This was a hit!

Once a month I have the pleasure of gathering with some wonderful ladies at the Sultan Senior Center.  We make 3 cards and I try to keep them simple but beautiful.  With CTMH products and the help of ideas from other consultants, I am usually successful.  This card comes from Lisa S. who often shares very simple but elegant cards in her artwork.  This card was inspired by her.

The butterflies are from Spring Blossoms paper flower set, dazzled with some Clear Sparkles, shadowed with Creme Brulee ink applied with a sponge behind them, and then explained with the title "Joyful" from the State of Mind stamp set.  The scallops are cut with scissors and on the "inside" of the card I used a one inch strip of the B&T from the Veranda paper packet.  Thanks so much Lisa for the inspiration! 

One more July Stamp of the Month

This little guy...girl...is so cute!  I feel that because of the timing of her arrival and my vacations, she has been a bit neglected.  But I do have one more card to show you.  Just a reminder that you can still get the stamp of the month, at a reduced price or even for FREE!  Take a look here for the details. 

I used the Zippidee paper packet, Pizzazz Irresistibles, For every occasion stamp set, Cherry Opaques, Cranberry Grosgrain, and Blending pen. 

SAVE the DATE!

Tuesday August 24th is my annual open house, fall idea/book release and just plain old fun party!  It will be at my house in the cool basement from 6:30 - 9 p.m.  As always there will be games, drawings for free products, give aways, mystery hostess, refreshing snacks and did I mention, lots of fun.  Oh yes, create and takes too!  Watch your email for more details on how you earn tickets for the drawings!  Hope you can join me again this year!

I am back...well virtually!

After convention in DC, it has been a whirl wind of activity in the Rowley household.  And now, we find ourselves packing for our next adventure.  But, I wanted to at least leave you with some scheduled posts sharing some recent artwork and thoughts.  So first, a board book. 

This 6x6 board book is perfect for any mini album or "story" you want to share.  I created mine when it was still raining in Seattle and I was looking forward to some summer sun.  Thus, my title, Summer Wishes. I plan to put in photos of the experiences that have and will bring us sunshine this summer, even if the big yellow, warm, globe in the sky stays hidden.  The Splendor paper packet produces sunshine on the pages, even without the photos and the cute a-door-ables hide surprises yet to be discovered.  Enjoy the "tour" of this book.  If you are interested in a workshop to create a book, contact me.  Or, if you want the cutting guide, email me for the worksheet. 

A-door-able covered with B&T paper.

A-door-able covered with B&T paper.

A-door-able stamped with first and second generation stamp and then sponged with same colored ink.

This set of pages has an insert of a "short" page to add more space for photos. 

Back cover with a-door-able, stamped and photo clip added as a clasp.

Where is Michele now?

Well, I am still on the East Coast and attending the CTMH convention which was the catalyst for this entire trip.  The family trip has been great but the energy from convention is amazing.  I will have so many new and exciting things to share, I will be bursting...as will this blog.

But, since tomorrow is the create and take time, you will have to wait, as patientily as, possible for artwork.  So take some time to do a blog hop starting here and enjoy the July SOTM creations made by many of the consultants who are here with me!  If you want to play with this cute hedgehog guy, then you will want to attend my workshops July 30th and 31st. 

Good bye New York City

Alli keeps reminding me that this place is known as the city that never sleeps and that is why there is a Starbucks on every corner.  Well, we did as much as we could do for three full days and nights in NYC.  Yesterday was our "shopping" day.  Bloomingdales, FAO Schwartz, Dylan's Candy Bar, and then a run through the water play area in Central Park. 

As I have heard from my facebook friends, it has continued to be cool in Seattle but we have experienced temperatures in the 90's here.  I am not complaining.  It helps that there are ice cream trucks on every corner.

Last night we did once in a lifetime (for me anyway) NYC fireworks.  We began our journey walking toward the Hudson River and then got a bicycle "cab" which took us to 34th St.  We then walked with the crowd toward the waterfront.  We never saw water.  Probably about 7 blocks away, shoulder to shoulder with people, in the middle of a heat emanating street from the day's heat, we stopped.  We could have moved forward a few more inches but there was a family who had planted their four children with chairs and because it took up a little more space, I felt a little less claustrophobic so I insisted we stop there.  As we stood for 30 minutes, waiting for the fireworks to start, listening to the New York accents, feeling the heat from the pavement through our shoes, I reminded myself, this was on my "bucket list" of things to do. 

In the end, the fireworks were spectacular.  Five barges (we couldn't see them) shooting fireworks in the sky in different shapes (including a smiley face) and colors for over 30 minutes.  When it was over, the masses turned and moved in the opposite direction, to disperse to their respective homes, hotels, and other habitats.  It was truly amazing...the fireworks and the crowd.

Happy 4th of July!

It is hard to believe how the month of June flew by.  July brings my family and I to New York City, Philadelphia and then Washington DC.  Some highlights include the Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero, Times Square and Central Park.  Luckily the convenience of the subway has allowed us to follow the whims of the girls. Hope you and your families have a great celebration.