FancyCrafty{Me}

To the Old Man

2012-05-25T16:46:00.002-07:00

I'm a day late for my post for the Pretty Patterns challenge but thankfully the gals at MTME are soooo understanding! I hope that this card is worth the wait!

My Time Made Easy has some new, awesome digi stamps and papers this month. Click here to see the latest! Many are Father's Day theme but there are other sentiments in there too. I love the image I used on my card because we have teased my dad that he's an OLD MAN for YEARS! My dad is a big tease and he named himself the "Old Poop" which was a nickname which Henry Fonda had in a movie called "On Golden Pond". (It's a pretty good movie if you can get past all the cussing.) When I saw the sentiment "To the OLD MAN Happy Father's Day", well, you can see how I couldn't resist using it!

The main image is from the set A Vintage Day for Dad. This is a remarkable set - it has 17 images x 7 because it comes in 7 different colors! The color I used is "Not Quite Navy". What a deal! (especially since MTME is having a sale - 25% off this weekend!)

The paper I used is from Vintage Flourishes Bold. There are several other great new digi papers sets to choose from!

Since my dad is also a golfer I used the image below for the inside of the card.

I have a hint for you that I got from a friend of mine, Dottie. She suggested that if you are having a hard time removing your paper from a die to place wax paper in between the die and the paper. I was having a very hard time removing the paper from the die that I used with the golf image above. I tore the paper when trying to remove it from the die and got quite frustrated at it when I made another one and still had the same problem. I then remembered Dottie's hint so I tried it an viola! It worked! So if you have a die that makes it hard to remove the paper, make sure that the wax paper is in between the die and the paper. I'll do a little tutorial on that in the next few days. I'll take step by step photos so you can see exactly what I mean.

Thank you for coming by and don't forget about the big sale at My Time Made Easy!!!

Have a wonderful and safe Memorial weekend!

Memorial Day Sale at My Time Made Easy!

2012-05-25T01:19:00.000-07:00

In honor of Memorial Day, and as a thank you to all our valued customers, we are going to have a store wide 25% OFF SALE!!

(sale excludes the purchase of Gift Certificates)

Sale is starting Friday May 25th 12:00 am EST through Monday May 28th 11:59 pm EST !!

Don't forget to share this with a friend :D

CLICK HERE TO START SHOPPING!

Please read our download instructions here if you are a NEW! customer.

I'll be back later with my card for this week's challenge. I had some things come up so I'm a little late. Thank you for stopping by and enjoy the sale!!!

Princess Tilda in a Pink Dress

2012-05-20T01:56:00.004-07:00

This is my 2nd post for today. I made two projects for a tutorial for CropStop, I just posted the first one so either scroll down or click HERE. The tutorial was published yesterday on CropStop's blog and can be found HERE. I used Liquid Pearls on the other card and Star Dust Stickles on this one.

I first colored Tilda with my copics, adding shading to her dress.

I then painted her dress and crown with Star Dust Stickles which made it shine. Stickles and glitter glue are somewhat transparent so plan what color you want to show through before you do your painting. Of course you can always paint on top of designer paper if you desire.

Below is the card at an angle. Lots of fun details!

As with the last project, I based my card on a sketch but alas that challenge just expired. It's ok, I used a number of other challenges to base my card on.

Here's the list:
Moxie Fab World: gingham challenge

Totally Tilda: Princess in Pink Dress

Simon Says Stamp and Show: anything goes!

Creative Inspiration: Case it - I cased the colors pink, green & white

Magnolia Down Under Challenge: make your embellishments - metal corner - I embossed it with detail white embossing powder

All That Scraps Blog: Anything Goes

Die Cutting Divas: Flowers

Papertake Weekly: In the Garden

I Brake for Challenges: florals

Crafty Ribbons Challenge: flowers

Card Making Mamas: May Flowers

Hotshot Craft Blog: use die cuts

Joyful Stamper: Anything Goes

Dies to Die for: Anything Goes

Magnolia-licious Challenge: inspiration and color challenge-

Pink, Green and light yellow

Thank you for coming by! Don't forget to hop on over to CropStop and check out my little tutorial. As always I appreciate each and every visit and comment. Have a great week!

Fairy Tilda in Purple

2012-05-20T01:33:00.001-07:00

I am so excited to share this project with you. CropStop posted a tutorial I made about Painting with Liquid Pearls, Stickles and Glitter Glue. Hop on over there and see it! You'll be adding shimmer and shine to your projects in a new and fun way too!

I painted Tilda's wings in Lilac Liquid Pearls. I also added some purple glitter glue to the large flower to add some shine.

By moving the card in the light the liquid pearls on the wings shine!

I made the butterflies using Martha Stewart's butterfly punch on some designer paper and added some bling to them.

I used this gorgeous lace on the bottom and stamped "Dream" onto the tag... I embossed it with detail white embossing powder.

I originally made this card using a sketch but I wasn't able to post this in time and that challenge ended. It's ok because I also made this for a number of other challenges - unfortunately one of those ended ONE HOUR ago. I guess I should have saved the dishes until tomorrow, right? hehe!

These are the challenges I'm entering this card into:

Simon Says Stamp and Show: anything goes!

Magnolia Down Under Challenge: make your embellishments - butterflies

7 Kids Challenge: color me purple

All That Scraps Blog: Anything Goes

Die Cutting Divas: Flowers

Papertake Weekly: In the Garden

I Brake for Challenges: florals

Crafty Ribbons Challenge: flowers

Card Making Mamas: May Flowers

Hotshot Craft Blog: use die cuts

Joyful Stamper: Anything Goes

Dies to Die for: Anything Goes

Thank you for coming by! Don't forget to hop on over to CropStop and check out the tutorial. As always I appreciate each and every visit and comment. Have a great week!

Never a Failure

2012-05-10T00:18:00.001-07:00

We are our own worst critics and quite often we may think of ourselves as failures. I like this Chinese Proverb that "Failure is not falling down, but refusing to get up". As long as we keep getting up and trying, we will never be failures.

I used the sentiment from Keep Strong and the paper (one of my new favorites!) is Berry Burst.

Thank you for stopping by today! Don't forget to go to MTME's blog and see the other cards the Pretty Patterns team has for you this week. Please play along with us this coming week. We have a fabulous sketch for you!

Thank you for your visit and of course I LOVE comments - who doesn't? So please leave a little love. Have a great week!

National Scrapbooking Day

2012-05-05T21:26:00.001-07:00

Happy NSD - National Scrapbooking Day!

In honor of National Scrapbook Day, we challenge you to a SCRAPLIFT!

This is a two week special challenge.

Today, May 5, 2012, is National Scrapbook Day. National Scrapbook Day was started in 1994 by Creative Memories and is celebrated on the first Saturday every May. Since 1994 paper crafters everywhere celebrate their passion for scrapbooking and other paper projects on this day. Who knows, maybe this will be a national holiday some day!
To celebrate this awesome day, the CropStop Creative Team challenges you to scraplift one of their posted projects below. Choose your project, create your own version of it, and link it using the link tool at the bottom of this post at CropStop. The winner will be chosen by random draw on May 20th and posted in the blog on Monday, May 21, 2012. Prize is a $20 Gift Certificate to the CropStop Store.

Follow these simple guidelines to qualify:

1. Enter a newly created project that scraplifts one of the pictured projects.

2. Label your project with your name and link it using the link tool at the bottom of this post.

3. Give the name of the person/project that you have scraplifted in your blog post.

Challenge deadline is Saturday, May 19, 2012 at midnight, U.S. East Coast Time.

The card I'm sharing for the Scraplift is my cute butterfly Tilda that I made on March 15th.

To see all the detailed photos and a mini tutorial I made on how to get her wings so shiny, click here.

Thank you for coming by! I love your comments and support. Happy Crafting!!

Mother's Day Card #1

2012-05-03T01:55:00.002-07:00

It's Thursday so it's time for another MTME Pretty Patterns sketch challenge. I made a card for my mother-in-law for this week's challenge. I used some of the digi stamps and paper from last month's release to make my card because they are soooo pretty and feminine. I'm sure I'll be using this month's releases for my Father's day cards next month - have you seen them???!!! They are amazing!!! See them here.

For the focal image on this card I used Spring is in Bloom and Fine Finish digi stamps. For the frame I digitally changed the black background to a coordinating color as the burgundy in the digi paper.

The digi paper is Berry Burst. This digi paper originally has a dark brown background but I changed it for gray. I love how I can do that with digi paper! The frame behind the front one is actually light pink paper which was embossed and cut out with a Spellbinders die.

On the inside I printed the sentiment and cut out with my Spellbinders. I also sponged light pink around the inside before taking the white paper out of the die.

I made a pretty border on the bottom and added some little pearls.

Come by the MTME Blog to see the fantastic samples the other design team members have made. I hope you will join us this week and play along with the sketch below.

Thank you for stopping by. I appreciate each and every visit and of course LOVE your comments! Hope you have a fabulous weekend!

Crafty Supplies:

Spellbinders: labels four & labels four small, labels nine,classic petal

Stampin' Up! - textured impressions - square lattice

Love is in Bloom

2012-04-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

To see my post for My Time Made Easy please scroll down or click here.

Today's challenge at CropStop is to include a bird in your project. I love this paper from Graphic 45 which has a bird in the lower corner. I added another bird to my project and then added a birdcage and a ton of hand-made flowers & greenery! (the dies are listed at the bottom of my post)

Here are some close-ups of my card and all the lovely details!

I used foam squares to pop up the birdcage and some of the ivy. I used my Scissors to cut the foam squares down to size when needed. You can see a few of them in the image below - underneath the bars of the birdcage.

I used a craft molding mat and a flower making kit to give dimension and shape to my flowers and leaves.

I used Stickles and/or liquid pearls in the centers of the flowers.

Some 3-D goodness:

Thank you for coming by today! I appreciate each and every visit and I especially love receiving comments! I hope you will join us this week at CropStop and show us your projects using birds.

Other challenges:

Waltzingmouse Sketch challenge

Joan's Garden: hand-made flowers

The Shabby Tea Room: inspiration photo

What's in it:,

Carousel Bird Cage, Fancy Blossoms, Primula Blooms, Fruit Punch Stickles, Buttercup Liquid Pearls, Ribbon - yellow with white sheer dots, Scotch Foam Tape, Honey Bee 5" Scissors, Tim Holtz Tonic Studio Scissors, Score-tape , Tool kit for flowers, Paper Blossoms molding mat, Ivy Vine, Bird & House, Love is in Bloom - MTME's Tending the Garden digi stamp, Waltzingmouse acrylic stamp Very Vintage Label 4,

Daisy Teacup

2012-04-25T23:45:00.001-07:00

Today's card for MTME's Pretty Patterns sketch was definitely a fun one!

I used the digi stamp, A Spot of Tea for my main image. I digitally added the decorative edging near the top of the teacup and then printed up a daisy from Bee-Loved at just the right size to place onto the teacup. I then colored them with copics.

I used the following digi papers: Bee Mine, Serenity and Romance. I used some sheer blue ribbon for the bow.

I popped up the teacup on foam.

I used a couple of punches from Stampin' Up to make the strips of paper a little more interesting.

Thank you for your visit & comments. I appreciate each and every one! Don't forget to hop on over to see the Pretty Patterns sketch and I hope you can play along.

Follow Your Dreams

2012-04-19T07:00:00.001-07:00

First of all, I hope you will bear with me while I work on my blog design. I tried a new style but it wouldn't allow me to have any widgets or gadgets - therefore getting rid of my lovely design team information including my wonderful teammates blogs so I changed it again. I'm not finished with it yet so hang in there!

Today I combined both my creative design team positions from CropStop and My Time Made Easy's Pretty Patterns to show you one fantabulous card! At CropStop we are making our own lace. I have a mini tutorial on how I made my lace and layered it to give it depth.

I absolutely LOVE the new digi paper set Berry Burst. I digitally changed the background in the paper I used from dark brown to light blue to go with the color scheme I wanted to use. That's one thing that I love about digi paper - I can change the color if I want to. I also lightened up the light pink and dark pink bursts.

I used the following digi stamps: I used the frame from Fine Finish and the sentiment and oval from Round Off. I digitally colored the frame and ovals with butterflies and printed them onto cardstock. Below you can see the paper after I printed them up. I printed several to use in future projects. I left some room at the bottom of the paper so I could punch out the lace and not waste paper.

I then punched out the same lace out of pink cardstock.

I chose a pink that would coordinate with the printed paper. You can see both strips of lace below.

I'm sure there are many glues that you can use when adhering the two lace strips together but one of my favorites is Quickie Glue pen pictured below. You do have to work fast or the glue will dry but it's great for small spaces. I also have a glue pen from Creative Memories. That glue won't dry quite as fast and is also great for small areas. As you can see in the picture below, I placed the white paper lace to the right and slightly above the pink paper lace giving it the impression that the pink lace is the shadow of the white lace. I tried placing only the white paper lace on top of the printed designer paper but it just needed a little something to make it pop. It seemed to fade into the background. If I have a paper seems to blend into the background it makes a huge difference if I add another color behind it (that coordinates with the other colors that I'm using) that will help it stand out much better. Sometimes even using a color a little darker will make it pop too.

Here's the lace after the card is done. I added some little round "bling" to the centers of the flowers of the lace. I love my "bling"! I also love using hand-dyed seam binding for my bows. A little button is adhered to the center.

I also added some little pearls to my focal image. I layered the oval with foam tape and layered the frame with foam tape as well. That really brought out the focal image... I love that butterfly and the sentiment!

I added a little shiny to the flowers too. I made sure this picture was a little darker so you can see the shininess a little better.

Here's a view of the layers.

And one more view of the finished card.

Thank you for coming by! I truly appreciate each and every visit and comment!

I hope you will join me in both challenges at CropStop and MTME's Pretty Pattern sketch challenges. And don't forget, there's still time to enter CropStop's April Becky Fleck's sketch challenge for a chance to win Becky's newest Spellbinder's set.

Challenges I'm entering this card in:

CropStop (DT) - make your own lace

MTME's Pretty Pattern (DT) - sketch below

The Shabby Tea Room - beautiful roses

DiecuttingDivas - garden
Craft Us Crazy - Mother's Day and/or Flowers
Paper Pretties - create a card for a girl
Bunny Zoe's Crafts - ribbon or twine
Stamp, Scrap and Doodle Saturdays - Pastels

What's in it:

Copics, Scotch Foam Tape, Honey Bee 5" Scissors, Tim Holtz Tonic Studio Scissors, Score-tape, Spellbinders Ovals , Round Off, Fine Finish, Berry Burst

Apple Blossoms and a Question

2012-04-14T20:34:00.004-07:00

I finally have my card for My Time Made Easy's Pretty Patterns challenge ready for you. I had made a card early because I knew I was going to have a crazy-busy week. I was so proud of myself that I had my card ready 3 days early! When I went to upload my card to the MTME Pretty Patterns folder I realized that my card didn't look anything like the sketch! I had accidentally printed up the wrong sketch! It was a sketch that we had used months ago. While working on my card I kept thinking, "This sketch sure seems familiar!" lol I was able to use that card for my CropStop post but not MTME's. You can either scroll down to see my card or click here.

Now for this week's card:

I used the digi stamp set So Fortunate to print up the pretty Asian girl. I colored her with copics and then fussy-cut her out. Here's the copic list:

skin: E00, E0, E01, E02, R20 for cheeks

Dress: RV000, RV00, RV02

I used Spellbinders Floral Ovals to cut out the frame. I wanted something special behind the girl image so I cut an oval out of some shiny paper that I found at The Paper Temptress store. I sponged around the edge with one of Martha Stewart's pink inks.

The designer paper I used is Blossoming Cherries. I printed it at one quarter of an 8 1/2x11 inch sheet of white cardstock. It was the perfect size for this project.

Blow is a photo of the three layers. Instead of putting 3 stripes at the bottom, I decided to layer them and make them a little more fancy. Notice the little white pearls?

I popped up the frame with pop dots and then popped up the girl image on pop dots to give it an even more 3-d effect. I put little pink pearls around the frame and a little tiny white pearl in the flower in the girl's hair.

I am trying to figure out a better way to take my photos so that the true colors are represented. I fiddle with two digi programs trying to get the lighting and the colors just right but this time it just didn't work out. Several papercraft designers use their own little photo tent with light to get really amazing photos of their projects. So my question to you is this:

How do you take photos of your crafting projects? Do you use a photographer's tent or a special light? I'm very interested to find out how you all do it! Any tips or techniques you would like to share?

Come and join the fun at MTME's Pretty Patterns sketch challenge! The new Pretty Palette challenge will be up tomorrow too. Why not play along with both challenges?

Thank you so much for stopping by! I appreciate every visit and comment. I hope you have a wonderful week and come back soon!

Cupcake Birthday

2012-04-12T07:00:00.002-07:00

Welcome to my post for CropStop's "Buttons and bows" challenge! I LOVE buttons and bows and if you haven't already noticed, I placed my button right in the center of the bow.

Here is a close-up of the button and bow. I love the soft touch that the crinkled hand-dyed seam binding gives.

I used digi paper & digi stamps from My Time Made Easy. After I colored the cupcake with my copics I added a few touches with a shiny silver pen and my Gelly Roll "Clear Star" pen. I left this picture a little darker so you can see the shimmer a little better.

After I cut out the image I sponged around the edges with SU's Pink Pirouette ink. I used SU's Pink Pirouette paper for the backgroud - I first ran it through the CuttleBug swiss dots embossing folder and then cut it out with Spellbinders Doily Motiffs. Afterwards I sponged around the edges with SU's Pretty in Pink ink.

You can see the fun dimensions in the photo below.

I have something kind of funny to tell you... but it's kind of not. I wanted to combine my design team posts from My Time Made Easy and CropStop and make one special card for you. Well... I was dealing with a horrible migraine when I looked up the sketch for MTME (our design team has our own yahoogroup where the sketches are uploaded) and I accidentally printed up the wrong sketch! It was a sketch that we did several months ago. I kept thinking... boy, this sketch sure seems familiar, it must be similar to a previous one. haha! I didn't even think to go back and double-check! So today's sketch is from MTME but is NOT the new sketch that is up today at the site! hehe! I have my card for the MTME challenge for this week almost done and I should have it up later today. Good thing they are so forgiving over there at MTME. ;) The CropStop crew is really great too. I LOVE working on both teams!

Thank you so much for stopping by. Come and play along with us at CropStop in our Buttons and Bows challenge. As always I appreciate each and every visit and comment. Your comments always make my day brighter!

Other Challenges:
The Shabby Tea Room: inspiration photo & use a cupcake

What's in it:

Copics, Scotch Foam Tape, Honey Bee 5" Scissors, Tim Holtz Tonic Studio Scissors, Score-tape, Spellbinders Doily Motifs, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots, Spellbinders Circles

Wow, I received "Top Mouse" award!

2012-04-07T16:30:00.001-07:00

I was so excited to find out that I won one of three "Top Mouse" awards by WaltzingMouse Sketch contest for my Easter card below.

Here's my blinkie:

This is the 2nd time I've won this award. The last time was probably a couple of years ago. I haven't had much of an opportunity to play along with this challenge but I hope to participate more often. I love WaltzingMouse Stamps and the owner, Claire Brennan is so sweet and kind. She is a wonderful friend who has been so compassionate towards me and the loss of my daughter... not to mention how amazing her stamp sets are!

I'm so glad that everyone liked my card so much! Thank you for the honor! :)

I truly appreciate each and every visit. I hope that my little projects bring you even just a small portion of joy that they bring to me when I create them. My mom did a lot of arts and crafts with me and my siblings when we were young which instilled in me a love of creating beautiful things with my own two hands. Thank you for coming with me on my journey of learning new skills and using my creativity in fun ways. I hope you all have a wonderful Easter weekend! Sending love and virtual {{hugs}} to all my fellow crafters!

Becky Fleck sketch challenge at CropStop for April

2012-04-07T00:22:00.005-07:00

UPDATED TO ADD DETAILS ABOUT MY PROJECT - SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THEM BELOW!

We are having a terrific sketch challenge at CropStop to win Becky Fleck's new Spellbinder's die set: Pot Pourri. Here is my sample of the sketch.

I wanted to get this posted so you can have as much time as possible to play along but since I've been dealing with headaches for the past few days I'm going to get some rest and then come back to share more photos and more information on what I used and how it came together. I also found an awesome frame that I'm going to use with this "card" - which isn't really a card since it's 8"x10". This challenge will run through the month of April and will end on April 30th 11:59am. (I'll check on that and see if it was supposed to be PM instead). You are welcome to enter up to 3 times! So head on over to the CropStop blog and get started!

UPDATE:
Yay! I finally have time to add the fun details about my project. I really wanted to rock the sketch by Becky Fleck. In case you don't know who Becky Fleck is, she is AMAZING!!!! Becky is the owner of Page Maps and is now designing dies for Spellbinders. For the next few months Becky is offering a monthly sketch to CropStop and the prize to one person (chosen at random) will receive one of Becky Fleck's die sets. The set up for grabs is shown on CropStop's blog.

So back to the deets on my project... which is more than just a card because it's 8x10.

Here is Tilda ready for Easter with her bonnet, basket of flowers and even a bunny! I paper pieced her dress and colored her with copics. I added shading to the paper pieced dress using my copics as well. I used my Matha Stewart score board and a Stampin' Up border punch to make the large rosette and then used

I made these sparkly butterflies using Martha Stewart punches and added Diamond Stickles to them. I added some clear rhinestones to the center of the large butterfly. I made the flowers using Memory Box Pinwheel Posies both the regular size and small. I used a quilling tool to roll the dies after they were cut. After I rolled up a flower, I took out the quilling tool and glued it together on the bottom. I then added Diamond Stickles to some of the edges of each flower to add the shiny element, placed pink pearls in the centers and when they were dry, I adhered each of the flowers to the card.

I found some awesome stamps called Recycled Rubber Art Stamps by ECOGREEN CRAFTS at Michaels. The set I bought is Butterfly Post. I LOVE this set! I stamped the rectangular stamp found in the setwith Stampin' Up's Pink Pirouette ink. I then used Spellbinders Becky Fleck Office Supplies to cut out the stamp and I adhered another little shiny butterfly to it. It's popped up on pop dots.

Below is a close-up of the large butterfly. I thought it would be fun to create a swirl out of Diamond Stickles to simulate a flight pattern for the butterfly. I must not have made big enough dots because you can't see it very well. So there's proof below that it's there. lol

I made these cute flags using pins with heart shaped tops on them. I first put a bead onto the pin then folded the flag around the pin using strong glue to hold it there. I then added another bead and then a "crimping bead" which I then crimped into place with a crimping tool. The tool basically crushes the crimping bead against the pin so it holds everything above it in place.

Here's photo to show you all the great dimensions used in this project. You can click on this photo to see a larger size.

Don't forget our CAS (Clean and Simple) for CropStop's weekly challenge. You can see my card here.

Other challenges:
CityCrafter - Hats off! (Tilda is wearing a beautiful Spring hat)
Simon Says Stamp - use your favorite tool (I have so many favorites!) - I chose my Martha Stewart score board & SU's border punch to make the rosette.
AllSorts Challenge:

I used pink, yellow and blue (the dp behind Tilda is yellow with touches of pink and blue). ALSO, I used pearls as the flower centers, the striped paper across the page and pink. Lots of pink!

CutiePie Challenge: your favorite cutie - Tilda is such a cutie!

7Kidschallenge: Shades of Spring
Just Magnolia - Anything goes!
Flutter By Wednesday's - use a butterfly - I used 4! :)
Sweet Stampin' challenge: Dies & Doodles - I used quite a few dies on my projects and the doodles part would be the shiny swirl underneath the large butterfly.
Magnolia-licious challenge: inspirations photo:

I wasn't able to get eggs onto the project but it has a lot of the colors and Easter theme to it. :)

(whew! I finally had a chance to link up all the challenges I made this card for.)

Thank you for stopping by. I appreciate each and every visit. Don't forget to leave a comment - they make my day! And besides, everyone loves comments, right?

Have a wonderful Easter weekend!

Easter Blessings

2012-04-05T08:00:00.003-07:00

Good morning! I can't believe that Easter is just around the corner. Do you have any special plans? We are going to get together with family, have dinner and let the little kids hunt for eggs. It's going to be fun. I miss having little children who get excited to hunt for Easter eggs but my nieces and nephews are so cute... it's always fun to spend time with them and the rest of our family.

This week at CropStop we are to make a one-layer card. I don't do too many of them because I love my layers! But this card came together fairly quickly and I think it's kind of cute.

I cut out the card using Spellbinders Blossom die. The way to do it is to first score and fold the card in half. Have the edge of the spellbinders hang over the folded edge of the card as shown below.

Below is a picture of the underside of the card. See how the cutting edge of the spellbinders is beyond the folded edge?

Below is a picture of the card after being cut out and embossed.

After I took the picture above I put the card back inside the spellbinders and used a sponge to lightly add pink ink around the edges. I'm sorry that I forgot to take a picture of it.

I used Waltzingmouse Stamp set Spring Baskets for the image and Sentiment and colored it with Copics. I then added Diamond Stickles and used a small paint brush to spread it around evenly.

I added a pink bow and viola'! My card was done!

Please join us in CropStop's One Layer Card Challenge. It's actually not hard at all!

I will be back later today to update my other post:

Becky Fleck sketch challenge at CropStop for April

I have the photos ready now, all I have to do is write it all up.

Thank you for stopping by and like everyone, I LOVE comments!

Other challenges:

WaltzingMouse Sketch Challenge - one layer card

For The Love Birds

2012-03-29T02:41:00.001-07:00

Welcome to My Time Made Easy's 54th sketch! My how the time flies! I've been with the design team for almost a year now. I think I came in on the 3rd or 4th sketch and I've enjoyed each one.

This week is a CAS card. CAS = Clean And Simple and are usually one-layered cards. I love my layers so this was a bit of a stretch for me. I remembered I had a fun embossing folder that was begging me to use so I ran it through my Big Shot after I cut my card shape which is a strip of card stock measuring 5 1/2 x 11. AFter I used the embossing folder I scored it on the narrow side and folded it in half so that the card opens from the bottom instead of the side.

I then stamped the birdhouse, sentiment and love birds from MTME's acrylic set Singing Silhouette. I ordered this set awhile back knowing that I would want to use it with shiny inks like I did with today's card. This set is also available in a digi set. Below is a close-up of the stamped image.

Here's the card in a different light to show more of the embossed area and more of the shiny inked image.

Thank you for stopping by today. I appreciate each and every visit and comment - they make my day! Please stop on by My Time Made Easy's blog and check out the other cards that the design team have made for you today. We would love it if you would play along!

what's in it:

MTME acrylic stamp set: Singing Silhouette

QuicKutz "frame" embossing folder

1/4 inch pink ribbon

Brilliance pearlescent inks: sky blue, orchid & lavender

Easter Bunny

2012-03-21T21:49:00.003-07:00

I did something new for my card today. I not only used the digi stamp outline for the bunny but colored everything digitally as well. I didn't use any copics. I know, huh? I love my copics! I had fun with MTME's digi stamp set Spring is Here.

The Spring is Here set is loaded with Easter and Spring sentiments and images. I just love the bunny image, don't you?

The digi paper is MTME's Spreading Spring Cheer. I LOVE this bright, fun paper set. I hope you will join us at My Time Made Easy's Pretty Pattern challenge.

Thank you for stopping by. I truly appreciate each visit and especially the comments. You rock!

Other Challenges:
Creative Mondays - Anything Goes
Love To Create - Anything Goes
Kaboodle Doodles challenges - Cute

Butterfly Tilda

2012-03-15T07:00:00.004-07:00

*This is my 2nd post for the day. If you are looking for MTME's Pretty Patterns challenge please scroll down or click here.*

I have a special butterfly card for you today. I am posting this card in honor of my daughter this week at our CropStop challenge blog. This week is our challenge is to use butterflies. Do you think I have enough of them on my card? hehe!

I love how shiny and pretty my liquid pearls are but they aren't just for dabbing spots anymore - I painted Tilda's wings with them! It shines in certain light but doesn't when the light changes.

Below is how the wings looked at an angle where the light wasn't shining directly on it.

After I was finished with the pink liquid pearls I let it dry and then added the yellow. The circles that you see in the image below were dotted on top of the pink background. I let them completely dry before I glued down the paper pieced dress. I popped her up on pop dots, placed her on top of the background I painted with copics and bent her wings up a bit. I outlined the pink areas of the wings with a copic marker helping to make a definition between the shiny pink and shiny yellow liquid pearls.

Here are a few more details including the butterflies I made with the Martha Stewart punches with some self-adhesive pearls.

I had to add some flowers. I put some diamond stickles onto the large pink flower. The yellow flowers started out as white ones and I added a little color using my copics. The green foliage was also made with a Martha Stewart punch.

The card is actually on top of the cardstock with the butterfly border. The picture below shows how it opens.

My daughter, Jessica, always loved butterflies. Before she passed away she promised to send me butterflies from heaven and she sure does! Just yesterday a large butterfly fluttered in front of my car and up and over it when I went to pick up my son from school. We see them everywhere. Jessica's favorite colors were pink and yellow so I tend to add those colors to my cards frequently but this card was just extra special so of course I had to have them as the main colors. Now you see why I just had to dedicate this post to my sweet girl who is always with me She is flying free, dancing and singing in heaven.

Thank you so much for stopping by! I appreciate each and every visit and comment! Head on over to the CropStop challenge blog and play along with us this week by using some type of butterfly on your project or even make a card in a butterfly shape! Don't worry, you don't have to use as many as me! hehe!

When shopping at CropStop, don't forget to use the CropStop DISCOUNT code: NJCT-02 to receive 10% off - No minimum purchase required!

Lastly, CropStop is having a special challenge in honor of National Craft Month. You can read all the details Here.

What's in it:

Beautiful Tilda, Martha Stewart butterfly punches, Spellbiners Classic Circle large, Spellbinders Lacy Circle, Scotch Foam Tape, Honey Bee 5" Scissors, Tim Holtz Tonic Studio Scissors, Score-tape 1/4" wide x 27 yrds , liquid pearls flamingo & buttercup

Other challenges:

Magnolia-licious: rainbow colors

CR84FN #50 - inspiration photo

Die-Ing for a Challenge: Anything Goes
Crafty Sentiments Designs: Things with wings
Simon Says Stamp & Show: Anything goes
Creative Inspirations: feminine (or for your mom or grandmother)
7 Kids College Fund : Anything goes
Simon Says Stamp: A BIT o' green - green on pathway and leaves & greenery around flowers.
Wednesdays Challenge - anything goes

Happy Happy Birthday!

2012-03-14T23:42:00.004-07:00

Today we are kickin' off our 1 year Challenge-versary! What would you do with a $25 gift certificate to My Time Made Easy? Well all you have to do is play along with this week's sketch for your chance to win!! Winner will be announced next Thursday along with Sketch #53!!

Below is my card for this week's sketch (#52). I used the digi paper from MTME's newest release, Spreading Spring Cheer. I love this bright, cheery paper pack! The sentiment, "Happy Happy Birthday!" is from the digi stamp set Round Off. This new set has so many fun sentiments and images = 34 total! It's a great value.

I printed the multi-colored chevron pattern from the pack and then cut out the flower shapes with dies. I crumpled them up, opened them back up, attached them together in the center and then adhered a CANDI DOT in the center of the flower.

I added some bling and ribbon from my stash and we're done. I never seem to have enough birthday cards but this is one that is pretty quick and easy... I may have to make several of them!

Thank you for visiting! I appreciate each and every visit as well as each and every comment. Don't forget to stop by MTME Pretty Pattern sketch blog and enter into this week's challenge for the chance to win a $25 gift certificate!

Other challenges:

CR84FN #50 - inspiration photo

Die-Ing for a Challenge: Anything Goes!

Creative Belli Blog: use old or forgotten embellishments & make a CAS (clean and simple) card. My old/forgotten embellishment is the gathered ribbon.

Wishing you a HOPPY Easter

2012-03-07T22:51:00.001-07:00

We have some great new products at My Time Made Easy just in time for Easter!

The main image I used is from the digi set Round Off. I digitally changed the color of the black space around the polka dots to pink and added light blue to the sky background. I kept thinking that the bunny seemed kind of dark compared to the bunnies on the paper but it wasn't until my card was all done when I realized that I should have changed the center of the bunny's ears to pink! LOL

The sentiment is from the same set and I changed the "a" in Happy to an "o" so it says "wishing you a hoppy Easter". I love that little quote when there's bunnies on the card.

The great background paper is from the digi set Spreading Spring Cheer. This set is a MUST-have! I love all the spring and Easter papers included in this set.

Thank you for stopping by. I appreciate each and every comment. Head on over to the My Time Made Easy Pretty Patterns blog so see what the other designers have to offer today. There's another fun sketch up so please come and join the fun!

A Trio of Roses

2012-03-07T18:03:00.000-07:00

My card today is from a wonderful digi stamp set from MTME called Well Rounded.

The paper is MTME's Parade of Patterns.

I used a dienamics die from My Favorite Things for the bright pink die behind the image and Sizzix Textured Impressions embossing folder on the banners.

I love my layers pictured below.

Thank you for stopping by and please come back tomorrow for my newest card for My Time Made Easy.

Floral Basket

2012-02-23T08:00:00.054-07:00

Hello to you all! Are you sick of winter or are you lucky (like me) and are experiencing some Spring-type weather? Today I am excited to show you a card that I made using both CropStop's challenge of using 3 flowers or more AND MTME's Pretty Pattern challenge. I took the following photo outside on my front porch. My husband built me a potting bench quite a few years ago and although I haven't done much gardening recently, I keep some cute pots that I've painted as well as some other decorative things on it. I love the little ceramic watering can below so I took a picture of my card next to it. Notice the reflections on the tile. :)

I cropped the watering can out of the picture so you can see the card a little better. I love this paper from MTME called Gardening Greats.

I was running out of daylight so I didn't get an angel view photo taken outside so we'll just have to settle with the one below. I used some white shiny flowers that were left over from my son's wedding. I just might have to go into the Wedding isle at Michael's the next time I go and get some more. They are perfect for this basket.

Thank you for stopping by. I truly appreciate each visit and comment. I would like to invite you to visit both the CropStop Blog and the MTME Pretty Patterns blog to see what amazing projects these designers have in store for you.

Don't forget to use the CropStop DISCOUNT code: NJCT-02 to receive 10% off - No minimum purchase required!

Other Challenges:

Joan's Garden: color scheme- green & white, use a basket, pattern paper & get well

Die-ing For A Challenge - anything goes - use punches or dies

What's in it:

Score-Tape 1/4" wide, Spellbinders Classic Bracket , Spellbinders Labels Sixteen, Sizzix Sizzlit Branch w/leaves, .... and

Marianne Craftables basket #CR1206, Big Shot impression folder by Stampin' Up! - Elegant Bouquet , Cheery Lynn Lace Rose and Flourishes die

Congratulations on Your Happy News!

2012-02-16T08:00:00.008-07:00

This weeks challenge at CropStop is to make a baby card. I thought about it a little and decided to make it a "congrats on your pregnancy" card as it's part of the same theme.

I'll list the supplies at the end of this post but I just wanted to point out that the stamp set I used is Moka Jen by Taylored Expressions. Isn't she cute? I also love the color scheme of this paper and of course love all the pretty butterflies.

For this card I used this week's sketch at the Taylored Expressions sketch challenge. I love all the layers.

I used copics to color the image and also to add shading to the pattern paper that I fussy-cut (paper pieced) for the clothing. I love doing that to tie the image in with the rest of the card.

In the image below you can see the border and little light pink butterflies and gems. Funny story... I found this self-adhesive butterfly border in my stash and laid it across the die cut border. I likes it so I cut off the piece, took off the backing and placed it onto the card. As I was looking at it I decided that it was too busy but when I tried to gently lift it off , the first butterfly decided to take some of the paper with it. I guess the butterfly liked being on the card so I left it there. lol

See the pretty butterflies?

This is the first time I've used my new Spellbinders Spiral Blossom One. I love making rolled flowers but I tend to have OCD about them and it takes me more time than usual because of it. lol I use a tool kit and craft molding mat to mold the flower edges outward. I used to do it with my fingers but I like the tools and mat better. The link to find them is in the list below.

Here's a shot of the card showing the layers... how I love my layers!

Other challenges: TE Sketch Challnege #152

Thank you so much for your visit and comments... they mean so much to me!

Please stop by the CropStop blog and check out all the other wonderful Baby creations they have in store for you. Please play along and don't forget to use the CropStop DISCOUNT code: NJCT-02 to receive 10% off - No minimum purchase required! Now that's a great deal.

What's in it:

Spellbinders Parisian Accents , Spellbinders Spiral Blossom One , Spellbinders Classic Ovals Small, Score-Tape 1/4" wide , Moka Jen by Taylored Expressions, Die-namics Oval decorative, flower making tool kit and mat at Joan's Garden, embellishments: local Michael's store.

Keep Strong

2012-02-16T00:54:00.001-07:00

I made this card for a wonderful friend of mine whose daughter is very ill and is fighting cancer on top of her congenital heart defects. (I won't mention names here because I want to surprise her with the card and I don't know if she would want me to.) The mom and I have been friends for several years online and she helped me through some very difficult times when my own daughter was so ill and passed away. I desperately hope that her daughter is able to keep up the fight. Our daughter's stories are so similar as far as the heart defects, strokes and even their names but instead of developing a terminal GI disease like my daughter did, hers developed leukemia. I know that the mom is brave and strong but everyone has their hard days. I hope this card cheers her up.

I love this digi paper set so much! I love roses and the color palette is exactly my style especially since my daughter's favorite flower was the rose and her favorite colors were pink and yellow. The paper pack is called Parade of Patterns.

Instead of using a rectangle as part of the sketch I decided to use a heart doily. I found some shimmer vellum in yellow as I was looking through my stash of specialty papers and I think it worked quite well. I just wish I remembered where I got it so I can buy some more! lol I think it may have been at JoAnn's so if you are looking for it you can check there or it could have been from "The Paper Temptress". She has tons of gorgeous specialty paper too.

You may be able to see the shimmer on the vellum in the photo below.

For the sentiment I used Keep Strong which has quite a few really great sentiments.

I hope my friend likes this card. I'm sure she it will help her to know that she is loved and isn't alone. If you are the praying type please keep her and her daughter in your prayers.

Thank you so much for your visit and comments... they mean so much to me! Please stop by the My Time Made Easy blog and play along in our Pretty Patterns Challenge.

Wedding Wishes

2012-02-09T08:00:00.006-07:00

If you are looking for My Time Made Easy's Pretty Pattern sketch please scroll down to the next post. I'll be posting two cards every Thursday now that both of my awesome design positions post on Thursdays. The more the merrier, right?

This week's challenge at CropStop is to make a Wedding project! Love is in the air.... in fact, my husband and I went on our first official date on Superbowl Sunday 27 years ago! The Superbowl was in January back then and we were attending the same church and were getting to know each other... so to let Karl know that I was interested in a date, I invited him over to watch the Superbowl with my brother & his wife (who I was living with at the time.) What's funny is that neither my husband nor I are big sports fans so it's very ironic that our first date was for a major sports event. hehe! Four months later (yes, that's 4 months) we were married and we are more in love now than every before.

I wanted to make this card a little extra special. I have quite a few embossing folder which I have been neglecting so I pulled out my favorite Cuttlebug Embossing folder - Textile and embossed some shiny blue paper with it.

The pink background paper is also shimmery, the roses on the pattern paper is glittery goodness as well as the light pink design behind the decorative dark burgundy heart. And if that wasn't enough shininess, I added some swirly bling just for fun.

The list of fun tools I used is listed below. Thank you for your visit and I LOVE comments! They make my late nights crafting even more fun! By the way, if you have any questions about how I made this card, I will be happy to post a tutorial. I took pictures along the way but am posting pretty late (or early considering is 4am) so I can post a tutorial later on if you like. Please let me know if you would like me to do it!

What's in it:

Score Tape, Spellbinders Classic Triple Scallop, Spellbinders Classic Bracket, Memory Box Cupid Heart die, Memory box Serafina Heart die, Cuttlebug Embossing folder - Textile