Getting ready for Christmas!

Hi everyone! Here to share another fun (and stamp lifted) idea from Splitcoast Stampers! These Gift Card Holders are just adorable! I am getting ready to sell them at my kid's school. We have a gift certificate program that allows us to purchase a gift card from hundreds of merchants, and in return for buying them through school, we earn percentages from each purchase. We have a choice to enrich the school, our classrooms as well as paying down our tuition bills (Catholic Schools!). So, here are a sampling of what I've been making. I am thrilled to showcase these here on my blog!

By the way, I got the most wonderful surprise from a lady in Texas whom I don't even know! Not only did Connie make my day, but I was feeling very blue, had a terrible head cold as well as getting my "." over the weekend and Sunday was my birthday! Needless to say, her kind words came at the best time. I guess the Lord Jesus knows what we need when we need it! Thanks again, Connie!!! Here is what she said:

Hi Michelle,

I saw your winning entry of the screen door cards in Country Woman magazine and just wanted to let you know I think they are adorable! I looked at your website and saw your other creations. You are very talented. And I admire you for being a Stay at home Mom. This world needs more of them.

From one artistic mom to another.

Congratulations!
Connie Thompson
Del Rio, Texas

WOW! Talk about blown away!!! I almost cried! OK, so enough of my blabbering...here are my Gift Card Holders!

If there is a specific stamp or pattern you'd like more info on, please email me and I will be happy to give credit where credit is due (i.e. paper, rubber stamp company, etc.). Thanks!

Quote: In all created things discern the providence and wisdom of God, and in all things give Him thanks.-------St. Teresa of Avila

Thanks for looking,

With Inky Fingers,

Michelle

Fall is here!

I love this time of year - but my card today does not show it! I look like April showers bring May flowers sort of thing! Anyway, here is the latest card:


Supplies used:
Cardstock: Barely Banana by SU, Spica & Copic markers, DCWV Patterned paper, Background dry embossed with Cuttlebug by Provo Craft, rubber stamp image from Amuse Stamps.

Thanks for stopping by today and seeing my latest card - have a happy fall!

Michelle

No excuses...

...for why I have not posted in almost 3 months. Hmmm, something like summer vacation, painting and moving the kids bedrooms as well as the school startup craze is over and everyone is in school does not qualify me for any excuse, right? Well, since then with one of our daughters diagnosed with several food allergies and new recipes to be found, besides the fact that I've had to relocate my craft "room" to the basement to make room for the "new room" my DH is building me solely devoted to "all Michelle's craft stuff!" is not a good enough excuse either!

So, without further adieu, here are my latest creations - there has not been a stop in creative flow here!!!

"Howdy" Supplies used: Howdy: Stamps: Stampin' UP, Papers: The Angel Company Rusty Chic, Fibers/Jute: Misc. sources, Buckle: Memory Keepers

"Enjoy" Supplies Used: Stamps: Stampin' UP, Paper: DCWV & Georgia Pacific Cardstock White, Inks: Purple Hydrangea by Versa Chalks, Rhinestone stickers: Walmart

"Pinwheel" HB Card Supplies used: Stamps: The Angel Company sentiment, Papers: Stampin' UP and K & Company, Ribbon: Offray Grograin, Red Brad by Oriental Trading, Misc.: Toothpick & scallopped scissors.

Positive Thought Quote: Be interesting, be enthusiastic... and don't talk too much. Norman Vincent Peale (gee, I must have missed that one since sometimes I don't know where the words come from, they just flow by the TON!)

Thanks for looking,
With Inky Fingers,

Happy Father's Day!

To my Husband and Dad - and all other dad's - a very happy day! Here are 2 cards that I just made for my Dad-in-law and girlfriend's bday! These were fun to make and got great inspiration from all the great blogs that I subscribe to as well as CHF Forum! Thanks for looking!

Dad's Day Card Supplies used: CS - Java from Bazzill, Patterned and pumpkin colored papers from We R Memory Keepers; Ink - Burnt Umber and Cognac Palette Hybrid Ink Pad; Copper brads - source unknown; Stamps: The Angel Company, tree from Spring Time set, greeting from Trendy Greetings set (retired); brown grosgrain ribbon Offray; scalloped scissors Fiskars; circle punch 3/4" EK Success.

Bday Card Supplies used: CS - White Georgia Pacific and scrap gold strip; Stamps: The Angel Company flower from In Bloom set, greeting from Little Tidbits set; Ink - Noir Black and Cognac Palette Hybrid Inks; Scor-Pal; White and Silver Gelly Roll Pen by Sakura; gold sheer ribbon Offray; brass brads - source unknown.

With Inky Fingers,

Michelle

Positive Thought: You can have peace of mind, improved health and an ever-increasing flow of energy. Life can be full of joy and satisfaction. ~ Norman Vincent Peale

Owl Princess

In the last few weeks the birthday parties, graduation parties and kids baseball and softball schedules are going to keep me making cards for a very long time!!!!
Don't you feel SOOO bad for me? Ha!



So, I am totally inspired by the Cornish Heritage Farms Forum - that is where I stamplifted this card. Thanks for looking!

Supplies used:
Cardstock: DCWV Tan, Black & Pink CS Source Unknown.
Stamps: CHF Stamps by Kim Hughes, URA Hoot, Bold Curls, The Angel Company's Small Things set, Impression Stamps small flower. Ink: Palette Hybrid Inks: Snow White, Budoir Blush, Claret, Noir, Jardin Moss. Color Pencils: Prismacolor Pencils & Blender Pencil. Stickles. Chalks for shading. Paper flowers, rhinestone brad, sheer ribbons, sources unknown. Scor-Pal for brick score lines.

Caio for now!

With inky fingers,

Michelle

Positive Thought: Empty pockets never held anyone back. Only empty heads and empty hearts can do that. ~Norman Vincent Peale

I am so honored....

...my screen door card was awarded 2nd place for Country Woman's Magazine's Bazaar Craft Contest. I submitted my letter and card samples last September 2007!!! Well, I just got my letter today! Then to top it all off, I won $350!!!! Wow!!! I am so excited and humbled. I am so grateful that I am able to share my creativity talent with you all!!! Click here for a subscription to Country Woman's Magazine - and in their Oct/Nov. 2008 issue, see my card(s) and probably the blurb I sent them about my card!!! Yea! I'm so exicted!!!

So, today was my kiddies last day of school! Yikes! It's summer vacation - and I get a little jealous when my "creativity" time gets eaten away.... I will post as often as I can.

For now, I am sharing another teacher appreciation card for our kid's music teacher, choir director and all around super nice teacher!!!

Supplies used: Ivory & Black CS, Stampin' Up; Lt. Blue CS, source unknown; Patterned paper, K-Ology Addison Paper; music notes die for Cuttlebug, Provo Craft; Big Shot machine; Blue rhinestones, K Marcella; Twill Tape, Martha Stewart Crafts Color Cloud; Black ribbon, source unknown; stamp by Close to my Heart; Ink, Palette Hybrid Ink.

Thanks for looking!

Caio for now!!!

With inky fingers,

Michelle

Positive Thought: If you paint in your mind a picture of bright and happy expectations, you put yourself into a condition conducive to your goal. ~Norman Vincent Peale

Teacher Appreciation Card

Teacher Appreciation Cards and gifts only remind me of one thing - OK, 2!

1. Summer is here and less running crazy like I did with a Mom and her 4 kids plus all their after school activities!

2. Oh yeah, the kids will be home all summer long - less time for Mom to get into her studio to stamp, color and play with paper!

Well I guess it's not that bad, I can usually get around them. It will just have to be with a little more effort!

Here is the card I made x4 for the kids' teachers. Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Supplies used:

DCWV cardstock and patterened paper.

EK Success Punch

Marvy Uchida Punch

RicRac: Walmart

Misc. Gold star brad

Red Scrapper's Floss

Word Stamp: The Angel Company, More Abundance set

Ink: Brilliance Tsieunko "Poppy"

White Jelly Roll Pen by Sakura for "stitches"

Positive Thought:

One of the greatest moments in anybody's developing experience is when he no longer tries to hide from himself but determines to get acquainted with himself as he really is. ~Norman Vincent Peale

Bringing Spring Inside!

I brought spring to me this year. Living in Chicagoland makes spring so late and we just had the most awful winter. I went outside one cold blustery April day with my twig snips in hand. My kids thought I jumped off the deep end when I brought dead branches inside. I used my paper punches to simulate paper dogwood flowers layering white, pink and fuscia papers and different flower punches. I even made buds by folding the flower and green leaves in half. Then I used my Glue Dots to adhere them to the branches here and there. Voila!

I brought spring to me!

With Inky Fingers,

Michelle

Positive Thought: Action is a great restorer and builder of confidence. Inaction is not only the result, but the cause, of fear. Perhaps the action you take will be successful; perhaps different action or adjustments will have to follow. But any action is better than no action at all. Norman Vincent Peale

An ILoveYou Creation!

Here is an explanation to what my little symbol means up there in my header picture! The "An ILoveYou" creation came from years of learning sign language as my foreign language of choice in college. While in college I met my DH! When you configure your fingers like this, you say "I Love You" in sign language. Obviously, it caught on while we were dating - even today with my kids. That is our little symbol to each other instead of a simple wave goodbye!

What's really ironic is that back in 1989 I purchased this stamp below. It is an Inkadinkado Stamp - it has the big red handle sticking straight up from the wooden block - very old (not me, the stamp!). Way before my sign language interest, before our dating or even now how we say goodbye between all of us. My first rubber stamp - and yes, I never throw anything away!!!

Here is Adirondack Chair card, inspired by Inkadinkado's Project section. It reminds me of the beach and the wind and sand and warm breezes. I can almost hear the waves crashing on the beach....ahhh.

Cardstock: Stampin' Up - Barely Banana, Bordering Blue, Certainly Celery, Vellum CS
Stamp: The Angel Company - Everyday Event's Set
Palette Hybrid Ink Pad - Burnt Umber
Decorating Chalks by Craf T Products
craft knife
bronze brad - source n/a
hemp string - source n/a

Until next time!
With inky fingers,
Michelle

Positive Thought: "Change your thoughts and you change your world."
~Norman Vincent Peale, Power of Positive Thinking

WOW!!! I am so far behind!!!

With family, life, kids, laundry, dishes, friends, and a DH - so much time has gotten away from me! Sorry about that. My intentions are good - but time, that nasty little thing. It's a four letter word - seriously!

My Birdy card was inspired by Kim Hughes' great stamp designs at Cornish Heritage Farms (CHF) - check out they're great website, forums, galleries, & more!!!



Recipe for Birdy Card:
Stamps: CHF, Kim Hughes Collection
CS: Stampin' Up
Pattern Paper: My Mind's Eye - Wild Asparagus
Buttons: DCWV
Prisma Color Pencils & Blender Pencil
Ribbon: Misc.
Purple Marker: Zig
White Marker: Gelly Role Glaze Marker by Sakura

This penny spinner card was so much fun to make! Inspiration came from Splitcoast Stampers - HERE you can find instructions as well as great examples for even more inspiration!

Recipe for my Airplane Spinner Card:
Stamps: Stampin' Up
CS: Stampin' Up
Inks: Palette Hybrid Inks, Seascape & Noir
Ribbon, Brad & Flower: Walmart
Scalloped scissors
Airplane die: Sizzix used in Big Shot
Metallic CS: Archivers
2 Pennies

Thanks for looking!
With Inky Fingers,
Michelle :)

Positive Thought: "if it is to be, it is up to me" ~Norman Vincent Peale, Founder of Guideposts Magazine, Power of Positive Thinking - see a new quote from NVP at each publication!!!

Christmas Gifts I wanted to show you!

Busier than I told you! Well, I made 4 of these for my prayer sisters in our Power of a Praying Parent group. I prepainted these chipboard blank books, covering them with The Angel Company's great line of papers. This one is Mimi, Mimi Cardstock and inks from Palette as well as Versamagic Chalk inks! Other items used: Coluzzle purse template, "Friends" embossing plate used with my Big Shot, and an assortment of punches, fibers and ribbons!

Thanks for looking!

Happy New Year!

My Christmas Card this year was created with PaperTrey stamps!!! LOVE those!!! That was a fun card!


Creativity did not stop after Christmas! Here are some Screen Door Cards for Valentines Day and Easter, too! Stamps used from TheAngelCompany as well as InkyAntics - all stamps are some of my favorites!!! Thanks for looking!