.

I told her that was a long time ago, and she is all better. We just need to keep checking to make sure she stays healthy.

Her bottom line “I don’t like it there”.  You know what? I don’t blame her one bit! I don’t either.

We are coming up on our 4th year since she got Leukemia. Each winter, when we make that long drive I am flooded with the thoughts, emotions and memories of THAT day that she got diagnosed. I just can’t help but remember that day like it was yesterday. It is just like the day you have your children-unforgettable. I am so grateful she is doing so well now. Not a day passes that I don’t thank God for that. Not a single one. ESPECIALLY when she is being difficult! LOL! She is 10 now and lets just say the attitude could use an adjustment at times! LOL!!

Through the holidays and my first release I was SO busy and consumed with everything that I needed to take some extra special time with my kids. Like I said I NEED to cherish this time that they are small (well I guess that is the point, they are getting SO BIG! SO FAST!) and that means some of my creative time has taken a back seat. Plus I really poured out the projects for the My Time Made Easy ™ LLC release!!

The kids and I are working on some fun projects togehter that we will share soon too!! They missed me while I was busy getting everything all settled, and now I can slide back into a work routine and spread myself more evenly through my family, friends and work. I just needed that little break so the kid know that they are #1!

I have some guest spots coming up as the week ends, new releases for some companies to share……one being Pink Cat Studio! She released a ton of fun stuff so go to her store and check out her blog! The design team did some AMAZING stuff with it all!

Also my friend Katie had a FAB new release at Paper Makeup Stamps! Check those out! Ally is my favorite from the release, and on my MUST have list 😀 Katie made this project using Cutesy Cover ©, and I about fell over! She looks SO real (and so much like Katie! LOL!)

More MTME projects:

Pam made a STUNNING frame for her craft room for ONLY a $1—>HERE!

Mona use Shutt-erfly © for a color challenge!

Kristin as a few FAB projects too!!

Framed card

Masked card

I think that is all for me today. We are taking the kids bowling, then I have some creative time.

Sorry nothing to creative yet….but I’ll share soon.

I hope you are all having a great week!

I’m busy here getting ready for the NEXT Release of My Time Made Easy ™ LLC! Well, that actually all started a week or so before the LAST release, and I’m almost done finalizing the template for MARCH! LOL! I have over 40 different templates designed/created in tangible form, and about 14 sketched (just last night while I was at the hairdresser I was very inspired) that I will have to “create” to make sure what is on paper translates to cardstock!

It is ONE thing to have an idea, another to make it work. Even more so…when you are creating templates for the WORLD to use and assemble you need to make it 1) EASY AS POSSIBLE 2) Use as little cardstock as possible 3) TRY your best to be unique!

Some of the stuff I have coming, I am just OVER the MOON for!!!!!!!!! Some of my best work is yet to come 😀 So I hope you’ll keep coming by for all that goodness.

So as I sit here packing stamp orders, I forgot all about the project sample on the website for the Pretty Packaging © Shutt-erfly ©!! One of the customers I am packing an order for commented on that, that she was hoping to see a closer view! Well, Donna thank you for reminding me I had not yet shared this project with the world in a “close up” view!!

Packing some popcorn.

I really loved this sample too!

I used the Shutt-erfly © template to hold a bag of Poppycock Popcorn. Its AMAZING! Comes in a variety of flavors, and I love giving it out to people as a small thank you. It is always fun to do something small and dress it up BIG! Makes people feel so special. It doesn’t take a lot of effort either. People remember gestures like that.

I LOVE the colors of our Pretty Printables Digi Paper in the Shutt-erfly © and Flutter-By collection, and this was THE project that inspired them.

The butterfly, is really the WOW as the main focus here too!

I used the Pretty Impressions © All A Flutter set

I stamped the solid butterfly  outline in chocolate, then the inner solid wings in a rust ink.

I love making the butterfly 3D!! Our Pretty Pieces ©Flutters and Flowers © Cut File makes that easier than ever (and allows you to make it bigger/smaller!)

I then used Copper ink and stamp the diamond grid pattern!

Adhesive rhinestones, colored to match really add to this too 😀

All tied up and ready to go.

I want YOU to share your creations made with ANY of our products! So share a link here so everyone else can see what YOU have done!!!

Thanks for stopping by

Hi everyone

Our design team has even more to share with you!!

Katie did a wonderful tutorial—>CHECK IT OUT!

Mona posted a stunning gift set—>HERE!

and Krisitn also has a SUPER FAB card using an upcoming CUT File (wink) 😀 —>HERE

Now if you didn’t know…. My Time Made Easy ™ LLC is sponsoring the Color Throwdown #74  —–>DETAILS HERE 

Make sure you enter for your chance to WIN!!

So, I obviously I wanted to play along too!!!

Quick and simple…Fluttering By …

So I used the All A Flutter © image set, combined with the NEW! Pretty Printables digital paper in Shutt-erfly © (not at top quality for a muted tone-so my butterfly POPPED!) for the color challenge.

Perfection!

I stamped my solid butterfly in pink,then added the wing print in chocolate. I used my copic markers to color each of the diamonds in alternating colors. Fun and easy. I had some pretty felt flowers from American Crafts that added to the design. I used a tulip punch to create my leaves. I wanted something FUNKY for leaves, to go with the “feel” of the card. I think it was perfect accent.

The sentiment in the corner was stamped in chocolate ink, with the half fluttering butterfly behind it.

Supplies:

Pretty Impressions ©: All A Flutter ©

Pretty Printables © Digital Paper: Shutt-erfly

Cardstock: Blending White, pink

ink: pink, chocolate, copic

Felt flowers by American Crafts, buttons, adhesive rhinestones, tulip punch

OK I have lots to do today, so I’m keeping it quick.

Thank you for stopping by.

YEAH! It is finally Saturday. I may just take a break!

I have been busier than EVER but have never loved it so much. Not many people can say the LOVE what they do and their JOB is their hobby!

If you didn’t stop by this week yet, you will definitely want to SCROLL down and see everything I’ve been sharing using the FIRST RELEASE from  My Time Made Easy™ LLC. You will also want to click on ALL the links to the Design Team who have been hard at work providing you some really amazing samples. Our gallery will (hopefully) be ready for our next release!!

Kristin Bueter has another sample for you!

Today Catherine Doucette wraps up our week of  My Time Made Easy™ LLC projects.

Here is a peek at just ONE of her samples today-perfect for you scrappers!

Together we, as a team, all shared over 35 projects with you! That is definitely fantastic. Each one of the girls had their own style and take on the products, that I’m sure one of us is bound to get you inspired to start creating! Even if you’ve never made a 3D template before, you can totally DO this! We’ve made quick, easy and INEXPENSIVE!

We also have a FREE Pretty Packaging © template download for you to try because we KNOW once you do you will be HOOKED 😀

For ONLY $5 you get UNLIMITED use a fabulous Pretty Packaing © template, that YOU get to customize each time you create. You spend more $$ on a special latte at the coffee shop! Let’s not even talk about how expensive gift bags are, for ONE TIME use!

Each template comes with step by step full color photo/instructions.

You can get ALL our templates  in the following formats:

 All our CUT files come with the PDF version as well. An amazing value.

All that said, how about some more samples?

I always say it’s all about the packaging! I totally believe it. The most insignificant of gifts can be made so much more special when you present it in something home-made!

Be it some candy, tea lights, soaps, bath and body products, gift cards, beaded jewelry, a set of notecards…….it all looks better packed up to be pretty and special. Major marketing companies agree! It is the packaging that sells you and attracts you to the product! You can also easily spot a particular company/brand by the packaging/logo!

Today I have used Shutt-erfly © to package up some special treats!

This makes the best packaging for all sorts of gifts. I decided to use it for some cookies.

Now, I don’t cook often….but if I have to, I’d rather BAKE. I recently attended a cookie swap. We each had to create 3 dozen cookies, and include the recipe. I made my FAVORITE cookie-Raspberry Linzer Cookies. They are SO delicious!!

I even designed my own recipe cards to hand out 😀 (I honestly had more fun designing the recipe cards, than making the cookies!)

I had some extra cookies left over, so I packaged these up for a friend I hadn’t seen in some time.

The tag was stamped using the All A Flutter Sentiments ©. I made a quick hanging tag. It matches the Fluttering-By Pretty Printables © digi paperthat I used on the project base.

I used the Shutt-erfly Additions to create the “flower” on the top of the box.

(the flecks you see are a copper glitter I sprinkled everywhere! LOL!)

I just colored a portion of the flowers to look like petals, then painted on some Shimmerz. (I’m hooked on that lately)

Now the best part is the flower doesn’t get ruined because the top comes off!

I cut off the top of the template for this one! (about 1 1/2 inches from the top score) and added a belly band. I put the cookies in a frosted bag to keep them fresh and allow the recipient to re-use the box!

Here they are all packaged up and ready to go!

I like to usually include the recipe when I give a homemade treat, so the recipe card was a pretty bonus to the gift 😀

Supplies:

Pretty Packaging ©: Shutt-erfly ©

Pretty Impressions ©: All A Flutter Sentiments ©

Pretty Printables ©digi paper in Flutter-By ©

Cardstock by Couture Cardstock: Ganache, white, Rosey Cheeks

Ink: Chocolate, and Copic markers

Other: ribbon, nestabilities, Prima leaves, Pumpkin Shimmerz, corduroy brads by SU, label punch by SU, copper cording, brass brad

Thank you to all of you who stop by for a visit, comment and/or send emails! It is so nice and appreciated to hear from you! We all worked hard this week to inspire you in some way.

I hope you have some MY TIME this weekend 😀

Lot’s to share!! This is post # 2 for today-so scroll down please!

I am so excited about everything that is going on for the My Time Made Easy™ LLC offical release! 

You can read all about our products –> HERE—-> on the ABOUT US page.

Thankfully everything has been running as smooth as silk. WHEW! I think I can finally sleep at night! LOL!

We have been off to an AMAZING start. Thank you everyone for your excitement and support.

It was SO surreal when the boxes of my very first stamp sets arrived!

I had to get a photo!! Too bad no one was there to capture the look on my face when I felt like I opened up a box of dreams come true. I felt like Alexa, when we went to Disney World and she saw Cinderella for the first time (at least that is how “I” imagine she felt). To see my hard work in a tangible form……AMAZING!

This is a HUGE box, and there are a couple more next to it 😀 I’ve been nice and busy packing orders (OK that honestly isn’t the FUNNEST part of the job, but someone has to do it. Once the kids get bigger……LOL! Just kidding)

I felt today would be the perfect time to share more about the images released this month. You can view all these details on the My Time Made Easy™ LLC site, but I felt it would be fun to view them here, in a larger format.

My very first release:

Pretty Impressions © acrylic stamp set: All A Flutter ©

This is the ultimate butterfly set! In this set you receive 25 images. The largest butterfly images are 1 1/2 inches. Whether you enjoy the task of coloring, or the ease of layering your images for fast results, this has it all. There are so many “build a butterfly” options, making the design process so easy and versatile. You will also notice a couple “wing prints” to add to your design. Building a beautiful butterfly couldn’t get any easier!

Pretty Impressions © acrylic stamp set: All A Flutter Sentiments ©

I have long enjoyed some of the most popular quotes and poems featuring my favorite icon-the butterfly. In this set you receive 9 sentiments. This is the perfect companion of sentiments for the All A Flutter image set. These sentiments are large enough to be the main feature on a card or Pretty Packaging ©, or used as an accent.

Now if you are wondering WHAT you get……my larger sets arrive in a 4 X 8 resealable cello bag, with hanger on top. There is a cardstock insert with the company logo. On the back are the instructions for use, care, and storage.

In our large sets, that sell for $20, you receive two 4 X 6 acrylic sheets (as pictured above). The images are sandwiched in between 2 of teh acrylic sheets. The top acrylic sheet has the images/stamp set name on them for easy image reference.

Now we get in to our Pretty Printables © digital paper collection

All A Flutter ©

Fluttering-by © is a pretty collection of patterned paper showcasing the whimsical butterflies from Lauren’s first stamp release, My Time Made Easy’s signature font, vibrant daisies, gingham prints, and a fun plaid design! This Pretty Printables © color collection is based on a unique combination of Red Clay, Brown, Pink and White.

Our Fluttering-by © paper is designed to coordinate with the Shutt-erfly © collection.

Shutt-erfly ©

Shutt-erfly© is a unique collection of paper capturing an array of versatile patterns that are sure to bring your projects to life! The bold yet whimsical collection will continue to inspire your creativity for any occasion. This Pretty Printables© color collection is based on a unique combination of Red Clay, Brown, Pink and White.

Our Shutt-erfly© paper is designed to coordinate with the Flutter-by© collection.

Now we move on to another collection…the  Color Me Pretty © digital paper

Flutters and Flowers© is from our Color Me Pretty © collection of totally customizable black and white patterned paper! Let your creativity take the lead – whether you color the images by hand, print on them on colored cardstock or layer them over your favorite patterned paper and then print, the possibilities are endless!

Our Flutters and Flowers© paper is designed to coordinate with the Flutter-by© and Shutt-erfly© collections.

All this is designed to coordinate with our line of Pretty Packaging ©! <–CLICK to view. This month we introduced All A Flutter © and Shutt-erfly © We have 3 other templates currently available. One of them is a free download.

These are templates that you can either print, or create using a cutting machine of choice.

To FURTHER the coordinating design possibilities we also have the start of another new line called Pretty Pieces ©

This one is Flutters and Flowers ©

This is a Cut File that was created to compliment the All A Flutter © Pretty Impressions © acrylic stamps! The standard format was created so you don’t have to “manually” cut out all your butterflies, if you wanted to use them for a 3D effect on a project. Just have your machine cut what you want, then stamp them. Now instead of purchasing expensive “one size only” punches or die cuts you have a Cut File that fits the pretty butterfly image. This can also be resized giving you ENDLESS possibilities! We had to add some Darling Daisies ©, and Lovely Leaves © for you too. No 3D butterfly project can be truly complete without some pretty flowers, and leaves. These are the perfect addition to the All A Flutter © image, or totally usable on its own.

SO….that is all just the beginning. I look forward to what the next few months have to offer.

Thank you for the wonderful response we have had in the last few days of opening. All the excitement drives me to what we have coming next!

I am back with more samples to share!

I think I’ve done a good job attempting to contain my excitement, and not making everything be too long winded, but it is SOOO hard to not get on a chatter spree! (All this said as I type up a NOVEL! LOL!)

I’m just so excited about everything that is, and everything to come. I have never had such a frenzy of ideas spin around in my head before. There is a constant whirlwind going on. The concept of having everything coordinate just gets me giddy, and makes me feel even more creative, knowing I have a WORLD of possibilities. NO LIMITS!

Being the person to pull my visions together to create one harmonious product line is beyond my wildest dreams. If 5 years ago you would have told me what I’d be doing today I would have died of laughter! I barely knew how to stamp or even EMAIL. Forget it if I needed to ATTACH something to an email! LOL!

Now, I have been a “stamper/customer” for SOOOOO long that I find it so inspiring to be able to sit there, while designing and think….”If I were stamping with this, what else would I want in the set?” (This is also where it gets hard to edit out certain images I may still love! LOL!)

” What would make it easier and faster the get that end result.” (this one has a large variety of interchangeable pieces)

“What would make this set a MUST have for me?” (For example this set has interchangeable wing prints, solid and open lines, as well as every piece a an open/solid image. Whatever you could want for stamping/layering. Maybe a particular sentiment.)

“Can this set be versatile?” (Such as 2 step stamping, can it be colored, used for more than ONE occasion or purpose, is it unique)

As you can imagine it can be both exhausting and inspiring. I find it a constant struggle to shut my brain off sometimes.

I have created so many thing with my first Pretty Impressions © release that my head is just spinning with more ideas.

Now before I start Pam Imholz had 2 samples to share with you today using All A Flutter © and Shutt-erfly ©

Here is a bitty peek at one….

Make sure you take a look at her blog to see BOTH amazingly fabulous projects she has to share.

And Mona Pendleton has been busy all week long making some amazing samples too! So be sure to check her out too!!

Today thought I thought I’d share some SIMPLE WOW! Projects with you, that you can create in just a few minutes.

Simply Sweet Butterfly

You have seen the solid outlined butterfly used many times . It is honestly my favorite one in the set 😀 ( in case you can’t tell by my website and logo! LOL!) so today I thought I’d use the open line butterfly-totally alone. No wing prints, no fancy paper, just the butterfly.

I wanted to put my Copic markers to work! So I did just that. I used the One Sheet Wonder cardstock from Couture Cardstock. You can color it with copic markers with NO BLEEDING onto the other side! Love that. Nice crisp white, that is heavy. For just coloring projects being used the a may layer they have a Blending Paper that I love to use instead.

I kept it really simple, by stamping the open lined butterfly from All A Flutter © at an angle in the upper right corner of my card. I then just enjoyed laying various color of purple. I think it looks really pretty. I added a crunched up Prima to the corner of the card. Now I decided to use the open line butterfly image, combined with the solid image.

I used a template to pierce my flutter trail. I then used a ruler and pen to create a virtual layer. I also traced that layer with a pale purple marker. As I said in a previous post, the All A Flutter Sentiments © are perfect as the main focus of a project.

A Fluttering Butterfly

This time I chose to use the open outline image with the solid base image.

By stamping the outline 3 different times, moving it ever so slightly it appears to be “fluttering”. I love the shape of this butterfly. LOVE!! In case you didn’t notice that yet either! LOL!

I added some micro-beads to the “body” to match.

I wanted this clean and simple. I am on a teal/aqua kick these days.

I punched a double layer daisy from Martha Stewart. The punch is meant to ONLY punch the petals up, not out. So I layered the white base, onto the teal base, then took the ink to the flower petals. added a Prima flower.

I stamped my sentiment from All A Flutter Sentiments © in the corner. I also spritzed on some color too.

I wanted a gift to match……so I created this key-chain in like 5 minutes!

This keychain was a kit I got for my children.

You are suppose to scratch off the black stuff to create a picture, then insert it into the keychain.

So me being the great mom I am, I took the keychains to use for my crafting! LOL! (Yes I am a little ashamed of myself, but they haven’t noticed yet!)

I stamped the solid outline butterfly onto the keychain front, in black staz on. I added adhesive black pearls to the body, and adhesive rhinestones to the wing dots

INSIDE the keychain I used a clear liquid glue, and sprinkled on some tinsel glitter from Martha Stewart. Once dry I added a Prima flower to the inside. I attached the backing then added some BLING to finish it off.

This is the back view

I tied on my ribbon, then added the beaded chain I created a month or two ago!

DONE!!

Supplies:

Pretty Impressions © acrylic stamp sets: All A Flutter © image set, All A Flutter Sentiments © set

Cardstock from Couture CardstockRibbon from May Arts

Flowers by Prima

Adhesive rhinestones & pearls, keychain, daisy punch & tinsel glitter by Martha Stewart

So that is all for today.

Thank you again for stopping by! I’ll be back in a bit with some information about our release.

See you later 😀

Additional info-it wasnt my website update it was USPS!!

They  updated their software so EVERY STORE all over the world had to update if they use USPS for International Shipping

YEAH!

Hi everyone-Quick update! If you live outside of the US you will want to read this. If you live IN the US you can skip it.

Up until today our shipping for International orders was working perfectly! People outside the US were able to get our stamp sets using the First Class option! Now that means it only cost somewhere under $3 to ship to places like Austraila!

I promised no overblown shipping costs-you pay what we pay.

That been said, we have been modifying our shipping software to speed up our order process, and with that came a bitty glitch! Somehow the “first class” shipping option “disappeared” for international orders, leaving only an expensive array of shipping options.

 We have found and fixed the issue! So if you are international go ahead and place your order!
If you tried to order and noticed the shipping cost and left, it is now fixed.

So thank you for your patience 😀 Happy Shopping!!

One thing I LOVE about paper-crafting is VERSATILITY!

I love when one thing can have MANY uses.

I think all of the products we have to offer at My Time Made Easy™ LLC are very versatile.

I remember when I first started stamping/paper-crafting. The hardest part was having “it all”. Or having everything match or coordinated. Usually when I did find “something” like that, it would  have cost me one arm and my first born to purchase the entire collection. Let’s be frank….while this hobby is so exhilarating, it can get expensive. I have far more money invested in my stamping supplies that any amount of jewelry or anything else I can think of! LOL!!  My goal for my store was to be able to put the tools to create amazing, coordinating projects in your hands, and make it as easy and affordable as possible. Whether you are a stamper, paper crafter, scrapper, or somewhere in between, I think our products will help guide you in trying out the many areas of this art!

OK that leads me back to the versatility part…..

I am going to show you 3 projects that showcase how our products can be used for all areas of this industry.

1) The Scrapper

This is a 12 X 6 piece of “wall art”. I consider this to be a scrapbooking sort of project.

I am taking this to get framed next week, to put in my front hall-which is ALL butterflies.

I wanted to create something with my recent favorite photos of my two daughters Alexa 10, and Amber 5. They are growing SO fast.

I used the All A Flutter © Pretty Packaging template, to create a connected butterfly trio, in black cardstock, as my main focus. I could have used the Flutters and Flowers © cut file, but I wanted the wider base on my finished image.

I LOVE that you can re-size all the Cut files to suit any project, with the simple click of a button.

The sentiment flag reads: Love is like a butterfly:  It goes where it pleases and it pleases wherever it goes.  ~Author Unknown    

This is from the All A Flutter © sentiments set.

I took the All A Flutter © Pretty Packaging template, and in my Cricut Expression -and in SCAL put 3 of these butterflies together(front/back pieces of the template) and interlinked them at the tops of the wings. Once they were aligned I clicked the “merge” button. It cut them out just perfectly!

The butterfly sizes were 3 1/2 inches.

I went on to cut a single 3 1/2 inch butterfly from black and white cardstock so I could layer them.

I used the STUNNING Color Me Pretty © Flutters and Flowers paper collection and printed the daisy pattern on my white cardstock. I then cut out my wing prints, using my Circut Expression. I applied the wing prints to my black 3 1/2 inch butterfly(using dimensionals), which I then layered onto the white one, and adhered to my butterfly trio.

Here is Alexa’s side

You can see that I have used the All A Flutter © image set in the upper right corner. I printed the same paper, in a smaller scale, used my Flutters and Flowers Cut file to cut it out, then stamped my solid butterfly outline to create a 3D butterfly. I applies adhesive rhinestones to the dots on the wings.

Here is Amber’s side

I love showcasing my daughters in this fashion. It is wall art, yet almost like a hybrid scrapping page too since some elements are printed.

More butterflies, and a few flowers I had laying around.

Honestly I do NOT consider myself a “scrapper” but I was able to create this project in less than 45 minutes. Now if I had any idea what I was going to do…it may have gone quicker. I am not use to creating projects like this, but this “wall art” of my 2 daughters just flowed.

SO here we had a scrappy project, that incorporated stamps, and even a Pretty Packaging ©template, used in a unique way!

2) The Paper-crafter

To me, the “paper-crafter” is someone who mainly only likes/uses PAPER for their projects, be it just die cuts, creating boxes, bags, tags an or other “stuff” solely from paper. Even some scrappers use just die cuts, or stickers…..etc.

So for the Paper-crafter’s our Pretty Packaging © templates are PERFECT!

This project uses the Shutt-erfly © template, only I cut it into 2 pieces!!

I cut down the top to 1 1/2 inches from the top score, and the bottom piece-2 inches from the bottom score.

So it is about 3 1/2 inches (without the flowers) tall.

I used the mat layers in Shutt-erfly © to create my “leaves” on the top of my box. I then used Pretty Pieces © Flutters and Flowers Cut File to create my flower.

I then stamped an acrylic tag with the sentiment “Butterfly Kisses”.

 I took the SAME Daisy print patterned paper, as on my first project, and instead of printing it on white cardstock, I printed it onto Spitfire cardstock. It gives it a totally new look! Think of how many options you now have for paper! If you own the color cardstock, you have a pattern in that color! SO cool!

I created a wrap that is 2 inches wide. It also conceals the fact the the box is 2 pieces

I used the open line butterfly from All A Flutter © (see just a little stamping to ease you into it!), and stamped the solid wing prints in black, then added a few buttons to select flower centers.

EASY PEASY!!

3) The Stamper

It is pretty obvious that stamping can be incorporated any/everywhere!

This card matches our packaging, and used both the All A Flutter © image and sentiment set.

I just layered a white mat, onto a white base. It offers some dimension, with a very clean, classic look.

I kept this card simple for the beginner, but even a seasoned stamper enjoys simplicity at times.

I just colored the half butterfly image with my Copic markers and added some glitter.

The flower is a Prima flower, and the leaves are some cut ribbon from May Arts.

Here is the gift set together.

Now we have the same set, but the box topper is off, and it reveals some delicious DOVE Promises.

How simply elegant.

Supplies:

Pretty Impressions © acrylic stamp sets: All A Flutter © image set, All A Flutter Sentiments © set

Pretty Packaging © templates : All A Flutter © and Shutt-erfly ©

Pretty Printables © digital paper in Color Me Pretty ©: Flutters and Flowers ©

NEW! Pretty Pieces © Cut File : Flutters and Flowers ©

Cardstock from Couture Cardstock

Ribbon from May Arts

Flowers by Prima

Adhesive rhinestones, copper cord, acrylic tag by Tim Holtz, buttons by Foo Fa La

SO see! No matter what your “specialty” there is something for everyone! One area of this craft can easily slide into the other. All these projects use the same elements, and coordinate together perfectly. By changing up your colors you can get a wide variety of looks!

Now we have MORE!!

My design team member Tracey Cuccia has more projects to share today.

She also used All A Flutter © template to create some art work too.

Mona Pendleton has even more to share too!! Everything is stunning 😀

So that is all for today. More to come tomorrow 😀

Hope you can check back in then.