Paper Makeup Stamps March Sneak Peeks BEGIN!

There are many many good reasons not to wait until last minute to work on deadline projects.

Stress of getting them done, finding out you dont have what you need and not enough time to get it, unexpected things coming up (like sick kids, other family issues) that need to be dealt with first. All these things can cause major snafus when you have a deadline and you've waited til last minute. Well... none of these things happened to me. I live in South Carolina where normally this time of year its about 70 degrees. What happened to me today? Random snow and ice blow in and knock out our power. So today I try to get cards done, while kiddos dont have school and i'm working in the dark on very little battery power left on my laptop oh, and no internet so i'm "borrowing" the neighbors. Now THAT makes for some interesting card making! So my planned out card (using the copic airbrush, nope that wotn work, what about the sewing machine, nope that wont work either. Well, we're going old school! All the while my just turned 4 year old keeps telling me everything is broken! "mama, there's sumpin wrong with this tv toooooooo".

Ok, so thats my funny story for the day. I did manage to get my first sneak peek card done for you. Let's pray the power comes back on before tomorrow because i'm not sure there is enough light left outside to do any more for today (remember i'm typing this the day before you are reading.. thank goodness for scheduled posts!)

Today is the first day of sneak peeks from Paper Makeup Stamps for march! Since we didnt have a stamp release in February I was ACHING to get my fingers inky with new PMS rubber!

And this release is so much fun to me for so many reasons!

Today the Paper Makeup Artists are sharing some of the new wordart available this month. Go over to the PMS company blog to read about the new word art and to see what some of the other Paper Makeup Artists have to share with you today!

Here's my card... simple and sweet, mostly showing off some fun and fabby paper i hadnt gotten to use yet that just worked perfectly with this new single sentiment available from Paper Makeup Stamps (available on March 7th at 8pm CST).

Now I wanted to have a bit of sunshiney-ness to my card, and i really wanted to use this cloud and dandelion paper by Cosmo Cricket, but how was i going to add that sunshine idea. Thats when i thought to color in a bit of the cloud with some yellow copic markers! And suddenly, the sun was born into my card!

I then decided to add some shimmerz (in candlelight) to the top of my sun. Why i only think to add the shimmerz when i have suns and moons (think back to the natures song sympathy card i did awhile back) is beyond me. haha. Here's a closeup look...

Not positive that i love that i did that, but this was the best piece of patterned paper for what i wanted so it stayed. :) I also added some shimmerz in angel wings to the dandelion fluffs...

Now here's a close up of that fabby sentiment that PMS illustrator, Shaela Odd put together (she did ALL of the wordarts this month for PMS, ok, so she usually does... haha. She's fab!)

I LOVE that sentiment! It's so very very true!

Now dont forget that our PMS release party is March 7th at 8pm CST in the PMS forum! We'd love to see you there!

Stay tuned this week everyday for more sneak peeks from the March release from Paper Makeup Stamps! And just in case you've missed my posts from the past coupla days, My Time Made Easy has just had a fabulous release as well and Canda from CandaCraft.com is donated a Sure Cuts A Lot program for me to give away! Read all about it HERE.

Stamps:

A Cloudy Day sentiment from Paper Makeup Stamps (to be released March 7th, 8pm CST)

Paper:

Patterned Paper by Cosmo Cricket

Cardstock by Marco Paper (brown paper bag) and Coredinations

Tools and Accessories:

Long Classic Rectangle Nestabilities by Spellbinders

Long Scallop Rectangle Nestabilities by Spellbinders

Brads by American Crafts

Ribbon by Nicole™

Distress Ink in Antique Linen

Shimmerz in Candlelight and Angel Wings

Copic Markers in Y32, Y35, Y38

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My Time Made Easy and a chance to win SCAL2!

Are you looking for my special post from My Time Made Easy??? It's moved to the post just below this one or if you came here by a direct link, you can CLICK HERE to view my wall art frame and matching Baby Catch All project!

Now I want to tell you about the super special and fun giveaway happening on my blog!

Canda from Canda Craft is sponsoring my blog this month and letting me give away a Sure Cuts A Lot 2 program!!!! Holy cow right?! She's awesome! Not to mention that her site has the best prices around (should you not win, ;) ) Let me tell you, having the SCAL program has been a dream! These template cut perfect and you always have the perfect score lines (tic marks quide the way for where you should score). Not to mention how fast it goes, you are also able to resize with ease and since I have the circut expression, I can cut things much larger than my printer would print the template. So what do you have to do to win? Well, i'm going to make you work for it a little bit... I want you to make ANYTHING using ANY of the My Time Made Easy line. It can be a template, pretty printable paper, stamps, any of it. Even one of the freebies, so no, you dont HAVE to spend money to enter.

But wait, theirs more! Lauren has decided that she will browse all the entries personally and pick out her favorite! She's going to featured on the website as a sample AND is going to win the entire April release (valued at over $100!!!!) You can read all about Lauren's giveaway HERE.

ETA: We have extended the deadline! You now have until Wednesday march 10th!

You have until March 8th at midnight to enter using Mr. Linky below. If you do not have a blog you can always upload to a public gallery to link up. But if that is still something not of interest to you, you can email your submissions to makeupbykatie @ yahoo dot com.

The winner will be announced on march 9th right here on my blog. :)

Please feel free to show off this giveaway on your blogs as well! The more the merrier!

I do want to make sure that everyone knows this giveaway is for the software only which is still of a hefty value, but there is not a cricut machine being given away with this software. That you'll need to purchase on your own. ;)

Thanks so very very much for stopping by today! Be sure to check out Lauren's blog today as well! She'll have something for you everyday and each day this week a different design team member from My Time Made Easy will have yummies for you to see!

Don't forget to link up your creations!

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My special post for My Time Made Easy

Hello everyone! It's my special day to share some fun My Time Made Easy treats with you!

(For susbribers that swear they've seen this post before.... you have, I am editting this post away from the giveaway post just to make it easier to find. :)

Well let me first say that when I saw the super cute baby templates, stamps and printable papers being released this month, i was over the moon! I love love love baby things! I mean, who doesnt really! It ALMOST is enough to make me crazy enough to want another one!

But since those chances are slim, and my 2 boys are, well, boys! I always love to make little girlie baby gifts! Remember that oh so cute paisley boy paper i used on the Bouncing Baby Buggy Project? Well guess what.... there is a girlie version too! Oh yeah, i love it!

Here is a quick overview of the whole project together...

Now my coordinating wall art (i.e hanging picture frame, haha) is a pretty good size one so i know all the details are hard to see in this photo. SO i guess i'll just have to show you lots of photos! Ok, so i often show you lots of photos! hahahaha!

First Let's go to the "card catch all" which i've turned into a baby catch all! I dont know about any other mom's of little ones, but my baby's dresser seems to become the constant catcher of all things. Whether it's the hair comb, pacifier and favorite rattle, or it's pictures i'm meaning to put in some frames, they always end up on the dresser. Thats when i thought of the fun idea of changing the Card Catch All into a cute little something to sit on top of a baby dresser to catch all those little things!

There are 2 storage compartments as i did opt to add in the divider, but this time i added it with a different color cardstock for that extra pop of color. :)

Also being released this month is a cute coordinating baby stamp set called Bringing Home Baby. This is where the adorable stork image came from. Here's a close up...

The baby blanket being carried by the stork has been paperpieced. The rest of the image has been colored with copic markers.

And as if the release couldnt get any better.... Lauren is also releasing Cute File Accents. What is a cut file? These are files to be sold to go along with your cutting software. You can then easily cut shapes that coordinate with the templates and stamps. For this project I used one of the shapes from the Tag, You're It set. In this set you get 4 different shapes (which of course you can resize to your hearts content) for only 2.50! Now I know what some of you are thinking... but with a cut file I wont be able to do the fun things, like sponging or airbrushing inside the nestie to get the white edge, or embossing. Well, you are incorrect!

Here is a quick step by step process of how i created this same effect (and you could do the same thing for embossing!) First it might be helpful for you to cut out a sheet in various sizes. This can be kept in a file so that you dont have to do the same thing everytime you want the effect. Here i've cut it out of 2 different colors. The green cardstock is really just so you can see what I'm doing in the photos. :) You may want to right down the sizes you have used.

Next take the cutout you plan to use on your project and find the next smaller size from your cut out sheet.

Line it up so it is evenly spaced behind the smaller cut. Here's a tip, holding it up to a light like in the photo below will help you easily line it up.

And then use some tape to secure in place. Another tip, if you tape is super sticky, pressed your fingers against it a bit to untack it a bit. it will still be plenty sticky enough to hold your paper in place, but will be easy to remove without pulling up any of the fiber on your paper.

Now use your copic airbrush or ink and sponge as you would have within the nestie.

After you are done, carefully peel off your shape and viola!

Ok, now back to our regularly scheduled programming... :)

Now that you've seen some of the details of the "baby" catch all, now I want to show you some details from the Wall Hanging.

First the top frame...

I used 2 separate stamps from the Bringing Baby Home stamp set along with the same paisley paper from the Bringing Home Baby Girl paper pack.

Here is frame 2...

For this frame I used one of the stork images from the Bringing Home Baby set again. This time the whole image is colored with Copics. I also used half of a sentiment from the So Sentimentalstamp set (also released this month). The sentiment reads "our family is a circle of strength and love. With every birth and union it grows."

And last but not least, my favorite frame of all!

How can you not love this?! This is a photo of my cousins little girl. Sadly, I havent even gotten to see her in person yet! But i get to in June! WOOHOO!

To cut out Ava's name, I used the Storybook cartridge from Cricut.

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My Time Made Easy March Release is LIVE!

It's March 1st!

I hate to say it, but I'm glad february is over! Normally February is one of my favoritest months!

Valentine's Day, my first son's birthday, my sister's birthday... just a fun month! This month was, um.... long and well, testing! haha! Just a jumble of things really, but i'll spare you all the details!

But you know what is here and happy and fun!

The march release from My Time Made Easy! It's live on the site! Go check it out!

No wait, read on and see some pictures and then go check it out! :D

Again i tell you, this release is even better than the last! I mean they truly just get better and better! I showed you my card catch all project the other day (scroll down to see that) but today i get to go a different route and show you a baby project! yeeeeeeeah! Who doesnt love to make babies... i mean baby projects. :)

Well Lauren has designed the CUTEST little baby buggy (that also makes a great basket for all kinds of things!) Truly, that Lauren, she's a genius! Just look at what this template called Bouncing Baby Buggy, helped me create....

This little gift set is perfect to give to a new mommy. And believe it or not... ALL of that fits into the basket! There is a lot of room in there!!! In my gift set there is an of so soft snuggly dog, a little travel bath set, a picture frame and a small bible. :) I could probably squeeze even more in there if i wanted to!

Here are some close up views...

First a shot of the baby buggy by itself...

And just look at that cover! It looks so complex but the template makes it SO easy! I simply sponged some distress inks on the edges and used a scallop border punch to add a little decoration. You could opt to not do the border punch or you use an even more decorated one!

And get a load of this Pretty Impressions Printable digi paper!

This is from the Bringing Home Baby boy pack. The moment i saw this paper i fell in LOVE! The stars, the paisleys the buttons the color and checked background. OMG, it's perfect! I never need another baby boy paper again!

And if adorable templates werent enough.... there are matching stamps... oh yes, there are!

The set i used for my card is called Bringing Home Baby and it's just so cute! The buggy image also has solids that can be stamped inside for color like last months You've Got Mail set. This time i opted to color it in using my copic markers because quite frankly, my copics have been sad at not being used as much this past week and coloring makes me happy!

Here is a close up view of my card...

I kept my card simple, just using the left over pieces of cardstock and paper and then adding on the CUTE matching baby buggy image from the Bringing Home Baby stamp set.

I added in one of the sentiments "For the New Arrival" inside the buggy image.

Here is a close up view of the image itself...

And oh... did you catch that? You seeeeeee those pretty swirls? Thats from yet another fabulous set released this month called Fanciful Flourishes! You'll see more of that from me later this week... but ya know what? You can probably see some of it today because every single My Time Made Easy design team member has a very special project to share with you today!

So why not check them all out?

Lauren Meader - owner

Kristin Bueter

Mona Pendleton

Katie Cotton - that's me

Pam Imholz

Catherine Doucette

Tracey Cuccia

And be sure to come check out my blog tomorrow! I have another special MTME project for you! And not only that.... but I have a special something for you to try to wiiiiiiiiiin. :)

Stamps:

Bringing Home Baby from My Time Made Easy

Fanciful Flourishes from My Time Made Easy

Template:

Bouncing Baby Buggy from My Time Made Easy

Paper:

Pretty Impressions Printables, Bringing Home Baby Boy pack, My Time Made Easy

Cardstock from Cardstock Couture Raindrop and Nomad

Bazzill basics Vanilla cardstock

Accessories:

Buttons from my button stash

DMC embroidery floss color number 3325

Brown Satin Ribbon by Offray

Distress Ink in Antique Linen

Scallop Circle Nestabilities

Scallop border punch by Stampin Up

Copic Markers Used

B91, B93, E40, E42, E44, R81, R83, Y21, Custom Color "Y20"

Read more...

The silence is over, My Time Made Easy March release is HERE

The silence is over! That means my intermittent posting gets to be filled with some fun crafty ness! In other words... its sneak peek and release time! WOOHOO!

Today i get to share my first peek into the release from My Time Made Easy. Now i know this is only release number 3....but truly, My Time Made Easy is just getting better and better and better! I am LOVING this release and just know that i'll be using these templates and stamps over and over again! To get all the details, as well as see some amazing other creations, be sure to check out Lauren's blog everyday!

My project for you today uses the Card Catch All.

Let me just say, this came at a perfect time, because it's my girl Jenn's birthday today (i'm just praying she does read my blog before i see her today! haha!)

This catch all is truly a catch ALL! I kinda feel like there is nothing this baby cant handle!

There are lots of options too with how to adapt it to your own needs. You can add in the inserts (that come with the file) that act like index cards to create fabulous organization. (this is something i did not do... this time ;) ) You have the option of adding or not adding the divider creating 2 spaces (which i did) and there are lots of other embellishment options.

I decided to create 2 catch alls with the dividers and then adhere them together back to back to create 4 nice sized compartments. Here is an overview...

So the front side you've already seen, filled with cards for just about every occasion! It's the perfect grab and go card caddy so that you always have that last minute card handy.

The opposite side i've filled with card making goodies. There is a pen (because you have to have a good pen!) and a little notepad to keep addresses and other notes in. In the front pocket i've filled with extra embellies and prestamped sentiments, making for more quick cards when you need them!

Ok, back to the front of the catch off for a bit! :)

Here is a view of the card catch all without everything inside. I wanted to be sure that you saw all the scrumptious curved details! I just think it makes it look SO elegant!

And now, a peek into one of my new FAV stamp sets ever!

So Sentimental...

That little quote is just one of many many sentiments in this set. There is 1 4x6 sheet full of sweet quote sentiments for every occasion and then 1 4x6 sheet full of larger sentiments that fit beautifully into a gorgeous image stamp. Oh stay tuned... more pictures of those coming up!

And i just had to show a close up shot of these flowers. I would love to say i made them, but i did not. They are by Martha Stewart. haha.

And now... those lovely large sentiments i was telling you about... well i used them to make very simple yet elegant cards to fill the catch all!

Do you love it? Cause i know i do!

And that paper! Oh i love the digi paper being released in March!

So thats what i have for you today! But there is so much more to see and drool over!

Today the Just Us Girls Challenge blog is showcasing some wonderful things

as well as the rest of the My Time Made Easy team...

Lauren Meader - owner

Kristin Bueter

Mona Pendleton

Katie Cotton - that's me

Pam Imholz

Catherine Doucette

Tracey Cuccia

Have a wonderful day! I'm off to play at my son's birthday party!!!!!

Stamps:

So Sentimental from My Time Made Easy (being released on March 1st!)

Template:

Card Catch All from My Time Made Easy (being released on March 1st)

Paper:

Cardstock from Cardstock Couture (Fallen Leaf, Carousel, Ganache, One Sheet Wonder White)

Pretty Printables Digi paper, Fanciful Flourishes by My Time Made Easy (being released on March 1st)

Tools:

Border Punch by Martha Stewart

Flowers by Martha Stewart

Grosgrain Ribbon from the stash

Chocolate Pearls by Kaisercraft

Read more...

A beautiful picture...

I hate that I dont have anything of my own crafty to show you today. My parents got into town yesterday (yeeeeeeeeeeah!) and we've been prepping for my son's birthday party on saturday and i've had a pretty large wholesale order i've been working on. :) So needless to say, crafting time has been slim. Hopefully my mom and I will get to have some crafty time tonight since my mom is a pretty great card maker herself! Plus there are going to be sneak peeks for both PMS and MTME coming up! In fact, Lauren has started the MTME peeks today, so you can go to HER blog to check that out! You can also check out Mona and Pam!

But i did have to share that the makeup 4 the weekend challenge from PMS starts today and OMG, lisa has picked the most beautiful picture as her inspiration!

Is that picture not just beautiful?! I want to print it and put it in a frame is so gorgeous! Oh and you should see what my dear friend Lisa Kind did with this as her inspiration!

Go check everything out HERE!

And hopefully i'll have somehting crafty to show you very soon! :)

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It's my little cookie monsters birthday!

My little man is 4 today! I simply can not believe it!

When did he get to be so big?!

He may be crazy, a little bit um, quirky, but he's my little man and i love him to death!

He loves to craft with me. He loves to make people cards (which these days involve less and less stamps and more and more drawing.... perhaps he'll be one of my illustrators one day!)

He loves all things blue, monsters, and anything sweet to eat!

So i made him this card for today!

I used Cookie Man from the february release from Paper Makeup Stamps.

This image so reminds me of Jack! Especially since he's trying to sneak some cookies before anyone catches him! It doesnt matter where i hid them... he will find a way! haha!

Here is a close up of the image...

I probably should have done a little more shading on the cookie jar. Oh well!

Jack has fully learned his numbers and letters and is now learning how to put them together to spell on his own. He can spell his name, mama, and Elle (one of his little girlfriends who's name i taught him for her birthday card... now he spells it all the time!) and he's constantly asking how to spell other things. Its fun, and sad all at the same time since he's growing up!

For his card i knew i needed to have the number 4 on it because after today it will surpass his current favorite number which is 3. I used the Precious alpha set from Close to My Heart. Even though i've done a recent MAJOR cleanout of my stamps (see the for sale up in my tool bar, there is still a ton left) my alpha sets by CTMH were definite keepers. I love the ability to line up clear alpha stamps and the CTMH quality just cant be beat!

Thanks so much to everyone for stopping by! The rest of my day is going to be filled with fun and games, blue cupcakes and Chuck E Cheese! Gotta love a 4 year olds birthday! Time to eat with reckless abandon!

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Stamps:

Cookie Man from Paper Makeup Stamps

Precious Alpha from Close to my Heart

Coloring with Copics:

B21, B24, B28 (spots), E40, E41, E42, E44

Paper:

all from my scrap bin so i dont really have colors for you, sorry!

Tools and Accessories:

Man, minimal card huh! haha!

Circle punches by Creative Memories

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I finally found it!

My camera! hahaha! My camera often goes missing in my house as my VERY soon to be 4 year old loves to take pictures! I've been hunting for days.... and i finally found it! Ok, so this time it was in a coat pocket, completely not the kiddos fault! Now i'm missing the charger, go figure.

Those who know me, know that i LOOOOOOVE coloring in monotone particularly black and white. In fact, a long while ago i did a black and white copic coloring tutorial that you can see here.

Over the weekend i had the pleasure of teaching the copic munkies at Funkie Munkie Scraps.

I decided to revisit the idea of coloring in black and white but this time used the Cool grey copics.

here is what I came up with!

Although the card is simple (side effect of taking some time off, i always lose my mojo!)

I was please with how the card turned out.

My image is one of the Miss Anyas from The Greeting Farm and the sentiment is from an unloved set of mine from Stampin Up called From the Heart.

I also used my new big polka dot embossing folder from Quickutz. Thanks to Julee Tilman, i saw 1 card of hers using it and i did a quick online search to buy it!

Here's a closeup shot of the image....

Ok, thats all i have for you today! Now i have to jet to get some things in order for a certain someone's birthday tomorrow! :)

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The time has come...

to do a major clean out of my craft room! Soon i'll be combining my craft room with my PMS rubber and things. Overall, it will make my house flow much nicer. it will give the boys a playroom downstairs. But it currently has made my craft room/guest bedroom... a wee bit CRAAAAAMPED! So i decided.... it's time for a massive clean out!

I dont have time to possibly use all the stamps i own... not even close! So i figured the weed out would 1, make the room make-over a little bit more manageable, and 2, bring in some funding to make the room make over happen!

This is the biggest weedout i've ever done! There is plenty in the list that I am sad to see go, but at the same time, i just had to be good and do it! Who knows, i may even add more!

So rather than clutter this blog with the list (it's pretty darn long) you can find everything for sale HERE.

Thanks everyone!

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I'M BAAAAAACK!

Whew, that turned out to be a little bit longer of a hiatus than i expected!

But after my little break, i had too busy of a week to get crafty! I have however, organized a list

of craft supplies that i'm selling that will be posted shortly, i made a project for a class (which you'll see in a minute) and i worked a political ad campaign (doing makeup on set) so it has indeed been a busy week!

Here is a little project that I made for a class at Funkie Munkie Scraps....

My original thought is that little seed packets can go inside the paper holder which just slides out when you pull on the ribbon. But a lot of things could go in there really! The template design was my own, but super easy to make. Just construct one half of a box and then measure paper to go around it! :)

Here is a photo with it opened up...

Now i didnt get a great detail shot of the flowers, but it's the new ultrafine flowersoft! I love this flowersoft much more so than the original. The texture is devine and not too chunky. It's really easy to work with too!

Here's a close up of the card, you can see the flowersoft a wee bit better here....

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

If you are in the mood for a challenge, dont forget to take a peek at this week's Makeup 4 the Weekend challenge at Paper Makeup Stamps! I hope to participate over the weekend!

Stamps:
Stampingbella, gardenabella, flowahbella

Paper:
LilyBean patterned paper
bazzill cardstock


Accessories
Flowers from floral stems - hobby lobby
acrylic discs - michaels

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