School Photo

Happy Tuesday,

Have you been taking a look at all the new products from CHA?  I have taken a couple of peeks.  I LOVE the Jillibean lines and the LYB lines look amazing.  I have to say though I am trying not to look. I am really trying to put myself on a strict budget.  I really want to use up some of my stash.  My stash keeps growing and my space keeps shrinking!  I have done pretty well so far and I need to continue.  Do you ever put yourself on a budget?  Does your stash keep growing?  How do you handle it? 

This is Jack's kindergarten picture. I thought the Imaginisce paper was just perfect for it.

supplies

cardstock- bazzill

paper, stickers, chipboard-imaginisce

twine- the twinery

I hope everyone has a great day today.  I will be back tomorrow with a new project!  See you then!

Have a crafty day!

-mp

Round 3!!

Happy Monday,

How was your weekend?  Mine was great! Friday I went to my monthly crop and got some things accomplished and talked a lot!! lol.  I love getting together with friends, chatting, eating, and just having fun!  Saturday I was scrapped, ran errands and just relaxed.  Sunday was more of the same.  Loved every minute of it!

I also had good news on Saturday morning!  I made it to round 3 over at Practical Scrappers.  This round you had to use a quilt for inspiration.  I chose the chevrons and a recipe.  I chose buttons, banner, ribbon, and chipboard.  I need your help again.  Please head on over there  and please VOTE for me!  This round of 15 is all about fan votes and the Practical Scrappers design team votes.  I could really need your help again.  Here is my layout for the 3rd round.

I really had fun with this round.  Hubby and I had so much fun a couple of months ago with our iPhones and a fun phone booth app.  I have been wanting to scrap these for awhile now and this was the perfect opportunity. 
Supplies
cardstock- bazzill
paper- october afternoon
ribbon, buttons, chipboard, stickers- october afternoon
twine- the twinery
mist- studio calico

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Remember I would really appreciate it if you could stop over at Practical Scrappers and cast your vote.  Thanks again!  I will be back tomorrow with a new project.

Hope you have a crafty day!
-mp

Burlap and Buttercups Part 2

Happy Friday!!!
I am so happy it is Friday!  Do you have any plans this weekend?  We don't have any.  I love it!!

I am going to be quick today.  For today's project I used the January kit from Burlap and Buttercups.  This kit is amazing!  I love Rachel's kits so much!  For this layout I used a lot of MME and their kraft paper line.  These were cell phone photos of my youngest at his first dentist apt.  He did great!

All supplies came from the January kit.

ssshhhhh don't tell Rachel but you are going to go absolutely MAD over the February kit--I will give you a little hint--October Afternoon  farmhouse goodies--now don't say anything till we do the big reveal in a couple of weeks but I know you are going to want this new kit.

I hope everyone has a wonderful day and weekend. I will be back on Monday with a new crafty project!  See you then and thanks for stopping by!
Have a crafty day!
-mp

A Little Yellow Bicycle Challenge

Happy Thursday,
I love it that this week is moving on.  I am so ready for the weekend!  One more day--I can do that- right?

It has been awhile since I have entered a LYB challenge, but when I saw this awesome sketch I knew exactly what I wanted to do.  I had these awesome pictures of my Jack taken this spring.  We were planting our flowers in our pots on the patio and around the pond and Jack wanted to help plant.  He did such an awesome job that he planted them all.

sketch:



My take:

Supplies
All paper and embellies are LYB
die cuts, paper trey ink, silhouette

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I will be back tomorrow with a new project.  See you then!
-mp

Burlap and Buttercups January Kit Part One

Hello Everyone and Happy Wednesday!

I am popping in real quick today to tell you about my sketch challenge taking place over at Burlap and Buttercups.  It is a really fun sketch and the prize package is really awesome!  I would love it if you stopped by and entered!  You don't have to have a kit to participate.  Here is my take on the sketch.

Supplies

January kit from Burlap and Buttercups

Cardstock-bazzill

paper- simple stories

stickers- simple stories

bingo card- jenni bowlin

I hope everyone is having a great day!  I will be back tomorrow with a new project.    Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a super crafty day!

-mp

Project Life Title Page

Happy Tuesday,
How is your week going so far?  So far so good here!  I mentioned that over the weekend I was able to finally start my Project Life.  I ordered late and didn't get any page protectors (design A) and then I read on Two Peas that some people were using the 4x6 divided pages and just putting the 2 3x4 cards in the pocket.  Well I jumped on this idea because i read that the pages won't be in till February and I didn't want to wait that long--Anyhooo.  I made my title page!!  I am so excited about it.

To make the page I got supplies in my stash along with the Clemintine cards.  I also had to add some die cuts from my Silhouette. 

I love the little camera.  I think it looks perfect there!  (sorry for the glare on the protector sheet!)

I also placed my cards in the slots etc for me to work on at my Friday crop.  I am going to order the pictures and I will be set.  My plan is to work once a month on it at my crop.  Overall, I am really excited about it.  My journal is working out great holding all my journaling and I also write what my photo was so that when I go to my crop I can organize everything quickly.  Hopefully next week I will be able to show you week one and possibly two!

Thanks so much   for stopping by.  I will be back tomorrow with a new project.  ( I still don't have my class lessons done yet.  Maybe I can work on them tonight!)  See you then!

Have a crafty day!

-mp

Round 2 on Monday and a CAS-ual Card

Hey Everyone,
How was your weekend?  Ours was ok.  I was able to get some scrappin' in this weekend which was good.  I even started my Project Life!  So exciting!

I had good news Saturday morning!  I made it to Round 2 at the Practical Scrappers Layout Contest.  Thanks to everyone who went to vote for me!  I truly appreciate it.  So this round the layout was based on a sketch.  I had a lot of fun with this layout.  Round 2 is also about voting and I need your help once again.  If you would be so kind as to head on over there and cast your vote once again in my direction I would once again be so grateful!!!!  Here is the link:  HERE

CAS-ual Fridays has an awesome challenge going on right now and I just had to participate.

Create and all black and white card!  LOVE LOVE LOVE this idea! 

Here is my take on the challenge.

Supplies

cardstock-bazzill, neenah solar white

stamps- hero arts

ink- hero arts

I hope everyone has a great day!  I will be back tomorrow with my title page from Project Life!  Thanks for stopping by!

Have a crafy day!

-mp

Clean and Simple Card Class Week 2 Lesson 3

Happy Friday!
I am so glad it is the weekend. How about you?  Do you have any plans?  We really do not.  Just your basic errands in the morning and then NOTHING for the rest of the weekend!  I am so glad.  I am going to try to get caught up on my Card Class.  I am a touch behind!

Lesson 3
The lesson was to use the technique of stamping and embossing a mirror image a stamp. Jennifer made this look really easy!  Well, if we were getting grades I would get an F.   I tried it 3 times and then finally gave up because it took an hour to do this (and I just don't have an hour in the evening).  So I came up with a similar style of card using some two die cut images from my Cameo and then embossing the sentiment.
(Sorry the picture is a bit fuzzy--I took the picture when it was dark out!)

Supplies
cardstock- neenah solar white, american crafts
dies- paper trey ink
stamps-hero arts
hearts- silhouette

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I hope you have a great weekend!  I hope you have a crafty day!
-mp

Thursday Balloon Fun

Hey there,

I need your help! I entered Practical Scrappers layout contest and I made it to the first round.  The first round is all about voting.  My layout is up today and the top 25 layouts (there were 70 all together over the past 6 days) will move on the round 2.  I really need your help and your votes!  If you wouldn't mind today stopping over HERE and voting for my layout. I would really appreciate it!

Well life got in the way last night and I couldn't work on my lesson 3 from my class.  I have it all planned out in my head but with the grocery store, 2 loads of laundry, and hangin' with my boys and cooking dinner  after school I just couldn't get any crafty time in.  Oh well, hopefully tonight I can squeeze a bit in. 

This is a layout that I created using my Burlap and Buttercups July kit.  Yes, there are soooo many goodies in each kit that I am still creating with them.  In the spring, summer and fall, our backyard in the early morning and evenings are filled with hot air balloons!  There is a small airport by our house and the balloons take off and land there.  It is awesome.  The kids could be on the swings and there are balloons right behind them.  The are so close that it feels like you can touch them.  You can even talk to the people in the baskets!  I thought this paper was perfect for my layout!

paper- mme

cardstock- bazzill

dies- paper trey ink

rosettes- american crafts

stickers- maya road, bella blvd

Thanks so much for stopping by and your VOTE!  I truly appreciate it.  I will be back tomorrow with hopefully a new card!  See you then!

have a crafty day!

-mp

Clean and Simple Card Class Lesson 2 Week 2

Happy Wednesday!
I love it that it is already Wednesday!  I have some exciting news today!  I have teamed up with StopandScrap once again to bring you an everyday discount on ALL of your orders.  Yup that is right a discount on EVERYTHING! StopandScrap is your go to place to get all your scrapbooking supplies. They have reasonable shipping rates, great rewards programs, and super fast shipping! So you want to know what the discount is?  It is 12% off each and every day --All you have to do is enter the promotion code- SIEHLED.  That is all you have to do--enter SIEHLED and you will receive 12% off your entire order!  So what are you waiting for- head on over there now and check out all the new preorders that are going on now!

I was excited yesterday because I had time after work to work on my Clean and Simple card class.  The lesson today was to create a card with a plain white base.  I loved this idea and quickly grabbed my Paper Trey Ink stamps and Jenni Bowlin inks and went to town.  Here is what I came up with.

supplies
cardstock- neenah solar white
stamps- paper trey ink
ink- jenni bowling

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I will be back tomorrow with a new post (and hopefully a new project!).  See you then!

Clean and Simple Card Class Week 2 Lesson #1

Happy Tuesday,
So how's it going?  Did anyone get some crafting in yesterday.  I was able to complete my lesson #1 for my card class, and start on a layout. I have to start my valentine's day cards.  I haven't started anything yet.  I have an idea for Jack's class Valentines.  I just have to get working on them!  Have you started yet?


Lesson #1-Simple Embellishments
The concept was to make your own clean and simple embellishment.  I knew exactly what I wanted to do! I made my own embellishment using my paper try ink butterfly dies, some paper trey ink felt and some jillibean soup!

A close up of the 3D butterfly.

I love how the layered pieces look.  To attach all the layers I simple used my sewing machine. 

supplies
paper, die cut-jillibean soup
die, felt-paper trey ink
tools-sewing machine, ek success border punch

I hope you have a great day.  Thanks so much for stopping by.  I will be back tomorrow with lesson #2 (hopefully!).  See you then!
Have a crafty day!
-mp

CAS-ual Friday Challenge-Scallops

How was your weekend?  Mine was AWESOME! Lots of creative juices flowing.  I got done a layout and card for the store, and a layout and card done for me!  I love it when I can scrap just for me! So fun!

I was in the card mode this week and I was catching up on some of my blog reading and Cas-ual Fridays had the perfect challenge for this week.



The challenge-create a card with scallops.  To see the challenge click HERE

Well. I was working on a layout and had tons of scraps left over so I decided to take the challenge.

I just love this collection and I knew I just had to use up all my little bits and pieces left over from my layout.  I used a scalloped border punch and a scalloped circle (it is kind of hard to see).

supplies

Everything is Nikki Sivils

tools- ek succes border punch, and paper trey ink die

Thanks for stopping by.  I will be back tomorrow with a new project.  See you then!

Have a crafty day!

-mp

Clean and Simple Card Class Lessons 3 & 4

Hi Everyone,
Happy Friday!  I don't know about you but I am so happy today is Friday.  I am looking forward to a wonderful long weekend.  The only thing on our agenda  is Saturday night is date night for me and my hubby!  The boys are going to spend the night with my mom!  I think we are going to go out for dinner and then come home and watch a movie on Roku!  We haven't watched a movie together that is not Disney in like FOREVER! 

As you know I signed up for the Clean and Simple card class with Jennifer Mcguire and friends.  I decided to combine lessons 3 & 4 because I just did not  have enough time to do both assignments and these 2 seemed to fit together with what I wanted to create.

Lesson 3- Make a card that is monochromatic using some sort of die cut.
Lesson 4- Use a stamp in a new way.

When I saw the lesson plan for lesson 3 I knew I wanted to use my Hero Arts layering papers in the lilac color and I knew I wanted to use my butterfly die from Paper Trey Ink; however, I didn't get around to actually make it.  Life got in the way.  Then Lesson 4's plan came and then I knew I wanted to use my Hero Arts "Thank You" background stamp.  So I combined the two with stamping on my butterfly as well as the background.  I loved how it turned out,  To finsh it off I heat embossed the sentiment in white and added some pearls.  Loved how it turned out!

Supplies
paper, stamps, ink, pearls- hero arts
die- paper trey ink

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I will be back this weekend with my last lesson for the week.  I hope you are enjoying all my new cards.  See you later!
Hope you have a wonderful and crafty day!
-mp

Clean and Simple Card Lesson 2

Hey Everyone,
I love it that the week is marching on and the weekend is getting closer!  How about you?  I know I am ready for the weekend.  I have been feeling a bit run down.

Last night I was able to work on Lesson 2 for my Clean and Simple Card Class.  The lesson for today was really very easy- create a one layer card.  I liked this assignment

For this card I used one of my favorite stamp sets of all time-- the ice cream set from Paper Trey Ink.  I stamped the images with my jenni bowlin ink and then wrapped some coordinating twine.  Inside the card is a happy birthday sentiment.

supplies
cardstock- neenah solar white
stamps- paper trey ink
ink- jenni bowlin
twine- the twinery

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I will have a new project tomorrow! See you then!
Hope you have a crafty day!
-mp

Clean and Simple Card Class Lesson 1

Hi there,
I don't know if I mentioned it here but I signed up for Jennifer Mcguire's new card class that is going on right now!  I love her cards and sign up take a class whenever she is at Simply, but lately she has been doing online classes and so therefore I signed up for this class. 

This is a card from Lesson 1 on Monday.  Assignment:  make a card using one of the assigned sketches.  I used the 3rd sketch.

supplies
cardstock- bazzill
paper- jillibean soup
felt and die-paper trey ink
twine- the twinery
misc- sewing machine, fiskars border punch
stamp- hero arts
ink- jenni bowlin

I hope everyone has a great day.  I will be back with a new project tomorrow!  See you all then and thanks for stopping by!
Have a crafty day!
-mp

SuperStar Tuesday

Happy Tuesday!
How is your week going so far?  Mine is ok!  Do you ever have the crafty urge but you have NO time to get in your craft room?  That is happening to me right now.  I have so many projects running around in my mind but I haven't had time to create.  I hate it when that happens.

This is a layout I did for the store, and I forgot about it until I was organizing my craft room and photo storage.  These area pictures of my oldest playing soccer this past spring.  Bella Blvd came out with the perfect sports line.  I really loved working with the papers.

supplies

cardstock- bazzill

paper- bella blvd.

stickers-bella blvd

misc.  signo white gel pen, silhouette

I hope everyone has a great day today!  Thanks so much for stopping by and I will see you tomorrow with a new card.

Have a crafty day!

-mp

A Wet n Wild Monday

Happy Monday!
Did you all have a nice weekend?  Boy, I sure did.  I did something that I have not done is a LONG time.  I relaxed on the couch Saturday morning.  I had all my errands done, laundry done, cleaning done, and I loved every minute of it!  In the afternoon Jack had a friend over and they played in the basement so I made several cards and a new pocket keeper .  LOVED it.  Sunday I cooked a lot and just relaxed again.  I need to do this more often!

I am trying to finish up our Summer vacation to Florida.  I made this layout about our visit to Lion Country Safari.  At the park they had a splash zone and the kids loved it!  The had a blast-sshhhh-- I had a blast too!  For this layout I included some of my favorite elements--misting, twine, clouds and banners!

Supplies
cardstock- bazzill
paper- echo park
stickers- echo park
clouds- paper trey ink die
twine- the twinery
photo collage- kerri bradford

I hope everyone has a great day!  I will be back tomorrow with a new project.  See you then!
Thanks for stopping by and have a crafty day!
-mp

Top Layouts from 2011 Part 2

Oh I am so happy about it being Friday today!  How about you?  Any plans for this weekend?  We really don't have anything going on which is very nice.  The Bengals made the play offs so we will be watching that on Saturday.  I am in a card making mood so I think I will work on some card designs! 

Here is my 2nd part to my top layouts from 2011

I won the Nikki Sivils monthly challenge with this layout!  I still just love it!

I know it is not a layout but I just loved my Believe Banner! It was the first banner that I made!

I started getting into the Mister Huey sprays with this layout!  I am now totally addicted!

I liked this layout because I loved mixing the black and white photos with the colored!

I love this layout because of the pocket I made on the right to hold Michael's school work!

Thanks so much for taking a look back at my all time favorite projects this week from 2011.  I can't wait to share my new projects that I have been working on! 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I will be back on Monday with a brand new layout!  See you then!

Have a crafty day!
-mp

Top Layouts from 2011

Hi

My first published layout!

I taught this  layout at Simply Scrapbooks.  It was one of my favorite layouts that I taught!

Oh I loved my Miss. B--I was so sad when we had to put her down this past May.  This page is a tribute to her! (Not sure if I shared this layout here on the blog).

I will be back tomorrow with my final top 5 layouts that I made in 2011.  It is really nice looking at all my layouts and taking the time to read the journaling and just reflecting back on all the events in our lives.  Do you do that through your work?

See you tomorrow and thanks so much for stopping by!
Have a crafty day!
-mp

Top Cards from 2011 Part 2

Well, my vacation is totally over and today I head back to work.  I always get a bit teary eyed on these days because I miss the kids so much.  I have to get used to not seeing their faces in the morning again.  It is rough right now but I will get used to it--on the bright side my year is almost 1/2 over!  (trying to look on the bright side!)

Here is the second part to my favorite cards from 2011.  Yesterday I recapped my faves from classes I taught or my summer class that I took.  Today are just cards that I made for me.

This card is my favorite right now because I won the monthly challenge over at Whimsie Doodles and I am going to be the guest design team member for the entire month of February.  I am sooo excited!

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  Tomorrow I am going to look at some of my favorite layouts from 2011.  I will see you then!

Top Cards From 2011

Happy New Year!  Can you believe it is 2012? Where did 2011 go? Time just keeps moving by so quickly!  I really wish we could just slow it down just a bit-you know what I mean?

I wanted to take a look back at some of my favorite cards that I made in 2011.  Some of my favorite cards were ones I did for classes that I taught at Simply Scrapbooks  Here is a look:

My Halloween Class- I just loved this line from Doodlebug!

.
My Christmas Card Class using the Christmas Doodlebug line.

My Jillibean Card Class

and then Part 2

My favorite Cards from my Summer Card Class that I took  with Jennifer Mcguire:

I will be back tomorrow with some more of my favorites!  Thanks so much for stopping by!  I will see you tomorrow!
Have a crafty day!
-mp