My Time Made Easy: Birthday Blues

No one could feel the birthday blues when presented with these birthday blues!  Today at My Time Made Easy, we're having a birthday bash.  I wasn't thinking kids birthday when I created this pretty number with the small box from the new 3 Tier template (which comes with three different size boxes for easy stacking). 

No, I was thinking sophisticated birthday when I went with the pretty blue and gray chevron from the new Blue Birthday papers.   And I think this little round box turned out perfectly for these gorgeous vintage Swarovski crystal earrings.

The basis for the flower is the Blossoming into Spring cut file.  And it not only works great on the box, but is perfect for a card, too!

Can't wait to give this pretty little birthday set.  You can check out the entire July release in the New Products section at My Time Made Easy.  And see more wonderful projects from the entire DT:

Lauren Meader
Tangii Crane

Debbie Marcinkiewicz
Pattie Goldman

Lisa Kind

Farida Rone
Linda Hammerton

Lori Kalus
Mara Campbell

Kimberly Morrow

Preview: My Time Made Easy

It's that fun time of the month:  Previews for My Time Made Easy!  I'm showcasing the new Cuppy Cake template which will be available tomorrow.  Only thing is, I didn't make a cupcake - I made an acorn!!

I changed a cupcake into an acorn by adding a stem and leaves and using acorn-like papers.  It turned out pretty cute!  (The papers are from the Camp Out collection and Vintage Plaid Hues of Red with Sugar collection.)  I rolled up a piece of brown paper for the stem and hand cut some leaves.  The tag shape and banner are from the new cut file Magical Birthday Wishes.  I drew my own acorn, but now I don't have to, because the Thankful set is now available in digi stamps and has a perfect acorn!

What's inside? 

Acorn cookies, of course!  Well, they are really mini Nilla wafers, Kisses, peanut butter chips, and peanut butter.  Sound good?

There are more wonderful projects to see - visit these blogs to see more of My Time Made Easy's new release:

Lauren Meader
Debbie Marcinkiewicz
Farida Rone
Linda Hammerton

Mara Campbell

 

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Under the Sea at The Cutting Cafe

Everthing's Better Under The Sea - Lauren was very young when Little Mermaid came out and I remember she was really afraid of the sea witch.  I haven't seen that movie in years, but I saw it often enough when Lauren was little (we had it on VHS  - yes, I know I'm showing my age) that it immediately came to mind when Regina sent me the Under the Sea set.   I have no trouble hearing the crab in the singing this song to Ariel.

This is a simple project but hits the cute factor for me.  I printed and cut out the crab and then enlarged his eye stalks a little for the googly eyes.   I glued blue chevron strips onto a glassine bag, because I thought they looked a little like waves.

Be sure to go by The Cutting Cafe store to see all the amazing goodies there and go by The Cutting Cafe Blog to see other projects using the Under the Sea set.  It has lots of different images including a whale, sea horse, sea star, fish, etc...  You can also get details on the giveaway that Regina will have.  See you there!

Anna May Wong 2

It's Anna May Wong Week #2 at Art With No Boundaries.   The challenge is  Performing Arts - hope you find some time to create a project to link -  and the DT has new projects featuring Anna May Wong.  This image is the second in a series created by Chris of CS Designs.

No, I didn't use tiger stripes this time (although that was fun)!   I was inspired by a couple of color images of Anna May. In one she's wearing a striped gown which I showed on her collar.  This little jewelry box was also inspired by the real thing - the kind that has a fold-up mirror on top.  So my thought is that Anna May is looking in the mirror, perhaps checking her earrings to go out on the town.  Something she probably did quite regularly as she was considered a fashion icon in her time.  My friend, Mika, leant me the pretty Chinese necklace and earrings for the photo shoot.  (Thanks, Mika!) 

Dennis found the gorgeous paper for me from one of his antique paper design books.  The little tag says Good Fortune in Chinese characters.  The whole thing is "lacquered" with Diamond Glaze, so it's very shiny.  Won't this make a fun gift box?  Can't wait to fill it with pretty jewelry for someone special.   Be sure to take a look see at the wonderful creations at Art With No Boundaries and I'll be right there with you, 'cause I can't wait to see them!

Paper Issues: Picnics and Patriots Blog Hop

Happy Paper Issues Blog Hop Day to everyone!  Our theme from today until July 7th is Picnics and Patriots.  Cassie has a wonderful giveaway that ties in perfectly with our theme:

12 sheets of Pink Paislee Declaration papers (2 sheets of each paper shown above) and a full sheet of element stickers!  You can see this kit and other goodies at the Paper Issues Etsy Store.  And not only that you can use my code chouxchoux and get 20 percent off everything!!   To qualify for the prize, be sure to be a follower of my blog and go by Paper Issues to get all the details.

There's just something so sweet about spool decorations.  I can't resist taking home all the wooden spools I find at vintage stores.  And you know I can't resist all the very cute vintage images that I find!!  So this little decoration was a pleasure for me to put together...

I also put together a couple of treat cones celebrating America's birthday.

These are quite large - amazing how big a cone be made from only one sheet of  8 1/2 x 11 paper! 

For more awesome Picnics and Patriots projects be sure to visit:

Chrissy

Patricia

Melissa

Marlene

Deanna

Carrie

Kelly Jo 

So glad you came by and have a wonderful week!

digital images

LillyBimble digital store

Happy Birthday to Some Guys

I hardly ever just whip up a guy card unless I need one.  Or somebody asks for one.  That being said, I actually enjoy making them!  These were all special requests. 

I really ended up liking the kraft chevron on the kraft card.  

I see a theme emerging - lots of stars on these!

This banner is really for a BIRTHday - a brand new baby boy named Grayson.

His grandma wanted orange chevron and the some of the other colors from his mom's shower invitation. 

They used it for the shower and then I understand it's hanging in Grayson's nursery.  Stars, again!

Hope you're having a wonderful week!  Come back on Sunday, June 24th, for Paper Issues bloghop:  Picnics and Patriots.

Sweet Stuff at The Cutting Cafe

This is Sweet Stuff week at The Cutting Cafe.   There are lots of cute images in the Sweet Stuff Card Set , but I have to say I am partial to cupcakes.  And this is a particularly sweet cupcake with that pretty cherry on top.

The papers are from a new 6x6 We R Memory Keepers paper pad that came in the mail the other day.  I love alphabets, so the "icing" paper makes me smile!

The sentiment is from another Sweet Stuff set:  the printable stamp set.   These are two fun sets with lots of possibilities.  Check the blog on Wednesday for more creations using this set and there is usually a special or a giveaway - don't want to miss that!  Thank you for stopping by!

Anna May Wong

Do you know Anna May Wong?  I have to confess that I didn't - but I do now!  What a fascinating person:  she was the first Chinese-American movie actress.  Chris, of CS Designs, has designed a gorgeous image of Anna May, which is perfect for the new theme at Art With No Boundaries:  Performing Arts.

She was born in 1905 in Los Angeles.  She would skip school to watch photo shoots in her  neighborhood.  You can read all about her here.   My project was influenced by this 1932 magazine cover:

Take note of the faint sunburst pattern in the background.  You'll see that repeated in my project.

Anna May was quite exotic and you should google her to see all the wonderful photographs of her.  I used grays and pinks and added some dark gray stripes just for fun.  I think with the nose shaded wide she looks a bit tigerish.  This card is a Z fold with the middle section showing the drama queen sentiment and film strip also from CS Designs.  I printed the Anna May Wong image tiny enough to add to the strip.

The last page includes the "Cinema" sentiment and has space for me to write a sweet note to my friend, who will love this!  (She's quite the self-admitted drama queen herself.) 

Come join us at Art With No Boundaries for our Performing Arts challenge.  We'd love to see your creations!

Nuts About You

It's Father's Day!   I mentioned earlier that I was lucky to have a wonderful dad.  One of my fondest memories involves my daddy and Icees.  We would take off to the 7-Eleven and Daddy would get a Coke Icee and I would get a cherry one. 

It was a real treat and I think we were both happy to have them.  Sometimes we'd get brain freeze from slurping them so fast!  I kind of associate car washes with these memories, but I can't remember if we went to a car wash or if Daddy washed the car at home.  These little memories (what I can remember of them) are so important to me.  

My Dennis is also a wonderful Daddy to our daughter, Lauren.  I can still picture them side by side on the couch pouring over architecturial, costume, furniture or history books together.  (I can probably picture it so easily, because when we're together they still do it!) 

They both have amazing memories, but it can be a little irritating to watch period movies with them.  Dennis will say something like:  "That coach is all wrong, it didn't come out until 10 years later"  or  "They certainly didn't have wire hangers then" or "That music wasn't written until five years after this happened."  You get the picture.  But I'm nuts about him anyway!

Happy weekend everyone!

The Happiest Birthday to You

Loving old things and scrounging through dusty old boxes must be some strange genetic thing.  Only thing is, I can't figure out where that gene must have come from.  I know my mom and dad must sometimes think I was switched at birth with their real child!

Found this darling silhouette the other day at the flea market  (excuse me) vintage sale and of course, she came home with me.  I used the seed packet cut file from The Cutting Cafe to make a pretty folder for her. 

Love little sweet finds like this.  She was hidden away just waiting for me to find her!

Art With No Boundaries Week 2

The Heavy Metal challenge contines at Art With No Boundaries.  You still have time to link up  your creation.  I'm showcasing Silhouette , the second image released this month at CS Designs.

Silhouette is a really cool image and somewhat challenging to me.  I wanted to put a different spin on her.  I thought pink might be unexpected, so I covered her with a template and misted her with ink.  Then I touched her up here and there with a light teal marker.  It gave her kind of a cool tatooed look. 

Be sure to go by Art With No Boundaries - awesome projects have just been posted!