Autumn Days

I've been working on a serious time-consuming project for November over the last several days. As a result, I haven't had anything to post.  The project is really starting to come together nicely, but it's exhausting.  Last night I took the night off from creating anything and just read a book for a few hours. 

Before this whole project mess started, I spent some time making the fun cards below with the Autumn Days stamp set and the Autumn Harvest Rub-Ons. I love them!  I made all you see below with less than 1/2 the rub-ons and mostly with scraps of cardstock I had lying around. I love it when I use up scraps!  I stamped a few images here and there, but mainly tried to keep it simple without too many layers or embellishments. I seem to favor the simple things these days. 

This one could be an invitation or a menu card placed on the table.  This was the most difficult card in the stack, and it really wasn't too difficult.

The ribbon pull exposes your invite or your menu selections.

The one below could be a dinner invitation or party invite as well.

Here's a possible inside:

Rub-ons are fun!

Christmas Jingle Class Samples & Information

This class is going to be fun!  I took Stampin' Up!'s Christmas Jingle Simply Scrappin' Kit (see picture below) and made 18 cards and two 12x12 scrapbook pages.  And there are loads of materials left over, too.  I did need to add in some ribbon, stamps and a few extra pieces of cardstock to make it the way I wanted, but what an easy project!  The most difficult part was measuring out and cutting up the designer paper. The great thing about this project was that this kit is included in My Digital Studio so I was able to use my computer to design all the projects before I made them in hardcopy - or real life or whatever.  This was really helpful and I didn't waste any materials (or money!) experimenting with the kit until I was satisfied with the designs. What a great benefit of My Digital Studio!  The projects are molto facile (meaning SUPER EASY!) and each one should take no more than 5 minutes!  A seasoned stamper will finish some of them in mere seconds!

Interested in making these yourself?  Here's the scoop:

1.  Option A:  Make 18 cards and 2 12x12 scrapbook pages (as shown)

OR

2.  Option B:  Make 20 cards and no scrapbook pages

Christmas Jingle Covington Area Class

November 14th,  1:00-5:00 pm

Michaelynn's Home

OR

Christmas Jingle Vancouver Area Class

December 5th, 1:00-5:00 pm

Danielle's Home

Cost: $25 for all project materials (including envelopes) if paid 2 weeks in advance, $30 if later.  Deadline to sign up is 5 days before the class is scheduled. Prepayment is required for this event as the materials are too costly for me to purchase out-of-pocket.  If you prepay and are unable to attend, I will provide all materials prepared in advance and a set of instructions including project photos. 

Mail Order:  This class is also available for mail order purchase if you live out of the area. The cost is $30 and includes priority shipping.

If you'd like to register, contact me at michaelynns@comcast.net.  If you have questions about the class, please leave a comment and I'll answer them here.  Hope to see you there!

Monster Cookies

Since I was already covered in flour from the Cowgirl cookies, I decided to make up a spooky version for Halloween.  I'm calling them Monster Cookies.  The labels were made with My Digital Studio.  My kids have been circling these jars like sharks. 

Hmmmm...for some reason I'm not real happy with the fabric covers on these jars.  They kind of look like shepherds to me.  Is that strange? Notice how I have more Halloween jars than Cowgirl jars?  That's because someone (Emma) decided to taste test most of my pink M&Ms. 

Thinking of Starr

Not long ago, Chance ran into his cousin at Fred Meyer.  They chatted briefly and just as Chance was about to say goodbye, his cousin burst into tears.  His wife, Starr, had just been diagnosed with breast cancer the week before.  What a tragic time this has been for them.  Starr's surgery was last week - double mastectomy.  Thankfully, the surgery appears to have gone well and now she is on the road to recovery.

I've been thinking of Starr a great deal lately.  Have you noticed all the pink packaging at the grocery stores this month?  It's Breast Cancer Awareness month.  Every time I see something pink, I think of Starr and all that she is wading through right now.  I came across this fun little treat at Bakerella's site not long ago.  (I LOVE Bakerella.  Her website is full of beautiful and delicious little creations) So, I decided to make these CowGIRL cookies jars myself.  Its my own little way of spreading the "awareness" I guess.  The labels were made with My Digital Studio.  Bakerella has her own version which you can download from her site, too.  And, yes, I know her pictures are much better than mine.

I also think these would make great Valentine gifts. Hmmm...wonder if I'll remember that in February.

Early Bird Christmas Cards Class

Do you have a goal to get your cards out early this year and save yourself some of that last minute stress?  If so, then please come to my Early Bird Christmas Cards Class on November 21st.  Come to my home and create 25 holiday cards (5 each of 5 designs) and get them in the mail over Thanksgiving weekend!  I'll put on the Christmas music and we'll have some snacks to keep us going.  (I will also have a few prizes to give away just for fun!)  The cost is $25 if paid by November 7th, or $30 if later. 

Need a little sneak peak?  Here is one possible card for that night:

Note: Optional make-up class will be offered on December 1st. More details to come on this later....

Thoroughly Thankful

I've been working on Thanksgiving and autumn projects.  Here are a few.  A couple of these will be included in Thursday's stamp camp.  Click on "My Events" for more details.

This card was actually a case from Terry Bolender's card last year using the same papers. SU! recently added a "Clearance Rack" to their online store and this Autumn Vine Designer Series Paper was included.  I love this paper. This is a stamp camp project.

Supplies:  Season of Friendship Stamp Set; Teeny Tiny Wishes Stamp Set; Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, Really Rust Classic inks; Whisper White, Really Rust, More Mustard cardstock; Autumn Vine Designer Series Paper, My Way Punch

I love this Turkey!  He's not too expensive and fun to use.  I just colored him up with my markers and punched him out. Easy Peesy! This will be a stamp camp project.

Supplies:  Gobble Gobble Stamp Set; Soft Suede Classic Ink; Whisper White, Dusty Durango & Crushed Curry cardstock; Stampin' Write Markers; Chocolate Chip 5/8" Ribbon; 1 3/4" Circle Punch

This 6x6 Fall scrapbook layout was made at a demonstrator event a couple weeks ago.  I can't remember who designed it, so I'm going to have to update this post with that information in a few days.  I think its adorable. I have been wanting to use this stamp set for awhile.  Cute cute!

This picture didn't turn out great, but I had fun making this card.  I love using my brayer, I just don't do it very often.  I'm still getting used to it.  I just finished a real simple Christmas scene with my brayer that I'll be posting in a day or so. A possible camp project.

Supplies:  Lovely As A Tree Stamp Set; Upsy Daisy Stamp Set; Chocolate Chip, Dusty Durango, So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie & Old Olive Classic inks; Whisper White, Dusty Durango, & Chocolate Chip cardstock; Brayer, Post-it Notes, So Saffron Ribbon (retired)

More Spooky Stuff

I finally found a moment to take some pictures of these things.  Many of the projects you see below, as well as Saturday's "Halloween Projects" post, will be included in Thursday's stamp camp. Contact me soon if you would like to attend.  Click the "My Events" button on the right for more info.

I made these little 3x3 cards for my kids.  I used a retired stamp set called Booglie Eyes and some retired mesh embellishment.  Notice how there is still candy in these cards?  That's because my daughter hasn't found them yet. I've got to hide everything.

Supplies: Booglie Eyes Stamp Set, Old Olive Cardstock, Only Orange Cardstock, Mesh adhesive, Basic Black Classic Ink, White Gel Pen, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Stampin' Write Markers

The treat sicle on the left was a design by Terry Bolender and I used it for a stamp camp a few weeks back.  One of the guests decided to change it around and came up with the purple one on the right.  Its adorable! 

Supplies:  Sweet Centers Stamp Set, Perfect Plum Classic Ink, Whisper White Cardstock, Perfect Plum Cardstock, Pumpkin Pie Riboon, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, popsicle sticks, candy

These treat bags were super easy and quick. I simply used my Big Shot Machine and cut out Top Notes and Pillow Boxes.  Then I embellished them with SU!'s Spooky Treats Rub-Ons.  How easy is that?  Its a nice way to use up old stuff you have lying around, too. Like the Wild Wasabi green paper you see there.  Its retired now and I need to use it up.

Supplies:  Big Shot Machine, Top Note Die, Pillow Box Die, Spooky Treats Rub-Ons, Small Cello Bags, stapler, candy

This one is my favorite.  I love the white rub-ons against the black.  Plus, it reminds my of my son, Noah, who thinks he is a pirate.

And last, two female versions of Frankenstein I did at my camp this month. I got the idea for the pink one online somewhere.  I wish I had kept a note of that site so I could give her credit.  

Supplies: Old Olive, Kraft, Basic Black, Whisper White, Metallic Silver and Pink Passion cardstock; Old Olive Classic Ink, Sponges, 1/2" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Black Stampin' Write Marker, Scallop Edge Punch, Horizontal Slot Punch, Basic Black Ribbon, Pumpkin Pie Ribbon.

My Events

I've successfully added a link to my calendar.  Just click on the picture to the right that says "My Events" and it will take you where you need to go.  Hope to see you soon!

Halloween Projects

I went to the grocery store today and looked around for turkeys.  I'm ready for Thanksgiving!  But since that's still over a month away I decided to pick up supplies for spiced cider and pumpkin cookies.  Plus, I have a couple of projects sitting around unfinished that I hope to post by Monday. 

Here are a few of this month's Halloween projects.  I have more to photograph, but I'm procrastinating.  I'm hoping that tomorrow I'll have my upcoming class schedule up and running.  And I hope to post photos of the Christmas class coming up in a few weeks. 

I love these treat bags!  So easy to make with the Big Shot Machine. I cut out a circle and added a window sheet so you can see what's inside, too.  This die uses 1/2 sheet of 12x12 paper, so if you're trying to use up supplies to make room for new stuff (which I always am), this is a great way to do it! 

Supplies: Big Shot Machine, Fancy Favor Box Die, Cast-a-Spell Designer Paper, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Window Sheets, Horizontal Slot Punch, Basic Black 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Pumpkin Pie Striped Ribbon

Another Big Shot project.  This one uses the Matchbox Die.  I really love this die and use it for all throughout the year.

Supplies:  Big Shot Machine, Matchbox Die, Cast-a-Spell Designer Paper, Basic Black 1/4" Grograin Ribbon, Basic Black Cardstock, Pumpkin Pie Cardstock, Sweet Treats Stamp Set, Basic Black Classic Ink, Candy

OK, one more use of the Big Shot. This is the Pillow Box Die. Just cut it out, tape it up and fill it up. Its great!  This box was nicely closed earlier, but my daughter found it.  Sigh. 

Supplies:  Big Shot Machine, Pillow Box Die, Cast-a-Spell Designer Paper, Basic Black 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Kraft Cardstock, candy

Love this Frankenstein card.  The design has been around for awhile - I think I saw it for the first time last year. But it's super cute and its basically all punches.  The face was sponged a bit to give it more depth, but otherwise, no stamping.  A really fun one for kids to do, but I'd recommend pre-punching your paper for younger ones. It can take awhile.

Supplies:  Old Olive, Kraft, Basic BlackWhisper White, Metallic Silver cardstock; Black Stampin' Write Marker; 1/2" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Horizontal Slot Punch, Old Olive ink, sponges

Another card I saw last year.  This Mummy card is just a bunch of scraps of Very Vanilla cardstock sponged up.  And its a fun one for kids, too.

Supplies:  Very Vanilla, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black cardstock; Creamy Caramel ink, sponges, 1/ 3/8 " Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch 

This "Boo" card is my own design. I wanted to make a springy pop-out sort of card for Halloween.  The spring is made by cutting a spiral out of a punched out circle and adhereing one end to the card base and one end to the pumpkin. This set is really fun to use.  My kids LOVE making jack-o-lanterns with it. 

Supplies:  Pumpkin Patch Stamp Set; Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White cardstock; Cast-a-Spell Designer Paper; Basic Black 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black Classic inks; 1 1/4" Circle Punch

My friend Terry found this treat holder on Becky Robert's blog.  The cardstock is decorated and then the treat is stapled in with a flap to hold the cover closed. Its a snap to make!  I'm totally going to make more of these.

Supplies:  Batty for You Stamp Set; Smarty Pants Stamp Set; Basic Black and Whisper White cardstock; Cast-a-Spell Designer Paper; Scallop Circle Punch; 1 3/8" Circle Punch; 1" Circle Punch; staples; candy

My New Blog

Here it is!  Creating this blog has been in the back of my mind for awhile.  I feel like I needed a separate space to showcase things I'm working on.  Creating a new blog is a lot of work!  Getting the layout right and making things work the way I want them to has been a little frustrating.  But I did manage to create my own blog banner in My Digital Studio today!  I was terribly impressed with myself even if I'm already thinking about changing it.


Chance and I debated about the blog name.  I didn't want it to sound cheesy.  I decided on "With My Own Two Hands" because I like the way it encompasses several things I do - not just crafts.  Cooking, baking, sewing, laundry ...  I asked Chance what he thought about the title.  It took him about 2 seconds to say:  "It should be called 'With My Husband's Money'."  I don't know why I bother to ask him anything.