My Time Made Easy: Well Contained

First of all.... i'm back with a post for My Time Made Easy! Last month I was on a production set during release time (that sounds so fancy! I was just making doctor's look good for interviews and things that would be shown to hospitals, tradeshows, etc) But I missed out on the release time! So i'm very excited to be back this month AND My Time Made Easy has some awesome new team members!

Check them out!

Mara Campbell http://loveyourmotherearth.blogspot.com

Lori Hairston http://www.lorihairston.blogspot.com

Lori Kalus http://www.afternoons-delight.com

Pattie Goldman http://pattie-g.blogspot.com

Linda Hammerton http://lindyloo6.blogspot.com

Farida Rone http://www.frcreaciones.blogspot.com

And now onto my project to share!

On March 1st there will be 2 new templates releases. This one I am sharing today is so cool and really in 2 templates in 1. And you can choose either piece or put both together (like I did today)

THe template is called Well Contained. It has a box and a holder.

Here's a shot of the template/box taken out of the holder...

I also used the new digi stamp set Spring is Here for my sentiment and butterfly. I hand stamped the swirls on my green cardstock using the acrylic set Fanciful Flourishes (which is available as a digi download set as well).

Now what is INSIDE my template? I joined a new company called itWorks. They have all kinds of body and skin care but their revolutionary thing is these body wraps. They come in a package with the lotion already on the cloth and then you simply apply it (so easy) and wrap yourself either with tight fitting clothing, a towel, saran wrap, etc. And they smooth, tighten and hydrate the skin allowing your body to shrink so to speak. I did it in my tummy and boy oh boy does it WORK! I took off about an inch and a half in my first application. And I'm a small framed person, but did have some extra skin from kiddos. I plan on doing the side/back flabby next! WOOHOO! Oh and the facials (my real reason for joining the team, i wanted to be able to offer them to clients) leaves your skin smooth, hydrated and helps dimish wrinkles AND combat blemishes. WOOHOO! Feel free to check out my site if you are interested. You can find it, HERE. I'm telling you, my skin has never felt this awesome!! And i'm a makeup artist, so i take extremely good care of my skin!

Ok ok ok, back to the project here...

Inside my box, I simply folded and rolled 1 application up. It would make such an awesome gift!! You actually get 4 in a package, so it's 4 gifts. Or you can host a spa party. Give the set I made here as a hostess gift or thank you gift for someone who deserves a little time to themselves.

Now check out these fine and fabulous design team members and what they have to share with you today!

Lauren

Tangii

Lisa

Lori K

Patti

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My Time Made Easy: Year in Review

Welcome to my My Time Made Easy Year in Review post! Every month, the design team revisits past templates, stamps, cut files and paper and makes a new project with them.

Well... i have certianly had a busy week if you've read my recent blog posts. I've been very busy with a production shoot and also 2 releases to be crafting for and typing up blog posts. I hate when i get just SO busy because i dont feel like there is much me left over for my kids (luckily, this week is a light week so i have a few things planned, plus today i sent daddy fishing and brought in one of their absolute favorite babysitters to play with them for the day... so at this point i'm a pretty cool mom)

Anyhoo - when thinking of what to make for the review post, I decided it would be fun to make something for one of the boys. Since gabe is still at the "oh fun, now i'll destroy it" stage.... i opted to make something for jack instead!

Jack is just like me... he loves little boxes to store things in! Legos and small toys are among his favorites... so I made him his very own box for treasures using the Flapper template!

If you check out the Flapper link, you'll see that there is actually perfectly aligned holes so that the closure can be secured by a ribbon or thread. Since Jack can not tie his shoes yet even, I didnt think this was a very smart idea so i created a velcro closure so it would be easier for him. I used one of the stamps from the On Display stamp set to create a perfect button for the front and used chipboard letters on top for his name.

Here's a picture of the inside... which of course at this point is empty because i'll let jack pick his own things to keep inside. :D

Now be sure to check out the rest of the MTME design team and see the inspiration they have for you to get out those old templates and make something new!

Lauren Meader

Lisa Kind

Tangii Crain

Debbie Marcinkiewicz

Kathryn Berthiaume

Monique Hansen

Read more...

My Time Made Easy: Something Sweet

Today is this month's release day for My Time Made Easy. Normally MTME releases on the 1st of the month, but this month Lauren decided to release a little bit later giving use on the design team a bit more holiday! Thank you Lauren!!!

For today's post, the team was asked to make something sweet or for someONE sweet.

I chose the latter and i'm SO excited to give it to them tomorrow!

Not against my usual... i wait a little bit too long before working on my assigned projects. I've always been that way. never doing homework or writing term papers until just before they are due. Not doing my laundry until I absolutely have no other choices of clothing to wear. You know, things like that. :D

Well.... here I went again, working on my project the night before it's due. This time, a slightly good excuse. I've been on set the past couple of days for a clothing company, and the days have been a little bit longer than I expected, so understandably I am a bit behind. (to be honest... it's a primarily male clothing company and I can safely say since my husband does not read my blog that the guys i get the pleasure of make-uping are some seriously good looking guys! haha! I mean i'm happily married, but i sure havent minded the eye candy the past couple of days!)

But today as I sat down after a long day of shooting (part of the day being in wind and rain and cold) I thought... man I am SLEEPY! And then it suddenly hit me EXACTLY what I wanted to do and I completely 180'ed on my plan for my project today.

The production coordinator for the shoots for the clothing company is April. April is such a nice nice person. She hires me repeatedly for this company and I have now dont 3 catalogs with them but here is one of the ways she is different than the average project coordinator. She remembers I have kids. She remembers when I take them to school and when i pick them up and she schedules my call times accordingly and even tries to make it so that I can leave part way thru the shoot to either pick them up from school or at least check in on them. She's even asked me to please go ahead and just bring them to part of the shoot and said if i'm needed on set, she will play with them while i work. I have never met a production coordinator who thinks of those things, or even CARES about those things. most just see one with a family life as a bit of a production nuisance. So for that, i am very grateful.

So why did the fact that I was sleepy trigger me to think of my new project? Well... today, April did not look good. Haha. She walked it later than my call time and I thought, oh sweetie. Did you sleep at all?! She said, about 2 hours. She has been up all night for the past 3 nights getting the catalog ready for print and then still is on set all day. She told me today she has slept for a total of 7 hours in 3 full days! After the shoot wraps tomorrow... i know she doesnt just get to go home and go to bed... but I do hope in the next couple of days she gets to finally take a break!

I wish that I could help her with the catalog... but thats not my job. So, i made her this project for when she does finally get some time to herself.

Here is my little collection of goodies in the Sweet Treat Tote. This tote is SO fun! It can be package 3 ways. Lauren did a fantastic job of displaying the same tote with 3 different gifts inside in THIS POST.

This little "box/tray" of sorts goes inside the template. Unfortuantely, I kinda forgot the HEIGHT of the template when i was planning so my bosy wash doesnt fit inside. Ah well. My rose soap petals do! Along with some tea lights and the bar of chocolate that i plan to pick up tomorrow morning on the way to set (yeah, it was a thought too late for my picture).

The tray can also be flipped upside down (my original plan!) and then you can use it to stick candy lollipops, cake pops, etc in and it holds them upright. Also included in the template package is another box/tray that would then sit upright the height of the box. I love that there are 3 ways to use it!

And one more picture for you...

Be sure to check out the rest of the MTME design team and their creations today...

Have a great day!!!

Lauren Meader

Lisa Kind

Tangii Crain

Debbie Marcinkiewicz

Kathryn Berthiaume

Monique Hansen

Read more...

My Time Made Easy: A year in Review

I have one more project to share using one of the new templates released yesterday from My Time Made Easy. :D

It's the A Box is a Box once again, only this time I'm using the other version of it (yes you get 2 for the price of 1!!) and have created the petal top version.

I don't know about you... but i think i may enjoy gifting coffee as much as I love drinking it!

It's just such a useful gift (if the recipient is a coffee drinker of course!). Coffee around my house is as much of a staple as bread and milk! So it's a very welcomed gift seeing as it won't appear on my grocery list the next time I'm out! I also like to gift fancier versions that you may go ahead and buy yourself. :D But fancy or not... wrap it up in a cute way, and it's sure to be treasured!

Here is my Box is a Box again...

And since this is our New with Old post... i've comboe'd this template with paper from the Coffee Beans digi paper pack and stamps from Fancy a Cuppa and Fancy a Cuppa Add On Images

Now be sure to check out the rest of the team to see how they have mixed the old with the new for their projects today!

• Lauren Meader Box with Lid
• Debbie Marcinkiewicz Petal Top Box
• Kathryn Berthiaume Petal Top Box
• Katie Cotton Petal Top Box (thats me!)
• Lisa Kind Box with Lid
• Monique Hansen Box with Lid
• Tangii Crain Box with Lid

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My Time Made Easy: A Box isn't just a box!

Oh what a night! Have you ever had one of those nights when nothing went your way? I had one of those tonight! My whole day really.... all the way down to my cricut needle giving out half way thru my project, my internet being intermittent and my children refusing to sleep!

SO we all have those days right? These are the days that i said thank GOODNESS for MTME!

Luckily, i don't have to give a gift tomorrow... but if i did, MTME would be coming to my rescue. because even with my cricut problems tonight, this template came together quick and cute and makes a great packing for any gift!

Here's my project using A Box is a Box...

This template comes ready with 4 different adorable cut files already perfectly places to create window in the front of the box AND with an alternative top. be sure to check out all the design team members today as we are all sharing this adorable box template to show the different ways to use it!

I used a strip of muslin fabric to tie around my box and to create the rose on top (SO easy!)

Now don't forget... the new My Time Made Easy release is live and ready for you to go check it out!

2 NEW! Pretty Packaging Templates

4 NEW! Pretty Impressions Stamp Sets

6 NEW! Pretty Printable Digital Paper Collections

4 NEW! Pretty Pieces Cut Files

Please view our Gallery for project samples, and alternative ways to use all our amazing coordinating products! You may also want to check out our blogfor weekly challenges, and even more amazing ideas.

And here are some quick links to the design to check each one out!

Lauren Meader - both styles! You have to read her post!

Debbie Marcinkiewicz Box w/Lid

• Kathryn Berthiaume Box w/Lid
• Katie Cotton Box w/Lid
• Lisa Kind Petal Top Box
• Monique Hansen Petal Top Box
• Tangii Crain Petal Top Box

Read more...

My Time Made Easy: Insert Card Here

It's a sneak peek of whats to come from My Time Made Easy!

Tomorrow, the new templates, digi stamps and cut files will all be available to order!

Today the design team members are each showing you one of the new templates...

Insert Card Here

This template is so fun, so quick and easy but oh so necessary for your template arsenal!

How often have you gone out to get a gift card for someone?! Perhaps it's last minute and it's your best option. Maybe it's for that oh so difficult to shop for person on your list or maybe it's one of those everyone donates $5 for the gift (like for a teacher) and the easiest way to compile such a gift is to get a gift card! Well this template is exactly what you need!

HOWEVER... you don't need a gift card to make a super fun and cute gift idea with it!

You can create your OWN gift card! Kinda like a coupon or certificate, just cuter!

Here's my fun idea that I plan on giving to my hubby for chirstmas (good thing he pays no attention to what i post here!)

Here the Insert Card Here template, all tied up (it doesn't have to be tied down, but if you don't intend to tie it down, make sure your creases are well done on your insert!

Are you intrigued at what may be inside? Those jail bird details (just strips of black paper I adhered to the template) might give it away...

Hehehehe, i can't wait to see him laugh on christmas morning on this one. He always gets a kick out of the things i make him, but this one is funny too. :D

This is simply the best gift card holder i've found! I plan on using it over and over and over again!

Plus it makes you feel better giving a gift card when you've been creative with the packaging, right?!

Be sure to check out the other design team members today and get more fun ideas for gift giving this holiday season (and year round!)

Lauren Meader
Debbie Marcinkiewicz
Kathryn Berthiaume
Katie Cotton
Lisa Kind
Monique Hansen

Tangii Crain

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My time Made Easy: A holiday year in review

Its the last day of new release treats from My TIme Made Easy (not the last day to BUY of course!) and certainly not the last day of inspiration since MTME has challenges EVERY WEEK... but it is the last scheduled day of posts from the design team. :D

For my post today Im using the last of the 4 templates... Sleigh Ride. And let me tell you, making a cute holiday treat has never been easier! Seriously, this template cuts things just as you need and it can be put together faster than Santa can wrinkle his nose!

Here is my project...

I used stamps from some christmas sets released last year, Secret Santa and The Gingersnaps.

The bell was embossed with glittered embossing powder and then tied to the back of the sleigh.

The snow was created using a mixture of Liquid Applique, heated and then some glue and chunky glitter added on top.

Be sure to check out the rest of the team for more holiday inspiration today using new AND old from My Time Made Easy!

Lauren Meader

Debbie Marcinkiewicz

Kathryn Berthiaume

Katie Cotton

Lisa Kind

Monique Hansen

Tangii Crain

Read more...

My Time Made Easy, To The Point

Well it's time to get to the point.... my post is late. haha! Sorry about that. I suddenly felt VERY under the weather last night, so i needed to just go to bed which means my post wasnt typed, pictures weren't taken, etc. I do apologize for that! I'm still not feeling 100% but i'm standing, or rather sitting and not hunched over, so thats a good thing!

Another, to the point.... it's the name of the template i've used for today!

This box is actually VERY spacious! You can fit all kinds of treats inside. I had the perfect treat, a fun colored bath fizzy.... and then in my haste to get it photo'd and all, i totally forgot about it. OY! But it does fit one of the large Lush sized bath fizzies, so it's definitely big! Of course you could always scale it down if you wanted it a bit smaller. :D

Here's a picture of the end...

You have the option of folding the tabs in or out, creating a point, or the flared end. OR, you can do both and create a darling dreidle like Lauren did in THIS POST! The cut file actually comes with everything you need to make this perfect for the Jewish Holidays!

In my project, i did add some fringed yarn in the point to make it a little more party style. :D

Be sure to check out Lauren, Tangii and Lisa today for more wonderful projects!

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My Time Made Easy Release Post

The latest release from My Time Made Easy is now live and ready for purchase on the website!

Today the entire team has put together projects for you to get inspiration from using products from the latest release.

My project is, um.... a little... unconventional? Let's put it this way, have you ever done something for work that you personally are happy with, but you just hope you dont get in trouble? Haha, thats about how i feel with my project. It's not exactly on brand with My Time Made Easy, but i still think it's fun and cute!

Here is my project...

I used the new Cover-Alls template (so cute and perfect to create aprons of all types, or overalls, etc) and turned it into this little lingerie piece! haha! I was inspired by a recent bride who was telling me about how her bridal shower was a lingerie shower! So how fun would it be to package up a gift like this? Or perhaps a naughty little present under the tree for your hubster. I did not just type that. ;)

Here's a few more views...

Inside I tucked some massage oil and some sexy little things that i was NOT going to photograph and then put on my blog!

Here is the template put together and ready to fill...

I wrapped this super fun ribbon i've been hoarding around it to create the trim of the endies and a rhinestone to create a bit of bling for the belly button.

here's a backside view....

I also used one of the new digi stamps available today called Yummy Sentiments for my card...

Yes indeed it is from a cooking/kitchen set. The original design includes a super cute whisk that I took off for the purpose of this project. It would have been even better if i had some body whip to put inside instead of massage oil. but there is time to purchase that before giving. :D

So thats my not so um... modest... project.

Be sure to check out the rest of the team for their awesome creations!

Lauren Meader - Owner, designer

Katie Cotton - that's me

Lisa Kind

Tangii Crain

Debbie Marcinkiewicz

Monique Hansen

Kathryn Berthiaume

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A sneak peek for My Time Made Easy

We're almost at Halloween... which means my brain and officially start THINKING about some of the more wintery holiday things! The upcoming release for My Time Made Easy has a slew of ideas that are perfect for the upcoming season.

I however, couldnt resist 1 last Halloween project! Now granted once this template is released, halloween will be over BUT you could just as easily make this into ANY hat. Santa's hat maybe? An Elf's hat? It doesnt even have to be a hat of course, but i saw it and thought witches hat and I just had to squeeze that one last halloween project in!

I used the new template, Tri-It. So cute with such fun possibilities! The bottom opens up so you can put any kind of small treats inside... candy, halloween erasers and toys and such like in my above photo, etc.

I also used the stamp set, A Spooky Surprise (which is available both in acrylic and digi)

to help create this fun treat box...

Now i'm off to bed after a long day of wedding and halloween make-uping!!!

Be sure to check out Tangii, Debbie and Lauren for more inspiration!

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My Time Made Easy October Release day 2

I have another project to share today from My Time Made Easy!

For the next couple of days, the design team will be showing you ways to mix the new release with something from the past from My Time Made Easy.

I decided to use one of the new super cute digi stamps, and pair it with an old template.

Here's Santa and his workshop!

I realized as I was posting that I completely forgot to take a picture of the cookies inside! DOH! And I opened a new pack and everything! AHAHAHAHAHAHA!

I am entirely oo exhausted to pull the camera back out again (if you remember my post yesterday, I had 3 weddings to do makeup and hair on today!) SO, you can dream about the yummy cookies. And I will probably finish eating them all while i'm typing this up. :D

In any case, the cookies arent what you want to know about, it's this template, right?!

This is part of the Mega Shop template. I'm so sorry I dont have links for you at the moment. I cant seem to get onto the store site. I also used acrylic stamps from the Sugar and Spice stamp set.

Here is a close up of the santa (which is the new digi stamp available in the store!

Be sure to check out Lauren, Tangii and Lisa for more inspiration today!

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My Time Made Easy October Release

It's October 1st! I'm not quite sure i'm really ready for this month! It's going to be an INSANE one for me! For starters, October is the new June when it comes to weddings. And today is starting out with a bang with 3 weddings and an extra client (who is in a wedding, but it's just her, so i wasnt really counting it as 4 weddings). Its going to be a whirlwind of a ride!

Also since it's the 1st, it means that the new release from My Time Made Easy is live on the site! Given the fact that I have had lots to do to plan for this wedding weekend (did I mention i have another wedding and a bridal portrait to do tomorrow?) I was never so excited with how easy this template came together! And it has SOOO many options, it's a quick and easy gift for any occasion! The template is called Topped Off and really you can top it off with so many different shapes and things that it really does work for just about anything!

Today the team is sharing holiday gifts and I'm not even ready for THIS month let along christmas, so I'm sharing a fall holiday gift. It would make a perfect hostess gift as you know all those dinner invites will be coming soon!

Here is my project...

The leaf topper is KEY! It holds the lid in place and also helps you to remove the lid.

Bu it can be topped to look like a snowman, a graduation cap or with more generic shapes like a star or flower (all these before mentioned items come with the purchase of this template. :D

Check out THIS POST by Lauren to see all these different options!

The leaf i used is a previously released cut file. You can find it HERE.

Here is a view with the top off. You can peer inside to see my giftie.

Now this little holder is more spacious than one might think!

And here's the full gift set. I thought the colors and shape of the soap dish were appropriate for this fall themed giftie. :D The paper is from the Digi Paper Pack Chocolate Halloween.

I did want my pumpkins a smidge more orange in the end. So i just colored them with a copic marker... right on the box. So super easy. I did love the look before, i just evening up turnign my leaf too orange when i airbrushed it. Oh yeah, i airbrushed the leaf. hehehe.

Be sure to check out the entire design team for more inspiration!!!

Lauren Meader - Owner, designer

Katie Cotton - that's me

Lisa Kind

Tangii Crain

Debbie Marcinkiewicz

Monique Hansen

Kathryn Berthiaume

Have a great day!

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My Time Made Easy Sneak Peek

Soon, My Time Made Easy will have a brand new release for you!

This month there are 2 new templates being released this month, but i'm just showing you a sneakie peekie of one of them! And of the new digi set that will also be released on Oct 1st!

Here is my project using the Thats a Wrap template!

Don't be fooled by the colors... this doesnt HAVE to be for christmas (though it certainly could be if you are one of those get it done early types!)

I used digi paper from the Fruit Medley paper pack (remember back when there was the jame and jelly release! yum!)

Well thats where i went with this gift idea! Adding in some of my favorite jam recipes....

The box is perfect for handmade cards, photos, notecards, address cards, etc as well as all kinds of other things! I just wanted to note how perfect it is for size of these things!

This makes a wonderful gift that is very little out of pocket money!!!

Here's another shot of the template when closed...

I just love how it wraps up! So pretty!

And see the tag in this photo? Thats from the new Well Rounded digi stamp set that is also being released on Oct 1st. Trust me, it will have your gift giving craftiness raring to go!

Now be sure to also visit 3 of my favorite ladies today for some more inspiration! Lauren, Tangii and Lisa!

Have a wonderful day!

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MTME group Post: Year in Review

I survived my wedding madness weekend! I'm only hanging on by a thread, but i survived! In less than a 48 hour period, I did no less than 33 Makeup applications and somewhere near 37 Hair styles, though I had some assistants to help me set curls, etc. And this doesnt include the touch ups, travel time, etc of my last 48 hours. I'm definitely exhausted after this weekend!

So please bear with my sweet and short post today for My Time Made Easy!

On the 5th of every month, the MTME team does a year in review post to highlight some of the past templates, stamps, cut files and more that you may have forgotten about!

Well there is one cut file in particular that I never got around to using and I just think it's adorable and such a wonderful gift idea! I also think that sometimes the cut files get overlooked!

Gabe starts preschool on tuesday! He did go to the 1 year old class last year 3 days a week, but this year he'll be going 5 days and has a more official school schedule. I'm so excited for him! And for ME! Yeah for quiet catch up and craft time in the morning! So here is my little sweet and OH so easy gift idea for his teacher on his first day!

This is the An Apple a Day cut file! I used some already embossed red cardstock, quickly cut this out using my SCAL and cricut and then topped it with a green prima flower and button combo! Inside are a few of the turtle treats left over from my project the other day. :D But lots of treats could go inside!

Here's a close up shot of the little tag I made to go with the apple treat...

The sentiments are from the Boxed Lunch stamp set and the apples are from the Well Preserved stamp set (both acrylic)

One last view of the completed project...

SO really... it took me not long at ALL to whip this up! Perfectly little thank you for helping my kid treat to a teacher, etc. Just when something more than a thank you email is warranted, but maybe not something so lavish that you would do for a teacher's holiday gift, or end of the year gift. :D And there are lots of other uses for it! Think of the decorating possibilities!

And now there is MORE to see! Check out these fine ladies for their projects today!

Lauren Meader

Debbie Marcinkiewicz

Kathryn Berthiaume

Katie Cotton - thats me!

Lisa Kind

Monique Hansen

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