more changes

Some photos of the fun we've had this month...

Science experiments with Daddy (that's a mock-up of a steam engine made from an olive can and some copper tubing)
S'mores in the backyard of Philip's parents' house
An ice cream treat at the zoo with cousin Sky (they are SO sweet together!)
Fun sliding down the 'Ant Hill' at the zoo...cardboard on AstroTurf makes a fantastic sled!
Jonathan nabbed a tray someone had brought over to the Ant Hill, and had fun using a tummy-sliding approach

Obviously, I haven't been blogging. It makes me a bit sad, but I also think it's been a good thing. I've 'disconnected' myself from most of my online activities (including emailing time, blog surfing, blog posting, etc...), and life feels a bit calmer, despite all the things going on at home.

We decided to split the master bedroom back to two smaller bedrooms (a previous owner had converted it into one bowling-alley-esque 13' x 28' room). Now, we have two smaller, but more than adequate, rooms - including a guest room!

My parents were able to take advantage of that new guest room (albeit without a door, as the doors had to be custom-made because of size), and just left this morning to fly back home to Missouri. I miss them already.

I've been going to LOTS of doctor visits, still trying to determine the cause of my fainting spells, and to determine whether there is a treatment that will control the spells and allow me to drive again.

We've been walking a lot: trips to the grocery store, Daniel's school, hardware store, UPS store, our family practioner's office, restaurants... I'm feeling very blessed to live where we do, with a ~10 minute walk to everything we *need* (and more).

Daniel started school 4 weeks ago, and is LOVING kindergarten. He's so excited to go, each and every day (though his favorite is Thursdays, which is his 'share day') *wink*

I started scrapbooking! Stay tuned for photos coming soon...I need my sweet DH to figure out why I can't download the photos at the moment. *sigh*

I'm planning to get back to my blog, but I'm going to take it slow. Please bear with me! *grins*

Make it a great day! Thanks for stopping by!
~Michelle

Pattern Inspiration

I've been doing a fair bit of web searching in the past few weeks, and I am *in love* with patterns. Check out these samples from The Stencil Library (first two images) and MB Historic Decor (third image) -




Aren't they fab?!? I'm seriously tempted to do some modern stenciling around the house...

I'm also loving block printed items, like these found in the HomeSweet etsy shop:



YUM!! Makes me wanna go carve some new stamps...

An update...

Sorry for the long time since my last post! No, I haven't abandoned my blog. *smiles* Things have just been a bit complicated lately...

For those of you that don't know, my son and I were in a car accident at the beginning of July. I had an episode of syncope, fainted completely, hit a light pole (which sheared off and went over my car), and ended up next to a field, up against a fence. The exact cause of the syncope is still being determined, but my cardiologist thinks it is neurocardiogenic syncope, which is caused by a sudden drop in blood pressure and heart rate. Thankfully, neither one of us were hurt (though I do have some whiplash).

Because of the whiplash and tension in my neck/shoulders, I really haven't been making anything. It just hurt too much, and left me too sore, to bend over my table to work. Instead, I've been cleaning out my craft area, paring things down a bit to just the stuff that I *love* (which is still way too much! lol), and waiting for inspiration to strike. I have been making some jewelry here and there, so I'll be sure to take some photos and upload them soon!

I'm hoping and praying that I'll get a firm diagnosis this time (this has been occuring since I was 14 or so), and that it will be *treatable*... In the mean time, I'm not driving, and just taking it easy, trying to simplify life a bit. I'll definitely try to keep you all updated, and I'll be back soon with some goodies to look at!

Thanks for stopping by!
~Michelle

USC40 - Giggle Grove scrapling bookmark

Good morning! (I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaccccccccccccccccckkkkkkkkk! *wink*)

We have a new Unity Addicts Challenge this morning from Cyndi, and I LOVE IT! Her challenge was "A double challenge…Use what you’ve got in your stash… Papers, buttons, brads, ribbons…needs to be scrap and not new from a package! And here’s the kicker…find your very first Unity set that you ever bought and use that!! Good luck and have fun"

Oh, I love this kind of challenge! I pulled out Giggle Grove, which was my very frist Unity Stamp Set, and the set that started my addiction even before I had the chance to buy it. I still {love} this set! *Everything* on this card is scrap, including the ribbon. The base is a scrap of Kiwi Kiss (I didn't even cut it down at all, just folded it in half and started building), which I stamped with one of the trees from Giggle Grove. I found a bit of Urban Prairie DP, and stamped one of the birds from Giggle Grove onto it, trimmed it out, and adhered it to the tree with foam tape. Then I found a teeny-weeny strip of Not Quite Navy, and punched it with a Martha Stewart Crafts border punch. The ribbon at the top of the card was a little piece about 5" long that was in my ribbon drawer (I have issues throwing away bits of ribbon...they're jsut so pretty!). I literally *barely* got the knot tied in it, and trimmed off about half a millimeter from each end just to get off the frayed part.
Then, I decided to make it into a bookmark. I dug into my magnet drawer, and found a tiny little flat magnet, and a thin metal piece it matched that I think I pulled off of a notebook I had finished with. (Yes, I do save anything I might have crafty use!) Here's a shot of the inside, with the metal strip that the magnet attracts to:
Isn't it fun? I love scrappy projects! *grins*

I hope you have a fabulous day!! Make sure to go stop by the Unity Addicts challenge thread to see the other addicts' projects!

Thanks for stopping by!
~Michelle

Supplies used:
Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Not Quite Navy CS (SU!); Urban Prairie DP (BasicGrey)
Ink: Stazon Jet Black (Tsukineko)
Stamps: Giggle Grove (Unity Stamp Company)
Other: Magnet clasp (recycled!); foam mounting tape (3M)

Yosemite!!

Seriously, you're jealous, aren't you? *wink* (Don't get too jealous...I do have to endure a 5+ hour drive with two pre-schoolers...each way. Always exciting! LOL)

I'll be back Friday! Have a fantastic week!!
~Michelle

Oh What Fun!

Just a quick post...I wanted to share this simple little card I made using some of my new(ish) Amuse stamps. It's so fun inking up new rubber!! And, I made it for no reason at all. It's been a while since I stamped without doing it for a challenge, or a tutorial, or MOPS, or a blog hop, or.... It was so nice just to PLAY!

The card base is a standard A2 (4 1/4" x 5 1/2"), using Amuse's Classic White card stock. I love that stuff...it's super sturdy, and stands up to being a card base easily, even if you load it down with embellishments. I stamped a circular pattern along the edge using PTI's Lemon Tart ink. Above the yellow stamped border, I stamped the sentiment using my Stamp-a-ma-jig for placement.

On a scrap of the white, I stamped the pinata image, and colored it in with Prismacolor pencils. That was added to a punched square of yellow and a scalloped square of Tangerine Tango using foam tape, and they were all added to the card with another layer of foam tape. To finish it all off, I tied on some Tangerine Tango striped grosgrain. QAS and EPLS! (that's Quick And Simple and Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy, in case you were wondering *wink*)

Have a fantastic weekend! Thanks for stopping by!
~Michelle

Supplies used:
Paper: Classic White CS (Amuse); Tangerine Tango (SU!); Yellow 'solid' DP (BasicGrey)
Ink: Stazon Jet Black (Tsukineko); Lemon Tart Palette Perfect Match (PaperTrey Ink)
Stamps: "Pinata" and "Oh What Fun!" (Amuse); "Clear Pattern Stamps" (Martha Stewart Crafts)
Other: Foam tape (3M); Tangerine Tango ribbon, Stamp-a-ma-jig (SU!)

Beach Bungalow Inspiration - USC36

It's Wednesday, and time for another Unity Addicts Challenge!! This week is my turn to pick, and I picked a Color Inspiration challenge (again...I {{love}} color, and almost always start my projects by choosing colors)! I find color inspiration EVERYWHERE. A tag off my clothes, the paint on a building, colors in nature... or a photo from a magazine article (which is where today's challenge came from):
(Image is from Martha Stewart Living) Isn't that just the most darling little bungalow kitchen?? I think it would be hard to be grumpy in a kitchen with these bright, sunny, fun colors. My challenge to the Unity girls was to make a project using the colors in this photo: Turquoise, tangerine, yellow, and lots of white. Here's what I came up with (thanks to the fortuitous arrival of my May KOTM...OMGosh, I {{LOVE}} it!!):
I have to say, I was totally jazzed about the idea to make the sentiment coming out of the chimney like a little thought bubble! *grins*

I paper-pieced the house out of scraps from my scrap bin, adding the hearts with foam tape for some dimension. I stamped the sentiment directly onto my card base (using a Stamp-a-ma-jig for placement), and then again onto a scrap of So Saffron to paper-piece the 'home', and colored in the hearts and doodles with my Prismacolor pencils. I tied on the ribbon and added the house with some more foam tape, then I drew the 'bubble' around the sentiment and the little bubbles leading from the chimney with a ZIG Writer.

Have a fantastic day! Thanks for stopping by!
~Michelle

Supplies used:
Paper: Classic White (Amuse); So Saffron (SU!); blue DP (Basic Grey 'Urban Prairie'); red CS (Bazzill); orange wood stain sample (Sherwin Williams)
Ink: Stazon Jet Black (Tsukineko)
Stamps: May KOTM '...Another Sweet Day' (Unity Stamp Company)
Other: Prismacolor Artist Pencils - Scarlet Lake, Yellowed Orange, and Light Aqua (Sanford); Tangerine Tango striped grosgrain (SU!); foam mounting tape (3M); black ZIG Writer

Unity KOTM Blog Hop!

Hi Hoppers! (If you've just come upon my blog, please go to Unity's Blog to start at the beginning...you'll be glad you did!)

For my project, I altered a small notebook using the August 2008 KOTM 'Remember Happiness' (STILL my all-time fave, though this month's May KOTM may win once it arrives!) and the February 2009 KOTM 'Endings & Beginnings'.
The trailer was paper-pieced using some of the 'solids' from Basic Grey's 'Granola' line, and I colored in the small hearts using a Pale Vermillion Prismacolor artist pencil. That was layered onto a Sherwin Williams wood stain sample, then onto black, and adhered with foam tape. I stamped the Remember Happiness quote onto a blue solid to create my own background paper, layered it with black, and tied on some SU! striped Tangerine Tango ribbon before adhering it to the front of my notebook with foam tape. I stamped 'enjoy' and 'journey' directly onto the notebook, and wrote my own 'the' to create the sentiment. *grins*

Thanks for stopping by!

Your next blog to visit is Jackie at http://stampingsister.blogspot.com/

Enjoy the hop, and have a fabuluous weekend!!
~Michelle

Happy Birthday Unity!!

Yes, it's official! Unity is ONE YEAR OLD today! (Can you believe it??) This company has completely renewed my creativity over the past year, and has provided me with some wonderful friends and experiences, too. {{Thank you}} Unity, Angela and Chris, the Unity guys and gals, Unity DT, and all my Unity Addict friends!

Here's a simple little card I made for one of yesterday's challenges (and completed after the deadline was up...c'est la vie, non?). The challenge was to a create a card with a special edge, so I pulled out my trusty Martha Stewart Crafts scallop dot border punch, some scraps of DP, and got started. I first stamped the image of the trees onto a scrap of Amuse white, and then again onto a striped mystery scrap (I think it might be daisy d's, but don't quote me), and again onto a scrap of Bo Bunny pink, and paper-pieced the trees, popping up one on a foam square. Then I distressed the edge with my scissors, and ran PTI's Blush Blossom ink over the distressing. The image was matted with a scrap of orange, and then mounted to the card with foam tape.
After punching the edge, I added a strip of blue DP, and a scalloped strip of orange to the inside of the card (to make my hubby happy when he opens it when I show it to him! LOL) *wink*

I hope you have a wonderful Friday! Be sure to check out the Unity Blog to see all the birthday happenings, and to find out who else is posting today!

Thanks for stopping by!
~Michelle

Supplies used:
Paper: Wild Wasabi CS (SU!); Classic White CS (Amuse); Orange and blue 'solids' (American Crafts); striped DP (unknown)
Ink: Stazon Jet Black (Tsukineko); Sweet Blush (PaperTrey Ink)
Stamps: trees - April KOTM 'Fresh Beginnings', sentiment - March KOTM 'Simple Life' (Unity Stamp Company)
Other: Scallop Dot border punch (Martha Stewart Crafts); Lemon Tart Saddle-Stitched Grosgrain (PaperTrey Ink)

USC33 - Happy Birthday Unity!

I have about two seconds to post, so be sure to check out {this thread} to read all about this week's Unity Addicts Challenge...it's a sketch challenge, and we were supposed to use as many colors as possible. I think this card qualifies! *wink*

I'll be back later to edit this post with details! In the meantime, be sure to check out the Unity Blog and the Unity Forum to see the games and challenges for today (and every day this week!)

Have a wonderful day! Thanks for stopping by!!
~Michelle

mmmm....caffeine

It has arrived!!I ordered my new espresso machine Sunday night, and it arrived Tuesday! Starbucks has some amazing customer service and SUPER FAST shipping...in my box was also a coupon for a free beverage, Starbucks chocolates, and a tin of after-coffee mints. *grins*

But, being sick, I just didn't feel like trying to figure out my new espresso machine until today (I did steam some milk yesterday for a vanilla chai, but didn't try out the espresso because I'd already had one that morning). Well, I just made my first white mocha on my machine, and I must say, it is dee-licious! Coffee, anyone? *wink*

Have a fantastic weekend! Be sure to check out the Mini VSN (Virtual Stamp Night) at SCS this weekend...there are some fabulous challenges lined up, starting at 10am EDT Saturday! Thanks for stopping by!
~Michelle

ETA: Forgot to tell you...there are also a couple surprise (rather high-profile) hostesses doing some challenges this evening, and there will be prizes involved! Check it out!

Unity Addicts challenge #32

LOOK! I stamped! *grins*

Today's Unity challenge is to "Go ahead and get creative make something using something recycled or images that represent what Earth Day means to you". The boys play a game on Starfall that says 'Everyday is Earth Day', and I couldn't agree more...God gave us this earth, and we are called to be good stewards of what God has given to us.

Here's my card:
I interpreted the theme in several ways...everything on the card is from my scrap bin, and the photo turn and skeleton leaves are things I've had hidden away for YEARS. I also used this wonderful verse from Something Within, and the butterfly flowers silhouette image from April's KOTM "fresh beginnings". I stamped the silhouette onto the background using Stazon Cotton White ink, then stamped the verse onto a scrap of Bazzill (first in Cotton White, then in PTI's Dark Chocolate for a 'faux embossed' effect) . Then I simply layered everything on, trimming pieces as necessary.

Thanks for stopping by today! Be sure to see what the other Addicts are doing! *wink*
~Michelle

Supplies used:
Paper: Kraft CS (SU!); Textured CS (Bazzill....'Kachina', I think); Classic White CS (Amuse); corrugated paper (unknown)
Ink: Stazon Cotton White (Tsukineko); 'Dark Chocolate' Perfect Match Palette Ink (PaperTrey Ink)
Stamps: 'Something Within', April KOTM 'fresh beginnings' (Unity Stamp Company)
Other: Hodgepodge Hardware photo turn and brad (SU!); copper skeleton leaves (unknown)

Hard Workout *wink* ...just some funnies to share!

So, the boys have both been sick on/off this week...which means I haven't had many breaks, and *no* chances to go to the gym (which I only joined last week). In an attempt to keep up my new habit, I've been doing workouts at home. Which is challenging. (Just try doing a workout with a 2 1/2 year old 'helping' you by climbing on your back while you do pushups, or sitting on your tummy during crunches, or bouncing on your fitness ball as you attempt a pike, and you'll see what I mean! LOL) Today, I decided to try a new video, and Daniel (my 4 1/2 yo) was my cheerleader/coach, echoing the trainer on the video. Near the end of the video, the chipper little workout lady suggested a way to 'take it up a notch' and I said "What is she, kidding??". To which Daniel replied (in the perfect deadpan that only a 4 1/2 year old with no understanding of sarcasm can use) "No, Mommy, I don't think she was kidding. You should keep doing it". LOL!! That kid seriously cracks me up! *grins*

After I finished, I went to get some water and lunch for Daniel (who hadn't eaten yet), and returned to find Jonathan (the 2 1/2 y.o.) like this:
Poor kid. Must've been a hard workout *wink*

I hope you have a fantastic weekend! Thanks for stopping by!
~Michelle

He is Risen!

Happy Easter, everyone! Yesterday I finally had a chance to do a wee bit of crafting, and made my two boys' buckets for their egg hunt happening later today (I only bought the buckets about 3 weeks ago! LOL)

The images are from several Unity KOTMs, and were stamped on Amuse white cardstock, colored with Prismacolors, and cut out. The 'grass' at the bottoms are strips of burlap, with the tops cut into points, and the numbers at the top (from the March KOTM) were stamped using Stazon Cotton White. Everything is held on with Terrifically Tacky Tape (aka 'red liner' tape) and Mini Glue Dots. *wink*
I hope you all have a blessed Easter! I'm off to work on scalloped potatoes and stuffed eggs before church! *wink*

Thanks for stopping by today!
~Michelle

Supplies used:
Paper: Classic White CS (Amuse)
Ink: Stazon Jet Black and Cotton White (Tsukineko)
Stamps: November 2008 KOTM "Enjoy YOUR STORY...laugh", February 2009 KOTM "Endings and Beginnings", March 2009 KOTM "Simple Life" (Unity Stamp Company)
Other: Buckets (Target); 'Summer Sunrise' Saddle Stitched ribbon (PaperTrey Ink); Prismacolor Artist Pencils (Sanford); Terrifically Tacky Tape; Mini Glue Dots; burlap

Life...

Life sometimes gets 'in the way' of crafting. Lately there really does seem to be too much to do, and too little time. *sigh* I think I need to set aside some time for another crafting session, but first I need to get my craft room re-cleaned up (and really cleaned OUT). All the 'stuff' I've collected for this fabulous craft sometimes becomes a hindrance to creativity rather than a boost for it, KWIM? I think it's time for a clean sweep, and a bit of reorganization! *wink*

Alrighty, enough rambling...onto the card!
I absolutely love this set (Beautiful You) from Verve. It was a set for their 1-year anniversary, and each of the design team members picked a favorite quotation, so it is VERY versatile, and it has a beautiful floral image that is great as a focal or as a background image. Verve's stamps are clear polymer (aka 'acrylic'), and they are super high-quality...nice and thick, and give great detail and very clear stamping.

I stamped the 'Life' sentiment onto a scrap of Very Vanilla using Ruby Red ink, and mounted it to a scrap of Ruby Red CS, adding three self-adhesive rhinestones to accent the sentiment. Next, I stamped a panel of Kraft CS with the flower image using Ruby Red ink. The card base is a standard A2-sized card in Bashful Blue. I stamped a border along one edge using Versamark ink and Martha Stewart Crafts 'Clear Pattern Stamps' polka-dot border (it's actually stamped twice, and since the stamp is clear, aligning the pattern was EPLS). I tied a bit of satin vanilla ribbon around the base, then adhered the Kraft panel, and attached the matted sentiment to the top using foam tape.

This was a *very* quick card, and the layout is one that would be easily adapted for other cards (and it's a great way to use up scraps! *wink*)

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend! Thanks for stopping by!
~Michelle

Supplies used:
Paper: Bashful Blue, Ruby Red, Kraft, Very Vanilla CS (SU!)
Ink: Versamark (Tsukineko); Ruby Red (SU!)
Stamps: Beautiful You (Verve Stamps); Clear Pattern Stamps (Martha Stewart Crafts)
Other: foam mounting tape (3M); satin ribbon (Offray); rhinestones (Michael's)

Unity World Record Blog Hop is here!

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ~Philippians 4:8

Next up: my friend Jessy at My Sanity Depends on Stamping!

Thanks for stopping by!
~Michelle

Supplies used:
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White CS (SU!); Kachina, Pollen CS (Bazzill)
Ink: Stazon Jet Black, Versamark (Tsukineko); Chocolate Chip (SU!)
Stamps: March 2009 KOTM "Simple Life" (Unity Stamp Co.)
Other: Detail embossing powder (Stampendous!); 'Labels One' Nestabilities (Spellbinders); rhinestones (Michael's); ribbon (unknown); Prismacolor Artist Pencils (Sanford) - Apple Green, Yellow Chartreuse, Pink Rose, Carmine Red, Scarlet Lake

GIU #5 - Happy Thoughts for HHH!

I can't believe the week is already over! I've had *so* much fun sharing my {love} of Unity with you all, and you'll all made my week with the sweet comments that you've left. Thank {{YOU}} so much!

I will be back tomorrow with a post in the Unity World Record Blog Hop (see the blinkie to the right)...have you signed up yet? There's still time! *wink*

Today's card is actually one I made quickly yesterday morning for one of the Hip Hop Thursday challenges...'No Sour Grapes at Unity!'. The challenge was to make a card using black, white, and purple, and this is what I came up with:
I have to say, I *really* like how it turned out! *grins*

I pulled out my new 'Feel the Joy' image, the sentiment from the March KOTM, some scraps of Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Basic Black, and Whisper White, and my new PaperTrey Palette inks, and got to work. I stamped the image three times using Lavender Moon ink, then twice more using Plum Pudding ink onto the Whisper White scrap. I trimmed it down, and then trimmed the Perfect Plum scrap and the Basic Black scraps to mat it, tearing the bottom edge of the black scrap. I tied a piece of Plum Pudding satin ribbon around the card (cutting a slit in the folded edge, since I didn't really plan this card!), and then mounted the matted image on top with foam mounting tape. I stamped the sentiment at the bottom, and accented the card with some Heidi Swapp Bling. Yet another card that took less than 10 minutes! Love that!

And now, the winner of a single of their choice from Unity:

True Random Number Generator Result: 72

Yaritza said...

You did a wonderful job on these cards. Specially love the trees.

March 26, 2009 6:38 AM

Congratulations Yaritza! I'll be sending you and Eryn an email, but be sure to send your choice of single and your address to Eryn[at]unitystampco[dot]com *wink*

Thank you all again for making *my* week so wonderful! Have a wonderful weekend, and I'll 'see' you on the blog hop!
~Michelle

Supplies used:
Paper: Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Basic Black, and Whisper White CS (SU!)
Ink: Lavender Moon and Plum Pudding ink (PaperTrey Ink); Stazon Jet Black (Tsukineko)
Stamps: Feel the Joy, March KOTM 'Simple Life' (Unity Stamp Company)
Other: Plum Pudding satin ribbon (PaperTrey Ink); foam mounting tape (3M); Jet Bling (Heidi Swapp)

GIU #4 - Two CAS KOTM Creations

Are you all ready for HIP HOP??!! Make sure you go to the Unity blog to get all the details and to go through the blog hop...Unity's DT always has the *best* eye-candy! (The blog hop starts at 10 am CDT, and Hip Hop officially begins in the Unity Forum at 11 am CDT...come join us!)

Now, onto the cards!

First up is a 'No-layer' card...I just love this image! (See, told you I wasn't afraid of white space! *wink*)I recently ordered Amuse's Classic White cardstock, and let me tell you...I understand why Julie is so famous for her no-layer cards now...this stuff is thick, has a great feel, and stands up perfectly on its own as a card base! I made a 4 1/4" square card base, and then stamped the adorable tree 'couple' (from this month's KOTM) in the center using Stazon Jet Black, and then stamped 'happy' and 'together' (from Fall Festival) underneath using my Stamp-a-ma-jig. Then, I colored in the trees using my Prismacolors, and tied on some Papaya stitched grosgrain ribbon. Super EPLS! *grins*

My second card is also a quick, CAS one, based on a tag I got off of a shirt I bought recently! I loved the silhouette image and the color combo, and immediately thought of the silhouette flowers from the March KOTM:
I started with a French Roast square notecard (4 1/4" x 4 1/4"). I stamped the silhouette onto Whisper White CS using River Rock ink, and punched it out with my pink Marvy Uchida circle punch. Then I punched a scalloped circle from Soft Sky using the purple Marvy Uchida punch, and also punched three teeny little butterflies with the Martha Stewart 'Classic Butterfly' punch (it has three small butterflies). I stamped 'love grows' (from Love Grows) across the flowers using Bravo Burgundy, and adhered the three small butterflies to the image. I tied some Soft Sky stitched grosgrain around the card, and adhered the layered circles, using foam tape to mount them to the card. I honestly took me less than 10 minutes, start to finish...love that!

And check out how well the colors match the tag:
Oh, I miss Soft Sky and River Rock! Here's one last look at the card, with its inspiration:
Thanks for stopping by today! I'll be picking a winner for the Unity single (and a little extra goodie from me) this evening from ALL the posts this week, so be sure to leave some comments, if you haven't already! *wink*

Don't forget to go HIP HOP!!
~Michelle

Supplies used (Happy Together):
Paper: Amuse Classic White CS (Amuse Stamps)
Ink: Stazon Jet Black (Tsukineko)
Stamps: March KOTM 'Simple Life', Fall Festival (Unity Stamp Co.)
Other: Papaya stitched grosgrain ribbon (Amuse Stamps); Prismacolor Artist Pencils (Sanford) - Apple Green, Yellow Chartreuse, Sunburst Yellow, Carmine Red, Sienna Brown, Dark Brown

Supplies used (Love Grows):
Paper: French Roast solid square note card (Amuse Stamps); Soft Sky, Whisper White CS (SU!)
Ink: River Rock, Bravo Burgundy (SU!)
Stamps: March KOTM 'Simple Life', Love Grows (Unity Stamp Co.)
Other: Circle and Scalloped Circle punches (Marvy Uchida); Classic Butterfly punch (Martha Stewart Crafts); Soft Sky stitched grosgrain ribbon (SU!); foam mounting tape (3M)

GIU #3 - LIVE all the days of your life, and a mid-week WINNER!

I {{love}} this sentiment!

Today's card was a stretch (color-wise) for me...I mean, seriously, it has pink and coral! But, in the end, I think it turned out pretty well! *wink*
This time I started with the image...I knew I wanted to combine the sentiment and this wonderful journaling spot from this month's KOTM from Unity, and that I didn't want them on plain ol' white (not that I have a problem with white, as you'll see tomorrow!). It took me a couple tries, but I finally settled on stamping the journal block with Versamark onto Baja Breeze, and then stamping the sentiment over the top with Not Quite Navy ink. I colored in the frame and the 'Live', and cut out the frame, trimming closely. Then I pulled out one of my mystery coral-ly pink shipping tags (I *think* I got them at a stamp convention, but I'm not sure who the manufacturer is), and cut off the top portion. I matted it onto white, aligning the edges of the three layers. Then I adhered them to the Kiwi Kiss card base, tied on some hot pink stitched grosgrain, and accented with rhinestones. Voila! EPLS! *wink*
On a side note, I wanted to point those of you that have asked me about my coloring to {this fabulous tutorial} that the talented Lisa Spangler made for the Hero Club Blog. She demonstrates in 9 minutes and 57 seconds what I spent several architectural rending labs learning and practicing. Truly, her video will give you all the basics, and then it's just a matter of playing with color combinations and practicing! (No blending solution, odorless mineral spirits, Turpenoid, or Gamsol required...though I do use those on occasion, too!) HTH!

And, (drum roll, please) the winner of my own extra little bit o' blog candy is:

#4 - StampinCathy

Love the Spring look! I'm so ready for Spring! Congrats on being the Unity's Stamper of the week. Can't wait to see what fabulous eye candy you have for us. Thanks

(Cathy, I'm going to attempt to figure out how to email you, but if you see this before I do, could you send me an email with your addy? Thanks!)

Thank you {{ALL}} again for the wonderful comments! Y'all melt my heart! *wink*

Thanks for stopping by! (Hopefully) See you again tomorrow!
~Michelle

Supplies used:
Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White, and Baja Breeze CS (SU!); coral/pink shipping tag (unknown)
Ink: VersaMark (Tsukineko); Not Quite Navy (SU!)
Stamps: 'Simple Life' March 2009 KOTM (Unity Stamp Co.)
Other: pink stitched grosgrain (Dashes, Dots, & Checks); small clear rhinestones (Michael's); pink rhinestones (Studio18); Prismacolor artist pencils (Sanford) - White, Indigo Blue, Slate Grey, Lime Peel, Cream, Pink Rose, Pink

GIU #2 - Thanks a bunch!

Welcome back to day 2 of my Growing in Unity week! I want to start off by saying a big THANK YOU for all the sweet comments on yesterday's post! It made my day to read them all! *grins* I'm going to be pulling a name tonight (Tuesday night, 3/24/2009) for an extra little candy from me, so if you didn't leave a comment yesterday (or even if you did! *wink*), leave me one today so you'll be entered!

Okay, I know...onto the card!

This one is a much simpler one, showcasing one of the fabulous images from Unity's March 2009 KOTM (do you have yours yet?? It's fabulous, and probably the best deal in stamps you'll ever see!)
I used Taylor's Cupcake Challenge sketch from this weekend (TECC60), and built my card using that, and Friday's Limited Supplies Challenge (LSC212) on SCS to make a card featuring a bloom as the main image, and 'Soft Subtles' colors. I stamped this adorable little plaid flower onto Whisper White and colored it in with my Prismacolor pencils, then used my Coluzzle oval template to cut out the panel, and an Apricot Appeal oval to mat it. I punched the bottom edge of the second WW panel with my favorite Martha Stewart Crafts 'Scallop Dot' edge punch. That was matted with a panel of Pale Plum CS, and I tied a piece of PaperTrey Ink's Plum Pudding Saddle Stitched ribbon. Those were adhered to a Pale Plum card base (with a 4" x 5 1/4" Apricot Appeal panel) using foam tape. As a last touch, I highlighted the sentiment with a quick swipe of Chartreuse Prismacolor, a la Julie Ebersole, aka JulieHRR. *wink*
Thanks for stopping by! More Unity goodness for you (and a candy winner) coming tomorrow!
~Michelle

p.s. - Yes, I {{LOVE}} my Prismacolor pencils...they blend fabulously, they cost a lot less than Copics (not that they're exactly cheap, but they are cheap-ER), and I already had a full set from school. Glad I can finally put that color theory and blending techniques to good use! *wink*

Supplies used:
Paper: Apricot Appeal, Pale Plum, Whisper White (SU!)
Ink: Stazon Jet Black (Tsukineko)
Stamps: March KOTM "simple life" (Unity Stamp Co.)
Other: Plum Pudding ribbon (PTI); 'Scallop Dot' edge punch (Martha Stewart Crafts); Coluzzle cutting system; foam mounting tape (3M); Prismacolor pencils (Sanford) - Dark Purple, Greyed Lavender, Cream, Canary Yellow, Deco Orange, Chartreuse, Lime Peel, Apple Green