I was asked by my crafty sister-in-Christ, Larissa Holland, to review this awesome book in which she contributed some terrific tiny projects!  The book is called Microcrafts and I can not say enough good things about the goodies inside!!!! The crafts are simple and wonderfully explained even for the "uncrafty". The projects require few supplies and are just so darn cute I want to make them all!  I love the full size patterns as well.  Makes it so easy to put these gems together.   Below is a picture of one of Larissa's contributions.  I usually love all of her creations and she does not disappoint!  Being all about PAPER myself, I do have to say that hers are among my favorites.  I see some Christmas gift ideas emerging already.  Great Book!  Pick up your copy soon http://www.quirkbooks.com/book/microcrafts

Advanced Brayer Class Cards

Reflection technique that I had been trying to figure out! 

Pretty bird we colored in.  I like the round main area.  I will use that again.

I love to make those mountains.  A lion embossed a few times and the cool fun part was making the rays of the sun.

Thank you to Michelle Zindorf, who is an excellent teacher, my BFF Gail for driving me around that weekend and especially my dearest love for driving me to FL and paying for the whole 10 days of fun with his overtime pay.  Love you!!!

First Store Item will be.....

An Adorable Purse and 6 Cards

I am in the process of setting up a shop on  etsy.com.   It is ready. Waiting...patiently...for stuff to be in it for sale.  I got most of the weird room cleaned yesterday and hopefully the crafty bungalow will be done this weekend.  THEN PARTY IN THE BUNGALOW!!!  I will be creating wonderful masterpieces.  Cards and diaper cakes mostly.  I will take special orders so if you see a Christmas Card you like and need 20 let me know.  I have a new email which is also the name of the shop.  Made by Marmee.  Matthew came up with the name...sort of.   He brought me a FABULOUS card I made in Michelle Zindorfs brayer class and said, "Marmee makes it?"    I thought that sounds like a cool name for the shop.  Until I actually wrote it out and heard him say it a few more times.  And lets just say a two year old with a slight lisp should not being saying that.  After an agonizing afternoon of bugging my dearest love at work and a talk it all out email to my BFF.  It was decided.  Made by Marmee.  And my silent partner deemed it worthy with his usual, "Matthew likes it. Go work.  Buy toys.".  I am looking for an "opening date" of October 10th. 
MadebyMarmee@aol.com

Here is a sneak peek at the purse.  Coveted and hidden pack of Raspberry Tart DSP.  Coordinating cards to follow.  This specific purse has already found a new home. But it will have a twin.

Front

Back

Sew Suite Mother's Day Card

This is my mommy's mothers day card.  It is a variation of one I found on the web.  It uses the Sew Suite collection from Stampin up!  I wrapped the spool in embroidery floss and used pearl beads as pin heads on the cushion.  Everything else is SU! I am crossing fingers and toes that this set is brought back in the new catalog due out later this summer.

April Punch Art Swap

This is my Punch Art Bunny.

He is made with Stampin Up punches.  Head is 1 3/4 inch circle. Eyes are the word window punch. (punch one cut in half) Ears are 13/4 x 7/8 inch oval (punch 4)

Pink inside ears is 1 3/8 by 7/8 inch oval (punch one cut in half)

Muzzle is 1 inch circle (punch 1) Paws are 3/4 inch circles (punch 2) and the nose is the bottom section of the ornament punch but you could improvise that one.

I used SU! white gel pen for the eyes and Basic Black Marker for the whiskers and paws.

The top of the card is Bashful Blue and the bottom is Pear Pizzazz. Whisper White scallopped circle behind the greeting. 
Now the new cool part!!  I embossed the satin Whisper White ribbon.  I have seen two ways to do this.  One was to mount it on cardstock and run it through the Big Shot in an embossing folder.  I choose to spray it with heavy starch, let it dry and then run it through the Big Shot.  I used the petals folder.  I will try the other way and see which gives a more sharp emboss.

Better late than never HELLO 2011

This was the Februrary Swap at my local meeting. I dyed the paper daisies from SU! And then glued them to the cardstock and ran them through the embossing folder. Love the way it looked!!!



This card is with the Ice Cream Parlor DSP from the Sale-A-Bration catalog! The little tag that says Happy Birthday pulls out. The cupcakes were stamped and punched with the coordinating Build a Cupcake sets.











This peek a boo Valentine's Day card was done with the Two Step Owl punch!! Love it!!!