My Time Made Easy sneak peeks start!

Today is the first day of sneak peeks for the November My Time Made Easy release!

Lauren has done it again bringing fantastic templates, adorable holiday stamps and some phenomenal cut files!

Today I get to show you the Star of the Show template! Ok... it's no news that i am in LOVE with the star shape! I love everything about it from the various things is symbolizes to the way it can be used for so many different occasions! This star shaped box will be an easy one to use over and over and for gift giving! It will make even a simple gift, a WOW gift! Plus it is a SNAP to put together! Can you imagine a time you've had a gift you were slightly, un....motived? to give? Just because you didnt think it was enough? Well, show your loved one the star that you think they are by packing it in this adorable box!

Here's my project for you today...

Now this star box is LARGE! I actually decided to make it bigger than big! I finally decided to break out the 12x24 inch mat for my cricut that i bought ages ago along with one of the 12x24 inch paper pads! Now the only reason you need such a large mat if you want your box this large is for the sides. I could have made it even larger! haha! Maybe next time. ;)

After assembling the Star of the Show box, i printed from pretty impressions printables paper that was actually released in August. The collection pack is called Taylor's Teeth: Candied Thislestalk. I just loved the confetti star paper from all the Taylor's Teeth collections! This one, while perfect for the holidays with green and red mixed some pink in there which is fine for the holidays but also makes it usable for all around the year.

I used satin ribbon and adhered it all around the box lid just to glam it up a bit and then tied a spearate piece of red satin around the box and tied a bow. Hopefully it's enough to keep eager eyes out until it's time to open! After all... the top does say...

DO NOT OPEN UNTIL DEC. 25th!

This stamp as well as the bell (stamped in versamark ink and then added queen's gold embossing powder) and bow are from the stamp set Secret Santa. I am in love with thi set. The font is perfect, the sentiments perfect and the images... just adorable! A truly go to stamp set for the holidays! I used it again on my card...

My card is very simple... i used the same paper and cardstock to create an easy card to match the template project. I used a fun border punch (that i HAD to have) by martha stewart to create the star border.

SO that is my project for you today! Be sure to check out Lauren, Catherine, Tangii, Tammy, Monique and Debbie for something that is sure to make you eager for November 1st!

Have a wonderful day!!!

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A birthday card for my mama!

My mom's birthday was this past saturday. I didnt want to post her card online until i was sure she had actually gotten the card i sent her! But you should go and leave her some birthday wishes on her blog. (fyi - i love that my mom has a craft blog now!!!)

Here's my card...

This hair color combo is one that i've been playing with a lot lately. It's great for fall cards!

If you happen to be local, this is one of the hair color combos we will be adding to our hair chart in my copic class this thursday at Scrapnesia. If you havent been to one of my classes at scrapnesia before, dont feel like you'll be behind. I can give you a hair chart and get you caught up on the colors we've done so far. I promise you will feel right at home! To register for the class, please call the Scrapnesia store...(864) 288-7771.

Here is a closeup view of the image...

This image is one of the latest releases from Paper Makeup Stamps called Moody for Chocolate. There are so many sweet tooth images to this latest release. So fun! And can be used year round, which is always a benefit!

Here she is colored with the following copic markers....

YR04, YR07, YR09, E99, E00, E21, E25, E27, R20, R21, R22, R24

The sentiment used is from the set Sprinkles and Cherries.

My papers and such used on this card were all from the scrap bin! GO ME!

Have a wonderful day!!!!

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Makeup 4 the Weekend Challenge!

Ok, so i promised the hubster we'd hang out and watch tv tonight, so i have to make my post quick!

Quick deets for those that don't know, every friday one of the Paper Makeup Artists hosts the Makeup 4 the Weekend challenge from Paper Makeup Stamps.

This week Shaela has challenged us to make a non square/rectangular card. This is something i very very very rarely branch out from. Since my caliber just shipped (FINALLY!!! WOOHOO, that wait has been killing me!!!!!) you may see more cards like this soon!

For now, i still had to do it OLD SCHOOL with my creative memories custom cutting system!

Here is my circle card using Leif and his sentiment. I just love this guy, he cracks me up!

Close up view.....

Copics Used... um, a lot! hahahahahaha!

G21, G24, G28, YR12, YR14, Yr18, R02, R05, R08, E25, E27, E42, E44

You have a week to play along with the challenge, and there is a chance at some FREE RUBBER!

Thats right, every week a lucky particpant is chosen to win the stamp of their choice, but you cant win if you don't play! So check it out!!!! DOn't think you wont win... we've had many ladies win more than 1 time!!! Check it out! There are more stellar samples on the blog as well!

Ok, have a wonderful day everyone!!!

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trick or treat ted

Good GRIEEEEEF i've been busy! And after my raging head cold finally subsided, but computer decided to die. Just one night i was typing up a blog post and POOF. It shut off... never to be restarted again. WTH! I finally gave up and made my hubby reluctantly agree to hand over his mac mini desktop. I need a desktop rather than a laptop anyway. But i still want to get my macbook working again! So frustrating! After finally getting my new computer set up... i had a string of makeup jobs (not complaining there to say the least... for those that are interested, i will be updating my makeup blog over the course of the next few days with pictures and such) but between work with makeup and work with the stamp company (orders take precedence over creating time!) I hadnt had time to work on too much. Fortunately for me, i had a few things I havent had the chance to show on my blog yet!

Like this fun monster card using Trick or Treat Ted from Paper Makeup Stamps.

Now as cute as he is with his little jack-o-lantern treat pail, check out what Randee did with him a bit back. See, he works all the time, not just in October! She's totally genius!

A little FYI for those who don't know... the past halloween (and many other fall stamps) are on SALE! Not just a little sale... a big sale! Qty's are limited of course, so check out the sale stuff while you can!

The card above was colored with copic markers (G21, G24, G28; C0, C1, C2, V12, V15; YR12, YR14, YR18). THe papers are all from the Halloween Card kit released this month from PMS (the paper collection is Happy Halloween from Echo Park).

I added some liquid glass by CTMH to his helmet. It looks really fun and cool in person, kinda hard to see in the picture.

Whew, well i'm wiped and going to bed! Hopefully you've enjoyed your easier read. haha.

Have a great day!!!

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A Double Fun Challenge!

Friday friday friday! I'm happy you are here but i have a FULL weekend ahead of me! I'm talking makeup jobs for the next 4 days! But i love makeup, so it's ok! ;)

Ok... you know you are singing along... doo doo doo doo doo dooooooo, doo doo doo doo doo dooooooo. :) Our challenge at copic creations this week is to have some fun with the colorless blender. But we have a FAB sponsor, Pink Cat Studio. I have loved Pink Cat for a long time. Their images are simple but ADORABLE! and just so perfectly drawn. And they kinda remind me of the Peanuts. And i have loved the Peanuts for as long as i can remember!

When i got to go thru PCS digi images (they have BOTH rubber and digi!) to chose my image, this one grabbed me instantly! Maybe it's because Halloween is near... maybe it's because A Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin is one of my favorite stories and tv specials as a kit. Maybe it's because i see my own 2 little munchkins in this image. Or maybe it's all of the above! Then suddenly i was like, oh fudgeadoo - how do i play with a colorless blender and this. Well i think i came up with a fun solution!!!!

So first i printed out the digi on xpress-it paper. Ok, i do love this paper, but i really love how easily it runs thru my printer! Especially since Neenah and other thicker cardstocks like to get jammed. Ok, so i printed it out and then colored my sky first. No rhyme or reason why, other than the fact that the blender technique to "lift color" (which isnt what you are doing, you are actually pushing the pigment of the marker further into the paper so that the fibers at the top return to white) works best on this paper when it is "dry". I started with my outside edges and a B99 marker and went around the stamp image as well. Then i worked my way in with a B97, B95 and B93 markers. I wish i had taken the darker further now that i see the card, but i did want to leave the "glow" of the moon.

After the sky was colored, i worked on the images which, were pretty easy since they are white! I did use a C1 and C0 marker to give a bit more shape to the sheets. If you look carefully, i left the top backside bare, and started shading just below that to give the reflection of the moon. It's a subtle thing, but i think it makes it look a little more alive. I did shade a bit on the bottom as well to give bends in the fabric. I went over the sheets with the colorless blender because i didnt want lines, i wanted a fade to the white. So there is use 1 for the colorless blender!

Now time for use 2! I went back in and left dots all over my sky to resemble stars and then a went around and around to create a moon. I will say i think this effect is easier on a more porous paper like neenah, but i had already gone this far and xpress-it paper likes my printer much better. I did let that dry again and went back over it yet again with the blender to get it as light as i could.

Use 3 for the blender was to leave a little bit of reflective light on the sidewalk (which was just drawn over quickly with a C9 copic). If you look carefully, i used the blender to create a few thin lines on the sidewalk surface. THis is just to give a little reflection of the moon. I like gel pens, but sometimes they are just TOO white. A surface will reflect like even if it isnt a shiny surface, so thats another place that the blender pen comes in handy.

Ok, that wraps up challenge 1! Be sure to check out the copic creations blog to get all the deets on how to play, what you'll win and to see the rest of the design teams FABULOUS creations!

And now at the risk of having a terribly long post... i'm going to share the 2nd challenge with you! For those early birds reading this right as it posts... the challenge doesnt actually go up for another 2 hours. It's a darn good thing i own the company and can't fire myself!

The challenge is to make a card that was inspired by a song! Well, when i was creating the above card, i couldnt stop singing the peanut's theme! And then when i went to make my card inspired by a song for the Makeup4theWeekend challenge, i couldnt get the peanut's theme out of my head! So i could have killed 2 birds with one stone, but i figured i should probably use stamps that were actually FROM paper makeup stamps for the slideshow. Granted the sentiment on my above card is a PMS stamp (that is ON SALE RIGHT NOW in the pms store!)

So i made this super quick and easy card...

In case you don't get what i was doing here, i was trying t recreate charlie brown's shirt using a pnch by martha stewart. And the doghouse from Home Matters has always made me think of snoopy and i cant color it anything but red! Man i love the peanuts.

Just to give you an idea of how much i love the peanuts... check out this halloween picture of me as a kid!

Oh no no no, i couldnt want wanted to be lucy, or peppermint patty or even snoopy... but i had to be charlie brown. striped zig zag shirt and all.

Ok, i hope i havent gotten the song stuck in your head all day. I'm sure it will be in mine.

Be sure to play in both of the challenges... there are prizes people! Free stamps to be won! You do NOT want to miss out on that!

COPIC CREATIONS, have fun with your blender!

Paper Makeup Stamps - get inspired by a song

(OH - here's a kicker, when trying to find blue, i found my STACK OF VELLUM that i couldnt find for last week challenge... so i used it anyway, just for you Michelle!)

Have a Charlie Brown Day! But dont get yoru kite stuck up in a tree!

GOOOOOOD GRIEEEEEEF!

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sorry for the lack of posts!

Man what a WEEK i've had! Just as i think i can catch up from being sick, my computer DIES! AGAIN! Clearly there is something wrong that is making my harddrives fail. Failed harddrives are not an uncommon problem with macbook laptops. My hubby thinks it's because i have too many programs open at one time. Well... i have to multitask! In any case, i'm so sorry for the lack of posts! The sad thing is i have things to show you and just havent been able to get them posted! I finally told my hubby something had to give. I NEEDED to get online. I run an online company for pete's sake!

So, i've taken over my hubby's computer (he still has his laptop, i havent left him totally without!)

Bear with me as i get caught up from all this mess! I still dont have all my programs and that KILLS me! So much for wrking on my makeup site! *sigh*

Be sure to check back in tomorrow... i do have not 1 but 2 cards for 2 of the most fun challenges i've done in awhile! Yeah, you know you are excited to find out!

Here's a tip... the song you are giggling to about now... well it's part of it!

But since i'm getting ready to type up some scheduled posts, i cant schedule the music too. :D Wait, maybe i can. Eh, this is more fun. It gives you a reason to come back in the morning!

Have a wonderful evening!

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PMS Release in Review

Today is the final day of the release in review for october from Paper Makeup Stamps.

Be sure to check out the PMS company blog for some fantabulous creations from the Paper Makeup Artists. :D

Here is my card for you today... i am happy with how it turned out, but let me tell you... half way thru coloring the cookies i was having a "well this seeeeemed like a good idea at the time!". It took a smidgen longer than i anticipated! However, since i wasnt about to cover up the coloring i took the time to do, the rest of the card is simple and was a snap to put together!

SO... first i cut a 4 x 5.25 piece of xpress it cardstock (yes, i LOOOOVE it) and stamped the cookies all over randomly. Then i got to work on coloring them in! I used E57, E55, E31 and E41 to color in the cookie, and E49, E27, E25 for the chocolate chips. I stamped 1 more cookie (actually, this was colored earlier at a coloring playdate with my friend stephanie!) and cut it out, popped it up on some scotch foam pop ups.

Then i got to work coloring in Cookie Man (from a previous release... but man he works great with this release!) He is colored with G20, G21, G24, G28 with B93 spots and eyes and R83 for his cheeks. I added in a touch of white gel pen by gelly roll as well. His cookie jar is B91, B93, B95, B97 and B99.

The cookie monster was matted and them also popped up. The blue ribbon was an afterthought as i thought, well this poor blue cookie jar kinda sticks out like a sore thumb. Luckily, since everything was popped up, it was very easy to just slid it underneath!

All of my edges were sponged with Antique Linen distress ink.

The cookie image and sentiment are both from the new release So Sweet set which available in RUBBER or as a DIGI and it is filled with other fun sweet images and funny sentiments. You should check it out!

Ok, thats all i have for you today! By the way... my blog candy (you know... the MEGA one?!) is still UNCLAIMED! Was it YOU? Check out HERE to see if the missing winner is you!

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PMS blog hop!

It's that time of the month again! PMS time! No not THAT kind of PMS, the only kind of PMS you can look forward to! Paper Makeup Stamps!

Now you should have hopped here directly from the PMS company blog! It's full of all the info you need for the day and if you've just come here, then go back a square to get all the deets. Then come back to me and start your hop!

For my hop card today, i used the new October Halloween card kit!

I love the papers and ribbons and embellies in the kit so much! AND, for the first time, we're offering this kit for sale with a digi stamp as well as the rubber stamp. Yes, this decision was made because there was an error by our manufacturer, but that is no reason you cant reap the benefits! A cheaper kit! Plus right now, if you get our newsletter you would have gotten a code to get 1 kit and get another kit and 10 bucks off! WHAT!?! That's crazy right?! Ok, if you arent signed up for the newsletter... you can still sign up to get these goodie deals each month. Then email katie@papermakeup.com to let me know that you signed up for the newsletter and then i will send you the voucher code! :D

Ok, and now my card...

Every bit of my card came from the card kit right down to the emerald green liquid pearls!

I love these colors for halloween so much! And these papers for Echo Park are just fabulous!

Even the die cut is from the kit! Yep, i LOOOOOVE this kit! :D

Ok... my head cold is still getting the better of me, so i'm going to give you my letter before i forget and then send you on your merry way!

Now continue on to Dawn's blog! She'll have a card for you that is probably reminiscent of how i'm feeling about now! hahahaha! I better take a nap this afternoon so i can party tonight at the RELEASE PARTY!!!!! :D

Have a wonderful day everyone!!!

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Final Sneak Peek for Paper Makeup Stamps

Hello again! I am definitely getting sick! ugh... this is not the time of year to be sick! That and the fact that my 2 year old busted my eye (seriously, i look a bit like Rocky Balboa) and i'm typing with only my left eye open... yes, i will keep this post short and concise!

You can read all the info about the sneak peeks and all their chocolate and dieting glory on the PMS company blog! ;)

Here is my card...

I love this fairy (named Jenny... i'll let you figure out why!) and all of her not for slender-fairyness! As she timidly looks at the scale and thinks... um... how did THAT happen?

This fairy comes with a matching sentiment that reads Don't Give Up. Perfect for those cards of encouragement! You can use it without the fairy image too of course!

This card will be on display at Scrapnesia in Greenville, SC if you happen to be a local (to me!).

I'll be using this card as a sample for coloring light brown hair. In class this month, we will also be going over a night orange tone hair (think ANNIE!) I'll have another card with that later!

THe papers used on this card are by My Mind's Eye. I LOVE this collection of papers (Be Loved) and if you ARE a local and want to pick some up, they do still have some at the store!

Ok all... it's 10:30 and i am going to SLEEP! Be sure to check out the company blog for you chance to win this stamp along with a few others! And to see the rest of the creations by the Paper Makeup Artists! Have a wonderful day!

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The Perfect Blend, with my time made easy!

If you are looking for my Paper Makeup Stamps sneak peek, please click HERE.

Today is a group post day for My Time Made Easy.

In case you missed it... MTME has a fabuloso fall and coffee release this month with SOOOOO many stamp sets that you NEEEEEEED. Especially if you are a coffee drinker! Which i AM!

Of course there are new templates available this month and they ARENT just for coffee drinkers!

In fact, one of the things i really love about the templates this month is that they can be reused over and over for so many things. Ok, so the coffee/tea cup is a little bit tricker, but hey, i'll still use it over and over again! ;)

Today i'm showing off the Pinch Me template. This is a 1 template 2 ways template which of course only increases it's "usability"!

Here's what i did!

Does that To Go cup look familiar? Yep, it's the exact same one from my post the other day. Yes i was going to redo it for this one, but then i thought, nah, i'll make 1 big coffee gift set out of it!

Inside the pinch me bag is... you guessed it... COFFEE! And omg, let me tell you the smell in my craft room because of it is intoxicating! I love love love the smell of coffee!

Doesnt it make a darling little goodie bag! Think of the treats you can put inside! Now the window isn't actually a part of the template (which means you can put something inside that maybe you dont want to see on the outside!) But i took the Secret Surprise cut file and centered it into the template design before cutting it out with my SCAL. Then i lined an acetate sheet (cut the same size as the front) with 1/8 inch scor tape. I didnt want ANY coffee sneaking it's way out!

I decorated my paper BEFORE assembling by using the coffee bean stamp the Fancy a Cuppa stamp set.

I used the Fancy a Cuppa Add On stamp set for my tag and my sentiment at the top is from the Grab a Cup sentiment set.

And now... I wanted to show you the other way this little baggie pinches together....

Stinkin' Cute right?! It isnt as "traditional" of a coffee bag look, but it's so different and fun!

You'll have to see what Lauren did with it turning it into a PUMPKIN!

Lots of fun ideas! And i heard thru the grapevine that Tangii turned it into an Acorn!

Nothing in assembly is different, you just decide whether you make the score line go in or out, it's that simple!

Now be sure to check into the rest of the design team as each and every one of them have something special for you to see!

My Time Made Easy Design Team:

Lauren Meader (owner)
Kristin Bueter
Catherine Doucette

Katie Shawger Cotton

Tracey Cuccia
Pam Imholz

Stephanie Kraft

Tammy Hershberger
Lisa Kind
Tangii Crain
Debbie Marcinkiewicz

Have a STUNNING day!

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Paper Makeup Stamps sneak peeks, day 4 - sorry you feel so icky!

If you are looking for my My Time Made Easy post, please scroll click HERE!

Paper Makeup Stamps is on day 4 of our sneak peeks for the october release.

Today some of the Paper Makeup Artists are previewing a few more, miscellaneous stamps! HAha! If you took a peek our previous sneak days, you'll see each day has a theme. Well... not so much today, other than stamps that may just make you laugh out loud.

That is why i couldnt resist coloring Flubu (yes thats his name). He makes the perfect card for someone who feels a bit under the weather.

Check out this card...

First i colored him in with copic markers (YG91, YG93, YG95, YG97 and B32, B34, B37 and E42, E43, E44)

Then I quickly put the layout together because i'm running on empty and starting to get sick myself. I wasnt paying attention and i dropped my stamp. I uttered a word that is probably about how this monster feels. Pick it up, yep, it left a mark. A slight one, but a mark none the less. So somewhere in my brain i thought, well, i'll just stamp it all over like i meant to do it.

Now of course, that would have only worked if i didnt TELL you that. Ah well.. i dont have a mute button.

Now this fun sentiment that reads "I'm sorry you feel so icky" comes with the image stamp. So not only will you have a fun monster to color, but you'll always have a sentiment stamp for your get well cards. haha.

Be sure to check out the company blog for your way to win this stamp and also visit

Maria

Ginger

Randee

Shaela

and Lisa

Have a non icky day!

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Paper Makeup Stamps sneaks day 2, school girl fairy!

I'm not gonna lie... my intentions of going to bed early... didnt so much happen. I'm not sure where my day went, but it's 12:30 am right now. Ugh... i'm going to keep this post short sweet and to the point!

Today Paper Makeup Stamps is sneak peeking a set of fairies (they are sold as individuals) for school! I am in love with these cuties! They work great for just about any age which i think is really great. It's hard to find appropriate stamps for the older school age kids... but these are still cute enough that they aren't just for seniors!

Here is my card...

I'm really not sure what made me choose this color combo. It's definitely not a standard. but it was fun to work with! The patterned paper is by Glitz and their is a scrawly print on it that is hard to see in the photos but it seemed very "schoolish" to me. I'm also still trying very hard to break out of my every layout the same rut. In the end, i ended up being mildly pleased with the layout.

The image is colored with copics... RV91, RV93, RV95, RV99 with Y32, Y35, Y38, E33, E35, E30, E00, E12 and N7, N5 N2.

My sentiment is from last month's Little Moments sentiment set! But there is a new sentiment being released that reads "What an Accomplishment".

Be sure to check out the company blog to enter yourself to win these stamps!

Also check out these fabulous ladies to see what they've done with them!

Lisa Kind

Andrea Vernagus

Anita Hovey

Dawn Mercedes

Michelle Van Patten

Have a fantastic day!!!!

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Paper Makeup Stamps Sneak Peek, so sweet set!

I'm not gonna lie... i'm typing this post waaaaay past my bedtime. I wasnt even scheduled to do a card for the sneak peek today from Paper Makeup Stamps, but i just couldnt resist the chance to remind you that we have a new release coming up on October 7th! The stamps will go live at 9pm EST and we have SO much releasing i'm just ecstatic!

Today some of the Paper Makeup Artists are showing off the set called So Sweet. It is full of images sure to temp your sweet tooth plus some matching sentiments and 2 single words that make it fit seamlessly with our past sweet set called Sprinkles and Cherries.

Here is my card...

I colored the sundae image with copic markers... R81, R83, R85, R89, E30, E21, E33, E35, E37 and E49. OH, and C5 and C3 for the spoon.

I did a silly thing and sold off my cuttlebug as i anxiously await the arrival of my Grand Kaliber from Spellbinders. BUT, backordered... of course. So who knows when i'll get it now. grrrrr.

And meanwhile, i had no idea how much i used my nesties until now!

So i busted out some old school dies... my creative memories custom cutting system. NICE!

My paper i created by mixng the word stamps from Sprinkles and Cherries and the soon to be released So Sweet set. I also used the previous sentiment from sprinkles and cherries that reads you're the _______ on my cupcake. I filled in the word cherry from the set (there is a variety of words to choose from) and then replaced the word cupcake with a stamp from the So Sweet set that read sundae!

I love combining sets together. :D

Ok, so thats what i have and if i type any longer my head is going to hit the keyboard and i may lose it all!

Just remember, PMS party at 9pm on October 7th when we release our stamps. Giveaways everyday this week on the company blog.

OH - and yes, i know i owe you a winner for my BLOG CANDY. I promise... i'll post it. When i'm awake. ;)

Have a wonderful day!

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Fancy a Cuppa To Go with My Time Made Easy!

I love love love anything to do with coffee! This is why I am beyond excitement with the new release from My Time Made Easy. But the best thing about it is Lauren has thought of things that other craft companies haven't! Like how to make a to go cup of your own! And using K-Cups and a stamp image of a Kuerig machine, not just a coffee pot! I am in total love of this release! Check out what i did with the Fancy a Cuppa and To Go templates using paper from the Coffee Beans pretty printables paper collection digi pack and Fancy a Cuppa add on stamp set and Grap a Cup stamp set!

Stinkin' cute, huh?!

Here is an overiew looking down. There is an insert dividing the Fancy a Cuppa into 2 compartments. You could omit the divider and use this template for a lot of other things!

There is a little handle at the top but it's a little hard to see since i went ribbon crazy. Gotta love using up those ribbon scraps though!

I fit 8 kcups perfectly into the right side compartment.

Here is a view of the To Go template. It creates an adorable to go cup! How stinkin' cute! No more "altering" a cup just for a gift purpose. Now you can create an adorable "coffee cup to go" package to coordinate with your card or other gift packaging. To pair it with the Coffee K Cups, i filled the cup with single servings of coffee creamer.

Now for the lid... obviously that doesnt come with the template because you can't make your computer cut a plastic lid! But the To Go cup fits all the standard cup lids. I sweetly asked my barista at starbucks if i could snag an extra lid. My starbucks gals are sooooo nice. They give my kiddos treats too. My husband says it's because they are hopped up on caffeine and sugar. Maybe so, but they are still very nice!

Last but not least is my coordinating card. I used more papers from the Coffee Beans pretty printables paper pack. I am very happy with how this turned out because as i looked at a few of my recent cards today i gasp in shock and horror that every card had essentially the same layout! My i am in a RUT i told myself! So i knew I have to do something different! So this is a different kind of layout for me, but it was fun. The red circle is not a mat at all but rather a cut out. The circle that i cut out is on the top of the coffee cup, so i used the negative space and let the red mat show thru. Then i popped up the stamped image of the Kuerig-esque machine on top. I did want to have a few similar elements so i add the same red ribbon that is on the packaging. But other than that, this card could also stand alone.

Here is a quick side view of the card just so you can see the detail of what I am talking about.

I wouldnt call it revolutionary, but it's different than the 1.5x4 inch piece of coordinating patterned paper that I seemed to think was necessary on my cards. hahahaha.

Ok, so now that you've seen my project, be sure to check out what Lauren, Tangii, Tammy, and Debbie have in store for you!

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It's a Secret Surprise from My Time Made Easy!

NOTE: If you are looking for my Copic Creations challenge post, please scroll down! :D

It's the 1st of the month! That means the new release for My Time Made Easy is live on the site and ready for you to order! Holy Fall and Coffee goodness galore! If you love anything about october, you will love the release from My Time Made Easy!

To get the rundown of everything being released today... check out Lauren's blog!

Today every design team member has a secret surprise for you!

You'll have to check them all out...

My Time Made Easy Design Team:

Lauren Meader (owner)
Kristin Bueter
Catherine Doucette

Katie Shawger Cotton

Tracey Cuccia
Pam Imholz

Stephanie Kraft

Tammy Hershberger
Lisa Kind
Tangii Crain
Debbie Marcinkiewicz

And now onto my project for you using the In Suspense Template and Secret Surprise Stamp set along with the new Thankful stamp set, A Spooky Surprise stamp set and the previously released Just For You stamp set!

Isnt that template the cutest! It's designed to leave a treat on someone's door. I cant wait to do a drop off of my gift later today! I was hoping to do it yesterday and get some in action photos... but my children were LESS than cooperative!

Ok, let's first take a closer look at what went into the In Suspense Template!

You can obviously already see in the above photo the overview of the whole design, but it's a little tricky to see the top. So here is a closer look!

The words here are all from the Secret Surprise Stamp set. Again... i LOVE it! Afterall, we are crafters who like to make gifts for other people! How fun to do something completely unexpected!

If you look carefully, you'll see the words Secret Surprise hiding behind the poem. All of the ink you see is 1 of 2 colors... the brown or the orange. To acheive the different tones, i simply inked the stamp up and then stamped on a scratch piece of paper to remove SOME of the ink. This is a great way to create coordinating ink colors! The Secret Surprise wording was stamped off twice, while the leaves(from the Thankful stamp set) just once (then inked up just the bottom edge to create some extra dimension. The swirls at the top (also from the Thankful stamp set to add to the pumpkin!) were just inked and stamped.

Now for the bottom portion of the package. I inked up the Secret Surprise fram ink walnut distress ink. Now distress ink is a little funny in that it's very juicy and stays wet. But it also doesnt like to stay where you put it on a clear stamp. At least not as well as some other inks. It puddles on me a bit. However, sometimes this is just the look i'm going for! I inked up the frame and then VERY lightly touched it to the paper to give a rustic distressed appeal. I then used the same ink to distress all of my edges.

Inside of the package i lined the cutout with a piece of acetate sheet. That way i could fill it with small goodies and nothing would fall out!

Ok, now that we've seen some close ups of the package, let's look at the coordinating card.

This card was made, of course, to coordinate with the In Suspense package. It uses all the same cardstocks, however, I wanted it to be able to stand on it's own as well.

Using the same technique of "stamping off" that i did with the Secret Surprise wording, i stamped the leaves from the Thankful stamp set over and over again as well as one of the leaf outlines from the set in brown ink.

The brown hidden layer has actually been stamped with the polka dots from the Fancy a Cuppa set!

The Thankful words are obviously from the Thankful stamp set while the For You is actually part of the Just For You sentiment from the Just For You stamp set.

The pumpkins are a mixture from 2 stamp sets. The taller pumpkin is from the Thankful set while the shorter one is from A Spooky Surprise. I colored the pumpkins with copic markers (YR12, YR14, YR18)

PHEW! So thats the breakdown of my entire project for you today! Be sure to check out the rest of the team and then go SHOP! Stay tuned, tomorrow I have another special project for you from MTME!

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