Created by Katie Cotton

PMS blog hop

2012-02-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

The 7th of the month means another blog hop from Paper Makeup Stamps!

This month we have been inspired by things we love!

I picked 2 images very near and dear to my heart...

Coming to the decision to stop rubber production for Paper Makeup Stamps was an incredibly hard decision to come to. In the end, it boiled down to not having enough time for my family.

With my makeup artistry really gaining speed, the extra time I have needed to be spent with my favorites boys, jack who will be 6 this month, Gabe who is 3 and of course, my husband.

We do have masses of rubber around our home however so we definitely are wanting to move those out and regain some of that space! This means we are moving to our final markdown price of 75% off all remaining inventory! Get it while you can! Use the code CLOSEOUT75 in your check out cart.

On my card, I used "A Couple of Moodies" and the sentiment Together is my favorite place to be.

I used the rubber versions of these fun stamps and colored the image with copic markers.

And now it's time to move on in the hop for more awesome inspiration!

Please check out one of my favorite friends, Tangii Crain's blog!

PMS Digi Makeover Challenge and MTME

2012-02-06T07:00:00.000-05:00

WHAT A WEEEEEEEK! For those that may have missed me on My Time Made Easy this week... i meant to even make a post about my absence but that is just how busy i was!

I got a last minute call for a big production shoot that required me to drive about an hour + each morning and then had me on set for 10+ hours before making the drive home. During that time... 1 child got the flu, then the other child got the flu... and then somehow EVEN I got the flu the day after the production wrapped. I was hoping I would have missed it all! Then after me my husband gets the flu. OY! I think he was the biggest baby of them all! haha!

Then this weekend was more work madness with a total of over 20 faces of makeup and over 10 hair styles. BUT, it was well worth all the work. Now i'm just exhausted!

BUT you can check out all the new goodies from My Time Made Easy ! They are available for purchase now!

And now onto the PMS digi challenge post!

THis week Michelle has challenged us to use pink and grey which you know always causes excitement in me. :D

Here is my card...

I love this scripture from the Be Still set and I love how with digis you can make a sentiment the full focus of a card, or shrink it down to match an image. Obvious here I chose to make it the focus!

Be sure to check out the rest of the team over on the PMS company blog!!! And make a card to be entered on winning some free digis for yourself!

PMS Digi Makeover Challenge: Be My Valentine!

2012-01-30T07:43:00.003-05:00

This week the challenge over at the PMS Digi Challenge is to create a valentine!

And I thought.... holy cow it's already almost time for valentine's day?!

Spring will be here before we know it! Time is going SO fast!

It often happens with me... that even though i love making cards, i forget to send them out.

Or a particular holiday creeps up on me and I don't have time to create the cards I would have liked. So then what do you do? Well, i send e-cards. And while their are oodles of them out there, just like traditional hallmark cards, anyone can send them. So at least it's a little more fun to create my own e-card and feel like i had a little more effort into it. :D

Here is my valentine's day e-card

I used photoshop and created my card in layers using the Sending You Love digi set.

The lip print in the set has recently been recreated so that it has a transparent background.

If you have previously purchased the sending you love set, you can re-download it to get the transparent background heart or just shoot me an email and I'll get the new addition over to you.

So you see my card and say... um, katie... it's still a white background. Why did you want it transparent? Well, it's very very very easy to change the color of an image in photoshop by choosing the color overlay. But with a flat image, the whole image changes color and you'll get a big red screen (or whatever color you were wanting to change it to). With the transparent background, just the image (lip print in this case) will change color. Yeeeeeeah!

Be sure to check out the PMS company blog to see what other goodies the challenge team has for you to see today!

2012-01-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

Well, my post will be quick for the moment. I took lots of pictures of my card for the Digi Makeover challenge from PMS, but the stars arent aligned tonight for me to get them on my laptop and into my post from my camera (you know... just one of THOSE nights!) Anyhoo - i did manage to grab this photo from my phone and I will get the other photos on here shortly in the morning after i get the boys off to school. :D

The challenge this week was to use those winter blues. Now the card didnt need to be winterie... but i felt like sasha could use some love!

And now my little one has woken up for the umpteenth time with a bad dream. So i'm going to get the poor little bugger back to sleep and then hopefully sleep myself!

Be sure to check out the PMS blog and the rest of the digi team for their winterie blue inspiration!

2012-01-16T07:00:00.000-05:00

It's time for another digi challenge from Paper Makeup Stamps!

This week, Michelle has challenged us to break out those fairy images. Now PMS has a LOT of fairy stamps! You can check out all the digi fairies HERE and you can still get lots of the rubber fairies that are left in stock HERE Use CLOSEOUT60 to get 60% off your rubber order!

Ok, back to my card... And prepare for a short post.... it's been a long week and i am ready for bed!

I also used one of the the PMS digi word arts. You can find this word art here.

I colored my image with copic markers and then airbrushed the sentiment inside a spellbinders die to get the shadowed effect on the sentiment.

Please be sure to check out the company blog for more awesome samples from the Digi Makeover Artists and to get in on this fabulous challenge with a fabulous prize!

PMS Digi Makeover Challenge: Make a Get Well Card

2012-01-09T07:00:00.001-05:00

2nd post for the day, please scroll down to see my My Time Made Easy post!

Another Monday, another PMS digi Makeoever Challenge!

You may have noticed... this past Saturday Paper makeup Stamps had a digi stamp release. A lot of the new release focus's on health as this always seems to be the season when people get sick.

So for this week's PMS Digi Challenge, our new challenge leader, Michelle, has challenged everyone to make a get well card!

Be sure to check out the company blog for details on how to play as well as see the rest of the Makeover Artists' cards!

here's mine!

I used Donna, the nurse fairy and enlarged the image as well as cropped the lower portion.

Thats one of the greatest things about digis. Yes you can mask a regular rubber stamp image, but you cant also enlarge it so that your cropped image can be as large as the previous image was. So fun! I also used one of the new wordarts from the release which you can find here.

Here is a close up of the cropped and resized digi...

And i must add... for those who did the blog hop on saturday and read my trauma of the destroyed paper i've been hoarding... these are more remaining scraps. By golly.... i will get as much out of that as i can! haha!

Have a wonderful day!

My Time Made Easy: Year in Review

2012-01-09T00:00:00.000-05:00

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!

My Time Made Easy: Something Sweet

2012-01-08T00:00:00.000-05:00

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!!!

2012-01-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

It's another blog hop from Paper Makeup Stamps! You should have hopped here from Lisa McKinney. If you didnt, then go to the beginning! You dont want to miss out on the creations!

Today we have an all new release coming your way! Yes they are all being released in Digi, and not rubber this go round as we make the transition from rubber to digi. But you rubber fans, dont you forget we have a massive inventory closeout happening on the site! Use the code CLOSEOUT60 and you get 60% off of the already super low PMS prices!!!!! Get them while you can!

Ok, now that my selling spiel is over, onto my card!

I love valentines day. It's just a fun excuse to be as girly and gushy as you want! I'm so thankful i got thru this card before my lovely 3 year old trashed the rest of this paper I had been hoarding since LAST YEAR. *sigh* us moms never get to keep anything nice for ourselves, do we.

My card...

I used Color Kid with a Valentine for my card along with one of our new wordarts

I heart her! She's so cute! The color kids are all illustrated by Diem Pascarella and she is just fab.

And I decided to lop the wordart in half. I actually did it after the fact and printed it out as a whole... but it would have been superbly easy to do BEFORE printing. :D

here's the inside of my card...

And now it's time for you to continue your journey! You next and last stop in the hop is Randee Elsing

PMS Sneak Peeks day 2

2012-01-06T07:00:00.000-05:00

2nd post for the day! if you are looking for my My Time Made Easy post, scroll down please!!!

Today is day 2 for sneak peeks from Paper Makeup Stamps Digi!

I used one of the new Color Kid images for my card...

The sentiment is actually the rubber sentiment that comes with Flubu (which there are just like 3 or 4 of him left in the closeout sale!)

This color kid is so sweet! I didnt really intend to have the card so girl scout themed, but hey, it works right?! My papers are from Stella Rose by My Mind's Eye (i know, i've been using them a lot lately!) and I used copic markers E00, E21, E23, E25, Y32, Y35, Y38 G20, G24, YG95, YG91

Please be sure to check out the company blog to see more sneak peeks and creations from the fabulous paper makeup artists!!!

My Time Made Easy: Hey Cupcake!

2012-01-06T00:00:00.000-05:00

Well the sneak peeks for My TIme Made Easy are coming to you a bit late this month.

Lauren graciously wanted to give the design team a little bit more time over the holidays!

After all, thats really what lauren is all about... how to make your crafting time easier so you can spend more time with family and doing the other things you love. :D

This month there are some adorable templates and digi stamps for you!

I get to show off this adorable template called Hey Cupcake. It's "intended" to show 2 cutie-patootie cupcakes and comes with the insert to keep them where they belong but the insert could hold all kinds of things in place OR you can opt for no insert (which is what i did here) and just fill it with all kinds of goodies! I still went with the sweet theme and stuffed it full of yummy cookies!

Here's a view from the top. You can see an image from the cute Sweet Sentiments digi set.

And now here's a view of the whole template...

I used this fun rose ribbon by American Crafts all around and the circle cuts under the button are actually the left over cut from the holes in the top of the template.

and just a fun view of the inside... my boys helped me make these today. They asked if they could make them something other than PINK but i said no they needed to have a nice contrast to the box. To which they looked at me with blank faces and then asked when they could eat the cookies. haha!

These cookies are made using jello! Thats what makes them so brightly colored. :D

Be sure to check out Lauren, Tangii and Lisa's blogs as well for more great inspiration!

Paper Makeup Stamps Digi Release sneak peek

2012-01-05T07:00:00.001-05:00

Wow, that was a long title!

It's about time for the first Digi Release from Paper Makeup Stamps!

4 new word arts and 3 new images will be released on the 7th and today is the first day of the sneak peeks!

Here's my cards for you....

The cloud paper is from last years valentine's day collection She Loves Me from My Mind's Eye.

I created the little scene using a spellbinders circle die for the sun and airbrushed edges. The grass was created using fringe scissors from Martha Stewart Crafts. The wordart was die cut also using a spellbinders die. A simple ribbon seemed to be just the extra touch needed on the bottom.

I already created another fun card because i love playing with word arts!

The sentiment to me was just so funny! And what a fun way to lift someone's spirits who has been in the hospital!

This card was made using papers from the Stella Rose collection by My Mind's Eye.

So thats my card! Be cure to check out the PMS company blog for samples from the paper makeup artists using the other wordart to be released!

PMS digi makeover sketch challenge

2012-01-01T22:43:00.001-05:00

Well, this is mu first attempt at typing up a blog post from my new iPhone! But I just has to see how the. Blogger app worked! Since one of my new years resolutions is to be better at keeping up my blogs, this seemed worthwhile to check out. :)

Soooo, we are back to our weekly posting for the pms digi makeover challenge! This week we have a sketch challenge for you!

Well now this is odd, I can't place my picture where I want it? This blogger iPhone app and I may not become friends after all. Haha.

I used the digi "because your my friend". The digi size is larger than the rubber version. I love love love this word art. It's one of my absolute favorites!

Don't forget we still have the rubber close out madness going on!! Use the code CLOSEOUT60 in your cart to get 60% off your entire order (not including digis).

Hope everyone had a wonderful new year!!!

Digi Makeover Challenge 16 - A Color Challenge

2011-12-19T07:00:00.000-05:00

Can you BELIEVE that christmas is less than a week away?! Where in the world did December go?! I still have shopping, wrapping and gift making to do! ACK!

AND>>>>>> it was announced today on the PMS blog and newsletter, that the PMS closeout sale has gone to 60% off all remaining inventory! SO maybe thats where my december has gone, packing stamp orders! :D But i'm happy to share these outstanding deals so close to the holidays!

It's also Monday which means time for another Digi Makeover Challenge!

This week our challenge is a color challenge!

festive right? Here's my card...

I used the season's greetings digi set for my sentiment and altered the colors using color overlay in photoshop. :D

Be sure to check out the rest of the Digi Makeover Challenge Artists and their sample cards over on the PMS blog!

PMS digi Makeover Challenge: Paper Piecing

2011-12-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

Today's challenge from the PMS Digi Makeover challenge is to

PAPER PIECE!

Now I must admit... i didn't go as crazy on the paper piecing as I could have! This was my last big wedding weekend of the year! So yeah for that, but it just meant a quick card for today! :D

Jami has a wonderful tutorial on paper piercing with digi over on the PMS blog so be sure to check it out!

And now... here is my card using a new added digi to the PMS store, Caffiene Trip!

With the digi, i took the coffee beans and enlarged them by quite a bit and printed that out onto printed paper. I then cut out colored section of the beans and paper pieced them on top.

I also enlarged the sentiment for the card.

And thats it for me! Now off to play a bit of catch up around the house!!! Have a wonderful day!

PMS Winter Blog Hop

2011-12-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

Since today is the 7th, Paper Makeup Stamps has another blog hop for you!!!

The blog hop today is just celebrating all of the winter-ie stamps PMS carries from the rubber (which we still have on our close out of rubber sale at 45% off) to the digis. More and more winter digis are being added to the site every day!

My card for you today uses one from our last rubber release, Hayden.

Hayden was colored in using copic markers (R29, R27, R24, R22, R20 for the clothing, E27, E25, E23, E21 for hair and boots, E00, E21, and E000 for her skin.

I used some liquid applique and a heat gun to puff up her ear muffs and trim on her jacket.

One last photo for you today...

The sentiment on my card is from a We R Memory Keepers rub on set. The rub ons are actually glue based and then you can lay other sheets on top for either a glitterie, foil or flock effect. I chose glitter for this one to match the glitter effect on the paper chosen.

Here are the links to all of our design team members in the hop today!

Have a wonderful day!

Pms Digi Challenge: Cut it Out!

2011-12-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

Another Monday means it's time for another digi challenge from the PMS digi team!

For those who may have missed it... I've had to make a very hard decision to close out the rubber portion of the website. But get the rubber while you still can! Some stamps and sets have already sold out and I will not be ordering any more but there are still many left in stock!

These make great gifts for your crafty friends! Use the coupon code CLOSEOUT45 at check out!

And now onto this week's challenge!

Easy enough right?! Still print out your digi, color it if necessary, and then cut it out!

OR you could use an electronic cutter to cut out your digi. Not what i did here... but a fun thought! I thought of it just now as i was typing up this post! HAHAHAHAH!

Here's my card using the apples to apples set (which i have just 12 left in stock of rubber!)

For a little something extra, i decided to pop up my cut outs. :D

Thats all for today!! Have a wonderful week!!!!

My Time Made Easy: A year in Review

2011-12-02T00:19:00.003-05:00

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

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

2011-12-01T00:21:00.004-05:00

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

My Time Made Easy: Insert Card Here

2011-11-30T00:56:00.004-05:00

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

PMS Digi Challenge, Sketch Challenge

2011-11-28T07:00:00.000-05:00

Well, I meant to post something here on my personal blog over the weekend but with the holiday and my anniversary... i never got around to it.

This is a double ended post today... so hang in there to see my Challenge card for the PMS Digi Makeover challenge.

As most of my blog readers know... Paper Makeup Stamps has been my baby for almost 3 years now. I started the company after my move from Los Angeles to the east coast. I started a family here and thought makeup artistry was my first business, paper crafting has always been my hobby. And thru the love of my hobby and finding a little bit more time at home now that I was a mommy... paper makeup stamps was born.

As my children have grown (not much mind you, they are 5 and 3) their needs have been more important. Its no longer just about spending some time at home with them. it's basketball practice and games. Choir and church events. Kindergarten and preschool productions.

And as their needs increase... so has my makeup artistry business. This past year has truly been a whirlwind for how much business I have picked up. Maybe word of mouth for being in the area? It's truly a blessing! But I've had to come to make some very hard decisions. With the increase of my first business, meant the decline of the time I have at home. Coupled with a 2nd business... something had to give. With this decision, I have decided to close out all rubber from Paper Makeup Stamps. I don't want to just let the company vanish as I truly love each and every one of the designs for paper makeup stamps and I have had the honor of working with fantastic illustrators. So I will continue on with digi sales of the stamps for as long as I can.

The rubber however, will be clearanced out. All stock that is on hand has been clearances to 45% off with the coupon code CLOSEOUT45. This is limited to stock on hand and no more rubber will be ordered. You can read more about the closeout on this post.

And now for my challenge card using some PMS digis!

I used Leif and colored him with topic markers.

I turned the sketch on it's side to accodmate the fact that leif is a bit wider than long. It's not quite cold here yet and the trees are beautiful shades of orange. Even though christmas spirit is in the air... i couldn't resist making at least 1 more fall card before the winter season is fully here!

Be sure to check out the PMS company blog to see the other designers fantastic takes on this sketch challenge!

PMS Digi Makeover Challenge: Color Challenge

2011-11-21T07:00:00.001-05:00

Super D Duper quick post, because I almost forgot and my bed (and child who won't sleep!) is calling my name!

It's monday and that means it's time for another digi challenge from the PMS Digi Makeover challenge!

This week's challenge is a color challenge! Easy peasy right?

And here is my card...

I just realized my color looks a little off on my skin but I promise my card is the right colors for the challenge! haha! Not sure what happened there.

Be sure to check out the pms company blog for more samples, a quick read over of the challenge requirements and get your creation linked up for the week and get your chance to win some free digis!!!

Digi Makeover Challenge 11 - create your own background with a digi image

2011-11-14T07:00:00.000-05:00

Monday means it's time for another Digi Makeover Challenge!

This week our digi team leader has challenged us to create a background using digi stamps!

It sounds a little daunting if you are not a "digi pro". I for one do not count myself as a digi pro by any means, but I do know how to manipulate digis. I will explain how i've done my card here in a bit. But i must mention that the team has done and absolutely FANTASTIC job of showing different wants to use your digis as a background! I am THOROUGHLY impressed!!! Lots of good ideas that I want to try now! Be sure to check them out at papermakeupstamps.blogspot.com

And now here's my card...

In photoshop.... I will start with that it will be helpful to use the .png version of this set. If you are starting with a jpg version, then just use the magic eraser tool (looks like an eraser with a asterisk) and delete the background.

i took the heart from the center of the mitten and copied it. Then i created a new layer and pasted it right where it was. Then in the layer effects, i used the color overlay and selected a deep red color. Then on my other layer with the mitten, i did the same thing, but chose a blue color.

Select your mitten using the marquee (dotted rectangle)...Having those 2 layers highlighted, go to edit and copy merged. This will copy both layers together. Then paste and move around as you'd like your pattern to be.

I also took the same mitten image and enlarged it and then colored it in with copics.

For my sentiment, i printed that also and simply colored over it with the same copic markers so it would match. Super easy and no need to put yet another piece of paper in the printer when printing out your digis!

So there you have it! Thanks for stopping by and remember to check out the PMS company blog for more inspiration!

PMS, there's snow one like you

2011-11-11T09:26:00.002-05:00

Today is the final day for the Release in Review cards from Paper Makeup Stamps.

You really should check out the PMS blog today as the design team members have really pulled out all the stops to show off the latest release from PMS!

Here is my card using one of the new Color Kids, Snowflake.

I colored her using copics

E00, E000, E21

Y21, YR23, E99

R81, R83, R85, R89

E31, E34, E37

Paper is from Art Warehouse

And now i'm off to pack up another wedding weekend (woohoo 11.11.11!) plus 2 tomorrow!

See ya on the flipside!

PMS release in review

2011-11-10T08:13:00.003-05:00

Hello everyone!!! The new release from Paper Makeup Stamps is now live on the site!!! Exciiiiiiiting!!!!!! You can get yours HERE.

Here is one more sample from me... I made this card for the Release Party. Dawn challenged us to make a thank you card, so i used the Color Kid Gift Wrapper along with one of the sentiments from the Everyday Thanks set.

And I must say... my new camera phone did a pretty good job of taking a picture! I didnt want to leave the release party chat room to go find my camera and take the time of the set up, so i snapped it quickly with my camera phone! Not to shabby Apple! Not to shabby indeed!

I colored the image with copics and distressed the edges a bit with antique linen distress ink from ranger. I also use Spellbinders Dies and an ek success border punch. paper is from October Afternoon.

Be sure to check out the PMS company blog today for more samples from the design team!

PMS BLOG HOP AND DIGI CHALLENGE IN 1

2011-11-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

Oh my my my.... today is a big day! It's a monday, so a new digi challenge from the PMS digi makeover group. It's the 7th, so it's a blog hop day for PMS. And it's a release month, so that makes the blog hop even more exciting PLUS there is a release party tonight in the PMS forum!

It's going to be a goooood day and i'm so glad that I don't have any other plans (well, other than working on getting all the new releases ready for the website purchasing!!!!)

Now if you are following along in the hop, you should have come here from kristie's blog. If you are a subscriber, you really should start from the beginning of the hop over at the PMS blog because i don't want you missing out on a thing!

And before i get to my card, I have to mention the PMS digi Makeover challenge just 1 more time since i'm also a team member for the challenge group! The challenge is...

Which basically just means that we want to see another shape other than a square (or even rectangle) on your card or project!

I followed suit with my blog hop creation for you...

I used a sentiment from the digi version of the new set Handmade. As with all of the stamps this month, Handmade will be released in both rubber and digital format.

Since I used the digi version for this project, I had the luxury of enlarging the sentiment. The rubber version measures about 2 inches wide, while my version I used today is just over 3 inches wide.

With the Holidays coming up and many crafters still on a budget (or just loving to create special, meaningful and personalized gifts) this set is going to be a MUST have set! You can check out the PMS post from yesterday to get a sneak peek until tonight of all this set has in store for you!

It covers just about everything from the more generalized Handcrafted Just for You to the specific Hand Stitched For You By to the witty Repackeaged with Flair and Made by a Mad crafter after midnight... this set definitely covered the crafting basics. It also includes a few fun images you can use to layer or on their own.

Now if you want to make a project similar to mine... it's SUPER easy. Everyone who follows my blog knows i'm pretty much obsessed with anything beauty related. I am a makeup artist by trade, but I have always been absolutely addicted to bath and beauty projects. And this includes making them myself. Now I don't go too crazy making them, but there are lots of quick and easy methods to created soaps and bath products and the best thing is that you can easily personalize the scents to the gift recipient. I buy the majority of my soap making supplies from Brambleberry.com You can get empty bottles to kits with everything included. You can also get soap bases that you can then use to add your own fragrances and oils to cater to the gift recipient without messing with all the different things to make sure that the soap still works and does what it's supposed to as SOAP! It's so fun and EASY! And bonus, this is a great project to do with kids! So kiddos can make their own gifts for teachers, grandma, aunties, etc.

OK... now that I've made you all want to go out and buy soap making supplies instead of stamps (ah well, it's all in the love of crafting, right?!) it's time for you to hop along to the next on the list which is.... Anita Hovey!

But just to make sure that you haven't gotten lost in your hopping... here's a refresher list to keep you on track!

Have fun hopping!!!

PMS sneak peeks day 2

2011-11-05T07:00:00.000-04:00

It's another day of peeks for Paper Makeup Stamps.

Today we are showing off a set called Color it Winter Tags.

This set is fun to me because it has a lot of different uses.

It's original intention of course was to create gift tags (check out the PMS blog to see all the stamps that come in this set!) but it will also be released digitally at a 600 dpi so you can enlarge the images all you want!

First I made some tags with the rubber. So many different images to make tags with! I'm super excited about stamping these out for the holidays!

Then to play around a bit, i used the same bird image as a digi to enlarge and create the focal point of the card.

The sentiment I still hand stamped so you can see the size of the sentiment in it's rubber form, however, i only inked up half of the sentiment to fit my card.

Thats all I have for you today! Be sure to check into the PMS blog for a chance to win this set!

PMS sneak peeks begin!

2011-11-04T07:00:00.000-04:00

Today is the first day of sneak peeks for the upcoming release from Paper Makeup Stamps!

For my sneakie peekie post, I made a card using Pete the Penguin. And I just had to make him PURPLE! :D

Isnt he a cutie?!

I used Copic Markers to color him in, and a glitter gelly roll stardust pen to add LOTS of sprakles along his scarf which of course didnt capture very well in the photo! Oh well.

I just want to SQUISH this guy though!

Ok, so here's the downlow... there will be a new release from PMS on the 7th. Check out the PMS blog to read the details and to see all the other fabulous creations from the design team!

My time Made Easy: A holiday year in review

2011-11-04T00:11:00.006-04:00

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!

My Time Made Easy, To The Point

2011-11-02T08:02:00.004-04:00

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!

My Time Made Easy Release Post

2011-11-01T00:00:00.000-04:00

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

PMS Digi Makeover Challenge: Sketch Challenge

2011-10-31T07:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Halloween to everyone who recognizes this holiday!

Being that it's Monday, that means another challenge from the PMS digi team!

For the challenge this week, Jami challenged us to a sketch challenge!

Here is Jami's sketch!

And here is my card, using one of my absolute favorite Moody girls, Moody for Coffee!

Moody for Coffee is now available as a digi stamp! Keep tuned for more of your favorite images either returning to the site as digis or perhaps being available for the first time as a digi like this image!

I used paper from the Cosmo Cricket line and then copic markers to color her in.

If you are at all interested, about a year ago a did a coloring faces tutorial on you tube (link HERE) and I use this moody in the 2nd half of the tutorial (starting around minute 3:36)

Be sure to check out the PMS company blog for more inspiration from the Digi Artists!

Have a wonderful day!

A sneak peek for My Time Made Easy

2011-10-30T00:01:00.000-04:00

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!

PMS Digi Makeover Challenge: Color Challenge

2011-10-24T07:00:00.000-04:00

Well I'd say it's about darn time for another post on the ol' blog, huh? I've been a little absent because last week i was in DISNEY! Man it was fun! I've been in catch up mode since our return early in the week. I will get some of those pictures posted for those who are interested.

But that is not what today's post is about! Todays post is about the PMS digi makeover challenge! Each Monday (yes i missed last week), the PMS Digi Artists bring you a new challenge and this week is a color challenge, perfect with some fall colors for you!

Super easy and you know you want to play along!

Here is my project using the Digi version (of course) of the new set, Color it Autumn!

Again, with digi's i like to play with the size of the digi a bit so i WAY enlarged these images and layered them to make them the focus of what i thought would be a card until i decided it was a bit too large and thought it would be better as a fun house decoration!

I colored the pumpkins with copics YR18, YR15, YR14, Yr12, YR21, E25, E27 and the leaves with YG99, YG95, YG 93 YG91 and then airbrushed around the frame with E23 including a little bit of airbrush onto the pumpkins for more shading. It discolored my leaves a bit, but overall, i liked the effect of airbrushing onto the pumpkins as well. I then used a colorless blender to remove a bit and added a white gel pen some some subtle highlights.

Be sure to check out the PMS company blog for more inspiration from the Digi team as well as get yourself entered in on the challenge!

PMS Digi Makeover Challenge: Anything But a Card

2011-10-10T07:00:00.000-04:00

It's time for another Digi Makeover challenge from the Paper Makeup Stamps Digi Makeover team! This week team leader, Jami has challenged us to do ANYTHING but a card!

Since we are talking about digis here, and it is anything but a CARD i decided to go ALL digi and do a digi scrapbook layout! :D

Here it is..

Now I don't claim to be the worlds best digi scrapper, but it is fun to step outside your box a little bit and i think that digi scrapping is a fun way to get crafty when you cant always get away from your computer! I took pit stops to create this layout while I played email catch up from working all weekend. :D

To create my layout, I used a recent picture of Gabe, my youngest. Quick little story on Gabe... he never wants to sleep! And he definitely never wants to sleep alone. I was trying to get him to sleep in his own bed the other night, and he kept saying he was afraid of the dark and that he "couldn't help it" meaning he couldnt help that he kept getting out of bed! I told him I'd leave the hall light on, but he had to stay upstairs and that I was going back downstairs. Well... my son also likes to push as close as he can to the limits. I went to check on him later to find him sleeping on the edge of the stairs!

I thought this matched the There never was a child quote perfectly!

I used a digi scrapbook kit from Sweet Shoppe Designs called Always and Forever.

Be sure to check out the PMS blog to see the other creations from the Digi Makeup Artists!

Paper Makeup Stamps Monster Hop

2011-10-07T07:00:00.002-04:00

It's a MONSTER of a Hop!

Paper Makeup Stamps is having a MONSTER blog hop with design team members and PMS fans alike! AND there is a voucher for 15% off the monsters on the PMS site (MONSTERHOP) for 1 week!!! A hop of ugly cute monsters AND a discount code?! Whats not to love!!!

Here is my card using Duncan (yes, like Duncan Hines, hehe)

I did also use the DIGI version of him. I did enlarge him, not because i needed to really, just because I could. haha!

I decided to keep my card fall themed with some spooky paper from Bo Bunny and I colored this fun guy orange. The sentiment is from Tina's Kitchen (the rubber version!)

Duncan was colored with Copic Markers. I used YR18, YR16, Yr12 and YR21 along with W0, W2, N0, N2, N5, C1, C2 and E29 E25 for his eyes and E21 and E29 for the cookies. :D OH and a little R02 for his cheekies because i thought it looked cute. Much like my pink cheeked little monsters!

Here is the hop lineup for the day! I'm your first in the lineup if you are going in order!

Be sure to check out the PMS company blog though to make sure you have all the details on the fun happenings! Next up in the lineup is our NEWEST team member, Kristie Wilson!

1. Start Here
2. Katie Cotton
3. Kristie Wilson
4. Michelle Van Patten
5. Melissa Banian
6. Randee Elsing
7. Lisa McKinney
8. Janette Garcia
9. Rachel Henahan
10. Adrienne and Jessica

11. Ginger Schwerin
12. Tangii Crain
13. Juelmarie
14. Gramma Carma
15. Lisa Kind
16. Anita Hovey
17. Jennifer Scull
18. Jami Bova
19. Dawn Mercedes
20. Jacki R

21. Nancy Bush
22. Jenn Cochran
23. Tina Hale
24. Paige Grabau
25. Andrea Vernagus
26. Tanya J
27. Mary J
28. Jackie Rakoski

My Time Made Easy: A Year in Review

2011-10-04T00:00:00.000-04:00

So it's the last of our scheduling posting this month for My Time Made Easy, and on the last day each month, we all use templates from the past to remind you of what fun they are!

We are all really focusing on the holidays and gift giving (well, after all most of these template ARE for gift giving!) but as I mentioned in my post the other day, I cant even wrap my head around Halloween yet, so thats about as far as my holidays get at the moment! Haha!!

For those who know me well, know I have a complete obsession with anything pumpkin. And that would definitely include the pumpkin spice latte's from Starbucks!!! They are available now and oh so yummy!!! I remember when Lauren first released her coffee set stamps and templates, the first thing I thought of was the pumpkin spice latte, but alas, somehow there were no pumpkin themed stamps yet from My Time Made Easy (it was the first year and we hadnt made it to the holidays yet!!!)

So NOW, now i can finally make my Pumpkin Spice Latte themed giftie! I used the To Go cup!

To create the large pumpkin, I used the the digi set, A Spooky Surprise. For the smaller pumpkins along the bottom of the template, i used the acrylic version! See, it really is good to have both! And often Lauren sells them in bundles! *wink wink*

I used one of the sentiments from the Grab a Cup sentiments set to stamp along the coffee lid using Staz On ink. So it wont rub off!

So now you think... well this is very cute... but what is a good gift for inside?

What about a starbucks gift card?!

You could of course put all kinds of goodies in there. But seeing all that pumpkin-ie goodness on a coffee cup just makes me want a pumpkin spice latte! I'm gonna guess the gift recipient may feel the say way... and so now... they can! :D

Be sure to check out the rest of the design team today and see what they also have to share!

Lauren Meader - Owner, designer

Katie Cotton - that's me

Digi Makeover Challenge 5 - Color Challenge

2011-10-03T07:00:00.001-04:00

It's another Monday so that means another digi challenge from Paper Makeup Stamps!

Be sure to check out the blog to see the winner from our last challenge as well as see some super fun samples from the Digi Makeup Artists!

This weeks challenge is a color challenge!!

I did have fun making this card, even if it is pretty simple.

I know i've mentioned this before, but it's definitely the biggest selling point to digis for me....

changing the size! Much more so than the saving of space and even slightly bigger deal of being more cost effective. But I love that I can change the size to perfect suit my needs.

In this case, after a busy busy weekend, I needed a simple card that I could get lost in making.

Not one that i was figuring this or that out.

I chose to use Lucy Mouse from the Retro Cutie Critters and I enlarged her so that she took up quite a bit of space on the front of my card. She was very fun to color, thats for sure!

Then I chose the Sing Love Dance wordart and I actually made it a little bit smaller so that Lucy could really shine! Obviously the rest of my card is pretty simple with only a mat layer and some photo corners and bling. Oh and my airbrush because after a weekend of a lot of makeup, the airbrush just seems like a must! HAHA!

Here's my card!

Colors used...

E42, E44, E47

BG11, BG13, BG18

V12, V15, V09

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Be sure to check out the PMS blog for more details on the challenge!

My Time Made Easy October Release day 2

2011-10-02T00:00:00.000-04:00

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!

Copic Creations Challenge with Belles and Whistles

2011-10-01T05:00:00.000-04:00

Well I'm fading fast as I type! So i will type fast!

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

The 1st means a new challenge from the Copic Creations Challenge team. This time we want you to use SATURATED colors. Check out the Copic Creations Blog for all the details!

Our sponsor this round is Belles and Whistles stamps. I thought this cutie was just SO sweet and she was definitely fun to color!

Copic Markers used...

R30, R32, R35, R39

BG15, BG18, BG10

YR12, YR18

Y21, YR23, E25

E00, E21

YG63, YG67

Be sure to check out the blog and all the other design team members to see their awesome creations!!!!

My Time Made Easy October Release

2011-10-01T00:00:00.001-04:00

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

Have a great day!

My Time Made Easy Sneak Peek

2011-09-29T00:37:00.003-04:00

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!

2011-09-26T07:00:00.000-04:00

It's time for another Digi Makeover Challenge from Paper Makeup Stamps!

I apologize that i took the day off last week! Fall weekends are a killer for me! Fortnately for me, this sunday my boys both konked out a little bit early. And though I'm about to head there with them, I did have time to work on a card for this week's challenge which is something i really really love about digis!

Changing the size! Now when I work with Digis, particularly digis from Paper Makeup Stamps, i am most often resizing them to fit my needs. I mean really, this is one of the absolute best things about having digi stamps... that you can make them smaller or larger, whatever it is you need! I am usually making them BIGGER myself. :D Since I own every rubber stamp from PMS (i mean, i should, right?!) resizing just makes sense to me! :D

This morning was a doozy of a morning. I did have a wedding today, and it was just POURING down rain the whole hour long drive there. My thoughts were, oh poor bride. She's going to be devastated! The wedding was being held in a lodge up in the mountains. By the time I got to the lodge, everything was wet but had that awesome fresh mountain air that you just EXPECT to be wet. It was absolutely beautiful. My bride (though a few trials to make her hair PERFECT) was beautiful. Just everything was really perfect. It made me think of one of my favorite quotes "The best thing to do when it's raining is to let it rain". I love it. I for one, am not a fan of the rain. it often makes me grumpy. But really, there is nothing you can do about it. You can huff and puff all you want, but the rain will stop when it's time for the rain to stop. I try to take that approach to many things in life. Things happen. And if there is nothing you can do about it, don't fight it. Just let it do what it's going to do and go forward.

When my bride arrived, she didnt seem the least bit worried about the rain. We set the chair all up inside instead of out and it was still beautiful. And she still married the love of her life.

A good day. :D

Ok, now... my card...

I used the set, Raindrops and Rainbows. The sentiment is probably pretty close to it's rubber size, but not spot on. It's a touch larger. I was more making sure it went ok with the ginourmous umbrella. Which is definitely NOT close to it's rubber size! I enlarged it quite a bit. :D This also made it super fun to color.

Ok, my clock is ticking and it's time for me to hit the hay. By the time this is posted i'll be up and at em for a new day. *sigh*.

Be sure to check out the PMS blog to see all the Digi Makeup Artists and their phenom creations for this challenge!

Copic Creations Challenge with StampFairy.com

2011-09-15T05:00:00.000-04:00

It's the 15th, so there is a new challenge from Copic Creations!

This week is a super fun one! To color FUR!

There are so many different ways you can create texture using copic markers and fur is certainly a fun texture! You just HAVE to check out the Copic Creations blog to see what each design team member created. So much fun!

Our sponsor for this challenge is StampFairy.com

Stamp fairy has so much fun and cute digi stamps to choose from! They also have digi paper and wordart! If you are a digi fan, you definitely need to check it out!

Here is my card using one of the images from the Lenny Camping collection!

Sorry it's not the best photo of the card. I kinda realized after the fact that my camera settings were a bit off so the back corner of the card is a wee bit fuzzy. But at least the image is clear, right? haha!

I used the E20 family of of copics for Lenny the Bear (E21, E23, E25, E27) and a little bit of E49 for the darkest areas. I started by coloring Lenny smooth, just with a nice gradient of dark to the outside (with the darkest being on the underside where the shadow would fall) and then lightest on the inside. After letting those color set a moment (let all the alcohol evaporate away from your paper so that it's "dry". You can tell it's ready if it does NOT feel slightly cool to the touch if you laid your fingers on it). Once it's dry you can begin flicking the markers on top to get your fur effect. If you had not waited, the flicks would have spread and not been so strong. :D I did focus darker marker flicks towards the outside and lighter in the center (so E23 over the E21 area, E25 over the E23 area and E27 over the E25 area)

I hope you are inspired to play with us on this challenge!

I know it was very fun for me to break out of my normal coloring pattern!

Have a great day!!!

Digi Makeover Challenge 2

2011-09-12T07:00:00.000-04:00

It's a wonderful Monday which means the 2nd installment of the Digi Makeover challenges brought to you by the PMS Digi Makeup Artists!

In case you missed it, Paper Makeup Stamps now has a digi design team! And each week the team brings you a new challenge, with a new prize! This weeks challenge is a sketch challenge!

Here is this week's sketch!

And here is my card using Moody for Fall and the sentiment from the new set Color it Autumn!

My card total size is 5.25 by 5.25. Since I knew I was covering a large sqare card, I knew I had some space to fill. Which is one of the reasons i do love digis! P printed out Moody for Fall a bit larger than the rubber version. She's so much fun to color! I even gave her a bit of makeup including glitter pen around her eyes and lips. :D

The Rules

- You must use a digital image on your entry
(hey, it is a digi challenge after all)

- The challenge will be every Monday

- A winner will be selected every week by random.org

- The winner will get to choose any 3 digi images from PMS as their prize. If the winner used a PMS image on their entry, they'll get 2 bonus images (for a total of 5!)

- You may enter as many times as you want, there is no limit; however, you may not link back to old posts (prior to the challenge post)

- You may combine our challenge with any other challenge you like

- Please post a link directly to your individual blog post using Mr. Linky so we can find and admire your creation!

Note: These are the rules on the PMS Company blog! So you'll need to go there to find MR Linky and link back your entry for this week's challenge!

You Color My World

2011-09-11T09:04:00.002-04:00

Today is the final day for the release in review on the PMS blog. GO check out the other wonderful creations from the design team today!

Here is my card using Baby Jamie Silhouette and the word art, You color my world

These silhouettes are so much fun and make a card super quick and easy to put together! I just stamped it right on top of the patterned paper and just to make sure it was nice and dark and I didnt see any variations because of the very brightly colored dots on the paper, I embossed it as well with black embossing powder.

The paper I used is from Sassafrass Lass. :D

Thats all I have for ya today! Be sure to tune in tomorrow for my Digi Makeover Challenge card!

My Time Made Easy Sketch Challenge

2011-09-07T23:46:00.007-04:00

Did you know that My Time Made Easy has weekly challenges on the MTME blog?!

The challenges even has their own design teams supplying new and wonderful creations for you each and every week! You should really check it out! hehe!

This week I got to play hostess and made a card for the sketch challenge!

And this sketch makes it super easy to whip up a fun card that would be different than your typical layout (or at least different than mine!)

Here's the sketch...

And here's my card...

I used the So Fortunate stamp set to create my card. Isnt that fortune cookie look yummy enough to eat? Ok, now i'm hungry again. haha

Be sure to stop by the MTME blog and check out all the other fabulous creations!

It's a PMS blog hop!

2011-09-07T07:00:00.000-04:00

Today is the release day for Paper Makeup Stamps and we have LOTS of fun new rubber and digi stamps for you!!! If you are just coming by my blog, you'll want to start at the beginning to get all the details of the day! And you DEFINITELY want to do the blog hop so you can catch glimpses of all the fun stamps being released tonight at our Release Party!!!

First, before I forget (because it wouldnt be the first time) let's make sure you are on track. If you are going thru the hop, you should have come over from Andrea's awesome blog!

And before i get even more excited showing you my card, let me give you your letter for the discount code... the letter R. :D

And here is my card using the new Color it Autumn set!

I am actually the illustrator for this set! And I think I had as much fun stamping and coloring it as I did drawing it in the first place! I've always been a fan of sketchy/doodlie looking stamps, and I love to color things in so this set has been in my head for awhile. :D

The sentiment on my card is actually a previously released sentiment that you can find HERE.

The leaves I colored in with copics and they were FUN. So fun, i think i colored about 20 of them. Although the first time i stamped them on too small a piece of paper when i decided to make more of a cardfront. Then gabe decided to stamp some of his own after I completed my first card. *sigh* Soooo... then i got to working on my third and final version. :D

I used the following group of copics and just mixed it up with which ones i used on which leaves afterall, autumn leaves are a little bit random. :D

YR14, YR23, Y21, E27, E23, E21, YG95, YG91

And then i doodled around each of the leaves and the letters using a Sakura gelly roll pen in stardust. :D I love that thing!

I hope you are ready for Fall, because I am! I am sad to see summer go. I will miss our fun times at the pool and playing in the sun, but i do LOVE the fall so I am welcoming it with open arms!!!

Now onto your final stop in the hop today... the always fabulous, Ginger Schwerin!!!

2011-09-06T07:00:00.000-04:00

It's the final day of sneak peeks for the September release from Paper Makeup Stamps!!!

That means we have a blog hop tomorrow so you'll have to be sure to tune it!

I decided to go a different route than making a card today. I love altering things and sadly have a huge trunk along with boxes and boxes in the garage of things to alter and I just never do it!

The sentiment i'm sharing today "A Picture is a Poem without words" really speaks to me! The moment i heard it, i knew i wanted it to be a stamp. Since i've been dabbling in photography, it seemed even more important to me, but it also seemed so perfect for scrapbook pages and all kinds of importrant things that us crafters like to do!

Here is my project!

I used the bay windows from the Beyond the Page collection from kaisercraft. I LOVE the kiasercraft beyond the page products! So sturdy and made out of strong particle board instead of chipboard, you know they will last and they are very budget friendly and easy to alter!

Here's a close up of what i'm supposed to be showing off today!!!

This is one of the new wordarts being released both as a rubber stamp and as a digi stamp this month from Paper Makeup Stamps. Be sure to check out the PMS Company blog to see what other fun new wordarts are being released!

And here's what i love to show off... my kids! I love this picture of them!

And now I better get to bed! The long weekend has gotten me off my game of getting the boys ready for school AND Gabe also starts preschool tomorrow! Wish us luck!!!

Did you see?! The PMS Digi Makeover Challenge!

2011-09-05T07:00:00.001-04:00

Woohoo! We recently added a digi team to the Paper Makeup Stamps family! A huge kudos and thanks goes out to Jami who is in charge of this team! And i just get to play along!

Yes PMS has offered digis in the past, but in limitation. We have decided to up the anty a bit and have weekly digi challenges and with that. And some of your favorite digi stamps that we "retired" as digi format on the site will be returned! So stay tuned on that!

Jami has issued our very first challenge to use PMS colors! That should be easy right?!

Now just like many paper crafters, i really enjoy having a stamp in my hand!

BUT there are certain things that digis can do that a rubber stamp can NOT!

For one they are much easier to "mask" when layering. But thats not what i've done today.

You want to know the number 1 best reason to have a digi in my opinion? To CHANGE IT'S SIZE! Thats right, which a digi you can make it match whatever project you are working on. So that means if you want it mega large for a scrapbook layout, you can! or pretty small to fit on a tag, you can do that too!

Here is my project...

Obviously, I went the enlarging route! This is one of the new Color Kids that actually won't be released until September 7th. Yeah, the owner won't fire me. ;)

But isnt she CUTE? I enlarged her quite a bit (the gray cardstock is a full 8.5 x 11 sheet, i put it up against my cricut for size reference!) I also mega enlarged the sentiment to match. Wouldnt this be a fun little encouragement gift for a little girl? She culd even put it in her locker at school! Or maybe just hang it on her wall. :D

here's a close up...

Enlarging digis also makes them mega fun to color!!! This was just the perfect excuse!

Be sure to check out the PMS Digi Makeup Artists and their take on this challenge today!

While you're there be sure to check out our other sneak peeks so far for the September 7th release!!!

MTME group Post: Year in Review

2011-09-05T00:00:00.000-04:00

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

Paper Makeup Stamps sneak peek!

2011-09-03T07:00:00.000-04:00

OMG, ok I should totally be in bed, but i'm typing up my post for tomorrow!

I will keep it short and to the point!

Paper Makeup Stamps is having a much anticipated release on September 7th!

Today we start our sneak peeks and we are debuting a new line a-dorable images!

They are called the Color Kids and man, i love to color them! So stinkin' cah-ute! I can say that because I didnt draw them. hehe. Diem, our fabulous illustrator of the fairies and critters is also the illustrator for this new line. :D

Here is my card using Color Kid: Star Student

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

There are 2 more color kids that are being released! But you'll have to head over to the PMS blog to check them out. hehe.

Now i'm off to bed, i have to be up in 6 hours for a 12 hour work day! Yipes!!! Which me luck!

My Time Made Easy: Turtle Treat Tote

2011-09-02T00:00:00.000-04:00

Well... I'm pretty sure i've nailed into your brains what all is happening with the My Time Made Easy release over the past few days! So i wont mention it all yet again (if you missed it... scroll down and check out some of my projects too!)

For my project today I used the Tricky Treat Tote, though I assure you, this fabulous tote could be the tote holder for all kinds of gifts! I did decide to stick to some pretty yummy treats though this time around!

Ok, enough of a teaser pic. Here's the front of this fun tote!

See?! It could be used for so much! And that turtle! Is he not cah-ute! In fact, i love ALL the animals from the Wonderful Woodland Creatures stamp set! I mean they are all just ADORABLE! I would have used them all if I could think of a candy to go with each! haha!

But turtles will have to do! My sentiment is just one that I typed up on my computer to match my project. :D

Here is a closer image of the turtle just so you can see how stinkin' adorable he is!

GAH! He just makes me happy!

Ok, thats what i have for ya today! Now i'm off for my marathon of weddings! A 2 parter starting today with a ceremony tonight and tomorrow and then again in the day so I stay for a "flip" which means to change hair and makeup. Then a double header wedding on sunday as well! I will have a post up in there, but i'm not promising to be very chatty!

Wish me luck!!!!

Be sure to check out Lauren and Lisa today for some more fabulous gifties!

Copic Creations with Susana’s Custom Art and Card Design

2011-09-01T05:00:00.001-04:00

DOUBLE POST DAY! If you scroll down (and I hope you do!) I mention how the 1st is always a fun day of the month. So much going on in the crafting world with new releases and and challenges, etc. It's definitely a fun (but BUSY) time each month for many of us!

Today the Copic Creation team has a new challenge for you.. and it's an easy one! USE PINK!

Now last time we had a color challenge, i was a bit literal! Using ONLY copics from the BG family. This round, i did use some favorite pinks, but I did allow some other colors to be used! haha!

Our challenge is being sponsored by the generous and fabulous Susana from Susana’s Custom Art and Card Design. I just adore Susana! She has been an "early friend" in the online crafting world and was a big supporter of my starting my own stamp company. She's just sweet as can be and helpful and I love her to pieces! Susana carries many different stamp company lines in her store, one of them being EXCLUSIVE Elisabeth Bell stamps. And she was so generous to send us each our own to play with!

Here is my card using paper from October Afternoon (Go Fly A Kite)

For my pinks, I used R30, R32, R35 and R39. Normally i would have also used R37 but it has mysteriously disappeared from my craft room? So far, I havent found red marker traces anywhere... so we'll see where it decides to turn up!

Other copic colors used... for the purse... BG09, BG07, BG05 and a little BG45.

Skin is E21, E00 and E000 (with some R30 for her cheeks)

Money (happy day, i want to find some money!) is YG17 and YG13.

Hair: E99, YR23, Y21 and a little YR14 just to warm it up a bit.

The Sentiment on my card is from a Paper Makeup Stamps set called Retail Therapy. :D

SO there you have it! Be sure to check out Susana's store for some shopping as well as the copic creations blog to see all the other fabulous creations from the design team!

My Time Made Easy: Tricky Treats!

2011-08-31T23:45:00.005-04:00

Today is the first which means lots of crafty goodness coming your way from EVERYWHERE!

The 1st is always fun because lots of companies have releases, or sneak peeks start. Challenges have their posts... it;s just a fun time!

My Time Made Easy is one of these companies! RIGHT NOW the new release is live on the site!

MTME is releasing 2 complete Pretty Impressions Digital Stamp Sets, and 7 Pretty Impressions Digital Stamp Single Images. We are also release 2 Pretty Packaging Templates this month too!

The 7 digital stamp singles are all halloween themed! (don't worry, for those who do not celebrate halloween, or halloween just isnt their thing, the other stamps are just as fun and cute!)

Today the team was challenged to create a halloween treat using one of the 7 digital singles and one of the new templates. The templates this month are PERFECT for so many things!

Now when I was challenged to make a halloween treat I started to think... well I do want to be different.... how do I make it different. Then 1 peek of the digital images and I knew EXACTLY what I wanted to do!

Have you ever known one of those "crazy" people who treat their pets like they are their children? They make gifts and treats for them and celebrate their birthdays. THey have their own stockings for them at christmas? Well... if you arent one of those people, or don't know one of those people.... NOW YOU DO! Because I am TOTALLY one of those people! haha!

I took one look at purr-fect pumpkin digi and i fell in love! I do love my kitty!

So I decided to make a little treat pack for him! Or to give to a friend who loves their kitty as much as I love mine. meanwhile my dog who is currently sleeping at my feet seems none too happy that there are currently kitty treats all over the room and no doggie treats! (but as you may recall, she got her gift package not too terribly long ago!)

Ok, back to the current project!

I decided to use the Tying Up Loose Ends template using my SCAL program and cricut machine. Here is a picture of the end...

I opted not to add any major embellishment to the ends but to only wrap the ribbon around. But embellies on the end look super cute too! You can easily see the flaps in this picture. When the ribbon is removed, they simple open up to reveal the treat inside!

Here is a close up of this adorable digi stamp...

Don't you just wanna SQUISH him? I am loving the new digis Lauren has to offer! Maybe it's just because i DO love to color! :D

Don't forget to check out the fine ladies and their wonderful creativeness today, and then go check out the MTME store and maybe do a little shopping!!!

Lauren Meader

Debbie Marcinkiewicz

Kathryn Berthiaume

Katie Cotton - thats me!

Lisa Kind

Monique Hansen

Have a great day!!!

MTME group post!

2011-08-31T00:18:00.003-04:00

Busy busy busy! Well, at least i'm catching up! Next week my littlest one goes to preschool 5 days a week! What a joyful and quite 3 hours i will have in the morning! Granted that time will be used for work related things, whether for makeup, the stamp company or other design team related projects, but man, I cant wait to have that extra time!

Have you been craving that back to school time? Maybe you are fully in it!

I dont know about you, but i adore the change of seasons. It just seems like by the end of it... you're just ready for the change!

Well the new release for My Time Made Easy will be live tonight at midnight!

Today the design team is each making 4 cards to share using this months digi stamp release!

I decided to really dive into this change of seasons and focused on using the Happy Hallows stamp set to show you some different ways to use it and while it is fabulous for fall, this set it really great for every single season! I also decided to pair it with the singing silhouette acrylic set! Yes you CAN mix digi and acrylic! My cards are simple and easy to put together this round. The coloring of the digi's were all done using photoshot and under layer effects using color overlay and inner shadow when necessary.

Be sure to check out these fabulous design team members for more samples today!

Lauren Meader

Debbie Marcinkiewicz

Kathryn Berthiaume

Katie Cotton - thats me!

Lisa Kind

Monique Hansen

Free Digi for you!

2011-08-19T07:00:00.000-04:00

Today there is a new Friday Freebie wordart available over on the Paper Makeup Stamps blog!

My dear friend, Tina, has created yet another super fun wordart for us to share! I think this is my favorite one of hers yet!!!! I love the quote, the font, everything about it really!!!

Last saturday I *GASP* did not have any work lined up! So i decided to create a whole lotta work for myself and do a yard sale! PHEW! We did a good bit as far as yard sales as concerned but i have a whole lot left! I will post the remainder of the craft items when i have a moment to type them all out! But while i was waiting in the afternoon lull... i grabbed one of the frames i was selling for a mere 50cents and pulled out some crackle paint in the garage. My husband asked me how i was going to make any money if i started taking back all the stuff i had out to play with. I said the 50 cents i was going to make on it was worth the fun i was going to have for the next 30 minutes! :D And it was fun! Now i did intend on doing a bit more to the frame, and add some pictures and what not... but heres where it's at now with the friday freebie wordart in one of the photo slots (which is exactly where it's going to stay!)

Now i should have done a better job photoing just the wordart for you, but i didnt. The zoomed in version is quite clear, but I assure you, thats my rush of picture taking and not the quality of the digi. :D

Be sure to go over to the PMS blog and snag this wordart for yourself!

And have a wonderful weekend!

Design Team Call for Digi Lovers!

2011-08-18T09:05:00.003-04:00

As many of you know... Paper Makeup Stamps offers digi images. I love digi, and I have a few team members who also love digi. Don't worry, PMS isnt going to digi only, but Senior Team member, Jami Bova is going to head up a weekly digi challenge called the Digi Makeover Challenge! This challenge will have it's only digi design team.

Are YOU a fan of digis? Would You like to be on the PMS digi team?

Check out the PMS blog today for all the details!!!

PMS hosts the Party Time Tuesday Challenge

2011-08-16T07:00:00.003-04:00

Today Paper Makeup Stamps is the sponsor over at the Party Time Tuesday Challenge blog!

I actually got a card made and school isnt even in session yet! Jack starts kindergarten TOMORROW! I know a lot of mom's get really sad but i am just SO excited! For him and for me. HAHAHAHAHA! I love my kids and i love hanging out with them, but man, freelance and work at home mom (minus when i'm gone for weddings and photoshoots, etc) is busy and exhausting in the summer!

Still I do love summer and wanted to celebrate the Party Time Tuesday sketch challenge with a summery feel card!

Here is my card...

I used the set Sailing By which is available both as a rubber set and a digi download set!

I paperpieced the sails. I've seen so many others do it and always loved the look so I thought it was high time i did it to this set as well! And I must said, it's such a fun way to dress up the stamp! And on top of that, the sails are large and not at all difficult to cut out so putting this card together was so quick and easy! I did use copics to color the boat itself. Super quick! I used E27, E25 and E23 with BG49 and BG45 for the blue line.

The other thing that made this card so easy was a fun sketch to work with!

And when you use the Party Time Tuesday sketch and enter it over on their blog, you are entered to win a $15 gift certificate to the PMS store for any rubber or digi stamps you want!

So be sure to check it out and also check out the PMS blog since a few of the design team members played along as well and made AWESOME samples of this sketch using PMS stamps!

Copic Creations with A Day for Daisies

2011-08-15T05:00:00.000-04:00

The copic Creations challenge team is back with another challenge for you...

to break out those BG's! Any BG copic marker will do!

Check out the Copic Creations blog to read all the details including reading about our awesome sponsor for the next 2 weeks, A Day for Daisies!

A Day for Daisies has adorable digi stamps that you just simply must check out! :D

Here is my card for the challenge (i may have gone a little BG overboard... i didnt use a single marker from another color family!)

Digi stamp is Angelic Angel. She reminds me very much of the West Wind character from the Anime film, Unico that i used to love and adore and watch over and over and over as a kid.

Man, i loved that movie.

Ok, back to the copics...

I literally only used BG color for this. So there are a lot in there. Her skin and clouds are the lightest, BG0000 with a little BG000 to shade. Her dress is BG70, BG72, BG75 and BG78. Her hair... well thats just a hodgepodge of everything really. It's main colors are BG32, BG34 ,BG75, BG49 and BG10 I also outlines the entire image with BG96 and B93.

Be sure to check out the rest of the team by going to the Copic Creations blog and get your card entered to win a fabulous prize!!!

Paper Makeup Stamps Blog Hop: Oldies but Goodies!

2011-08-07T07:00:00.000-04:00

Well there is no new release from PMS this month (remember the releases are every other month) but as always, it's the 7th so we still have a fun hop for you!

You should have hopped here from Jenn's blog. If you are just starting at my blog, go back to the beginning. We have lots of fun things going on and you wont want to miss anyone's creations!

Here is my card...

Even though this is one of my favorite monsters from PMS, it occured to me when I was choosing which Oldie but Goodie stamp that i'd never used him! I got excited and inked him up! Only to remember we were supposed to ""sign up" for which one we wanted to use so there would be no repeats. Um... Well if you are doing the hop you've already seen Jami's amazing card. WOOPS. I forgot my own rules. Guess it's a good thing i won't fire myself!

I love this guy though! And if YOU are a big fan of the monsters and have missed them terribly... i have good news for you! We DO have some new monsters in the works so definitely stay tuned for our upcoming release!!!

THis card also qualifies for our CHALLENGE issued to you today by our new challenge master, Dawn Mercedes. She wants us to use some fun summery sun colors. Thinks reds, oranges, yellows, etc. Ok, so it's not overly orange but it is orange and I did it with the challenge in mind!

Here's a close up of good ol' sourpuss...

I seriously love this guy. Kinda how i feel on rainy days. I'm not a big fan of rain.

My copic colors used on this are YR14, YR21, and YR20.

For my greys i used C0 C1, C3, and C5

I used nestabilities by spellbinders (labels 11) and airbrushed inside the nestie for some added color.

And now... it's time for you to hop along to the wonderful Lisa Kind!

2011-08-05T00:00:00.000-04:00

Every month the My Time Made Easy design team does a year in review post! We take a template from the past (so not just the past year, but any previously released template and stamps to create something NEW for you all!)

*sigh* Unfortunately for me... my evening did NOT pan out like i had wanted it to!

I had a photoshoot that ran a smidgen long, but no worries.. plenty of time to work on a project until WAM, my 2 year old jumped off something in his room and cut his head bleeding all over. I spent a lot of time consoling him that it wasnt really that bad (no stitches this time, yea!) but by the time that was all over... well i just didnt have the will to muster a project together! So i decided my review post was just going to have to REALLY be a review post! It's a better option that never sleeping as i have a photoshoot tomorrow as well and 3 weddings on saturday! Gotta love the season! Hopefully it's new to many of you! It really is my favorite project i've ever made! :D

This project uses the You've Got Mail template (which is really designed to look like one of the blue mailboxes you see on street corners and grocery store parking lots) and I turned it into something else because it's always wonderful when you can get a little bit more bang for your buck when it comes to crafting supplies. Let's face it, it can be an expensive hobby once you accumulate so much!

If you want to see my original You've Got Mail project (where it actually looks like a mailbox!, click HERE). The change was super easy too. And i love the outcome! I used my SCAL to cut out my template, so when cutting the front piece, i added in a rounded corner rectangle. it's just a shape that comes with SCAL so i didnt need to do anything fancy.

Had i used a PDF the window could have easily been cut out with a craft knife or even a punch.

Here is my project!

Fun huh? Ok, well i thought so! The little details (so easy to change) is really what makes this switch from a mailbox to an oven. I added an oven door handle but just so it wouldnt look like a mailbox handle, i stamped on a little scrap of white paper to create a "towel". I also added 2 circle punch outs to create my stove.

The heart used on the towel was used all over the template. It's from the You've Got Mail acrylic stamp set. I also used the Home Made stamp as this little box is now perfect to give away home made baked goodies, or in this case... some soap that LOOKS like a homemade goodie. :)

Here is the heart again stamped onto my printed digi paper. This paper is from the Darling Dots collection and i just love this shade of pink! I used some pink ink to stamp the heart on top and then also added on some pearl baubles.

I also created a little matching note to include with the gift. This is actually a cut file called love notes and it's only 2.50! Here's a tip, you dont have to cut out everything in the cut file. If you are used SCAL, you just ungroup it, and only keep whatever you want to cut. Why spend a fortune on a scalloped heart punch or even nesties when you can have this one and just resize to fit whatever needs! Perfect!

The little cupcake in this picture is the same little guy that was sitting inside my oven in the pictures above. Believe it or not... it's SOAP! Super easy to make too. Just buy some melt and pour soap and some of those silicone bakewear muffin cups. I also poured out my left over soap onto a silicon baking mat and let it set a few minutes. In the meantime, i stamped a butterfly from the All A Flutter stamp set and cut it out. BUT there is a cut file for that too, which i would have used if i wasnt sitting in my kitchen. Then i just placed the cutout butterfly on top of the set soap, and cut around it with a knife. Easy peasy.

The Love Notes cut file also comes so that you can easily have a little note that opens. here's a little quick shot so you can see what i mean...

So don't be mad at me for my literal review! Instead, go love on the rest of the MTME design team and their awesome review projects!

Lauren Meader

Debbie Marcinkiewicz

Kathryn Berthiaume

Katie Cotton (that's me)

Lisa Kind

Monique Hansen

Tangii Crain