Happy Friday! We are so glad you stopped by today, it's Pinspiration Friday! Every day, we scour the Internet for inspiring MME projects. We find your work on your blogs, through our FB page,and in online galleries. We pin the ones that inspire us most!

Then once a month we challenge our designers to use one of your creations as inspiration for a layout or card.

This month Jana and Shelly are joining us. Here's what they came up with. Enjoy and have a lovely, creative weekend!

Inspiration Piece: Tonya Dirk

Jana's version:

Supplies: Winter Wonderland:Tags patterned paper,In the Neighborhood patterned paper,Flakes patterned paper,Presents patterned paper,6x6 paper pad,12x12 chipboard accessories,stickers,decorative brads,buttons,twine,stamps;Misc:cardstock,silhouette,Kerri Bradford word art,Cuttlebug,Poinsettia Quilling die,stamping ink,copics,paper piercer,needle and floss,adhesives,journaling pen

Jana says:For my Pinterest lift I was inspired by the oh-so-talented, Tonya Dirk, and her page titled "A Love Like No Other".

The thing that first caught my eye about Tonya's page was that adorable banner flanked with two flowers across the top. Also, I was really inspired by how Tonya used a sheet of 6 x 6 patterned paper to anchor the two smaller photos underneath.

I used the happy and bright Winter Wonderland collection for my page. To replicate the wood planked paper in the background of Tonya's page, I stacked together several strips of the blue patterned papers from the collection. 

Lately I am really love using tone-on-tone pattern papers to create visual background textures on my pages and so this was right up my alley! For the banner across the top of the page, I used the trees from the Winter Wonderland stamps. I cut the trees out after stamping them omitting the trunk and star.

Next, I flipped them over and "strung" them together with the awesome tri-colored twine from the Winter Wonderland collection. It worked out perfectly! For the poinsettia flowers flanking my banner I used a quilling die by Cuttlebug. The script word across the top of the banner was cut on my Silhouette Cameo using Kerri Bradford artwork.

Like Tonya, I anchored two smaller photos on a sheet of 6 x 6 patterned paper. Next, I cut out several elements from the Tags paper and added them around my photos. I added a chipboard house on the right and a stamped snowman to the left. The journal block is accented with more stamping, a sticker, and a decorative brad.

Inspiration Piece:Betsy Veldman

Shelly's take:

Supplies:The Sweetest Thing:'Smile'Bouquet patterned paper,'Everyday'crocheted doilies,'Together'Round patterned paper,Tangerine stickers,Tangerine 6x6 paper pad,'Hello'decorative buttons,'Sunshine' decorative brads,'Fabulous'label stickers;Misc:string,pop dots

Shelly says:I absolutely love being part of Pinspiration! There is nothing like surfing Pinterest and finding amazing inspiration all around you. Today, I fell in love with Betsy Veldman’s beautiful card. What is not to love with those doilies and butterflies? I immediately thought it would be the perfect “sketch” for my next layout. I had these pictures of my daughter’s first year printed out just waiting for the perfect inspiration piece to come along, and Betsy’s card was just that!

 This layout is the “closer” for my daughter’s first year album. I printed out photo strips of each monthly birthday starting with her birth and ending with a 6x4 shot at her one year mark. Because I wanted to keep the photo strips on the top in a sequence, I altered the “sketch” so that there was more space on the top half of the layout leaving just enough room to place my doilies, butterflies, and the vertical picture. I loved the notched ribbon coming off the card that Betsy used to divide her top and bottom sections, so I mimicked that look with a strip of pattern paper. I trimmed down the page to 11x11 and matted it on another sheet of paper so that I could give it a faux look of coming off the page.

Next up was to play with the doilies. I decided I wanted to use the same doily sticker that Betsy used, along with a crocheted doily. After trimming the crocheted doily, I put a little Glossy Accents on my finger and tapped the edge of it in the glue to make sure that it wouldn’t unravel after pushing it around my page.  Once it was dry, I placed it on my layout and embellished the doilies with butterflies, brads, and a button. The “Wonderful” diecut was just to perfect for the title of the page.

I wanted to add a little something extra to the top portion of the page. After glancing up at the same Tangerine sticker sheet that contained the doily and butterfly stickers, I decided to get the most out of that sheet and carried the woodgrain to the top of the page with the photo corners. The ticket was the perfect little filler to add to that little space at the top right. I finished it off with a brad and a couple of buttons.

 

Good morning everyone! So glad you stopped by the blog today. I asked Suzanne to share a couple of gift pockets featuring our adormnents from the Lost and Found 3 collection. She chose to use the beautiful adornments from Oliver:

She came up with some beautiful projects and I just know they will inspire you right in time for the holiday season!

Supplies: All is Bright:6x6 paper pad, decorative brads,layered stickers,twine,faceted gems,sticker accessory sheet;Lost and Found 3- Oliver: adornments

Suzanne says: For my project today, I decided to adorn these festive snow gift card pockets using the Lost & Found 3 adornments in the Oliver Collection.

Metal adds such charm to any project, and they layered well on these vellum pockets. I stitched two 5x7 pieces of vellum along the sides. I added a bit of Christmas cheer to the bottom of them by tucking in faux snow. I then stitched along the top of the snow, to keep everything inside.

I did this recently in an album, and thought it would be perfect on a smaller scale. I decorated both gift card pockets with the All Is Bright collection, and the book labels were perfect for housing my sentiments.

I made sure to use the vintage white lace on one of the gift cards. I love the vintage feel of these pockets, and think they will be perfect to give to a special friend for Christmas!



Wow Suzanne...these are absolutely stunning. No need to even put a gift inside the envelopes...they are a gift on their own!

Have a wonderful Thursday,everyone. See you tomorrow!

Hello Everyone.

It’s Ronda here today to share with you a mixed media canvas I created using a variety of My Mind’s Eye products.  This 8 x 10 canvas mixes patterned paper, brads, chipboard, and stamps with gesso, watercolor crayons, and vintage thread. 

Supplies: The Sweetest Thing-Lavender:About Me patterned paper, decorative brads, stamp;The Sweetest Thing – Honey:decorative brads, stamp, layered sticker, label sticker, chipboard elements;The Sweetest Thing – Tangerine:stamp; Misc:Ranger Archival Ink, gesso, matte medium, glossy accents; Caran D’Ache Neocolor II Watercolor crayons, Maya Road trinket pin,

I always start my canvases with a layer of gesso.  This primes the canvas as well as adds subtle texture.  I knew I wanted to use the beautiful "About Me" patterned paper from The Sweetest Thing lavender line. 

I love the script, designs, and colors and used it as my inspiration.  After laying down the first layer of gesso, I added the bits of patterned paper and scraped some more gesso over top.  I wanted just peeks of the paper showing through the gesso. 

Next I used watercolor crayons to color the background of the canvas drawing on the patterned paper as inspiration. 

Once I had the background colored the way I liked, I decided to add in bits & pieces of embellishments.  I have a love affair with brads, especially those with bold designs.

To adhere them to my canvas, I used a pair of jewelry pliers to break off the prongs from the back of the brad and glued them down.  I love layering embellishments so I used some of the die cuts from the decorative brads and the chipboard embellishment on top of the patterned paper. 

I also added some more brads around the canvas as well as some stamped images in black.  I love the crisp black images against the softer colors of the canvas. 

I inserted a turquoise leaf pin into the heart layered sticker and placed in on a label sticker and the patterned paper.  After adding vintage thread to my canvas using matte medium, I added the final sentiment stamp to the canvas.  I love the simplicity of this statement on this canvas. 

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I hope you found some inspiration to create your own mixed media canvas.

 

Hi!  Tina here today with a Christmas home decor project that is versatile and can be adapted/updated  year after year.

If you saw the Spooky Halloween Tray I shared last month, you know that I love using printer's trays for holiday decorating.  So to change things up a bit for Christmas, I created a home decor project using a receipt holder.

Supplies:Winter Wonderland:4x6 designer paper pad,6x6 designer paper pad,Tags patterned paper,layered Stickers,twine,enamel dots,stamps,decorative brads,decorative buttons,decorative tape,sticker accessory sheet,chipboard elements;Misc:adhesives,mini canvas panels,spray mist,embossing powder,7gypsies vintage receipt holder,ribbon,sewing machine and thread,pens

This project was pretty simple to put together and only required a weekend to create all of the 'mini scenes' for each receipt clip.  The 4x6 designer pads and the 6x6 designer pads are great for this type of project and are the perfect size for each area.

For each mini scene, I layered several patterned papers and adhered various stickers, chipboard elements, and decorative brads and buttons.  I also wanted to add a little 'shimmer' to each area, so I accented each piece with glitter and glaze pens.  They added just the perfect amount of holiday sparkle to my project.

Special hint:  To make each mini scene more rigid (so they don't crinkle or buckle under the clip), I backed them with chipboard. 

After each scene was complete, I arranged them on the receipt holder and added additional chipboard elements and titles. 

After the holidays are done, I can remove each scene and use them on additional projects, such as layouts...or or add them to a blank card and give them to friends and family next year for Christmas.

I hope this puts you into the holiday spirit and in the mood to start decorating!

Thank you for stopping by today!

As I finished up my turkey,stuffing,and pie yesterday, I decided it was time for some lazy Internet browsing. And what was I looking for? Inspiring and creative MME projects, of course!

I like to look through blogs, online galleries, and our Facebook page to find pages, cards, and all sorts of projects to pin to Pinterest. Most of these are projects that you've brought to our attention. In other words, you have shared them on our FB wall, linked them to our blog, or emailed them to me.

I never cease to be amazed at the beautiful things I see on a daily basis. And on "I Spy With MME" days I like to share these finds with you. Would you like to be featured? Then share your work!!!

Here is what caught my eye this month...

Jennifer Grace shared this gorgeous Winter Girl Cabochon pendant on her blog, Jennifer's Jumbles. There is also a great tutorial there. I love the inventive way that she used All is Bright...and how darling is this sweet necklace?

This Christmas card by Nina B. Designs brought a huge smile to my face. I adore the non-traditional color scheme, the layering and the stitching. Nina uses an older line, Be Merry, proving that MME products are timeless!

I found this page by Carol Monson on Two Peas in a Bucket. Every single thing about it is just plain cool. Carol uses Indie Chic beautifully. I love the layering, circle theme, and pretty scattering of embellishments.

Gina Rodgers shared this on our FB page. I adore her use of The Sweetest Thing. Especially the way that she incorporated the packaging right into her layout. I could look at this layout forever...so many sweet details.

I am a big fan of Emily Spahn and her classic designs, and this page is no exception. I especially like the way she used our designer tapes to tack these precious photos down. She rocks The Sweetest Thing here and I couldn't love it more.

This card by Evgenia Petzer has a lovely,ethereal quality that caught my eye right away. Follow Your Heart takes center stage here. The hexagon motif is current but Evgenia uses it without it looking trendy. This card is timeless.

I fell in love with this layout by Linda Eggleton the moment I saw it. Linda should place it in a frame, as it's a complete work of art. I adore the layering, beautiful textures, and the lovely combination of patterns and colors. The best part? Linda created a beautiful tribute to "her boys" without using a traditionally male color palette. The colors she's chosen from The Sweetest Thing line are just perfect.

 

That's it for this month. Am I right that MME fans are the most talented crafters out there? I know I'm right. :)

Happy Friday,everyone!

 

 

We are over the moon to (finally) tell you all that Ronda Palazzari is joining the MME team. We've known this news for quite some time and we were bursting at the seams to tell you. And now that we can.... we'd like to say that SHE IS AMAZING!

Ronda is a talented artist who makes beautiful,beautiful things. We just know she will bring so much to MME and we couldn't be happier that she is joining the team.

Ronda is an author, mixed media artist, scrapbook designer, and an instructor living in the burbs of Denver.  Her first book Art of Layers with North Light Publishing/F&W Media was released in March 2012. She has published in several magazines and idea books including Artful Blogging, Creating Keepsakes, Memory Makers, Scrapbook Trends, and Somerset Magazines.  She’s best known for combining her mixed-media techniques with scrapbooking, but Ronda is one to follow because you never know if she will be sewing or getting messy with paints; her craft changes day-to-day.  She continues to teach worldwide as well as providing inspiration and telling her dorky stories on her blog HelpMeRonda.

Ronda will be using MME in ways you've never seen before (like in this fantastic layout!) and we love what she does.

 

And...now that we've finally made the big announcement, here is Ronna's first post! So much goodness in one day, can you handle it?

Happy Thanksgiving week everyone! I know that Thanksgiving is traditional a US/Canadian holiday but the beauty of this holiday is that everyone can celebrate and express gratitude.  Being thankful for the big things as well as the small things is important every day.  I have learned so much these past few years about being thankful for the small things since my husband is currently living overseas.  Things like holding his hand, dinner time together, or even the bigger stuff he took care of so I didn’t have to.  Being grateful lets people know how much we love & care for them. 

Supplies: The Sweetest Thing-Tangerine:crocheted doilies,buttons,enamel dots,chipboard elements,label stickesr,tiny word stickers,The Sweetest Thing-Bluebell:decorative tape;Misc:Ranger manila tag,gesso,Maya Road spray inks,twine

This Thank You tag is a fairly simple tag that can adorn any gift for family or friends.  Like all my tags, I start with a color story.  I was really inspired by the Sweetest Things Tangerine line, specifically the Hello buttons. I used gesso and spray ink on the background of the tag in teal, aqua, and yellow and then I cut a piece of decorative tape for the top of the tag adding in more yellow. 

Next I layered the crocheted doily with the wooden button.  I really wanted to add in another color for that pop so I used the tangerine chipboard buttons and tiny word sticker.  The final touch is adding a few enamel dots around the tag along with the “you are the best” sticker. 

Supplies:The Sweetest Thing-Tangerine:journal card,buttons,stamps,chipboard elements,layered stickers;The Sweetest Thing-Bluebell: enamel dots;Misc:Ranger manila tag,archival ink,gesso,Maya Road spray inks, twine,Doodlebug letter stickers

This next tag could adorn any Thanksgiving gift or any layout documenting this festive holiday.  Again I used gesso and spray ink on the background of the tag, this time working ink yellow, brown, pink, and red.  The brown stamped image on the background adds a cool decorative touch without overpowering the tag. 

Next I layered the journal card onto the background and then added a layered sticker.  More chipboard stickers around the page (both by the layered sticker and over the word happy)  make it stand out more and add dimension to this tag.  I want to use this tag for a Thanksgiving page so I added the stickers to the bottom of the journal card.  I absolutely adore using enamel dots to add that final touch of color. 

Supplies:The Sweetest Thing-Lavender:"The Best" Impressions patterned paper,chipboard elements,buttons,decorative brads,stamps,stickers;The Sweetest Thing-Bluebell:chipboard elements;Misc:Ranger manila tag,archival ink,gesso,Maya Road spray inks,twine,pop up adhesive

I really love the layers of this thank you tag.  It all started with gesso on a manila tag along with some painted spray ink in yellow, brown, and pink.  Next I layered on some patterned paper to the background of the tag.  These circles from the Impressions patterned paper were perfect.  Next I stamped in black ink the doily images around the page.  Three is always a good number.

Adding similar designs creates harmony on this tag.  I added some chipboard elements to reinforce the circle shapes around the tag.  By layering them, I also added dimension to the tag.  For the flower, I stacked the chipboard element with a wooden button and two more chipboard buttons.  I also added a brad to the center of the doily chipboard piece.  Lastly I used 3-d adhesive behind the sticker to pop it up on the tag. 

I love keeping these kinds of tags in my stash for a nice homemade touch to any gifts or any page.  Thanks for stopping by today.  Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Wow. To say we are in love with Ronda's first assignments would be a massive understatement. We are THRILLED! We hope you'll join us in welcoming Ronda to the team! See you all tomorrow!!

 

Happy Tuesday everyone! We are so glad you are here today. We have some beautiful layouts to share. Shelly and Tamara have created beautiful Thanksgiving layouts for you.

We love these pages and know you will too. There is so much love in each one and it really shows.

Thankful by Shelly Jaquet

Supplies:Six by Six 2-Gnome Sweet Gnome paper pad;The Sweetest Thing-Bluebell:Remember die cut title;The Sweetest Thing-Lavender:"About Me" Collage patterned paper,"Fabulous" stickers;Lost and Found 3:buttons;Misc:adhesive,twine,Silhouette,pen,vellum,sewing machine and thread

Shelly says:  I absolutely love Thanksgiving. It is a time for "just family". We cook and play all day long...sometimes not even getting out of our pajamas. We go the whole nine yards with food; big turkey,mashed potatoes,gravy, caramelized carrots, and my Mom's calico beans and homemade dinner rolls. Yum! It has always been just the four of us, but a couple of years ago, we invited my husband's parents to join us. It was our very first time cooking such a big meal to share with others. I pulled a page together to document it. 

Nothing says warm,cozy,and family to me like a quilt. I decided to create a quilted background for my page.

The designer 6x6 paper pads work perfectly when you need lots of fun different patterns and colors. Gnome Sweet Gnome was just what I needed for the job. I cut 2"x3" rectangles from various sheets. After laying them them out on my paper, I stitched them down.

I cut my title from my Silhouette and accented it with the "Remember" title card from The Sweetest Thing collection. I finished my page off with a few scattered buttons here and there.

Gathered in Gratitude by Tamara Jensen

Supplies:Lost and Found Halloween: Halloween Cottage patterned paper, Hallows Pumpkins patterned paper, Hallows Music patterned paper, Hallows Rounds patterned paper, journaling circle; Lost and Found 3-Oliver: stickers, metal adornment, brad; Lost and Found 3-Ruby :stickers; All is Bright: rhinestones; Lost and Found 2-Breeze: Train patterned paper; Misc: black thread, ink and pen, orange paper

Tamara says: I love the month of November.  I always think of it as a month of thankfulness and make sure to write down and express gratitude for my blessings daily.

Thanksgiving dinner is also a special time to gather as family and loved ones to give thanks and enjoy a special meal together.  I loved using the Lost and Found Halloween collection for my Thanksgiving layout - it is very versatile.

I printed a title and layered it over the crows sitting on top of the pumpkins. I covered the witch on the journaling circle with a doily sticker. To frame the page, I cut down the glittered border paper and covered the seam with a hand-cut border and a strip of orange paper.

Don't be afraid to mix lines - the doily stickers are from the new Lost and Found 3 collection and give the layout a "homey" feel.  They remind me of Thanksgiving meals at my Grandma's.

Thanks for stopping by, y'all. Have a beautiful and blessed Tuesday!

 

 Happy Monday morning, friends! We hope you had a relaxing and wonderful weekend and that today you are refreshed and ready to be inspired.

Suzanne sent us a couple of holiday cards and we wanted to share them with you. Enjoy!

Christmas Cheer card

Supplies:Winter Wonderland:6x6 paper pad, Flakes patterned paper,chipboard elements,sticker accessory sheet,decorative buttons;All is Bright:gems,twine

For this sweet card, Suzanne simply layered Winter Wonderland patterned papers,chipboard accents,and a button...and topped them with a delicate embossed circle cut from vellum.

If you do not celebrate Christmas, but would love to make a winter card,simply remove the sentiment and the card is purely wintery and just right for your seasonal greetings. :)

 

Be Merry card

Supplies: Winter Wonderland:6x6 paper pad,decorative brads,chipboard elements,sticker accessory sheet;Misc:diamond dust,Studio Calico Mister Huey's in white,embossing folders

Here Suzanne combined embossed cardstock and Winter Wonderland chipboard accents and stickers to make a simply sweet card. Isn't that snowman adorable? She added some diamond dust to him to make him sparkle and the result is just perfect.

A piece of twine ties the whole card together just like a pretty little package.

I hope you found some holiday inspiration and cheer here today. Are you using MME on your holiday cards? If so we'd LOVE to see. Link them up here or share them on our Facebook page.

Thanks for stopping by today!

 

 

Good morning! Danni here to share just how easily you can create Christmas cards that can be mailed or hand-delivered using similar MME supplies.

Creating hand-deliverable cards is relatively easy with every single product released from MME. From the gorgeous layered stickers, chipboard pieces, buttons, brads, twine, you can create a unique, individual, gorgeous Christmas card in no time at all.

I love creating embellished cards and will be sharing just how easy it is to use these elements on hand-deliverable cards, ones you would give to family/friends/co-workers. But what about using all your supplies to create cards in MME style, that you could easily and affordably mail to your loved recipients?

There are a couple of tricks I use and would love to share them with you today.

HAND DELIVERABLE CARDS

First I will share a couple of embellished cards, cards ready for you to hand-deliver to loved ones and friends alike.

As you can see, it is so much fun to use the layered stickers along with the gorgeous twines and buttons to add the extra special touches to your cards you plan on hand-delivering.

MME really takes the "work" out of creating/designing when you use these layered stickers. I added a little stitching along the layered sticker on the top block of the card so as to draw attention to the embellishment.

Another way to add the extra special touches to hand-deliverable cards is to layer your chipboard embellishments and to add a pom pom or two to the snowflakes on the patterned paper. It now "feels" like snow!

So many of the patterned papers in the gorgeous All is Bright collection have amazing patterns and designs that you can layer with chipboard embellishments.

I adhered a strip of the chevron stripe to the "Joy" paper and stitched the chevron, added chipboard to the design and of course a pom pom to birdie's hat. I am so excited to give these cards this Christmas!
Now...what if you have loved ones that live afar and you love the MME Christmas collections? Being able to create cards that can be affordably mailed is important this season too.

CARDS SUITABLE FOR THE MAIL

How do you add embellishments that won't add a lot of bulk? How do you create/design a card that still "feel" layered and embellished without creating a lot of bulk to the envelope?

I usually follow four simple rules:

1. Choose several patterned papers to layer (choosing several adds interest to the card through color and patterns without having to add embellishments).

2. Cut designs from the patterned papers or punch shapes from the pp to layer (layering pp die-cuts still keeps the card flat/mailable but allows for the designs we love in the papers).

3. Stitch, stitch, stitch. Stitching adds an embellishment interest without bulk. If you don't want to add a lot of stitching or haven't pulled out your machine...hand-stitching one criss-cross stitch, an "x", if you will, across one of the embellies or sentiments will draw the focus to the stitching.

4. Add layering through using machine thread underneath one of your focal embellies, it adds a special touch while laying flat

On my "All is Bright" card above, I stitched sections of the various patterned papers which added a lot of interest to the various patterns, but to add even more interest to the focal embellishment, I stitched up one side of the birdie's hat and used a couple of mini staples on the sentiment.

These are all flat embellishments that add visual interest.

On my Happy Holidays card, I added pops of red  to add interest to the snow scene and the little sticker. In the sticker, there are touches of red, so to draw the eye to the details of the sticker, I decided to add more pops of red with my heart punch and stitching a sentiment sticker.

On this mailable card, I decided to use the big "Joy" in the patterned paper to be my focal sentiment and the beautiful cherub rests beautifully above it.

To add visual interest, not bulk, to the sentiment, I cut the bird circle from the patterned paper and layered it onto the sentiment in place of the "o".

To add emphasis to the cherub focal, I adhered a white thread tangle behind the wings. The gorgeous tag, cut from the patterned paper, was stitched to draw attention to the beautiful little girl.

Finally, choosing several patterned papers, stitched, draws interest to the colors in the designs and makes the card feel "bigger" than it actually is!

I hope all of you have taken some tips and ideas away from today's post...it was a joy to share these with you today!

Enjoy your weekend. :)

card supplies: Merry Christmas card: All is Bright: chevron, collage and ephemera frames patterned papers, layered stickers, twine, buttons MISC: scallop die and machine stitching Christmas Snowman card: Winter Wonderland: Christmas trees, Polka Dots, Presents, In the Neighborhood patterned papers, 12x12 chipboard elements, buttons MISC: pom poms and machine stitching Joy card: All is Bright: chevron and joy paper, chipboard buttons MISC: pom poms and machine stitching All is Bright card: All is Bright: joy, christmas tag, linen, bright, and collage paper MISC: Tim Holtz mini attacher staples, machine stitching Happy Holidays card: Winter Wonderland: presents, in the neighborhood, polka dots, christmas trees papers, stickers MISC: Martha Stewart heart punch, machine stitchingJoy card: All is Bright: joy, christmas tag, linen, joy, and bright paper MISC: machine thread, machine stitching

The recipe challenge winner is....

Juliana Michaels!!!!! Please email me (with the collection of your choice) at stephanie(AT)mymindseye(DOT)com.

Way to go Juliana, and thanks to all of you who entered our challenge. We hope to "see" all of you for the gratitude challenge as well!

Check back later for a Good Things Utah post from Amber. :)

Like each of you, with each passing month/holiday our family is creating more memories.  We are having a great time decorating for Thanksgiving.

Growing up, my sweet grandma would ask each of us to state one thing we were thankful for before we ate Thanksgiving dinner. I wasn’t always prepared for it and usually came up with a lame comment. As I look back on that experience, I realize that because of my grandma, I am able to be grateful for the small things. I want to pass that gift on to my family.

Like a lot of families, we spend a lot of our “together” time in the kitchen. I thought it would be fun to have a reminder in there.

I used our new Lost & Found 3 – Oliver collection. I love the colors and the patterns – AND those gorgeous embossed papers – YUMMY!

(front)

(back)

        

(close ups)

(full room view)

To make your own, download the instructions along with the files for the letters here:  Download 2012_11_15_Give Thanks Banners

I am demonstrating this project on Good Things Utah this morning.  For our non-local friends, we will upload the segment here when it is available!

I hope you have a fabulous time making memories with your friends and family this holiday season!

(www.amberpacker.com)

Welcome to our second November challenge! Today we are challenge you to show your gratitude. Whether you make a layout, card, altered item, or mini...well that's up to you. Just make sure that it demonstrates gratitude in some way.

As always, there are a few rules and here they are.

1.Project must be created new for this challenge.

2. Project must look like a MME project. We say this every month-but we are not going to give you a percentage of MME that you have to use. Just make sure that it is comprised mainly of MME product.

3. All submissions must be turned in by midnight on Sunday, December 2. A random winner will be announced with the first December challenge on December 3. Please enter via the InLinkz form below.

4.Winner will win MME collection of their choice.

 

Karen Grunberg accepted our gratitude challenge and here is what she came up with:

Supplies: All is Bright -chipboard accessories, stickers, layered stickers  (remember these lines are not just for Christmas!)

Karen says: In 2010, my friend Lori asked me if I'd be willing to do a year-long Gratitude Project. It turned out to be the best thing I've ever done. I didn't know this at the time but practicing daily gratitude has been proven to make people happier. It makes you realize all the wonderful things you have in your ordinary life. The things you take for granted or might not think about.

Since then, I've been practicing daily gratitude.

I've even involved my son in the process and he has a gratitude journal of his own. If you can only make one more layout, I say let it be one that commemorates gratitude for the small things in your life.

Those ordinary things are what life's made up of. They're what make your life extraordinary. Make the time to capture them. I am confident that you will not regret a moment of it.


Karen always warms our heart. Not only does she make beautiful things...she is also a wise woman. :)

Please take time to enter our challenge, we think that you guys are the BEST at using MME and we'd love to see what you can come up with. Check back later today for the Family Recipe Challenge winner!

See you all tomorrow!

 

Today we are welcoming back the talented Sarah Klemish as our November guest designer. As we said yesterday, we just love her designs and think they are so very refreshing!

Here are Sarah's answers to our interview questions...

Q:What did you have the most fun working with?

A:Can I just say how obsessed I am with the enamel dots that come with all the new lines?  They are so fun and easy to use and they just add that extra something to any layout!  I love that each pack includes several colors and sizes!  I know that I will probable use these on every future layout that I create! 

Q:What is your favorite MME line and why?

A:I loved working with the Sweetest Thing-Tangerine line!  The colors are so soft and pretty and all the embellishments and fun extras that go with the line make scrapping a snap!  I did a couple of layouts using the line and actually did a couple layouts for a wedding album that I made for a friend!  LOVE it!

Supplies: The Sweetest Thing-Tangerine:“Together” Chevron patterned paper, “Sunshine” Beam patterned paper, “Sunshine” Blossom patterned paper, “Happy” Sunny patterned paper, “Wonderful” Dandy patterned paper, “Together” Round patterned paper, “Hello” Buttons,“Sunshine” decorative brads;Misc:Cameo Silhouette – “So Thankful” lettering / Leaves,vellum,spray mist,doily,sewing machine and thread,adhesives

Sarah says:A layout I created for a friend.  This is his baby girl Emma!  She was eating her feet and some lady kept bugging her and putting a camera in her face . . . lol!

 

Supplies:Lost & Found 3-Ruby:  Doily patterned paper, Grey Quatrefoil embossed paper, Collage Stripe patterned paper, Red Floral patterned paper, Medallion patterned paper, decorative brads, adornments, enamel dots;Misc:Cameo Silhouette – “True Happiness” title cut,doily,spray mist,adhesive,sewing machine and thread

Sarah says:This is a layout I created for my cousin who recently got married.  This is my favorite picture of her and her new husband.  I cut out several banners from the “Lost & Found 3 Ruby” collection, added some fun glittery flowers, journaling and a doily!  Super-fast and easy!

Sarah-it was a joy and an honor to have you join us this month. Thank you so much!

We also wanted to take a second to tell you all that registration for Crop and Create Moncton is tonight at 7pm EST. We hope to see lots of y'all there!

 

Please help us welcome our November guest designer!

We are thrilled to have Sarah Klemish with us this month. We admire her bright and minimalist designs and the love that she pours into each and every page. Here's a little bit about Sarah.

In the scrapbooking world I am known as “sarahak” and  in the real world I am Sarah Klemish (wife, mother, daughter, sister). 

I still remember the first Creative Memories class I took 10 years ago – cardstock and pictures cut in funky shapes! I still treasure those layouts but since then my style has changed.

I am typically what is known as a “simple” scrapper.  Straight lines, white space and sewing, that sums it up. I have “worked” for several manufacturer’s over the years including American Crafts, Bella Blvd, Creative Memories, KI Memories. 

I have been published in Scrapbook Trends and was on the Better Homes and Gardens Scrapbook Etc. team for a year. Love the hobby, love the people and love being asked to participate on fun projects! Thanks Stephanie and My Mind’s Eye for giving me the opportunity to work with your amazing product!

Here are some darling layouts that Sarah sent us.

Supplies: The Sweetest Thing-Tangerine :Sunny patterned paper, Beam patterned paper,Blossom patterned paper,Dandy patterned paper,Together enamel dots,Wonderful chipboard elements, 6x6 paper pad;Misc:Cameo Silhouette – Instagram Frame, Leaves?

Sarah says:Another layout I created for my friend about his daughter Emma.  She was getting a little concerned that she could not see her parents so she comforted herself by sucking on her fingers!  So cute and such a good baby!?

Supplies:Lost  & Found 3-Ruby:Floral and Lace Glitter paper, Floral Glitter paper, Grey Quatrefoil Embossed paper,Honeycomb Embossed paper,Medallion paper,Collage Stripe paper, Enamel Dots Misc:
Cameo Silhouette -  “XOXO” shape / Heart shapes

Sarah says: This is a layout I created for a friend who recently got married.  The picture is of his step daughter and daughter.  I wanted to do a layout that conveyed the love they have for each other and to let his step daughter know what a great big sister she is.

Thanks for stopping by today,guys! We hope you have enjoyed getting to know Sarah as much as we have! Check back tomorrow for a couple more layouts as well as Sarah's answers to our interview questions!

Happy Friday, y'all! This is Stephanie and today I'm here to talk about something very near and dear to my heart.

As most of you probably know, Sunday is Veteran's Day.

I happen to be married to a veteran. My husband has served this country since 1997 when he attended West Point. He has now deployed eight times in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

He has lost many friends and many colleagues. He has served selflessly. He has missed years of his children's lives and sacrificed many luxuries. And he has done all of this not expecting anything in return. As have all the men and women that have served this amazing country throughout the years.

And I will never stop telling him thank you. I will never stop telling all of our servicemen and servicewomen thank you.

Supplies: Lost and Found 3-Ruby:Grey Quatrefoil paper;Lost and Found 3-Oliver:Lace Fan patterned paper,chipboard elements,decorative tape;The Sweetest Thing-Bluebell:layered stickers,decorative brads,The Sweetest Thing-Honey:layered stickers;The Sweetest Thing-Tangerine:chipboard elements;Misc:American Crafts thickers,adhesive,precision pen

This is a pretty straightforward design. I used Lost and Found 3-Oliver and The Sweetest Thing-Bluebell to form a cluster of elements under my photo.

Something fun and simple I did (I am NOT a technique-y person but I do like to add details to my layouts) is embellish the gold chipboard piece with designer tape.I cut the tape to form an "arrow" on the chipboard".

But to me, the reason behind this layout was the journaling. It reads:

10 years ago I knew I was proud of you. But I never could have imagined the pride I feel today. Thank you for being my hero. Thank you for your selflessness and bravery. Thank you for doing what I'm not strong enough to do. Thank you for your service. Thank God for you coming home safe.

Are you wondering how you can show your gratitude today? Well...the easiest way is to simply say "thank you" to someone that serves our country. A "thank you" and a handshake is so very meaningful.

If you don't know anyone you can thank in person, there are many wonderful charities and services that can convey your gratitude.

Wounded Warrior Project

Fisher House Foundation

Special Operations Warrior Foundation

National Military Family Association

Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust

and countless others. Please click here to read more. I can tell you firsthand that these charities change peoples lives. I have seen it happen and I believe in the power of giving with all of my heart.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. And please make sure to thank a veteran on Monday.

Hi everyone!

This is Karen and I am back with another Mixed Media page! This month, I wanted to do something totally different and have fun.

I've been getting in the holiday mood more and more lately and when I pulled out the layered stickers in the Winter Wonderland line, I decided they would be the focus of my mixed media page for this month.

I then went to the On the Sunny Side line and pulled out those layered stickers, too. I knew I wanted to use the houses so I created a base for my page by painting the bottom part green (for grass) and then the rest
blue (for sky.)


I then put down the "summer" houses on one side and the "winter" houses on the other.

I added some snowflakes, a birds and a butterfly, and a crocheted doily for the sun.

My next step was to paint the right side grass white as if it's covered by snow.

Then I painted a little on each of the layered stickers, the doily, and the chipboard so it would all blend in better. A few letter stickers and my page was done:

The stickers read: Summer or winter, make a point to celebrate your life in all its seasons.

A super-sweet and simple page that took very little time. Here are some detail shots of summer:

and winter:

If you haven't played with the layered stickers in your art journaling, that's my challenge for you this week.

Pull them out and play!!

Thanks for letting me share my page and please leave me a comment with your pages too, I'd love to see them.



Supplies:On the Sunny Side:layered stickers;Winter Wonderland:layered stickers, chipboard accessories;The Sweetest Thing -Honey:crocheted doilies

This page features my darling girl who is no longer ten! But oh was I happy to discover the photo in my library.

I chose the Best patterned paper as my background, making this page complete in thirty minutes. It already has the gorgeous graphics on the left side of the paper, so all  I had to do was build to the right.

A few border strips from the coordinating papers, stickers, and a few diecuts make this page complete. The little details are simply created using the enamel dots. On the package you will find a variety of sizes, and colors to choose from. Here are a few details of my page:

 

Thanks for taking a peek at my page! Hopefully you are inspired to use the enamel dots on your next page!

Happy Election Day 2012!  Tina here today with a more serious post than usual.

Today is a very important day on the U.S. Calendar. 

Today is the day we decide on the next U.S. President. Today is the day U.S. Citizens can vote by popular ballot for candidates for public office; at the local, state, and federal levels.

In honor of Election Day, I created a layout, sans photograph, highlighting our rights as U.S. citizens.

We have a choice. 

Yes, we have a choice.  One of the greatest rights we have as U.S. Citizens, is the right to vote.  By voting, we can voice our choice.  By voting, we can mold our own future.  Our own destiny.

The founding fathers of this great country sacrificed their lives so that the preservation of this right could continue. 

Why vote?  So we can make history.  So we can reform the system.  So we can guard against threats. 

It is your voice.  Be heard.

I will leave you with a fantastic quote by John Quincy Adams, sixth President of the United States.
“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”

Thanks for stopping by! 

Supplies:Six by Six 2: Summer Splash pad;All is Bright:decorative tape;Misc:cardstock,adhesive,Silhouette Cameo,sewing machine and thread,stapler and staples

Good morning!  Danni here with you today to share a project for the countdown to Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is such a special time of year, a time to reflect, a time to express gratitude and time to share blessings. 

In our family, we take being "thankful" literally and in a fun way.  For the week leading up to Thanksgiving, we set out a "thankful jar" and envelope full of leaves to list things that you are thankful for.

Each day, we take out one leaf and write something we are thankful for and then curl it up so as to be "leaf shaped" and place it in the jar.  On Thanksgiving we read the thankful leaves and try to guess who was thankful for that leaf.  A fun little game and a wonderful reminder of every big and small blessing in each of our lives at this time.

I chose to create my jar and leaves with the gorgeous palette and designs in the Lost and Found 3 Oliver line.  It is filled with gorgeous yellows, sky blues and greys and the patterns are sublime.  I love the softness of the jar without the required reds, browns and yellows.

The doily stickers are perfect for the top of the jar...just stitch a little embellishment and adhere to the doily sticker!

This is an activity that every member of my family loves. I hope you enjoy this tradition and that some of you will incorporate in into your November!

Supplies:Lost and Found 3-Oliver:Ledger Stripe patterned paper,Blue Quatrefoil embossed paper,Yellow Floral patterned paper,12 x 12 sticker sheetbuttons,decorative brads,adornments;Lost and Found 3-Ruby: Medallion patterned paper;Misc:Papertrey Ink leaf die,Maya Road kraft envelope

Is Melisa Waldorf! Didn't she rock those doily stamps?
Congratulations Melisa!

Please email me at stephanie(AT)mymindseye(DOT)come with your address and collection of choice. If you choose L&F3 make sure to specify Oliver or Ruby!

 

Happy November, y'all! A new month means it is time for a new challenge. And since November is a month that many of us celebrate traditions,family,and gratitude...this month we are challenging you to Scrap a Family Recipe.

It doesn't even have to be a scrapbook layout. You can make a mini, a card, an altered item...you name it.

The rules are the same as always and here they are:

1. You can submit a layout,card,album,altered item,etc.

2. The project must consist of mainly MME. It must "look" like a MME layout. :) It must fit the theme.

3. The project must be created new for this challenge.

4. Upload the layout to InLinkz at the end of this post by the end of the day on November 13.

5. A random winner will be chosen and announced with the second November challenge on November 14. The prize is any MME collection- the choice is yours.

Tamara took the challenge this time and here is what she came up with!

Supplies: Lost and Found Halloween:Hallows Cottage patterned paper, Hallows Rounds patterned paper, Hallows Pumpkins patterned paper, Hallows Halloween Ads patterned paper,glittered accessories sheet,chipboard accessories,brads;Misc:black thread,ink and pen,letter stickers,cream/orange cardstock

Tamara says: For my family, FALL = PUMPKIN!  We are huge pumpkin fans at our house and usually go through a dozen large cans of pumpkin from September through November. 

Some of our favorite pumpkin creations: pumpkin bars, Upside-down Pumpkin Pie, Dinner in a Pumpkin, Chiffon Pumpkin Pie, and Pumpkin Bread.

I have pinned 134 pumpkin recipes on Pinterest and can’t wait to try out some of my new finds.  But one of our FAVORITE recipes has to be these Pumpkin Cheesecake Muffins. 

The crisp cinnamon streusel topping gives way to a moist pumpkin cake with a creamy cheesecake center.  Pumpkin HEAVEN!  They also freeze very well and are the perfect breakfast treat after 30 seconds in the microwave.

The glittered orange accents of the Lost and Found Halloween collection added the touch of “pumpkin magic” to my layout.

I cut the scalloped border from patterned paper. Then I layered journaling spots and accented them with the perfect pumpkin chipboard. I printed the recipe directions on a card and slid it in a pocket on my layout.  That way, the layout focused on the photo and recipe and it didn’t look cluttered.  Find the full Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe on my blog.

WOW! I don't know about you guys, but Tamara's layout has my mouth watering and my stomach growling! Can't wait to see the recipes that you all share!

A reminder- the stamp challenge winner will be posted later today. :)