Sending Holiday Joy

I made this card to submit for the Embellish magazine December call, but I forgot to actually submit it and then realized it was too late. Oh well!

I used Vintage Labels, Rustic Snowflakes, and Holiday Tags 2008 stamp sets. The teal is Taken with Teal by SU!, the rest is PTI.



Hope you're having a great week!
Melissa

"Sending Holiday Joy" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Rustic Snowflakes, Holiday Tags 2008, Vintage Label
Ink: Versamark, Pure Poppy, Taken with Teal (SU!), Antique Linen (Ranger)
Paper: Dark Chocolate, Vintage Cream, Pure Poppy, Kraft and Taken with Teal (SU!)
Other: Red gems, craft glue, ribbon, dimensionals, Rustic cream twine, EK Success edge punch, clear detail ep (Filigree)

Season's Greetings

Hello and happy Monday! Here's a card I made based on the Crazy for Challenges Sketch this week, Sketch 4 .

It uses Cosmo Cricket's Jolly by Golly paper and an Inkadinkado sentiment stamp. I stamped the greeting first in Pure Poppy ink and then a second time with my glue pad, and sprinkled the glitter on.



Have a great day!
Melissa

"Season's Greetings" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Inkadinkado
Ink: Pure Poppy and Antique Linen (Ranger), glue pad (Pallette)
Paper: Vintage Cream and Pure Poppy, Jolly by Golly (Cosmo Cricket)
Other: Threading Water Scallop edge punch (Fiskars), sponge, Vintage cream satin ribbon, dimensionals, Doodlebug glitter

September PTI Blog Hop

This is pretty last minute for the Blog Hop, but I managed to pull together a project although it's not super creative.

This month this was our challenge:
"It is a current trend to see just how "green" you can be with your contributions to a cleaner environment. We want to focus this month on reusing & recycling portions of your newly arrived Papertrey order in an earth-friendly way! This month your challenge is to reuse, repurpose or recycle packaging from your Papertrey Package. Whether it is the clear boxes that the stamps come in, the tissue that is used to
wrap each item so carefully, the brown packing paper that keeps your items from shifting, the corrugated cardboard wrapped around the ends of your precious cardstock or even the shipping box itself. We will be excited to see all the clever ways to incorporate any of these items into a beautifully executed project. And just to serve as a little friendly nudge, you just *may* want to hold onto everything from your package this month regardless if you use it on your project or not, just so you can recreate what others have done!"



I used the clear box my stamps came in and create a band to go around. I also stamped the coordinating image onto the tissue paper to fill the box and wrap around the cards. The box holds a set of 4 notecards and envelopes that I stamped on the back to match.



Thanks for looking and I can't wait to see what everyone came up with!
Melissa

Sunflower notecards and box (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Autumn Anbundance
Ink: Rich Cocoa (Memento), Antique Linen and Walnut Stain (Ranger)
Paper: Vintage Cream, Dark Chocolate and Bitty Box PP
Other: Copic markers, Coluzzle circle cutter, Threading Water Punch (Fiskars), cream satin ribbon (Michael's)

True Friend

We had a great time at the apple orchard and now have enough apples to last for quite a long time! I made this card using an element from Vintage Label for the background, the sentiment from In Bloom, and a fun trim from Cosmo Cricket's Girl Friday line.



Happy Friday!
Melissa

"True Friend" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Vintage Label and In Bloom
Ink: Rich Cocoa (Memento), Antique Linen and Walnut Stain (Ranger)
Paper: Kraft, Dark Chocolate and Sweet Blush
Other: sponge, foam tape, Velvet scallop trim (Cosmo Crikcet), gems

Heartfelt Thanks

Hi everyone! This week is flying by...I made this card over the weekend. It uses In Bloom for the flower, the PTI anniversary set Everday Classics for the sentiment, and Fancy Flourishes for the background.

Tomorrow we are off to the apple orchard with my kids' preschool...should be fun!

Have a great day,
Melissa

"Heartfelt Thanks" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Everyday Classics, Fancy Flourishes, and In Bloom
Ink: Sweet Blush, Vintage Cream, Spring Moss, Scarlet Jewel and Antique Linen (Ranger)
Paper: Sweet Blush, Vintage Cream, Spring Moss, and Scarlet Jewel
Other: Pink Ribbon (Michael's), Vintage Cream button, Rustic cream twine, foam tape, sewing machine

Card Patterns

Happy Monday morning! I wanted to share the card that I made based on the Card Patterns Sketch 33 . I used some images from Vintage Label to make a background and focal point. The card is a 4 1/4 in square.

Have a great day!
Melissa

(all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Vintage Label
Ink: Plum Pudding, Scarlet Jewel and Walnut Stain (Ranger)
Paper: Kraft, Scarlet Jewel and Plum Pudding
Other: Plum Pudding satin ribbon, dimensionals, sponge, Marvy square scallop punch

Congratulations

Hope you're having a great weekend! I made this card for the Polka Dot Paradise Color Challenge at Embellish , the new on-line magazine by Ashley Cannon Newell.

These colors are very fall, I thought, and I couldn't wait to try out my new Vintage Label set. I colored the tiny gems with my Copic marker, so they could match Scarlet Jewel.



Thanks for coming by!
Melissa

"Congratulations" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Polka Dot Basics, Vintage Label and Scattered Showers
Ink: Summer Sunrise, Orange Zest, Scarlet Jewel and Antique Linen (Ranger)
Paper: Vintage Cream, Scarlet Jewel, Orange Zest
Other: Orange Zest satin ribbon, Label 1 Nestabilities die, gems (Hero Arts) Copic marker, sponge, and dimensionals

Thanks for all you do

Hello! I'm back today with another card featuring this beautiful sunflower image. I can't stop coloring all the vases from Autumn Abundance!

The sentiment is heat embossed, but other than that I left it simple, so the beautiful flowers could shine.



Hope you have a great day!
Melissa

"Thanks for all you do" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Autumn Abundance
Ink: Rich Cocoa (Memento), Versamark, and Antique Linen (Ranger)
Paper: Vintage Cream, Dark Chocolate and Bitty Boxes
Other: Clear Detail embossing powder, Coluzzle circle cutter, heat tool, dimensionals, sponge, Fiskars Threading Waters edge punch

Let it Snow (not really)

Hi everyone! I dug out my "snowpeople" stamps to create this card! I also used some fun new paper from Cosmo Cricket, Jolly by Golly mini deck. The card follows the 2 Sketches 4 You Sketch 35 .



I paper pieced the snowwoman's mittens, hat and scarf and added some stickles! She is colored with Copics and I had to add a rosy glow to her checks.

Thanks for stopping by!
Melissa

"Let it Snow" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Made of Snow, Rustic Snowflakes for sentiment and little snowflakes
Ink: Rich Cocoa (Memento), Antique Linen and Walnut Stain (Ranger), Pure Poppy
Paper: Vintage Cream and Raspberry Fizz, Jolly by Golly Mini Deck (Cosmo Cricket)
Other: gems, sponge, dimensionals, Stickles, Copic markers, sewing machine

Just a note

Hi! Today I have another "Pie in the Window" card to share. I had the idea to fold out the shutters...not sure it's as cool in real life as it was in my head!!



I colored the image with my Copic markers and then used a Label 1 Nestabilities Die to cut out the mat. The paper is from the Junebug collection by Basic Grey and the sentiment is from Vintage Picnic.

Hope you have a great day!
Melissa

"Just a note" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Pie in the Window (Karen Lockhart), Vintage Picnic
Ink: Rich Cocoa (Memento), Antique Linen (Ranger)
Paper: Soft Stone, Pure Poppy and Vintage Cream
Other: Copics, sewing machine, button, Rustic Cream twine, dimensionals

...like cats to favorite armchairs

Hi everyone,
I made this card for a sweet friend who loves cats. Hope she likes it! I used On my Couch and some Basic Grey Lemonade paper. This qualifies for the Moxie Fab challenge to use a household item as your focal point.



Thanks for looking!
Melissa

"...like cats to favorite armchairs" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: On My Couch
Ink: Hibiscus Burst, Spring Moss, Scarlet Jewel, ??? (SU!), Antique Linen and Walnut Stain (Ranger)
Paper: Vintage Cream, Hibiscus Burst and Scarlet Jewel, Lemonade pp (Basic Grey)
Other: Classic oval and scalloped nestabilities dies, ribbon (JoAnn's), dimensionals, sponge

Pie in the Window

Hello! Today's card features a stamp by Karen Lockhart, "Pie in the Window". It's a fairly simple card, based off the Card Patterns Sketch 33 . I used some Cosmo Cricket Lil' Man paper that coordinated well with the colors.



Hope you have a great day!
Melissa

(all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Pie in the Window (Karen Lockhart)
Ink: Rich Cocoa (Memento), Antique Linen (Ranger)
Paper: Vintage Cream and Pure Poppy, Lil' Man (Cosmo Cricket)
Other: Copic Markers, sponge, pure poppy saddle stitched ribbon, sewing machine

Believe

Hope everyone had a great weekend--they go by so quickly! I had a card tonight with a new-to-me set that I bought from the famous Joan B at her stamp yard sale! I used the sketch from the Crazy for Challenges blog .



I colored the Santa with my copics and used some white liquid applique for his beard. The paper is from Cosmo Cricket's Jolly by Golly Mini Deck.

Thanks for stopping by!
Melissa

"Believe" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Believe and Rustic Snowflakes
Ink: Rich Cocoa (Memento), Antique Linen and Walnut Stain (Ranger) and Pure Poppy
Paper: Kraft, Pure Poppy and Vintage Cream and Jolly by Golly (Cosmo Cricket)
Other: Copic markers, sponge, dimensionals, Liquid Applique, gems, heat tool

Interactive Board Book at the Hybrid Chick

Hi everyone! I have my second post today at the Hybrid Chick blog. I made a board book with lift-up flaps for my kids. I thought it would be a fun project to continue to encourage my two year old's speech. (And I'm hoping to also encourage her to sit still for more than one second!) I'm sure her older brother will join in, and he can even read it to her!

Here's a little peek of the project



Thanks for stopping by!
Melissa

Peace on Earth

Hello everyone!

I'm back today with another Christmas card. I realized that the background of this tag stamp is the same as one of the Retro backgrounds, so I designed this card to use both! I followed the Card Positioning Sketch 132 .



I stamped the background on Vintage Cream cardstock using Antique Linen ink and colored each circle with the three Copic markers that matched the PTI colors.

Thanks for looking!
Melissa

"Peace on Earth" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Holiday Tags 2008, Background Basics: Retro and Believe
Ink: Antique Linen (Ranger), Scarlet Jewel, Enchanted Evening and Ripe Avocado
Paper: Vintage Cream, Kraft, Scarlet Jewel, Enchanted Evening and Ripe Avocado
Other: Enchanted Evening satin ribbon, Copic markers, sponge, dimensionals

Back to school!

My kids had their first day at preschool this morning! We are all excited (maybe I was the most excited??). This is Colin's last year in preschool and Kennedy's first!

I made a card based off the latest Card Patterns Sketch .



I used the Kim Hughes set "Spring Trees" and some Crate Paper and Basic Grey. This was a fun sketch to work with! I'm going to send this card in for the "Cards for Kate" drive that I learned about through Jennifer McGuire's blog . Hopefully I can make some more for her whole family.



Have a great day!
Melissa

"Thinking of You" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Spring Trees (Kim Hughes/CFH), sentiment from Vintage Picnic
Paper: Summer Sunrise, Dark Chocolate, Crate Paper, Basic Grey
Ink: Rich Cocoa (Memento)
Other: Rustic wood buttons, summer sunrise buttons, Rustic cream twine, Copic Markers, Dimensionals

Happy Snowflakes

Happy Labor Day! Here is a second Christmas card I made when I made my other snowflake card a few days ago.



Same colors as the other: vintage cream, the new aqua mist and Antique Linen (Ranger). This time I used a border-type line of snowflakes and added that gorgeous sheer cream ribbon.

Thanks for looking!
Melissa

"Happy Snowflakes" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Rustic Snowflakes
Ink: Aqua Mist and Vintage Cream, Antique Linen (Ranger)
Paper: Kraft, Vintage Cream and Aqua Mist
Other: sponge, gems and Sheer striped cream ribbon

Crocodile birthday

Or maybe it's an alligator??? Today's card I made for my son to give to his friend. I had a lot of fun with this one!



I used Background Basics: Retro to make the "crocodile crossing" background and I colored each circle with my white gel pen. The crocodile is colored in with New Leaf trio of Copic markers.

Have a great day,
Melissa

"Happy Birthday Macky" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Background Basics: Retro, "Happy Birthday" from Mother, Fresh alphabet, crocodile (Sandylion), star from Star Prints
Paper: Kraft, New Leaf, Vintage Cream and Dark Chocolate
Ink: Rich Cocoa (Memento), Antique Linen and Walnut Stain (Ranger)
Other: Copic markers, dimensionals, sponge, white gel pen, rectangle scallop Nestabilitie die (Spellbinders)

You're as sweet as honey

Hi everyone,
I'm back today with a simple card for SPCC #13 . The colors this week were olive, black, pink and yellow. When I saw those colors, my mind thought of bees--so I went with it!



I cut out the flowers and the bees and popped them up on the cardstock. I also went over the bees with a clear spica pen, but it doesn't show up in the photo.

Thanks for stopping by,
Melissa

"You're as sweet as honey" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Honey Bees and Beautiful Blooms
Ink: Ripe Avocado, Hibiscus Burst, Lemon Tart, and True Black
Paper: Stamper's Select White, Hibiscus Burst, Ripe Avocado and Lemon Tart
Other: Dimensionals, Spica pen, Black ric rak

First holiday card of the year!

Happy Friday! I was inspired to started playing around with my Christmas sets when I saw the Moxie Fab challenge and wanted to try something with my beloved Rustic Snowflakes set. I got a lot of use out of this set last year.



I stamped the snowflakes on Kraft CS with Vintage Cream, the new formula of Aqua Mist, and Antique Linen by Ranger. I then went over some of the flakes with my spica pen and added tiny gems to the larger flakes.



Have a great weekend!
Melissa

"Peace on Earth" (all products PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Rustic Snowflakes, sentiment from Believe
Ink: Vintage Cream and Aqua Mist, Antique Linen (Ranger)
Paper: Kraft, Vintage Cream and Aqua Mist
Other: Sponge, Spica pen, Gems, Aqua Mist satin ribbon, Tags trio Nestabilies die

Happy Birthday to you!

Hi everyone! I made this card following Dawn's latest color challenge . The colors are so autumnal and gorgeous together. I really enjoyed this challenge and I wished that I had PTI's First Fruits set to use that wheat image, that would have been perfect!



I used Background Basics: Retro, Autumn Abundance and Damask Designs for the sentiment.



Thanks for coming by! I appreciate your visit!
Melissa

"Happy Birthday to you" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Background Basics: Retro, Autumn Abundance, Damask Designs
Ink: Rich Cocoa (Memento), Walnut Stain and Antique Linen (Ranger), Dark Chocolate
Paper: Bitty Box DP, Summer Sunrise, Dark Chocolate, Vintage Cream, Kraft
Other: Dark Chocolate satin ribbon, 1" cirle punch (Marth Stewart), Coluzzle circle cutter, Label One Nestabilites, sponge, dimensionals, Copic markers and clear spica pen

Happy Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary to my brother and sister-in-law! Hope you have a wonderful day!

This is the card that I made for them. It is based off of the 2S4U , Sketch #34.



I used some Making Memories, Chloe paper and the stamp set, Heart Prints from PTI.



Thanks for stopping by!
Melissa

"Happy Anniversary" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Heart Prints
Paper: Chloe (Making Memories), Lemon Tart and Enchanted Evening
Ink: Enchanted Evening and Summer Sunrise
Other: Lemon Tart satin ribbon, gems, dimensionals, Coluzzle, EK Sucess Small heart punch

Check this out...

My friend Stimey , journalist, work-at-home mom, awesome-person-all-around, wrote an amazing review of my Etsy shop and my work on her review blog .

You can see it here . There may just be a coupon attached ;)

Thanks Stimey for your wonderful review!!

Here's a peek at one of the latest things I've added to my Etsy shop...

September 1st???

Happy September 1st! Can you believe it? Fall is definitely in the air here, we'll see if it lasts! I made this fun card based off the
latest Card Pattern sketch .



I'm really enjoying trying out different sketch and color combination challenges to strech myself. I used Basic Grey, Junebug, papers and sticker as well as In Bloom stamps and Soft Stone cardstock from PTI.



Have a great day!
Melissa

"There's nothing better than a True Friend" (all products PTI unless noted)
Stamps: In Bloom
Paper: June Bug (Basic Grey), Soft Stone and Night Shimmer
Ink: Pure Poppy, Walnut Stain (Ranger)
Other: Lemon Tart satin ribbon, gems, Dimensionals, sewing machine, sponge