Hey everyone!

Get your creative ideas going because
I’m back with another Pretty Palette Challenge!!

KEYWORD MTMEPPC03

CLICK HERE for challenge details and to enter your submission.

Now this was the little snippet you got on the MTME Blog 😀

It is a sneaky peek at what is to be released for the April 15th Release!!

I’m not giving you anything else, until then!

ANY guesses??

It can’t get much more fun than this 😀

Hi everyone!

I’m back today with a lot to share! So get ready for a read 😀

Today begins our first day of Perfect Peek projects!

The My Time Made Easy ™ LLC Release is April 1st

The team and I are ALL sharing our first preview of one of our newest templates called Berry Sweet Basket, and stamps which were designed by Kristin! So make sure you stop by and congratulate her!

To view all the projects from our group post today you will want to visit:

Tomorrow is the official April 1st Release at My Time Made Easy ™ LLC, and the team and I will share their samples, using our 2nd template! So stay tuned for that.

So with no time to waste, let me share my first peek at my own project using the Berry Sweet Basket … Berry Sweet Basket $5

Available in PDF, SVG, GSD, DXF, WPC

Completed Project Size

6 1/4 Inches Wide

6 1/4 Inches Deep

8 1/2 Inches Tall

This template coordinates with the An Apple a Day Pretty Pieces Cut File! 

Are you looking for a simply unique basket to present your gifts in? Well I think you will find that this one is so “berry” sweet!

This basket style is like no other. No fancy weaving needed! (unless you want to)

Fashioned after the fruit containers you find in your grocery store, you will fall in love with this new take on it!

I’m certain you will find it perfect for every occasion. The basket is quite large (and can be resized), and can be filled with a wide arrangement of gifts such as:

An Apple a Day Pretty Pieces Cut File

Use it as an Easter Basket for the kids!

Handmade cards

Real/artificial fruit

Real or artificial flowers

Jars of jam

Baby items for a shower, or new arrival!

Homemade soup

Bake mixes

Candles

Home baked treats

Office supplies……Endless ideas!

 Now that you know more about the template, let me share the details of how I made my basket!

I cut my Berry Sweet Basket from chocolate cardstock.

I tied on a red gingham ribbon, then added the jam jar from the Well Preserved © set. The jar was cut out using the Well Preserved © Pretty Pieces Cut File.

I was able to stamp the top “plaid” pattern in red, like the ribbon. I tied the top wih some embroidery floss.

I stamped the label onto the “jar”, with the apple image, so it would coordinate with my  Berry Sweet Basket  contents.

The sentiment was stamped in the center of the label for my Berry Sweet Basket from the NEW! Occasional Labels set which was cut using the Occasional Label Pretty Pieces Cut File.

I stamped my sentiment “Happy Trails” which I “built” using the NEW! sentiment building images from the Sentimental Occasions set. You will fall in love with the possibilities of this set 😀

 The “to you” is from the Just For You © set.

I obviously chose to fill my basket with 7 of the An Apple a Day Pretty Pieces Cut File. Really cute, fun and easy! They are a perfect addition to this template.

An Apple a Day $2.50

Available in PDF, SVG, GSD, DXF, WPC

 As they say an apple a day…

Now giving little treats can’t get ANY cuter.

 This cut file makes the perfect party favor!

 Fill these “apple” favors with flavored hard candies, chocolates, mints, or other candies of your choosing, for a unique wrapper that is sure to make them smile! You can put in little handmade soaps, tea lights…or other fun treats!

In mine I put 4 chocolate candies.

You then take a brad, prongs face up, and insert it through the hole of one of the panels.

You then take the opposite panel, and put the prongs through that one, as well.

Repeat this until all ends are through the brad prongs.

Optional:

Depending on the look you want, apply your “leaves” to the brad.

Fold down your brad prongs. This securely closes your “apple”.

Then top your “apple” off however you see fit. I used a brown, pre-tied bow as my apple stem!

DONE!

Change the “color” and the “apple” can quickly become a pumpkin, orange, muffin, cinnamon bun, blueberry, a sewing pin cushion, stack them to create a “snowman”, or Santa Claus…maybe even a cute little bunny!

 The only limit is your imagination!

This is my entire gift ensemble!

 Keyword MTMEPPS03 

Click here to enter your creation into the gallery, and view details!

      I had fun with this sketch, and loved making my card to match my Berry Sweet Basket !

I decided to use my Harriet Hop-Along Basket Single © – Digital, which I mirrored. I then took the heart patch, and bow from the Harriet Hop-Along Birthday Single © – Digital set, and added it to my Harriet Hop-Along Basket Single © – Digital image.

I love having these possibilities to transform my images in so many ways be it in size, mirroring the image, adding/layering other elements, and even digitally coloring if I want.

Here I obviously used my Copic Markers, and doodled on the little flowers. I also made my own grass too 😀

In order to “match” the ribbon on my basket I printed the GaGa for Gingham © paper, as my patterned layer. Too fun! This also matches the Pretty Pattern 01 Challenge!

I used the butterfly from the Tending The Garden ©  set, and added a flutter trail using the Fanciful Flourishes © set.

Supplies from My Time Made Easy ™ LLC

Pretty Packaging Templates: Berry Sweet Basket

Pretty Impressions Stamp Set: Occasional Label, Sentimental Occasions, Just for You, Tending the Garden, Harriet Hop-Along Basket, Harriet Hop-Along Birthday, Keep It Organized, Fanciful Flourishes

Pretty Printable Digital Paper: GaGa for Gingham

Pretty Pieces Cut File: Occasional Label, An Apple a Day

Well thanks for stopping by today!

I hope you enjoy the samples shared by myself and the MTME team! I also hope you get a chance to play along with any of our great NEW! challenges!

See you back here tomorrow for the April 1st Release, and more fun card and gift ideas!

UGH! Sorry-this was suppose to post on Sunday! I didn’t even realize it never did!

Hi everyone!

I’m back again for another post!

Can you believe it?! LOL! I’ve been posting a few times a week since we began the new My Time Made Easy ™ LLC Blog!

I have to say I’m so enjoying all this extra inspiration to share and post. I missed it. Granted, I’m running like CRAZY, but it feels good to share more often.

OK here is the next challenge.

Pretty Palette Challenge: MTMEPPC02

CLICK HERE for details and to enter your own creation!

I really loved the colors on this, so I decided to dust off an “old” set and make it fresh and new!

Here is my take which I named  The Cafe

I used the A Lil’ Cafe © 30 Images set  to make this card., which was designed  to look like the outside of a Cafe (obviously! LOL!).

The brick pattern is stamped in a pale tea dye ink along the edges. I sponged on some tea ink to make it look like the outside of an aging painted brick cafe.

There is a lot of dimension on this one, as you can see.

My coffee cup, and chair seat are stamped, colored and cut, then raised with dimensionals.

I love the windows! They are so pretty!!

I stamped the windows,  adding the shutters, and the “curtain” trim, colored and cut them out. I also added the flowers (they are in the set) so they appear like they are growing out of the window boxes, which were stamped on blue cardstock, in a brown ink. They were added using dimensionals.

I stamped on the sign images, and added the Cafe sentiment to the center.

After everything was stamped I used my ruler, and black drawing pen to create my own sidewalk, adding grass with my marker. I also added some flowers to the sidewalk too.

I took the All Steamed Up © digital paper, and changed the pink, to blue, to match my creation. I love that! It was the perfect additon to this!

Thank you to Lisa for choosing such a fun Pretty Palette!

I hope you all can give it a try too!

I’ll be back on Thursday, as it the first day of peeks for the April 1st Release, and the next Pretty Pattern Challenge!

See you then!

Hi everyone!!

I’m excited to share my card for the first Pretty Patterns Sketch!!

Keyword MTMEPPS01

You can view all the details HERE<—CLICK ME!

Be sure you add your card to the gallery in the linked post above 😀 I cannot wait to see what YOU do with it.

PRIZE FOR THIS WEEKS WINNER: The winner will receive the Harriet Hop-Along Birthday set, in honor of our latest release! (see my sample below for a idea :D)

Here is MY take on the sketch 😀 I had a blast with it, and hope you will too.

Happy 7th Birthday!

I am truly in LOVE with the Harriet Hop-Along Birthday set! This is a NEW! release that I am just over the moon for. Not only is she cute, but she can make the perfect card for so many occasions, one being birthdays, of course!

I made this to keep on hand, as my daughter Amber will be 7 this summer, and many of her friends will be turning 7 also! I always need cards ON HAND 😀

I have been longing for more images to color, and let me just say it was so fun! I cannot wait to release more “color me pretty” images in the future.

The colors were inspired by the Candy Shoppe Pretty Printables Paper.

I colored my image in with my Copic markers, but for the balloon, I colored that digitally!

I digitally colored the balloon  because I wanted the 7 th on the balloon to be in white, and the pink balloon to match my printable paper! So I colored the balloon pink (picking up the colors from the Candy Shoppe Pretty Printables Paper). I then took my copic marker and shadowed it afterward.

It is SO  nice having my own printable paper, that I can resize (nice having large or smaller scale versions of a pattern), and only use what I need (no waste). I only need a decent stock of white or ivory cardstock and I have TONS of options. I love not needing to store tons of patterns, or worry about running out. With ONE purchase I get unlimited use of the digital paper! We carry over 140 paper collections right now 😀 Check them out!

That does it for me!

I have much to do (like finally load stuff to my gallery EEK! I need an assitant who can do that! LOL!) and am uber excited to see your projects too!

Hi everyone 😀

I’m happy to have received so many emails and subscriptions for the addition of the My Time Made Easy ™ LLC Blog! If you haven’t stopped by yet, you won’t want to miss the latest announcements!

I have a new sample posted there today using the latest Pretty Impressions Digital Stamp Release of Harriet Hop-Along Basket Single.

Here is a lil’ peek!

Click here to view the full project and details!

Come back tomorrow because we have our first Pretty Patterns Sketch Challenge!

You won’t want to miss it 😀

Today I am traveling back to Boston with my mom. Looks like her tumor hasn’t shrunk :C We need to see the specialist and undergo more testing to find out what is going on. I know many of you are following her and her story, so that is the latest.

April 1st we have court for her divorce. She is really nervous about that. It will be almost a year since her husband attacked her. Time has flown by and many things have changed.

The Cancer really made my mom a stronger person, and put so much of her life into perspective. There are reasons for everything.

As for the family-everyone is great 😀 The kids are getting so big and old, and of course bring joy to the house daily. 

The snow is melting (yeah! Spring is looking closer and closer) and we are looking forward to working in our new yard! We want to plant a garden and have some landscaping to do. With our long dirt driveway

Alexa is coming upon 4 year in remission, and is giving me the 11 year old attitude. I remind myself to be thankful for that 😀 She is getting really savvy with her laptop. The first week she got it, she couldn’t do ANYTHING, then the following week I found her watching Lady Gaga videos on YouTube! After that we set some parental controls! LOL! Now we encourage her to do her writing on her computer and continue her poems and stories.

Noah is doing great in school. He is a “people pleaser”, and a favorite amongst many of his teachers. He is great with his classmates and always tires his best. This year he has made numerous academic strides. He is just such a great kid. He use to be my “headache” child, as he was always into something! LOL! Now he is so helpful, sensitive and caring. He is smart and says the funniest things. He is going to be just like his daddy when he grows up. Some girl will be lucky to have him.

Amber is the one who is really looking forward to Spring. She got all her OWN gardening equipment, and is already planning the details for her garden. She keeps busy with me in the craft room on a daily basis. I think I have some serious competition when she gets older 😀 She is always drawing, and creating cards for everyone.

Jason-crazy enough I think he misses endless house projects! LOL! He will have his hands full of them this Spring.

Daisy (our dog) she is loving all the wildlife that comes into the yard. I’m certain her will come nose to nose with an unfriendly creature sometime soon! She love the yard, and spends lots of time going in and out!

Me-well I’m just as busy as ever. I live for busy. Not too much to report on me. I spend my days caring for the kids, keeping the family healthy and organized, I clean (sometimes cook) and spend whatever free time I have creating.

Life is good.

That’s all for today. See you tomorrow

Extra! Extra! Read all about it—-> CLICK HERE! 

Exciting news huh?!

I am over the moon with excitement about the latest announcements concerning my company My Time Made Easy ™ LLC! Be sure you read all about it.

These changes and additions have been a long time coming, and I hope it inspires YOU to get crafty, more often. Now you know why (despite family stuff) I’ve been EXTRA busy!

Be sure you check out the latest Pretty Impressions Digital Release <—CLICK HERE!

Now with the latest announcements or a NEW! Release of Digital Images on the 15th of each month, I am going to share a sample using each of the sets over the next couple of days!

Be sure to keep checking in for them!

First up: Got Carrots?

This gift set uses the NEW! Bizzy Bunny Digital Stamp Set!

I love this image, as Spring is in it’s way, and I longed for some images to color! I love the boy bunny with his barrow of carrots! Add a bow to the head and it could become a girl too 😀 These bunnies (3 new images in total) are perfect for Easter, without being limited to a holiday. I love image versatility!

Is this gift set not adorable?!

I wanted to package up these homemade Carrot Cake Cookies, bottoms dipped in white chocolate-YUM! Perfect for Spring, or any occasion where a sweet treat is in order.

Going with the carrot theme I used the Any Way You Slice It template to make a “carrot” box!

This was SO easy to do! I printed the Dotted Stripes Collection 1 (Peach) to further enhance my “carrot” design. Super quick.

For the top of the carrot (Any Way You Slice It template) I used the latest release of the Abra-Bow-Dabra to make the greenery on the top of my carrot box!

I sponged the edged, and just omitted the center curl, and VOILA! Perfect carrot topper!

I then used the Simple Seedling (card insert), re-sized to create my tag!

I also added the sentiment “For some bunny sweet” to it, to top it off 😀

Now you are looking at the same image of Bizzy Bunny which was used on the card, and on my Any Way You Slice It template tag!

The card on the right, is the size this digital image opens up in. The tag on the left, I resized it to fit 😀

Part of the BEAUTY of using digital stamps is the ability to resize, and flip/mirror the images. I could have digitally colored them as well to mass produce my gift or card, if needed, but I opted to hand color them with my copic markers.

I did digitally color my sentiment on the card:

I LOVE that sentiment from the Bizzy Bunny set !

With my mom undergoing chemo, and others helping out, I think it is perfect for her to give to those who have been helpful to her 😀 I’m trying to make as many gifts as I can for her to send off to all the people she wants to thank! Thankfully being a papercrafter comes in handy more often than not! Everyone comes to me for gifts in the family! LOL! I love it.

So, back to the card…instead of trying to use my markers (in select colors) to ink parts of the sentiment, I used my photo editing software to digitally color it. Perfect every time! No bleeding of colors, or unevenly inked areas, just makes the PERFECT  impression every time! (I did this on the Carrot tag too)

I’m not saying I don’t love my acrylic images, but often I do wish for more options with images, and that is why we often offer both options.

That being said, we are offering select sets in DIGITAL ONLY. Seems most of our customers prefer that method, and this will allow me to offer more choices, more often 😀 It also cuts down on your storage of images! We all know how quickly we can run out of space. I like to fill my craft room with STUFF, like cardstock, markers, embellishments, and ribbon, rather than tons of image ;D Plus it is easier to see what you OWN when you just open your digital stamp folder, and SEE all the images laid out before you, without pilfering through stacks of boxes, or CD cases.

The card in itself has a lot of dimension 😀

The head, tail, pocket/carrot, carrot sign, 2 carrots and greenery are all cut out, colored, and up on dimensionals for some added WOW! I just printed the image twice 😀

I then added the fence which I cut using a punch. Super cute eh? I just used my Copic marker to add to the dimesnion!

Now you can start to see all these possibilties from these new images. We have LOTS of digital stamps to choose from, so check them out –>HERE!

Well that does it for me today.

Please return tomorrow for a sample using one of the other NEW! Digital Pretty Impressions images we just released!

Until then

Well today wraps up our March Release Projects. I have yet to load my stuff to our AMAZING gallery, but promise to by the weekend!

We like to celebrate this day with a group post. 

As I mentioned last month, we have added a NEW! feature to the end of our monthly release called A year in review. This is when the design team and myself shares a project using any previously released stamps, templates, papers, and cut files! 

This will allow you all even MORE ideas for using previously released items!

Let the inspiration begin here: 

Sadly I don’t have my own sample to share for the Year in Review. SOON though.

I definitely want to use the What’s Your Angle? again and will have a peek at what has taken up most my time these days.

Now that being said I am working hard on something special (you will be in the KNOW next week some time) that has consumed much of my time, as have the kids (they are on vacation), so I will plan to post a peek SOON!! I’m putting in much time and energy, and I think it will be worth the wait 😀

I do have a sample to share, even though I don’t have a template today. It is for a sketch challenge for the JUGS Challenge #74! <–CHECK IT OUT

Here I used both the latest release sets: Singing Silhouette, and Keep Strong

The sentiment and image are stamped on a up-side-down tag, as you can see the bow is hanging at the bottom.

I LOVE this sentiments ” The journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step” Its my life motto! I wear a bracelet that says it, to remind me daily of the journey I have been on.

The paper is from the Coffee Beans Pretty Printables Digital Paper. It actually inspired the color scheme for this creation.

Well its been a fabulous release!

I plan on returning really soon with PEEK at what is to come. Don’t miss out on what the team has shared the last week either! They really went over and above with this release!

OK I’m out of fun and fancy titles today!! LOL!

One more day of projects until our Group Post: Year in Review!

We have received lots of great feed back for that new monthly feature 😀

We have some really great stuff in the works here at MTME, and you will definitely want to stop by and see the news in a week or so 😀 You WON’T want to miss it.

For today, you can fill your creative cup by visiting:

Today I have a few more cards. I don’t know if you noticed but I made quite a bit this month!! I have some good stuff in the works so these will have to do for now. I’m sure you never tire of card ideas anyhow right?

OK first up

Because I care…

Back to one of my go to color combinations!

I went to an old pattern paper we have: Flutters & Flowers paper. I LOVE the script on that paper collection and found it quick and easy to make this creation using it!

I really wanted a “Because I care” card. The sentiment is part of the Keep Strong set.

I LOVE the frame from Framed Elegance, and it made an awesome frame for my bird/branch silhouettes from the Singing Silhouette set.

I cut the frame using the Framed Elegance Cut File. I masked the oval frame so my branch stayed within the —- border. The oval is also cut and on dimensionals.

I just love this. Enough said 😀

May all your weeds…

Here we have another card creation using the Keep Strong set.

I really wanted to use the flower silhouette from the Framed Elegance set alongside this sentiment.

I colored them with my markers, then over stamped some white polka dots, on the ivory base. The bottom of the card was scored, then I brushed an ink pad across it.

Super simple and definitely one you could mass produce!

Well I hope your cup is overflowing with creative ideas today from the last few days we’ve all shared projects!

Be sure to return tomorrow for loads more fun and creativity!

Hi world-

Hope you are all doing well. I’m taking the day to spend it with mom and the kids. She is finishing up her radiation treatments this week and is feeling a bit down. I will bring her some SOFT food and her birdcage that I made and posted the other day.

I am also donating a TON of cards and templates that I’ve made the last few months to the Cancer Center she goes to daily. I think the patients and/or staff can really use them 😀 I saw one particular patient there who has really touched my heart. She was writing out (store bought) cards while getting treatment one day, and it made me realize this would be the next home my creations needed. That particular patient has a terminal form of Cancer. She is only 35, and has a 5 year old son. I have been praying for her daily. She was “suppose” to die 2 years ago, after being given 6 weeks to live. Her positive attitude are an inspiration to me. She is looking into partaking a trial treatment for her cancer, but sadly they are only accepting 12 patients :C There are over 9,000 in the potential drawing. I am praying that she is accepted and finds the cure. If anyone ever deserved it, or showed a stronger will to live, it is her. Her name is Leah, so if you can send up a prayer, that would be great.

OK back on track here….

Today you will get a world of inspiration from

My sample today you may recognize from the store sample 😀

All Caged Up

This was the first cage made using the Caged template.

I wanted something to match my craft room (click me), since it is bird themed…so I made this for me.

This is the other side. I LOVE the A Little Birdie Cut File, and wanted to use it on my cage. I thought stamping the branch, and flowers on it from the Singing Silhouette set would make a great accent to the file. I feel like the angle of the branch mimics the wing, and stomach of the bird. Is it me?

For the front of the cage I added the cage image (cut out with the Caged Cut File) stamped in eggplant, so it appeared to be like a cage door. I added stickles, and an adhesive rhinestone as well for a little sparkle.

This is the template with the battery operated candle, all lit up!

I wanted this to illuminate, but be SAFE, so these candles are the BEST thing since sliced bread.

Supplies from My Time Made Easy ™ LLCPretty Packaging Templates: Caged

Pretty Impressions Stamp Set: Singing Silhouette

Pretty Pieces Cut File: Caged Cut File, A Little Birdie

Well, once again thank you for stopping by.

We’ll be back tomorrow with even more samples to inspire your own creations!

Well we’ve had our offical March release, and it seems like we have a TON of aviary theme lovers out there!!

Today we have some more projects to share with you. Be sure you check out:

In the meantime, I will share a couple cards I’ve made for this month’s release! I have lots to do and the kids are on vacation, so my time is a little tight this month as I do my best to make day trips with them 😀

We all love cards, and can never have too many ideas, so I hope you like todays projects!

Sweet Love

This is a favorite of mine! As I said before I LOVE the love birds silhouette from the Singing Silhouette set. I inked them with 2 ink colors. I think they look simply sweet. Here I stamped them on the swing image, which is hanging from the branch builder from the set. The large flowers can be layered with the smaller flowers in the set, for a pretty and layered look.

I stamped the poem by Robert Frost which is from the All A Flutter Sentiments set.

The next card was a fun one, with some colors I wanted to put together!

Birds on a wire…

I loved how this one turned out. You could remake it is so many colors and change the sentiment for many variations of this card. I really love using colored pigment ink on Kraft cardstock. It is often an unexpected choice.

Here I stamped several of the bird silhouette, on a hand drawn line. I used the flower elements in the set to add the dots to the green bird, and the flower to the coral bird. The sentiment on the card is from the Sensational Sentiments set.

Now, we have a FUN one!

Here I used FIVE stamp sets!

I used the NEW! Singing Silhouette set bird & sentiment), combined with Lovely Labels 1 (label stamped in chocolate-cut with the Lovely Label Cut File), You’ve Got Mail ( the 10 cent symbol, and envelope), Fanciful Flourishes (next to bird), and the Sign It (house image) set!!

I stamped and cut out my little bird. I layered it onto the label rectangle which I had stamped the envelope on! Now my bird looks like it is delivering the mail 😀

I thought it was SO cute!

Thanks again for stopping by for a little inspiration.

See you again tomorrow.