December 19 - GO ECU!

Ok, so yesterday I talked about the Secret Santa event that we had in my office.  Well, today I am going to show you what I got for my Secret Santa gift.  If you know me, you know that my husband and I both went to East Carolina University and now, our daughter Brittany, has followed in our footsteps and is attending ECU as well.  My favorite color is purple, which fits in perfectly with ECU since their colors are purple and gold.  So one of the items that I received was what is pictured below!  I just LOVE it!

Love that it lights up and love that I can put it on my fireplace hearth and see it from the couch - which is where I am lounging these days after having foot surgery a few days ago.  

Hugs, Meg

December 18 - Shadow Box

Every year, we draw names in my office for Secret Santa.  By the way, we use www.elfster.com and just love how it organizes a Secret Santa, allows individuals to ask anonymous questions, allows us to make sure people don't get the same individuals in consecutive years, etc.  This year I got Bonnie as the person I was to do something for.  This has been a bad year for Bonnie so I wanted to do something extra special for her.  I know how much she loves the beach and sea shells, so I decided to cross stitch sea shells and put this in a shadow box with real sea shells.  I was hoping it would come out ok, but it actually was better than I thought it was.  I actually sewed a sand dollar onto the cross stitch section so that it gave it some dimension.  So we have sand, shells, cross stitch and love all incorporated into this shadow box!

She got teary-eyed when I gave it to her.  I think she really liked it!  

Hugs, Meg

December 17 - Gift Card Holder

I gave everyone in my office a Starbucks gift card this year for Christmas, so I wanted to make a gift card holder to put it in.  I made an ornament type of gift card holder.  I love the new Tinsel Embossing Powder, which I used on the front of the ornament.

Happy Monday!  Hugs, Meg

December 7 - Circle Easel Card

Today I am posting a Circle Easel Card that I made.  I really love this card.  It was fun to make and I think I will be making more of these.  I used the Spellbinders Nestabilities Circle and Scalloped Circle Dies to cut the card pieces.  I hope you enjoy this card!

Happy Friday!!!!

Hugs, Meg

December 6 - Another Christmas Card

The colors are a little off on this Christmas card in the picture but it is so much prettier in person.  I love using sequins now, but I am all about the glitter!  All of these items are from A|Muse!  Just love their papers!

Hope you enjoy this card!

Happy Thursday, Hugs, Meg

December 5 - Christmas Decorating

Ok, so most people that know me, know that I absolutely love Christmas.  I wish that we could keep the decorations up and the cheer that appears to be in everyone's heart up year round.  This time of year seems to bring out the best in so many people.  There are a few that are the typical Scrooge's or Grinch's - you know who you are! - but most people are in the best spirit.  My husband thinks I go a little overboard sometimes when I am decorating for Christmas, but I like to look around and see the lights, glitter, colors, and love to smell fresh pine, cinnamon, cookies baking, ginger, etc.  One item that I love to use at Christmas is the cranberry - love reds at Christmas.  I use cranberries in water with white candles.  I am going to show you a picture of what I have in my kitchen.  Just love how this looks, especially when the candles are burning.  And can you see the beautiful poinsetta that I got this year?  Love the color and the glitter all over it.  Not sure you can tell there is glitter, but there is.

Just wish there was a way I could incorporate a ladybug into this scene, LOL!

Enjoy!

December 4 - Lights for Christmas

I wanted to share the Christmas lights that we have put up outside on our house.  I just love the way my hubby decorates the outside.  He uses red and green spotlights against the house to give it a beautiful color.  We also put white lights on the bushes.  I need to take a pic of the side of the house where we just hung a 60 inch wreath.  We redid it last night with lights, new ribbon, and new ornaments.  I will try to get a pic tonight and add to this post.  Stay tuned!

Here is the side of the house.  

I just love Christmas and lights!  Happy Tuesday!

Hugs, Meg

December 3 - Santa Flight Card

One of my favorite items these days is Splash!  I love spraying my cards.  On this card, you put down the snowflake die cut and them spritz the winter sky color on the paper.  When you lift up the snowflake, you have a beautiful background for your card!  I always add a little sparkle, not sure you can see it in this picture, but if you know me, you know it is there!

Hope you enjoy this!

Happy Monday,

Hugs, Meg

December 2 - Folded Tree Card

Today I am showing a card that I made with half a circle.  When the half circle is folded just right, you will have a tree that you can decorate for your card.  If you would love instructions on how to do this, just email me.  I think this is a simple, yet really cute card.  Hope you enjoy it!

Happy Sunday!

Hugs, Meg

December 1 - Holiday Scarf

I don't think that either my mom or mother-in-law ever look at my blog - at least I am hoping they don't at this point.  I am going to post something new every day until I have surgery on December 14th.  Here is my first post.  I know, I am a day late, but better late than never.  We were so busy yesterday with lights and football games, and friends, etc.  So here is the scarf that I have made.  I knitted one for my mom and one for my mother-in-law.  I think they will enjoy these over the holidays!  I love the sparkle in them!

Happy December,

Hugs, Meg

Birch Trees

I went to another Wine and Design class and painted a birch tree path.  I just love going to these with my friends.  We have such a great time!  Here is the progression of the painting that we did this time:

I hope you have enjoyed looking at this picture!  I just love it! 

Happy Monday, Hugs, Meg

Candles in the Window

Today I am posting two cards that are similar.  I have posted the tutorial on the Stamping Scrapping Tutorial site.  There is a small monthly charge for this site but they have lots of tutorials, discounts, videos, etc.  I am just loving these battery operated tealights.

So here is the Christmas Candles in the Window card:

And here is the other Candles in the Window card:

Hope you have enjoyed your Thanksgiving Holiday!  I have so enjoyed having my daughter home from college.  She will be back in 2.5 weeks for the Christmas Holiday!

Happy Sunday!

Hugs, Meg

Ornament Card

I got a Lucky 8 punch the other day and really wanted to make something with it.  I started on the card and thought that an ornament would look perfect on this card, so I got my ornament punch and made a 3D ornament.  I used washi tape, which has become a favorite of mine lately and some cord.  I hope you like this card.  I thought it turned out pretty good!

Hope you had a fantastic Wednesday!

Hugs, Meg

Snowy Day

Christmas is coming extremely fast!  And for me, I need to be ready a lot earlier than I was planning.  I have to have foot surgery again this year and it is going to be on December 14th.  Not excited about this at all, especially since I will not be able to walk for 3 months.  I will make sure I am surrounded by crafting stuff for the 4 weeks that I will be out of work.

Today I am posting a snowy card.  Trying to work on those Christmas cards!  I hope you like this card.  I had a lot of fun putting it together.  Even though it has been in the 70s in North Carolina all weekend, I am hoping that we have some snow this year!

Happy Monday Evening!

Hugs, Meg

Spots and Dots

MSL is starting a new challenge today - Spots and Dots!  This is a challenge that is near and dear to my heart since it reminds me of Ladybugs.  I am a fanatic when it comes to Ladybugs!  So of course, the spots and dots had to be in red and black!  LOL!  And of course, I used the Magnolia image - Tilda with Ladybug.  I also used one of my favorite Stamping Scrapping stamp sets - Sweet Bugs!

I hope you are inspired to post a creation of your own after looking at my creation!

Here is the front of my card:

Here is the inside of my card!

Happy Sunday!

Hugs, Meg

Tuesday Morning Sketches

StampingScrapping is sponsoring Tuesday Morning Sketches.  TMS is a weekly sketch challenge blog with a Judged Twist once a month.  It was started a few years ago by Melissa Craig.  The sketches are fun, fresh and sometimes challenging.  A prize is offered every week by various awesome sponsors.  StampingScrapping is proud to be among the AWESOME SPONSOR list!  

Visit TMS here and join in the fun!

Make sure to visit

Cindy's Blog

Stephanies Blog

Vivi's Blog

Janine's Blog

My Blog

I have created my card using kraft  cardstock in various designs.  I used Stamping Scrapping's Sweet Bugs stamp set on my card.  I just love this stamp set, but I am a ladybug fanatic!  LOL!

Hope you enjoy my creation!

Here is the front of the card:

And here is the inside:

Happy Tuesday! 

Hugs, Meg

Hint of the Holidays

Today is my day to post a card on MSL for the 2 SB Dies Challenge.  I used the two Spellbinder's Dies Fancy Ribbon Threader and Classic Scalloped Circle.  I used Core'dinations glitter cardstock for the card base, Neenah vellum, DP cardstock and Cryogen.  The Magnolia image that I used is Wrapped Tilda.  I thought the colors and the image gave a Hint of Holidays to come.  I guess I am starting to think about Christmas but not quite there yet!  LOL!

Hope my card inspires you to make a creation of your own!

Happy Saturday!

Hugs, Meg

Candy Corn Kisses

I am gearing up for Halloween and made this cute little "gift" holder.  I used the new papers and stamp set from A|Muse to create this.  Love the little bag that I slipped candy corn into.  By the way, have you tried the caramel apple candy corn this year yet?  Oh My Gosh, they are very addictive.

Hope you enjoy my creation - now to know who to give them to!  LOL!

Have a great Sunday!

Hugs, Meg

World Cardmaking Day

Happy World Card Making Day!  I had to post a card today for this great event!  I am posting a card we made in our A|Muse Workshop last week.  It is a simple card, but I just love the Fall feel!

I will probably use this card for one of the many birthdays that we have in our family this month!  I just love this leaf stamp set.  It is one of my favorites.

Hugs, Meg

Dracula Edwin

Today I am posting a Halloween Card using Dracula Edwin for the Boo 4 U Challenge on MSL.  I used Core'dinations cardstock for the base of the card, Bazzill cardstock to stamp Edwin on, Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 6 to cut out Edwin, Tim Holtz Black Soot Distress Ink, Copic Markers, and Halloween scrap paper.

I made the inside simple, but it is ready for stamping a sentiment.

I hope this inspires you to create a Halloween card of your own.

Happy Thursday!  

Hugs, Meg

Fall Leaves

I love those Wine and Design places, where you paint a picture and drink wine while doing it.  I am not a painter, but I seem to be able to make this work!  The place that I tend to go to is Artistic Abandon.  I am going to show you how this all works.

First you begin with a blank canvas -

Then you start to add some color -

With this we painted the whole background yellow, then we started mixing brown and red with the yellow to get various shades and start on the ground and sky areas.  Here is the next iteration of these colors - 

Now we started adding the tree trunks - 

 
You can start seeing the ground versus the landscape and sky areas.  What I find amazing is how this progresses.  Now I am adding some more red so that the sky area looks like sunlight coming through the Fall leaves!

So what do you think of the finished product?

I just love doing this!  It is so relaxing and fun!  

Halloween Ready

Today is my day to post a Halloween Card for SSCC!  I decided to use one of my favorite Halloween Magnolia Stamps - Tilda with Pumpkin.  I used Black Soot Distress Inks on the inside and outside of the card.  I found a black rose in my stash that I thought was perfect for this card, along with an orange feather.  I used Spellbinders Nestabilities Die - Labels 6 to cut Tilda out.

On the inside of the card, I used a bat die cut.

Well, Tilda is ready to go Trick or Treat for candy - are you?

Have a great day!

Hugs, Meg

Coloring in Monochrome

I was having computer issues yesterday so wasn't able to post my monochrome card for the MSL Challenge - but today I am all set.  I have used one of the new Magnolia stamps - Autumn Tilda with Pencils.  Being a crafting junky, I just had to get this stamp!  LOL!  I decided to look for inspiration for this card in my ribbon jar first and came up with polka dots in brown.  My card is done with all browns!  I used Core'dinations paper for this project, distress inks, and copic markers.

 The inside of my card uses Core'dinations paper and the negative of Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 6.

Hope you have enjoyed my card!

Hugs, Meg

Girlfriends Card #2

Okay, so now you have seen the first Girlfriends card that I made.  This is the second card.  This theme was a wine theme, because the lady receiving the card loves wine.  I did the card in black and white with a bit of color.

Don't you were with your girlfriends enjoying this right now?  They look like they are having an amazing time.  Here is the inside left of the card.  This was written by the woman that contracted me to make these cards.  

The inside right of the card has the perfect sentiment to go with the front.  

I used my silhouette to cut the wine glasses out.  I thought the card turned out wonderfully.  Hope you do to!

Have a great Tuesday!

Hugs, Meg