Disco Crop at the Rink, a Country Craft Creations Event for New Years Eve

 

Hey all!

Want to see what we made at the free crop with Country Craft Creations over New Year's Eve?

I made them all, and I have links to the FREE TUTORIALS in the videos description box.

Come and see these amazing and unique projects that are super fun and very easy to do. 

Thanks, and stay crafty, my friends!

Hi Everyone!

 Happy New Year!

Can you believe that it is already 2026?  I can't, but I'm ready for it.  Last year was quite challenging and I am so hoping that 2026 brings a better time for my family, my work and just life in general.

I have been neglectful of my blog...and I am sorry.  I know that a lot of you follow me on YouTube and Instagram, even on Pinterest...but I know some do rely on the blog as well.  

My goals (I refuse to say resolutions, HAHA) for myself include a lot of things, but one of them is to revamp and upgrade this blog.  I want it to be amazing for you all, and a place you can come for lots of information and fun crafty things.  So, that being said, I will endeavor to redo my blog, update it and keep it current.  Please wish me luck with this!

I have a couple of videos out so far in January.  Please come and check them out.

First up, I have been a part of Country Craft Creations New Year's Eve Crop event.  This is so much fun and it is FREE!  Click on the video and see the Groovy layout that I created for this retro themed crop.  In the video's description you will find links to all of the free tutorials that the designers did.  I loved it so much and had a blast ringing in the new year with the retro designs and paper selections.

Next, I did the #paperstashsmash video, recapping December, sharing my plans for January, and also sharing news and updates the 2026 #paperstashsmash!  I love being a part of this group.  The creators are amazing and the ideas are endless!  In this video's description I have links to all of the creators channels, and also have links for our playlists (2025 and 2026) so you won't miss a thing.

Finally, today I posted this new version of my Book of Boxes series I have been doing with Dollar Tree Jewelry Gift Boxes.  They are fun to work with and you can make so many different gift boxes with them.  I have four versions in this series, and the information and links are in the video's description,  

Thank you so much for hanging in with me and supporting my creative effort!  

You are all amazing and I couldn't do it without you!

Do you want to see what I did with my design team package leftovers???

I had the gorgeous collection by 49 & Market, Nature's Haven, and made a great tutorial for a Trifold Folio Album.  Well, I also had some leftovers.  I made this gorgeous little mini waterfall album to start.  The folio was a blank made also by 49 & Market, and it was perfect. 

Then I made this beautiful 12 x 12 layout for two 4 x 6 photos.  I not only used the leftovers but also my new Anna Griffin Embossing Folders!

Here's a peek inside the album.  I had so many ephemera and laser cuts left over, I had to use them up!

Isn't it pretty!  I just love the paper collection and had so much fun using up all of the bits and pieces I could. 

 Below is the video explaining it all.  Won't you come  and see what I did?  Thanks!!!

Stay Crafty, My Friends!

Country Craft Creations, Bonus Design Team Project, Love Letters Folio and Flower Making Tutorial

I had an idea...I had made a prototype for my Season to Celebrate project folio (that I ended up not using) and decided to use it. In this video I will share how to make that, how I made the flowers, and share a 12 x 12 layout that I did with my Patchwork Paper Technique. ENJOY! At the end I will share what I did with the folio I created in this video using Country Craft Creations "Blossom in Springtime" paper! The folio is 5 1/4 x 7 1/4 with a 1/2" spine.

There's lots of info, so here we go... If you are new to Country Craft Creations and want to start shopping use my referral link to start an account and I’ll earn points for crafting supplies so that I can share more tutorials! Country Craft Creations Exclusive paper collections: I used Love Letters and Blossom in Springtime for this tutorial. Seam Binding, white Paper Roses Dies for flowers

Artisan Cardstock (link below) used included Banana Split, Natural, Moss Green, Burgundy, White and Pearl Sheen Natural. Don't forget your adhesives, cardstock, and chipboard...these are what I love to use: Art Glitter Glue Scor Tape Artisan Cardstock Heavy Weight Chipboard Light Weight Chipboard Patchwork paper tutorial Season to Celebrate, Monthly Photo Folio and Decor Project Tutorial Cut List: 1 - 11 x 7 1/4 1 - 4 3/4 x 6 3/4 2 - 5 1/4 x 6 3/4 1 - 6 1/4 x 3 1/2 1 - 4 1/4 x 6 3/4 1 - 4 3/4 x 4 1/4 Country Craft Creations is an amazing online community. Visit the store. We have an amazing Facebook Community as well.

🌺My social sites: Instagram, @michellescreativeoperation Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/mycreativeoperation Pinterest, https://www.pinterest.com/jamallen/ Blog, http://creativeoperation.blogspot.com DISCLOSURE: Some links in the description of this video contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission on purchases made through the use of my referral code and/or affiliate links.

Smashing some Echo Park summer themed papers!

 Want to see some fun things I made? Check out this video, I smashed some scraps I have been hoarding!

Thanks for watching, and stay crafty, my friends!

Smashing my Stash...Simple Stories "Let's Get Crafty"

This is a video share that I thought I'd share.  I'm trying to smash my crafty stash, and I made some fun things...

I hope it inspires you to do the same.  There are so many fun things you can make with leftover items.  

Stay crafty, my friends!

 Good morning...I have my 2nd design team project for Country Craft Creations using the gorgeous "Lucky Star" collection by Blue Fern Studios. It is gorgeous paper, and the cut-aparts inspired this layout. This video is more of a share/walk through, but I will talk you through my whole process, including some tips on conserving paper if you are running a little low. I love how this layout looks, and I hope you do too!

Please visit Country Craft Creations for your supplies for this and other projects. You will not be disappointed!!!

Have a great day and stay crafty!

Michelle

I Remember When" 12x12 Layout

I was just going through my stash of scraps and decided that I needed to try to make a layout with what I had leftover from this bunch of goodness.  I ended up framing it and hanging it because I love it so much.  The picture is my husband, oldest son, and our first grandchild (our daughters son).  I love this picture because it shows 3 generations of men in our family, and all three of them have the same middle name, taken from my husbands father.  Tradition!  The title came from one of the cutouts and it fit perfectly, since that baby is almost 9 years old now!

 I started by looking at the supplies I had available.  It wasn't much.  This is from a line by Cosmo Cricket called Circa 1934.  I love this line!

 I came up with this layout.  I had to piece-meal it together because I didn't even have a full paper.  But by layering I was able to create a full 12x12 size background!  Shhhhh, don't tell anyone!

 Here is the finished project.

 I layered chipboard pieces to create clusters.

 I also had to add bling to the project!

I soooooo love how it turned out.  It is just amazing what you can do with scraps!

Have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend!!!

Michelle💖

Celebrating a Marriage!

I created this page to hang in my craft room.  These pictures were taken at my brother and sister-in-law's 20th wedding anniversary!  (And yes, it took me a year to finally get around to doing it.)  Unfortunately we didn't get a picture of them TOGETHER (she is in the left picture and he is in the right) but we got some great pictures of the whole party and we got to share in their amazing celebration.

I really really really wish I could remember who made this kit.  I, like a dummy, didn't write it down. UGH!  But it was super easy to do.  The mat lays over the background paper, giving a dimensional look.  Then I just layered pictures and embellishments and taa daa!

I look at it every day and smile.

Have a wonderful day full of love and fun!

Michelle💖

A Picture "Frame"

Good Morning Everyone!!!

I have been a little out of it.  I am still working on the file folder tutorial.  I still have a couple of projects on my desk that I need to do and are giving me fits because I want them to be perfect.  So, I apologize for not posting them as I said I would...they are going to be here, soon!  Please stick with me, I promise I will get them done.  But in the meantime...I made this a little while ago, and thought I would share it with you.

I saw this paper by Basic Gray from their "Clippings" line, and I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it.  This is one of my favorite pictures of me and my husband, DJ.  I wanted to create a page that I could hang up in my room, and I thought this would be perfect.

I love all of the funky "layers" in this 12x12" page.  But, as always, I had to add more.  I used some tape by Industrial Chic and my Tim Holtz die and created the film strip pieces.  I added the butterfly I got at Michaels and the bling by Recollections as well.  I added a Tim Holtz mini paper clip to the picture that I cut to fit in the "Polariod" frame. I got out the old DYMO label maker to add the date to the picture.  I used some chipboard pieces from the paper line, layering them with foam tape. At the bottom of the page I added some Prima Flowers that I have been saving, and I think the colors fit perfectly with this page. The "ruler" is a piece I cut from a Bo Bunny paper.  The wooden camera is by Studio Calico.  It got colored black with a sharpie, and a rhinestone is placed where the lens would be.  I also added a few more staples to the bottom right of the page, to mimic the "staples" in the paper in the upper left of the page.

The "frame" is a recycled (or should I say repurposed?) box that my son's Graduation Picture Portfolio came in.  I took the bottom of the box, cut the corners, then folded the sides in the other direction, so that I could fit it inside the lid of the box, effectively lining it with the black color of the box.  I adhered it all together with score tape.  To hang it, I just place eyelets and threaded a black ribbon through the top of my "frame".

I think this is fun and eclectic.  I love all of the different elements that I was able to use in it.  I literally just started adding things, not really thinking about it, just going with my gut feelings about what needed to be added.  When I started to stare at the page, without adding things...I knew I was done. Does anyone else do that too?

What do you think?

Stay Crafty, My Friends!

We Were A Family of 5

In March of this year, I traveled back to my home town in California to spend spring break with my kids.  I wanted to show them the house I grew up in.  I remembered that back in 78' my family put our hands in the cement on the side of the house.  I first knocked on the door to make sure they wouldn't care if we looked  and went over to see if the impressions still remained.  My hand sat under a down spot and wasn't very visible but my two sisters, Mom and Dad still remained.  

 I snapped a few photos as I remembered that moment vividly in 78'

 Many changes have occurred since this.....  

I hid my personal story of my family in this journal spot, one sister going her on way and a father leaving many years ago.  Although this layout didn't come without pain, it felt nice capturing all our hands together again, when we were a family of 5.

Here, I hate this paper do you want it?

So there is a funny story behind this layout!  My BFF Michelle presented me the other day with a scrapbooking kit and stated, "Here I hate this paper do you want it?"  I said, "Isn't that kinda like, the milk tastes bad, here you try..."  I of course accepted this heartfelt gift and created this!  I can't help but love her!

 By the way, this lovely line is called Pixie-Licious, by Cosmo Cricket

My Valentines

12x12 Layout, paper and embellishments by K & Co.

BFF 12x12

This weekend we enjoyed a mini vacation in Seattle at the CK Convention & created this great layout by Prima.  I used one of my new favorite photos!


Happy Birthday to my BFF Michelle!!!!

Hope you enjoy your special day!!!

U R U

I made this 12x12 page inspired by the uniqueness of my 11 year old.  100% original!!!

Pieces of Me

I created this 12x12 page using MME paper, vintage Daisy D's, the great new butterfly punch by Martha Stewart.  And used paint to do a little distressing!

Its Your Day

Patterned paper:  Prima & K&co. Solid card stock: American Crafts.  Number brads: Around the Block.  Punch:.McGill.  Letter stamps: Amuse.  Adhesive: Beacon 3in1.  Misc: Embroidery floss.