Gorgeous New Releases at M5D

Today is another release day at McMahon Five Designs!  And we have something FABULOUS I’m sure you digi-paper lovers will flip for!!  I introduce to you our new line of digi papers, “Fusion Flair”

Shawne (of Studio 313) took Sue’s (M5D) beautiful Peony Flower and made digi background papers in several different colors and patterns!!  I used the Coral set:

(wow, my colors seemed to match better IRL… my camera whomps!)

Tutorial - Coloring Digis in Photoshop

Hi I'm back with a tutorial for you.  I was asked how I colored my D2D digi, Bullfrogs n' Butterflies using Photoshop, so I thought I'd create an in-depth tutorial.  (you'll see it's kinda long, but I think pretty thorough for those who need to SEE how to do each step)  *Ü*

I used PS 7.0 so it's an older version, however if your buttons look different, I'm sure you can figure out something similar.

Remember, you can click these pics to enlarge to full size.

Bullfrogs n' Butterflies Challenge

Hi!  There's only 2 more days to enter the progressive FREEBIE challenge at Designed 2 Delight!  This is the image that everyone received for free if you played along last week.  If you didn't, you can still purchase this image in the shop and enter by Thursday night and you will get the NEXT image emailed to you free!  How cool is that?! 

I usually color my images using Copics, however for this image, I played in Photoshop and added an "inner glow" (ie. flower petals) and "drop shadows" and even a "cloud render" for the sky! 

Any which way you color this up, it's all good!  ☺  Come play along and win next image FREE! 

CARD DEETS:
Stamps:  Bullfrogs n' Butterflies digi set (D2D)
Paper:  Key Ingredients (TE)
Color Medium:  Photoshop

Wishing You a Beautiful Day in the Lord

Happy Easter and a blessed Resurrection Sunday to you!

I am enjoying having my sister Kathy and her DD visit this weekend.  We will be attending Easter Services and then going to our parents for a nice meal. ☺ I hope you all have special plans as well? 

Today we have a special challenge for you at Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenges.     Our challenge host is Rebekka who shares these verses:  Luke 24:46-47 ESV  "and (Jesus) said to them, 'Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.'"

Card Challenge:  create a ROUND card!

Hope you'll join us this week!  One player will win a QCL sized cling set of the winner's choice from Serendipity Stamps!!  Please hop on over to the DT Blog to read Becky’s devotion for today—you will be blessed!

CARD DEETS:
Stamps:  "He Is Risen" digi (Doodle Pantry); sentiment - I typed in Microsoft Word Art
Paper:  Prima Madeline Ccollection(McMahon Five Designs)
Accessories:  Prima roses,pearlsCopics (Mcmahon Five Designs)

Friend of Mine - Sketch by Carly

Carly has a new sketch up at Sketches by Carly and it's being sponsored by The Craft's Meow! 

This sketch goes for 2 weeks and one player will get their choice of Little Frieda stamp from The Craft’s Meow... now THAT's something to MEOW about!! =)

I used the "Friend of Mine" clear stamp set from The Craft's Meow, along with my April Key Ingredients kit from TE. 

Hope you'll hop on over and play in our sketch challenge!!  I’ll be back tomorrow with an Easter Greeting!

Beautiful New Releases at M5D

Hi and happy Thursday!!  I’ve got a couple of cards to share with you for the McMahon Five Designs release today. 

This first one called Stained Glass Cross was created by Sue.  Isn’t it pretty?  I colored it with Copics.  Also, I made this for the Hotspot monthly challenge which is Trash Art—i.e. use something on your card that you might normally throw away, or recycle etc.  Can you believe that I found this pretty plaid ribbon in the trash can at church??  So I snatched it up and thought it would go perfectly with this digi, don’tcha think??

Stock the Pantry & New Releases!

Hidy Ho friends!  LOL.  Today’s a great day!  We have lots of awesome new digi releases at Doodle Pantry today!!

We also have a couple announcements about some fun changes taking place.  Like each month, there will be a SPECIAL BUNDLE containing 3 of the new release sets (pre-colored & outlines) that will be discounted at approx. 25% OFF!! 

A Li'l Something for a Li'l Someone

Happy Wednesday!! 
I've got a couple posts today.  This first post I’m sharing a card using this adorable Birthday Marci at La-La Land Crafts! 
She was one of the very first Marci's and is so versatile for Birthdays or Christmas Mother's Day or other.  And don'tcha just love her cute li'l panda friend?  So cute. 

I followed this week's sketch at Sketches by Carly. 

Let's Hear it For the Guys Challenge

This week's challenge on D2D's Card Ideas blog is "Let's Hear it for the Guys" and you can use any company's digi you'd like!  If you're low on masculine digis however, Faith has come up with some great new digis for the men in your life. Check them out here.

You have until Friday to enter & one player will win their choice of FREE DIGI at the D2D store!

I used the new "Quiet Sunset" digi and colored with Copics. The brown layer is real wood paper, and I used a Tim Holtz wood embossing folder (on the orange).  And to finish it off, I made sailor knots in the twine. 

Romans 10:9-10 “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Brought to you by BibleGateway.com. Copyright (C) . All Rights Reserved.

Happy Birthday Shelly!!

Today, the McMahon Five Design girls would like to wish our DT sister, SHELLY a very happy birthday!! 

♫Happy birthday to you! ♪
♪Happy birthday to you! ♫
♫Happy BIRTHDAY dear Shelly ♪
♪ Happy Birthday to YOU! ♫

Many birthday blessings are wished for you today and all year long.  We’re so blessed to have you on our team at M5D! 

Little Frieda's Daisy & Some Big TCM News!

Happy Palm Sunday!  Today's Stampin' Sisters in Christ card challenge is based on Matthew 16:23  -Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan!"          I just know that our host, Peggysue, has some insight for us in her wonderful devotional on the DT Blog, so be sure to hop over and read! The challenge is to use either Versamark, or the same color ink as the paper you use so it creates a tone-on-tone effect. 

Chef Marci’s Gettin’ Sketchy!

Hello and thanks again to everyone who played in Carly’s sponsored sketch #27!!  And now we're onto sketch #28... no sponsor this week, so just play for fun and let's see what you can do with this:

and here’s my sample using Chef Marci from La-La Land Crafts

In case you didn’t know, my 12 yr. old daughter Carly draws these sketches out on scratch paper in her spare time.  She loves to doodle.  So, Carly… you’re doing a FAB job on the sketches and I’m so proud of you!  Thanks for giving us inspiration to start our cards! =)  {{HUGS}}

Show us YOUR sketchy creation at the Sketches by Carly Blog!!

2 Cards for M5D Digi Release Day

In case you're wondering, YES you are in the right place!! *Ü*  I had some fun in Photoshop yesterday and gave myself a new blog makeover!  I know, I know... you're saying, but didn't you just have a new one?  Ya, but that was a default template in the blogger designer that others have too, and I knew it would be temporary at best.  I've had this idea in my head for a while now... what do you think?  Kindof a play off of the "Bee creative" and also the "B" in my last name.  Too cheesy?  Prolly, but that’s me.  LOL.  Okay, on to today's card share!

Lots of fabulous new digis today at McMahon Five Designs!
 
Fairy Doodler came out with several great feminine digis, perfect for Mother's Day, or sisters or friends.  I changed the color in PS to pink before I printed it out and typed the sentiment,  "Just wanted to slip you a note"

I punched the bottom border from the front of the card base, and the dark pink c.s. is placed inside the back of card.  Pearls are from M5D and the twine is from The Twinery!


 
And next up is a fun new set by Studio 313 called Best Friend.  This set has b/w and colored versions as well as lots of great digi papers (see below!)  I used some of the digi papers on my card here.  Then I added some glittery gel pen dots and dashes inside my Nestie to add a frame.

(If these pics look blury to you, just click on them to see original version.)

Here are just the samples of what I used today but please be sure to click on over to the M5D Blog to see ALL the great new releases and DT samples!!

For more samples made with these & other New Releases this week,

please visit the Design Team blogs!

Amy	Bonnie	Carolyn	Christine
Sue	Judy	Lorie	Michelle
Raven	Shelly

Coloring a Redhead Marci with Copics

Hi & happy Wednesday!!   Today's card features Fancy Marci from La-La Land Crafts.  She’s available as a digi on the blog, or in rubber in the store.  I don't think I've ever attempted to color red hair before, but I am liking these results! I didn’t follow any tutorials, I just kinda started blindly with some colors I had and it actually turned out  =)  Love it when that happens!  LOL.  I started with Copic #YR24 (Pale Sepia) and colored all her hair.  Then went over most of that, making streaks in the widest parts on the sides with #E08 (brown), which is really more of a rusty, reddish brown.  Then coloring her “part” at the top and the parts close to the ponytail holders using #E25 (Caribe Cocoa) and then smaller sections on top of that brown with #E29 (Burnt Umber).  Then I took the #E08 (brown) again to blend the darker colors into the lighter.  Then to finish off, I took the #YR24(Pale Sepia) and went over the lightest (widest) sections again.

Anywhoo… sorry if I just bored you to death, LOL!  I’m sure a video would be much more thrilling to watch, but there are tons of those on every hair color you can think of if you just Google them.  My papers are from the Bayberry collection (by Pink Paislee) and the twine is from the Twinery! 

If you create with any La-La Land Crafts digis or stamps, please link them in our Customer Gallery!!  Each month we have a Customer Appreciation Day and one name is drawn from those who link up to win a prize!! =)

Love's Redeeming Work is Done

“He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our sins. The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him. And by His wounds... By His wounds, we are healed. 

We are healed by Your sacrifice, and the life that You gave. We are healed for You paid the price, by Your grace, we are saved! We are saved!”


Good morning!  It’s time for another challenge at Stampin’ Sisters in Christ and I am your hostess this week.  I started out by sharing lyrics from a song by Mac Powell called “By His wounds” and I think they say it all! There’s no greater event in the Christian faith than Resurrection Sunday, (aside from Jesus’ birth --Christmas) and since it is nearing, I wanted to focus on that this week.

The verse I chose for my challenge is Mark 15:17 "They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him."  I have to admit that I chose that verse because out of the whole Easter story, it contained something I could make a card challenge out of (see below).  But I encourage you to read the whole chapter of Mark 15.  Your belief in these verses is what the Christian faith is based on!

As a church secretary, I type up the monthly newsletters, and there was a good article from the pastor this month that I’d like to share with you just an excerpt of.

“Jesus, Son of man! Jesus, Son of God. He blended humanity with Deity as no one else ever has or will. As man, he became tired; as God, He said, ‘Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’ As man, He became thirsty; as God, He provides living water. As man, He became hungry; as God, He fed thousands with a little boy’s lunch, and is the true Bread of Life. As man, He was tempted in all points like we are; as God, He committed no sin. As man, He was despised of men; as God, all the angels of God worship Him. As man, he sorrowed over being separated from His friends; as God, He promised to return for them. As man, He wept at Lazarus’ grave; as God, He raised Lazarus from the dead. As man, He willingly laid down His life; as God, He took it up again!”  -Dr. Walt Chamberlain

Thank you Jesus for loving us so much that you willingly paid the price for our sins so that we can spend eternity with You in Heaven!!

If this is the first time you’ve read something like this or have heard about Jesus, I encourage you to have faith and believe what the Scriptures say. Acknowledge that you’re a sinner who needs forgiveness, as we all do. And then say a prayer and ask God to forgive you of your sins and thank Him for giving you eternal life, and to help you live a life that’s glorifying to Jesus. If you’ve done that, then you are truly our sister in Christ!  And the best part... we will see you in heaven with Jesus!!

THIS WEEK’S CARD CHALLENGE:  use purple as the main color in your card and/or use wood or wood paper!  It does not need to be an Easter card, but just remember when you use the purple and/or wood in your project the price Jesus paid for you on the cross. 

One player will win a cute stamp set from our Sponsor, Simon Says Stamp!
Check out the gorgeous creations by the rest of the Design Team:

Chris	Grace	Linda	Lisa	Marilynn
Miesje	Peggysue	Randi	Rebekka	Sabrina

MY CARD DEETS:
Stamp:  He Is Risen, (Doodle Pantry)
Paper:  DCWV; Cherry Wood paper, (McMahon Five Designs)
Coloring Medium:  Copics
Embellishments:  Wooden butterfly & Prima flowers, (M5D); picket fence border punch & branch punch (Martha Stewart); Circle Classics & Circle Scallops (Spellbinders Nesties)

Wanna WIN $10 to Doodle Pantry??

Come play in Carly's latest sketch challenge and you could win $10 to spend at Doodle Pantry Digital Doodles!!  You have a very good chance as we only have 2 players so far.  Challenge closes next Thursday!

Making a Cute Skirt from a Pair of Jeans

“Super Mom to the Rescue!! 

So, my daughter's school is having "Decades Week” in which they pick a decade to dress up like.  So for the last 2 weeks she's been conjuring up what she'd wear today that represented the 80's, just by using what she already has. Cute li'l mini-skirt with leggings underneath, half-sweater and side ponytail with a big scruncie. And the school waits til the day before, to announce they can only wear mini skirts with leggings if it's as long as their fingertips with their hands down at their sides. Well that was the beginning of a dramatic evening with my 12, soon-to-be-13- year old daughter, as that was her only miniskirt.  Nothing I suggested was pacifying her. 

So what's a mom to do??  Grabbed a pair of her jeans that were in the “too short/too small” pile and made a cute jean skirt out of them!  (finished photos below)

I didn’t think at the time to take pictures of HOW I was doing it.  I’m not a seamstress and have never really made anything w/out a pattern and quite honestly didn’t think this was going to turn out!  LOL.   But this was pretty simple, so if you’re the type that can make something from written instructions, then here ya go!

• First, I cut off both legs across at the knees
• Cut the upper legs off at the crotch, making sure your cut is at least 1” below back pockets.  Also, don’t cut thru the inner pockets.
• Take the 4 leg pieces and using a seam ripper or scissors, undo the inside seam.  (I cut the outter seam and so my inner seam is showing in the front and back of skirt, but the outter seam would’ve looked better)
• open the pieces and lay them flat, side by side, alternating big leg, skinny leg, big leg, skinny leg.  Make sure they are aligned at the top and sew vertical seams, wrong sides together.
• Next, turn right side out.  Find one of your big seams (outter leg seams that was on the jeans prior) and that will be the front of skirt.  Make outward facing pleats starting about 1 1/2” from the front seam and pinning every 1 1/2” around. 
• Sew around the top.  Trim bottom edge so it’s straight and sew a “faux hem” around the bottom.  Set aside.
• Take the top of your jeans (That now look like incredibly short-shorts!) and draw a curved line going from the center upward and back down at side seam.  (see picture above)  Cut on line.  Do the same for the back. 
• With right-sides out, tuck your pleated skirt up inside the bottom part of the “shorts” piece making sure that you have at least 1/2” overlapping. 
• Machine sew following your scalloped cut all around.  I used tan thread and did a triple stitch (a setting on my machine) all around.  Matches the jean stitching better. 
• Throw it in the washer/dryer and there you go!! 

If you don’t like the stray strands hanging, then you can just fold under the edges and sew a top stitch all around.  I didn’t have time and my DD actually loves it like this.  SO … super mom to the rescue!!  LOL  

You Can WIN 12 COPIC MARKERS!!

*This is my 2nd post for today, please scroll down to see New Releases from M5D

La-La Land had a Survey on our Facebook Fan Page to find out what coloring mediums are being used the most when it comes to coloring our images.  We got 200 votes!!  WOW!!  And here are the results:

Copic Markers - 131

Distress Inks - 9

Prisma Pencils - 23

Other (mainly Promarkers) - 37

Well, the reason we had this survey is because we wanted to know what to give away ;-)  Now we know!!

That's right!!  We are giving away 12 Copic Sketch Markers to one lucky person!!!

Here is the list of the colors:

Y21, YR24, R81, E35, E57, YG17, YG25, B02, B05, B66, V95, V99

There are three ways to enter into the Drawing and you will get one entry for each option!!

1. Subscribe to our Blog

2. Become a follower of our Blog

3. Follow us on Facebook 

Please leave a comment on the Candy post at the La-La Land Crafts Blog  for each of the options that you participate in* (one option - one comment, two options - two comments, three options - three comments).

*if you already subscribe, follow the blog and/or follow us on Facebook you too can participate, just let us know in your comment/s.

We will draw the winner once we reach 1000 Fans on our Facebook page.  (we were at 917 yesterday, so tell your friends!!)

We would appreciate it if you would mention our Blog Candy on your blog.  If you don't have a blog, please spread the word to some of your crafting friends :-)   The more people participate, the sooner we will draw the winner!!

Good Luck to All!!   *Ü*

M5D Release - Princess Cupcake

Hi, it’s New Digi Release day at McMahon Five Designs! 

I've used this Princess Cupcake set by Studio 313 and I had some fun with my Cricut!  The castle  and crown is from the Create-a-Critter cartridge. 

You can see all the New Releases on the M5D blog today, with links to all the girls’ posts as well. 

Bunny Marci Easter Basket

Don’tcha just LOVE digis??  Of course I love my rubber stamps as well, in fact, when I first learned how to “mask” using stamps I thought it was soo cool!  Still is, but now that I’m getting more experienced with digis, I am finding how FUN it is to mix and match digis.  Easy to do using a program like Paint.Net or Photoshop because you can erase what you don’t want and layer the things you DO!  So I started with the bunny head from the Critter Tops set (Doodle Pantry) and cropped the ears off him and then layered them onto this Sitting Marci (La-La Land Crafts), see below:

New Doodle Pantry Digis & a Birthday SALE

Today is New Release day at Doodle Pantry , and we have some FUN and pretty Spring themed sets for you!!

Also, Laurie, owner of DP is celebrating her birthday this week by giving all her customers 40% OFF everything in the store from April 5 – 10 with coupon code HBDP4U  -- Happy Birthday Laurie!!  *Ü*

There's also a challenge going on and all you need to do is use any Doodle Pantry digi on your card and you will be emailed this awesome Spring Paper Digi Pack FREE!  If you don’t have any Doodle Pantry images, there’s lots of FREEBIES right here! 

For my card I used this cute paper from the FREE digi pack, along with the newly released Spring Hat

and thought it would be pretty cute on this Cuddly Bear.  This would work well for a Mother’s Day card… or just a sweet HELLO or other.  Pop on over to the Doodle Pantry Blog to see all the NEW RELEASES today and enter to get your free digi paper pack!

~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  

As if that weren’t enough, the 5th-19th of each month, Laurie throws several items into a Digi GRAB BAG and marks it 50% OFF!!  Wanna peek at what’s in this month’s grab bag??  Here they are!!  (click the Digi Grab Bag link to go there and add to your cart!) 

Delightful Easter Sunrise Freebie

Easter season is upon us, and since it's a little later than usual this year you have more time to create Easter projects right??  *Ü*

Here is a gorgeous digi you can get for FREE if you click through and become a fan of our Designed 2 Delight Facebook page!  

I colored this with Copics and layered onto Cherry Wood paper (M5D), and sewed zigzag onto the summer sun layer.  My DP is from the Green at Heart collection by Basic Grey, and the flowers are from McMahon Five Designs (M5D). 

Bee creative... Ink Something!

SSIC #83 - A Card for a Child

Welcome to my Sunday post with the Stampin' Sisters in Christ card challenge!  This week's hostess is Miesje (pronounced Mee-sha) who shares this verse:
Luke 18:17 "Amen I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it." 

and the challenge is to make a card or project for a child. 

Our sponsor this week is Clear Dollar Stamps who is donating a $15 Gift Voucher for one of our players!

For my card, I used this cute li'l girl from the Pure Innocence line at My Favorite Things along with this week's Mojo Monday Sketch.  I know that my girls always miss their school friends so much during the summer, so this card will be for one of them to send to their friends.  ☺

Hop on over to the Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge Blog to read Miesje's devotion for this week and to enter your card for a child!  There's also some super cute cards by the rest of the team, and you can check out their project details by visiting their blogs:

Chris	Grace	Linda	Lisa	Marilynn
Miesje	Peggysue	Randi	Rebekka	Sabrina

CARD DEETS:
Stamps:  Pure Innocence (MFT)
Paper:  Key Ingredients, The Craft's Meow
Primas:  McMahon Five Designs

A Delightful Spotty Dotty Saturday Challenge

Every Saturday there’s a new card challenge at the D2D Card-Ideas Blog!!  This week’s theme is SPOTTY DOTTY… show us spots and dots in your papers, ribbons, or even just by using this FREE digi Dotty Watering Can  available to everyone right now on the D2D Blog.  Every week one player will WIN a free digi of their choice from the Designed 2 Delight Shop!!  All who played in the progressive challenge last week was emailed the “bells & whistles” with this freebie (a couple different versions of this freebie along with some sentiments), so be sure to play along each week for some fab FREE digis, often with extra incentives ;)  Everyone who plays, wins!!

    

I also used my daughter’s newest sketch at Sketches by Carly! Her 2-week sketch challenge just started and is being sponsored by Doodle Pantry!   One sketchy player will win $10 in free digis!

So there’s 3 challenges for you and 3 chances to WIN free digis!!   

• D2D progressive Freebie
• Card-Ideas Spotty Dotty Challenge
• Carly’s Sketch Challenge

EDITED TO ADD:   This just in... a wonderful new Easter Free Digi for everyone who visits our D2D page on Facebook... hurry before it's gone!! 

CARD DEETS:

Paper:  Just For You kit (Crate Paper, Emma's Shoppe collection from The Craft's Meow)

Spreading Sweetness & a New DT for Me!

Happy Friday!! I have sweet news to share!  I'm officially designing for Designed 2 Delight Digital Stamps, starting today!  There were quite a few new members joining today, so hop on over to the Delightful Inspiration blog to see who's on the team*Ü*    There's so beary much share today!  First of all, this is the first Friday of the month, so there’s a new FREE digi for ALL to GRAB, but I don't want to give it all away here, so hop on over to the Delightful Inspiration blog to see what this week's CUTE free digi is!

                                                             For my card today, I used one of the new releases available now in the shop called, "Spreading Sweetness" which has this adorable bear flying a kite in his wagon with a packet of strawberry seeds in his planter.  Fun digi.  Lots more samples with new digis by the DT at CARD-IDEAS BLOG as well!!  Thanks for dropping in today!!  Bee creative… Ink Something!  *Ü*