Big Boy Bed

I love digital scrapbooking just as much as traditional. I made this page a few months ago from a big event here a couple of years ago...moving our little guy from a crib to the big boy bed!


I use Photoshop CS2 to create my pages. The only element I can tell you for sure is that the white swirl frame is from Rhonna Farrer. Until I get Photoshop CS3 to where I can put tags on .png files (what most digital elements are) in Adobe Bridge, I probably couldn't find the paper, letters and flower element to tell you what the source was! When I do get it (scheduled for late this year, so long from now), I'll write up a post on how my digital elements are organized. Before that, I can write up a post on how I organize my digital card ideas that I keep copies of.

On a side note...my husband found a cheap hp 8750 printer on ebay that he purchased so that we can hopefully use the board to replace the one that got fried yesterday by lightning. Just so you know, when you get a strike like that, you'll most likely need to replace your surge protector. There may be an indicator light on the strip that tells you whether it is spent or not.

Happy Saturday!

Michelle

My Worksurface and Embellishment Center

Here are 2 more pics of my studio. Some (but definitely not all) of my embellishments are on these 2 shelving units on the wall above my foldout cutting table/worksurface. The left side is 2 removable cup storage units I got at Target and had my husband customize to add a ribbon rod. The right side is a shelf that we had in the baby nursery. All I did was remove the 3 baskets that sat in the cubby. That probably came from Target a few years ago, too.

I had always wanted a Clip-It-Up but never wanted to spend that much, so I got some nametag clip/rings at Wal-Mart and hung someof my stuff off the right bar with those. The upside is I didn't use any tabletop space!

See those shirts down low next to the table. NOT wrinkle free.

One more thing: Anyone have an HP 8750 wide-carriage printer that was fried by lightning and then fixed? That's where we're at now, after replacing our wireless router too. I heard a pop and sizzle when we had a very close (direct hit?) lightning strike yesterday afternoon. Luckily, nothing else was damaged that I know of, but I hate to lose that pricey printer. Every thing I do is dependent on all of this computer equipment! Waaaaaa.

Hope todays go better.

Michelle

Card Organizer

I loved the card organizers that Patty made and have been meaning to make one myself. I used 1-1/4" binding to make sure there is plenty of room to hold a year's worth of cards!

The calendar on each page is perpetual so all you have to do is put the birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays in one time next to the day of the month, and it's good for years! This way you can make cards ahead and keep them saved for the occasions you know you'll need a card for. It's easy to see if you need to make a card for any particular month.

I can't wait to get busy making cards to fill my organizer!

This would make a great gift for someone. You could get them started and make a few cards to include, too.

Thanks for visiting,

Michelle

Blog Candy Winner!

Random.org picked #19, Amy Sabol! Amy, please email me your snail address so I can get this blog candy mailed to you!

Congratulations!

Michelle

I've hit 1,000!

Wahoooo! I reached 1,000 hits today, right on schedule for my first ever blog candy to be awarded later today! I put up my first post on May 4, and I believe I've posted every day since then. I'll do my best to keep it up!

Thanks for visiting everyone! I hope you keep stopping by.

Have a great day!

Michelle

The After Pictures

I spent yesterday afternoon putting away and moving things around in my craft studio. The after photos look the SAME! So, I decided on some closeups to show some of the details.

The first photo shows where my quilting fabric used to be. I wanted closer access to my stamps and paper, so I moved my paper holder over and lined up my stamps on the shelf above that. Not sure I like the stamps like that, but what else should I do?


This second photo shows how I've been storing my SU! punches. The top tier bowl holds all the little punches, the bottom tier holds all of my Making Memories paint, and I've hung the big punches on the bowl edges. I like it!



Sometime we should do a virtual craft studio hop! I'd love to see the little storage details everyone has dreamed up.

Just a nudge...only today and tomorrow left to get a FREE GIFT when you sign up for the DSP Swatch Club! It's your chance to own a 6x6 swatch of every single Designer Series Paper that Stampin' Up! offers right now! Click here to see the details, or go straight to the sidebar to order before the 2nd group fills up and the free gift offer expires!

Thanks for visiting,
Michelle

My Messy Studio

I cleaned my studio today by putting away all that was out, and dove into my fully shelved closet made specifically for all of my crafting supplies. What a mess! I needed to make room for my stamps, and I wanted to swap spaces between my quilting fabric and my paper organizer. It's finally done, but you'll have to wait to see the finished pictures. Here's the before:



Before you go and in case you were off having a wonderful vacation weekend, I want to point out or remind you that I am starting a second group of the DSP Swatch Club since the first one is sold out, and if you order ASAP you get a free gift! Details are in this post.

And, I'm trying to boost my hits to 1,000 so I'm offering my first ever blog candy in this post!

Good luck!

Michelle

Free Gift with DSP Swatch Club Purchase

The first DSP Swatch Club is all filled up and I have started a second group.

If you order a DSP Swatch Club (see the sidebar for the paypal button) by May 28th, this Wednesday, you will get this free gift from me with your order: A jumbo paperclip bookmark for your summer reading on the beach, at the park, or on your own deck! If you are in the first group that has already filled, you'll be getting this too!

Bird from the Always stamp set, embossed in black and colored with Copics.

I am trying to reach a personal goal in my first month as a new Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, therefore this offer MUST expire on May 28th. I want to fulfill all 8 slots for the 2nd Swatch Club by then!

If you are wanting a 6 " x 6" swatch of every single paper in all 19 of the Designer Paper Series Stampin' Up! papers, now is the time!

Michelle

One Sheet Pocket Books by Mail

These one sheet pocket books are so cute! I keep one in my purse for jotting down journaling notes, like when my little guy was at his kindergarten screening. I wanted to be able to tell Daddy what he had to do at all of the stations during the screening. Or when he says something really funny that I'd never remember later, like on Mother's Day when he asked me when it would be "Man's Day" (he's not quite 5 years old!).

You might also use it as a photo brag book, sketch book, appointments or to-do list, shopping lists, a place to keep poems, or as a Stampin' Up! wish list!


If you wish to have this cute little 3" x 4" bound book with tags included for yourself or to give as a gift, I can make you one! They are $7.95 plus $2.00 shipping and handling. US orders only please.

To order, please click on the appropriate button on the sidebar. I wish I could get my posts to cooperate and allow the paypal button to appear inside the post!

Please specify in the order form what line of paper you'd like me to make your book from. I will pick the specific piece of paper from the line you ask for based on availability. More choices may be added later. If no choice is specified I will pick for you.


This little book would make a great gift to yourself as well as to someone else!

Enjoy!
Michelle

First Ever Blog Candy

I'd like to get my counter up over 1,000! It's only been a couple of weeks since I started as a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator and put up my blog, but I think it's time for some blog candy! Since it's a holiday weekend, let's give it until next Wednesday, May 28th before I go to random.org and draw a winner.


Make sure you subscribe to my blog via the sidebar feature or in your reader, so that you don't miss your call if you win! You'll have until Thursday night to claim your prize if your name is drawn!

All you have to do is post a comment to this entry, and if you'd like, please tell me what your favorite thing about Stampin' Up! is. If you're not an SU! customer, then tell me what you love about stamping in general.

Thanks and good luck!
Michelle

Preschool Graduation

G graduated from preschool today! He is officially ready for kindergarten. He took these cards in to give the principal and the 2 gals in the school office that have helped us so much these last 2 years. What a great time he's had there!


Thank you gals for everything!

Michelle

Orange Dreamsicle Card

I saw this the other day at Patty's Stamping Spot and it got me energized to actually do some stamping. I haven't had much time since I signed up as a new Stampin' Up! Demonstrator a few weeks ago because I've been getting my blog, workshops, kits, and classes organized. Not to mention my other jobs!

I used my current favorite stamp set, Tart & Tangy, with Only Orange Classic Ink and Crystal Effects on top to give it that juicy look, along with the "happy birthday" sentiment from Birthday Whimsy. On the inside I used the "wish big" sentiment from Short & Sweet. The bite was made from a partial scallop punch cut, and the ribbon is Pumpkin Pie grosgrain. Papers are Whisper White, Only Orange, and Brillant Blue.

Is that cute or what!?!!!

Joyce's LOVE book

Mom, my sister Steph, and I met at Joyce's a few weeks ago to make this really cool L-O-V-E book. We got to use her Bind-It-All and Cricut. I also fell in love with her Stampin' Up! tabletop cutter! We all had a lot of fun, and her husband Randy cooked us a REAL spaghetti dinner that was delish! Thanks Joyce and Randy, and thanks Mom for treating us to the class!

Stay tuned over the next few days, as I'm getting some blog candy ready to give away!

P.S. Watch the Kits by Mail section in my sidebar for updates on how many Spring & Summer DSP Swatch Club Kits are left. I'm happy to say that they are going quickly and as soon as we are full, I'll get the order put in and get them sent out!

Michelle

First Workshop Door Prize

Colleen was the lucky winner of the Door Prize from my first Workshop! Congratulations!



Michelle

Spring & Summer Designer Series Paper Swatch Club

I am pleased to offer you the Spring & Summer Designer Series Paper Swatch Club for sale by mail.


You will get 114 6"x6" swatches including each paper in the Designer Series Paper in the Stampin' Up! catalog on pages 168 to 170, plus the 2 sets on the bottom of page 171, AND the Afternoon Tea DSP on page 8 and Summer Picnic DSP on page 16 in the Occasions Mini Collection 2008 catalog featuring a total of 19 sets of DSP, each with 6 large swatches of double-sided designs!


The Spring & Summer DSP Swatch Club allows you to own all of the DSP papers available through June 2008!

When a total of 8 people have paid for the Spring & Summer DSP Swatch Club, I will place the order. When I receive the order, I will promptly prepare the swatches for immediate mailing.


The Spring & Summer DSP Swatch Club will not be available after June 30th.



The cost of this kit is $28.00 plus $4.80 Priority Mail to anywhere in the US only.

Please use the Kits by Mail "Add to Cart" button to purchase the Spring & Summer DSP Swatch Kit here or on the sidebar using your PayPal account.


Embellish your projects with these fresh, acid and lignin free papers featuring exclusive Stampin' Up! patterns and colors. This beautiful paper was designed exclusively by Stampin' Up! using our palette of colors and original images, and makes it easy to create a card or scrapbook page with coordinating background paper, card stock, and stamped images. It also covers On Board chipboard beautifully. Simply adhere it to your chipboard and sand the edges.

Coordinate with Stampin’ Up!’s exclusive colors:
Azure: Brilliant Blue, Very Vanilla
Bali Breeze: Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Rose Red, Taken with Teal
Berry Bliss: Close to Cocoa, Pretty in Pink, Purely Pomegranate,
Cutie Pie: Bashful Blue, Basic Black, Certainly Celery, Rose Red, So Saffron
East Coast Prep: More Mustard, Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Wild Wasabi
Fall Flowers: Old Olive, Really Rust, Soft Sky, Sahara Sand
Flowers for You: Certainly Celery, Lovely Lilac, Regal Rose, Tempting Turquoise
Ginger Blossom: Cameo Coral, Groovy Guava, Ruby Red, River Rock
Jersey Shore: Bashful Blue, Brilliant Blue, Pumpkin Pie, Wild Wasabi
Le Jardin: Always Artichoke, Bashful Blue, River Rock, So Saffron, Very Vanilla
Notebook: Kraft, Soft Sky, Very Vanilla
Olive Press: Old Olive, Very Vanilla
Porcelain Prints: Blue Bayou, River Rock, Wild Wasabi
Spring Break: Blue Bayou, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Soft Sky
Spring Fling: Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, Sage Shadow, So Saffron
Spring Silhouettes: Certainly Celery, Soft Sky, Very Vanilla, Wild Wasabi
Western Sky: Blue Bayou, River Rock, Ruby Red, Soft Sky

First Workshop Make & Take

This was the Make & Take for my first workshop. I used Whisper White, Kraft, Jersey Shore, and Brilliant Blue cardstock. Some of the edges were inked with Brilliant Blue and Only Orange Classic Ink. We watercolored the Pun Fun bird stamp using Blender Pens and Classic Ink Pads in Brilliant Blue, Only Orange, Summer Sun, and Real Red. A strip of Pumpkin Pie 1/4" grosgrain ribbon finished off the card.

I love the Pun Fun stamp set!

Thanks for looking, and thanks for all the ideas that you've been sending my way on making workshops flow smoothly!

Michelle

Vacation in the Black Hills!

Need to get away for a family vacation or a weekend craft retreat?



Our Guest House Getaway is available!


We are located 15 miles west of Rapid City near Nemo in a beautiful wildflower meadow in the Black Hills National Forest with miles of hiking, mountain biking, and ATV trails right at your door. The Guest House Getaway is centrally located: 20 minutes to Rapid City, 35 to Hill City, 45 to Mount Rushmore, 45 to Deadwood, 50 to Sturgis, and 1 hour to Spearfish.






Sleeps up to 6 people in 2 bedrooms & the great room:




• Full bath with laundry, linens included:





• Fully equipped kitchen, gas grill & picnic table:

• Local TV, VCR, DVD. No phone. No cell phone coverage, just peace and quiet:

• Plenty of workspace for craft retreats, or I'll remove the work tables and leave the couch (not pictured):




If you are interested, contact me and please specify whether you are wanting information for a craft retreat or a vacation.

You'll love it here!

Michelle

Boho Blend Workshop Page in Blue

This is the scrap page that I demonstrated and gave to my mom and my first workshop...I like the color photo better than the vintage one due to the bright blue sky. This is my little guy at my folks' house...home on the range!



Michelle

Scrapbook Page from First Workshop

For my third project I demonstrated, I created this sample "vintage look" page from the Boho Blend Simply Scrappin' set. I demonstrated the same photo but it was in vivid color with a few Photoshop actions applied to it to make it even better. For that page that my Mom got (the workshop was at her house so she got all the demo projects), I used the blue papers from the SS set that went so well with the blues of the photo. I'll post that when I get a photo from her (I forgot to get one when it was completed!).



Thanks for looking!
Michelle

Second project of my first workshop

For my second workshop demo project I showed how to watercolor this Classic Basic Black-inked Just Celebrate cake stamp with pastels and a blender pen, then Dazzling Diamonds glitter went on the frosting with a 2-Way glue pen. I used a Whisper White card base and Bali Breeze Designer Series Paper, Green Galore and Tempting Turquoise card stock for the front. The Word Window punch gave the final detail for the Tempting Turquoise-inked celebrate! sentiment that was stamped on using the Stamp-a-ma-Jig for perfect placement. I had mounted this stamp set with the sentiment on the edge of the wood block so that I could stamp them either separately or put them together, adding a little more versatility to the stamp set.

Happy Saturday!
Michelle

Mini Treat Box

I had my first Workshop last night! The first project was this mini treat box.

I'm hoping to be a little more organized next time and have it not last quite as long, but I think it went well for the first time! Joyce, my upline, was there to give me some pointers afterwards, so I've got some different organizational tips to try next time. How about you seasoned demonstrators out there...any tips for me to make it run a little quicker? I demo'd this treat box, mounted a stamp, demo'd a pastel watercolor card with glitter, a scrapbook page, and then our Make & Take was a blender pen/ink pad watercolor card.

I'll post pictures of the other projects over the next few days.

Thanks!

Michelle

RAK from Joyce

This cool card was given to me by my upline, Joyce. She knows I love the Pick a Petal stamp set! I love the turned up front tied with the ribbon.



Mom, my sister, and I were at Joyce's last night for a Stamp Camp and made a desktop L-O-V-E chipboard album using the Bind-It-All. Very cool! I'll post a picture sometime...

Thanks Joyce!

Michelle

Teacher Gifts

G will graduate from preschool this month, and to show his teacher and her 2 assistants how much we appreciate them, we got them some Stampin' Up! loot! His teacher Miss C. got both of the Tattoo kits, and Miss S. and Mrs. C each got a stamp set, ink spot, marker, some paper, ribbons, brads, and the Stampin' Techniques booklet to get them started. He's had a great time thanks to you gals!


Thank you so much,
Michelle

Mother's Day Cards

These are the cards that I got for Mother's Day from (clockwise from top) my 4-year-old son, my husband, my sister who used her new Cricut (the big one!), and my Mom, who is also a stamper!

We had a great day!

Thanks,
Michelle

NSD Prize

Look what I won from Emma's Paperie for National Scrapbooking Day!

A Belgian chocolate (gone first thing!), Katlin candy brads, 2 Cosmo Cricket ribbon spools, s.e.i. iron on art (the long white package on its side), s.e.i. epoxy stickers, and s.e.i. letter stickers! I am so lucky! Thanks Emma's!

Michelle

One Sheet Pocket Book

I got a chance to play with my Bind-It-All and ended up making several One Sheet Pocket Books from a tutorial that Barb Mullikin had on her blog. Dale's mom, my mom, my sister, and my grandmother all got one!

The inside pocket tags could be used to keep notes, a to-do list, shopping lists, appointments, journaling, and even hold photos! I will be keeping mine in my purse.

Hope you all had a great Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!

This is the card I gave to my mother-in-law yesterday. We had an impromptu gathering at our house since our picnic plans got a little chilly and snowy! Talk about a quick way to get your house cleaned!

STAMPS: Always
PAPER: Rhonna Farrer
INK: Copic marker, Versamark, black embossing powder
ACCESSORIES: Coluzzle ovals, Dew Drops, DaisyD's rub on stitches, Paper Piercer & Mat Stack, miscellaneous ribbon, ribbon slide brad (love those!), Cuttlebug Tapestry embossing folder

Enjoy Mother's Day!

Michelle

Enjoy Every Moment

This card is one I cased from Diane Gilbert. I love the bright colors over the black background! I gave one these cards (I made two) to my sister and my mom for Mother's Day at the Mother/Daughter banquet last week (quite hastily, due to being rushed that night and not being able to present them nicely!).

STAMPS: Enjoy Every Moment

PAPER: Miscellaneous

INK: Basic Black, Signo white gel pen

ACCESSORIES: Nestabilities rectangle cut in half, Flower Fusion felt flowers, metal & rhinestone brads, Paper Piercer & Mat Stack, miscellaneous ribbon

My Bind-It-All came yesterday! Maybe today I can find some time to play with it!

Thanks for looking,
Michelle

An Apple for Teacher

This was a thank you card that we gave to my son's preschool teacher...she goes above and beyond, and we think she's done a fantastic job in her first year of teaching!

STAMPS: Tart & Tangy, word stamp unknown
PAPER: Summer Picnic, miscellaneous
INK: Olive Green and unknown brown markers, Signo white gel pen
ACCESSORIES: Scallop punch, Circle punches, Crystal Effects, dimensionals, Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder, miscellaneous ribbon

Thanks for looking!

Michelle

All 3 Purses

As promised, here are all 3 Carousel Note Purse Albums, all lined up. Mom made the one in the middle, and it's gorgeous! We had a lot of fun making these.

My Stampin' Up! starter kit came today, so I've been immersed in that all afternoon and this evening. I will be my own hostess at my first workshop next Thursday night at Mom's to kick off my new demonstratorship (Mom's is closer to most of my guests and will be easier to do on a weeknight with all of May's weekends SO busy). You can view my Stampin' Up! calendar of events at my Stampin' Up! website, using the link on the side menu, or by clicking here.

Thanks for looking!

Michelle

Carousel Notes Purse Album, The Sequel

A few days ago I showed you my first attempt at Jan Tink's Carousel Note Purse Ablum (view her tutorial here). The link to my previous post with some photos of the album is here. I showed it my Mom, who bought the Carousel Notes for us at a Stampin' Up! Stamp Camp that our friend Laurel hosted. Not long after Mom saw the album, she was at my house and we were both making one (my second one, pictured below). We didn't have time to complete all the embellishing, so she departed and finished hers at home. I will post in the future with a photo of all 3 albums!

STAMPS: Sassafrass Lass Oliver & Friends, Autumn Leaves Journaling by Katie Pertiet

PAPER: SU! Carousel Note Set, SU! Very Vanilla, Chatterbox Scrapbook Walls, WeRMemory Keepers Urban Window, Sandylion Corduroy

INK: Colorbox Fluid Chalk in Chestnut Roan, Spica Glitter Pens

ACCESSORIES: Circle punch, Scallop punch, 5-Petal Flower punch, Ticket Corner punch, Pick a Petal brass template, Mat Stack, Crop-O-Dile, ribbon slide and metal brads, ribbon, Dew Drops, Prima flower, Velcro dot closure, DaisyD's rub-on tape

Thanks Steph, for letting me know that my FeedBlitz email subscriber widget wasn't working...it's fixed now so that I can get a lot of subscribers (hint, hint!).

See you soon!

Michelle