Totally Cased

Ok, right up front I am saying this card is totally cased. Isn't it gorgeous!? You can see the original gorgeous card here. The main image is one of the blooms from the upcoming hostess set called Echos of Kindness. I water colored the flowers using Regal Rose and my aqua painter. I love how the water coloring makes the flowers light and dark. I also used the gorgeous new designer paper called Raspberry Tart. I paper pierced all around both pieces of the designer paper and then popped all the layers on dimensionals. ain't it purty?


My husband...errr Santa brought me a light box to take my pictures of the cards I make. It comes with this pretty blue background, but I'm not convinced on using it yet. He also brought me a new flat screen monitor, which I am definitely convinced on using. :-)
Let me know what you think of the blue and the card.
Thanks,
Michelle
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Cuttlebug Highlights

Here's another technique that I learned from the October 2008 issue of the Technique Junkie Newsletter. It's called Cuttlebug Highlights. Didn't it come out beautiful!! I used Elegant Eggplant and Almost Amethyst for my card stock. I embossed the raised part of my card with gold embossing powder. And then I made the sides of the purple ribbon and around the Elegant Eggplant piece gold, using my gold leafing pen. I must admit this is very elegant! What do you think?


Thanks for stopping by!
Michelle
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Disney Chrismas Lights

I thought I'd share a little non crafty blog entry today. My husband and I live about an hour away from Disney and have season passes that will be ending in a few weeks. We decided to go last night to see all the lights. It was beautiful!! The first picture is the two of us. Aren't we a happy couple :-) The next one shows we are a crazy, happy couple.


We got these fun 3-d glasses at the gate and they made a huge difference in how we saw the lights. We were so happy that we found them, it made a wonderful experience even more wonderful. In the Disney fashion, everything was jaw dropping gorgeous.

You can't see it in the pictures, but snow was falling around us and the lights were synchronized to the Christmas music. Gorgeous!!!

My happy man ~ he deserves a kiss xxx

lucky man :-D
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Color Pop

This unconventional Christmas card uses the color-pop Technique from the newest December 2008 issue of the Technique Junkie Newsletter. You must click on it to make the image larger. I promise you won't be disappointed.
First I made the background using Regal Rose and Rose Red on Whisper White with the color-pop technique. I then cut out a large square three snowflakes out of the color-popped piece . I then punched out an additional three snowflakes out of Whisper White and mounted the two colors together.I added a bit of Dazzling Diamonds for some glitter. The Season's Greetings is from G Studio is stamped on Whisper White mounted on Regal Rose then onto Rose Red. Then onto the color-popped piece which was mounted on Whisper White. I used the corner rounder punch on most of the layers and all the Whisper White pieces were sponged along the edges using Rose Red. All the pieces were then mounted onto Rose Red, Whisper White and then the final card piece of Regal Rose.


What do you think...I'm putting it right out into the mail now...who's gonna get it, eh?
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Swirly Santa

Isn't this the cutest idea using the cuttlebug? I came across this card idea on SCS by Heather Freeman. Sorry Heather, I've lost the link to your stuff. It's a fast and easy card and oh so cute!!
I started with the base card using Very Vanilla. Using my finger, I added his rosy cheeks and lips using some chalk. His beard, mustache and fur trim are Whisper White run through the cuttlebug. His red hat uses Real Red card stock then I added some red flocking to it. His eyes are Black circles that I cut out then blobbed crystal effects on them. His nose was cut out using the 1" circle punch popped up on a dimensional. Ain't it the cutest!
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Digi-scrap book two page

Here are the next two pages of my hybrid-digi scrapbook.
Again I'm continuing with Carrie Stephen's wonderful paper and elements.

After printing the pages on my printer, I added some primas, half pearls, corner punches, glitter and crystal effects. I love how easy this is and how gorgeous the pages turn out. The text on the first page, is a copy of my actual birth certificate. I have left some blank space, on the second page to add some journaling.

Let me know what you think :-)
thanks,
Michelle
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Be Merry

I guess it's time to start rolling out the Christmas Cards. Here's one that I created using the Christmas tree from the Fun and Fast Notes set and the sentiment from the Warm Words set. If you look closely you can also see that I used the Canvas background stamp on the main part of the card. I paper pierced the green strip, used the cuttlebug on the red square and did my faux brads in the corner. (you know, the blobs of crystal effects on small punch out circles)
I hope you are having a wonderful weekend and not stressing that Christmas is creeping up on us very quickly. arghhhh
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Hybrid-digi

We are up to Nine Ladies Dancing on the 12 Days of Christmas challenge over on Paper Craft Planet. Today's take on the verse, was to make a card (or paper craft) that has a girl on it. I decided I would change it up a bit by throwing in my hybrid-digi page that I have been working on. There's a girl on it, right?
My page was created using the brilliant designs from Carrie Stephens. I then printed it out and added some flowers, glitter and crystal effects. You must click on the pictures to see them close up. You won't be dissapointed ~ I must say, I LOVE how it came out!

Thanks for stopping by! Leave me a nice comment :-)

Challenge #7 @ Paper Craft Planet

Ok, well I missed a few days of the Twelve Days of Christmas Challenge at Paper Craft Planet. They were finally getting tired of birds ( you know, a partridge, calling birds, french hens, turtle doves...) so they decided that Swans are elegant, right? Create a card (or any paper craft) that is all black and white - think of "high formal" weddings. Feel free to toss in a dash of color. Phew, I can do that! I decided to try out a black flower using the Fabulous Flower set. I must say, that flower looks gorgeous in any color!

Challenge #3 @ Paper Craft Planet

This was my entry for third Christmas challenge over on Paper Craft Planet. Of course if you're following along you know that we should be at Three French Hens. Because french hens are not a commonly used stamp, owls could be used. I used the Owl Together set from Stampin' Up. Then dressed the owls up with some soft flock.


thanks for stopping by,
Michelle
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2nd Day of Christmas Contest

Here it is -- the Second Day of Christmas Contest!. (hum the tune to 12 Days...) On the second day of Christmas my Planet gave to me.... a card with bird or reptile". Stop laughing -- it's "two turtle doves", so they picked turtles or doves... or heck... any reptile.
I've had this Martha Stewart bird punch for quite awhile and have never used it. Today's contest challenged me to give it a shot and I love how cute it came out! I've mixed some SU paper along with some Lasting Impressions paper, ribbon from Target's dollar bin, some rhinestones and an SU sentiment...sooo cute!
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Challenge #12 Gift Card Holder

This week's challenge with the Late Night Stampers, is to create a gift card holder. They are very easy to make and so timely!


I used the Eastern Blooms stamp set and embossed the flowers with black powder and added some dots of white with a gel pen in their centers. I stamped the three flowers with versamark and embossed them as well with the black embossing powder. Then cut them out and popped them up on dimensionals. For the inside, I used the sentiment from Heritage Holiday set. I also used the scallop punch for the front edge. It's all tied together with black gingham ribbon.


Thanks for visiting, and have a fabulous day!

Rub-on Challenge #11

I finally had an excuse to use my SU rub-ons that were just sitting around gathering dust. I don't understand why we hoard all these goodies that we just have to have and then never use. My early New Year's resolution is to stop hoarding all my goodies .
This card is the result of the Late Night Stampers challenge #11 ~ to use your rub-ons. The base of the card is Riding Hood Red, then some Bella Designer Paper topped with Sahara Sand. The rub-ons are from the Hidden Garden set.


The three dots on the bottom are created by punching out three circles of DP using my crop-a-dile and putting a glob of Crystal Effects on it. Ya, I said a glob. Isn't it cool looking?
thanks for stopping in,
Michelle

Heritage Holiday

I've been working on some more Christmas cards. I don't know why, since I probably have more than I actually need. If I do, then I know exactly what I will do with my extras. I'll be sending them to a very special woman who will forward them on to the troops over seas. Her name is Martie Shea and you can pop over to her site here and find out all the details. She collects cards all year long and as the boxes fill up, she will send them to the Chaplains who will then distribute them among the troops. These are all cards that they can use to send back home to their loved ones. I hope that you'll be able to help Martie in her *mission* Stampin' From the Heart

So, on to the card....I love this new set of nesties called Labels Two and couldn't wait to use it. On this card I used the stamp set Heritage Holiday and using my blender pen with markers, I colored in the ornaments. I sponged all the edges of the Christmas designer paper, Riding Hood Red, Old Olive and Baja Breeze textured card stock using Old Olive. Popped the main image up with dimensionals and added the Riding Hood Red Taffeta ribbon.

I added some small half pearls on each ornament then stamped a single ornament on the inside of the card.
I hope you like it :-)

Digi-scrap book page

I have now plunged into the world of Digi-scrapping. Digital Scrap Booking is creating a Scrapbook page using just your computer. There are loads of freebies to be grabbed out there on the web. This set from Maria LaFrance is called Serene Felties. I changed a few colors so the flowers and buttons co-ordinate with our outfits. Weren't we so cute!?

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Challenge #10

Challenge #10 from Late Night Stampers was to create a card using this photo as our inspiration. What do you think? Does this card not mimic the feel of the photo?

Stuff I used ~
Card Stock - Riding Hood Red, Black, Very Vanilla
Ink - Riding Hood Red, Versamark (is that an ink?)
Stamp Sets - Boho Background, Say it with Scallops

Thanks for peaking in,
Michelle

Pointsetta Box

Two posts in one day! Aren't I the over achiever!


I've made another box and matching 3 x3 note cards. The box is made with Real Red card stock and embossed in white using the Baroque Motifs wheel. I also decorated the note cards with the same materials. The flowers are made from my world famous 'Fabulous Flowers' recipe. You can also learn how to make these simple flowers. The details can be found on my previous post here.


Thanks again for taking the time to read my blog,
Michelle

HAPPY day to you

Another week gone by. Can you believe how quickly these weeks are going by. Soon we will be entering a brand New Year and new changes. I'm looking forward to the next year, but I wish it wouldn't come so darn quick!


For this card I wanted to try out my new stencil Floral Frenzy which works with the Eastern Blooms set. The colors are Baja Breeze and Chocolate Chip with some Whisper White. I put a bit of glitter in the center of the flowers and pierced the scallops, neither one you can see very clearly here.


The sentiment, HAPPY day to you, is from the Occasions Collection. Each word is a different stamp so I had to use my stamp-a-ma-jig. But I think I'm getting pretty good at using that silly contraption.

Thanks for checking in on me,
Michelle

Stair Step Card

Here's my submission for this week's challenge over on the Late Night Stampers group. I was a bit intimidated at first, but once the body of the card was made, it was all fun. The directions are very easy ~

• Cut your card stock to the size of 10.5 X 5.0 - if you want to stamp on this, now would be the time to do it.
• Score your card stock at 1.25" - 2.5" - 4.25", 6" and at 8.25" Now fold with hills and valleys (accordion style) making sure that the smallest (1.25" fold) is folded down, as this will be the front of your card)
  
• Now here's the fun part...decorate with ANYTHING...punches, cut-outs, stickers...whatever your theme is, run with it.

I used all the stamps that are included in the Heritage Holiday set, some ribbon, hodgepodge and some careful cutting.
Link a picture back to me so I can see what you create. I warn you, these are a little addicting.

Thanks for stopping by,
Michelle

Cutest card ever!!

Is this not the cutest card! I am so proud of how it turned out and can't wait to send them out to my 'special' people. First off, thank you Janice D. for sending me the cute, I mean scary, Halloween card. Her card sparked my interest in making smaller cards. This one is a cute 4" X 4 1/4" and doesn't the Oak leaf stamp work perfectly on the small size card?


The Happy Thanksgiving was stamped using the Occasion Collection stamp set. I was also able to incorporate some ribbon held on by my much neglected Hodgepodge Hardware. Let me know what you think. I am a bit biased.

Fall Fun

I haven't gotten into scrapbooking yet, but once I do, I'll be very prepared. These are title bars for a scrapbooking swap that I am involved in. I'll send these in and in return I'll receive back one of my title bars, some border strips, a journaling square, tags and several other goodies!

A shout out to Caroline Sharkas for dragging me into this great swap and for letting me borrow your stamps. Thank you so much for your friendship!

Challenge number seven or It's all Greek to me

Over at the Late Night Stampers group we have ongoing weekly challenges. This weeks challenge was to use this map as a starting off point. Well I'm sure you can see that my card is not the same as the example. Would you like my explanation? Of course you do, since you are still reading. Well, first I stamped the words from the Flores Suaves set. And if you have this set you know that the stamp is not as big as the back ground paper and so I pulled out my trusty stamp-a-ma-jig and stamped the card stock six times to get the whole back ground done. I then proceed to add all the other elements to the card. They were all glued on all nice and pretty when I realized the card was upside down! eeeek. Well maybe that's not exactly what I said. But anyway, I was not a happy camper. I was able to pull up everything except the back ground blue with the words from the Flores Suaves, did I mention that I stamped it six different times?! I put all the elements back on the card, facing the correct direction but I had to put them where the glue was still staring at me..and here you go....It meets the challenge, right? Just upside down, but the card is right side up, except that back part, but I don't know Spanish so it's all Greek to me anyway.
Thanks for popping in,
Michelle

Happy Anniversary Honey

My husband and I just celebrated our seventh anniversary. To celebrate we went to Harry's restaurant here in Lakeland. We love going there for our 'dessert for supper' meal. No supper, just dessert. And not just any dessert, but their famous Chocolate Bread Pudding. Oh my goodness is it Delicious!!! It's a rich chocolate, custard style bread pudding drenched in a white chocolate bourbon sauce. Served with vanilla ice cream. It is made for sharing but we went crazy and ordered two.


I hope you enjoyed the card.
Michelle

Wonderful Things

I went to a class, at my local stamp store, held by Debby Schuh. What a fun teacher she is! We made this Wonderful Things book. It is so colorful and eclectic. I love it!!
Here is the cover of the book. Isn't it yummy!!??


Here are a few of the pages in the book that we created. This one has a hole cut out in the middle of the page for a picture.


This page shows a file folder to put goodies in. The page opposite is called a purse. It is sealed shut with velcro and there are quite a few pages inside.


This page is made using chalk board paper. Isn't that the coolest?


Now I need to figure out what my favorite things are and fill up the book.
Thanks for looking,
Michelle