Where it all happens!! LM #165 - "Creative Space"

Hi everyone!  Been missing this little corner of my world lately!  But surely made up for it this last week.  I've been busy making a special request for a good friend/co-worker of mine that makes jewelry.  I made her 60 earring cards to "House" her handmade earrings.  I will share with you all in a few days.  :)  Also took on making a couple of Halloween costumes for my kiddos.  So needless to say, not much personal crafting for me.
Which is why this next challenge over at Lasting Memories is so perfect!!
Let's see your "CREATIVE SPACE."  

I have a small space in our downstairs.  My desk is rather large, but I didn't show that very well here, did I?  I was actually excited to do this challenge, for my goal is to get all of my paper that sits on my ground or in baskets, either used or organized in a different way.  I have a lot of stuff crammed in my "Corner" and it's not by any certain means of organization.  I just sort of remember where everything is and "Find" things every now and again.  :)

Need to do this challenge in about a year and see what changes.    

This is also layout # 9 of our DT's 50 layout challenge.  Slowly but surely!!  

I am also entering this over at...STUCK. using their November 1st sketch reveal.

I "enlarged" the sketch for my needs.

Thanks for stopping by!  Would love to see your creative space.  Please join us at 

Lasting Memories this week!!  

SOCCER MOM - Featured on the Fresh Brewed Designs challenge blog TODAY!!!

Hello Wednesday!!  I have a fun post for you all today!  I am excited to be showcasing the very first creation made/posted (by me) in blog land with this image from  Heather Dennis from Fresh Brewed Designs.  :) "SOCCER MOM"

She had posted a question on her Facebook Page recently asking "If you could have any digital image created, what would it be?"  I responded with a Soccer Mom holding a coffee. And guess what... She did it!!!   Lucky Me!!!   I see many Thank You, Hello or any kind of fun cards being shared with many of my Soccer Mom friends.  I have a fun Scrapbook layout in mind as well! Now this Soccer Mom looks very put together!!  Trust me... as much as I would like to be, I am usually sporting the baseball hat or ponytail with sweats (jeans on a good day) and hoodie sweatshirts on game days.  Besides being a soccer mom... I also help my Husband coach our son's team.  So I get right into the thick of it. I can only dream that I will sport this this look one morning. Thank you Heather!!  This was super fun to put together!! You are talented!!!! You can further see my card featured on Heather's blog today HERE. If you like what you see... go check out the rest of Heather's creations at the  Fresh Brewed Designs Shop. I also used the recent Mojo Monday 315  Sketch.  Linking my card that direction. Thanks so much for checking out my fun card today!!! ~Michele

LMCB 161 - Trick or Treat

Happy Monday!!  It's a nice bright sunshiny day here.  Perfect Fall temps.  The only thing I don't like is that the spiders find their way out of their hiding places.  And my son gets to do a school project studying them.  Oh Yay me!!  (Not)  Yesterday the newest challenge over at Lasting Memories started and it's pretty simple.   Use a BLACK BACKGROUND on your layouts!! Easy Peasy!!

Well my background paper is Old Olive green.. but the paper housing the photos is black.  85% black background is good in my book.  ;)  I just had an idea in my head and needed to run with it.

I am also entering this over at TPE 221 (The Pink Elephant) where you are to be inspired by this photo.

And I am entering my layout over at Paper Playtime # 21 where the challenge is to use buttons and ribbon.

UPDATE:  Today 10/15/13 I was FEATURED on their Facebook Page. You can see 

HERE,

Hope you can find some time to play with us over at Lasting Memories.  Just for playing you have a chance to be our Friday Featured Artist or our weekly Top 3!  

Can't wait to see you.

This is layout # 8 of 50 - for our DT "Use Your Stash" challenge.

Thanks for stopping by.

DDC # 84 - THINK PINK

Good morning everyone!  It's a new challenge over at Digi Darla's.   In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, it's all about PINK.  I think almost all of us have been touched by someone in their lives that have had a bump in with cancer.  I know I have.  (Mom, Grandma & friends)  FORTUNATELY, everyone I know at the present moment neither has it or has fought it or is in some kind of remission.  Yay!!  So to keep the cheery side of things for my creation, I chose to start on those Holiday cards.  I said it.  HOLIDAY cards.  They will be here before you know it. Make a project that is a "Thinking of you" type theme along with LOTS of PINK on your creation!!   Using DD Image "Dot in Winter"

I was also inspired by the sketch over at The Sweetest Thing.

Sweet Sunday Sketch # 195

And I found a new blog called "Catch the Bug" where their October challenge is Think Pink as well.  :)  I'm entering my card there.

Hope you can come play with us over at Digi Darla's this week!  Let's see those THINK PINK creations!!  

Thanks for stopping by today!  ~Michele

Seattle Waterfront... LMCB 160 (Use just one color)

And you guessed it!  I chose BLUE.  With of course a major amount of white space.  Now if you are wondering what all that babble was about, well you gotta see the next challenge that started over at Lasting Memories a couple of days ago.  I'm a tad late sharing my layout with you all.   The theme of the challenge is to use just one color, or shades of the same color.  We all decided that Black or White can be used as well.  They aren't really colors anyways... right?? Here's my layout...

Oh how we can take for granted the beauty of the place we grew up!!  My stomping grounds.  Having kids sure does make you see old things like new again.  :)  These photos are of the Seattle Waterfront over this past Labor Day Weekend.  Our last little quick jaunt over for some beach time before school started the next week.  As far as the challenge... I used lots of blues.  Found a white seagull embellishment and a cute whale paper clip that is silver.  So still falling within the lines of the challenge. If you have never done a monochromatic layout... I think now is the time to try.  Definitely limits you, but I think it can keep things on the simple side which shows the photos better in this case.  Come on over to Lasting Memories by this Saturday and show us what you can do.  You have a chance to be one of our Featured Artists just for playing along. I am also entering this over at the Paper Bakery using their sketch # 14.  I just stumbled upon their blog and this sketch immediately inspired me.   This is also my layout number 7 of 50 completed for our Scrap Your Stash challenge among us fellow DT members.  Feel free to join us!!  :) Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek today!!

SPOOK to you!!

Awww... and here it surely could be a very frightful night for Halloween!  This weather here is darn scary.  Floods, trees down, windy as heck.  I am going to make this quick and am posting the challenge for Digi Darla's a tad early for I don't know if everything like the POWER will bleep out on me.  So here it goes...
The next Digi Darla challenge for early Monday morning is another...
"Anything Goes - with the optional twist of adding a MOON to your project"  

I used the image "Lil Witch" from Digi Darla.

Please go HERE to join the next challenge for DDC #82!!

I am also entering this over at Let's Capture Our Memories

with another fun sketch # 36.  

Thanks so much for taking a peek!!  

This is also # 6 out of 50 completed for our personal "Use Your Stash for 50 layouts" challenge.

Mini Golf ...

Happy Sunday everyone!!  Lots of wild weather going on where I live.  A couple of monsoon, sideways wind soccer games have filled up my weekend along with some scrapping!  :) Always a good thing!! It's the next fun and what I think is EASY challenge over at Lasting Memories this week!  I hope you can join us for LMCB # 159!  The theme for the challenge is ...
"Use Odd number of embellishments with Even number of photos"

Another fun little family outing this summer to a super cool Putt Putt golf course that had rivers, waterfalls and caves that the ball actually goes through.  As far as the challenge goes... I have 8 photos along with 2 sets of 3 embellies.  The mini golf balls by themselves and the square word sayings.  Technically, that is 6 embellies, but I am choosing to show them as 2 separate groups of 3.  To make them ODD.  :)

I am also entering this over at Let's Capture Our Memories using sketch #35. Fun sketches over there!!

And if you are following me on my journey of using my stash for 50 layouts... 

this is FIVE completed out of 50.  Yep.. .gotta a ways to go.

Thanks for stopping by!  See you later with the newest Digi Darla challenge for Monday.

50 Layout challenge - 5 / 50

CHEER!! - DDC # 80

Told you I would be back today!!  :)  Thank you rain, routines and football! I'm here to bring you the next challenge at DIGI DARLA's # 80.
"Anything Goes - with Optional Twist of using an image  that has a Hop, Skip or Jump theme."

I used the Digi Darla image called "Cheery Cheerleader."  Every year, our daughter and friends are Junior Cheerleaders for a night at a High School sporting even.  Last year it was at the Football Game.  So much fun!!! 

This is also my layout  3 / 50.  (Use our stash / 50 Layout challenge)

Hope you can join us at Digi Darla's!  A great chance to win up to 8 FREE images!! 

Thanks for stopping by today!

Snippets of ME...

Well golly gosh how I have missed my scrapping world lately.  You would think that rest and relaxation would come with the kiddos back in school, but it's been the opposite for me.  After spending the weekend at some soccer games, I finally was able to hang out for a bit at my craft desk due to major thunderstorms!  Yay for rain!!  :)  Oh yes.. and Football on the TV.  Gotta love this time of year. With that said, the challenge over at LASTING MEMORIES is "ALL ABOUT ME."  I decided to focus on ME at the here and now, at this time of my life. 

Most of my layout was using an older kit from the Teresa Collins line.  I am liking this color scheme lately.  Thinking about painting a room with them.  The quote on the left is an OLD rub-on from ??  And then older alphas in the title as well.   Enter HERE to play with LMCB # 157. I also would like to enter this over at CREATIVE SCRAPPERS  using their newest sketch # 251. And, this continues my scrapping journey with the 50 layout challenge. This is 2 / 50. Thanks for stopping by today!  See you tomorrow with YES .. .another layout!  Yay me!!

INSTAGRAM

Hey everyone!!  :)  Quick post for you today.  I just recently discovered INSTAGRAM.  My new fav thing.  Just had to share this card that I made for a friend that just turned 40 on Sunday.  Got my idea from Pinterest... but added a little of my own flair to this one.  My friend loved it.  So SUCCESS!!

Thanks for taking a peak!!!

Hello... DDC 77 - Anything goes with a twist

And HELLO again!!  ;)  Told ya I was on a crafty roll.   Today is the next challenge over at Digi Darla's # 77
Anything goes with a twist twist - use a digi image, add a bow and a butterfly

Here I used DD image "Sweet Cali"
I hope you can join us.  There are 8 FREE digi images from Digi Darla to be won if you do!! Go HERE for all the details and to join!!
Thanks for stopping by and Yes... see you tomorrow.  

All Together Finally - LMCB 154 "Try Something New"

Hello!!  I can tell I have been HOME for a few days and getting back to routines...for I will have THREE crafty posts for you over the next 3 days.  Go me!!   First up is the newest challenge over at Lasting Memories that started today!! We want you to... "Try Something New" Well believe it or not... I have never used WASHI TAPE on my layouts.  I have 2 rolls to my name and finally dove for them in my bottom desk drawer and gave it a whirl.  I have to say... I WANT more.   (But stay tuned at the end of my post as to why I can't buy any... maybe you will join my adventure??)

So as you can see... my chevron Christmas colored washi tape found it's way holding down the corners of my photo, randomly placed on the bottom layout left corner... and my favorite was using it as an entire strip down the whole page along my other strips of paper.  Easy!!  I am also entering my layout over at Sketches in Thyme #119 using their first August sketch. And... here is a potential little challenge for you?? "The 50 Layout / No buy challenge" Some of us over from the Lasting Memories Design Team have started a behind the scenes challenge to ourselves.  We all have to make 50 layouts without buying anything NEW!!   We all have our own rules and regulations... for example, I can buy adhesive and black/white paper as needed and meet a Stamp Club obligation as it comes up.  But no going to ANY craft stores and purchasing anything new.  So we will all be shopping our own stash for the next 50 layouts.  Ugh!!  This is my FIRST layout of the challenge.  The faster we get done, the faster we can shop.   If you want to join us... stop by here or over at Lasting Memories and tell us how you are doing.  As I told my fellow DT member Claire... it's like a diet and we are here to help eachother.  Thanks for stopping by!  See you soon with my next creation to share.

My Blog Hop Candy Winner!! (From Lasting Memories scavenger hunt!!)

Hey all!! Happy Tuesday??!!  Is that what day it is??  :)
Summer is coming to an end.  Kids are getting ready to go back to school and in a GOOD way, feel this Mom is trying to pack it all in quickly!!  Wanting to still do more fun things! Summer goes too fast!!
I'm here to tell you my Blog Hop candy winner from the  Lasting Memories Scavenger Birthday Hop (That ended on Saturday)
And my winner is...
MELINDA FELILCIDA Please contact me HERE with your contact info. by this Friday 8/23 at 9pm PST to claim your Bag of Buttons!!
I will be back a bit later with the next challenge that is happening over at  Lasting Memories going on now! "Then and now... How have you grown?"
Along with the next challenge that is happening over at  Digi Darla's going on now! "Birthday Celebration"

"Scavenger Hunt" Birthday Blog Hop - LMCB #152

Hi everyone!! It is PARTY time at Lasting Memories today!
We're celebrating Karen's special day with a "Scavenger Hunt Birthday Hop"!
It's her 40th birthday tmw and what better way to celebrate than to have a hop in blog land! Before we get started, you better get yourself a pen and paper because you're going to need it! There are 10 blogs in the hop and each person has chosen an element to use on her layout.
Your job is to find all 10 elements, write them down and choose FIVE to include in your layout!
 Be sure to keep your eyes open because we have sponsors as well as DT members giving goodies away. You may have to do a little something more for the DT candy, so be sure to read every post! Sound like fun?? We think so!!! Ok, lets get to it! You should have arrived here from KIMBERLY and if you're just coming by, start at Lasting Memories because you don't want to miss a thing! You'll also find the master hop list there too.
The challenge is "ANYTHING GOES" as long as you include 5 of the 10 elements from the Hop.

For my layout today, I chose BUTTONS for my element.

Can you spot all of the buttons??
If you leave me a comment with the correct number of buttons used on my layout, you have a chance to win...

A BAG O' BUTTONS!!
(There are at least 100 in there)
Winner will be chosen from all correct answers. :)

Thanks so much for joining us! You're next stop is STACIA

Coming Soon... Sunday... Get Ready... for LOTS of prizes!!!

Hey everyone!!  I have been enjoying Summer!!  How about you??

Just want to stop by real quick to tell you to COME BACK this Sunday morning for the first ever

SCAVENGER BLOG HOP Layout Challenge

Running... August 11th to August 17th

In honor of Karen's 40th Birthday!!

Woo Hoo!!

Lasting Memories Layout Challenges

Stay tuned for all of the details!

You won't want to miss it!

There will be many Prizes on the challenge blog.

A Grand Prize at the end of the week.

Some random prizes during the week.

And each blog member potentially will have their own prize to give away.  

(I will!!  :) )

A lot of LOOT!!

See you Sunday!!

XOXO...

Hey everyone!  It's time for DDC # 72 "Christmas in July" challenge over at Digi Darla's 
Here is my lovey dovey card using DD "Santa and Mistletoe."  :)  I thought it was cute.  Now to hide from the Hubby so I can give to him at some point.
Just by playing with us at Digi Darla's, you could win up to 8 images!!  Why not??!!  Hope to see you over there.  (Link above.)

I know... strange to be thinking of Christmas... but it's only 5 months away. Yikes.  If anything, if you are experiencing the HOTNESS of summer weather, hopefully my card and this challenge will cool you off a bit.  

Thanks for stopping by and come join us and get those Holiday Cards done.

I am also entering this over with Lesley over at Always Playing with Paper where they are having a CHRISTMAS in JULY challenge for the whole month of July.  

You just gotta check out Lesley's creations anyways... she does spectacular work!  I had the pleasure of being on a Design Team with her and never a "so so" creation. 

Enjoy!!  Have a great day!!

LMCB 149 "Birds and Bees."

Happy Sunday all!  It's time for the next challenge over at

 Lasting Memories Layout Challenges # 149.

And the theme...

"The Birds and the Bees."  

LOL!! It's not what you think... we want to see either 

BIRDS or BEES on your layouts this week. 

 Although... pretty funny, our DT had quite the discussion as you can imagine.  We didn't want to scare you. 

I chose BIRDS to showcase on my layout.  I feel this photo doesn't do my layout justice.  Darn nighttime photography... but the photos hold a special place in my heart.  This was in 2010 on our annual Family Vacation.  Our kiddos were 7 and 4 and to think that it is 3 years later.  Oh how time FLIES!!!  Thus my birds on my layout.  :)

Here is a close-up of my birds.

I used a kit from Close to My Heart called   "Magnifique."  Then I added some elements from Little Yellow Bicycle "Paradise" collection.

Hope you can join us this week!  Can't wait to see your take on this challenge.!!

  

Miss You...

This is my 2nd post today.  

Please scroll down to see my layout for Lasting Memories.  :)

Happy Monday once again!!  There is a new challenge at Digi Darla's today.

It's a SKETCH challenge from DENISE, our challenge coordinator. Yay!!

Here is the sketch.

I wanted to keep my card simple... but with the full effect of a Hot Air Balloon in the sky.  So I used clusters of clouds where the circles are and cut out my Digital Image for extra 3D pop.  The image I used is called "Up and Away Balloon."

You have a chance to win up to 8 FREE Digi Images for playing along!  5 just for playing and 3 more if you use a Digi Darla image.  Hope to see you try out the sketch.  Who doesn't love a good sketch??  The rest of the DT gals did some fun ideas.  Take a look HERE.

I'm also entering my card at Color Throwdown # 250.  They are celebrating 5 years!  I fell in love with the color combo!

Thanks for stopping by!  Happy Crafting.

Rise "n Shine

Good evening... and Good morning!!  (Depending on your part of the world)  I'm here to bring you the latest and greatest challenge over at Lasting Memories # 148.  This week's challenge is...

"COUNTRY CHARM"

Country colors (oranges, yellows, greens, browns), country paper patterns or the DT even came up with a  doing your ACTUAL Country colors... like Red, White and Blue for the US or Red and White for Canada.  Lots of ideas for this one.  Also include some kind of charm on your layout.

Besides my country palette of colors that I chose, I also used the plaid paper and the different wild flowers paper reminded me of a country farm.  The THEME or title of my layout also represents that first morning wake up.  With the bright sun shining and the knowledge of a new day.  I think the only thing missing is some roosters making noise.  :)  My charm is the B under the photo.  The first letter of both of our kids.  I just recently discovered INSTAGRAM and caught this photo of my two kiddies last week as they greeted me on our bed with smiles to wake me up.  Summer has been some late night stay ups and some late morning sleep ins.  With the magic of Instagram, I was also able to color the photo with a reddish tint effect.  

Most of my supplies are from My Minds Eye and Simple Stories (the letters)

I am also entering my layout with the Ladies over at Sketches in Thyme using their # 117 sketch.  Haven't played with them in a while.  Always love their sketches.

I hope you find some time to join Lasting Memories this week.  With the BUSY days of summer, it felt good to finally get some photos scrapped.  Maybe you can too.  :)

Thanks for stopping by.  Check out the "Monday Mojo" from the fabulous DT coming up in a few hours over at LM.

Celebrate Love

Oh where oh where have I been??  Well here... just not HERE!!  :)  And as you can see from my latest new layout that I finally managed to create, it's been a whirlwind month of JUNE with a fabulous wedding celebrated in our family ta boot.
Stick with me for I am here to tell you about the next challenge at Lasting Memories Layout Challenges # 146.

The theme of the challenge is "Special Celebrations." 

Well that is just about anything in my book.  Every day has some sort of celebration I have learned.
And here is my layout of the wedding we were involved in.  Our daughter was ecstatic to be chosen to be the Junior Bridesmaid and our son was in charge of programs and guest book signing.  My Hubby and I are the Aunt and Uncle that were there with pride and smiles.

The colors are supposed to be coral and gray. (Nighttime photo) the Title is an older SU stamp set.  I punched out by hand each of the circles to create the polka dot effect.  The taffeta is from the wedding reception itself on the favors.  The die-cut flowers are Martha Stewart.  All paper is from Stampin' Up.

I would also like to enter this with the Ladies over at Frosted Designs for the latest Fabulous Friday challenge is POLKA DOTS.  

I also followed a sketch from Pamela's World of Scrap # 237 B. - But I missed the entry deadline.  Still loved the sketch... so giving credit.  :)

Thanks so much for stopping by!  

And... a side note... GOOGLE READER is going away July 1st (DARN) so be sure to follow be through BLOG LOVIN'.  Button on sidebar.  Thanks to those who have already!!!

See you soon!  It won't be long.  Felt good to scrap today.  

DDC #66 "Fancy Fold Cards" - Happy Birthday Gift Card Holder

Happiest of Mondays to all of you!  I have a fun yet SIMPLE card to share with you. It's a fun Gift Card holder.
Our newest challenge over at Digi Darla's is to make a FANCY FOLD card or some sort of SHAPE card. 
 Just for playing along, you have a chance to win 5 FREE images and for using a Digi Darla image, you have a chance to win and additional 3 images.

Here's mine using Digi Darla image "Balloons and Bow"

And here it is all opened up...

I found the tutorial from the Spring 2013 issue of Card Maker magazine.

1.  Cut a 4 1/4" x 11 inch piece of cardstock.

2.  With paper horizontal on a scoring board (I just used my cutter tool)... start at left edge and score at 3, 4 1/4, 5 1/2, and 8 1/2 inch marks.

3.  Cut card stock at the 4 1/4" score line into 2 pieces.

4.  Fold along all score lines.

5.  To form the gift card pocket, adhere the 1 1/4" flaps together applying adhesive  at short edges and along scored line only.

6.  Sizes of patterned paper on inside of card are 2 3/4", two at 1 1/4" x 4 inches, one 3 x 4", and one 2 1/2 x 4".  Adhere all.

7.  The 2 pieces of patterned paper on the outside as it is all folded together is 2 3/4" and 2 1/4" x 4 inches.  

8.  To form band wrapped around, cut a 3/4 x 7 1/2" piece of paper.  Score at 2 1/4" and 5 1/2" marks.  Fold on score lines, overlap ends and adhere together to form a band.

9.  Slide band over folded card and adhere anything you want to band using foam adhesive.

I am also entering my card over at colourQ 192.

Thanks for stopping by!!  I hope to back a bit more often this week.  Have lots of cards needed for many celebrations... and some scrapping of my kiddos and their many activities.  :)

Stay tuned!!