Hi everyone!!

I’m excited to share my card for the first Pretty Patterns Sketch!!

Keyword MTMEPPS01

You can view all the details HERE<—CLICK ME!

Be sure you add your card to the gallery in the linked post above :D I cannot wait to see what YOU do with it.

PRIZE FOR THIS WEEKS WINNER: The winner will receive the Harriet Hop-Along Birthday set, in honor of our latest release! (see my sample below for a idea )

Here is MY take on the sketch I had a blast with it, and hope you will too.

Happy 7th Birthday!

I am truly in LOVE with the Harriet Hop-Along Birthday set! This is a NEW! release that I am just over the moon for. Not only is she cute, but she can make the perfect card for so many occasions, one being birthdays, of course!

I made this to keep on hand, as my daughter Amber will be 7 this summer, and many of her friends will be turning 7 also! I always need cards ON HAND

I have been longing for more images to color, and let me just say it was so fun! I cannot wait to release more “color me pretty” images in the future.

The colors were inspired by the Candy Shoppe Pretty Printables Paper.

I colored my image in with my Copic markers, but for the balloon, I colored that digitally!

I digitally colored the balloon  because I wanted the 7 th on the balloon to be in white, and the pink balloon to match my printable paper! So I colored the balloon pink (picking up the colors from the Candy Shoppe Pretty Printables Paper). I then took my copic marker and shadowed it afterward.

It is SO  nice having my own printable paper, that I can resize (nice having large or smaller scale versions of a pattern), and only use what I need (no waste). I only need a decent stock of white or ivory cardstock and I have TONS of options. I love not needing to store tons of patterns, or worry about running out. With ONE purchase I get unlimited use of the digital paper! We carry over 140 paper collections right now Check them out!

That does it for me!

I have much to do (like finally load stuff to my gallery EEK! I need an assitant who can do that! LOL!) and am uber excited to see your projects too!

Hi everyone

I’m happy to have received so many emails and subscriptions for the addition of the My Time Made Easy ™ LLC Blog! If you haven’t stopped by yet, you won’t want to miss the latest announcements!

I have a new sample posted there today using the latest Pretty Impressions Digital Stamp Release of Harriet Hop-Along Basket Single.

Here is a lil’ peek!

Click here to view the full project and details!

Come back tomorrow because we have our first Pretty Patterns Sketch Challenge!

You won’t want to miss it

Today I am traveling back to Boston with my mom. Looks like her tumor hasn’t shrunk :C We need to see the specialist and undergo more testing to find out what is going on. I know many of you are following her and her story, so that is the latest.

April 1st we have court for her divorce. She is really nervous about that. It will be almost a year since her husband attacked her. Time has flown by and many things have changed.

The Cancer really made my mom a stronger person, and put so much of her life into perspective. There are reasons for everything.

As for the family-everyone is great The kids are getting so big and old, and of course bring joy to the house daily. 

The snow is melting (yeah! Spring is looking closer and closer) and we are looking forward to working in our new yard! We want to plant a garden and have some landscaping to do. With our long dirt driveway

Alexa is coming upon 4 year in remission, and is giving me the 11 year old attitude. I remind myself to be thankful for that She is getting really savvy with her laptop. The first week she got it, she couldn’t do ANYTHING, then the following week I found her watching Lady Gaga videos on YouTube! After that we set some parental controls! LOL! Now we encourage her to do her writing on her computer and continue her poems and stories.

Noah is doing great in school. He is a “people pleaser”, and a favorite amongst many of his teachers. He is great with his classmates and always tires his best. This year he has made numerous academic strides. He is just such a great kid. He use to be my “headache” child, as he was always into something! LOL! Now he is so helpful, sensitive and caring. He is smart and says the funniest things. He is going to be just like his daddy when he grows up. Some girl will be lucky to have him.

Amber is the one who is really looking forward to Spring. She got all her OWN gardening equipment, and is already planning the details for her garden. She keeps busy with me in the craft room on a daily basis. I think I have some serious competition when she gets older She is always drawing, and creating cards for everyone.

Jason-crazy enough I think he misses endless house projects! LOL! He will have his hands full of them this Spring.

Daisy (our dog) she is loving all the wildlife that comes into the yard. I’m certain her will come nose to nose with an unfriendly creature sometime soon! She love the yard, and spends lots of time going in and out!

Me-well I’m just as busy as ever. I live for busy. Not too much to report on me. I spend my days caring for the kids, keeping the family healthy and organized, I clean (sometimes cook) and spend whatever free time I have creating.

Life is good.

That’s all for today. See you tomorrow

Extra! Extra! Read all about it—-> CLICK HERE! 

Exciting news huh?!

I am over the moon with excitement about the latest announcements concerning my company My Time Made Easy ™ LLC! Be sure you read all about it.

These changes and additions have been a long time coming, and I hope it inspires YOU to get crafty, more often. Now you know why (despite family stuff) I’ve been EXTRA busy!

Be sure you check out the latest Pretty Impressions Digital Release <—CLICK HERE!

Now with the latest announcements or a NEW! Release of Digital Images on the 15th of each month, I am going to share a sample using each of the sets over the next couple of days!

Be sure to keep checking in for them!

First up: Got Carrots?

This gift set uses the NEW! Bizzy Bunny Digital Stamp Set!

I love this image, as Spring is in it’s way, and I longed for some images to color! I love the boy bunny with his barrow of carrots! Add a bow to the head and it could become a girl too These bunnies (3 new images in total) are perfect for Easter, without being limited to a holiday. I love image versatility!

Is this gift set not adorable?!

I wanted to package up these homemade Carrot Cake Cookies, bottoms dipped in white chocolate-YUM! Perfect for Spring, or any occasion where a sweet treat is in order.

Going with the carrot theme I used the Any Way You Slice It template to make a “carrot” box!

This was SO easy to do! I printed the Dotted Stripes Collection 1 (Peach) to further enhance my “carrot” design. Super quick.

For the top of the carrot (Any Way You Slice It template) I used the latest release of the Abra-Bow-Dabra to make the greenery on the top of my carrot box!

I sponged the edged, and just omitted the center curl, and VOILA! Perfect carrot topper!

I then used the Simple Seedling (card insert), re-sized to create my tag!

I also added the sentiment “For some bunny sweet” to it, to top it off

Now you are looking at the same image of Bizzy Bunny which was used on the card, and on my Any Way You Slice It template tag!

The card on the right, is the size this digital image opens up in. The tag on the left, I resized it to fit

Part of the BEAUTY of using digital stamps is the ability to resize, and flip/mirror the images. I could have digitally colored them as well to mass produce my gift or card, if needed, but I opted to hand color them with my copic markers.

I did digitally color my sentiment on the card:

I LOVE that sentiment from the Bizzy Bunny set !

With my mom undergoing chemo, and others helping out, I think it is perfect for her to give to those who have been helpful to her I’m trying to make as many gifts as I can for her to send off to all the people she wants to thank! Thankfully being a papercrafter comes in handy more often than not! Everyone comes to me for gifts in the family! LOL! I love it.

So, back to the card…instead of trying to use my markers (in select colors) to ink parts of the sentiment, I used my photo editing software to digitally color it. Perfect every time! No bleeding of colors, or unevenly inked areas, just makes the PERFECT  impression every time! (I did this on the Carrot tag too)

I’m not saying I don’t love my acrylic images, but often I do wish for more options with images, and that is why we often offer both options.

That being said, we are offering select sets in DIGITAL ONLY. Seems most of our customers prefer that method, and this will allow me to offer more choices, more often It also cuts down on your storage of images! We all know how quickly we can run out of space. I like to fill my craft room with STUFF, like cardstock, markers, embellishments, and ribbon, rather than tons of image ;D Plus it is easier to see what you OWN when you just open your digital stamp folder, and SEE all the images laid out before you, without pilfering through stacks of boxes, or CD cases.

The card in itself has a lot of dimension

The head, tail, pocket/carrot, carrot sign, 2 carrots and greenery are all cut out, colored, and up on dimensionals for some added WOW! I just printed the image twice

I then added the fence which I cut using a punch. Super cute eh? I just used my Copic marker to add to the dimesnion!

Now you can start to see all these possibilties from these new images. We have LOTS of digital stamps to choose from, so check them out –>HERE!

Well that does it for me today.

Please return tomorrow for a sample using one of the other NEW! Digital Pretty Impressions images we just released!

Until then

Well today wraps up our March Release Projects. I have yet to load my stuff to our AMAZING gallery, but promise to by the weekend!

We like to celebrate this day with a group post. 

As I mentioned last month, we have added a NEW! feature to the end of our monthly release called A year in review. This is when the design team and myself shares a project using any previously released stamps, templates, papers, and cut files! 

This will allow you all even MORE ideas for using previously released items!

Let the inspiration begin here: 

Sadly I don’t have my own sample to share for the Year in Review. SOON though.

I definitely want to use the What’s Your Angle? again and will have a peek at what has taken up most my time these days.

Now that being said I am working hard on something special (you will be in the KNOW next week some time) that has consumed much of my time, as have the kids (they are on vacation), so I will plan to post a peek SOON!! I’m putting in much time and energy, and I think it will be worth the wait

I do have a sample to share, even though I don’t have a template today. It is for a sketch challenge for the JUGS Challenge #74! <–CHECK IT OUT

Here I used both the latest release sets: Singing Silhouette, and Keep Strong

The sentiment and image are stamped on a up-side-down tag, as you can see the bow is hanging at the bottom.

I LOVE this sentiments ” The journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step” Its my life motto! I wear a bracelet that says it, to remind me daily of the journey I have been on.

The paper is from the Coffee Beans Pretty Printables Digital Paper. It actually inspired the color scheme for this creation.

Well its been a fabulous release!

I plan on returning really soon with PEEK at what is to come. Don’t miss out on what the team has shared the last week either! They really went over and above with this release!

OK I’m out of fun and fancy titles today!! LOL!

One more day of projects until our Group Post: Year in Review!

We have received lots of great feed back for that new monthly feature

We have some really great stuff in the works here at MTME, and you will definitely want to stop by and see the news in a week or so You WON’T want to miss it.

For today, you can fill your creative cup by visiting:

Today I have a few more cards. I don’t know if you noticed but I made quite a bit this month!! I have some good stuff in the works so these will have to do for now. I’m sure you never tire of card ideas anyhow right?

OK first up

Because I care…

Back to one of my go to color combinations!

I went to an old pattern paper we have: Flutters & Flowers paper. I LOVE the script on that paper collection and found it quick and easy to make this creation using it!

I really wanted a “Because I care” card. The sentiment is part of the Keep Strong set.

I LOVE the frame from Framed Elegance, and it made an awesome frame for my bird/branch silhouettes from the Singing Silhouette set.

I cut the frame using the Framed Elegance Cut File. I masked the oval frame so my branch stayed within the —- border. The oval is also cut and on dimensionals.

I just love this. Enough said

May all your weeds…

Here we have another card creation using the Keep Strong set.

I really wanted to use the flower silhouette from the Framed Elegance set alongside this sentiment.

I colored them with my markers, then over stamped some white polka dots, on the ivory base. The bottom of the card was scored, then I brushed an ink pad across it.

Super simple and definitely one you could mass produce!

Well I hope your cup is overflowing with creative ideas today from the last few days we’ve all shared projects!

Be sure to return tomorrow for loads more fun and creativity!

Hi world-

Hope you are all doing well. I’m taking the day to spend it with mom and the kids. She is finishing up her radiation treatments this week and is feeling a bit down. I will bring her some SOFT food and her birdcage that I made and posted the other day.

I am also donating a TON of cards and templates that I’ve made the last few months to the Cancer Center she goes to daily. I think the patients and/or staff can really use them I saw one particular patient there who has really touched my heart. She was writing out (store bought) cards while getting treatment one day, and it made me realize this would be the next home my creations needed. That particular patient has a terminal form of Cancer. She is only 35, and has a 5 year old son. I have been praying for her daily. She was “suppose” to die 2 years ago, after being given 6 weeks to live. Her positive attitude are an inspiration to me. She is looking into partaking a trial treatment for her cancer, but sadly they are only accepting 12 patients :C There are over 9,000 in the potential drawing. I am praying that she is accepted and finds the cure. If anyone ever deserved it, or showed a stronger will to live, it is her. Her name is Leah, so if you can send up a prayer, that would be great.

OK back on track here….

Today you will get a world of inspiration from

My sample today you may recognize from the store sample

All Caged Up

This was the first cage made using the Caged template.

I wanted something to match my craft room (click me), since it is bird themed…so I made this for me.

This is the other side. I LOVE the A Little Birdie Cut File, and wanted to use it on my cage. I thought stamping the branch, and flowers on it from the Singing Silhouette set would make a great accent to the file. I feel like the angle of the branch mimics the wing, and stomach of the bird. Is it me?

For the front of the cage I added the cage image (cut out with the Caged Cut File) stamped in eggplant, so it appeared to be like a cage door. I added stickles, and an adhesive rhinestone as well for a little sparkle.

This is the template with the battery operated candle, all lit up!

I wanted this to illuminate, but be SAFE, so these candles are the BEST thing since sliced bread.

Supplies from My Time Made Easy ™ LLCPretty Packaging Templates: Caged

Pretty Impressions Stamp Set: Singing Silhouette

Pretty Pieces Cut File: Caged Cut File, A Little Birdie

Well, once again thank you for stopping by.

We’ll be back tomorrow with even more samples to inspire your own creations!

Well we’ve had our offical March release, and it seems like we have a TON of aviary theme lovers out there!!

Today we have some more projects to share with you. Be sure you check out:

In the meantime, I will share a couple cards I’ve made for this month’s release! I have lots to do and the kids are on vacation, so my time is a little tight this month as I do my best to make day trips with them

We all love cards, and can never have too many ideas, so I hope you like todays projects!

Sweet Love

This is a favorite of mine! As I said before I LOVE the love birds silhouette from the Singing Silhouette set. I inked them with 2 ink colors. I think they look simply sweet. Here I stamped them on the swing image, which is hanging from the branch builder from the set. The large flowers can be layered with the smaller flowers in the set, for a pretty and layered look.

I stamped the poem by Robert Frost which is from the All A Flutter Sentiments set.

The next card was a fun one, with some colors I wanted to put together!

Birds on a wire…

I loved how this one turned out. You could remake it is so many colors and change the sentiment for many variations of this card. I really love using colored pigment ink on Kraft cardstock. It is often an unexpected choice.

Here I stamped several of the bird silhouette, on a hand drawn line. I used the flower elements in the set to add the dots to the green bird, and the flower to the coral bird. The sentiment on the card is from the Sensational Sentiments set.

Now, we have a FUN one!

Here I used FIVE stamp sets!

I used the NEW! Singing Silhouette set bird & sentiment), combined with Lovely Labels 1 (label stamped in chocolate-cut with the Lovely Label Cut File), You’ve Got Mail ( the 10 cent symbol, and envelope), Fanciful Flourishes (next to bird), and the Sign It (house image) set!!

I stamped and cut out my little bird. I layered it onto the label rectangle which I had stamped the envelope on! Now my bird looks like it is delivering the mail

I thought it was SO cute!

Thanks again for stopping by for a little inspiration.

See you again tomorrow.

ALL PRODUCTS ARE NOW LIVE!!!

YEAH! Finally the March Release is here!

In honor of the release we always have an amazing Group Post!

Today we are each featuring a gift set which features a set of 4 cards using our New! Singing Silhouette set, packaged up in a Pretty Packaging Template of their choice!! 

Check out the design team here: 

Please check out all our NEW! Products HERE!

We have many NEW! Products that coordinate together! So don’t miss out  

View our GALLERY HERE, for lots of ideas and inspiration using ALL our products! 

My shipping is VERY affordable and I ship WORLDWIDE  

2 NEW! Pretty Packaging Templates 

2 NEW! Pretty Impressions Stamps Sets   

4 NEW! Pretty Printables Paper Collections 

8 NEW! Pretty Pieces Cut Files  

1 NEW! Perfect Package Collection <—Check it out!! 

If you haven’t yet you may want to sign up for our NEWSLETTER on our Website or join us on Facebook!

Detailed information about our products can be seen on the ABOUT PAGE 

Do not forget to READ DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS prior to checking out, and be SURE you selected the correct file type!!!! 

Also do NOT let your download expire before you have a change to download it. 

If you have *any* customer service questions or issues please contact me at: 

Lauren@mytimemadeeasy.com 

So now I will share my gift set using the New! Singing Silhouette set , packaged up in the Caged Template!

For the birds…

Here is the entire set laid out for you to see It was all inspired by the ribbon on the handles of my project.

You may be wondering what template you are looking at to package up my cards…..I turned the Caged Template into a BASKET!!!

Is this not crazy amazing?! Talk about 2 templates in one.

TO MAKE THE CAGE INTO A BASKET:

All you have to do is take the cage “cut-outs” and “weave” them in between the cage “rails”, ensuring you alternate the weaving pattern with EACH strip. They are a perfect fit. Once you used the one’s you automatically get when you create your template, you would then want to cut an additional 16 strips 1/2 inch wide X 4 1/2 inches long.

You will have 32 strips total. 8 Strips on each side. OR you can use less for a more whimsical look, with a less tight weave.

TIP: It is easier to weave the panels BEFORE assembling the template. Just ensure you adhere the ends with glue dots. Also ensure as you weave your panels, that you alternate the weave on the panels to ensure you get an complete weaved look all around!!

More details…here is the bow that inspired the SPRING colors!

Hanging from the bow, I cut my choice of one of the birds from the A Little Birdie Cut File, which I enlarged a little, and stamped it using the branch and flowers from the New! Singing Silhouette set. I thought it made a nice accent to the basket, without COVERING the woven details.

I cut some handles (I wanted 2) so I cut them 1/2 inch wide X 11 inches long. I attached them with pretty flower brads.

The cards all fit perfectly inside the “basket”! Inside I also have a frosting bag filled with Starburst Jelly Beans, which matched my color scheme.

Now for the cards!

I created 4 cards, using the same color combination: Red, Leaf, White, and Yellow.

Each card features a different bird from the set.

For the LOVE birds:

This is my favorite of the 4 cards I made. I adore the 2 birds facing each other in this set (you can stamp one or the other if you choose)

I used the Caged Cut File to cut my bird cage, which I then stamped my cage image onto. I stamped the swing image as well, for my “love birds” to perch on. I added a bow to the card so it appears to hang from the tree branches.

I added some flowers to the swing. I added a heart image from the Bringing Home Baby set.

Perfect for the happy couple, or for the hubby

Now my 2nd favorite from the set!

Failure….

is not falling down, but refusing to get up.

I used the sentiment from the Keep Strong set. Perfect for someone going through a difficult time.

I loved the paper piercing details I put on this. The bird in the set is one of my favorite. I just used a marker to color the textured belly, and dotted the eye with a black fine tip marker.

Chirp-Up!

I LOVE this sentiment.

This card is SO simple, but I LOVE it.

I used the tulip image from the Sensational Stems Set. The bird silhouettes are SO CUTE! I added a little flower detail to them for some added WOW! I love having the ability to do that.

Friend…

One who reaches for your hand, and touches your heart. ( sentiment also from the Keep Strong set)

The stamped my bird silhouettes in red, and colored the centers with some yellow. I stamped the leaf frond from the Tending The Garden set.

Once again I used the stem and flower image from the Sensational Stems Set.

 I them used a border building set Paper  Pattern Pieces, to create my own patterned paper along the bottom. I love how it turned out!

Supplies from My Time Made Easy ™ LLC

Pretty Packaging Templates: Caged

Pretty Impressions Stamp Set: Singing Silhouette, Keep Strong,  Sensational Stems, Tending the Garden, Bringing Home Baby, Paper Pattern Pieces

Pretty Pieces Cut File: A Little Birdie, Caged Cut File

 I guess I said I “love” a lot in this post. But I really do. I was really happy with how this complete set turned out

I hope our group post today inspires you all to try out our new products to make you own gifts, cards and tags.

Happy Shopping!

Ok here we are with the Day 2 peeks for the upcoming March 1st Release!!

Today you will want to visit:

This month is FULL of amazing products that are sure to make your jaw hit the floor. The best part is YOU can recreate these projects on your own.

We have 2 templates this month! I think you will agree they are BOTH amazing

Now introducing  the What’s Your Angle? Template – $5

This box is an amazing size and will fit so many gifts and treatlets!

Available in PDF, SVG, GSD, DXF, WPC

Completed Project Size

3 1/2 Inches Wide

3 1/2 Inches Deep

6 1/2 Inches Tall

When you need a great gift box, this takes the idea of a “box” from ordinary to extraordinary!

The angles on this wonderful sized gift box make this the perfect presentation when ordinary won’t do !

This box starts with a 4 sided bottom, then angles up to have 8 angles!  The box file comes with the decorative layers for all the angles on this, making the design process SIMPLE!

You will have them wondering HOW you made a seemingly regular gift so interesting.

Now for the details on my packaging…

First I have to say I LOVE the colors on this. Very chic and unexpected in my opinion

I created the What’s Your Angle? Template in a Sahara Sand cardstock.

I then created a 8 1/2 X 11 sheet my own patterned paper, by stamping some of the bird silhouettes from the Singing Silhouette © Set in yellow pigment ink, then the larger leaf frond from Tending the Garden Set in green, and the solid smaller leaf frond in Sahara Sand. I added the mini flowers from the Singing Silhouette © Set, and layered the largest flower and the smallest flower.

Now for the front label…

The sentiment is from Bringing Home Baby. Flowers from the Singing Silhouette © Set.

I stamped my branch from Singing Silhouette © Set,then stamped my nest and eggs. I restamped, and cut out the nest and eggs for dimension. I love how it looks.

Singing Silhouette © Set of 24 images $12

*also available in digital download $8*

 This set has a coordinating Caged Pretty Pieces Cut File for the cage/cage door in the set. 

This is a charming set of bird silhouettes that will make your creativity sing with possibilities!

Set comes complete with a “build your own” bird cage, which has a separate cage door that fits perfectly on the front/center of the cage image. Included is also a “swing”, as well as a branch for your bird silhouette to perch themselves on. You can add your own “flowers” or berries to the branch as well. You will also find the bird nest, with additional eggs the perfect addition to the set!

Image Sizes:

Birds: about 1 inch each

Cage: 1 3/4 Inches Wide X 2 3/4 Inches Tall

Branch: 2 1/2 Inches Long

Swing: 1 Inch Wide X 1 Inch Tall

Nest: 1 Inch Wide X 1 Inch Tall

Sentiments include:

Hoping you chirp-up

They say it’s your bird-day!

Just Hatched!

For the love birds

Also be sure to check out the A Little Birdie & Branching Out Pretty Pieces Cut File, which are perfect to decorate using this set! 

Now to further compliment my What’s Your Angle?  box top, I used the NEW! Abra-Bow-Dabra Pretty Pieces Cut File !!

This is the top view of the Abra-Bow-Dabra Pretty Pieces Cut File!

I have LONGED for an amazing paper bow cut file. This one is simply stunning, and fits atop this box perfectly! You can even resize it for any occasion!

I used the Fancy A Cuppa set to create the polka dot pattern on my paper bow and cardstock “bow” that is on my box.

Abra-Bow-Dabra $2.50

Available in PDF, SVG, GSD, DXF, WPC

This is the ULTIMATE 3 dimensional bow made from 100% paper! Add this to ANY Perfect Packaging Template!

Now you can customize your cardstock or patterned paper to get a perfect “bow” every time.

This paper bow has those perfect loops, and adds dimension to your projects, without using your ribbon. With the option to resize the possibilities for dressing up any gift package are endless!

Time for the card!

For the new arrival

I absolutely love this stamp set to pieces. There are SO MANY possibilities with it, including the new arrivals, or new nest occasions in one’s life.

I used the same image, and sentiment as on my template, but this time, it was on my coordinating card.

As you can see the bow on my card inspired the stamping of the Abra-Bow-Dabra cut file bow, made to match my project.

I love the sweet simplicity this card has with the gender neutral colors.

This will soon bear a gift for my brother and his girlfriend, once they have their ultrasound to see the sex of their baby. For the record I think it will be a girl Although she has been pretty “morning sick”, and I only got that with my son. So we shall see I just pray for HEALTHY for the two of them!

Supplies from My Time Made Easy ™ LLC

Pretty Packaging Templates: What’s Your Angle?

Pretty Impressions Stamp Set: Singing Silhouette, Bringing Home Baby, Fancy a Cuppa, Tending the Garden

Pretty Pieces Cut File: Abra-Bow-Dabra

Well what do you think? Are you excited or what? Can you envision the amazing gifts you can make year round?

OK one more day of peeks until the offical MTME March Release.

See you back here tomorrow.

I’m BAAAACCCCKKK!!!  Did you miss me?

(Get ready to brace yourselves with your favorite beverage! I have tons to share, including a tutorial! You won’t want to miss a thing-I swear)

WOW! It’s been so long since I’ve posted. Trust me I’ve been BUSY! It will all be worth it.

Family life is insane as my mom continues her Chemo & Radiation treatments, with an impending surgery. I have had to work nights to keep her commercial cleaning company going (exhausting after spending my days in the hospital with her), then there has been some custody drama regarding my 2 year old niece (long story), school meetings,doctors visits, and a bug that has gone around the house twice :C NOT FUN! Despite all that I’ve been squeezing in what I can for the business, and my sanity!!

So that being said let me kick off the first day of peeks for our AMAZING March Release!!

With aviary themes being so popular, I think and HOPE you all will be excited about this next release. I’ve made something seemingly IMPOSSIBLE, now possible for ALL skill levels.

So without further delay let me get sharing.

Today you will want to stop by and visit several members of our talent design team, as they share NEW! projects with you.

OK now it’s my turn! What you are about to see is 100% made from paper!!!!!!!! If you love aviary themes then this is sure to knock you out of our seat

I made this template SO LONG ago. Almost a year now. I have been waiting for the perfect moment to release it, and with Spring on the horizon, it is now time. 

Introducing our NEWEST Template: Caged

Can you believe how amazing this is? Talk about a WOW! gift holder, or table centerpiece.

It is really large too. I think we all had a hard time properly photographing it because it is such a wonderfully large template.

The bird on the top was purchased at Michael’s Craft Store. The bird itself is about 3 inches tall, and with the tail almost 5 inches long.

Here are some template details:

Caged Template $5

Available in PDF, SVG, GSD, DXF, WPC

Completed Project Size

 4 1/2 Inches Wide

4 1/2 Inches Deep

10 Inches Tall

Have you ever longed to create and customize your own “Bird Cage”from cardstock and/or patterned paper? Well we now have the PERFECT “bird cage” template. This is the epitome of unique and stunning! This is the perfect packaging for display. Use for a table setting, centerpiece, or as a creative and unique gift holder. Makes the perfect wedding centerpiece, or party favor too.

No detail was spared in the creation of this, and it was made FOOL PROOF! I love the detailed base the cage sits on as well. Stunning detail.

You can fill this with a variety of gifts such as bird themed items, floral arrangements: real or artificial, candles (especially battery operated), homemade/handcrafted treats of all kinds, bath & body products, stuffed animals, drink mixes…endless possibilities.

Inside my cage here, since it is a centerpiece I put some floral moss (in the floral section of Michael’s Craft Store) in the bottom, and create a “nest”. Inside I added some plastic eggs (also from Michael’s Craft Store).

Note: You can weave through cardstock pieces and create a unique “basket” as well! You will see more of that another day! VERY COOL!! I can’t wait to share.

No matter what gets “caged” up in here, the packaging itself is sure to be used and displayed long after the gift is gone. 

The top is separate, so you can take it off to retrieve the gift you wish to package inside.

This template coordinates with the Singing Silhouette Pretty Impressions Stamp Set, as well as the Branching Out, and the A Little Birdie Pretty Pieces Cut File.

Here you can see there is a leaf/branch applied to the cage. That is from our  Branching Out Cut File! I think you will find it AMAZING to add to any card, tag, template or project! I just used glue dots to adhere it to my template. Very simple!

I cut my Branching Out Cut File in Kraft cardstock. Once cut out I used my Copic markers to color the leaves in You could also re-cut the file, in whatever leaf color you chose, and cut just the leaves off, adding them to the base. I would fold them in half for added dimension Just a tip

For my sentiment I used the So Sentimental set.

It reads:

Family

Our family is a circle of strength & love. With every birth and union it grows. Every crisis faced together makes the circle stronger.

I felt it went perfectly for the message I wanted the centerpiece to have, given our recent trials, and the fact we had our bird with her little nest. The label and cut file are an early peek at what is to come next month Sorry I couldn’t resist adding it!

Now the little flowers…I made those too Read more on that further down, once you get to the card!!

This was made specially for my mother, to use as a centerpiece on her dining table. I asked her specifically what she wanted for colors, and I went to it. She hasn’t seen the final product yet, but I will present it to her within the next week or so.

Now for her card …and a peek at the new stamps and paper!

Keep strong and carry on.

I love this card, that I made to coordinate with the bird cage. There will be a tutorial below on how I made those little roses

The cage, branch, and bird are from an upcoming set called: Singing Silhouette.  More details on that set tomorrow. Obviously it will have a bird theme to it

The cage image was cut using the Caged Cut File. This cut file was designed to allow you to have a cut out of the cage/cage door image (not shown) from the Singing Silhouette stamp set. I added some additional color to the leaves using a marker, once stamped.

The paper is from our latest collection called Whistful Wonder & Whistful Music Magic.

This sentiment is of particular significance at this point in my mom’s life. It feels great to have the ability to create such meaningful gifts for such a time in one’s life.

The sentiment is from a new set called Keep Strong.The set was a collaboration of sentiments, between Catherine Doucette and I. We will release it in March, as March 8th is International Women’s Day , for awareness on domestic violence  against women.

More details on that set will also follow soon.

Since my mother was almost murdered by her husband(now almost a year ago-this April) I wanted to create something in honor of her!!! She continues the court battle to help prosecute her husband (who is in jail) for the brutal attack on her. He is fighting for 50% of all their assets, and for her to PAY HIM alimony once he is released from jail! Lord, if there is a justice system in the world, please help my mother with this uphill battle, that is so draining on her.

OK now how about we get the the tutorial part?

Check out these AMAZING mini roses, and the flowers that are on the template in this post. I made them in under 2 minutes!!

Want to know how?

I used the or you could use the Border Builders Open Scallop Cut file (the plain scalloped one) for this project. Or you could use the Rosey Posey Rosettes too.

Directions:

1) Resize the plain scallop  border to 1/2 inch wide (select maintain proportions prior to resizing)

Use a THIN cardstock, or even printer paper!

2) I then sponged on my color. A darker pigment ink on the scallops.

A lighter ink on the bottom.

3) I then use my scissors, and snip between each scallop.

4) Add a THIN strip of double sided adhesive.

5) Take my craft pliers to begin to roll the scallop strip.

6) Carefully roll the strip, ensuring you pinch the bottom tightly.

7) Keep carefully rolling…

Done rolling!

Once it is all rolled, because you used the sticky adhesive it will be all set

9) You then want to take your fingers, and pull back/roll down the snipped petals. You can then pinch some of just leave them alone!

10) To adhere to a project, apply a large clear glue dot to the bottom.

The bottom is flat so it sits nicely on any project!

Now the possibilities truly are endless, and in NO TIME at all!

TIP: For the first template sample I used copy paper, and didn’t really fold the petals back! A whole new look!

Supplies from My Time Made Easy ™ LLC

Pretty Packaging Templates: Caged

Pretty Impressions Stamp Set: Singing Silhouette, Keep Strong

Pretty Printable Digital Paper: Wistful Wonder, Wistful Music Magic

Pretty Pieces Cut File: Branching Out, Caged Cut File, Border Builders Open Scallop Border

Well I think that is all I can cram into one day. I hope you are as excited as I am about this next release!

 There is SO MUCH more to share, so come back tomorrow OK!