Love You

Good morning friends.  It looks like Hurricane Sandy is moving away and that is a good thing.  We are far from the eye but we had our share of wind and rain.  It is very calm and even warmer than I thought it would be.

Today I have a card for the challenge over at Mo's Challenge Blog.  The challenge this week is Cute & Cuddly.  Honestly, at least half of her images qualify for that so this was pretty easy.

 I chose Love Ya for my card.  She is such a cutie.  I loved coloring her and her bear with my Prismacolor pencils.

 My DP is from a Basic Grey pad called Lemonade.  I added pearls, a doily, flowers and a tag.  I used a MS border punch on the pink.

 I used more of the DP inside and copied the sketch from the front.

I will be entering my card in the challenge over at Mo's Challenge Blog.

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Shopping Our Stash #

Tuesday!  Time for another challenge over at Shopping Our Stash.  

This week our challenge is "Flower Power".  Use your handmade or 3D flowers! (your project can include stamped images but it also needs to have at least one flower that is either handmade or a 3D flower you bought.  Think Wild Orchid Crafts, puffy stickers, Primas, etc.)

 I have to admit my card only has one little handmade flower.  I used a gorgeous digital image (stash item #1....i've had it easily 6 months) from Janet at Digital Paper.  If you haven't been to her shop yet you really need to.  I have several of her sets and they are to die for!

This image is one of two in the set called Magic Garden.  Gorgeous, no?  I matted the image three times, added some green rhinestones to the upper left corner and...

I used some silk ribbon (another stash item) to stitch my own iris in the lower left corner.  I added a small yellow seed bead (from my stitching stash) to the center of the flower.

I used some new stamps and dies from Becca Feeken to embellish the inside.  I had the most wonderful visit with one of my closest friends last week and I made this card to send her.  (This card isn't square.  I used a pre-scored card with a matching envelope that has been in my stash since last November)

The other ladies on the Design Team have some great floral creations for you so go check them out.  Then dig into your stash and play along this week!

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Stampin' Sisters in Christ #

Good morning dear friends.  I hope you have a blessed day today.

It's Sunday so that means it's time for another challenge at Stampin' Sisters in Christ.  The very sweet and lovely, Sandie, is our hostess this week.  She chose our verse and challenge.

Sandie chose Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.  I'm sure you are familiar with this portion of scripture.  The author speaks how there is a time for everything under heaven.  Sandie would like to see us use a clock on our projects or use black and white to illustrate the vast differences in the scriptures.  As I was contemplating the verses and our challenge (and wandering around the paper-crafting section at Joanns)  I discovered a great stamp set from Tim Holtz.  The two sentiments in the set really spoke to my heart (and it had a clock face) so I simply had to bring it home with me.

With the possibility of being redundant I began thinking about my life since January 3, 2012.  God knew I would be in an accident.  He knew my injuries.  He knew how He would heal me.  And I know it was His will for me to grow in Him through all this.  There was a purpose for what happened and it is my responsibility to figure out what that purpose was/is.

I have decided that I AM NOT a victim.  I WILL BE in control.  I WILL take charge of my life.  The accident WILL NOT be the reason for any negative thoughts in my life.  God chose to heal me when the doctors said there was nothing they could do.  God gave me the strength to get out of bed everyday when I didn't want to.  God gave me 2 young boys who still need their mom.  God pushed me out the door to start running with my daughter so I could get in shape.  God has put many desires and dreams in my heart.  Dreams and desires that have been there a long time.  I have 3 extra children who need the love I can give them.  I WILL succeed.  I WILL be strong.  And I WILL love with all the love God has put in my heart.  I WILL go back to Brazil and share the gospel on the Amazon.  And I WILL live my life sold out for Jesus everyday.  There is a time for every purpose under heaven.  It is TIME (again) to stand up and proclaim what Jesus has done for me.

This was, obviously, all about me.  These were the things that filled my mind as I though about these verses and our challenge.  So, I made something for me.

Like I said, I picked a new stamp set from Tim Holtz, Life's Possibilities.  The sentiment I used for the front is so inspiring.  It's what I want to remind myself when I get discouraged.  God has a plan and a purpose for me.  I can choose to be defeated or not.  If I keep my eyes looking up and not on my circumstances I can do more, I can reach for more, I can be more.

I sort of used both of Sandies challenge ideas.  My colors are shades of black and white  ;)  I used a clock face paper and the clock face stamp to stamp the black paper in black.  I stapled a piece of vintage twill tape to the top.   I plan to use this in my Bible, the only book I read everyday, for inspiration and encouragement.

I used the other sentiment from the set on the back.  

The lovely people at Inspired Stamps are our sponsors this week.  They are offering a $15 gift card to one randomly chosen winner this week.

I think that's about it.  Be sure to stop by every one's blog this week and see what they have created for you.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Fashion Statements by Daydream Designs

Hello friends.  I wanted this post to go live this morning.  I'm just glad its still Saturday!

I have a new card using a great image from Daydream Designs.  It's from a set called Vintage Button Cards.  You get 5 images in this set.  I'm looking forward to using more of them!

I added my own buttons to the card, they have a sort of vintage feel so they were perfect.  The lace is my find from the flea market this summer.  I love it.  I only have a small piece left, so I need to get to some antique shops I think.  I put some cheesecloth under the image and added plenty of flowers, beads and my feathers.

 I left the inside rather plain to show off the wonderful DP.

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Daydream Designs Tea Card

Hello lovelies!  Welcome to my humble cottage!

Today I have a sweet little card using a great image from Daydream Designs.  It's from the set The Perfect Blend which comes with 19 images.

 I used the image of the cup of....well, honestly I'm not sure.  Cocoa?  Tea?  In my case, it's tea.  OK?  My card is smaller than usual.  It's 4x4.

 When you open it up there are 2 pockets to hold 2 bags of tea.  The front panel says Thinking of You.

 The back panel is blank so you can write on it.

 Here you can see the inside better.

I plan to make more of these for the bookstore at church.  I think these will make sweet little cards when someone is under the weather.  They are also a great size for using up some scraps.  Oh, I almost forgot.  The original inspiration came from Lena Katrine.  Her site is filled with the most beautiful things!  I love stopping by there.  She never fails to inspire me (even though her last post says her mojo is missing....I can't figure out where it went because her work is still GORGEOUS!).

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Creative Card Crew - Fancy Folds (I hope this qualifies.  If not, I understand.)

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Shopping Our Stash #74

Good morning dear friends!  It's Tuesday, so that means another challenge at Shopping Our Stash!

This week our theme is "Out of a Jar".  Now, bear with me folks....I took this literally, but what was in my jar was may not be what you would be thinking.

 Here's my card.  I used some beautiful paper from MME as well as the beautiful floral image from Janet at Digital Paper.  This is one of four in a set from her.  Isn't it gorgeous?  I used my new Tim Holtz post card embossing folder.  You can't see much of it but I LOVE it and can't wait to use it again.  Now, the jar thing.  See the beautiful lace at the top?  And the 3 heart buttons?  I have some old Ball canning jars on a shelf over my work table.  I keep small bits of lace in one, ribbon snippets in another and buttons in a third.  So, there you have it.  From my jars I pulled lace and buttons!  Lame, I know, but true!  The flowers are Prima and Wild Orchid.  The sentiment is PTI and the tag I stamped it on is a new die from Becca Feeken at Amazing Paper Grace.  The brad is from my stash.

 The polka dot paper is the back of the script paper (MME).

Here's another view.

I am entering my card in the challenge at:

CLP - since I used their gorgeous sketch again.

I think that's about it.  Pull out your stash and play along!  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Stampin' Sisters in Christ #162

Good morning, dear friends.  I hope you have a blessed day.

It's Sunday so that means another challenge at Stampin' Sisters in Christ.  Our hostess this week is the lovely and so very sweet Peggysue.  She has chosen our verse and challenge this week.

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."  John 16:33

What an amazing promise.  God has overcome the world.  In the midst of everything going on around us we can have peace.  If you have been following my blog for any time you may know I was in a very bad accident in January.  (Bad enough that the doctors asked my husband and mother which of them would make the decision to remove me from life support if that decision needed to be made.)  I don't remember anything but of course my husband and children do.  My husband has told me that in the midst of emergency vehicles up and down our road, my boys in separate ambulances, me completely unaware of my surroundings, the emergency workers telling my husband I needed to be airlifted to the hospital, all of these things, and the peace of the Lord was surrounding his heart.  He was trusting the Lord.  He knew the Lord was in control.  He said the peace in the midst of all that was amazing.  To someone that doesn't know the Lord it is inconceivable.  But when you know the Lord, when you spend time in His presence, you can begin to know His great love for us.  He promises to never leave us or forsake us.  That is the most wonderful promise.  The Lord of the universe will walk beside us, holding our hands.  I hope you are aware of His presence today.  Allow His peace to surround you.  It is the greatest comfort in all our tribulations.

Our sponsor is Daydream Designs and Diane is offering our winner $20 to spend in her shop!

This is a very simple card for me.  I thought and thought about this card and what I wanted to do.  Peace.  What says peace to me?  The first thing I thought of and what kept coming to mind was snow.  Snow gently falling.  The peace and beauty of God's creation after a snowfall.

I chose a simple blue and white color scheme.  I used a snowflake embossing folder to emboss a piece of vellum.  I matted it with blue and sewed the edges.  I used a thin white satin ribbon and some silver embroidery floss to tie a simple knot.  I stamped "peace" and embossed it with silver and used silver brads in the corners.

Here's the inside.  Again, very simple for me.  I used the same sketch for the writing panel.

I think that's about it.  Check out all my Sisters and see what peaceful creations they have for you this week.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Autumn Thanks

Hello friends!  Welcome!  I hope you enjoy your stay.  It feels like fall today.  I'd share some apple cider with you on the porch if I could.

Today I have a card for the challenge over at Mo's Digital Challenge Blog.  The challenge this time is Fall.  Mo has so many cute images it's hard to choose.

 I chose this cute little guy, The Big One.  He looks so serious carrying that pumpkin, he doesn't need any help!  I colored him with my Prismacolor pencils.

 This great DP is from MME.  I added cheesecloth, ribbon scraps and buttons from my stash and a Prima flower.  The papers are inked and sewn.

 Since he looks like he is helping I made this into a thank you card.

I am entering my card in the challenge at:

Mo's Challenge Blog - Fall

Allsorts Challenge - Autumn Colors

Challenge Up Your Life - Autumn/Halloween

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

The Digi Garden Scarecrow Box

Hello dear friends!  Welcome to my little papered cottage!  Enjoy your stay!

Since it's Friday I have another project for The Digi Garden.  This time around I chose to make a box for potpourri.  I had seen the idea on Becca Feeken's blog months ago.  She had made a very elegant box and I have been wanting to do something similar.  Mine is not elegant, but I think it is fun and it will look great on my enclosed porch for the fall.

 I used Patches the Scarecrow for my box.  Isn't he the cutest thing??  (although my girl, Hannah, has decided its a girl scarecrow and her name is Eliza  :)  I told her I would let all of you know that!  lol)  I colored him with my Prismacolor pencils, then cut him out and matted him on dark brown.

 Here's the front of the bow.  After I inked and sewed my layers I cut out the center with my oval nestie.  I cut out an oval in the side of the box as well.  I added a piece of Pet Screen to the opening.  You can buy this stuff at the hardware store, but you can also get it at a lot of quilt shops.  The first time I used it I made a whole bunch of small tote bags that were very sturdy.  I had run out of the original package, but our dog and cat like to look out the screen door in the summer.  They don't try to make holes, but when they get on their hind legs to look out sometimes their claws would get stuck in the screen.  A couple years ago I purchased Pet Screen again and replaced the screen in the door.  They have not put a single hole in the screen after 3 summers.  Great stuff!  Anyway, I had some left over and I decided to use it in the openings of the box.  This way you can smell the potpourri but it is contained.  

 Here's the top of the box.  I used a Memory Box die to cut the little doily.  I glued a pumpkin on top of that.

You can't see that I have some scented pine cones in there, but I do.  The open box allows the scent to come through nicely!

I am entering my box in the following challenges:

Frilly & Funky - Anything but a card with someplace to put something...I hope this counts.  I understand if it doesn't

Stamp n Doodle - Anything Goes

Anything But a Card - Fall

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

B is for....Bauble

Hello friends!  Welcome.  There's a bit of Christmas in the air today!

Today I have an ornament for the challenge over at Mo's Digital Challenge Blog.  The challenge is "B is for...." and I chose "bauble".  I have had this cute Mo's image for a couple years and I'm not sure I have actually used her.  I figured it was about time!

 This is Bella Loves Christmas.  She is another beautiful image from Mo.  When I started coloring I had no idea where I was going but my creative juices started flowing and she ended up with a black dress.  Love how this turned out!  I colored her with my Prismas and added plenty of glitter!  There's glitter on the ruffle of her dress, her headband and plenty on her ornament!  I also added some rhinestones.

 I made her into an ornament for my tree this year.  I embossed the background with my Swiss dot folder and added a ribbon hanger.  The back is the same deep red and also embossed.

I rather like this view.  The lighting wasn't so great for pictures, but this one is a bit better.

I am entering my ornament in the following challenges:

Mo's Digital Challenge Blog - B is for....

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Shopping Our Stash #73

Hello blogging friends!  It's Tuesday!  That means another challenge at Shopping Our Stash!  This week we want to see Halloween or something with food or candy.  One of my fellow Divas at The Digi Garden, Vicki, made the most adorable treats for Halloween.  You can see her's here.  I don't celebrate Halloween but these were so cute and one of my boys LOVES candy corn so I thought I would make one for him (and his boss's daughter).

 I used two images, Ursula's Pumpkin Costume and Edward's Pumpkin Costume.  They come as outlines or colored.  I love to color with my Prismas so I used the outline version.  I used some card stock that has been in my stash for years.  Honestly, how often do you use orange?  The yellow I embossed with my swiss dot folder.  I used my spellbinders dies to cut the holes.  I put the candy in baggies and tucked it inside.  I closed the top with brads, also from my stash!

 This is Edward....

....and this is Ursula.

I think that's about it.  We would love to see what you come up with this week.  Grab your stash and play along!  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs

Michelle

Stampin' Sisters in Christ #161

Good morning sweet friends.  It's Sunday, so that means it's time for another challenge at Stampin' Sisters in Christ.  Our hostess this week is the very sweet Miesje.  She has chosen our verse and challenge this week.

"But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever."  Psalm 52:8

I know I usually give my thoughts on the verse, but for some reason I am crazy tired today after 10 hours of sleep last night.  I know Miesje  will share with you why she picked this verse and her devotional will be on the SSiC blog.  I will leave it at that.

Miesje has asked us to create something with an image of a tree.

 I saw this card on Pinterest and fell in love.  It is gorgeous and I so totally Cased it!  Her original was so amazing there wasn't anything I could do differently to make it any better.  I used 4 embossing folders on my card.  I added silver glitter to some of the "snow".  That piece of ribbon was the exact size I needed for my card.  One more piece used up!  The sentiment came from PTI.

 I kept the inside pretty simple.  The die cut snowflake is from a MS punch.

Make sure you check out every one's blog today.  We have a very talented group of ladies and you don't want to miss what they have for you.

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Like my bunny slippers?

Hello friends.  Welcome, welcome!  This card was supposed to post this morning but I am still running to catch myself!  I was so on top of things a couple weeks ago when my husband and I were going away for a few days.  I had everything done and posted ahead.  Now I feel like I am running backwards!  Good grief.  I'll get this!  I'm no quitter!

Anyway, being Friday I have another card using one of the sweet images from The Digi Garden.

 Ursula's Bunny Slippers is a new image and I think she is so sweet!  She makes me smile every time I look at her.  I colored her with my Prismacolor pencils

 My DP is from Joanns.  The two laces are from my scrap jar.  I love that I am using that stuff up!  The bits of ribbon was the last bit I had.  Used that up too!  The flowers and corner pieces are from Wild Orchid.  The brads are stash too!  I added Stickles to my flowers but I'm not sure you can see it.

 I used the same sketch for my writing panel.

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

Creative Inspirations - Anything

Divas by Design - Anything

Paperplay - Simply Cute

Papercrafting - Bling

Tuesday Alchemy - Anything

Sketch & Stash - Sketch

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Declaration of Hope Day

Hello dear friends.  I want to apologize that my post did not go live this morning with everyone else.  Life gets in the way sometimes.  But here we go....

Today over at Daydream Designs we are having a "Declaration of Hope Day".  Diane has designed some amazing sets using the ribbons for various cancers and other diseases.  She asked us to participate in a "hop" of sorts.  This is not a usual hop with prizes or bells and whistles.  Simply some of us on the Design Team using her new images to remember someone in our lives who has been or is affected by a serious health issue.  Today I decided to remember my Uncle John.  He went home to be with the Lord last November 27 after fighting Alzheimer's Disease for almost 10 years.

This is my favorite picture of Uncle John (on the left) and my dear, handsome husband, Joseph.  It was taken Christmas Day 2009 at my parent's house.  Uncle John was still living at home with Aunt Harriett, who deserves a tremendous amount of recognition for how she took card of him, pretty much on her own, for so long.  It wasn't until she could no longer physically take care of him that he went into a home.  He spent 2 years there before the angels took him home.  At the time this photo was taken he spent most of his time just sitting, either staring off in the distance or sleeping.  My husband was joking with him and he was "with us" for a short time.  I'm so gad I snapped this picture.  My aunt loves it.

The ribbon color for Alzheimers is purple, so that's what I did.

 Diane has sets in various colors as well as digital papers to match the sets.  I chose to use the outline set however, since I do love to color!  I fished through my stash for some purple paper.  I found this embossed paper (its been in there so long I have no idea who made it) and the plaid (again...not sure where it's from).  I followed the sketch over at Mojo Monday.  When I was looking through my ribbon scraps I found this wonderful trim that I think I bought a couple years (or more) ago for a purse.....it looks great on a card too, right??  I inked all my layers and sewed the strip with the trim underneath.  I added a purple rhinestone to the ribbon.  I used a knife to cut out the ribbon.  The circular sentiment is also in the set from Diane.

 This beautiful sentiment is also in Diane's set.  I used a portion of the sketch for the writing panel.

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

Mojo Monday - Sketch

Word Art Wednesday - Use a sentiment

Now, there are quite a few of us that decided to participate today.  From here you need to go to Beth's blog.  Here's the list of everyone participating to keep you on the right track.

Diane

Miesje

Helen

me

Beth

Peggysue

Jerusha

Vicki

Karen

Marlou

So that's it.  I hope you hop around to see what everyone has created and read their stories.  I know you will be blessed.  And please leave us a comment and share your story.  We would love to her from you.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs

Michelle