Spring Fling

Wow! I feel like I haven't blogged in such a long time. I don't think I even did a blog about the Christmas Show. And now that Christmas is over and gone, I am thinking about the Spring Show in March. And All the New things I am doing to offer in the store in 2011. But, first here's what I've been working on today. This is my first piece for the Spring Show to be held at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds in March.
It is a decoupage glass vase. I love the selection of my papers for this vase, reminds of a Victorian Era! This piece hasn't been finished yet, because it still needs to be sealed with Modge Podge. But, I couldn't wait to give my fans and customers a sneak peek of what's to come in 2011!

Next, for the spring line up I will be offering in the store a wide variety of colors of the ribbon flowers. Small and Medium one's will be available in the store and at the Spring Show. These are wonderful for cards, pages, or to make hair bows yourself! Here's a preview of some!

I will also be offering soon Ribbon Flower Hair Bows as well. Still waiting on those supplies to come in from Thailand. This is just a few of the new items to hit the store and the shows in 2011! I can't wait to see what I get inspired to do next!
Have a safe, prosperous, and happy New Year everyone!

Gearing Up For 2011

Now that the Craft Show is over and done with. What's next for Inspired Creations? Well, all the old inventory or what is left that didn't sell at the show is in the process of being put up for auction on Ebay! Except the Book Marks, which are being re-listed in the Bonanza Store, with free shipping. All new product will be posted up in the Bonanza store once I get it done. This week John and I will be posting like crazy to get everything back in place and I will also be filling that custom order for 50 Note Cards as well.
We have decided to do the Spring Show in March and add some new items, such as the wood signs to our booth. Here's some photo's of the craft show!

We were set up by the main entrance door and it was cold! While we didn't sell as much as we hoped we would, it felt really confident after talking with some other sellers that it was a slow weekend for them also.

We didn't have the most impressive booth there. But, for our first time it was a wonderful experience, with many things to learn! My CD/DVD gift holders and gift tags were a big hit!

Tomorrow's The Big Day!

Starting at 9 am (earlier because we have to finish setting up) John and I will be at the 35th Annual Christmas Arts and Crafts Show and Sell at the Rockingham County Fair Grounds! We will be there 9-4 on Saturday and 10-4 on Sunday. Free Admission to the Public and Ample Free Parking for everyone! We will be in booth number 77!
I am so excited. We are going over tonight for 2 hours to take tables and inventory over and start setting up my first booth. John couldn't get the stained glass ornaments done in time, so I've added a few extra's to take. Such as the pleated Ribbon Flowers!
It's in the main building! I've never been to a function like this at the fair grounds, just the barn party before I joined our church. I'm excited to see everything and what the other sellers are bringing in and how they set up their booths!
I have nothing else lined up after this show, well, cept the 50 Custom Cards to make for my great Aunt. So, don't forget you can now use the Contact me tab on my fan page to place custom orders or questions! And the store will re-open on the 6th of December!

Love, Pray,Hope

Okay, so I didn't know that I could work with wood pieces until I tried. So, I made a lovely sign for the craft fair and wanted to share it with everyone!

My inspiration for this sign was a packet of wood pieces my hubby picked up at Micheal's. All the wood pieces had a different thickness to them. Here's one:

The first one I added a photo frame hanger on the back using a photo frame hanger kit my hubby had. Then I painted it with dark brown acrylic paint.

In the future for custom orders and orders being placed for these, I will be using real wood not packets of assorted pieces.
Next I used my paper trimmer and cut the paper 7 inches in Length and 2 3/4 inches in Width. These boards are about 8x3. I used a pair of my decorative scissors and cut around the paper. Then I distressed the edges of each paper with brown distressing ink. Then I hot glued it on. Now the fun part. I got this set for my birthday and I absolutely love it! Actually I got both things. The mat doesn't come with this set.

The Creative Cuts Set from Creative Memories is how I cut the letters out using brown cardstock. I glued them on with hot glue also.
I hooked the signs together with 4 eyelet hooks, Screwed into the bottom of the first sign , the top and bottom of the second sign, and the top of the third sign. I tied them together with ribbon. And that's it!
Ordering is easy now. If you have a custom order you can now visit my fan page at www.facebook.com/InspiredCreationsByMichelle and use the Contact Me Tab!

God's Blessings

I normally don't post about family things in my blog, but I had a lot of things to be Thankful for this year. My precious children for starters,

My hardworking husband, who I love with all my heart.

and the gifts and blessings that God bestows upon me and my family every day. I am thankful for Max and all he has had to overcome. At 4 years old, my son is beating Autism. He's not letting Autism beat him. And that, that is the power of God and prayer. I waited 3 years to hear mommy come out of his mouth. And now I treasure every time he says it.
And I know that I'm a little late on posting my Thanks and gratitude. But, this week the stomach flu has invaded our home.
I am thankful the most for God. Without him I can do nothing. Doors are made to be walked through and every time he opens one, I feel him grab my hand and say, "It will be okay"
I will admit though with the 2 day craft show coming up in 6 days, lots of negatives have gone through my mind. But, at the end of the day I have a peace that everything will be alright.
Inspired Creations is a true blessing to me without the talents that God has given me I would not be able to make these creations. It's not easy with 3 babies, a husband that works to jobs, a son with Autism, and a house to clean. But, with God's blessings everyday I survive all of this and am Graced with a smile at the end of the day that I have so much to be thankful for and am truly blessed to be who I am and where I am today.
There's a lot more I am thankful for and I'm almost certain that they all would not fit in one post! Please remember that until the 6th of December the store is on vacation and on the 6th I will be doing a little redecorating in the store for the new year to come!

Inspired Creations is Coming to Rockingham County Fair Grounds!

Rockingham County Fairgrounds here I come!
I just got my confirmation letter today! Yippie! I will be at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds on December the 4th from 9-4 pm and December the 5th from 10-4 pm for the Christmas Arts and Crafts Show and Sale! I will be in booth number 77. As you come in the Main Entrance and take a right I will be the 3rd booth on the wall to the right!
I am so excited that God has opened this door for me and the store.
" I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." John 15:5
If your not a fan and haven't seen some the new creations! Here's a sneak peek! Yes, the Recyled Creations phase 1 line will be there. And to this line I have introduced a Vase for dried flowers or artificial flowers to all my fans:

I have a few surprises yet up my sleeve for the fair. Some I haven't even showed the fans on facebook yet.
This is my first craft fair and I'm so excited that I have been given this opportunity to introduce Inspired Creations to the local public.
I even stepped it up a notch on the Tags as well. There will be Cardstock Tags as well as gift tags there: Here is my new Santa with googly eyes (that's what I call them) Gift tags:

Of course no craft fair is complete without my book marks and blank cards.

I will also introduce new Cd/DVD Gift Holders and Money Holders just in time for Christmas.
I hope to see everyone there!

A Little Vacation Is Needed

Many of you will notice that the booth has been put on vacation. This is to allow me more time to focus on the getting items done for the Craft Fair. I will announce more information on this fair when I receive the confirmation letter.
I'm taking much of my store inventory with me to the fair, when the fair is over I will re-open the store taking off all store items that have been sold and adding new items such as this in.

The booth will be back and running on the 6th of December. If you have a custom order in the mean time, please email me at mlmissal@yahoo.com!

Virginia Residents

Starting 2 days ago all Virginia Residents will be charged a Sales Tax on all items bought. That's pretty much the blog post for today. Sorry I'm so late on this notification. I'm trying to juggle a lot of things right now!

Refer A Friend Contest

Refer your friends to www.facebook.com/InspiredCreationsByMichelle (my fan page) and the person with the most referrals wins $25 dollars in store credit. Which can be used with shipping, but if for some reason you don't want to use the store credit for shipping please let me know.
Please tell your friends to tell me when they like my page that you sent them! Contest runs from now until the 27th of November to avoid Thanksgiving and Black Friday!

Also, when we reach 200 fans we will have another wonderful free giveaway. I don't know what it will be yet. But, I will let you know in the near future!

Have fun and Happy Referring!

Give The Gift Of Handmade!

As most of you know I recently had a Birthday! For my birthday I got 2 Creative Memories sets I had been wanting and a Laminating Machine. I really wanted to use the laminating machine on the book marks to make them look more professional.
I just started the new line of Laminated Handmade Book Marks! They go great with Handmade Blank Cards as a little extra gift inside the card. They also work as stocking stuffers for that someone special who likes to read. You can find these Items at Inspired Creations at www.bonanza.com/booths/mlmissal

So, far I've only had time to introduced 3 to you. All 3 were done in Pastel Purple cardstock. They were hand stamped and Rub-On Transfers as the flowers were done on them.
I will be listing more with different colors and different looks as time permits.

These Book Marks will ship in Regular Envelopes unless otherwise specified by the buyer!

Find Your Inspiration Today

What's all the buzz about in the booth today? It's a find your inspiration sale! Use coupon code inspire for 50% off all items today!
Handmade Coin Banks

Gift Tags

A variety of cardstock tags

Stop in and find your inspired creation today at www.bonanza.com/booth/mlmissal!
There all kinds of things for everyone!

A Little Inspiration Goes A Long Way!

Last month I introduced to all my friends, fans, customers, and even caught my husband by surprise with the new Recycled Creations Line. I introduced the Handmade Art Supply Canisters and The Handmade Coin Banks. Several projects are now in the works ranging from party favor boxes to Invitations using,(Yes, that's right go ahead and say it out loud,) Trash!!! Honestly, it makes me feel really good to know that I'm doing my part to save the Earth, One Creation at a time!
This month the first launch from the recycled creations line, comes from an idea a dear friend from church gave me. I really wanted to make it reality, so in lots of thinking and debating I made the first Decorative Handmade Toilet Paper Holder. Cause let's face it, no matter where you put your tp, it's just ugly!
The first can is inspired by my own person bathroom/shower curtain.

My Bathroom sink and Bath Tub are pink, my walls are blue, and my shower curtain just fits right in. So, I designed a can to reflect the colors and things in my bathroom. Did I choose to have a pink sink and a pink bath tub with blue walls? No, it wasn't my decision. It came with the rental! It's not so bad when a little inspiration goes a long way.

This can holds one roll of toilet paper. Great for those guest bathrooms where you want to make sure there's extra tp. This can has pink and silver ribbon
on the can and lid to reflect the colors on my sink and tub. The butterflies and dragon flies are purple and blue to reflect the colors in my walls and shower curtain.

The Toilet paper however is not included! The can is almost 5 1/4 inches in Length and almost 5 inches in Width.

The outside of the can is not water resistant and is only for Decorative storage use!

My Experiment

Yesterday, I did an experiment with a slide show on You Tube to advertise for the booth. I posted it up on blogs, my fan page, and my personal page. Within 30 seconds I had already had 8 views. But, the quality of the video was not that good to me. So, today I went on a search to make a slideshow that I could keep up on You Tube and not have to pay to use their premium items. Well, Lo and Behold there was a program right here on my laptop, called Windows Live Movie Maker. And when you were finished making this movie/slideshow it shared it to You Tube. It had been right here in front of me the whole time. This slide show is posted under the blogs category on You Tube, as I could not find a category to match. So, it will replace the slideshow that's on my blog as I type!

From Trash To Treasure

At the beginning of September I launched a new product release called Recycled Creations. The first wave of these items were Haley's baby formula cans made into Art Supply Canisters.

(Pink Ribbon Art Supply Canister)
I also wrote another blog about these creations and how I was going to expand the options. Well, The next wave of items is here. And here is the first item!
Handmade Coin Bank

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I will be introducing these new items as supplies and cans become available. I'm not sure what the next wave will be, but I am stocking up on 2 liter coke bottles and toilet paper rolls! I think this idea is great. It saves on my trash and gives you treasure. I will introduce the flower pots as soon as I can get a hold of some water resistant stuff for the paper that's on there. (Just to let you know where I'm at on those). And please let me re-assure you that all items have been washed and cleaned thoroughly.

A New Way To Advertise Your Booth

Business Cards are boring! Say Hello to Custom Booth Tags! You get to choose color and design!


Photo's are some I have already done!
And while I'm on the subject of Custom Booth Tags, newly listed today Custom Booth Thank You Tags for your customers. Just like the Custom Booth Tags you will receive
100 for $10.00. Photo is a sample of one of mine. Design your own special Thank You Tags!

More new creations to advertise your booth coming soon!

Together, Let's Fight Breast Cancer!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so in honor I will be posting up some pink ribbon items, handmade by me! Half the sales from the items will go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation the last week of October.

Please bare with me as I try to get the pink ribbon line up and running. Raising 3 babies and a husband that now works 2 jobs leaves little time for me to create. But, I am trying to stay caught up.
On October 1st, I will be introducing the pink ribbon gift basket. I will hold a silent auction for this basket October 1st through the 8th. You will be able to message me with your bids through Facebook or Bonanzle. The highest bidder will receive this gift basket. Together we can fight breast cancer!

Memories Are Made To Be Cherished

Cherish your memories in style with these new listings. Handmade Cherish CD/DVD Gift Holder is made of Navy Blue Cardstock. Maybe you would like to let someone else cherish the memories. This is a perfect way to give your memories as a gift to that special someone.

And while your thinking of those cherished memories. Cherish someone's special day as well with this Handmade Cherish Money Gift Holder with slider/book mark.
Also made of Navy Blue Cardstock.

Do you have a special someone who likes Hello Kitty and want to capture those cherished memories in writing. How about a Hello Kitty Any Occasion Blank Card?

Love also creates Cherished memories. Love has so many meanings in life. The love a friend, spouse, child, parent, etc. Handmade Blank Love Card is perfect!

You can many special items to cherish your special memories with in my booth at www.bonanzle.com/booths/mlmissal!

Silent Auction October 1st-8th

As we all know October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. And I always silent auction off a gift basket full of pink goodies. If for some reason the basket does not sell through silent auction I will post it up in the booth at a discounted price. All proceeds from this basket will go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. This year the basket is a small in size but has lots of goodies with it! Stamps, Ink Pad, Clear Stamping block, Brads, Pink Die Cuts, Pink Ribbons, Pink Tags, Pink Flowers, Pink photo frames and mats, and whatever else pink I can throw in!
The silent auction will be held October 1st through the 8th. Highest Silent Bidder will receive this basket. Basket will be posted up in the booth for viewing the morning of October 1st.
I will post photo's up of basket at a later date.

Recycled Creations

Working with Recycled items is new to me. But, I love creating new products with them. I've been recycling the Baby Formula cans and re-making new items with them. But, I would like to expand to milk cartons and such. So, today I was reading an article and I was inspired to much more than art supply canisters. I asked myself, "why not try indoor flower pots, mobile's, and much more?" I really want to expand the recyclable line.
So, with all that said I will be introducing a new product line with recyclable items and first on my list will be the indoor flower pots.

I am sure that some point in life Baby Haley will appreciate the fact the I am using her cans to make my creations with. Now, please bare with me on the products as baby Haley can only eat so much! But, the other kids drink about a gallon of milk a day totaling up to about 7 - 10 gallons a week. Think of all those Recyclables that can be used. I'm very excited to be working with this new line.
I wash and clean all items thoroughly before I begin working with them.

Inspired Creations Gift Certificates

Gift Certificates are now being sold in the booth. They come in $10, $20, and $40 dollars. They can be used toward the shipping price as well. I offer free shipping on these.
I came up with the idea this morning to offer gift certificates in the booth. If you are buying for a friend or family member I can send it to them as well. They will come in a special envelope. All Gift certificates will have a code on them and an expiration date of January 2012. These make wonderful stocking stuffers for Crafty person in your life!
And from now until Christmas all orders placed will receive a free $5.00 Gift Certificate. My Christmas Gift To My wonderful customers!

Top Three For The Week!

1. 3 Handmade Blank Cards for Any Occasion comes in at the top spot with 39 views! Priced at $3.00!

2. 5 Handmade Blank Christmas Cards comes in at number two with 33 views. Priced at $5.00.

3. And last coming in at number 3 is Handmade Blank Card, Envelope, and Book Mark has
32 views. Priced at $2.50.Card is Any Occasion.

Top Five

This blog is about the top Five products that had the most views yesterday in the booth. On Sunday I will do the Top Ten for the week.
Number one is a new listing. It is a Handmade Happy Birthday Gift Holder made with Blue Cardstock. The slider can double as a book mark. Priced at $2.50.

Number Two is 2 Doll Die Cuts made with Sizzix. I call them Flower Power. Priced at $2.00.

Number 3 is a Handmade Hello Kitty Happy Birthday Blank Card. Card is Purple and Priced at $1.50. Also comes with envelope.

Number 4 is 300 Cardstock Flowers-South Beach. These flowers come in two different sizes 1 inch and 1/4 inch. Priced at $2.70.

And Number 5 is a 10 page mini scrapbook album-Our Wedding. Priced at $2.00. I cannot find the photo for this one, so I've added the link to it instead.
http://www.bonanzle.com/booths/mlmissal/items/Mini_Scrapbook_Album_Our_Wedding_10_page_New

The Reminisce Collection

The Reminisce Collection was inspired by a Handmade Paint Brush Art Supply Canister I made the other day. The paper and leaves I used on this canister made me want to Reminisce about the past.

Watching the color of the leaves change on the tree's was one of my better child hood memories. As they fell to the ground in their vibrant colors. This Handmade Blank Card is for someone who wants to reminisce with someone about their memories in the past. Maybe an old friend! In a time where we have email and text...A handmade blank Card is sure to bring a smile to anyone's face.

The Handmade CD/DVD is for watching those family movies or listening to music and reminiscing about the days long ago. If your like my family we like to video tape our babies. What a great gift idea for those old family DVD's!

And Last the Handmade Money Gift Holder Card with Slider/Bookmark. Use the Book mark to mark your pages in your favorite book your reading. Giving money to that special someone in your life? This special Gift Holder Card is just a great way to give money to the one you love!

Handmade Blank Cards

My Handmade Blank Cards are made with Rub-On Transfers, Die Cuts, and other Embellishments. Rub-On Transfers give it a more beautiful and professional look to the cards. Some come in sets and some are single. All cards come with envelopes unless specified in the listing.
I have pastels, white, and ivory. And they are assorted sizes.

My Handmade Blank Cards are $1.50.Sets range in price. I also do them as custom orders! I've sold some locally, made them as gifts to people, and customized them upon request.

Check store at www.bonanzle.com/booths/mlmissal to view more Blank Cards!