Pinch Me!! MTME Group Post :]

Okay, fair warning...this will be a QUICK post!  Thank goodness, right?!  LOL  I decided late this evening to whip up a Pinch Me template to share on the last day of My Time Made Easy peeks...it IS a group post after all :O)  My main rationale tonight was to share how quick and easy this template is to put together!  This is what I came up with:

I wanted a masculine themed project, so I literally printed my Natural Wonder cattails paper, cut out the base of the template using my Cricut, cut out the back/top flap from Chocolate Chip cs, and adhered.  I added some May Arts Jute twine, a big, brown button from my stash, and a tag (SU label punch).  My sentiment is from the new MTME Grab A Cup Sentiments.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE this particular sentiment and have been itching to use it since I first saw it! 

Anyone who knows me, knows I LOVE coffee (espresso), so I can totally relate to the sentiment!  LOL  I made this for my coffee buddy at work.  I filled it with chocolate covered espresso beans.  Cute, right?!  I would LOVE to receive this gift!  So simple...so quick...yet so FUN!  You have to give this simple template a try!  Mass producing would be simple with this one.  I was so happy when Lauren created this particular template because I knew I wanted to make a bunch for co-workers over the holidays.  You know, to add the little gifts you hand out.  Nothing major, but a little something to let them know I'm thinking of them.  One year I gave everyone a mini hand sanitizer and my favorite chapstick - Burt's Bees!  This package would have held it perfectly! 

Okay, be sure to check out the rest of the team's projects today!  Their links are in my left sidebar <--

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great week :O)

Just Us Girls Anniversary and MTME October Release!!

Today is a very special day over at Just Us Girls!  Our JUGS blog is celebrating our 1 year anniversary!!!  We sure hope you can help us celebrate this week! We have several very generous sponsors who are donating some awesome prizes :]  Be sure to swing by JUGS to play along and check out all the goods!!  You DON'T want to miss it this weekend ;]

So, onto the challenge and a fun card made with some new My Time Made Easy supplies for the October release that went live yesterday!  This week I'm hosing the JUGS challenge with a quick, easy sketch.  Check it out:

Here's my take on the sketch...with a twist :]  I wanted to use my new Coffee Beans paper, so I kind of cheated on the sketch and layered my coffee mug on top of my tri-panel of embossed cs (because it matches my paper) ;]  Yes, I realize my coloring on the mug is NOT the best, but I didn't notice how bad it was until I edited the photo, so I hope you can look past the obvious, Copic streaks :O)  LOL

I masked the mug, stamped the daisies on the front, and then colored the mug.  I stamped a light blue daisy behind my sentiment (all from the same set, Fancy A Cuppa?), and punched it out with a 1" circle punch.  I used a 1 1/4" punch for the bottom layer. 

Okay, I have to close for now, it has been a LOOOONG day!  Please be sure to swing by the MTME teams' blogs to check out some more release goodies and collect all of the letters in our secret phrase to win another chance at a prize. 
My letter for you is "L".

You'll also want to be sure to swing by the Just Us Girls' blogs to play along and earn another chance to win a prize!!!!  Make sure you go in the order they are listed on the JUGS blog (if you're going in order and just made your way to my blog, Lisa is next :)

Thanks for swinging by today :]  Have a fantastic weekend!

Throwing Down Color with My Time Made Easy!

Hi everyone!  I'm so excited to post tonight.  Not only did I finish my card on SUNDAY (new record for me), but it's also the first day of October peeks at My Time Made Easy. Lauren and Alexa were JUST released from the hospital on Monday afternoon, today is Alexa's birthday, my sister's birthday, and my card uses the CTD colors and MTME stamps!  Last but certainly not least, we were sponsored by Pixie Petals at Etsy for the CTD challenge today!  If you are not familiar with Pixie Petals, wait til you see the cute, vintage handmade goodies AesaLina has to share!  They are AWESOME!!!  Okay, onto the awesome palette that Bar selected...and was super easy to use :]

This is what I came up with:

I used an orange, Pixie Petals crocheted flower and wistful ribbon - martini olive on my card.  My stamps and patterned paper are from My Time Made Easy, the Grab A Cup set, and Autumn Leaves - Collection 1 (both available on October 1st)!!  I stacked my cups similar to how I did in a pattern I created in one of my digi packs.  It was easy to mask...you simply line a sticky note up with the top of the mug and stamp away!  I colored with Copics and sponged Antique Linen, Tim Holtz Distress Ink while the cs was still in the oval Nestability frame.  I also crimped my patterned paper before slightly rubbing out the ridges by adding adhesive (hard to see in the photo).

After my week in the spotlight last week as the SCS Featured Stamper, I thought of how amazing it made me feel to see everyone playing along, and thought, what an honor. SO, I went straight to the challenge this Sunday, found our Featured Stamper, Sallie's gallery and quickly located a gorgeous card I would love to CASE!  You can view it HERE.  I kept the same layout, changed the shape of the middle layer, removed a few layers of cs, changed the colors, added a flower, and obviously used a different image :] 

Okay everyone, be sure to swing by Lauren, Catherine, Lisa, Tangii, Tracey, Tammy and Debbie's blogs for more MTME peeks!  You DON'T want to miss this release!  It's the biggest yet, and you WON'T be disappointed!!!

You'll also want to swing by the Color Throwdown gals' blogs to view their gorgeous creations!!  Also, make sure you post a direct link to your project on the CTD blog, and use keyword CTD112 in any online galleries. 

Bar

Broni

Danielle

Laura

LeAnne

Tammy

Silke - September Guest Designer

Have a great Wednesday!! 

Just Us Girls Challenge #52

Happy Saturday everyone, and welcome back to another round of JUGS!  Just Us Girls #52 is being hosted by Maria this week and being sponsored by My Time Made Easy!! 

We all used the ADORABLE MTME Tuckered Out template this weekend.  I have to tell you, this is my first time making one and it was super EASY!!  Especially considering I kept it simple by letting the pretty patterneed paper (MTME Blue Skies) do the talking! 

I created a tag by stamping the same silhouette flower from Killer Curves in Tangerine Tango and Not Quite Navy on the oval (I stamped off first), and then stamping the cute MTME Sensational Sentiments "Grow Old without growing up" stamp.  I then cut a scalloped oval (both ovals are SU punches) out of Not Quite Navy cs and the MTME Blue Skies patterned paper (I printed the pattern at 5"x7"...this is what I normally do with my paper).  I adhered the two together then adhered the white oval and attached with orange craft thread hidden under my pretty Prima :]



This pretty package is a gift for someone I'm very close to, so I'm going to forego mentioning the who and what :O) 

Okay, I hope you can play along with us this week!  Use any template you fancy, just be sure to post a direct link to your project on the JUGS blog and use keyword JUGS52 in any online galleries.  You'll also want to swing by my JUGS sisters' blogs to see their beautiful creations (linked in my left sidebar).  Don't forget about Lynn Mangan!  She's our awesome September Guest Designer!

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great weekend :]

Color Throwdown Challenge #111

I FINALLY finished my Color Throwdown card for this week's (Wednesday) challenge.  UGH.  I struggled this week.  I always have a hard time switching from designing digital paper to designing actual cards.  I've been in full digi paper design mode this past week.  It's just a different kind of mojo that I need for both, and dumping one for the other isn't as easy as turning a switch on and off.  I wish it was!  So, without further adieu, the lovely Broni chose quite a palette for us this week:

I wasn't sure what to do with it initially, but when I had my finished card, I thought the colors looked lovely together.  It's hard not to overdo it when you have two very vibrant colors...but I think I finally managed to work it out.  I also noticed that I kind of cased one of my very old cards.  So, I'm submitting this to the Featured Stamper 189 challenge where they chose my meager gallery to be highlighted this week!  I couldn't even believe it when I received the email.  I always dreamed that one day I would be a featured stamper...but I had no idea it would be this week, this month...heck, this year!  I'm so flattered and excited.  I have absolutely loved looking at everyone's projects that were inspired in some way by something I made.  Okay, so onto the card I finished up for this week's challenge:

It's not my absolute favorite card, but I do like it better than the one that inspired me:  I stamped the bottom edge of the top panel with the polka dots from the MTME Home Improvement set using Mellow Moss, and overlaid it with one of the MTME All A Flutter Sentiments using Pacific Point ink.

I created the flower using the Daisy from Spellbinders.  I was looking at Selma's blog the other day and she explained that she cut two pieces of each layer and snipped in between each petal to create the pretty bloom.  I left off the two big layers because I felt it was too much for my card, but I think the daisy still turned out pretty :]

I stamped the flutter trail using one of the dotted Fanciful Flourishes stamps...I love the dotted version because it makes for easy piercing!  The butterfly is an MS punch, the dp on the flower is SU, the ribbon and the flat backed pearls are from Michaels.  My white brad is from American Crafts.  Everything else is pretty self-explanatory, so I'll leave it at that!  LOL 

If you're a follower of the CTD, I'm sure you've already stopped by the teams' blogs and left them some love, but if not, please do!  You'll love checking out the beautiful projects they created based on these colors!  They had my jaw on the floor...

Bar

Broni

Danielle

Laura

LeAnne

Tammy

Silke ~ September Guest Designer

If you play along, please post a direct link to your project on the CTD blog, and use keyword CTD111 in any online galleries.

Thanks for not giving up on me!  Hope you have a fabulous weekend.  Swing by tomorrow for our JUGS template challenge.  That project came MUCH easier to me!  LOL

Just Us Girls Challenge #51

Well, the week is finally over and we are rolling into the weekend with an awesome color challenge over at Just Us Girls.  Kathryn is our hostess this weekend and she kept the palette simple and open for a little interpretation.  Red, Green, Black...and Neutral...your choice of hues!!

This is the card I came up with for the challenge:

I kept this one pretty clean and simple because I ran short on time this week, but I like how it turned out.  Thought this would be prtty just sitting on someone's desk as a motivational piece :]  My green is from Couture Cardstock and it's called Thistlestock.  Kind of a nice, sage colored green...I thought it looked pretty against the black base.  I incorporated red by sponging my flower petals (Spellbinders, Blossom die) with SU! Riding Hood Red ink.  My neutral is the vellum butterfly (MS punch) :]

I stamped the circular, leafy pattern under the flower using a MTME Killer Curves Fancy Frames stamp and SU! Mellow Moss ink.  The sentiment is from the MTME All A Flutter Sentiments set.  Leaves and button are from my stash.  I trimmed the base with the same Spellbinders dies that I used on my main panels (I have very limited internet connectivity on my weekend trip in GA, so I can't look up the die I used or link my stamps...sorry!)

Okay, that said, I'll point you to my sidebar to look at the rest of the team's creations (if this post even publishes tonight!  Crossing my fingers :)  Be sure to check out our guest designer, Lynn Mangan also!  Her projects are fab!!  I'll try to come back and link everything after the internet comes back up or I get home on Sunday evening.  In the meantime, you can find Lynn's blog link on the JUGS blog.  This is also where you can link your projects when you join us for the color challenge!!  Can't wait to see what you come up with :]

Hope you're having a fantastic weekend!

Color Throwdown Challenge #110

Hi all...today is Wednesday which means it's time for another Color Throwdown challenge (CTD110).  Sweet, LeAnne is hosting and she chose a really cool palette for you this week.  Check it out:

Isn't it inspiring?!  I love it!  Here is my take on her color palette:

Okay, so if you saw my JUGS card this weekend, you may notice I used the same color base.  I realized yesterday while making this card, that I used Rich Razzleberry on Saturday and not PTI Scarlett Jewel like I had thought.  Oops.  So, if the colors seem similar, they ARE :O)  LOL  Anywho...I stamped my MTME Killer Curves floral image three times with white Staz On (thank you, LAUREN!  ha ha) on a transparency cut to the same size as my Razzleberry base panel.  I then blotted on Pebbles Pearlescent chalks, let it dry and wiped off the excess chalk.  I popped up my scalloped squares on dimensionals and adhered my transparency with glue dots hidden behind my blooms.  You can kind of see how I layered it in this photo:

The dp is SU!, and the sentiment is from the MTME So Sentimental set.  See the vellum tag I used???  WELLL...that little "flag" is courtesy my friend and fellow CTD teammate, Laura Pryor!  She created her very first stamp set, "Sentiment Flags" and coordinating flag die.  You HAVE to check them out on her site:  http://shoplilinker.blogspot.com/. 

The stamps are so cute and versatile, they will come in handy time and time again.  She does have an ADORABLE birthday sentiment and several flag outlines, but I wanted my sentiment to be kind of fancy (vs cutesy), so I used the one I did instead.  The outline stamp would have overlapped my letters...hmm...unless I stamped it first in white or on the reverse.  Shoot...timing is everything isn't it?  Why didn't I think of that while I was in my craft room?!  DUH.  So, next time I'll be using her sentiments and outlines...they are super cute! 

My layout came from the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge (SSSC85) this weekend.  Cute, ehh?

Okay, I'm sure you can't wait to play along with us this week, so be sure to post a direct link to your project on the CTD blog and use keyword CTD110 in any online galleries.  You don't have to use this exact color palette, just try to come as close as possible.  Swing by the dt's blogs for a healthy dose of inspiration to get you started:

Bar

Broni

Danielle

Laura

LeAnne

Tammy

Silke Ledlow ~ September Guest Designer

Thanks for stopping by!  Hope you are having a fabulous week :]

Just Us Girls Challenge #50...Just Rite :]

Well, the week is over and it's Saturday.  I'm sooo excited about today's challenge because Just Us Girls has an awesome, very generous sponsor today - Just Rite Stampers!  I couldn't wait to get crafting with their stamps!  In fact, I made two cards this week, but I'm only sharing one, because I didn't care for the first one that much and set it aside before I added the finishing touches.  Maybe I'll finish it this weekend and share ;]

Our technique today is one that I've never tried until now - Cracked Glass!  It was actually fun after I got it right :]  LOL  You'll see what I mean at the end of this post. 

I kept my card somewhat simple, but I must say, the coloring took a minute!  I make it no secret - I'm a novice at coloring...especially with Copics.  I colored the bells on my Christmas Joy - Small Oval stamp a very pretty light shade of pink, but they kind of got washed out with the cracked glass effect. 

I used clear embossing powder instead of UTEE, so I had to add several (3 or 4) layers on my image before freezing it.  I froze it for about ten minutes, took it out and cracked away!  I sponged the scarlett ink on the cracks and wiped off the excess...hence my pink bells virtually disappearing.  I used large oval nesties to cut out my ovals.  I cut out the images after stamping them because it seemed easier to line up.  I also embossed an oval directly on my card base to create a subtle frame.

I stamped the sentiment (from Christmas Nested Sentiments & Verse) and embossed it in silver.  Speaking of silver embossing...I initially thought it would be a good idea to emboss the bells and the frame in silver before coloring the image.  So I did...then I added my layers of clear embossing.  Don't try this at home...(I know, DUH)...each layer resulted in a more blurred image.  It just kept melting the silver more and more with each reheat. This is what I ended up with (no, this is NOT a blurry photo...it's the same resolution as the other photos in my post).  Nice, huh?  LOL

Okay, that's all I have for you today.  HUGE thank you to Just Rite for their generosity...I really enjoyed using the stamps and can't wait to use them some more :]  If you play along with JUGS this week, be sure to add a direct link to your project on the JUGS blog, and use keyword JUGS50 in any online galleries!  You don't want to miss what our DT has to share either!  Check out their amazing projects:

Alicia

Andrea

Dana

Kathryn

Lisa

Maria

Pam

Lynn Mangan ~ Our September Guest Designer

Hope you have a relaxing, yet productive weekend...that's what I'm hoping for :]

Color Throwdown #109

Hi all!  It's Wednesday already!!!!  You know what that means...time for another Color Throwdown challenge (CTD109).  This week Tammy is your hostess with the mostess...she chose a vibrant palette for you to work with:

I have to admit I STRUGGLED with this palette.  I see cutesy immediately when I look at the colors and if you know me and my style, I am HORRIBLE with cutesy stuff!  LOL  Thankfully Lauren released some CUTE stamps this month that I could choose from. So, I stuck with the gumball machine from the MTME On Display set.  Easy way to incorporate all of the colors this week :]  I kind of feel like I cheated!  Here's my card:

I kept the layout super simple and leaned toward the pink (of course).  I used my MTME digi paper from Darling Dots and Picket Fence for the canopy and the tablecloth in the window I stamped using the MTME Shoppe Window set.  I colored the gumball machine with ink from my SU pad and a blender pen, and I colored the underside of the canopy and window frame with Copics.  Oh, and I couldn't forego a bow on top of my canopy...it was stuck in my head that I needed one, so here we are. A pink bow topping off my "window" :]

It's really hard to see in my photo especially with the transparency grid layer on top, but I used Crystal Effects on the "glass" part of my gumball machine.  It looks pretty cool in person :]  I used a small hole punch to create the gumball in the opening and added buttons to resemble gumballs at the bottom of my panel. 

Here's a snapshot of the inside.  Won't this be a cute card for a young girl's birthday?!  Hope someone has one soon or it's getting stuck in a box with all the others!  Ha ha

Okay, so naturally you'll want to play along with us.  I mean, you all need to show me how to REALLY put this palette to use!!  If you don't have these exact colors, no worries!  Just try to come as close as possible without making us wonder whose challenge you are actually playing along with :O)  Make sure you use keyword CTD109 in any online galleries.  Also, be sure to post a direct link to your creation on the CTD blog and check out my CTD sistahs' projects as well!  They manage to create the most unique cards every week, making me wonder why I couldn't think of that! 

Bar

Broni

Danielle

Laura

LeAnne

Tammy

Silke Ledlow ~ September Guest Designer

Hope you're having a fab week...it's already half over!  Can't beat that!!

Just Us Girls Challenge #49

Wow, I must say this week was very productive but boy was it LOOOONG!  I'm so thrilled we have a long weekend!  Tia goes back to school on Tuesday, so it will be nice finishing up school shopping and hanging with her. We have a girl's night out tonight with two of my friends from work :]  We're headed to the Melting Pot.  I've never been so it will be quite the experience for me ♥

So, since it's Saturday, that means it's high time for another Just Us Girls challenge (JUGS49).  My dear friend, Alicia is hosting with a fun sketch challenge!  Check it out:

Here's my take on the sketch:

The patterned paper comes from one of the new packs I designed for this month's release at My Time Made Easy.  I used three of the four sheets in the Diamonds and Pearls collection.  I had a wedding theme in mind when I created it, but it worked nicely with my Thinking of You sentiment today.  Oh and how beautiful is that ribbon I paired with the paper?!  I picked it up yesterday at AC Moore...I couldn't resist :]

Okay, so for my card I created my bloom from the MTME Rambling Rose cut file.  I followed Lauren's tutorial on the rose, and sponged the edges with distress ink.I adhered my layers with glue dots and added a flat backed pearl to the center.  I stamped the flourish on the So Sentimental Frame cut file and used gold embossing powder to really make it shimmer on my striped paper. 

It's hard to see, but I stamped a small flourish on my vellum All Tied Up - Oval tag with shimmery white pigment ink before I stamped my sentiment and embossed it in gold.  I think it just adds to the elegant look ♥  I printed the floral pattern on some beige cardstock I picked up at Staples.  It resembles faux parchment paper and absorbs ink beautifully!  I cut the strip of floral paper using the MTME Border Builders Elegance cut file.  My flourish and main layers have Soft Suede as a base layer...and I think the rest is self explanatory ;]

Don't forget to check out the projects the rest of our amazing DT prepared for you today! 

Alicia

Andrea

Dana

Kathryn

Lisa

Maria

Pam

Lynn Mangan ~ September Featured Designer

After you check them out and receive a good, healthy dose of inspiration, why not try your hand at the sketch?  Let us be inspired by you!  Be sure to post a direct link to your project on the JUGS blog and use keyword JUGS49 in any online galleries.

Thanks for swinging by today!  Hope you have a fun, safe, LONG Labor Day weekend ♥

My Time Made Easy September Release and Color Throwdown #108

**UPDATED POST a/o 3:00pm, 1 Sep**

So, I'm back from the original post this morning with all the deets!  Today is the September release for My Time Made Easy as well as the Color Throwdown #108 challenge!

First off...here is the palette for the challenge Laura is hosting on the CTD:

And my card:

When I first saw the stamps that Lauren is releasing today to coordinate with her new MEGA template (Shop Around), I immediately thought of how perfect the images would be for cards!  I know, I know...they're MADE for the template, but seriously, they work beautifully on cards also!  SO easy to use because they're adorable and versatile!  Something that My Time Made Easy prides itself on...  I needed a thank you card for a friend, so I used one of the cupcake images and the "Hope your day is as sweet as you are!" sentiment.  Both are from the "On Display" stamp set.  I stamped the cupcakes in Timber Staz On, paper pieced the cupcake holders with the Nomad Darling Dots (scaled and printed at 2"x3"), colored the icing and cake with Copics...I then used clear embossing powder to give the icing a little shine (I can't find brown embossing powder anywhere around here).  I used flat backed red gems for the cherries.  Everything else is pretty self explanatory.

You've gotta check out what Tammy is doing with the images on her cards also...she's our newest team member and is whipping up cards left and right!  All in the nick of time mind you (since we got the products to her JUST before release time)...this girl works amazingly well under pressure :]  If you missed my previous sneak peeks at our paper, you can view them HERE and HERE.

I will be making a shop very soon!  I have everything printed and cut, I just need to assemble :]  I've also been inspired by both Tammy and Lauren to make a card using the window from the Home Improvement stamp set or Shoppe Window.  Their cards were soooo adorable!  I want to CASE them :O)  The rest of the team has created some very unique cards and templates as well.  You DON'T want to miss their projects!!

Lauren

Dawn

Katie

Lesa

Lisa

Pam

Silke

Stephanie

Tracey

Tammy

Two MTME design team members will be selected to give away a $50 gift certificate to the My Time Made Easy store, so be sure to comment on everyone's blogs!!  Winners will be announced on Lauren's blog on 3 September.

You'll also want to take a look at all of our new PRODUCTS and our awesome new GALLERY that Sara got up and running :]

Okay, not to outshine the Color Throwdown, these ladies whipped up some BEAUTIFUL projects today!  Check em out:

Bar

Broni

Danielle

Laura

Tammy

Silke Ledlow ~ Our September Guest Designer

Thanks for hanging around today...while I eventually got my post typed up appropriately :O)  Hope you enjoy all of the inspiration!