Blog Candy

-This post will remain at the top until Thursday- scroll down for more recent posts-

Hey everybody! I finally have the pictures of the blog candy. So sorry for the delay.

There are lots of goodies here: SU! Kraft- Almost Amethyst -Orchic Opulence- So Saffron -Sage Shadow cardstock, SU! -Basic Grey- Kaisercraft -and PTI patterned paper, envelopes, a 6 x 6 SEI mini scrapbook, 3 Studio G mini stamp sets, a mini block, CTMH "A Friend Is" stamp set, 3 copic markers- (V000, V15, Colorless Blender), a black micron journalling pen, 7 Prismacolor Pencils, blending Tortillions, charms, assorted felt- fabric- and paper flowers, white buttons, assorted ribbons, 3mm white pearl strands, rain dots, Tatered Angels glimmer chips, Queen & Co mini-brads, a Memento Tuxedo Black dew drop ink pad, Georgia Pacific White cardstock, Tim Holtz Sizzix die cuts.








Okay- all you have to do is post a comment on this post. Remember you must be a follower to enter. Winner will be drawn by random interger on Thursday April 29th at 8pm. If you have any problems leaving comments please just email me at michellena317@comcast.net to enter.

Fun With New Toys!

So the other day I let you guys in on a little secret- I feel like I have lost my mojo. I have at this moment in time 10 cards that I need to make (either requests or Mother's Day I need to send). I still have not done one card that I need to do...but last night I opened up my box that arrived from PTI and I actually did a little playing. Inside my magic box of tricks was cardstock in my favorite colors- pinks and purples...and their new release designer paper- Dotty Biscotti...yes you guessed it ...it is polkadot paper... plus this fabulous leaf ribbon that I decided to order on a whim. I decided to color up this new digi set I got from Tiddly Inks called Bloom Q. I played with my new Smooch Illuminate paint, and I finally opened my new Martha Stewart Doily Lace punch. I used my new Tim Hotlz Alterations Baroque die too! The flowers I picked for this card didn't really match the papers so I colored over them with my Copic RV10 and V91 markers.

The only thing I am not crazy about on this card is that the Smooch made my digi lines run a bit...that is the gray you may see on the flower. Live and Learn....now I know not to color over printed lines with Smooch.

You have until 8pm ET tonight to enter to win the blog candy. I will post the winner tomorrow!



Recipe: BloomQ Digi by Tiddly Inks, PTI Plum Pudding Lavender Moon Sweet Blush Kraft Stampers Select White and Dotty Biscotti cardstocks and paper, Martha Stewart Doily Lace Punch, SU! Wide Oval and Scallop Oval Punches, PTI Leaf Ribbon, Prima French White Flowers, Tim Holtz Alterations Baroque die, Smooch Illuminate, Kaisercraft Blush Pearls, Copic Markers- Skin: E000 E00 E21 Clothes/Flower: R20 RV32 RV23 RV21 R21 RV21 RV10 Y23 Y32 Y35 Hair:Y21 Y23 E35

Spring Mother's Day and American Idol Chit Chat

Ok here is another attempt at a Mother's Day card...I think we are improving here. Played some more with my Tim Hotltz Alterations dies... loving them... this one is the On the Edge Ornate die.

What did you all think of Idol last night? Now I personally LOVE Shania...so for me it was a good night. I have seen her in concert, have most of her albums...know her songs by heart. I guess I am a closet country/pop fan. I really liked everybody last night. This is so hard for me...I don't even really have a favorite. Shiobahn was a bit rough for me but she came through at the end of the song and won over the judges. I really liked Lee. Aaron sang my favorite Shania song...so I have to give him some props. Glad he changed the lyrics...since he was singing to him Mom and all. I really don't know who is gonna go home.

I can now also say I am officially a GLEEK! I really like Glee. I watched it again last night and I think I really like it because I was in the Glee club in highschool...of course we didn't call it that, it was just Chorus. :0)

Don't forget to enter to win the blog candy if you are a follower!

Recipe: SU! Serene Spring stamp set and All Holidays sentiment, PTI Vintage cream, Stampers Select White and Aqua Mist cardstock, PTI Everyday Blessings designer paper, Nestabilities Labels One, Tim Holtz Alterations On the Edge Ornate die, Reflections pearls, AC Moore flowers, Pearl brad from RAK, London Fog Memento Ink, Tuxedo Black Memento Ink, SU! Scallop Edge border and corner punches, Felt, Tim Holtz Alterations Tatered Florals die, Copic markers

Celebrate Mom

Ok guys, I have lost my mojo. I cleaned and organized my stamp space...and I must have thrown it away. lol! I have not colored a darn thing with my copics in over two weeks...everything I have posted was either colored with Prismacolor pencils or stuff I colored weeks ago and just never made it onto a card.



I need some serious stamp time...no cooking, no cleaning, no working, no collecting of more and more stamping supplies AKA shopping, no napping (I am very guilty of this one lately)...just creating! I have got to get some Mother's Day cards going.



Here is one card that I forced myself to make because I wanted to play with my new Tim Holtz Alterations dies and Smooch Illuminate paint....It is almost a Mother's Day card... looks more like a darn birthday card to me. I dunno... I am in desperate need of some divine inspiration! Do you guys ever get "stampers block" too?



Recipe: Stamp by Denami Designs, PTI Lemon Tart- Aqua Mist and Stampers Select White Cardstock, PTI designer paper, Memento Tuxedo Black Ink, Prismacolor Pencils, Ecohouse Citrus Solvent, Smooch Illuminate paint, Felt, Tim Holtz Alterations Tatered Florals die, Tim Holtz Alterations On the Edge Brackets die, Prima eLine pearls, SU! Modern Label Punch, BG11 Copic marker, computer font for sentiment.

Thank You Bear

Happy Monday! I decided to leave the blog candy up for a few extra days to give more people a chance to win... remember it is only for followers- as a thank you for hanging out we me and my crazy antics here on my blog! I will do the drawing Thursday night and announce a winner on Friday.



I have had this cute card half done for about two weeks now. I don't know why for some reason it just looked unfinished to me. I can't stand having any open space on my cards...I am just not a clean and simple style girl I guess. Yesterday I came up with the fabulous idea of adding on the buttons and viola! finally this card is done. Hope you like it!

Recipe: Digi stamp from MelJen's designs, PTI Plum Pudding and Stampers Select White cardstock, PTI Guidelines patterned paper, CTMH buttons, SU! twine, Felt, Tim Holtz Alterations Tatterd Florals die, Making Memories Rhinestone brads, Tim Holtz Alterations On the Edge Brackets die, Copics: V000 V04 V12 YR21 YR24 R20 RV10 G20 G82, white gel pen.

Trying something new...Flank Steak with Chimichurri recipe

Ok- bear with me here folks...trying something new. I saw this receipe for Flank Steak that I am dying to try so I am posting it here to my blog....mostly for my benefit... so I can watch it later and cook ;0)


http://www.ifood.tv/recipe/flank-steak-with-chimichurri

Will post again later tonight once I have pictures of the blog candy!!!

Happy Earth Day and 20 followers celebration!

Happy Earth Day everyone! I made a quick card in honor of Earth Day. I couldn't resist using this sentiment from Whimsie Doodles- Save Earth it's the only planet with Chocolate!

Yay! We have reached 20 followers and you know what that means....BLOG CANDY!!! I will post a picture of the candy tomorrow and you will be able to comment on that post to win. I will select a random winner from the comments but you must be a follower of this blog. I will do the drawing on April 25th! (So far the candy will include... A black memento dew drop ink pad, 3 copic markers, 5 prismacolor colored pencils, tortillions, a stamp set, a scrapbooking kit, misc...embellishments, some Tim Holtz Alterations die cuts, and cardstock)...

Recipe: Digi stamp by Tiddly Inks, Sentiment digi from Whimsie Doodles, Heidi Grace designer paper, SU! Certainly Celery cardstock, Memento Pear Tart Dew Drop Ink, Kaisercraft lush pearls, Prismacolor pencils, baby oil and paper stumps.

American Idol Chit Chat

Ok I am jumping right in here...why was Crystal crying last night....was she so moved with her own performance that she moved herself to tears.... She is very talented but I just don't know about her. I know she is probably the nicest person ever...but the way she comes off is just so confusing to me. Why the crying??? Doesn't she realize she is going to be the next Idol...there is no need for the crying.

And what is up with Ellen? I need a little less comic relief and a little more constructive feedback from her. Telling someone they are the soup of the day and she doesn't like that flavor is not constructive...what do you not like about it???? Poor Tim ....what is he supposed to do with that. At least Simon said he has come a long way.

I think Lee was awesome. Shiobahn... has a strange congested sound sometimes when she sings...she needs to find a song that is entirely in her register...so that she sounds good through the entire song from start to finish.

I think Mike may be going home.... he is good but last night was a bit lack-luster.

Casey is just jamming... I don't think he realizes he is competing...he is just performing up there on stage every week...doing his thing.

Aaron did ok but .... he is so young...I don't think he will go all the way. He needs more polish and performance training.

Happy Birthday!

I am going to a little boy's birthday party Sunday so I thought this adorable Giraffe card would be just perfect.

Recipe: Giraffe digi from MelJen's designs, SU! sentiment stamp, Making Memories Fresh Anthology designer paper pad, PTI Stampers Select White and Summer Sunrise and New Leaf cardstock, Queen & Co Felt Daisy, EK Success Rock Fern Punch, eyelets, SU! Wide Oval punch, SU! Old Olive Marker, Prismacolor Pencils Limepeel, Grass Green, Copics: G82, YR21, YR24, G99, R10, R21

American Idol Chit Chat...

As requested...here is my American Idol review for the week. So sorry it is late. I was out to dinner Tuesday and didn't see Idol until the middle of the night and then missed it last night because I was in the ER. No worries I am ok... it was a false alarm.

I actually got scolded last night at the restaurant after my ER adventure for trying to check the Idol results on my blackberry. Apparently some people just don't understand that we need to know who got voted off immediately as it happens!

I thought everyone did really well on Elvis night. Adam was a great mentor, he had some very constructive feedback for the contestants. My least favorite performances were from Andrew and Casey. I like Casey but I just found my mind wandering during his performance which must have meant I was bored...or could have been that it was 1 am and I was just sleepy. I think Lee was great, Katie was Sassy and I still love Shiobhan and her originality even if Cara can't seem to label her. Why are they so obsessed with labeling everybody. I know the music industry is a business and they want to be able to market people effectively but jeez...can't the girl have some diversity?

I am not too thrilled that Katie went home. I still think she had potential. Andrew had run his course and I am ok with him leaving. I need to watch last night's episode when I get home tonight. People were saying Adam's performance was very theatrical...I want to know what that means.

And to everyone that can't understand why Tim is still on there....it is simple... the little ladies are infatuated with him. I think TURBAN may be around for a while. lol...He is starting to actually grow on the judges. He is like the second coming of Zac Efron.... we are going to be seeing this kid on something after Idol is done. Probably Glee. For some reason, I really want Idol to redo the voting process so that you can vote for the people you want to go home....that way people would only vote when they didn't like something and the less talented people would end up leaving instead of staying by way of popularity votes.

As always...just my two cents...

Felt Tattered Florals Tutorial

There was a question the other day on Splitcoast about whether or not you can use the felt at Michael's with the new Tim Holtz Sizzix dies...so I decided to do a little experiment. The answer to the question is yes.. you can! It works great.

I used a bunch of different colors and cut them down to the size of the die...here I used the Tattered Florals die....

This is the label on the felt in case your Michael's has different kinds and thicknesses of felt...this is not the self adhesive kind...this is the very thin kind found in the isle with all the fun foam.

Ran it through my BigShot...love that darn thing and yes it is sitting on my bed.

Here is how the felt comes out after one pass.

Did a few different colors this way. Then I mixed the pieces together and held them together with brads and placed pearls on the one layer small florals.

Simple easy 1 -2-3!

Dew Drop custom colors tutorial

Hi Yall! Back again with a mini tutorial for you. Do you know how to make custom colored dew drops jewels? Well it is pretty simple.

Here is what you need:

Clear Pebbles, Dew Drops, or Jewels

Alcohol Ink (Works best with a plain color rather than with the mixatives)

Plastic wrap, tinfoil or wax paper

Here's what you do:

Place clear jewels on plastic wrap and add drops of alcohol ink to cover the jewels.

Let dry and you have custom colored jewels.

Here I made Silver, Gold, Stream and Wild Plum (Tim Holtz alcohol ink colors were used, but you could easily use your Copic Various Ink refills).

Recipe: Clip Art from FunDraw.com, Nestabilities, SU! Bermuda Bay cardstock, PTI Hawaiian Shores and Stampers Select White cardstock, Kaisercraft Gypsy Sister patterned paper and Embellishments kit, Clear Dew Drops, Tim Holtz Alcohol Ink, Dimensionals, SU! Scallop Trim Border and Corner Punch, Copics

Copic Journal- Tricked Out

I have finally made a cover for my copic journal. I still refuse to bind it though. I keep adding pages and revising pages, and taking pages out to photograph them, so I think this will stay on binder rings forever.

I threw in some pages for my Prismacolor pencils since I have been trying to use them with my copics -Linda Heavens style. Love her work!

Here are some pages I have added recently...this is why my journal is so thick.... I like having an example page for everything under the sun!

Dark Complexion:

Cupcakes: