Well its Wednesday! We are half way through the week-WHEW!

Today JustRite Stampers is the  product focus on SCS. You can see that HERE!

They are reviewing-

 Merry Little Christmas Borders & Centers Round 1-5/8”

Holiday Demi Phrases Round 2”

and Wood Stamper 2″ with Bonus 15pt Font & Center

There is a video on how to use the 2″ stamper–>HERE!

So, I thought I’d share a sample with you too 😀

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas……

I ended up singing that Christmas song to myself the entire time I was making this! LOL!

This was made to look like a hanging holly wreath.

I embossed my mistletoe with gold, then colored it in using my copic markers

I then embossed the sentiment, in gold, on gold cardstock, and punched with a 1 3/8 circle.

That was then layered onto a scallop circle from Marvy (pink punch). I added some red adhesive rhinestones for my “berries”

This was actually a quick and simple card. I think you could definitely mass produce this version for the holidays, or use it for a gift set 😀

My paper and ribbon are all from Papertrey Ink.

Now you can see what some of the other girls did

Now for all you with a little  Princess in your life…..you may enjoy this post!

Amber and her invitation

Amber is an August birthday, so we always celebrate with a party Mid-September, since people are usually away on vacation and whatnot in August.

This year she wants a  Pretty Princess Costume Party! These are her invites from LAST YEAR—>HERE! You can also see the Disney Stamp set there too (used for flowers on invite this year)

We will use a My Timeless Template for the Princess party favors (not sure which one yet! Thinking something like —> THIS! <— BUT, she hasn’t decided-and I’m waiting for a head count-Ill share once they are done!). We have a Castle pinata, and I ma having a Castle cake made, with matching Lollipops.

We are making crowns, frames, and necklaces too for the party activities. I may also let them decorate their template box favors too!

She has a STUNNING Sleeping Beauty costume, complete with glittery shoes, crown, and light up wand.

She picked out everything for her party.

For the invites, they totally had to meet her approval, and she made many helpful suggestions 😀

I blurred out the personal info-just so you know the invites are defective!

This is the invite in its entirely.

I used her fave color-Hibiscus Burst (Sleeping Beauty wears pink too!) She was totally into telling me what she HAD to have! She is quite the little paper crafter! I’ll share some stuff she made after this.

I cut the main layer using the Labels 8 nestability. What a pretty way to layer a girly invite 😀

I printed the info on my computer, ensuring it would fit when die cut with the smaller layering Labels 8.

Amber chose this carriage byImaginisce as her focus. Really cute choice, and it was only $1!!

I colored it with Copic markers.

Amber said “It needs lots of glitter!” So I added the glitter. A definite nice touch!

She then said it needed “grass”, so I added the green layer.

She then said it needed jewels-so I put some on the wheels.

Lastly she wanted a fancy border-so we matted it with the black scallop layer.

Smart girl!

Then it was all layered.

Well, the thought the bottom was plain and wanted me to put flowers!

So I used the Disney Princess set from last year  (linked above) masked each one, since it was already adhered with dimensionals, and added the flowers.

She was right! A real WOW!

If THAT wasn’t enough, she wanted a REAL flower on them too!

SO I got out my Prima’s and called it a day!

Finally!!!

Amber was SOOOOO happy. She kept telling me how beautiful they were, and she knows how hard I worked on them. It was REALLY sweet. Her teacher said that each one she handed out, she would say “My mom made these special for the party, and worked really hard, so you can never throw it in the trash” She said it was HILARIOUS!! Can you tell she listens to my EVERY word 🙂

I was then asked my 3 teachers to do party planning for them. Um, NO thank you! I have all I can do to get my own kids party stuff done! LOL!

The last week of September Alexa will be 10!!

I was going to have a party, but 10 is HUGE! I REALLY want to get her tickets to the Miley Cyrus concert instead, that comes Nov. 9th to Boston MA but tickets are STARTING at over $200, for BALCONY and most are sold out :C So I’m crossing my fingers I can find something before her b-day. It would be a dream come true for her, and a GREAT way to celebrate 10! Wish me luck on that! I don’t have $500 for 2 tickets!!

OK now time for some things Amber had made on her own

This was for her teachers at the end of the year in Pre-K. I’m not sure WHY the main layer is at the lower rigth-but it was HER project!

Mrs Slater

then Mrs Bartlett

She then wrote their names going around the heart! So cute

She even picked what she wanted to write inside herself!

Then when we had our friends daughter’s first birthday party, Amber wanted to make her own tag for the gift

She did the whole thing herself 😀

Yes, she LOVES the images from The Greeting Farm

She always likes to pick out her own images.

She colored it herself in colors of her choice, added her own glitter, and cut it out too! I helped her punch the flowers and tag, but that was it!

Then this past weekend we had a boy’s double birthday to go to. She totally took the pressure off me to have a card made, by making ot for me 😀  (WHEW! Off the hook! LOL!)

She stamped them and colored them herself-asking for help with the sentiment, so it was straight 😀

This stamp set is by Lizzie Anne-Gizmos and Gears

I think she will take my job some day! LOL!

I’m so happy to see how much she enjoys something I enjoy too. All my kids love crafts, but she loves the stamping. Alexa LOVE writing and just coloring, and Noah, well he prefers video games, but I’d say he mostly enjoys the cooking craft stuff we do most.

OK signing off now! I have my Papertrey Ink peeks to prepare for  TOMORROW! SO excited.

See you then!

Welcome to the CC Designs Autumn Sugarplums Blog Hop!!

The Autumn Sugarplums release is so large the whole team wanted to participate so we decided to do our very first blog hop!

If you’ve just happened across my blog and didn’t start at the beginning click here <—–click! 

NOTE: Don’t forget to comment! ONE random comment from one of the blog hop posts will be chosen to win the ENTIRE Autumn Sugarplums stamp collection!! (TRUST ME YOU WANT THEM ALL!)

So make sure to leave a comment on each post to increase your chances of winning!

I had SOOOOO much fun with ALL the images in the Fall Kit I just couldn’t stop creating stuff. Aside from today’s post I still have several images COLORED, just not ,made into anything. These are some of the images I took to the hospital when Jay had surgery.

 I posted ONE peek HERE the other day (along with a link to a  FAB deal on the SCAL 2.0 with a coupon code too-don’t miss it!), then I have 3 more samples to share today!

Of course since it used images from the FALL KIT I was totally into FALL colors 😀

 One of my favorite images, because of the way I colored it was this one 

Give thanks

Isn’t he precious?

I don’t often color “boy stuff”. I have to say I totally loved this one.

I love the scenery I was able to easily create for this one. I just made it like my own version of some cool “paintings” I have seen, that when you look closely it is just a painted background of dots, that appear to be similar to the blurry fall trees in the background (of like a photo). Does that make sense?????? Sorry!!I used half a sentiment from JustRite Stampers Favorite Occasions Borders & Centers Set 1-5/8″ Looking at the fall theme, it reminds me of Thanksgiving, but it can be for ANY thank you card! His vest is so cute too!! By using my colorless blender pen I was able to easily make it appear to have some texture. The Cris Cross pattern is repeated in my paper (First Fruits) I love the punched leaf trio, that appears to look like swirling leaves of Autumn. That is ONE of the best things about living in New England! Autumn is just breathtaking.

Then I went on to make an Apple themed one!

Along with wonderful New England Autumn’s we have apple picking! Nothing tastes as good as an apple picked FRESH off the tree on a crisp Autumn day.

I love blue, red, and yellow together! I used the same technique as the vest, on her dress! I paired it with a similar paper (Bitty dots, and Bitty Box Basics) to continue the look. I also used the apples to make my own patterned paper.

In my stash I had some Christmas sticks with beaded holly berries. I cut one off to appear to look like a funky apple (adding some olive bridal confetti for the leaves )  

Now we have the girl with the pumpkin in the wagon

I had so much fun doodling her apron and tights!

I adore just mixing a variety of colors and patterns and having it just work.

I also drew in the sidewalk. You can see my video on HOW TO —->HERE!

I really like doing that and actually have to make myself NOT do it as often as I would like to.  I love her with red hair too. A great variation to the BLOND I always like coloring.

Well that does it for me TODAY! I have 2 more samples to post tomorrow for the actual C.C. Designs Release! Then my newsletter project will be revealed too.

I have been creating like crazy and my mojo is coming black, slowly but surely!!

OK now REMEMBER:

Don’t forget to comment! ONE random comment from one of the blog hop posts will be chosen to win the ENTIRE Autumn Sugarplums stamp collection!! So make sure to leave a comment on each post to increase your chances of winning!

 Continue the hop by —> CLICKING HERE <—-!

Thanks for stopping by

OH BOY! Where did my day go?

Sorry-I have just been as busy as a bee. My day totally got away from me, but I have come back (as promised) to post the Saturday My Time to Create Sketch Challenge for you all-if you need a starting point and inspiration to get creative this holiday weekend.

So here it is!

Sketch 35

If you have a chance to play please link your creation HERE

The top element is meant to be a open FRAME, but you are obviously allowed to interpret any way you see fit!

Here is my take on it-

Spooky lil cat

Isn’t this cat SOOOO cute? I loved coloring it yellow. These are your TYPICAL Halloween colors, and I can see why! They just work for the event! Sometimes we don’t need to reinvent the wheel and that is the case here. He looks like he is having a BLAST!

I loved the 3D pumpkin for his treats, popping out, and the fact that the glittery circle looks like the Halloween moon!

I used some felt web ribbon from Martha Stewart on this, and love the interest and texture it added!

This image is part of the NEW! C.C. Designs Release and it is called Halloween Candy

Check out the BLOG for you chance to WIN new release stamp sets!!

This set includes  5  (REALLY CUTE) rubber stamps attached to cling foam ready to be cut out.

Price: $12.50

Stamp set will be available Monday September 7th at 10:00pm est.

Now be sure to check out what the team made:

Tomorrow we have a blog hop 😀 That will feature the C.C. Design team samples using the Fall Kit 😀

Again sorry so late :C

Well I just have to start today by saying a HUGE thank you to each of you who have helped me with links and advice on my NEW! Cricut Expression! YOU ROCK!

While it sits in the box (I simply CAN’T open it until I get my WORK done!) I have LOTS to review now 😀 thanks to you all.

I have a HUGE list of TO Buys! LOL! Thanks to all the wonderful suggestions you made (and what can I say I’m EASY to persuade!). I will keep you posted.

So far I got the Design Studio and Juke Box (both on sale)

I purchased Sure Cuts A Lot 2.o (since you all said I NEED it :D) and GUESS WHAT! Canda of Canda Craft (where I found the SCAL 2.0 for the CHEAPEST price around WOOT! WOOT!) not only has it on SALE! , but emailed me after I placed my order, to tell me that YOU, my PRECIOUS, much loved and HELPFUL readers will get an ADDITIONAL 10% off!

NOTE: LINKS NOW FIXED! SORRY!

The code is: MYTIME10.

This offer will expire on 10/15/09.

The coupon will take 10% off of their entire purchase which will make SCAL even cheaper!

So seriously how cool is that? Those of you on the fence can now jump off! 

Let me know if you took the plunge with me 😀 OK!

Obviously I’ll keep you posted on my success once I get past the next 3 weeks of work stuff. (NO my Cricut won’t be in the box all that time :D) I know once I get going, everything else will fall apart till I had my FUN FILL.

OK on to business people!

Now I have the start of a week of peeks featuring designs from C.C. Designs September Release. Check out the BLOG for your chance to win the peeking set each day!

The release will be Monday Sept 7th!!

First up……

Too Cute to Spook

And is it ever! I love the owl on the moon like that-Great job Diane 😀

I missed posting day one of peeks yesterday which began with Dianes set: Ollie and Griselda

I decided to stamp, color and cut the owl image, and make a QUICK pixie stix holder for a sweet treat! Easy peasy.

The bling is my starry night sky (in case you were wondering).

Next up is AmyR’s Halloween Sentiments set

Something good-

I adore the sentiment with that sad lookin lil clown! How cute is he?!

I bet he’d perk right up with some candy.

I had to mimic the circles in his out fit, by adding all the FUN buttons. The reminded me of gumballs too.

He was part of the Fall Kit-but will be available as a single for the Autumn Sugar Plums Stamps-which have kids, sentiments and accessories (like the bench he is on). Really AWESOME stuff let me tell you. These are part of the images I brought to the hospital to color when Jay had surgery. Oh did the nurses go NUTS!!!!!!!!

Well that does it for me. I’m having a hard time getting back into my mojo these days. Almost a month of LITTLE to NO stamping about KILLED me, and my mojo is SLOW to return. Normally my ideas are flowing and I’m whipping it out, but jeesh, this past week has been ROUGH.

Hopefully it returns before the end of the week! I got stuff to do!

Hi everyone 😀

Its Monday! Back to the REAL world.

Jay returned to work today, after his 5 week recovery. I can actually get some work done! LOL! Oh and I can actually get back to blogging more 😀

Seriously though I will miss having him home. It was a rude awakening when I was back to getting everyone together this morning. Note to self: Need X-LG coffee with TURBO Exspresso shot on Monday’s!

On a downer note we all woke up with cold’s this morning :C WOW! 3 WHOPPING days in a germ infested school and we all get sick! LOL! Maybe its the change in season? Who knows.

I decided after ALL my hard work playing mom and nurse, and having little to NO MY TIME, I am going to buy myself the Cricut Expression!!! I have been having creative withdrawls here, and NEED something FUN!

(Insert a vision a me doing a happy dance all over my house-especially since Jay didn’t FLINCH yesterday when I told him what I wanted-and he knows how much it costs! LOL! He said “Well I’m shocked you waited this long! (Maybe he just accepted defeat?))

As soon as Amber is off to school and I am off to the store 😀 I am very excited about this and simply cannot WAIT to give it a go! I really love all the Disney stuff they offer, along with the cool tags and things I have seen on cartridges.

SOOOOOOO, that being said, if you have a favorite cartridge you’d like to recommend to a total Cricut NEWBIE, OR any advice…….let me know! They are on SALE this week so I want to stock up! I deserve it 😀 I’m a little nervous I won’t be able to figure the CRAZY machine out. I’m quite techno challenged, and Jay already informed me he has NO interest in trying to deal with me while I get it figured out! So I HOPE it is user friendly (aka Lauren capable). People don’t really believe me when I tell them how techno challenged I am but TRUST ME, it is so true.

I also want the Sure Cuts Alot thingy but I have no real clue WHAT it is, HOW to use it or any of that fun stuff, so figured I’ll get the basics FIRST.

I am busy here gearing up for more FUN releases!

Pink Cat Studio had a NEW! icon for you-HERE! You don’t want to miss the details on HOW to WIN the NEW! Release to come!!

In the meantime I figured I’d share a sample I created using Papertrey Ink’s CHA set Floral Fusion (not available for purchase-sorry) and Birds of a Feather

I have to say I adore Red, Berry Sorbet, Kraft, Dark Chocolate and Sping Moss together!

This is a sweet and SIMPLE card, but I LOVE it.

The bird was lightly stamped using the lightest of the Tea Dye Ink Duo. I didn’t want the bird to be BOLD-just sitting on the branch, somewhere.

I just used my Labels nestability to get the purty main layer, and top cuts on my mat layers.

The little paper punched flower was perfect.

I love making Thank You cards because you can never have too many! I am however AWFUL at actually MAILING them :C I need to get better at that. It is something I forever vow to do, and yet it rarely gets better.

Just as the shoe makers family has no shoes, the card-makers family gets no cards!

There are NO excuses! I have many ways to keep organized, I just am not good with the follow through. I get lost in my own mind, and dive into some other task that needs my attention. Stampers ADD for sure.

Can you tell I have serious guilt over it too? Its just awful!

Well that is all for me today.

I have a fun post for tomorrow-its the 1st so we have our PTI Senior Design Team challenge! Don’t miss it 😀

Thanks for stopping by and ANY Cricut help you can offer is MUCH appreciated 😀

Post #2 for today-

Well Its been a few days since I shared some creative eye candy!

I have lots of fun things I have made, just little time to share lately, because I have even MORE to make. It can be a crazy cycle! LOL! Posting can take FOREVER! Oh and photographing and editing-that takes me forever too! I often find myself creating so much that I forget what I made and if/when I shared it! LOL!

Case in point.

The card I have to share today I made over a month ago! I just got caught up on other things and it was in the forgotten archives of my projects!

Party Animals

This is the card I made for Amber’s 5th birthday. She was just in love with this image when she saw it, so I had to use it for her.

This image is by Tina Wenke-Mose-Bird-Ladybug-Cucpake from Stampavie.

Amber loved the little ladybug in this the most. I loved the Chickie 😀 So we picked out our paper, and got started. She also helped dictate what colors I should use for it, since it was for her. She cracks me up sometimes.

I think she has a good eye 😀 She basically chose the colors and I just colored it for her. The ONLY thing I didn’t color what she asked was she wanted the mouse purple. We compromised and did the SHIRT purple instead.

The sentiment is from JustRite Stampers Celebrations Demi Phrases Set 2″  It was perfect to put atop my Animal Party cupcake! I had fun with the way the mail layer was cut, and normally finding a sentiment to accentuate that would have been difficult. I really LOVE the Demi Phrases they have. I find I often don’t need a full circle sentiment, so they are super.

The paper is by Making Memories. One of my FAVE stacks! On the ribbon I added a pretty flower brad. Easy peasy.

OK Sorry, I wasted all my chit chat for my family post! I have to get Amber ready for school and then have a million TO DO’s!

As always, thanks for stopping by.

Till tomorrow

Hi everyone-I am seriously in complete SHOCK that Summer is about over!

Today I’m squeezing in ONE more day trip with the kids, then tomorrow will be getting all the Back to School stuff in order. CRAZY!!!

Yesterday was our Wedding anniversary. I did a Smilebox (2 years ago! WOW!) of some of the photos from our Hawaiian Wedding —>CLICK HERE<— if you want to see that.

 We actually had an ALL day date! Now that is not something that happens often. We traveled to Boston MA to do the Duck Tours and ate in Little Italy. Got a Lobster Claw pastry from Mikes too (I swear its 5,000 calories ALONE! LOL!) and just enjoyed each others company. We were able to reflect on how much has happened in the years we spent together. Actually each year is always full of SOMETHING crazy! LOL!  Be it having our children, buying and renovating our home, Alexa’s Cancer, getting our first pet, my brother living with us, then this was the year of “surgeries”. Noah had got circumcised, I had my gall bladder out, and Jay had his back Discetomy! LOL! I’m NOT complaining-trust me! They are all minor and fixable things so I am very happy. It is just crazy to reflect on some of the changes our family has had over the years.

All in all, we are happy we have weathered anything that has come our way, together! We are happier, stronger, and more thankful for what we have-than ever! I look forward to the next 100 years together (Yes I plan that by the time I get old we CAN live that long :))

On a crafty note-believe it or not I have TONS going on and TONS to share 😀 I hope to actually get to my computer to do it soon! LOL!

I swear I will post my other Top 5 ASAP!!

Now in preparation for Back to School I decided to use the Color Challenge –> HERE for my card today

#1 Teacher

I thought this was cute and funky! I love the non-traditional school colors!

LOVED my own layout! LOL!!!

To start, I made my own scenery for this one. You can see my video for that —>HERE I then made sure her head was out of frame for a nice POP.

This is WS- Annika from The Greeting Farm, who I bought after seeing Julie Campbell use it HERE😀 (thanks girl! You made me spend a small fortune that day! LOL!

The #1 Teacher is stamped on a die cut tag. That sentiment is from Lizzie Anne Designs – School Days. Love that set!

This is a Thank You card for Cindy Coutts who sent my daughter Alexa the entire Math Program we needed for her 😀 It was such a wonderful gesture, and is very much appreciated! After Alexa makes her card, it will go postal (as Alexa informed me this girl doesn’t look at all like her! LOL!)

On a “funny note” Jay and I were going through a scrapbook that ALL my PSF’s made for Alexa’s Make a Wish trip to Disney, and Alexa was browsing the photos. They did an AMAZING job creating this album for her and I am SO thankful to have it. There is one photo of her with Mickey Ears on (one of my faves from that trip)-and you can’t see ANY hair. Well that is because she didn’t have any while going through her Chemo. Anyway, Alexa looks at the photo-puzzled. She says “Is that me? It sort of looks like me .” She then starts laughing and places her hand on her forehead , kind of like a DUH!!!(dramatically) and answers her own question “Oh! Yeah! That IS me! I had Cancer! I forgot I had no hair!” then just giggled and turned the page.

HOLY CRAP! I was just in a pause moment, that something like that was just a small bump in the road to her, a glimmer of a fading memory to Alexa. I’m often not sure sometimes WHAT she gets about certain things, and am often surprised by just how much she really DOES get, but doesn’t EXPRESS to me very often until the craziest times. A huge part of me is happy she didn’t recall all the real terrifying things that went on, and I was happy I THINK I did a good job concealing my own worst thoughts, fears and feelings during that time

I cannot believe how long Alexa’s hair is getting now, as you will see in  the Back to School photos I will get once they go back Wednesday. Out of all my kids, Alexa’s yearly milestones seem so much more HUGE to me. Everything she can do is so much harder for her, effortless for them. Bittersweet to me sometimes. But, give her the chance and  she will do it!

I remember a time when the bus would show up and she could NOT climb up the stairs without help! Well, now she insists waiting for the bus BY HERSELF, and me not running to the door when she gets off! As she will tell you “I’m not a baby, I’m 9 now!” She just likes to come off the bus, walk in, and announce to me that she is home. Its so weird sometimes to see that she is actually growing into this independent, feisty young lady. I’m so proud of her. Admittedly it can be hard to let go and not protect her every step of the way.

I reminded myself of a dog my mom once had! Her name was Annie. She was this huge German Shepard. Well, when Alexa was a baby, my mom would have her at night while I worked (I was a nurse, and as a single mom would work nights so I could take care of Alexa during the days). Anyway once Alexa could crawl, Annie would stand over her, every INCH, in attempts to “protect” her every move! It was the strangest thing! Alexa couldn’t even attempt to walk on her own because the dog was ALWAYS hovering over her. Not knowingly trying to prevent her from walking, but meaning well, and protecting her.

I am often reminded that I am that dog, and cannot stand over her every move. How will she walk on her own if I  always hover over her?

Many people have so many misconceptions about people with Down Syndrome and other special needs for that matter. Alexa proves that to me daily. Things I was told she’d NEVER do, but does!

She writes some of the most amazing poems! She literally sits there ALL day and either reads books or writes poems and stories. She tells me all the time that she wants to write stories when she grows up. I know she will do just that 😀

I am enrolling her in Art Classes this fall. I’m very excited about this for her as I have HUNTED for a Art Program for 3 years now! Finally we have found a class for something Alexa loves to do. Each week there will be something new taught. How fun for her! 

Someone said to me recently, after me telling them about Alexa enrolling “Oh! Isn’t that nice. I didn’t know they had art classes for kids with special needs!” My jaw sort of hit the floor then. While it was a “simple” and innocent comment, it cut like a knife.

Alexa is just like every other kid. Things can be harder for her, but she does do the work so she can do it just like everyone else. All I replied was “She isn’t taking a special art class, she will be with other 9 year old kids.” 

Sometimes the hardest thing about raising a child like Alexa, is pushing past the worlds misconceptions, and limits they have placed. We have all come so far, but there is so far to travel. I know I am up for journey 😀

Well that does it for me today-One more day of fun with my children before we get ready to head back to school!

Amber starts Kindergarten and I just cannot even believe it!

Time sure does fly.

Hi everyone!

How has everyone been? We have been great here! Obviously “I” have been MIA. It is rare that I do not post days in a row but I have really been trying to enjoy what is left of the Summer with my children by taking as many day trips as humanly possible, before we are back to the daily “grind”.

NOTE:————————–

 I have to share a link to an UBER cool blog I found! Its a SAHM who lives in New England and lists ALL the cool places you can go to and visit! She also gives her own reviews and shares photos!

Check it out if you live in the area—>One Mom’s Review

I love it! We have found several places to visit this summer because of it 😀 Thank you to Mandy for taking the time to help out area mom’s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

———————————–

Its really not often that I get a “break”. So I took advantage of what I could. I also have TONS of design stuff going on behind the scenes!!!!!!!!!

I am trying my best to actually get some stamp designs done 😀

I KNOW! I can’t believe it either. I’m going to TRY and take the plunge.

I have to admit I’m very petrified by the WHOLE thing. If I can’t get it perfect than I won’t do it at all!!!!!!!!!!!! 

I’m very computer challenged, so I have a graphic designer, that use to be a SU! Customer of mine, who is going to come to my house to teach me the program 😀 I’m not making ANY promises-but thought I’d let you know in case there is something you may want to see me design 😀 I have some ideas sketched out, so we will see  HOW they transfer into real images.

If you have any ideas of what YOU want to see-let me know!  And to let you know not to worry if it gets quieter here. This stuff takes TIME! As it is I’m in shock myself that I am able to make so many template designs and still keep up and post regularly!

Tomorrow I will be back with the color challenge from last week, then the My Timeless Template challenge- as well as 2 weeks worth of TOP 5 entries with links for you all!

In the meantime……..here is a fun SUMMERY Sample I made using Tina Wenke: Mouse on a Orange Daisy

This is from Stampavie You can also find it —> here <— at All That Scraps

HUGE NOTE!!!!!!!!!! TODAY ONLY:BIRTHDAY SPECIAL—> Meet Kiki La Rue<—-

Apparently I didn’t want to make my Daisy orange! LOL!

I wanted a real POP of color, so I went with it. To me, THAT is the FUN part about “whimsical” hand drawn images! You CAN make anything any color YOU wish. When its a true to nature image, its expected you will color image with the expected color of it in its natural state. When you have a image such as this, the sky is the limit on color choices. You CAN have various “nontraditional” colored animals like the cartoons our kids watch-like Blue’s Clue’s, and Dora with blue and purple dogs, and other funky colored animals, like monkey’s with purple boots! 🙂

I feel like this project has HINTS of the challenge colors posted here <—-CLICK IT!

I’m not passing this one off as my SAMPLE, just saying!

The obvious pink and Orangey yellow-the bird has the blue, and there is a HINT of purple on the flower held my the lady bug!

I just loved coloring this image.

I hope you like my sample too!

I love the layout with the die cute labels and satin bows. Just too fun

This is sure to bring cheer to someone 😀 Don’t you think?

Well I am on the run. Lots to do before school is back in session.

Thank you for checking in with me

See you back here tomorrow!

Yes! You read it correctly! A Christmas Blog Hop!

We have a grand total of 35 players too 😀 So once you are done here, scroll on down for WHO else has eye candy!

JustRite Stampers is having an AMAZING Christmas Release! You can view ALL the NEW! Release items —>HERE<—!

I’m totally head over heels with the images/sentiment combos this release has. I totally love the turn this company has taken with the variety they are offering! Not only can I get FAB alphabets sets (for CHEAP $-excellent quaility :D) in various sizes with ONE purchase, I can now get great bordering sentiments WITH co-ordinating images too.

So let me get to my project so YOU can get hopping!

In case you didn’t know, another FAB NEW! item that JustRite Stampers carries (for a LIMITED TIME!) is Storage Box with Drawer . I love this new item, and found a way to make it a decorative, fun and functional item for your home during the holiday season!

Christmas Card Cardinal Box

My Holiday Idea: I designed this box so that it can be used to hold last year’s Christmas cards!

Each year we receive photos with updates from our families. I just can’t bare to throw away the cards after the season is over, but I also cannot leave them up all year! This box allows me to keep them, and display the decorative box during the holidays, so that we can open it up and reflect on how everyone has grown and changed from one year to the next! People love to go through the cards and compare 😀 Now I can cherish them, and keep each year organized.

OR it can just be a great box to give something in 😀

 I chose the Cardinal from the Christmas Treasures Borders & Centers Round 3-1/4”set as my main focus.

I thought it was so pretty, and perfect for the occasion. Stamped on a vintage cream cardstock, it was colored with Copic Markers.

I used some Poinsettia themed patterned paper by K& Co. to cover the top of my box. I then used some tree pattern from the same paper stack to cover the front drawer of this box. I used Zip Dry for ALL my projects that involve “covering” something. Its clear, quick to dry and easy to remove from areas you DON’T want it on, after it dries. For example-sometimes glue leaks out from under the paper and onto the “pretty” parts of the project where you DON’T want them! Just rub off-and you never knew it was there. It doesn’t even ruin your project 😀 I love that.

For my tag I used *just* the Cardinal center image.

I also used a Labels 3 Nestability for my tag

Some of the image was omitted when I cut the circle tag, but I love that the main focus is on the bird and holly berries.

I added the tag to the center of my Dual Sided Satin Ribbon from My Little Ribbon Shop, which was tied in a quad bow. I love the elegance the ribbon added to the project, and how it pulled out even more of the richness of the colors, out of my project!

Now in case you cannot tell-

My bird is 3 D

My holly berries are covered with a clear glaze pen for a 3D pop.

Then both of my tag edges are traced with a Gold marker!

This box was completed in UNDER a 1/2 hour!

My post took longer to type up 😀

OK Now it is time for you to hop along to anyone you may not have seen samples from yet!

Here is the list

*JustRite Stampers-Blog

*Becca Feeken

*Sankari Wegman

*Sharon Johnson

*Kazan Clark

*Sharon Harnist

*Laura Davis

*Debbie Olson

*Michelle Woerner

*Taylor Van Bruggen

*Jenn BalcerMichelle Wooderson

*Lori Craig

*Beate Johns

*Barb Schram

*Kimberly Crawford

*Michele Kovack

*Jami Bova

*Kellie Fortin

*Jennifer Buck

*Heidi Blankenship

*Angela Barkhouse

*Lisa Somerville

*Gerrie Johnnic

*Kathy Jones

*Debbie Seyer

*Kim Sonksen

*Terre Frye

*Sheryl Dickinson

*Bonnie Sharp

*Mary Pfaff

*Holly Simoni

*Angela Robledo

WHEW! That is an amazing list of crazy talented players! So I hope you hop along to see what each one has done for the HOP!!

Thank YOU for stopping by here. I hope I gave you a fun idea for how to store those Christmas cards year after year, in style!

Every month I cannot believe its THAT month’s release! LOL!

Time is just WHIPPING by isn’t it? Before I know it Christmas will be done and over and it will be 2010!

Well today is the 15th and that means I have my Papertrey Ink projects to share 😀 That also means the latest and greatest of the My Timeless Templates: Tucked Away & Fold n’ Go! are now available for purchase too! WOOT! WOOT! I truly cannot wait to see what YOU do with them-so don’t forget to share 😀

Now as I get ready to share my release items, please be sure to scroll down so you can see all I had to share this week, leading up to the release!! I previously shared projects using 3 NEW! Release sets: Sign Language, and 2009 Halloween & 2009 Fall Tags! Don’t miss them.

In the meantime….here are the remainder of my samples!

Scattered Showers Additions

I know this set is the scattered shower additions set, but I found it to be TOTALLY cute on its own! I had fun layering the tag, with the clouds and sun images in the set. The sentiment reminds me of my most favorite song I used to sing as a girl by Barry Manilow-Can’t Smile Without You! I just LOVE this fun & cheery card!

Seriously are the colors not FAB?! I had a blast with this one!

Supplies:

Stamps: Scattered Shower additions
Cardstock: white, teal
Patterned Paper 2008 bitty star basics
ink: summer sunset, aqua mist, pure poppy, new leaf, black
ribbon: saddle stitched grosgrain
tag punch by SU!, adhesive pearl, pinking circle nestability

Fall Elegance

This set is very pretty. The perfect all around “fall” set. Tiffany did a FAB job with all the elements she combined when creating this. I look forward to using more of her designs in the future. The ideas of this project I am about to share just flowed!

Thankful for-

I used my Fold n’ Go! template with this new fall set to create a elegant gift package!

I loved the flourished pattern on the leaves, so I tried to mimic that idea into my design by paper piercing a flourish of “wind” around the leaves

I also used a hobby blade to cut portion of each leaf, so I could pop it forward, as if it were swirling off my box!

I’m in love the contrast of the black, Razzleberry (a SU! color) and lavender moon, on this package.

As you can see I used the standard and Pretty Petite version of the template to create the similar designs.

Supplies:
My Timeless Template: Fold N’ Go!
Stamps: Fall Elegance
Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry (SU!) Lavender Moon
Patterned Paper: Bitty Dots 2008
Ink: versamagic trio, and black
Prima Flowers, adhesive rhinestones, paper piercer and template, 1 1/4 circle punch, corner rounder

Autumn Abundance

What a pretty set this is! I’m just in love (as always).

When I saw this set I went to rich colors like the blues and greens. I love the “not so typical” fall colors, in case you can’t tell! I did a similar color scheme last year for fall and I still just LOVE that color combination! See my table setting post <—-CLICK IT!

Now here are my samples using the stamp set, and  The My Timless Template Tucked Away

My colors were also pulled from some new paper by K & Co.

Again a standard and Pretty Petite version of my Tucked Away template! I love showing the various designs ideas for BOTH sizes.

Top view of standard size

Now we have the Pretty Petite version

For this one I used the Apron border from EK success to create the cute scalloped edge on my layer 😀 Loved it.

This is the set stacked!

I think it looks so cute like that 😀

You could put ANYTHING in here from after dinner mints, to tea, maybe chocolates, of other homemade goodie? Embroidered napkin/handkerchief…….love that idea!

Seriously Perfect!

Now seriously simple…….

Oh boy was my eye ever drawn to the flower image in the set (go figure! LOL!)

I just did a SIMPLE card using my nestabilities and this image as my MAIN focus!

 Simple, clean and understated. I like it 😀 You don’t always need a LOT to make an impact.

P.S. If you purchase the Fold n’ Go! Template you will see another version I did using this set and colors-I was over the moon for it!

Supplies:
My Timeless Template: tucked Away
Stamps: Autumn Abundance
Cardstock: Spring Moss, Enchanted Evening, White, New Leaf
Saddle stitched ribbon in Enchanted Evening
patterned paper by K& Co
Labels dies, circle dies, apron border by EK Success, brads, cuttlebug embossing folder

Next up we have……

Boo to You!

When I saw this set I immediately saw a witch cauldron! I decided that was exactly what I would do. Making that change from a pumpkin, to a pot, was easy peasy! I made this cute tag to hold 2 glow sticks, for a duo colored necklace! What trick or treater wouldn’t be excited to get these instead of the traditional “candy” that rots their teeth! LOL!

Wouldn’t a classroom of kids FREAK over these? Easy peasy!! I may have my own treat idea done (hopefully on time :D)

Supplies:

Stamps: Boo to you
cardstock: black, white, purple
patterned paper: black and white basics, 2008 bitty star basics
ink: black, smokey shadow, summer sunrise, orchid
stitched grosgrain
vintage buttons
tag punch by marvy, circle punch. jewel brad

That is that!

WOWZERS! Do I ever need a break! LOL! I always go into creative overload after the release! I pour every ounce into it, so by the end I am just EMPTY! Hopefully all the day trips we are taking with the kids will help refill my creative tank 😀 It feels so good and refreshing spending time with the kids, and making memories together!

COLOR CHALLENGE!

Before I go I do have a challenge for you! It is after-all Saturday!  Sadly I did NOT get anything done-so I apologize 😀 I was just crazy busy with Amber’s birthday and the PTI release.

You can see the samples from our team here:

Pam, was kind enough to get a color challenge posted for us!

This is her color choice:

Link your creations here!

NOTE:
I will be picking and displaying a Top 5 from last week, but didn’t properly get to go through all the entries, so I will post them in a couple of days along with my sample using the challenge!

So once again, thank you for stopping by!

I hope you like the projects I have shared over the last week 😀

Enjoy the day