Shopping Our Stash #131 - Use One Color

Hello friends!  Is it cold where you are?  It's cold and snowy here!  My son was making a snow fort with the piles of snow!  

I have stayed inside and played in my studio.  This week we have a new challenge at Shopping Our Stash; and since we know how busy most of you are this challenge will run for 2 weeks!  We want to see cards featuring just one color (plus neutrals or skin tones where appropriate).

My card came together pretty easily.

 I used navy and white card stock.  I embossed the big layer with snowflakes.  I punched the snowflake from the small blue layer then layered a blue and white snowflake on top of the outline.  I added a small blue rhinestone to the center.

 The inside is simple with another small white snowflake.

Here you can see the embossing and the dimension in the die cut snowflakes.

Easy this week!  Now it's your turn!  Dig into your stash and join us for our One-Color Challenge won't you?

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

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Shopping Our Stash #129

Happy almost Thanksgiving dear friends!  The weather is plenty chilly here and I am getting ready to decorate for Christmas!  But, for today it is time for another challenge at Shopping Our Stash!  This challenge will last two weeks and we want to see your Winter or Holiday cards.  Perfect, right?  I've had fun coloring lately and I chose another sweet image from Sylvia at Wee Stamps.

 I chose this sweet image called Winter Fairy to color with my Prismacolor pencils..

I used a Spellbinders die to cut out the image and the mat.  The papers are from MME called O Christmas Tree.  I've had that stack for a couple years now.  The pearls, white berries, pinecone, flower trim and pearl cotton are from my stash.   

 Here's another paper from that stack.  You can see some of the glitter on it.  I used the same sketch for the writing panel.

Now it's your turn.  Pull out your stash and join us won't you?

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

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Shopping Our Stash #128

Hello friends!  I am so glad you are here today!  I always love when you stop by and leave a comment! Today I have a card for another fun challenge at Shopping Our Stash.  It's truly a fun one this time!  This time we want to see you use packaging from a product on your creation!  Fun, right??

Let me show you what I came up with!

OK How cute is she??  I simply love the images by Sylvia Zet at Wee Stamps.  This sweetie is called Holly and she was so much fun to color with my Prismacolor pencils.

 I used some papers from MME that weren't Christmas-y but they are sparkly and I think they work really well!  I added a small sentiment, pearls and jingle bells from my stash strung on some pearl cotton which is also from my stash.  I was a stitcher long before I was a paper-crafter.  I created the snowflake with a Spellbinders die and the packaging from a box of tea.  My Katie and I go through a lot of tea!  I cut the snowflake, coated it with Glossy Accents and sprinkled on extra fine glitter.

On the inside I added another snowflake I made.  I also stamped this great holly stamp from Inkadinkadoo.  I think it works rather well!

So, there you have it!  Now it's your turn!  Dig into your stash, find some packaging to use and join us this week!

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

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Shopping Our Stash #127

Hello dear friends and welcome!  Thanks for stopping by today.  I have a cute card (at least I think it is) for you today!  Our new challenge at Shopping Our Stash is to use something already out on your desk.  What a fun challenge huh?  Let me show you my card and then I'll tell you what goodies were on my table!

 Isn't she a doll?  Oh my!  I do love the Sugar Nellie images at Funky Kits!  I especially love the digital ones because I don't have to wait for them to arrive!!  This little cutie is called Wish Upon A Star.  I colored her with my Prismacolor pencils.  I added Stickles to her wings and tinsel glitter to her cape.  I think she is just so adorable!

 I used a Spellbinders die to cute the image, another die to cut 2 snowflakes I mounted on each other and a new Dimensions embossing folder for the pink panel with snowflakes and swirls.  I added feathers, pearls and rhinestones.  The deep red paper is actually mulberry paper that has been in my stash for probably 8 years.  Yeah, that's a long time!

 I copied the sketch for the writing panel.  I added a swirly paper to the other side.  The color seems slightly off but the swirls were so like the embossing folder I wanted to use it.

Here's another shot and now I will tell the items that were on my stamping table: the image, the embossing folder, and both dies.  Yes, my table was pretty full!  I had lots of stuff to choose from!  That's not always the case.  Usually I clear it off after every card, but this time I had been shopping and not put everything away.  Lucky for me  ;)

Now it's your turn!  Don't clear off your desk!  Find something wonderful and join us this week won't you?

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

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

#6 from my Master List

Happy Wednesday!  Yesterday was Christmas and I hope it was a wonderful day for you and your family.

Today I have project #6 from my Master List.  (If you haven't been here on Wednesday's I'll tell you I had a list of projects in my sewing room that had been there a while.  My son pointed out that nothing was being accomplished on the list so I decided to get busy.  I challenged myself to finish and post something every Wednesday.  So far so good!)  Today is a stocking I had started for the same son a couple years ago.  There wasn't much left.  I had wanted to finish it last year but the tendinitis in my wrists wouldn't let that happen.

 Isn't this the cutest thing??  I love these penguins.  The shading is wonderful and they turned out so cute!  I filled this with some food that he loves as well as this little cutie:

How cute is this??  My boy loves hedgehogs and when I saw this on Pinterest I knew I had to make him one.  It really was quick and easy.  Took less than 2 hours I believe.  You can find the instructions here.

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

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

An Altered Gift

Morning ladies.  I have a fun project to share with you today.  My daughter asked me to alter 2 boxes of IBC root beer that she wanted to give as gifts.  

 I covered the outside with card stock, I even sewed the layers.  On the front I added some brads, ribbon and red berries from my stash.  

 The sweet, vintage Bingo card is from Bety on etsy.  I did not adhere it all the way around so she can slip some movie tickets behind it.

 This one is covered with the most adorable vintage looking paper.  I love all the ads on this paper.

I added a pocket to this one as well.  I sewed the layers again and sewed a portion of the pocket so she can add a gift card.  Some raffia and a poinsettia finish it off.

I am entering this project in the following challenges:
Cute Card Thursday - Eat, Drink & Be Merry

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

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Hello folks!  It's Saturday and I have another project using a cute image from Daydream Designs.

I chose a small image from the Sweet Warm Ups set.

 I printed 2 of the peppermint candies and colored them with my Prismacolor pencils.  Then I covered them with a layer of Glossy Accents.  (The other peppermint is on the other side of the box.)    I made the box after seeing a similar one on Pinterest.  Unfortunately the link was broken so I won't link it here.  I sort of figured out how to put the box together but mine doesn't look like the pictures when it's open.  But that's ok because I like how this turned out.  I used green and red paper to cover the box and embossed the red with my Swiss dot folder.  The sparkly red trim is from my LCS.

Here is the box opened.  The original was actually a box when you folded down the sides but I couldn't come up with how they did that.  It doesn't matter though since the ribbon keeps it closed.  I put a fun treat inside for the nail artist at my hairdresser's.  My daughter is planning to have her own bakery someday and just finished several open houses to sell some of her creations.  These are peppermint oreos covered in white chocolate with crushed peppermints on top.  I haven't tried one yet but I'm guessing they are amazing!

Christmas is right around the corner.  I hope you are enjoying the time with family and loved ones.

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

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

#6 On My Master List

Good morning lovely friends.  Somehow I am staying on track with my Master List.  I am so glad for that!  Today I have a project that I have wanted to make for *wait for it* 8 *gasp* years!!  Let me just say I hadn't started this project before last week.

 When I first saw this design in Decorative Artists Workbook in 2004 I knew my best friend Donna would love it, and I have thought about it every Christmas and birthday since then.  It finally was put on my list and now it's done.  I used to paint so much better.  My brushes are a bit hammered and my paint was clumpy but I persevered and the results aren't too bad.

 My boy told me he thought the angel looked worried or nervous.  Maybe she does.  Hopefully Donna will like her anyway!

 This picture is really dark, the sun light wasn't cooperating with me, but I hope you can see the details.

I'm working on my project to post next week.  Hopefully I will stay on track!

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

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Gingerbread Houses!

Hello and happy Monday!  Today I have a very different post for you.  I decided to show you the fun my children all had decorating their gingerbread houses this year!

As you may know I have several "extra" children so I had 7 houses to cut out, bake and build.  My kitchen floor has never had so much frosting and so many crumbs on it!  But they had a blast and the houses look wonderful!

First off, 5 of the kids waiting to get started.

 Oren just getting started.

His very yummy looking house!

 Bekah hard at work (yes, she always sticks her tongue out when she is concentrating on something...anything).

Her lovely finished creation!

 Seth (my carpenter) hard at work building!

Seth (who HATES having his picture taken - notice all the arms holding him??) and his finished house.  See the artillery on the roof?  He's also one of my hunters.

Miss Hannah, who insisted she didn't know how to do a gingerbread house.  I think she did a very lovely job!

 Josiah and Katie.  I think Katie is working and Josiah is nibbling??

Katie's very heavy house!!  lol  We have called her Miss Sugar since she was little because of her affection for anything with sugar in it and once again she proved us right!

Ben, my boy that loves to build and put things together...

...and his finished house complete with a satellite dish!

And Josiah with his finished house, complete with candy on the inside...for when he needs to nibble and doesn't want to take it off the outside!

The finished houses!  They will spend December decorating my foyer for all to see!

I hope you enjoyed seeing the fun the kids all had.  Maybe we'll do them again next year!

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

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle 

Shopping Our Stash #80

Good morning, friends!  It's Tuesday and that means a new challenge at Shopping Our Stash.

We have a pretty easy challenge for you this week.  We want to see either your Winter or Holiday projects.  Simple, right?  I decided to make a vintage inspired Christmas box.

 I used a sweet Bingo card from Beatriz at iralamija on etsy.  It's from the Mistletoe Bingo Cards.  I inked the edges and added some postage stamps to the edges.  The die cut in the background is from Amazing Paper Grace.  I painted the chipboard then inked it.  The DP is from Hobby Lobby.  The mesh trim in the background is from my LCS.  It is flexible and bendable.  You can stretch it way out or leave it narrow.  It has thin wire through the whole thing.  It is way cool!!  I added some holly and a paper medallion I made.  The buttons and threads are from my stash.  I used a MS corner punch on the chipboard in the background.

In this picture you can see this is a box.  I used the matching MS border punch on the green and used medium and small pearls from my stash to embellish.  (Those pearls are several years old and I used all the little ones!)  I plan to fill this box with some homemade candy and give it to my hairdresser.

Now, hop over to the SOS blog for more inspiration then dig into your stash and join us!

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

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Shopping Our Stash #79 - Odds & Ends

Hello, hello!  It's Tuesday!  Time to dig into your stash and join us for a fun new challenge over at Shopping Our Stash!  This week we want to see you use your odds and ends.  You know, that one button left on the card or the last 6" of ribbon, your last 2 pearls, anything like that!!  Clear out that stash!

This week I used another fun image from iralamija on etsy called New Yuletide Tags.  These images are wonderful, I am having so much fun playing with them!

 I used the sketch over at CLP Challenge Blog again.  I love the sketches, they are always so pretty!  The DP is from MME.  I have used it several times and when I was at Hobby Lobby the other day I picked up a couple more sheets.  It truly is one of my favorites!  OK  my odds and ends?  That deep red seam binding?  Didn't know I had it.  It was in one of my sewing boxes and I found it when I was putting away my new stash.  Those 2 pieces were all that were left on the card.  The dark pink, pink, white and tan roses were the last of their kind.  The vintage lace was also the last bit.  Those 3 jingle bells were the last small ones I had so I figured they needed to stay together!  That trim on the gingham panel is new.  It jumped in my cart at Hobby Lobby the other day!

Here's the inside.  I used a MS border punch for the gingham strip on the left.  And I used the same sketch for the writing panel.

So, there you have it.  Won't you dig into your stash and join us this week??

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

CLP Challenge Blog - Sketch
Crafty Boots - Anything Goes

Hooked on Craft - Christmas no red/green
Love to Create - Non-Traditional Holiday Colors
Crafty Bloggers - Christmas Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown - Lots of Layers
Tuesday Alchemy - Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Always Anything Goes
Sweet Stamps - Cold & Snowy

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

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Stamin' Sisters in Christ #167

Good morning dear friends.  It's Sunday again, so that means it's time for another challenge over at Stampin' Sisters in Christ.  This week our hostess is our most beautiful and gracious Coordinator, Kris.  She has chosen the verse and challenge for us this week.

"They rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.  And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him.  And...presented gifts to Him."  Matthew 2:10-11

Can you imagine seeing the Christ child in person?  The wise men came a long distance.  Some believe they were descendants of men who sat under Daniel and were well schooled in the scriptures.  They knew the scriptures.  They knew the Messiah was coming.  They knew a Star would announce His arrival.  They knew, and they wanted to worship Him.  They traveled a long way.  In fact, if you read the accounts in the gospels you realize they were no longer in a stable when the wise men arrived.  They were in a house.  And He isn't called a baby.  He's called a young child.  They traveled for months, maybe as many as 24 months to find the Messiah.  Can you imagine that?  How great this Child must have been to cause these men to travel so far and so long to find Him.  And quite honestly, it probably wasn't just 3 men.  Herod wouldn't have cared if it was only 3 men.  It was probably a large number of them.  (Yes, only 3 gifts were given, that still doesn't mean it was only 3 men)  What must Mary and Joseph thought when this huge group of very important men showed up at her door?  The Bible tells us when they took Jesus to the temple to be dedicated according to the Levitical law, Mary "kept these things and pondered them in her heart."  What an amazing, amazing event in the history of the world.  The God of the universe left His throne above, became a baby, and lived 33 years on this earth so He could suffer and die on the cross for our sins.  It overwhelms my heart every time to think about that.  What a tremendous love that is.  I am so undeserving of His gift.  His gift to me of salvation.  I can be assured of my entrance into heaven simply by believing in Jesus as my Lord and Savior.  Simple as that.  It is a gift to me by my heavenly Father.

In remembrance of His great love and His amazing gift, we give gifts to each other on Christmas.  We can never give anything like what He gives us, but we can remember Him.  That is why we celebrate Christmas, because without a baby in a manger, there would never be a Savior on a cross, offering us a free gift.

Kris has asked us to make a Christmas card or project.  Our sponsor this week is Doodle Pantry who is offering 3 digital images to our randomly drawn winner.

I chose a very simple and elegant design for my card.

 I used a sentiment from Inkadinkadoo.  The papers are from Kaiser Craft, so vintage and elegant.  I inked the edges a bit and did some sewing.  My only embellishments are the pearls in the corners.

I used the same sketch on the inside for the writing panel.

I hope you'll decide to join us this week.  We would love to see what you create.

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

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle