Happy Holidays Snowman Card

Good morning!  Here is another card I created in quantities a few days ago for some gifties.  I am also submitting it for a challenge over at A Crafty Little Place.  The challenge was to make a Tag or anything with a Tag on it.  I call this a "Tag Card."  As you can tell, I love the simple things... but yet added with a little dimension. 

Recipe:

Cardstock:  SU Kraft and Real Red

DSP:  Snowbuddies from Reminisce

Stamps:  SU Punch Pals and Snowfall

Embellishments:  Real red grossgrain ribbon, basic white eyelets and Twine (All Stampin' Up) 

TFL

Have a good Saturday!! 

Tis' The Season Card - Mojo Monday 169

Fa la la la la... Hello everyone.  I have been busy making some Holiday cards for little gifts here and there.  Most recently for my kid's Teachers.  This is a card that I came up with following the Mojo Monday 169 sketch.  I completed 6 of these.  I used more non-traditional Christmas colors.  Pretty simple, once I decided on paper etc...

Recipe:
Cardstock:  Basic Gray, Concord Crush, Real Red & Whisper White.  All SU.
Stamps:  Punch Pals, Short & Sweet
DSP:  Snowbuddies from Reminisce
Embellishments:  Button from Martha Stewart line, 5/8" SU Real Red gross grain ribbon, SU Silver cord, SU 2 3/8" scallop circle punch.

Thanks for looking.  Opinions very welcome.
I'll have another post for tomorrow.

Tags, tags and more Holiday Tags

Hello...I've been making Christmas Tags for my daughter's Teacher to put on her gifts for her students.  Super easy tags to make.  Absolutely no skill needed other than knowing which button on the Cricut to push and how to apply adhesive evenly.  I figure if I can't get my own crafting projects done, I might as well post what has been filling up some of my time. 
Not to mention that the CRUD ran rapid through our house this week.  Not fun.  So here is to almost done with a "Fly by" week and on to the next with some more creative things to accomplish.  Hope everyone is enjoying the Holiday bedazzle.

Supplies:  Seasonal Gingerbread Cricut Cart, Real Red and Whisper White cardstock, "To and From" sentiment from "Punch Pals" and 3/8" Red grossgrain ribbon.
TFL!!!

Feeling Down? - TPE Card Challenge 88

Could you use "A little Pick Up?"  I could use a little PERK up... stayed up way too late last night and of course the kids woke up way too early.  Oh well.  Coffee in hand will do the trick.  I was in need of a "Thinking of You" type card that was more on the masculine/unisex side.  Thought this little truck would do the trick.  Stuck with some semi-Holiday colors.  I am also entering this into the Card Sketch Challenge over at The Pink Elephant TPE # 88. 
Thanks for checking it out.  I am on a crafty roll.

All products used are Stampin' Up.
Stamps:  Loads of Love
Cardstock/Ink:  Sage Shadow, True Thyme, Real Red, Winter Green DSP
Other:  Blender pens, colored pencils, Tag punch, white 1/4" grossgrain ribbon, border punch, Fresh Favorites 1 buttons

Happy Holidays - Mojo Monday # 166

I'm back!!  We had our first big snow/ice storm, my Hubby had surgery on his arm and before you know it... it's Thanksgiving!!    Got some crafty stuff all in the works.  I will first start off with this Happy Holiday card with Mr. Frosty that I made for my Mom as a "Hostess Topper" with a bottle of wine for our festivities tomorrow.  I am also posting this for the Mojo Monday # 166 sketch.  Thanks for looking.. always appreciate your opinions and tidbits.  Happy Thanksgiving!! 

All Stampin' Up Products used.
Cardstock:  Real Red, True Thyme, Sage Shadow, Whisper White, Wintergreen Designer Series paper.
Stamps:  Frosty and Punch Pals (sentiment)
Other:  Real Red 5/8" grossgrain ribbon, White 1/4" grossgrain ribbon, black brads, Small Oval punch, Large Oval punch, Modern Label punch

Halloween Lunch Surprise

Happy Friday & almost Halloween!!  My daughter had her class party today.  She was very excited to dress up and see all of her friends.  I usually try to help out at her parties... but today provided a conflict... so I made her a little Halloween card with some Reeses peanut butter cups inside to stick in her lunch as a surprise and sort of a "Sorry I couldn't be there today." 
Here is the card I made (at midnight last night.)  Sort of appropriate that the Night Sky was on my mind.
Very easy card to make.  I needed it to be quick.
I am entering it into the Halloween Challenge # 22 over at http://paperplaytime.blogspot.com/2010/10/challenge-22-halloween.html

Paper:  All Stampin' Up Cardstock.  Would like to highlight that the background or "Night Sky" is Concord Crush.  This is one of the new IN colors that I absolutely love.
Stamps:  Grateful Greetings from SU.
Circle Punches from SU used for pumpkins and moon.  I hand drew the moon face.  Hand cut the stems, leaves and grassy hills.

TFL!!!

Veggie Garden Scrap Layout

This is a scrapbook layout of my Husband's vegetable garden that he planted this summer.  It was his first stab at a new hobby... and it turned out great.  It was fun to be able to just go to our backyard and pick whatever we needed for our meal that night.  The kids enjoyed seeing everything get bigger as the days went by.  It also helped get them interested in eating a few of these creations.  :-)
I am entering this to a challenge over on Paula's blog... "More than Favors"... as she challenged us to do a FRUIT or VEGGIE project. 
"Perfect" I said. 

I used all Stampin' Up Cardstock and Cricut Cartridges "Freshly Picked" "My Community" (for the grass) and "Walk in my Garden."

I designed the planting box myself. (hand cut)

Thanks for looking!!

Baptism Card

Oh where does the time go?  It's been almost a month since I've actually finished a creation that I have started.  I recently received a few winning goodies from some blog hops and got the bug to use them in some projects.  It's always fun to get new things... and even better to actually USE them. 
So... here is a card that I made for my Niece who just had her baptismal ceremony this past Sunday.  She lives a few States away, so the gift and card will be a tad late.  (Story of my life) 
This is a pattern of a ONESIE that I found on-line.  The creator is Kimberley Morris.  I improvised the pattern a bit to look more like a gown or dress since my Niece is 18 months old.  The rest of the card is my own creation / imagination.  :-)

Recipe:
SU Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Whisper White
SU Stamps: So very
SU Ink:  Pretty in Pink
SU Embellishments: Pretty in Pink ribbon, Basic Pearls, Square scallop punch for sleeves, 2 3/8 Scallop Punch for neckline, Oval punch for sentiment, dimensionals
Sizzix Texture Boutique: for the embossing dots

MOJO 157 - Happy 45th to my Hubby

Yesterday was my Husband's 45th Birthday.  In a rush to shop for dinner, bake a cake, wrap gifts and help the kid's make their birthday cards... I realized I hadn't made my card yet.  Sure... I could go buy one at the store... but NOPE... wasn't going to give in.  I saw this sketch from the http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/ blog and an instant idea popped into my head.  I guess my Mojo was working for me.  :-)
Both of us are in our 40's and we say very often that "Life is Good."  It just keeps getting better.  Very appropriate. 

Recipe -  Mostly Stampin' Up products
Cardstock: Whisper white, Basic Black, Basic Gray & Concord Crush textured.
Ink: Perfect Plum
Stamps: Text & Texture
Embellishments:  Basic Gray satin 5/8" ribbon, Metal circle tag, 5/16" Neutral brads, 2 edge punches and silver cord
"45" done with Base Camp Cricut Cart at 1 inch.

Thanks for looking.

Back to School Cards

Hi everyone.  So glad to be back.  I haven't really been gone, just alot going on the past few weeks.  End of the summer festivities, back to school EVERYTHING and life's lemons here and there.
So... the back to school routine will hopefully turn into a crafting routine as well.

I was determined to put something a little special in each of the kid's backpacks/lunchbags for their first day of school.  Remembering at the lovely hour of 11:30pm had me whipping these babies up in a hurry.  Very simple!!  But I thought the colors, layout and idea worked out perfectly.  The kids loved them!

Most of the products used are Stampin' Up.  The Stamps are "Elementary Essentials", the stars are SU punches.

The card was made in a gatefold style.  The star side flaps on the inside of the pencil/scissor side.

Enjoy!!

I will be back soon with more goodies.  A few projects started.

Where have I been??

Vacation, celebrating birthdays, anniversaries and just simply enjoying my family and friends!!  Gettin' back into the swing of things around here again.  Realizing school starts very soon... but until then... we have 4 more weeks of summer.  Hope to get some crafty things posted this week. 
Until then... here is a fun picture of myself with my Highschool Girlfriends celebrating a 40th birthday.  24 years of friendship... and we just keep going.  Love my friends!!  :-)

MOJO 147 - Baby Girl Card

Seems like the month of July is birthing many babies with many families that I know.  So... here is Baby Girl Card I made.. following the Monday MOJO sketch # 147.  I knew I wanted to have pink in the color combo... but wanted a contrast color as well. After fumbling a bit... it turned out to my satisfaction.  Thanks for looking!! 

Recipe:  Everything is Stampin' Up... except the random green flower brads that I have no idea where I picked those up from. 
Cardstock:  Lovely Lilac, Pretty in Pink, Gable Green, Tea Party DSP
Stamp Sets:  Love Bug, Short and Sweet
Other:  1/4" white gros grain ribbon and SU markers.

CPS # 175 - Thank you Card

This is a card I made to submit for the CPS - Sketch # 175 challenge.  I sort of stumbled across this wonderful blog (Card Positioning Systems) ... and the sketch got my wheels turning.  This is also a card I am giving to a long time friend who went out of her way to make a new blankie for my son who has "Loved" his other one to pieces.  (Literally)  Enjoy!!

Recipe:  Everything is Stampin' Up.

Happy Heart Day Stamp Set, Welcome Neighbor DSP, Scallop Border punch, Basic Gray Satin Ribbon, Basic Gray cardstock Going Gray cardstock, Pink Pirouette cardstock, Regal Rose gros grain ribbon, Watercolor pencils and Blender pens.

My First Blog Candy Win!! Yahoo!!

Hi All!  Just adding a quick tidbit about my first ever winnings of some super fun Blog Candy from Ms. Gabyangel over at scrapabookaholic.blogspot.com.  :-)  I am just a little excited!! 
I would include the link... but my computer is not happy with alot of links.  Gaby's blog was one of the first that I started to follow.  Her type of scrapbooking is a very clean, simple, elegant approach with that just right over the top "Punch" to make it all just POP.  I love her style for inspiration.  I highly suggest you check her out if you haven't already. 
Thanks Gaby!!  Now off to get my craft on!! (Had a busy... fun weekend.) 
~Michele

My Pink Stamper Challenge - HOO's 40 Birthday Card

First of all... HAPPY BIRTHDAY USA!! 
This is also the year that most of my close friends turn 40.  And speaking from experience... it's actually darn good! (It's the new 25!!  :-)  ) 
I decided to make this birthday card following Robyn over at her challenge @ Mypinkstamper.  The challenge is to use PINK, ORANGE, GREEN and BROWN as the color combo throughout.  This is one of my favorite color combinations... so this was fun to do!!  Thanks for looking.

Recipe:
Cardstock - Stampin' Up - Pink Passion, Green Galore, Only Orange, Chocolate Chip, Whisper white, Very Vanilla (Owls eye, feet and beak), Close to Cocoa DSP
Ribbon:  SU Chocolate Chip  1/4 " grossgrain
Cricut Carts:  Give a Hoot, Celebrations, A Child's Year (Font)

Kickin' it with Dad - Layout

Here is a layout that I have had started since Father's Day.  Finally finished it... minus the journaling.  With the World Cup soccer games going on... thought this was appropriate.

This is my Hubby and Daughter attending their first Sounders Soccer game together last October.  I think daughter was more excited about the popcorn and GREEN hand... but all in all they had fun.  Enjoy!!

Recipe: 

Cardstock - all Stampin' Up, Green Galore, Glorious Green, Brilliant Blue, Basic Black and Whisper white. 

Cricut Carts - Sports Mania and Base Camp

Birthday card for MOJO Monday # 143

Hello... this morning I am submitting a card for the MOJO Monday Sketch # 143.  This is my first time inputting for Julee Tilman's site... and I think the first time in a LONG time that all my products used are all Stampin' Up.  Hope you enjoy!!

Recipe:

Cardstock:  Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry, Razzleberry Lemonade DSP.

Ink:  Markers - Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo and Crushed Curry

Stamp Sets:  So many scallops

Other:  Basic Eyelets, Rich Razzleberry polka dot ribbon

Graduation Card # 2

Well... I have been busy making cards for a Family get together tomorrow which will celebrate Father's Day, Graduation and Birthdays.  Should be a fun day.  Here is my 2nd Graduation card that I made for my Nephew.  It's another 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 gatefold turned the other way.  His HS colors are also Orange and Black.  Thanks for checking it out!!  :-)

Recipe:
Cardstock:  Stampin' Up - Tangerine Tango, Basic Black, Brilliant Blue

Cricut Carts:  Beyond Birthdays, George

Other stuff:  Stampin' Up - Neutral jumbo brads, silver twine, Close to my Heart - GLITZ

Graduation Card

I had fun making this card!!  It's a "Gate fold" size 5 1/2" x 5 1/2".  This is for my Niece, who just graduated from H.S.  Black and Orange are their school colors... so I feminized it a bit with the added rose and the cute raccoon. 
Thanks for looking!!

Recipe: 
Cardstock:  Stampin' Up - Only Orange, Basic Black, Kraft, Very Vanilla, Chocolate chip, Rose red and Green Galore

Cricut Carts:  Give a Hoot, Beyond Birthdays, Base Camp and Mickey & Friends

PPA47 - Summer Theme Challenge

Pals Paper Arts blogspot is having a Summer theme challenge (PPA47).  What a great way to kick off summer in a few days.  I did a 10 x 10 scrapbook layout for my FIL for Fathers Day that will be in a black frame.  We are lucky to live very close to beaches all around us.  Can you smell the ocean air?? 

Recipe:
Cardstock:  Stampin' Up...  Cameo coral, Brilliant blue, Pumpkin Pie, Barely Banana, Kraft, Almost Amethyst and Bashful Blue

Cricut Cartridge:  Life's a Beach, George & Basic Shapes

Other Stampin' Up:  Vintage Brads, Modern Label Punch, Warm Words stamp set

Wallace Falls Hike

So I have had many intentions of getting some crafty things done this week... but with the end of the school year, working a few days and just the generalities of daily life... I have not had the down time for some happy creating... so I thought I'd share one of our first Family Hikes this past weekend... without baby packs, "Are we there yets?", and realizing our children are indeed growing up.  We hiked for 4 hours... a total of 3.8 miles on an incline.  The reward was wonderful... and I am so thankful that our kids enjoy one of our other "Happy" activities... HIKING.  :-)  Enjoy!

Ready, set, here we go!

Stopping at the first sight of the river.

Our kiddos were such troopers.  These small inclines with the "Cliff edge" to the right made me a little nervous... so I just grabbed my camera and tried to ignore it.

I love my kids!

Loved the wooden bridges over the raging bottom of the Falls. 

We hiked to the "Lower" Falls... will go for "Upper" Falls in a few years.  Many switchbacks etc...

Another one of the wonderful bridges down below.  Love our hiking trails!!

On our way back to the Trail Head.  The kids clearly not wanting to deal with the camera anymore.  LOL.

Thanks for checking out our adventure!!

Thursday Throwback Challenge # 2 (FIRST ever Challenge for moi)

Here is a Thinking of You card for the Thursday Throwback Challenge from "My Creative Time" blogspot... the challenge was to use Red, Blue and Brown as well as the Stretch Your Imagination Cartridge.  This is my first challenge that I actually am posting for... oh here we go...  I needed my natural daylight for the picture... but you get the idea.  Thanks for looking!! 

Recipe:
5 1/2" x 4 3/4" size
Flower Pot cut at 4 in. from the Stretch Your Imagination Cricut Cartridge
Stamps:  Stampin' Up Thankful Thinking, Gallery
Ink:  Stampin' Up Real red, Brilliant blue, Chocolate Chip
Paper:  Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip, Kraft, Real Red, Brilliant Blue, Washington Apple DSP
Ribbon:  Stampin' Up Bashful Blue 1/4" inch
Sentiment:  Unknown
Bling:  Unknown

Memorial Day Weekend and Rain...

Doesn't it always seem that Memorial Day Weekend means... Rain?  Well... in the Pacific Northwest anyways.  Maybe it is so we can remember why we really do have a a 3 day weekend?  So we can sit and ponder all of the hard work put forth by our fallen soldiers? 
But I have to say... I also think of it as a time to reconnect with the family.  Good food, good fun, movie nights and really just doing about anything our little hearts desire.
Happy almost Memorial Day!  May you take a moment and say "Thank You" to our Service Men and Women.

Oldies but Goodies

A Wedding card for my Niece from last August.  Very simple.  All products are Stampin' Up.

A little something I did for a friend.  This was to complete a Frame of pictures from her Hubby's opportunity to grant a wish for the "Make a Wish" foundation. 

Always love to make my cards if I can.  This is for my Niece's 1 year birthday.  I mimicked her invitation almost to a tee.  Used Cricut Cartridge Sweet Treats and various circle punches.

A wedding card for Hubby's "Like Nephew" who got married in February.  Their wedding colors were Black and White... so stuck with the theme.  All products Stampin' Up... except random heart corner punch.

And finally... an engagement gift also for my Niece.  All products are Stampin' Up and Cricut Cartridge, Jasmine. 

First Blog Post

Hello... if you have stumbled on this blog in your travels... it is a blog in progress. Thought I'd get posting number 1 out there to say "Gee... I am now a part of the blogging world." Stay tuned as life/crafting and whatever else happens... in the next coming weeks.