[Bag] I Love Paris!

Paris Cosmetic Bag

There is one place that I want to visit and that is Paris!   Yes, it's in my bucket list of "things-to-photograph" and my husband and I are dreaming making plans to go there one day.  My friends who have gone there fell in love with it, especially when the Eiffel tower was twinkling with lights at night.  For now, I will sing this song by The Frank Sinatra that my Dad would always sing to.

"I LOVE PARIS"

I love Paris in the spring time

I love Paris in the fall

I love Paris in the winter when it drizzles

I love Paris in the summer when it sizzles

I love Paris every moment

Every moment of the year

I love Paris, why, oh why do I love Paris

Because my love is here

I love Paris every moment

Every moment of the year

I love Paris, why, oh why do I love Paris

Because my love is here

She's there, she's everywhere

But she's really here

I've been seeing a lot of Paris-themed fabric in the craft stores lately and this particular one caught my attention.  I love the design that features Paris' main attractions including the Eiffel tower, the Arc de Triomphe and the Sacre'-Coeur Basilica.  I also like pink-green-black color combination.  This cosmetic bag is available for purchase in my ETSY shop.  It is lined with 100% Kona cotton in grey and a sturdy fusible fabric.  There are no raw edges and the bag is finished well.

It comes with an off-white muslin tied with raffia and is ready to be given as a gift for a wedding party, a birthday or to keep for yourself.  More details HERE.

Au revoir,
♥  michelle

[Christmas] HPCG 2013 Party

The Christmas season is filled with parties left and right and I am loving it!  The HPCG had our Christmas party this past Sunday hosted by the gracious Ms. SP.  I brought home made Chicken Enchiladas.  We had fun exchanging and stealing gifts - there were a couple "hot items" that were a hit!

I gave these:  LP's Magic Gloss, a set of bezels and a mother-of-pearl pendant/brooch.

I initially picked up a set of Lumierre inks but it was "stolen" from me.  LOL.  I ended up picking a book:  "How to Make Polymer Clay Beads" by Linda Peterson.  It's just what I need.

Until next year!  Now I'm off to more parties!

♥  michelle  ♥

[Christmas] It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

It's the 1st day of my favorite season of all!

Polymer Clay Christmas Manger
Ornament

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, 

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, 

Mighty God,

    Everlasting Father, 

Prince of Peace."

Isaiah 9:6

[Packaging Ideas] Cookies in Burlap

Welcome back!  A few weeks ago, I shared with you about baking Pinipig Cookies.

Well, my husband and I sent some of it to Chicago as a birthday present to our cousin.

We placed the cookies in a plastic container and then wrapped it in burlap and tied an orange ribbon.  The cookies fit well in the container but my guess is that it crumbled during shipping.

What do you think about her birthday card?  

I stamped the image using Hero Arts Clings CG315 and added Colorbox pigment inks and embossed it with Judikins clear detail embossing powder.  I like how it turned out... the colors, dimension, gloss and all.

The sentiment is from the Hero Arts CL488 clear stamp set.

I'm into "orange" recently as seen in my projects.  

Remember the orange tulips in my mosaic challenge?

"Orange you glad we're halfway through the week?"

I am.

See you soon!

♥  michelle  ♥

[Diaper Cakes] Fast and the Furry Friends Motorcycle Diaper Cake

I would like to introduce you to these three adorable furry friends who are out to go on a bike.

There was a baby shower for 3 mothers in church today and I made these as gifts.  They are  a new twist to the diaper cake.

motorcycle diaper cake

This is "not-so-curious Jorge."  LOL. There are many tutorials on how to make these diaper motorcycles  such as this.  You just need diapers, receiving blankets, socks or mittens, washcloths, a bottle or sippy cup, rubberbands, ribbon or paper and a stuffed toy.  The instructions are simple, it's the shopping that could be a little challenging but fun.

Motorcycle diaper cake

The emblem says: 

"Hello Baby!"

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. - James 1:17"

These mothers are blessed to have children.  I don't have children of my own but I know that I have the responsibility to make a positive influence on them.  

motorcycle diaper cake

Off we go!  Weeeeeee!!!!!

Have a wonderful week!

♥  michelle  ♥

[Gifts] Charming Charlie Graduation Gifts, Handmade packaging and Dayspring Cards

It's Graduation time here in the States and we got several friends whose children are graduating from kindergarten, high school and college.  Wow, such a fun and exciting time for the graduates and their families.  Today, we are attending the graduation parties of 2 ladies (one of them is also celebrating her debut).

I wanted to make them something but it's been a hectic weekend so I bought them these pretty necklaces from Charming Charlie.  I love going to their store because it so full of eye candy, beautifully arranged by color scheme.  Their designs are nice but definitely not one-of-a-kind.  

Charming Charlie Blue

Charming Charlie Purple

I packaged the necklaces in a black box and added an embossed card that I colored using Tombow ABT markers and Tim Holtz's distress inks.  I added dimensional magic over the birds and tied a light blue ribbon around the box.  Simple but pretty.  The blank cards are from Daysrping Blank Notecards - I prefer blank notecards because I like writing personalized messages.

I remember by HS graduation which we are celebrating 25 years of in December.  Yay!  It's Silver Jubilee and it's a big celebration.  I wish I can go home to Manila and be there.  

Oh my gosh!  I couldn't imagine bow fast time flies.  When I was younger, I would watch my mom and her classmates laugh their hearts out while reminiscing their days in HS and Nursing school and now... it's my turn.  Good thing, I don't have kids who'd laugh at how funny we are.

There are times when I wish I was still young - with money regularly being given to me and who's responsibility was just to study.  I have to give all credit to my Dad and Mom for working hard to send me and my 2 siblings to school.  I was in Med school so they had to spend more money on me - time, love, effort and money that I can never repay them back.  Thanks, Daddy and Mommy!

Do you have children who are graduating soon or are you an empty-nester already?

Have a great and blessed week, my friend!

♥  Michelle  ♥

[Earrings] Red Cloisonne

Here's a bouquet of flowers for you.

Happy Valentine's Day, my friend!

♥  Michelle  ♥

[Earrings] Blue Cloisonne

Spring is almost here!

Have a sun-shiny day!

♥  Michelle  ♥

[Jewelry] Candy sprinkles pendant

Instead of "What's in a name" I think the more appropriate title for this post is "What in these names?"

Bright colored Candy Sprinkles... lots of them!

Do you prefer a particular COLOR palette?  I love bright colors because it makes me really happy.  

I made these personalized pendants using resin and candy sprinkles.

This first one is for a birthday girl.

Personalized resin candy sprinkle pendant

This one is for a special lady - it had a horizontal layout which turned out nice too.

  

These pendants came with a leather and /or ball chain necklace and a handmade card.

Enjoy your day!

♥  Michelle  ♥

Travertine Tile Coasters

Welcome back!  It was a fun and hectic weekend for Mr. C and me.  We joined neighborhood street sale for the first time!  It was nice to meet our neighbors and sell some items as well.  More on that on a future post.

I would like to share with you a DIY project:  Travertine Tile Coasters.  You can see a lot of these in blogs or pinterest and though it's quite simple to make, it looks beautiful.

Materials:  1.  Travertine Tile 4x4 inches - It is best to use travertine tile (tumbled tile) for this project versus shiny ceramic tiles.  The tiles come in 9 pieces but some of them had more and bigger 'craters' in them, which also adds character.

2.  Solvent ink pad and rubber stamp cleaner.  StazOn solvent inks work best for this project as they are nicely absorbed by the material.

3.  Rubber stamps 

4.  Cork - to be used as backing.

5.  Cyanoacrylate glue

Procedures (kindly refer to the photo collage):

1.  Figure out your design and choose a nice stamp.  I used a sentiment and a vine stamp.

2.  Apply StazOn ink liberally and carefully stamp the tile.  Avoid "rocking" the rubber stamp instead press firmly.
Allow to completely dry.

3.  While waiting for the ink to dry, cut a cork sheet a little smaller than the tile.

4.  Use cyanoacrylate glue to attach it to the base of the tile.  Allow to dry for several hours to make sure it is secure.

5.  Your tile is ready to use!

I didn't apply a sealer anymore.  Gina K of StampTV said that it is permanent and water proof.  Well, I had to prove it to myself.  I ran tap water over it and true enough. the ink stayed crisp!

Try making these.  Have fun and share your project with me.

Have a blessed week ahead!

♥  Michelle  ♥