Author Archives: Michelle

September Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Hello everyone!

It is almost fall, the summer days are changing, as are the leaves on the trees outside. It’s time to start thinking about red and orange leaves, cooler temps, and pumpkin pies! (and pumpkin pie lattes, as well!) With all of that coming, that means it is time for another blog hop, to show off the new Stamp of the Month. September’s stamp is called Poster Tidings. You get a set of 2 stamps that are ‘subway tile’ style. You see that style all the time for home decor, and you will find many different fun ways to use it with this blog hop!

Today, you should have arrived from Elizabeth’s blog, when you get done, you will go and visit Wendy’s blog, and should you get lost along the way, Helen has a list of all of the blogs, and you can find that list here.

Today, I decided to use one of our 6×6 canvases, and I think it turned out great! I stamped the image with cashmere pigment ink, and repeated it across the canvas. I used a large block, so that I could line it up correctly, and then flip over the canvas and make sure that there was enough pressure added to transfer the ink.

I have used some strips from the Huntington paper pack for my banners, a small strip of the bronze glitter paper, and tied a bit of white hemp around the banners. It’s all ready for a photo . . . I can’t wait to get one of my family to put in here!

This fun stamp will have many many uses! And, if you haven’t yet, you should watch the video that CTMH corporate office has made for us for this stamp set.

http://youtu.be/XzWu_cvA1D4

Next up, you will be hopping along to Wendy’s blog. She always has fabulous stuff!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you have a crafty weekend!

Baby Cards, inspired by Pinterest!

So, if you are like me, you have LOTS of things pinned on Pinterest. (I think I’ve said something like that before! LOL) Anyway, over at Practical Scrappers, they are showing lots of projects that were inspired by Pinterest, so make sure to hop on over there to take a look and see!

Last week I made a number of different cards getting ready for a Loyal Local show. It was all hand crafted items made in Vancouver, WA! I took some of the cards that I’ve made in the past (you’ve seen most of them here on my blog) and all the new things too! I didn’t sell out of them, so you will be finding them in my Etsy shop!

I found a GREAT baby card, that I loved! It had a shabby chic look to it, which I generally don’t do, so I just made it a bit more simple!

Isn’t it adorable?

So, I went to town! I used some old CTMH papers with the white daisy cardstock, lots of buttons and pearls and sparkles too! The sentiment is from an old stamp of the month, but it fit so well!

Each of the cards is different, the clothing on the cards coordinates with the color of the cardstock that is on it. Not all of the purple cards have the same clothes, and the same with all of the other colors too! I think it makes it a bit more fun!

I used the fabulous Papertreyink die for the clothes, and have looooots of teeny tiny little socks and pockets left over, as well as LOTS of dresses and bibs! I will be doing more projects to use up some of those!

I had fun making them, and they were well received at the show!

I hope I have inspired you to go and be creative! Make sure to take a look at the other ladies Pinterest inspired creations too!

Have a crafty day!
~Michelle

August 2013 SOTM Blog Hop ~ A Chocolate Affair

Chocolate, Chocolate, everywhere! This month’s stamp of the month is all about the chocolate! This month we have almost 60 consultants showing off some fabulous artwork! So, grab a cup of milk and a chocolate cupcake, and join in!

If you got here from Haley’s blog, then you are on the right track! However, it’s a big circle, so you can start anywhere! If you happen to get lost along the way, Helen will have a whole list of everyone available for you to check out.

I went with a one layer card for this card. I stamped the cupcake a number of times on some printer paper, and cut them to make masks. Then I stamped each piece in it’s own color. Then I used the “love this” from the “All the details” stamp set, which will be available August 1st!

This Chocolate Affair would be great for party invites, a pick me up, or even decorations for treats that you are handing out! It is SUCH a fun set! I know you will want to pick it up!

In August, when you order $50 worth of new CTMH goodies (and, really, who wouldn’t want to!), you get this fabulous set for FREE! So, make sure to place your order!

Next on your journey is Adeline, so hop on over to her blog to see some more great stuff!

Have a crafty day!

~Michelle

Practical Scrappers Specialty Team Chevron Blog Hop

Welcome to the Practical Scrappers Specialty Team Blog Hop! This weekend you can swing by the blogs of any of the listed team members and check out their Chevron Projects. Practical Scrappers and several team members are doing giveaways! Scrapbook Pal has graciously offered to sponsor this hop and Practical Scrappers is going to be giving away a $25 gift certificate to the Scrapbook Pal store! Details on how to enter are on the Practical Scrappers blog!

So, have you ever had a great idea, you are positive that it is going to look GREAT, and then you go and try to make it work, and it just.doesn’t.happen.? That was me with my chevrons! LOL I had a GREAT plan! I bet if I used a thicker chevron, it would have worked wonderfully! Maybe I will try that when I have a bit more time!

So, I tried to remedy some of what I had already done. I used the chevron square that I cut out with my brand spankin new Artbooking cartridge and made a mask of it. I was going for a bit of the ombre look with the inking.

I was going for a single layer CAS card (that’s Clean and Simple). That stamp is a new one in the Idea Book that goes live on August 1st. Isn’t it fun? I colored it in with a blending pen and lagoon ink.

I hope you like my quick card! Make sure to stop by all of the other ladies’ blogs!

Practical Scrappers
Kim Ryden
Alison Day
Dawn Carlyle
Bev Code
Michelle James
Jennifer Haggerty
Becci Manies
Charity Hotrum
Laura Cox
Michelle Johns <------You are here! Christine Meyer
Kerri Yarus

Thanks for popping in today and enjoy the hop! Your next stop is Christine!

A Friend Like You

There is a stamp set that is currently available, called “A Friend Like You” that I have found to be a GREAT little stamp set! So many great sayings on one little set!

The card that I made, was again done during that challenge I have been talking about for the last week. (we had a GREAT time!) It was inspired by this card that I have pinned.

It’s a fairly simple card to make, and I ended up making two of them! The hardest part was determining how long I wanted each of the banners! 🙂

Have you been inspired by Pinterest recently? I would love to see what you have made!

The supplies I used for this card were all Close to my Heart products.
Surf’s Up Paper Pack
A Friend like You Stamp Set
White Daisy Cardstock
Kraft Cardstock
White Value Pack Cards
Black Archival Ink

I hope you have a crafty day!

~Michelle

Surf’s Up Blog Hop

It’s summer time and I know we are all spending time outside enjoying the sunshine and the surf! For this month’s blog hop, we are featuring the exclusive “Surf’s Up” paper pack from Close to My Heart! We’re celebrating fun in the sun with this colorful paper pack that also has some amazing coordinating accessories and embellishment.

Not only are all of our creations going to use our Surf’s Up paper line BUT they will also be using our exclusive Art Philosophy, Artiste, and/or the NEW Artbooking Cricut cartridges available exclusively through a Close to My Heart consultant! What ?!?!? If you don’t already have a Consultant that you are currently working with, please contact me with any questions you have!

In this hop, you will see projects featuring this versatile cartridges from many talented crafty ladies! Enjoy our blog hop!

If you have just hopped onto my blog, please start at the beginning at Lucy’s blog – Love 2 Create. If you came
from Traci’s Blog ~Paper Crafting 101 then you are in the right place!

Remember that Pinterest inspired post from the other day? And the challenge that Ian and I had? Well, this was the card that I chose for myself. I liked how the shapes worked together and it still had the banners and such.

Isn’t it darling? I love the summery feel that it has!

You can see that that the little medallion works so well with this card! It’s just one piece in the Surf’s Up Assortment. They come pre-made and already sticky, so you just add it to your project! Easy Peasy!

The supplies I used for this card were all Close to my Heart products.
Surf’s Up Paper Pack
Bright Sunshiney Day Stamp Set
White Daisy Cardstock
Chocolate Cardstock
Surf’s Up Assortment
Wooden Mini Medley (Hemp Baker’s Twine)
White Value Pack Cards

Your next stop on our Surf’s Up blog hop is Melinda over at If you bling it. So, hop on over her way to see her fun project!

Here is the complete lineup in case you get lost along the way:

Lucy ~ Love 2 Create
Theodora ~ Celebrate Crafts
Traci ~ Paper Crafting 101
Michelle ~ My Flights of Fancy <--- You are here Melinda Everitt ~ If you Bling it
Melissa Harris ~ The Keen Krafter
Justine Hovey ~ The Twilight Stamper
Heather Hunt ~ Creative Coconut

Thanks for hopping along with us – we hope we were able to inspire you.

~Michelle

A Year Old?

That is the challenge over at Practical Scrapper’s Blog today! Use products that are 1 year old or older!

Challenge Accepted!!

Today, I am sharing a fun little gift card holder!

This was made with a 6×6 Kraft Card, that had a scalloped extra ‘flap’. I cut off the ‘front’ of the card, leaving me with just a 6×6 piece with the extra flap.

Then I scored the card at 3 inches, to be the same direction as the score for the scallops.

Added the Lucy papers, a band, a little bit of stamping, and some seam binding, and it’s all ready to add a note and a gift card and give to that special someone!

I hope I have inspired you to use a few of your old things!

Have a crafty day!

~Michelle

July Edition of Inspired by Pinterest

Are you like me, and can spend hours surfing pinterest to find fabulous ideas of cards that you would love to make? (or pages, or recipes, or home decor, or . . or. . or . . )

I have so many pins! I even had to create more boards, so I could organize them a bit more! However, because I have so many card ideas, I have the perfect place to go when I am needing to make some cards! It makes it great for challenges too, like the one that Practical Scrappers is sharing! My friend Ian and I had a google hangout crafty date with a challenge a few weeks ago. We both chose a card for ourselves to do from our own Pinterest board, and then we went to the other’s Pinterest board and chose a card for them to do. It was soooo much fun!!

So, this is the card that I made . . .

It was inspired by THIS CARD on my Pinterest board, which Ian picked for me to make.

It was fun to do! I loved the color combo, and thought it worked perfectly with the Fabulous You stamp set.

And, of course, I had to do the inside as well. Not everyone has a metallic or white gel pen to write on black cardstock!

I hope you have a crafty day!

~Michelle

July Stamp of the Month: Sweet Life

Welcome to the July Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!

I don’t know what’s going on weather wise for anyone reading this, but it is HOT here!! Convention just got over in Walt Disney World, and I think a number of consultants brought that heat and mugginess with them back from Florida! It’s H O T!!

This month’s stamp set is perfect for all sorts of things! It would be great for gift giving with some jam and bread, or fresh picked fruits, or even so many different treats!! So, hop along with me, and let’s check out some of the great goodness that we have for you! Today you should have come from Michelle Jones’ blog (She’s such a great gal! I met her last year at a dinky little airport on the way home from convention!). If you happen to get lost along the way, Helen will have a whole list of everyone available for you to check out.

Did I mention that it’s hot? Well, I have no AC at my house and it was 96 degrees when I was working on this card! Sooooo, I took a small basket of supplies and headed down to my favorite Starbucks. When I got there, I realized that I could have brought a few more supplies, but I decided to make due with what I brought! And, I think that it turned out pretty good! (there will be another card that I created at the same time, in another blog post!)

Isn’t this adorable? I used a piece of kraft that I punched. I stamped the cherries on a scrap of paper (since I forgot my baggie of pre cut circles that would have been perfect for this .. ) and colored it with my watercolor pencils. These things are FABULOUS!! I love them so much! I used just 4 colors; Chocolate, Clover Meadow, Holiday Red, and Cranberry.

I added a bit of cranberry on those shaded spots, and it made them look so much better! Once I was all done coloring, I decided on which card style I wanted to do (from an idea list that was about 6 cards long). I realized I would need to make my cherries a circle . . . soooo, I grabbed my roll of washi tape, and drew a circle around my cherries! I just quickly cut them out with my micro tip scissors. Then, I though, well, I will need a pop of color behind it. However, I didn’t bring any red cardstock with me. Sooooo, I flipped my cherries over, and drew a circle on some more scratch paper (which, was actually another card base, because I didn’t have any white cardstock with me! Ack!). I used the holiday red pencil and scribbled a wreath type shape around the circle that I drew. Then used my blending pen to make it a pretty color without lines. Added some glue and plopped the cherries on top of the red wreath. Then I just fussy cut around the cirle, and viola! I have a matted image!

I used some retired red ribbon assortment, because I thought the gingham fit perfectly with the stamp, and put the card together with some foam tape! I think it turned out fabulously, don’t you?

Thank you so much for visiting my little spot on the interwebs! I do hope you will come back throughout the month to see different ideas on what to do with this stamp set! Until then, you can hop along to Traci Godbee’s blog!

Happy Hopping!

~Michelle

Independance Day Blog hop

Yup, I know it’s not Independance day just yet . . . but this great group of ladies and I are doing a hop so that you can see some great ideas to use to decorate or scrap your Independance day (whether you are in the US or Canada!).

What ?!?!? Hope you weren’t expecting to see Will Smith fighting the aliens here! We are actually featuring crafty creations showcasing “Independence Day” … the holiday!

Not only are all of our creations going to be about Independence Day … the holiday … but they will also be using the Artiste and/or Art Philosophy Cricut cartridges available exclusively through a Close to My Heart consultant. If you don’t already have a Consultant that you are currently working with, please contact one of the Consultants in our hop with any questions you have!

In this hop, you will see projects featuring this versatile cartridges from many talented crafty ladies! Enjoy our blog hop!

If you have just hopped onto my blog, please start at the beginning at Lucy’s blog – Love 2 Create. If you came from Theo’s blog, Celebrate Crafts,then you are in the right place!

Today, I went with a fun wreath! I got the idea from my friend, Linda (you can see her version with Christmas papers on her blog) and thought that it would look really good in Red, White, and Blue!

I used a piece of cardboard that came with some bulk papers to cut the back/base of the wreath out of. Then I scored, cut, folded, and glued all of the fun medallions. I cut the stars out with the Art Philosophy cartridge, making it super easy to add all those stars! ( I would have done the medallions on the Artiste cartridge, but lost my book, and then ran out of time!)

I scored each of the stars so that they would pop a little bit more, as well! Add a bit of foam tape, and they pop quite nicely!

I hope you enjoyed my little project! If you would like to make one of your very own, let me know, and we can get you everything you need to make it!

Your next stop on our Independence Day hop is Jennifer at 4 Hearts Scrapbooking.

Just in case you get lost along the way, here is the list of the ladies that are participating in the blog hop this month!

Lucy ~ Love 2 Create
Theodora ~ Celebrate Crafts
Michelle ~ My Flights of Fancy <-----You are Here----- Jennifer ~ 4 Hearts Scrapbooking
Traci ~ Paper Crafting 101
Penny ~ It Makes Total Cents