Hope you had a Merry Christmas!!

I hope you all had a wonderful time w/family and friends this Christmas.  I know I did!!  I LOVED watching my granddaughters open up their gifts.  They are at such fun ages now ~ 6yrs and almost 2yrs old.

Just wanted to share a quick post of one of the gifts that I gave to my coworkers.  My girlfriend had made some and I thought they were adorable, so I couldn't wait to make my own.

They hold the lil bottle of sanitizer that you can get from Bath & Body Works.

I know I ALWAYS have one of these little sanitizers with me all year around. And this is just a cute way to "dress" them up for the holidays.  I really like the way the red, white & black one turned out!!

Here's a link to the directions on Kendra's site.  She did an AWESOME job with hers!

Well, toodles for now. 

Love & Peace

Michelle

Challenges:
Inky Impressions~Christmas Cheer
Party Time Tuesdays~Use Ribbon
By The Cute And Girly~Let it Snow
BasicGrey~Anything Goes
2 Sisters Challenge Blog~Snowflakes

Trimming the Tree

Welcome to another Saturday's Designer Challenge at D2D.  This week, one of my best friends Kendra is hosting the challenge which is "Trimming the Tree". She loves Christmas, especially decorating the tree.  So she wants to see some beautifully decorated trees!

I used one of Faith's newer images Whimsical Christmas Tree. 

I recently purchased a pack of paper that I thought went well with this image.  Both DP's are from that pack~Holly Jolly (with glitter) from the Paper Studio. I then inked up a couple of chipboard snowflakes and spritzed them w/pearl mist, and added a gem.  After I colored my image w/my ProMarkers, I went in and kinda of lightly penned in some glitter on the tree and star w/my Gelly Roll Star Dust pen.

So......let's she your wonderfully decorated tree!! 

Michelle

Challenges:
One Stop Craft Challenge~Christmas Sparkle
PaperCrafting Journey~Christmas Creations
Divas by Design~Merry Christmas
Little Red Wagon~Christmas
4 Crafty Chicks~Christmas
Dream Valley Challenges~Christmas

TAG.....your it !!!

That is the Design Team's Saturday Challenge @ D2D which I happen to be hosting this week!!

If you are like me~you like to make homemade gifts.  Well.....how about some wonderful homemade tags to go along with those gifts!  So, let's see some great tags !!

Every year I have some great friends that just love when I give them my homemade cocoa mix.  And I have recently found a wonderful Cinnamon Pancake recipe as well that they love.  I even had one of my friends kids ask if they could get more of "Michelle's pancake mix" when they ran out.  Kids are so cute sometimes  : )

On the Cocoa mix - I reused a Marzetti's salad dressing container and covered it with some fabric. I then used Faith's Peace Trees and Tag set, colored it with ProMarkers and stamped a few snowflakes on it as well.  On the pancake mix I used Mitten, colored it again with my ProMarkers and add a lil shimmer with my Gelly Roll Star Dust pen.

Alright...your turn!!  Show us your awesome tags!!

One lucky person will win a free image from the Designed2Delight Store. Winner is announced the Sunday after the challenge closes.

~Love and Peace~
Michelle

Santa Claus is coming to town....

Well, not quite yet!  But pretty soon : )

I can't believe how fast this holiday season is approaching.  A friend at work asked me to make a card for her mother for Christmas.  She said that she loves Santa, and how her mother mentioned she didn't get her a Santa Christmas card last year.  So I spent sometime looking around for different Santa's to use on the card.

She didn't want a funky, vintage or comical Santa - just a good ol' "Holly Jolly" one. I am hoping that this one will work out for her. 



I used my ProMarkers to color the image.  Then took my Gelly Roll Star Glitter pen and added some shimmer to the ball of his hat.  And put some on the very edge of the white part of his cap.  And on top of that I added some Glossy Accents.  Stamped a Maya Road chipboard snowflake with White Pearl ink and sprayed Maya Mist Iridescent Pearl over the top for a lil shimmer. 

I hope she likes it!!

Michelle

Challenges:
Come and Get It Challenges~Anything Christmas
Party Time Tuesdays~Holiday Greetings
Craft Your Passion~Anything Goes + Glitter
The Pink Elephant~Snowflakes & Sparkle

Snowmen

Show us your most favorite Snowmen image!!!

That is our challenge this week @ D2D hosted by Debbie S. One lucky person will win a free image from the Designed2Delight Store. Winner is announced the Sunday after the challenge closes.

I decided to use one of Faith's newer images~Joy Snowman!  Isn't he just adorable!

I tried to incorporate the colors of the DP while coloring in the image.  I then added a lil shimmer in a few spots on the image.  Then created my own embellishment.  I used a chipboard snowflake from Maya Road and inked it up w/Versa Magic Jumbo Java.  Then spritzed it w/Maya Road Iridescent Pearl Mist.  Then added a snowflake accent and gem on top of that. 

Here is a pic of some of the beautiful shimmer!!

Michelle

Challenges:
Party Time Tuesday~Anything Goes
PaperCrafting Journey~Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion~Tis the Season-Holiday or Winter related
Pollycraft Monday Challenge~Christmas Fun
Divas by Design~Anything Goes
Dream Valley Challenges~Sparkle
Gingerloft Challenge~Christmas and Winter
2 Sisters Challenge~Holiday
Totally Paper Crafts~Christmas
Forever Friends~It's All Christmas
Aud Sentiments~Any Winter Holiday Sentiments

A time to be THANKFUL!!!

What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?  Me - well, my wonderful family and friends, to have a great job and to be healthy!

I created this card awhile back while scrapping with my wonderful friends.  We usually end up talking more than crafting sometimes, but oh well....I enjoy our time together no matter what.

I had recently purchased this tree stamp I believe from Hobby Lobby.  And I couldn't wait to try it out.  I inked up my stamp with the lightest color first, then added 'blots' of the other colors through out the tree to make it appear as if it were changing colors.  We didn't get much of a fall around here.  The trees turned and then right away the winds blew them off, so we had a VERY short time to enjoy them.

The stamps and punches were some of the goodies we received in our Fiskars class  back at Scrapfest in September.  We used the Cameo punch along with the 4" x 8" Clear Stamps Cameo Ovations.  I just love not having to really think about "Is the stamp going to fit the punch" and vice versa. 

~ENJOY~
Michelle

Challenges:
Inky Impressions~Give Thanks
Party Time Tuesdays~Sketchy Tuesdays AND/OR Thank You Cards
PaperCrafting Journey~Embossing
Incy Wincy Designs~Color challenge-photo inspriation
The Corrosive Challenge~Give Thanks
The Pink Elephant~Giving Thanks
Fresh Brewed~I am Thankful

More Scrapfest fun!!

Hi everyone!!  Just a quick post tonight as I am helping my hubby get ready to go deer hunting in a couple days!!  I'm washing clothes, buy groceries, making food and helping him pack for his week long Deer Hunt 11' week  : )

Just wanted to share another one of the great cards I made while at Scrapfest in MN back in September.  This was made in the "Cute Cards, Four Ways" class given by Maya Road.  We had fun using some of their products and learning new things.  I never really thought about using chipboard on cards until this class.

Well....toodles for now. 


Michelle

More Christmas

I'm finally starting to get a little more in the mood for Christmas.  Not sure why it's 'taking' so long this year.  Maybe because the weather had been pretty decent here yet so far for November.

Anyway.....I went to my most FAVORITE store the other day~Archiver's. I was just bummin the other day and thought 'what the heck, let's see what's new'.   $100 later......YIKES  : ) 

Here is card using one of my latest purchases from Archiver's.  They are called Paper Blossoms by McGill.  You can create numerous flowers using these various punches and tools.  I purchased the Star Lilly from which you can make Lilly & Poinsettias.

Although most of us know of Poinsettias as red, I like the non-traditional colors the floral shops and now more retails are leaning towards.  And I also went w/a more non-traditional color for the card as well.  Here I tried to get a better close up picture of the Poinsettia with all of it's shimmer and sparkle.

After punching and shaping the leaves, I inked the edges w/pink chalk ink , assembled and then sprayed w/Maya Road mist.  I included a pic below of the punches and the mist.

I hope you like my 1st attempt at creating a Poinsettia using my great new punch.  As always - I LOVE to hear your comments.

~~Peace, Love & Joy~~

Michelle

Challenges:

Inky Impressions~Glitter It Up

Party Time Tuesdays~Bling It On

It's Begining to look alot like.....

Christmas!!!

I can't believe how fast October came and went. And now it's only a little over a month til Christmas - YIKES!!!  I have been meaning to get started on making my cards for this year.   I have been procrastinating way to long!!

These past few years I have really liked the blues, whites and silvers.  And as soon as I seen this DP, I had an awesome idea.  Awhile back on Bugaboos site ~ I had seen a great image titled "Steps-Christmas".  And I thought this would work perfectly with the DP I had.

I went with a " From our House to Yours" theme on the card.  I thought this worked really well with a recent gate fold card that I had learned to make.

I popped up the bow, and added some sparkle!!

Well, better back to making more Christmas cards!!  It will be Thanksgiving before you know it   : )

Michelle

Paper: Holiday Collection-The Christmas Stack, Textured Light Blue cardstock, Dark blue cardstock
Image: Steps~Christmas - Bugaboo
Other: Distress Ink Old Paper, ProMarkers, Atyou Spica pens, blue ribbon, snowflake brad

CHALLENGES

Totally Stampalicious~Anything Goes

Stamping Scrapping Challenge~Christmas-Happy Holidays

4 Crafty Chicks~Die Cuts

Dream Valley Challenges~Anything Goes

Catch The Bug~November Anything Goes

Crafty Catz~Anything Goes

Saturday's D2D Design Team Challenge

This weeks challenge is PUMPKINS -
Include a pumpkin(s) on your creation. Could be your image, the DP, a die cut or anything that is a pumpkin!

I choose to use an image from Faith called "Patches the Ghost".  Isn't he just the cutest ghost ever! I tried not to use all bright colors like I normally do - yellow, green, purple and orange.  I wanted to try something more 'subtle' I guess you could say : )

While at Scrapfest in Sept - I told myself NO MORE PAPER.....well that didn't happen!  I fell in love w/this paper pack from Fancy Pants Designs called Oct 31. It is a very cool 6 x 6 pack that has wonderful patterns. 

And it so happens that last Saturday, my girlfriends & I got together to do some scrapping.  And being that 2 of them live about 30-40 minutes away - they decided to give me my birthday presents a week early.  And in one of them were these AWESOME Spellbinders Nesties - Lacey Ovals.  Don't you just LOVE THEM!! I think it all ties together so well - kind of like a 'vintage' Halloween feel to this card.

I really like the way it turned out.  Well, as always - love to hear your comments and I hope you will join us over at our D2D Saturday's Design Team Challenge. 

Peace and Love~
Michelle

Challenges:
Inky Impressions Challenges~Anything Goes
Party Time Tuesdays~Anything Goes
BasicGrey Challenges~Anything Goes
PaperCrafting Journey~Use a Digi
Pollycraft Monday Challenge~Spooky Goings On
DYSU (Do You Stack Up)~Halloween
Scrappy Frogs Challenge~Something that Flies
Divas by Design~Something Spooky
Stamping Scrapping Challenge Central~Halloween
The Corrosive Challenge~Flying Things

Lovely Tree

That is the new image this week from Faith at D2D. As soon as I seen the image - I knew exactly what I wanted to do - paper piece!!

I had bought a pack of paper awhile back and had not really used it yet.  As I was thumbing thru it, I found the perfect piece of paper!! It looks like wood grain and I wanted to use that to give the tree a more 'real' look. 

I then paper pieced different colors of regular card stock for the hearts. I popped a couple of them up to give it a little depth and there you have it!!

I finished off the inside with just a simple saying and a beautiful corner punch.  Just a great CAS card for whenever a great friend needs a 'pick-me-up'  : )

Michelle

Challenges:
DYSU ~ Trees

Halloween

This week's Saturday Designer Challenge is HALLOWEEN!!

I decided to use Hocus Pocus for my creation.  I just love the frog peeking out of the bubbling cauldron...so cute!  And she works so well with another of Faith's images Abracadabra.  You must really check out some of the new Halloween images from Faith.  I LOVE Halloween !!!!

I love using bright orange, green, purple and yellow colors on Halloween cards.  I colored in the image using my ProMarkers and added a lil shimmer with my atYou Spica markers.  Just a quick card for a cute Halloween hello!!

Hope you have a great day!!

Michelle

Challenges:
One Stop Craft Challenge~ Halloween
By The Cute and Girly~Anything Goes
Alphabet Challenge~S for Soon be Halloween
Cupcake Craft Challenge~Halloween
Come and Get It Challenges~Orange, Black & Purple

Cockatoo Rules

HI~

Just a quick post. I love this image from The Paper Shelter called "Cockatoo Rules".  Isn't he just too fun!!

My youngest nephew recently had a birthday, and while designing his card I knew I had to use this image.  It so reminded me of him - in that "I'm cool...look at me" kind of way.  And he just loved it!!!



I used the colored version and added some Glossy Accents to the sunglasses.  I distressed the edges and 'splattered' it w/some colors.  Then ran some Color core paper thru the Cuttlebug and sanded it.  It's so hard to make something teenagers will like w/o being too kiddish : )  But he truly enjoyed this.  And it was funny because my older nephew (his brother) thought it was AWESOME! 

YAY....score one for Auntie!!  Enjoy and hope to see you back soon!

Take care

Michelle

CHALLENGES:
One Stop Craft Challenge ~ Just for Men
Totally Stampalicious ~ Emboss It

Sooooo much fun!!!

That's what my girlfriends and I had while at Archiver's Scrapfest 11' @ the Mall of America!  This was our 3rd year, and it was just as exciting as the first!  So many vendors, demos, freebies and classes - OH MY!!  But we had a blast learning new techniques and using new products.

I want to share with you by far - the most fun card I made all weekend.  I LOVE taking the Hero Arts classes.  Shari Carroll and Jennifer McGuire from Hero Arts are so much fun and my favorite ladies. 

Below is a sample of one of the cards from the "Thinking Inking" class that I took.

I just love the colors, and this was surprisingly easy to make.  Of course due to time limits, most of the stuff is cut and ready to go for us.  But we got to do the most fun part of this card, which was the background.  You basically stamp your background w/Versamark Ink onto watercolor paper and then white heat emboss the image.  You then take Distress Inks and dab all over the watercolor paper, in alternating colors starting with your lighter color first.  Believe me, it kind of looks like a mess at first, but turns out wonderful as you can see.  You then spray heavily with a Perfect Pearl and water mix of 1 tsp Perfect Pearls to a full mist bottle, and set aside to dry.

You can then add your embellishments once dry on top and your set to go!  Don't you just love how the colors 'blend' together and once dry, you have that pearl shimmery look to it!

I will be sharing some more cards I made @ Scrapfest along the way, so keep your eyes open. 

Toodles for now

*HUGS*

Michelle

D2D Blog Hop

Good morning everyone!

I'm so excited to be participating in my first ever blog hop! Faith, from Designed 2 Delight, has recently started designing for Whipper Snapper Designs. Which means you can now get her stamps that she has designed for them!! How exciting! Digital images are great, but there are times that I just like using traditional stamps.

On this blog hop, the D2D team was asked to design using her new stamps. You should have came here from Kathy Winter's blog - Winter Creations by Kathy.

I have selected the "Pumpkin Birdhouse" image. I just LOVE fall and this image was just perfect for me!!! She has also come out with some new digital papers on her D2D site. These are perfect for when you just HAVE to have a certain piece of paper, but are afraid to use because you think you will never find it again. You can print to your hearts content with these new digi papers.

I have used Butter Plaid, Pumpkin Grunge and Orange Gingham.

Your next stop on this blog hop should be Michelle Pearson - Inspiration Blooms.

If at any time you get lost along the hop, just go back to the list of designers on the D2D site.

Leave some love, a lucky commenter from my blog will receive a $3 Gift Voucher to the D2D store! Thanks for stopping by and have a awesome day !!

Michelle

Abracadabra

Hi everyone ~

Just a quick post before I head off to Archiver's Scrapfest @ the Mall of America in Minnesota!! I am going with my girlfriends and we just can't wait to get there. This will be our 3rd year. If you have never been, it is really awesome.

My post today is of this new image from Faith titled "Abracadabra". Isn't he just the cutest lil' magician you have ever seen? And of course his ever so nervous sidekick just waiting to see what happens next!! Faith has recently added some new Halloween images and wonderful digi papers as well. You really should check it out! Halloween is my favorite holiday and she has some wonderful images/papers for me to 'play' with!






Well.....off to finish getting ready! Hope you like it and as always~love to hear your comments!

Michelle

Image: D2D - Abracadabra http://designed2delight.com/prestashop/
Color Medium - ProMarkers

Wedding or Anniversary

Our Saturday Designer’s Challenge over at Designed 2 Delight is Wedding Or Anniversary!! I am happy to say that on Oct. 10th ~ my hubby & I will be celebrating 19 years together!! We have had our up & downs, but through it all I couldn't see myself with anyone else but him.

My creation was actually made for my parents. They celebrated their 44th anniversary this past June and still act like 'kids' sometimes! It's so cute!



I know when I first heard someone say that they used pink & orange together I thought - WHAT??? Those colors don't go together. But I tried it & just LOVE how this card turned out! My DP is what actually 'inspired' me to use these 2 colors. And the layout of the card is actually inspired from a card I received from a dear friend of mine.


You really must check out the new digi's over at Designed 2 Delight. Faith has been busy and has some awesome new creations you will just love!! She has few new Halloween ones that are just adorable and I can't wait to use them. But then again, Halloween is my most favorite holiday!!

Thanks again for stopping by ~ and comments are always welcome!! Love to hear from you : )



Michelle

Image: Fresh Cut ~ Designed 2 Delight http://designed2delight.com/prestashop/

Color medium: ProMarkers

Misc: Hero Arts Bling, Prima Flowers

CHALLENGES:

Party Time Tuesdays ~ Anything Goes http://partytimetuesdays.blogspot.com/
BasicGrey Challenges ~ Celebrations http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/
Little Red Wagon ~ Border Punches http://lilredwagon.blogspot.com/
Stamping Scrapping Challenge Central - Anything Goes http://stampingscrappingchallengecentral.blogspot.com/
Bearly-Mine Challenges ~ Flowers, Flowers, Flowershttp://bearlymine-challenges.blogspot.com/

MIA................

Sorry that I have been missing in action lately.......very busy 'end' of summer going on here!! People on week vacations at work, back into racing and our oldest granddaughter ended up in the hospital for 4-1/2 days....it's just been a roll coaster ride!

ANYWAY....I finally got back into making some cards! At work, we work very closely w/our Detroit office and our clerical gal there. We recently found out that she & her hubby are having there 1st baby in November!! So a couple of us gals here chipped in and bought her a baby gift and I supplied the card. Seems how we don't know what she is having ~ I tried to make a more generic card.

I seen my poor beautiful purple Cricut sitting in the corner and thought it could use some attention. So I made this CAS card you see below!!

I forgot how much fun it was to cut stuff on my Cricut!! Well, hope you like it and I hope to get back and post something again soon!!

Missed you all

Michelle

Pink + Black

That is our current Saturday DT Challenge @ Designed 2 Delight!! You have to create a project using predominantly pink and black.

I used a very cute digi titled "Baby Buggy-Heaven Sent". You can find this now in Faith's store along with alot of other great images. I did this one because I know of a few people having babies soon, so I wanted to be prepared. And it's also so easy for me to make a girl card then a boy too!! Seems how I have 2 beautiful granddaughters : )



I hope you will play along with us this week!! I think you will find this alot of fun!!

Have a great day!
Love & Peace
Michelle

Challenges:
DYSU - Do You Stack Up: Emboss It http://doyoustackup.blogspot.com/

Bling it On.........

The Design Team Saturday Challenge this week is "Bling".
Who doesn't like bling?!? Let's see lots of it for this challenge!

One of my very best girlfriends Kendra is hosting the challenge this week. She is the one who first introduced me to digi stamps and Faith. Since then, I have been hooked!! I have learned so much from them both and the design team as well. Hope you will join us this week and have a "blinging" good time!!

Michelle

Image: Designed 2 Delight - Winter Bear
http://designed2delight.com/blog/

Kendra's Blog: http://luv2scrapnmakecards.blogspot.com/

CHALLENGES:

Amber's Crafts and Stuff ~ Sparkle and Shine http://www.amberscraftsandstuff.com/2011/08/challenge-20-sparkle-shine.html

Little Red Wagon ~ Put a Critter on It http://lilredwagon.blogspot.com/

I am hosting my 1st ever challenge at D2D.....

As part of the design team, we each must take a turn at hosting a challenge. I really like the Christmas in July theme. Especially with the way our weather has been here lately. VERY HOT and I can’t wait for cooler weather to get here. I also wanted to throw in a twist. When you think of Christmas – most of us think in terms of the colors red & green. I wanted to go outside that ‘proverbial’ box and use different colors, so I also included NO red or green. You may use them on your image – but I wanted to see different colors used on the card or in the embellishments.

I used Faith’s Snow Angel digi and paper pieced his ‘wings’ & arms with brown cardstock. I then cut out another snowman and placed him on top as to ‘sandwich’ in the wings. I cut another piece for his nose to give it some depth as well. I then colored in the nose, scarf & heart w/my ProMarkers. Then using my atyou Spica pens, I added some glitter to his halo and patchwork on his heart and lower body.

Using the Cricut Home Accents cartridge, I cut a couple of the flower inner shape parts. When cut sepertaley, they look kind of look like snowflakes to me. I cut a couple of different sizes out, painted them w/a little CI (Creative Inspirations) Winter Frost paint, layered them and created my own snowflake. I inked the edges using Distress Ink Old Paper to give it an old, faded look to it. Added a few i-Rock gems, a button brad, couple of snowflake brads and some ribbon and there you have it!

I really hope you will join me over @ Designed 2 Delight’s Saturday Challenge for my first ever challenge. I want to see all of your unique creations using the Winter/Christmas theme and NO red or green. DAZZLE & inspire me with your creations…….go on….try it!! One lucky person will win a free image from the Designed2Delight Store. Winner is announced the Sunday after the challenge closes.


http://designed2delight.com/blog/category/challenge/saturday-challenge/

Michelle

“Let’s Go To The Beach” Designer’s Challenge

This Saturday’s challenge @ D2D is “Let’s go to the BEACH!”

Let’s see what beachy, tropical or even really summery creations you can come up with for this week’s challenge!

Make sure to check out the design team inspiration and challenge rules here:

http://designed2delight.com/blog/2011/07/lets-go-to-the-beach-designers-challenge/

Some of my fellow design team members have great ideas ~ so check it out.

Here is my creation!

I used a couple of Faith's newer digis ~ Flip Flops and Palm Tree - WHICH IS ONLY $1
I paper pieced the flip flops with some cool DP and then blinged them up w/a rhinestone. I then popped up the starfish for some depth. I wanted to keep the 'sandy" look as well, so that is why I went with Kraft cardstock. I then colored the palm tree image and careful cut it out. I found some really cool 'buttons' @ Hobby Lobby, I cut off the loop on the back and mounted the sunglass button on the bottom of the card.


Hope you like it and please make sure you check us out @ http://designed2delight.com/blog/

Michelle

Challenges:

Lexi's Creations ~ At the Beach http://lexiscreations.blogspot.com/

Craft Your Passion Challenge ~ "Text It"
(use text somewhere on your project) http://www.craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com/

Pollycraft Monday Challenge ~ Summer Fun http://www.pollycraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/

Something 'Berry' special from D2D........

Faith has come out with an AWESOME image~Strawberries!!! I love summer and fresh strawberries! Strawberry shortcake, in my yogurt w/some granola -YUMMY!!!

My original idea for this image was to use some Fuzzy Flock on the leaves and stem part of the berry. But the more I thought about it, I really didn't want to cover up the beautiful image she had created. So, I just opted for my ProMarkers instead.



I paper pieced the stem & leaves on the right hand side, and popped them up on the other side to give it some depth. I also popped up the flower as well. Then used the atyou Spica markers to give the berries some shimmer, as well as the flower. I cut the swirls out on my Cricut using the Home Accents cartridge and sprayed them w/some gold shimmer mist. TA-DA

Hope you like it!! I am still not 110% satisfied with the card. I am thinking it needs something, but not quite sure what that is??? Oh well.......

Thanks for stopping by, COMMENTS are always welcome : )

Michelle

Challenges:

One Stop Craft Challenges~Summer Time

http://onestopcraftchallenge.blogspot.com/

Birthday Fun

I was recently asked by a friend to make a few birthday cards for her. That, along w/all the birthdays I have coming up, I have been quite busy making birthday cards! I thought I would share this one with you. It was the perfect image for my friend sister's birthday. They are both a couple hoots to hang around, so this fit her perfectly.

This is Ruby - by Jodie over at Bugaboo. She has some adorable characters over in her shop. You should really check it out. She has one for almost any occasion or mood - and they are awesome!! I forgot to take a pic of the inside, but I put "Hope you have a 'smashing' birthday darling"!

*HUGS*

Michelle

Challenges:

One Stitch At A Time - Anything Goes and DT Call http://onestitchatatimechallenge.blogspot.com/

Stamping Scrapping Challenge Central - Clean & Simple http://stampingscrappingchallengecentral.blogspot.com/

Happy 4th !!!!!

HaPpY 4th oF JuLy !!!!!

Hope you all have had/or are having a great long holiday weekend. My post today is 1 of 4 patriotic images Faith has available at her shop.

I may use this card for my bosses birthday which is actually today. Funny story - she always told her granddaughter when she was little, that everyone celebrates her birthday w/fireworks and parties!! Well, now the her granddaughter is older, she understands the 'true' meaning of the holiday, but still says these are celebrating her grandma too!!
ENJOY~

Michelle

Challenges:

Party Time Tuesdays~4th of July http://partytimetuesdays.blogspot.com/2011/06/party-time-tuesdays-ptt22-4th-of-july.html

Totally Stampalicious~Stars & Stripes http://totallystampalicious.blogspot.com/

Come and Get it Challenges~Patriotic http:/www.comeandgetitchallenges.blogspot.com/

The Pink Elephant~Red, White & Blue http://thepinkelephantchallenge.blogspot.com/

I Did It Creations ~Patriotic http://robynsfetishchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/challenge-62-patriotic.html

Amber's Crafts & Stuff~Red, White & Blue http://www.amberscraftsandstuff.com/2011/06/challenge-16-red-white-blue.html

Tropical Summer

Well....that's what it will sure feel like for tomorrow. They are forecasting roughly 92-93 degrees before the heat index. With it, 100-102+ degrees - can you say HOT!!!!!! Although I really shouldn't complain because it has taken so long for summer to finally get here : )

I haven't been posting alot lately, hoping to change that this long holiday weekend. Nothing special planned, and if it remains hotter then a you know what, I will camp out in the a/c house making cards!!

Still not sure if I am 100% happy with this card or not. I guess I envisioned it a little differently then what it actually came out to be.

I had a great time last Saturday w/my BFF's scrapping and gossiping! I think we each only made about 3 cards after catching up and exchanging 'stories', but that's ok! We have been taking turns at each others house for a day every other month and I really enjoy it. I am the next 'host' and can't wait for the girls to come here! Suppose I should clean up my scrap room huh???

Well, I hope you like the card and please feel free to comment if you like. I always enjoy hearing them : ) Hope to see you back here real soon!!

TOODLES!!

Michelle

Challenges:

PaperCrafting Journey - Anything Goes http://paper-craftingjourney.blogspot.com/

Alphabet Challenge Blog - H for Half a Dozen http://alphabetchallengeblog.blogspot.com/

Mary, Mary...........

Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells, and cockle shells,
And pretty maids all in a row.

This weeks newest image from Designed 2 Delight is "Mary, Mary". Isn't she just adorable tip-toein thru the garden watering her flowers? I hope you had a chance to go get her and make a card, so that you get next weeks image free!! If not, don't worry...just hop on over to Faith's store and pick her up.

Here is my 'spin' on this weeks image:

Bet you can't figure out what my fav color is...lol !!!! As soon as I seen her I knew she had to be in purple : ) I hope you like it and I always enjoy your comments!!

Thanks for stoppin' by......

Michelle


Designed 2 Delight's store ~ http://designed2delight.com/prestashop/

Challenges:

Totally Stampalicious ~ Anything Goes http://totallystampalicious.blogspot.com/

Masculine Cards~NO flowers

This weeks challenge @ Designed 2 Delight Card Ideas, is to create a Masculine Card with NO flowers . With Father’s Day approaching, we would like to see a creation for that special guy in your life. This is not limited to Father’s Day cards only. Feel free to make a Love, Birthday, Thinking of You, etc. card/creation.

This is one of the creations I have made so far. I still have 3 more to make yet - YIKES!! I have to make cards for my dad, my father-in law, my step father-in law and my son - WHEW!!! And Faith's masculine images pretty much have me covered!! The image I used on this one is "Catch of the Day"

You really must check out the wonderful masculine images - they are FAB!!! http://designed2delight.com/prestashop/
I must tell you a quick story! My husband will be going on his yearly fishing trip up north in a couple of weeks. So I have been accompanying him to various stores to get ready for his trip. On a recent trip to Mill's Fleet Farm, - they had a canoe in the middle of the aisle with marked down fishing supplies. At first I was like"Great...he will be here looking thru this pile of 'crap' forever". Then as I was wading thru the pile I came across the tiny spinner blades that I used on my card. And all of a sudden~LIGHT BULB~I could use these on my Father's day, masculine cards! BINGO....all of a sudden that pile was like gold. My husband just shook his head and laughed at me when I told him what I was going to do with them. I actually walked out of the store with more fishing items them him...LOL!

I hope you like it, and will to post the rest soon! Till then...........

Michelle

Challenges:

Cupcake Craft Challenges~ Things with Tails http://cupcakecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/

Craft Your Passion ~Anything Goes http://www.craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com/

Lexi's Creations~Father's Day/Masculine Card http://lexiscreations.blogspot.com/

Come and Get It Challenges~Happy Father's Day http://www.comeandgetitchallenges.blogspot.com/

Here Come the Boys~Father's Day/Hubby/Partner http://herecometheboysblogchallenge.blogspot.com/

Craft Your Days Away~Father's Day/Special Man http://craftyourdaysaway.blogspot.com/

**A couple of Happy Birthdays**

Both my son & nephew's birthdays are in May and only a couple of days apart. So I had fun making cards for each of them.

They both are into racing - my son cars, my nephew quads (4 wheelers). The 1st card was for my son and I thought AJ the Race Car driver from The Stamping Boutique http://www.thestampingboutique.com/ would be perfect for him.

For my nephew...I went a brick wall and graffiti look.

For both, I used the Sizzix folders from Tim Hotlz Alterations line. I really like these folders cuz they just pop on the card. I used the Checkerboard for the white card and distressed it with some black chalk ink. For the other, I used the Brick folder on some Color Core paper and then sanded it down to make the bricks come thru more. And then I used some Metal Gears from Little Yellow Bicycle on them.

I think they both enjoyed them!!

Michelle

Challenges:

Stamping Scrapping Challenge Central~Masculine

http://stampingscrappingchallengecentral.blogspot.com/

Scrappy Frogs Challenge~Birthday

http://scrappyfrogschallenge.blogspot.com/

Hello again!!

Boy, it feels like months since I last posted, but it really wasn't that long : ) Just so many little things to get done around here lately, busy at work training summer help, and of course the holiday weekend. Speaking of which~ I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! I know we did!! We celebrated my son's "Golden" birthday which was actually the 25th, and the holiday as well. And we had wonderful weather too.

The card I am posting tonight is actually one that I made for the All White +One other color challenge over @ Card Ideas. I never got to post my card and they have since moved onto the next weekly challenge. I really like the way this card turned out, so I will just post it here on my blog anyway. I went classic black & white and, I didn't want to overpower the image, so I kept it very CAS.

I hope you like it!! Oh.....and I couldn't resist posting a pic of my beautiful granddaughters!! The oldest~Evyon~ came running out to me today when I got there yelling "Grandma, Grandma Grandma ....then gave me a HUGE hug!! She then told me she graduated Head Start and gets to go to Kindergarten in the fall. Seems like not that long ago I was taking my son to Kindergarten....where does the time go?

Well, goodnight for now. I will be back soon...I promise : )

Michelle