May MMM and Blog Candy :)

If you’re wondering what MMM stand for it’s Mid Month Motivation. In the middle of each month we provide a MMM for you to have a go at doing something creative. Unlike our monthly challenges there’s no end date, you don’t have to put it in the gallery (although we’d LOVE to see what you make!) and there’s no prize… it’s simply for motivation :)

Just lately I’ve been noticing lots of easel cards on the web so I’ve been busy this morning creating my first easel card… and they’re ridiculously easy to make!

The finished card measures 4 1/4 inches square and I really love it. Here’s the front: The bird is made from Grungepaper which I inked and stamped :) If you look in the lower right hand corner you will see a wax seal I added too.

This is the inside of the card: I used one of my new stamps (from Stampin Up) for the sentiment and I layered that on a piece I tore from an old book. Quite by accident the text from the book reads: I sat there feeling at peace with all the world while I waited and it was grand not having to talk for a bit.

Here’s what the card looks like when it’s sitting ‘open’: I really love how it all turned out! You might be wondering about the ‘easel’ part of the card… maybe this will explain:

After making just one of these I’ve totally gotten into them so I’m sure you’ll be seeing lots more of this style of card from me in the future :)

Now if you REALLY like it here’s a couple of options for you!!

• You could make your own using the tutorial I’m putting on Scrapbook Dreams.
• You could WIN this particular card by becoming a follower and leaving a comment on this blog!! I'll be doing the draw next weekend :)

I hope you decide to give these cards a go!

Shell xxx

September Mid Month Motivation

Each month we do a mid-month motivation... something just to have a go at. Sometimes it's a sketch, sometimes a card challenge but this month we've got something a little different.

When I was writing about the Tim Holtz masks on the Scrapbook Dreams blog I was thinking about the fact that I really don't use paint on my layouts very much and I realised that as scrappers we all have our 'favourite' things we do over and over... but what have you never tried?? Have you ever bought products thinking you want to give something a go... and then just never actually gotten around to it???

Here's a couple of examples - After being quite 'anti' paint on my layouts I gave it a go and came up with this:
I really wanted to try creating a canvas and the opportunity came up to do a class. I ended up creating this for my BIL and he still has it on the wall:
I learnt lots of new techniques making the canvas and went on to make a few more :)

Just recently I was talking to Esther on the phone and she was busy multi-tasking (as you do). She had a stamp out and had inked it up... then the next minute she went "Bother" (or something fairly similar LOL)... she had accidently inked it with the 'wrong' ink pad But here's the result:
She's been busy ever since doing multi-coloured stamped images!!!

So here's the motivation... try something you've been wanting to do... or have never done! It can be a technique, project, something you've bought and never used... it's completely up to you!... so go and 'play' and show us the results!

When I got home from work tonight there was a fabulous canvas Sherryn had made in the gallery! So why not give it a go and see what you can come up with??

Shell xx