MTME Release w/JUGS {Wild Card} Challenge #69

Hi all!  I'm back with JUGS for a fantastic Wild Card Challenge that Maria is hosting!  She elected to challenge the team with creating the Tim Holtz grunge flowers.  If you know me and my style, I struggle with grunge, but I definitely feel like my flowers ROCK!  They look like the primas we pay a fortune for at the store, they're just not shabby...or vintage-y :]  YOU are challenged simply with making a dimensional flower!  If you use Tim Holtz's tutorial, that would be fab, but if not, that's fine too.  We just want to see your dimensional blooms. 

I used the 6-petal flower from the MTME Fanciful Flowers cut file.  I cut three at 2.5" and three at 2" from white Georgia Pacific cs.  I sponged the cs from the center outward with Regal Rose, Melon Mambo, and Cherry Cobbler consecutively.  I then stamped one of the new MTME Bold Botanicals flowers in cherry Cobbler to give a little texture.  Luckily I have two different sized wire curling tools that work beautifully on paper!  That's what I used to curl all of my petals.  I also chose to hot glue my blooms vs using Crystal Effects.  I like that hot glue dries very quickly and it's usually a reliable hold.  Plus I didn't feel like unclogging my Crystal Effects :]  LOL

I printed some of my newest paper being released on 1 Feb at MTME, Serenity.  The blooms and the stripes are both from the same pack.  This pack features the colors, black, sand, rose, and cherry...but I honed in on the black and rose. I used the pretty papers to put one of Lauren's newest templates together, Creative Card Candy.  The name might have you wondering, "Is it for cards or candy?!".  How about BOTH?!  I created some decorative 3x3" cards and matching envelopes and liners that fit in this template side by side perfectly, but I chose to show the template storing some delicious chocolate! 

I took a serious, thoughtful sentiment that comes with Bold Botanicals, "Faith - Hope - Courage - Strength" and made it light-hearted (yet classy) by using the "C" from the new, Monograms Defined set.  I added the "hocolate" from the "chocolate" stamp found in Well Preserved.  Doesn't chocolate do us a world of wonder when we're enduring a situation that requires faith, hope, courage, or strength?  Maybe not the more seriuos situations that evoke those attributes, but something like divorce, or stress...I was thinking more along those lines.  My label is Trendy Tags 1 resized to about 3" high.  Everything is on dimensional tape except my blooms which are adhered with 3-D glue dots.  The lace ribbon is from May Arts and the twill is from Michaels. 

Inside is an entire bag of Ghiradelli Dark & Raspberry Squares.  The box might look small, but it holds a LOT!  Lauren is also offering an identical style box that's half the size of this one.  It fits the 3x3" cards perfectly!  Make sure you swing by the MTME gals' blogs who are sharing projects with you today:

Lauren

Monique

Pam

Catherine

Naomi

Don't forget our JUGS gals!  They have some beautiful blooms to inspire you with:

I hope you can play along with us this weekend...and keep checking back for more MTME release projects!  This is a great release!  You're going to love EVERYTHING, I'm sure :]

Okay, that's all I have for you today.  Have a fabulous weekend!!

Color Throwdown Challenge #126

Hi friends.  It's Wednesday which means I'm back to throw down some color with the fab CTD gals!  Today Danielle is hosting and she selected an awesome palette for us:

In my usual style, I not only modified the colors in some of the paper I released for MTME last year, but I also honed in on two of the colors for my project. 

The marina and espresso really stood out when I recolored my Fresh Flowers paper, so I went with it.  The leaves of my flowers ARE kiwi and olive...I promise :]  I also recolored my Picket Fence paper to marina and espresso, to match my new flowered paper. 

The rosette is a tiny sneak peek of something you'll be seeing at MTME in the future.  I was playing around with some of my files and I came up with this little pretty ♥  I layered some die cut scalloped circle nesties under and over my rosette and adhered my sentiment panel on top.  The sentiment is from the MTME Sensational Sentiments stamp set.  My scalloped espresso panel is an MS border punch that I adhered white, satin ribbon to.  I secured my dark chocolate satin bow with a blue, gem brad and thought I was finished...until I went back to the Mojo Monday sketch #175 that inspired my layout:

I took a closer look at Julee's card and decided that mine needed some bling.  Sooooo...I added some gems from my jewelry making supplies to two sewing pins and adhered some flat backed rhinestones to my white ribbon layer.  THEN I decided it was finished!  Thanks for the inspiration, Julee ;]

That's all I have for you today, BUT, our fab DT has some FANTASTIC inspiration for you all!  Wait until you see how they worked these colors...simply beautiful! 

If you play along, be sure to post a direct link to your project over at the CTD blog and use keyword CTD126 in any online galleries.  Hope you're all having a wonderful week.  Mine is super busy, but at least it's flying by ;]

Just Us Girls {3-D/TEMPLATE} Challenge #68

Hi there!  Our Just Us Girls hostess with the mostess, Lisa, is challenging us to create a Valentine treat container today!  Simple as that...the sky is the limit! 

As most of you know, I'm in the Air Force, and that occasionally requires travel.  Some trips are long, some short, some far away, some nearby.  Well, I had to take a quick two-day trip this week, not too far away, but it threw my schedule off!  Okay, let's be real...I am horrible at time management, so I let my schedule get thrown off by not planning and preparing ahead of time :]  BUT, fortunately, I had a template sitting here, put together with the main decorative panel already adhered.  It's one of the first templates I made for this month's MTME release, but I kept getting new ideas and moving in different directions and I just never came back to it.  Until tonight...check it out.

VERY simple concept.  I printed my panels of MTME Blossoming Cherries paper by using my printer's default photo printing program, and selecting the layout that prints 4 "photos" (or sheets of digi paper since the computer reads jpg files as images) per piece of cs.  So, I ended up with all of my scaled pieces on one sheet (saving cs and ink).  Here's a shot of my printing program ready to go:

Keep in mind that printing programs will vary by computer/printer, but check out your software.  If you have a photo printing program, they usually offer "layouts" like the ones you see in the right sidebar of the graphic above.  Play around and see what sizes you're comfortable with.  I usually print two sheets of digi paper per piece of cs (5"x7"), but I knew the size above would be perfect for my decorative panels.  Also, I've found the easiest way to use my Cricut to cut out the decorative panels on these scaled, printed sheets, is to cut out each one and place them exactly where your cut file image is located on your SCAL mat.  Hopefully that makes sense. 

I created a simple sentiment panel using a SU punched scalloped oval layered with an oval vellum layer.  I adhered the top SU punched label with dimensionals after I stamped it with the So Sentimental "Love You" stamp.  Added some ribbon treatment, a little bloom, and a scalloped square to the base and I was done! 

SOOO easy...and yummy.  I added about a handful less than a whole bag of Mounds candy bars to my Valentine box.  YUMMMM.  My daughter loves chocolate and coconut like me, so this little treat box will go to her ♥

Okay, that's all I have for you today my friends, but make sure you swing by the JUGS gals' blogs for some MAJOR inspiration.  They whipped up some amazing projects for you.



Color Throwdown Challenge #125

Hi all...it's Wednesday, which means it's about that time to throw down some color!  We had a fantastic turnout for last week's challenge we hosted in honor of Katie Renz.  Thank you to everyone who participated, made a card and sent it Katie's way!  That's what it was all about, bringing prayers, love, warm thoughts...some positivity Katie's way.  I hope we accomplished that last week ♥  The lucky winner of my prize was Tiffany, if you missed the announcement yesterday on the CTD blog.  Check it out for details on winners and how to claim prizes! 

So, with that...let's get on to today's challenge.  Bar is our hostess and she chose what I think is a beautiful palette!  Check it out:

So fresh and spring-like ♥  This is the card I created:

I sort of used the spot light technique, but I also colored the So Fortunate cherry blossoms on my kraft layer.  My white panel is the Killer Curves cut file from MTME.  I added the lantern from the So Fortunate set and overlaid it with a stamped piece of vellum.  I added the "Good Fortune" stamp from the So fortunate set and embossed it.  At the bottom I added my sentiment very subtly in Blushing Bride ink.  I recolored a piece of my paper released this month from the Fun and Fortune paper pack to Crumbcake...a nice little base layer under my kraft :]  Added some pretty ribbon and voila!  Finished :]

I used the Mojo Monday sketch for my layout...check it out:

Alright friends, that's all I have for you today, but be sure to swing by the rest of the CTD gals' blogs for a ton of inspiration!

Hope you're having a great week :]  Finish it on a high note!

Just Us Girls Challenge #67

Hello my friends.  I'm here to share my Just Us Girls Challenge #67 project...quickly!  I'm whipped from this week, so I'm taking shortcuts tonight :]  LOL  I'll try to update the lacking details tomorrow.  Long story short, our awesome Guest Designer, Carla Suto selected a fresh, spring-y palette for us this week.  Check it out:

Gorgeous, huh?  Here's my take on the challenge:

CAS...much more so than I originally hoped, but I started my card LATE and couldn't find the right mojo to make it work like I envisioned.  I still think it's pretty, so I won't trash it :]  LOL  The pearl flourish is from Zva Creative, sentiment is from Verve - Believe, the top flowers are primas, and the ribbon is MS.  See the tidbit of baker's twine?!  That's from my friend, Tammy!  Isn't she sweet?!  I created the burnt edge flower using aqua, satin ribbon from Walmart.

The Tag for my sentiment is from the MTME Simple Seedling cut file, embossing folder is Sizzix, and the paper is MTME Fresh Fabric Collection 3.

My layout was inspired by the Card Positioning Systems sketch (CPS200).  Check it out:

Okay, I'm about to fall asleep, so I'll add my photos and update this in the am.  Have a fab weekend!  Don't forget to swing by our talented DTs' blogs:

Carla
Andrea
Dana
Kathryn
Lisa
Maria
Pam

Special Color Throwdown Dedication...

Today the Color Throwdown team is dedicating challenge #124 to a very special young lady, Mrs. Katie Renz.  Katie was diagnosed just before Christmas with stage 4 gastric cancer.  The Throwdown sisters were so touched by her story that we felt compelled to do something for Katie - anything.  So, we decided to dedicate our challenge to her and ask all of our participants this week to create a card for Katie!  Wouldn't it be wonderful for her to receive hundreds of handmade cards...one of her passions...wishing her well and sharing prayers?  I think it would be amazing!!  Each team member is donating a prize for this week's challenge, so you'll have to hop around to each blog to find out what the prizes are :]  Everyone who plays is eligible to win a prize...no strings attached.  Just add your card to the Linky Tool widget on the Color Throwdown blog before 16 Jan at 11:59.  Please email the CTD (colorthrowdown[at]gmail[dot]com) for Katie's address :] 

Without further adieu, I would like to introduce our hostess, Broni's beautiful color palette:

This was nearly a perfect match to the Fun and Fortune paper I made last month for MTME.  AWESOME!  My paper actually uses Bashful Blue and Regal Rose, but it's not far off, so I went with it.  That's what we ask of you also, just to go with the closest colors you have.  Here's the card I made for Katie:

I created the lacy bloom using a paper doilie that I cut a circle from the center of, gently pleated, and adhered to two punched circles using hot glue.  I threaded the button with pink, craft thread and adhered it to my cirle with glue dots. I used the Trendy Tags #1 MTME cut file for my sentiment that came from the So Sentimental stamp set.  The patterned strip and base strip were cut from the MTME Border Builders Elegance Scallop cut file.  I ♥ dimension on my cards, so I used lots of dimensionals on all of my layers :]  I hand stitched the left and right sides of my base panel, and added a row of pretty pearls.

My layout is from an awesome sketch Amy Sheffer put together for the Skipping Stones Design sketch challenge (SSD59). 

Okay, onto the prize I'm offering.  I am donating a brand new, unopened, Papertrey Ink 3rd Anniversary set called "Round and Round".   Here's a preview:

So, want a chance to win?!  Just play along and make a card for Katie.  Add your link to the CTD, and you will be added to our random drawings for prizes.  Also, don't forget to check out the other CTD gals' creations:



Thanks for stopping by today!  Hope you can play along to help us rally behind Katie and maybe even win something cool while showing your support.  ♥ 

Just Us Girls Challenge #66

TGITW!  ..."the weekend" ;]  This first FULL week back has proven to be a long one for me.  I feel wiped out!  I must be getting old...blech.  BUT, alas, it's about that time for another JUGS challenge!  Pam is our hostess this week and she challenged us to not only make a card, but to also decorate and line an envelope.  I've been wanting to line my envelopes for a while, but I always take the short route and avoid even decorating them.  So, I'm happy with the challenge, and the results! 

We're also a lucky bunch this weekend...the very generous Gina K. is sponsoring Just Us Girls!  I LOVE that she allowed us to choose whatever stamp set we were inspired by (some sponsors don't)...it makes it so much easier to get crafty :]  I chose to work with the oh so pretty Botanicals set!

I felt very "Krafty" when I started working with the set, so I used Stampin Up's Crumbcake cs as a primary color.  I also knew that I wanted to layer my flower on the text, but in a less obvious way.  I decided to stamp my bloom with VersaMark and emboss it with clear powder (I did the same on my envelope).  I then stamped the text with Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress Ink on my precut Killer Curves pieces.  I sponged the edges of my Crumbcake cs with white craft ink. 

To add a little color, I offset my Crumbcake panels with Very Vanilla, and also created a top border with my Autumn Leaves Collection 2 patterned paper and a vanilla layer...both cut from the Border Builders Elegance Scallop cut files.  I hand stiched the zig zag.  I added small scraps of ribbon to my All Tied Up Square cut file panel, and tied them off with craft thread.  I added a few buttons for a little more color and stamped "Miss You" in the corner to finish it up.  Super easy yet striking IMO :] 

I lined my envelope using the same Autumn Leaves patterned paper that I used on my card.  Gina K. has a wonderful tutorial on lining envelopes over at Stamp TV to get you started.  Unfortunately, I didn't have the same sized envelopes she used in her tutorial, BUT, her directions did help to move me in the right direction.  I cut a piece of patterned paper at 5.5" x 6" and trimmed the top corners evenly.  I adhered the same way Gina did in her tutorial and before I knew it, my envelope was finished :]  I really SHOULD line and decorate them more often...they don't take much work at all.

All in all, this challenge turned out to be pretty easy!  I was pleased with how quicky I finished, and I really LOVE the stamps more than I expected I would when I ordered them!  HUGE THANK YOU to Gina K. and Pam for arranging the sponsorship and for hosting a fun challenge this week!  I certainly hope all of you can play along this week!  If you do, be sure to post a direct link to your creation over at JUGS and use keyword JUGS66 in any online galleries. 

Take a peek at our fab DT's projects to get a healthy dose of inspiration before you get started:

Hope your weekend is off to a nice, slooow start :]  Thanks for stopping by today!

FREEBIES Update!

Hi friends.  I'm popping in real quick to let you know that I relinked the free paper on my blog under "FREEBIES" and over at the Color Throwdown.  The file is now being hosted on www.mediafire.com.  I didn't realize the previous host had a daily bandwidth limit.  To my knowledge, mediafire doesn't.  Please note, that two of my friends mentioned mediafire had a bunch of pop-ups when they followed the link.  If you want to avoid the pop ups, you may want to disable them in your browser before entering the site and downloading the paper.  You can follow this link or click on the graphic below to grab the file:

Sorry for the trouble!  Hope you enjoy the paper :]

MTME Group Post ~ A Year In Review

What a week of posting, huh? I just can’t stop :] LOL Today is the final day of the January My Time Made Easy (MTME) release which means it’s a group post! I couldn’t resist playing along again, especially considering I already had a template put together. Lauren challenged the team to use all old products today. She thought it would be nice to not only showcase the new stuff that’s available but also to revisit some oldies but goodies :] I’m all about it!

Some of you may remember the Air Force sent me away to school for two months this summer when Lauren released The Flapper template. I’ve been itching to use this one for quite a while, so this was a perfect excuse :] I love the design…it looks like something a gourmet sweet shoppe would use for its goodies.

I was pleasantly surprised to find how large this is! I fit an entire bag of trail mix inside and had room to spare! I used my MTME Natural Wonder paper for the decorative panels. I originally intended on making this a masculine gift, but I’m afraid my bow made it a little more girly than I planned. I suppose I could tie it in a knot instead and keep it manly :] LOL

I used my Trendy Tags 2 cut file to create a tag with SU Crumb Cake cs. I scored vertical lines to give it character and added a Crumb Cake oval with my sentiment from MTME Just For You. I layered both with dimensional tape. My ribbon was a steal at Michaels MONTHS ago…Martha Stewart marked down to $0.99 (normally $6.99)! Love it! I ran an espresso pen along the edges of the paper to make it pop just a little more in some areas, but I really didn’t do much more than that! I guess if I’m showing you anything this week, I’m showing you that not everything has to be complicated. Sometimes clean and simple is just as effective :]

This is all I have to share today, but our DT has a ton of inspiration for you!

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Thanks for hanging with me this week! I’ll be back on Saturday (if not before) with our JUGS challenge :]

My Time Made Easy January Release ~ Day 5

I'm back...yes, post #2 today.  SOOOO uncharacteristic of me, right?!  LOL  Anywho, Lauren challenged us to use the new MTME template, So Fortunate, with older MTME products.  I...yes, the digi paper designer, decided to forego paper and highlight one of my favorite stamp sets Lauren has released to date - Grab A Cup.  I wanted a clean and simple, white-on-white look, and this is what I came up with:

I stamped and colored the cups and sugar container, masked them and stamped the tray along with the cool chocolate stain.  For the top of the template, I Stamped the sentimet and additional cup directly onto the cs.  I added some pretty satin ribbon and a scalloped, espresso square to the bottom, and I was about finished. 

This gift of sugar-free hot chocolate is a little goody for a friend of mine that I wanted to give before this winter weather turned to spring :]  Nothing major, just a simple little something ♥

That's all I have for you today, but check out these fab team members who also have projects to share:

Lauren

Tangii

Catherine

I'll see you back here on Saturday if not before :]  Have a great remainder of the week!

Color Throwdown Challenge #123

Happy Wednesday, friends ;]  I'm back along with the fabulous Color Throwdown gals with the first color challenge of the year!  We took a short break, but we're back in full force with a splash of awesome color!  Tammy is our hostess and she chose this stunning palette:

Now, we know Cameo Coral is retired, BUT, it's one of those colors that is timeless...I think it will always be a favorite :]  If you don't have this color, not to worry.  I decided to whip up a small pack of paper showcasing these colors and make it available to all of you FREE!  You can download the zip file simply by clicking the following graphic:

I will also keep this stored in the tab above labeled "FREEBIES" so that you can download it any time. 

So...I have two posts today and you may notice a theme...I'm keeping things extra clean and simple.  I know the card is missing something, but I decided to leave it as is. 

The rosette is from MTME - Rosey Posey Rosettes (enlarged to 9" wide).  The paper is from the free pack above, and my sentiment is from Verve (thank you, JULEE!!) and is stamped on a Lil Inker Sentiment Flag.   Speaking of...my layout is from the MOJO172 sketch:

So, I will leave you with our fantastic team to visit...they're sure to inspire you:

Thanks for stopping by!