Melissa's Paperie

Happy New Year!

2012-01-08T03:00:00.000-05:00

Time for the next Card Caravan! This challenge is to add some sparkle. I printed the pretty digital paper (from Kimeric Kreations's Resolution 2012 ). I then added some glitter with a glue pen to the rays, stamped my sentiment (from PTI's Happy Day) and the row of gems.

You can check out the challenge here !
Melissa

Rosie Posie fun

2012-01-07T19:07:00.004-05:00

Happy 2012! Life has been good and busy, so I haven't been able to post much here. Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season.

I've enjoyed playing around with my new set, Rosie Posie, and here are three cards that I made.

The first one was heat embossed onto Lavendar Moon cardstock, and I added the sentiment from Happy Day.

The second uses papers from October Afternoon, sentiment from Damask Designs, and Mat Stack 4 die.

Finally, a bold,one-layer card. The sentiment from this comes from WMS's Say It Loud.

Thanks for coming by!
Melissa

Happy Mother's Day

2011-12-18T18:08:00.003-05:00

Are you all ready for the holidays?! I'm getting there...a bit more shopping to do and packing!

I was able to get together with other DC-area (and beyond!) Papertrey Ink fans for fun and crafting at Cheryl's house. It was a blast!

Lovely Miss Jenn shared her new release goodies with us and I made this card!

The card was made with Rosie Posiea and Happy Day, love these sets!

Below is the gorgeous bag that Jenn made to house her white elephant gift. I was the lucky reciepent--isn't that stamping amazing!! I had to share, it's just so pretty!

Thanks for coming by!
Melissa

Card Caravan Challenge #8

2011-12-11T01:50:00.000-05:00

It's my turn to host the next Card Caravan Challenge . Since today is both my mom and my brother's birthday, I decided on the theme "two".

For my "two" project, I made two similar cards. They use gorgeous digital paper from Sugarplum Paperie's Comfort and Joy .

I cut the papers, inked the edges and stitched them together in blocks. I couldn't bring myself to cover any of the front, so the sentiments are added on the inside.

The ribbon is from Paper Source. I hope that you'll take a look at our Challenge , and play along!

Melissa

Merry Merry Merry

2011-12-04T17:30:00.003-05:00

Hope you're having a great weekend!

After die cutting all my card fronts from this post , I had a bunch of words cut out. So this card was born.

Super simple and easy. I popped up the words with foam tape, tied a little twine bow and added some Pure Poppy buttons.

Thanks for taking a look!
Melissa

'Tis the Season

2011-12-01T08:08:00.003-05:00

Another Christmas card!

This one uses Bells and Boughs from PTI for the focal image and sentiment. I created the embossed background by stamping an image from Waltzingmouse Stamp's Faux Fun and heat embossed it with gold glittery powder.

Have a great day!
Melissa

Wonderful Words cards

2011-11-29T13:57:00.003-05:00

Today I have a trio of cards that were made using the Wonderful Word: Holiday dies and the Waltzingmouse Stamps set, Say it Loud: Holiday. A great combination!

I die cut each word onto the card fronts, and then lined the inside with patterned paper. I glued each little bit (i.e. the piece in the middle of "e")back into place after the paper was adhered down.

They are simple and easy to mail! I debated about stamping something more on each, like snowflakes, but then decided to leave them as is.

Slowly adding more cards to the stack! Thanks for coming by!

Melissa

Snowy days, Frosty nights and Warm Hearts

2011-11-27T20:18:00.002-05:00

I'm back for a quick post tonight with my card for this week's Make It Monday. The technique is Layered Background with Sentiment Stamps.

I followed the same color scheme that Betsy used, but switched out the stamps for those from In the Meadow. The sentiment is from Made of Snow, and I also used some snowflakes from Rustic Snowflakes for the background.

Thanks for looking!
Melissa

Happy Birthday

2011-11-27T13:29:00.003-05:00

Hello! Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Today is the 7th Card Caravan Challenge over at The Hybrid Chick and this week the theme is "make it sparkle"! Here's my card:

Coincidentally, I made a card also celebrating seven for my son's friend with her upcoming birthday. The card uses digital papers from the Sophia Paper Pack by Karen Lewis Designs. It also uses By the Number Die collection, Double Ended Banner die and Limitless Layers Dies by Papertrey Ink. The sentiment is from Enjoy the Ride, Papertrey Ink.

Thanks for taking a look, and I hope you'll play along!
Melissa

Joy and Merry Christmas

2011-11-23T20:39:00.002-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving eve to my friends in the US and good evening to the rest!
I hope everyone is having a great week.

I was able to finally play around with my new WMS sets, Nordic Winter and Say It Loud Holiday. I'm in love! I heat embossed the backgrounds with clear detail embossing powder onto Royal Velvet cardstock.

I also used Silver Shimmer cardstock, and cut the snowflake with PTI's Damask Snowflake die.

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This card also uses Smokey Shadow and Soft Stone cardstock.

Thanks for taking a look!
Melissa

Life and a challenge card

2011-11-13T13:48:00.003-05:00

Hello readers!

I hope some of you are still around...I know I haven't been posting much at all lately. I have been making some projects here and there like birthday invites for a customer, some Christmas cards, but life has gotten very busy since school started again for my kids. I joined a gym in September and have been faithfully working out as much as possible. I even ran my first 5K last Sunday and loved it! I've lost 22 pounds in the last 8 weeks and plan to keep going. Hopefully, I'll be able to find some more time for crafting and writing blog posts.

I do have a card today, though, for the latest Card Caravan challenge which is birthdays.

I used some gorgeous digital papers and frame from a collab kit called My Digital Obsession . The stamps come from Waltzingmouse Stamps' Say it Loud and Say it Loud Holiday.

Check out the challenge here .

Hope you're having a great weekend!
Melissa

Card Caravan Challenge: Homemade Flower

2011-10-30T02:00:00.000-04:00

Hello! Sorry to not be posting much lately....life is very busy right now!

I'm back for another Card Caravan challenge, though, and this time we are to make a homemade flower. I used my PTI Bloom Builder #3 to make a pretty mum from some gorgeous digital paper which comes from Danielle Engebretson's i [heart] autumn.

The only other things used on this card are Harvest Gold cardstock (PTI), a Raspberry Fizz button (PTI), some Ripe Avocado satin ribbon (PTI) and some floss.

I hope you'll check out the latest challenge !
Melissa

Card Caravan:Color Challenge

2011-10-16T02:05:00.000-04:00

Welcome to another Card Caravan challenge! This two-week's challenge is a color one, and here's the gorgeous inspiration photo.

My take was pretty literal! I used Quirky Twerp's Frolic and Friends for the digital paper, and cut the flower using The Cutting File's Paper Roses template. The white cardstock (PTI) was impressed with the Canvas plate (PTI), and the sentiment comes from Delightful Dahlias (PTI). I cut the green felt (PTI) with Harvest Berries dies (PTI).

I hope you'll take a look at the challenge , and play along!
Melissa

A Merry Christmas to You

2011-10-08T20:03:00.001-04:00

Hope you're having a great weekend!

This card using several WMS sets: Musical Backgrounds, Labels 18, and Compliments of the Season. The bell and holly are PTI.

Thanks for looking!
Melissa

Card Caravan Challenge 3

2011-10-02T02:00:00.001-04:00

It's our 3rd Card Caravan , and I'm the hostess this time!

I chose autumn as our theme, and then created this card:

It is made using Danyale's Autumn Walk digital kit, from The Digichick . I printed two copies of the pretty leaf paper, sewed one down to my layer and then selectively cut some leaves from the second to pop up. The cardstock is Summer Sunrise and Dark Chocolate (PTI).

I hope that you'll check out our challenge and play along!

Melissa

Merry Christmas from our house to yours

2011-10-01T16:30:00.003-04:00

Happy World Card Making Day!

I was able to finally get some time making cards, and came up with these two.

I used Background Basics: Houndstooth for the background, stamped in Pure Poppy and Hawaiian Shores. Onto the Mat Stack 4, I stamped the holly image from Love Lives Here: Holiday and added the berries from Bells and Boughs. The cute stockings were die cut, stamped and added.

Hope you will have a chance to make something today!
Melissa

Sweet birthday

2011-09-27T14:50:00.004-04:00

Hope you're doing well! September certainly has been a busy month!

We recently attending our friend's 5th birthday, and here is her card.

I cut the scoops out with felt, as well as the 5 for the inside of the card.

I used Big Birthday Wishes for the inside and the ice cream comes from Sweet as Can Be.

Peace

2011-09-19T06:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday!

I've been working on my Christmas cards, as you may remember. Here's another, this one uses Background Basics: Woodgrain and the 2010 Holiday Tags.

I used Mat Stack 4 and a Fillable Frame diecut for a layered look, and added a gem to each "berry" on the wreath. Simple, and easy to mail!

Thanks for taking a look!
Melissa

Card Caravan Button Challenge

2011-09-18T02:01:00.000-04:00

Hope you're having a great weekend!

I'm back with the next Card Caravan challenge, brought to you by The Hybrid Chick . This week's challenge is to use one or more buttons!

Here's my card:

I used Karen Lewis' digital kit Camporama . Aren't the colors and designs lovely?! I punched out some of the papers with my square punched and adhered them in this pattern after inking all the edges.

A Terracotta Tile button (Papertrey Ink) was added at each intersection, and I also added the little tag (Tiny Tags, Papertrey Ink) tied on with twine. The cardstock is also Terracota Tile (PTI).

I hope you'll check out our challenge and play along!

Melissa

Christmas Tree

2011-09-09T21:18:00.003-04:00

Hi! Well, the sun finally made an apperance this week! Thank goodness!

I'm happy to report that I finished my self-imposed mission to make cards using each of my Christmas sets. This card features an oldie-but-goodie, Believe, by PTI.

The background (Musical Backgrounds, WMS) was stamped onto Ripe Avocado cardstock, using Versamark ink. I also stamped the tree with versamark, and heat embossed it using Gold Zing embossing powder. In real life, it's sparkly!

I colored the tree with Copic markers, and stamped the label (Label Basics, PTI) with Creamy Brown ink (Colorbox).

Hope you have a great start to your weekend!
Melissa

Another MIM

2011-09-08T12:59:00.000-04:00

Happy rainy Thursday! I'm still making Christmas cards and Make It Monday cards! Here's today's version:

Still trying to decide if I should add a sentiment somewhere. The background was stamped using the little candy cane image from Tiny Treats: Holiday. I colored them with hot pink and red Copics, although it only looks red in the photo.

Thanks for coming by!
Melissa

Sweetest Holiday Wishes

2011-09-07T08:50:00.000-04:00

It's Wednesday! It's been raining so much here...hope you're dry where you are!

I am on a quest to make a card with every Christmas stamp set that I own...so here is today's card using Friendship Jar Holiday Fillers.

I stamped and masked the three jars and the fillers. They all were colored using Copic markers, and I added glitter to the cookies using my Quickie Pen and Martha Stewart glitter. The sentiment, from Holiday Button Bits, was stamped onto a label from Label Basics. Finally, I tied a ribbon using 1/4" silk ribbon.

Thanks for taking a look!
Melissa

A Merry Christmas to You

2011-09-06T08:37:00.002-04:00

Good morning!

I've started working on my Christmas cards and will have a few to share over the next days.

For this card, I stamped the triangle wreath image from Tranquility Triology as a background. I then colored the small berries with a Copic marker. The sentiment comes from the Waltzingmouse Stamps set, The Compliments of the Season. I also used Mat Stack 1 Collection for the frame, and Mat Stack 1 die and the Layerz die.

Have a great day!
Melissa

Warm Wishes

2011-09-05T15:50:00.002-04:00

Happy Monday, and Happy Labor Day to those in the US!

I am playing along with the latest Make It Monday, of which the challenge is to stamp a background with a stamp not initally intended to be for backgrounds.

I chose one of the flowers from Daydreamer to stamp as my background.

I then heat-embossed the Modern Wood Mat for Mat Stack 4 onto Royal Velvet cardstock. I also die cut and stamped some leaves from Harvest Berries, and stamped and cut out two blooms from Daydreamer. Finally, I added the Tiny Tag.

Thanks for looking!
Melissa

Card Caravan #1

2011-09-04T02:00:00.003-04:00

Hello! I am a member of the newly-formed Card Caravan from here to see all the cards and view the details.

My card uses the digital kit Sew Cute , a collaboration between Sugarplum Paperie, Danielle Engelbretson Designs and Mari K. And it is indeed, so cute!

I used a couple of the digital papers for my card, and also printed off the thread spool image. I wrapped some twine around the spool to make it look real!

I hope that you'll check out our challenge and play along!
Melissa

"Sew happy for you"
Paper: Sew Cute , a collaboration between Sugarplum Paperie, Danielle Engelbretson Designs and Mari K, Summer Sunrise cs (PTI)
Ink: Walnut Stain (Ranger)
Other: word processing for sentiment, Hibiscus Burst satin ribbon(PTI), Mat Stack 4 Die (PTI), Hawaiian Shores buttons (PTI), Twine

Pages with Papertrey #1

2011-09-01T13:50:00.002-04:00

I'm playing along with a new scrapbooking challenge posted on the Papertrey Ink forum, Pages with Papertrey.

The first challenge is to use a PTI stamp set and die on a page. I made a page with the picture of my son holding his soccer trophy on the last day of soccer.

I used Have a Ball mini set, Mat Stack 1, and the Mat Stack 1 die and Layerz die. The red paper is Cosmo Cricket.

Thanks for looking!
Melissa

Harvest Berries Mania!

2011-08-30T20:15:00.003-04:00

I went a little Harvest Berries crazy today! I *love* those gorgeous leaves and just kept on stamping. This set makes for some easy and pretty one-layer cards.

First up is a Simply Chartreuse version, with a Think Big sentiment.

Secondly, is Hawaiian Shores (smaller leaves in Aqua Mist) with another Think Big sentiment.

And lastly, and my fav of the bunch, is a pink version using Rouge ink by Colorbox, smaller leaves with Sweet Blush and sentiment from Happy Trails.

And maybe now I can try stamping with something different?!

Melissa

Thanks

2011-08-28T20:23:00.003-04:00

Happy Saturday! We made it through the first week of school...but we still haven't added homework or preschool into the mix, so next week will be the real test!

I made this card recently and wanted to do something simple. I stamped the mat from Modern Wood Mats onto Aqua Mist cardstock, using Hawaiian Shores ink. The sentiment (from Say it Loud, Waltzingmouse Stamps) fits perfectly in the mat. I added two little flowers on each side.

Have a great weekend!
Melissa

Thanks so much

2011-08-28T20:20:00.004-04:00

Happy Monday, and happy first day of school for us! After the earthquake and hurricane last week, I was a little concerned about what would be next, and also that school may not start on time! But it did, and I can't wait to hear how the first day went in about an hour.

I'm working on thank you cards for recent birthday gifts, and here's one I made with new PTI goodies.

I love how easy it is to stamp the background houndstooth! For some reason, you can't see the leaf images that I stamped onto the die cut. And I used the Bloom Builder 3 for that fun flower! The sentiment is from Table Service.

Thanks for taking a look!
Melissa

Congratulations on your special delivery!

2011-08-25T22:58:00.002-04:00

Hi! We are gearing up for the first day of school on Monday...barring Hurricane Irene, of course! I have no doubt that we will lose power in my neighborhood. What a crazy week....earthquake, hurricane and what else??!!

This card was made for a friend who recently had a beautiful baby boy. I kept it pretty simple--branch from Little Birds, bundle and sentiment from Bundle of Love. The paper is from Seaside by October Afternoon and I paper pieced the bundle with some PTI paper, although I can't recall which one currently.

I've been making lots of things, so I hope to be back again soon to share.

Stay dry!
Melissa

Celebrate today and always

2011-08-12T22:46:00.002-04:00

Happy Friday! I want to share a card I made for a friend's birthday using Friendship Jar Summer Fillers.

I stamped all the elements onto the jar, colored with Copics, and cut the whole thing out. The flourishes are from Big and Bold Wishes, stamped with Pure Poppy ink onto Sweet Blush cardstock. The two patterned paper edges were cut with the small scallop border die out of Basic Grey, Out of Print patterned paper.

The inside was stamped with "happy birthday" from Enjoy the Ride.

Have a great weekend!
Melissa

Let's Party!

2011-08-11T08:00:00.000-04:00

Today I'm sharing all the birthday things I created at the end of July for my daughter's 4th birthday party. We held the party in a "train" party room, and took a ride on a historic minuature train in a local park. Kennedy is a girl of varied tastes: she likes cars, trains, dolls, princesses--but all in pink! So, her pink train birthday party was born!

Here's a look at her invites: pink, with more pink, of course!

Thank you notes, style #1: (and these are actually all in the mail, too!!)

Thank you notes, style #2:

Banner, of which I made three for the party:

You'll notice I added the little lion from Tiny Treats, well Kennedy is never without her "Mr Lion" (her stuffed animal, aka our third child), so I knew she be thrilled if I included him on her birthday banners. The scale worked perfectly!

Goodie bags (they were looking much less wrinkled several weeks ago, LOL):

And little Miss Pinkalicious herself (with her new pink rollerskates):

I want to say a huge, huge thank you to Deb who lent me her Train Tracks stamp set! It was a fun birthday for our little girl.

Let me know if you have any supply questions...
Melissa

A Bird...

2011-08-10T22:00:00.000-04:00

Hi! I want to share this card that I made recently to send to a dear friend to let him know that we are thinking about him! He is very musical, so I thought he'd enjoy this.

I stamped the backgound using Musical Backgrounds (WMS) with Versamark ink onto Aqua Mist cardstock. The bird cage (from Love Birds, PTI) was stamped with Tuxedo Black ink, and the bird (from Happy Trails, PTI) was stamped with Hawaiian Shore. The sentiment was stamped with Smokey Shadow and Hawaiian Shores inks.

I had to really hold my hands behind my back to not add a bow on this....but I think it works ok without one.

Thanks for taking a look! Tomorrow I'll be back with my daughter's birthday party invites, thank yous, banner and goodie bags...something I meant to share a while ago!

Melissa

Happy birthday

2011-08-09T09:00:00.001-04:00

Here's the card that I made using the coloring ribbon technique from this week's Make It Monday. I colored the Vintage Cream Twill using two Copics and a ruler. I opted to layer that ribbon with a strip of Hawaiian Shores grosgrain.

The background and focal portion were stamped using images from Iconic Images, the Stamp-A-Faire set. The frame stamp comes from Mat Stack 1 Collection.

And the sentiment is my stand-by, Enjoy the Ride.

Thanks for looking!
Melissa

You make life sweeter

2011-08-08T21:07:00.003-04:00

Yesterday was my wedding anniversary, and here it the card I made for my husband.

I drew heavily on Nicole Heady's card from the last release. I cut out three scoops of Ocean Tides, Fine Linen and Hawaiian Shores felt. The frame was stamped using the Vintage Label set. I stamped the polka dots in the background.

The sentiment was heat embossed onto vellum using some Zing! powder. It's so fun!

The "Happy Anniversary" comes from Heart Prints.

Thanks for stopping by!
Melissa

A note of thanks

2011-08-07T16:24:00.008-04:00

Just popping in quickly with a card for this week's Make It Monday's technique.

I enjoyed trying the decreasing aperture technique, and thought it was a perfect place to showcase this beautiful cameo resin piece given to my by Rose!

This card is heading out to a sweet friend as a thank you for a great little gift.

Thanks for looking!
Melissa

"A note of thanks" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Happy Trails
Ink: Rich Cocoa (Memento), Walnut Stain (Ranger)
Paper: Ripe Avocado, Ocean Tides, Vintage Cream and Basic Grey patterned paper
Other: Mat Stack 4 die, Limitless Label dies, sponge, sewing machine, corner rounder, Hibiscus Burst satin ribbon, Cuttlebug embossing folder

Know that you...

2011-08-04T22:57:00.003-04:00

Can you believe that it's August?? I've been busy the last week or so with my daughter's birthday and party, and all the other things life throws at us!

This card is going to a sweet stamping friend, Janelle , who is in hospital currently after a recent diagnosis of a brain tumor. Please send her prayers, positive thoughts and virtual hugs!

I used Tranquility Triology to stamp the background triangles. The sentiment is from Healing Touch. The gorgeous resin flower is another one made and given to me by my friend, Rose.

I hope to be back soon to sharing all the cards I've been making, including all the birthday party stuff. Blogging seems to be much harder in the summer, though...

Thanks for coming by!
Melissa

PS LOL, I just realized that the photo has two watermarks, but I'm feeling too tired to edit and reload so just pretend you only see one!

Happy Birthday

2011-07-25T21:59:00.002-04:00

We made it through Monday!

I made this card with the new set I got at Stamp-A-Faire that will release in August called Simple Sunflower. I love it!

I impressed the background with the Linen/Canvas Impression plate. The sentiment (from Enjoy the Ride) was heat-embossed with clear detail ep. The ink colors used on the flowers are Summer Sunrise, Rich Cocoa (Memento), and Ripe Avocado.

This birthday card will be on its way to a friend who loves sunflowers...and speaking of birthdays, my baby girl is 4 tomorrow. Holy cow, that flew by!

Have a great day!
Melissa

Thinking of you today and always

2011-07-24T22:59:00.003-04:00

Stamp-a-Faire was amazing! Here's one of the cards that I made with the new set included in our goodie bag. It has such beautiful images and sentiments!!

The paper is from "Out of Print" by Basic Grey (we stopped at Archiver's!) and I used Mat Stack 4 die and stamp, which was heat embossed with clear ep.

The little rose was given to me by Rose , and she made them herself! I can't wait to use more of them, they are beautiful! Thanks again, Rose!

I'm off to sleep....need to catch up!
Melissa

Caring thoughts...

2011-07-22T08:54:00.003-04:00

Happy Friday! I am waiting for Cheryl and Sherry to pick me up, and we are off to Cincinatti for PTI's Stamp-A-Faire! I'm so excited!!

I'm making a stash of sympathy cards for my mom, and this is one I did recently. I stamped the daisy image (from Friendship Jar Fillers) onto Fine Linen cardstock and colored them to look like Black-Eyed Susans (Maryland's state flower!). The card base is simply chartreuse. The sentiment comes from Healing Touch.

Have a great weekend! I'll be back on Sunday or Monday to share photos from my weekend.
Melissa

Happy Birthday

2011-07-20T10:00:00.000-04:00

I've really been enjoying smy new WMS stamps and this is the lastest card I made:

I stamped the background using Faux Fun, with Lulu Lavendar ink (Memento) onto a Vintage Cream sheet, while masking off the frame area. The cameo, from Cameo Creations, was heat-embossed with black powder. The sentiment comes from PTI, as well as the die for the frame and the ribbon.

Thanks for taking a look!
Melissa

Hello There

2011-07-19T21:07:00.002-04:00

Just playing around!

The more I look at the vine die, the more it does look like the vine in Super Mario Bros!

I heat embossed the polka dot background with clear embossing powder. The sentiment comes from Tag Its #5, and the frame is a Fillable Frame (#1, maybe?).

Thanks for coming by!
Melissa

Happy Birthday

2011-07-17T07:30:00.004-04:00

I'm a little late to the waltz....but I was so excited to stamp something last night when my new stamps arrived!

I stamped the oval frames and cameos with Fresh Snow (PTI) ink onto kraft cardstock. I went back and added a small flower from Eat Cake with Grape Jelly ink (Memento). For the center of each flower, I used my Sakura Souffle pen.

The sentiment, from Say it Loud, was heat embossed with clear ep (Filigree) onto a die cut (Mat Stack 4, PTI) in Vintage Cream cs (PTI). The card base is Lavendar Moon, as well as the satin ribbon (PTI).

Thanks for waltzing by!
Melissa

hello friend

2011-07-16T21:39:00.002-04:00

Hope you're having a great weekend! We spent the day at our community garden tilling and mulching our newly acquired, second plot! We've had so much fun with the first that we decided to also rent the one next to ours that hadn't been used yet.

We have some beautiful hybrid sunflowers growing there, and when I started coloring this card, those colors inspired me!

I wanted to try the technique that Nichole Heady showed in her recent post of embossing with white powder, and then coloring. I'm very happy with the results!

I cut the one edge of my focal image with the Edger #1 die. The sentiment, from the Think Big series, was selectively inked to get the words side-by-side. I then popped up the flower portion on foam tape and tied a small white ribbon around.

Thanks for looking!
Melissa

Thank You

2011-07-13T21:38:00.000-04:00

Forever...

2011-07-13T21:35:00.003-04:00

Happy Thursday! Here's my card with this week's summer card camp colors, as well as the pocket technique from PTI's Make It Mondays video.

I used my Edger #2 die to create a pocket with Kraft cardstock. Then, I sewed up the sides with my sewing machine. I should have swiped the edges with Fresh Snow ink before sewing though! You can't see very well in the photo, but I stamped the rose from Year of Flowers: Collection onto the pocket with Antique Linen Distress ink (Ranger)

I cut "forever" with the Wonderful Word die into Pure Poppy cardstock which I had backed with scor-tape in order to adhere it easily. It wasn't so easy to get the cut word out, though. The rest of the sentiment was stamped onto the pocket with Rich Cocoa (Memento) ink.

The background of the card was stamped using WMS' Faux Fun, and heat embossed with clear Filigree embossing powder. The cardbase is Fine Linen cardstock, as well as Fine Linen satin ribbon. The tag was cut with Tag Sale #1.

Thanks for taking a look!
Melissa

Happy Birthday

2011-07-09T13:29:00.002-04:00

Hope you're having a great weekend!

I made this card a few night sgo...it turned out so different than I had orginially envisioned! I wanted to use the flowers from the Daydreamer set (PTI) and stamp them in these colors to have them match with the pretty Emma's Shoppe paper (Crate Paper), but in the end the focal image was too busy for me to also use the paper.

The focal image was cut with a Label 18 die (Nestabilities). The background is stamped using the polka dot background from WMS's Off-Beat Backgrounds. The sentiment is from WMS's Say it with Style.

Thanks for looking!
Melissa

Thank You

2011-07-05T20:48:00.004-04:00

Hope you had a happy 4th of July, or a great weekend to my friends not in the US!

I made a card to play along with summer card camp's week 2 color challenge.

These color made me think nature...probably helps that I have our vegetable garden on my mind a lot lately!

I stamped a background using the 2009 PTI Anniversary set, Round and Round, using Summer Sunrise for the sunflower image and Simply Chartreuse for the leaves onto Vintage Cream cs. The base of the card is Orange Zest and the next layer is Pure Poppy. The trim came from Emma's Paperie, although I can't remember the manufacturer.

For the focal image, I stamped the Fillable Frame with Versamark, and clear embossed it. I added the sentiment (also from Round and Round), colored some gems with a green Copic, and added them.

Thanks for coming by!
Melissa

Thinking of You

2011-06-30T12:20:00.004-04:00

Hi! I'm taking part in an online summer card camp, and this week we were given these colors with which to make a card. It took me awhile to come up with something...

I stamped and heat embossed with white embossing powder the floral images from Daydreamer onto a piece of patterned paper (Upcycle, by Cosmo Cricket??). I did also swipe the edges of the pink paper with white ink.

The other cardstock is Orange Zest and Aqua Mist from PTI. I tied a purple ribbon, and added my sentiment (from Autumn Abundace, PTI) onto a double edge banner die cut.

Have a great day!
Melissa

Happy Birthday

2011-06-28T12:04:00.002-04:00

Hello!

I want to share the card I made using techniques from this week's Papertrey Ink Make It Mondays video.

I chose to use a die to cut a frame and then mask accordingly. I used Vintage Cream ink to sponge around the edges.

The piano and sentiment come from Rhythm and Soul, and the background paper is Sweet Symphony.

Thanks for stopping by!
Melissa

"Happy Birthday" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Rhythm and Soul
Ink: Rich Cocoa (Memento), Vintage Cream, Walnut Stain (Ranger)
Paper: Kraft, Sweet Symphony
Other: Copic markers, Dark Chocolate Satin ribbon, foam tape

June PTI Blog Hop

2011-06-25T09:24:00.000-04:00

Welcome! I'm participating in the June PTI Blog Hop, and the challenge this month is to create a project based on the inspiration photo, below.

When looking at the photo, I noticed the different colors, the silver insect pegs, the hanging dresses, the cubbies,and all the various kid things stuffed in. I can relate to a lot in that photo--cubbies with random kid apparel and toys shoved in, pretty princess dresses, but I do wish I had a beautiful wall like that!

I just couldn't help thinking of my kids when making this card, so "your color my world" is the perfect sentiment -- as they sure do add color, and meaning to my life!

I used a butterfly, which is seen in the inspiration photo, and embossed them several times with silver embossing powder, and then colored with them with Copic markers. The Just a Ticket die mimics the cubbies and provides a landing spot for my butterflies, which I embossed into the white cardstock. In contrast to the photo, I left my background white so the butterflies could shine.

Thanks for taking a look!
Melissa

"You color my world" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Butterfly Dreams and Happy Trails
Ink: Versamark, Tuxedo Black (Memento) and Copic markers
Paper: Stamper's Select White
Other: Just the Ticket die, detail scissors, silver embossing powder, glue dots

Cupcake Card

2011-06-22T19:36:00.004-04:00

Hi! I made this card a while back, and just realized that I never shared it!

Joan B was SO sweet to lend me her cupcake die, and I really enjoyed making this birthday card for a little girl. I stamped the top portion with Polka Dot Basics, and cut the bottom out with a shimmery Bazzil cardstock. I made the flower using felt, and it's been sitting in my stash for a while waiting for the perfect occasion to be used!

Hope you're having a great week!
Melissa

Congratulations

2011-06-22T19:31:00.003-04:00

I'm back with a baby card!

Months ago, Betsy Veldman posted a card that was similar to this--a baby bundle hanging off a branch. It is amazingly beautiful and I wished I had the stamps to recreate it. Now, I do, with "Bundle of Love". I used "Out on a Limb" for the branch, blooms, stars and moon. The "congratulations" comes from Inside and Out: Baby.

I sponged my scene with Spring Rain ink, and also added some Enchanted Evening ink around the edges. The stars got a touch of glitter, and I added a center with my white gel pen to the the blossoms on the tree branch.

Sorry for the bad picture, I tried many time to photograph it well and it just didn't come out clearly.

Thanks for looking!
Melissa

Mehndi Medallion cards

2011-06-21T11:10:00.002-04:00

Happy Summer Solitice!

I've been playing around with the new Mehndi Medallion stamp set, such a great value at $5! Today I'll share three cards.

The first one was stamped using a Memento ink ( I thought it was Rose Bud, but it's not) and Simply Chartreuse (PTI). I just tied on a Simply Chartreuse satin ribbon.

For this card, I stamped the medallion image with Versamark and heat embossed with clear detail powder to create the background. The vases come from Gracious Vasea and the sentiment is from Delightful Dahlia.

This card was made using Happy Trails (the trails, dragonflies and sentiment), and then I went back and stamped some of the little medallions in the background with Versamark, heat embossed again, and then inked around the medallions and edges with Antique Linen Distress Ink (Ranger).

Thanks for taking a look!
Melissa

Celebrate today and every day

2011-06-19T23:40:00.002-04:00

Hope you had a great weekend!

Here's a card I made using an older set, Banner Basics, and a new one, Happy Trails. When I saw that there were two mirror image birds included in the set, I knew I wanted to try out this idea.

I also used Polka Dot Basics to stamp some dots at the bottom of the cream cardstock. This card is an odd size: 5.5 x 7 inches. I used Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores and a Colorbox yellow ink. The ribbon came from a giveaway from Monica (thanks, again!!).

Have a wonderful week!
Melissa

Thank You

2011-06-18T09:34:00.002-04:00

This week's Make It Mondays technique is "rock 'n roll"!

I used Spring Rain and Enchanted Evening ink to rock and roll the bigger blooms

Have a great weekend!
Melissa

"thank you" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Botanical Silhouettes
Ink: Spring Rain, Enchanted Evening, Simply Chartreues
Paper: Simply Chartreuse, Enchanted Evening, Stamper's Select White
Other: Divine Twine

Two More Teachers Notecard Sets

2011-06-17T08:38:00.003-04:00

Thanks for all the sweet comments on my post yesterday! Today, I'll share the other two sets that I made for my son's teacher and the paraeducator who worked in his class all year.

This is a photo of the notecards packaged up. My son told me his teacher's favorite color is purple, so I created the notecards with that in need.

Included are 8 different notecards, with various sentiments.

Here is the thank you card for her, also in purple :)I made it using Wondeful word die and stamps, Polka Dot Basics, By the Number Impression plate and some gems.

Next, here is the notecard set that I made for our wonderful paraeducator. For theses I used Botanical Silhouettes, with Summer Sunrise and Raspberry Fizz cardstock as the base.

And finally, her thank you card, made using Edgers #2 (thanks, Deb!!), paper from Echo Park, and Wonderful Words die and stamps.

Thanks for looking!
Melissa

Teacher Notecard Gift Sets

2011-06-15T22:22:00.003-04:00

Hello! I haven't posted in over three weeks! Lately, I've been feeling like blogging is a lot of work....but I think it's just the business of the end of the school year talking. I have been making a ton of stuff, though!

Tomorrow is my son's last day of kindergarten. What an amazing year it's been! He has grown so much: physically, academically and emotionally. I give most of that credit to his great school and all his wonderful teachers. They are so important and I wanted to let them know that they are appreciated, so I made them each a unique notecard set. I'll share the gift sets for all his "specials" teachers today (PE, music, art, etc) and will post again tomorrow with two more sets for his homeroom teacher and paraeducator.

First up are the notecards for our music teacher:

I used a Royal Velvet base for each notecard and stamped a music strip (Waltzingmouse Stamps) on the bottom of each white layer using Tuxedo Black ink. The "just a note" sentiment comes from Postmarks.

Next, is the set for our PE teacher.

For these, I stamped three balls from "Have a Ball", masking a bit, and coloring the basketball with Copics. I left off a sentiment on these.

Each tag hanging from the card box was stamped with "thanks for all you do" from Mat Stack 2 Collection (or is it Mat Stack 1???)

We have the most amazing Media Specialist...anytime I come in for an evening meeting she is still there working!

This set was stamped with images and a saying from All Booked Up.

For her notecards, there are stamped envelopes with the open book image. A fun touch that I usually forget to add :)

My son's class also has an devoted ESOL teacher who comes in daily to work with the ESOL students. Although she doesn't work one-on-one with my son, I still wanted her to know that she is appreciated!

And the last set for today is probably my favorite! My son adores art class and his art teacher!

I decided not to color the paintbrushes on the tag, as the Copics would bleed through.

Thanks for taking a look at my gigantic, photo-heavy post today!

Hope you are enjoying your last days of school, or the beginnings of summer!
Melissa

Belated Mother's Day

2011-05-28T06:00:00.001-04:00

Happy Weekend!

I had a friend ask for some belated Mother's Day cards, so I made these two.

On this first one, you'll notice the same background as I used in yesterday's sympathy card. It really is my favorite background stamp, and I love how versatile it is! (Plus I had stamped and embossed a whole half sheet, so I had enough for two cards!)

And a monochromatic card in two of my current favorite colors. You can't tell very well in the photo, but the inside of each bloom has some glitter.

Thanks for looking!
Melissa

"Happy Mother's Day" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: YOF :Gladiolus, sentiment from Delightful Dahlia and Blooming Button Bits, Faux Fun (Waltzingmouse Stamps)
Ink: Versamark, Raspberry Fizz, Grape Jelly (Memento)
Paper: Raspberry Fizz, Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, Lavendar Moon, Royal Velvet
Other: Bloomers (Webster's Pages), Aqua Mist buttons, Twine, Double-Ended Banner Die, Royal Velvet satin ribbon, Martha Stewart Glitter, Quickie glue pen

Make It Mondays: Sympathy

2011-05-27T08:00:00.001-04:00

Unfortunately, I needed to make a sympathy card this week, so I drew some inspiration from this week's Make It Monday video.

I decided to use some cool colors, aqua mist and smokey shadow, and do a classic embossed background. The stamp for the background comes from Waltzingmoue Stamps' Faux Fun. (May be my favorite stamp ever!) The focal image was created also by heat embossing the frame from Mat Stack 1 Collection and the sentiment from Think Big Favorites.

I stamped an additional phrase on the inside of the card which comes from Healing Touch Sentiments.

Thanks for stopping by!
Melissa

"With Sympathy" (All PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Think Big Favorites, Mat Stack 1 Collection, Faux Fun (Waltzingmouse Stamps)
Ink: Versamark and Smokey Shadow
Paper: Aqua Mist and Smokey Shadow
Other: Heat tool, foam tape, Clear detail EP (Filigree), Mat Stack 1 Die, ribbon from Deb's stash!

Wishing you an epic year

2011-05-26T21:54:00.002-04:00

Here is the card that I made last week to send to my brother for his birthday.

I was so happy to see that this sentiment was included, as he works for a company called Epic! Such a fun coincidence! I did mask the sentiment to block the "to a great kid" part after happy birthday.

Thanks for looking!
Melissa

"Wishing you an epic year" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Boy Basics: Game On, Grunge Me
Ink: Versamark, Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper: Smokey Shadow, Blueberry Sky and Stamper's Select White
OTher: Corner rounder, Fillable Frames 4 die

Wedding Dress card

2011-05-25T14:38:00.002-04:00

Hi friends!

I'm so behind with posting things on my blog....here is a project I created for The Hybrid Chick .

You can see all the details on how I made this shaped card here .

I'll be back later with more to share!
Melissa

Happy birthday, Merry!

2011-05-22T14:00:00.000-04:00

We are wishing Merry a happy birthday today! Here is the card that I made for her using the new Anniversary set, Botanical Silhouettes.

Merry- I hope that you will get a chance to celebrate! Please know that we are thinking of you during this difficult time!

Melissa

"happy birthday" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Botanical Silhouettes (2010 Anniversary set)
Ink: LuLu Lavendar and Grape Jelly (Memento), Antique Linen (Ranger), Simply Chartreuse
Paper: Vintage Cream, Lavendar Moon and Royal Velvet
Other: Foam tape, gems, sponge

boy baby cards

2011-05-17T21:16:00.003-04:00

Here are a couple more cards that I made over the weekend will be soon sent to Beth!

This first card uses the teddy bear image and sentiment from Baby Button Bits. I have been using Kraft cardstock and white ink on every card lately...

See! Can't seem to move away from Kraftand white! This card has a background stamped with Boy Basics: Simple Circles. I used Label Basics to stamp the focal image, and the sentiment comes from Baby Button Bits, colored with Copic markers.

Thanks for looking!
Melissa

"cute and cuddly" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Baby Button Bits, BB: Retro
Ink: Fresh Snow, Spring Rain and Rich Cocoa (Memento)
Paper: Kraft, Stamper's Select White, Blueberry Sky
Other: Limitless Layers Dies, Double Ended Banner Die, Blueberry Sky satin ribbon, Copic Markers, Foam tape

"bundle of joy"
Stamps: Boy Basics: Simple Circles, Label Basics and Baby Button Bits
Ink: Spring Rain, Fresh Snow, Rich Cocoa (Memento)
Paper: Kraft, Stamper's Select White
Other: Blueberry Sky satin ribbon, Blueberry sky button, twine, Copics, Foam tape

Thank You

2011-05-14T06:00:00.001-04:00

I've needed a few thank you cards lately, and this is one that I made.

I stamped the branches and colored them with Copics. The little bird was cut out by hand and colored with Copics also. The sentiment comes from Year of Flowers: Lily of the Valley.

Hope you have a great weekend! I will be heading up the crafts at our elementary school's spring fair today!

Thanks for looking!
Melissa

"Thank you" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Little Bitty Bird, YOF: Lily of the Valley
Ink: Rich Cocoa (Memento), Copics
Paper: Soft Stone, Simply Chartreuse, and Royal Velvet
Other: RV satin ribbon, button, gems, Rustic Cream twine, Border Punch

Baby

2011-05-13T15:10:00.002-04:00

I made some more baby cards!

I stamped a background using two of the Tiny Tags stamps and added buttons to each image. I'm on such a kraft cardstock and white ink kick!

I tied some rustic cream twine and added a tag from Tiny Tags stamped with "Baby".

I'll be back soon with two boy baby cards!

Melissa

"Baby" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Tiny Tags
Ink: Fresh Snow, Grape Jelly (Memento)
Paper: Kraft, Royal Velvet and Lavendar Moon
Other: Royal Velvet buttons, Lavendar Moon buttons, Hawaiian Shores buttons, Rustic Cream twine, Tiny Tags dies, Pop Dots

Look who has just arrived!

2011-05-12T13:01:00.000-04:00

Just when I think life can't get any busier, it does! Is May like this for everyone else??

I made a couple of baby cards this morning. Beth and I are trading, baby cards for a mag, so these will be off to her, as well as others yet to be made!

And baby cards is the latest PTI Princess challenge offered up by Lee .

I loved the card

Thanks for taking a look!
Melissa

"Look who has just arrived!" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Polka Dot Basics, Label Basics, Baby Button Bits
Ink: Fresh Snow, Sweet Blush, Rich Cocoa (Memento), Walnut Stain (Ranger)
Paper: Stamper's Select White and Kraft, Emma's Shoppe (Crate Paper)
Other: Copic markers, pink ribbon, foam tape, sponge, Edgers #1

Sending Heartfelt Sympathy

2011-05-09T06:00:00.000-04:00

Hope you had a great weekend!

I made this sympathy card recently. It's a simple one-layer card, and I masked the sentiment area before stamping the flowers.

Thanks for coming by!
Melissa

"Sending Heartfelt Sympathy" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: YOF: Gladilous, YOF: Carnation, Mat Stack 1 Collection
Ink: Rich Cocoa (Memento), Copics
Paper: Royal Velvet, Lavendar Moon and Vintage Cream
Other: Mat Stack 1 Die (to create mask), Foam Tape

Tea Party!

2011-05-08T20:00:00.001-04:00

Claire of Waltzingmouse Stamps is hosting a tea party to celebrate her company's second anniversary! And of course she is holding a fabulous contest and one winner will be in stamp heaven! Read all the details here .

Using the free tea holder template, I made this fun bag! The patchwork layer is made up of Emma's Shoppe papers from Crate Paper. I also used a magnetic closure to keep the bag shut. The sentiment comes from Say It With Style. I just may make up a bunch more of these and be ahead of the game for end of the year teacher gifts!

Thanks for looking!
Melissa

"Thank you" tea bag baggie
Stamps: Say It With Style
Ink: Hawaiian Shores (PTI), Walnut Stain (Ranger)
Paper: Harvest Gold (PTI), Emma's Shoppe (Crate Paper)
Other: Square punch, sponge, Tea Bag baggie template (WMS), HS satin ribbon and Pure Poppy button (PTI), tag die (Spellbinders), twine, magnetic closure (Basic Grey)

Make It Monday: Double Embossing

2011-05-07T22:45:00.004-04:00

Happy Mother's Day to all my mommy friends in the US! Hope that you are able to celebrate with loved ones!

I made a card using the techniques shown in the latest Make It Monday video: double embossing. I used the In Bloom Impression plate and Mat Stack 4. I did "spritz" my paper before running it through, which helped quite a bit. My spritz was a bit heavier-handed then I would have liked. It took a while for the paper to dry and I wasn't feeling very patient, so I went ahead a heat embossed by sentiment, but as you can see, little fleck stuck in places they aren't supposed to be!

This is a great technique that I will definitely try again!

Thanks for stopping by!
Melissa

"Sending Warm Thoughts..." (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Healing Touch
Ink: Versamark
Paper: Royal Velvet and Lavendar Moon
Other: In Bloom Impression Plate, Mat Stack 4 Die, Silk ribbon, White detail Embossing powder (Filigree), gems, Copic to color gems, Heat tool

Staff Appreciation Cards

2011-05-03T22:18:00.003-04:00

Happy Teacher/Staff Appreciation Day! I've been very busy working on a project for the staff at my son's school, on behalf of the PTA. Last year, Michele posted photos for a gorgeous project she made for the staff at her school. Here is her post. Don't those cupcakes look yummy??!!

I followed the same idea as Michele, cutting a slit to hold the flowers. I stamped the sentiment using a combination of Big and Bold Wishes and one of the Year of Flower set, combined with the flourish from Mat Stack 2 Collection. I also used Year of Flowers: Carnation (thanks, Cindi!!!).

This is what I came up with for the inside. We are honoring all the staff at our school, since we have many teachers, para-educators and other staff; and they all play such a huge role in our kids's lives!

I found the water tubes at
Save on Crafts and got the carnations at a local wholesale floral distributor.

That basket is only half of what I made! In total, there are about 110. I'm looking forward to delivering these tomorrow.

Thanks for looking!
Melissa

Easter Wishes

2011-04-22T08:32:00.003-04:00

I'm back with another Easter card today with a stamped egg background. This one features the cute bunny from Friendship Jar Spring Fillers as well.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter weekend!

Melissa

"Easter Wishes" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Friendship Jar Spring Fillers, Mat Stack 4 Collection and Banner Builder
Ink: Rich Cocoa (Memento), Spring Rain
Paper: Spring Rain and Vintage Cream
Other: Double Ended Banner Die, Mat Stack 4 Die, Blue grosgrain ribbon, foam tape, Copic markers

Happy Easter

2011-04-17T21:47:00.001-04:00

I found a bit of time to make some Easter cards today! I stamped the background with the eggs from Friendship Jar Spring Filler in Hawaiian Shores ink. The little chick also comes from that set. Hope you had a great weekend! Melissa "Happy Easter" (all PTI unless noted) Stamps: Friendship Jar Spring Fillers, Mat Stack 4 Collection, Spring Baskets (WMS) Ink: Hawaiian Shores, Versamark, Rich Cocoa (Memento) Paper: Hawaiian SHores, Vintage Cream , Harvest Gold Other: Harvest Gold satin ribbon, Mat Stack 4 die, clear detail ep (Filigree), foam tape, Copic markers

Make It Monday: Embossing

2011-04-09T14:03:00.003-04:00

Hi! It's been a long time...life has been busy!! I want to share a set of cards that I made using heat embossing (one of my favorite techniques!). These cards are part of a bundle that I'll be donating for my daughter's preschool silent auction fundraiser.

The design is the same for all six: a die-cut Mat Stack 4 stamped with several images from that same set, a heat-embossed background using a stamp from Damask Designs, and several different sentiments from various sets.

On some of the cards, I rounded the bottom edges. I chose not to include ribbon on these, so they are easily mailable.

I wanted to include a variety of sentiments, they come from Vintage Picnic, Just the Ticket, and Star Prints.

And finally a photo of that lovely embossing!

Thanks for coming by to look!
Melissa

Stamps: Mat Stack 4 Collection, Damask Designs, Star Prints, Just the Ticket, Vintage Picnic
Ink: Sweet Blush, Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, Simply Chartreuse, Smokey Shadow, Raspberry Fizz,Spring Rain, Berry Sorbet (all PTI), Night Sky, Lulu Lavendar, Grape Jelly, and Rich Cocoa (Memento)
Paper: Sweet Blush, Raspberry Fizz, Smokey Shadow, Berry Sorbet, Simply Chartruese, Spring Rain, Aqua Mist, Hawiian Shores, Enchanted Evening, Royal Velvet and Lavendar Moon
Other: Clear Detail embossing powder (Filigree), heat tool, Mat Stack 4 Die, Foam tape, corner rounder

Card-Making Evening

2011-03-27T22:21:00.002-04:00

Happy Wednesday! I want to share the cards that I designed for a card-making evening with some friends. We got together last night and had a great time! They made these three cards, and each person added their own style to them! Thanks for coming by! Melissa "Thinking of You" (all PTI unless noted) Stamps: YOF: Daffodil, Fillable Frame, Healing Touch Ink: Summer Sunrise, Lemon Tart and Smokey Shadow Paper: Lemon Tart and Stamper's Select White Other: FF Die, Summer Sunrise grosgrain ribbon, foam dimensionals "Happy Birthday" Stamps: Beautiful Blooms II, Enjoy the Ride Ink: Hawaiian SHores, Simply Chartreuse and Berry Sorbet, Grape Jelly (Memento) Paper: Stamper's Select White, Royal Velvet, Hawaiian Shores Other: HS and Simply Chartreuse felt, small scallop border die, BBII dies, Plum pudding button, Button twine, double-ended banner die "Happy Mother's Day" Stamps: Polka Dot Basics II, Wreath for All Seasons, Delightful Dahlia (sentiment) Ink: LuLu Lavendar and Rich Cocao(Memento), Aqua Mist and Hibiscus Burst Paper: Vintage Cream and Lavendar Moon Other: Lavendar Moon satin ribbon, Mat Stack 4 die, foam dimensionals

Happy Mother's Day

2011-03-27T22:11:00.003-04:00

I really love the new Postmarks set from PTI! I was playing around and came up with this card.

I stamped the postage stamp image with Fresh Snow ink onto Kraft cardstock. The label comes from Label Basics, which I cut out by hand. I stamped another postage stamp image onto a die cut stamp, using Berry Sorbet ink. I may go back and add a couple buttons or gems, it seems to need a little something more.

I've been busy working this weekend making some Easter cards for a friend, and designing and preparing some cards for a card-making evening with some friends on Tuesday. I'll share those soon.

Hope you had a great weekend!
Melissa

"Happy Mother's Day" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Postmarks, Label Basics, Tag Its 2
Ink: Fresh Snow and Berry Sorbet, Creamy Brown and Chestnut Roan (Colorbox), Antique Linen and Walnut Stain (Ranger)
Paper: Kraft and VIntage Cream
Other: Berry Sorbet Satin ribbon, Pop Dots, Postage Stamp die

Thanks so much

2011-03-24T06:00:00.000-04:00

This card was made a while back, but never got posted, I guess! I'm not finding as much for blogging as I used to.

I was playing around with royal velvet when I made this, as well as Tag-Its 1.

Thanks for looking!

"Thanks so much" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps; Round and Round, Tag Its 1
Ink: Grape Jelly
Paper: Royal Velvet, Vintage Cream and Simply Chartreuse
Other: Royal Velvet satin ribbon, gems, copic marker to color gems

Cute as a button

2011-03-23T10:00:00.000-04:00

My friend recently had a baby girl, so I was inspired to put together this card.

I attended a get-together of PTI stampers from the DC area a couple weeks ago, and I was lucky to use other people's stuff! I cut out and stamped some of the bitty backgrounds that you see on this card, as well as some button things.

I stamped the background using Polka Dot Basics II in Vintage Cream ink. The sentiment comes from Baby Button Bits.

On the inside, I used Inside and Out: Baby to add a verse and congratulations.

This card works for the current Passion for Papertrey challenge .

Thanks for looking!
Melissa

"Cute as a button" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Baby Button Bits, Polka Dot Basics II, Bitty Background Basics
Ink: Sweet Blush, Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, Lemon Tart, Vintage Cream, Antique Linen (Ranger)
Paper: Kraft, Vintage Cream and Sweet Blush
Other: Sewing machine, Pinking square die, Sweet blush satin ribbon, sweet blush buttons, Button Twine, double ended die

Double the Love

2011-03-22T21:46:00.001-04:00

More baby cards! My neighbor had twins last week, a boy and a girl, so I pulled out Bitty Baby Blessings to make a card.

I used papers from Cosmo Cricket's Earth Love, which I thoughted worked well for a baby card meant to include both a boy and girl.

For the inside, I stamped a sentiment from Inside and Out: Baby. I love that you can customize your greeting so well with that set!

Thanks for coming by!
Melissa

"Double the Love" (All PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Bitty Baby Blessings, Inside and Out: Baby
Ink: Rich Cocoa (Memento)
Paper: Melon Berry and Vintage Cream, Earth Love (Cosmo Cricket)
Other: Melon Berry satin ribbon, Mat Stack 4 die, Spellbinders tag die, button twine

Easter Blessings

2011-03-22T21:29:00.003-04:00

I'm shaing a card that I made using Wreath for All Seasons. I went with a purple color scheme.

Not much more to say tonight. Thanks for stopping by!

Melissa

"Easter Blessings" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Wreath for All Seasons, BB: Tin Types, sentiment from Spring Baskets (WMS)
Ink: Rich Cocoa, Grape Jelly and LuLu Lavendar (Memento), Vintage Cream, Versamark
Paper: Vintage Cream, Royal Velvet and Lavendar Moon
Other: Lavendar Moon Twill Tape, heat tool, clear detail embossing powder (Filigree), Mat Stack 4 Die

CR84FN18

2011-03-06T21:51:00.005-05:00

I decided to play along with the latest CR84FN color challenge , which is to use some fun colors: orange, yellow and kraft. With all the rain we got today, I needed those bursts of color!

I first stamped the background using an image from Background Basics: Petal Power in Versamark ink onto Kraft cardstock, and then I heat embossed it. I die cut and stamped a couple of butterflies from Butterfly Dreams and Love Lives Here. I also stamped a bunch of the tiny butterflies from Round and Round. All the butterflies were stamped with Lemon Tart (PTI) and Apricot (Colorbox) ink. My wonderful orange zest ink is too dry to use :(.

You can't see in this photo, but I stamped the inside with "happy birthday" from Enjoy the Ride and added a couple of the tiny butterflies.

Thanks for taking a look!
Melissa

"Happy Birthday" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Background Basics: Petal Power, Enjoy the Ride, Love Lives Here, Butterfly Dreams, Round and Round
Ink: Lemon Tart, Versamark, Apricot (Colorbox), Walnut Stain (Ranger)
Paper: Kraft, Stamper's Select White, Lemon Tart
Other: Lemon Tart satin ribbon, Love Lives Here buttefly die, Butterfly Dreams butterfly die, Border punch, glue dots, Clear detail embossing powder (Filigree), heat tool, gem

Happy Birthday!

2011-03-05T18:44:00.003-05:00

I had lots of fun playing around with my stamps and paper for a bit this afternoon! Here's one of the cards that I made.

The card base is Royal Velvet, then I layered a piece of Simply Chartreuse which was die cut on one edge using the small scalloped border die. I added a strip of Sweet Symphony paper, over which I added some gorgeous green ruffly ribbon. I then stamped the sentiment onto Lavendar Moon paper, cut with the double-ended banner die, using Grape Jelly ink. The last touch was to add a few purple buttons, one of which was tied with silk ribbon.

The color is much better and true to life on the close up.

Hope you're having a great weekend!
Melissa

"Happy Birthday!" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Tiny Treats: Birthday
Ink: Grape Jelly (Memento), Walnut Stain (Ranger)
Paper: Royal Velvet, Simply Chartreuse, Lavendar Moon, and Sweet Symphony patterned paper
Other: green ribbon (???), silk ribbon, small scalloped border die, double-ended banner die, Plum pudding buttons

Thank You

2011-03-02T11:31:00.002-05:00

Hi and Happy Wednesday!

I pulled out an old favorite, Damask Designs, to create a background for this card. The focal image, from Mat Stack 4 Collection, was stamped in Hawaiian Shores ink, with the center damask image stamped in Aqua Mist.

I LOVE these two colors together! I just need to buy an ink to match Royal Velvet.

Have a great day!
Melissa

"Thank You" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Damask Designs, Mat Stack 4 Collection
Ink: Versamark, Hawaiian Shores, Aqua Mist and purple (Colorbox)
Paper: Stamper's Select White, Hawaiian Shores, Royal Velvet
Other: Clear detail embossing powder (Filigree), Royal Velvet satin ribbon, heat tool, corner rounder, Mat Stack 4 Die

PTI February Blog Hop

2011-02-25T09:00:00.000-05:00

It's PTI Blog Hop time! This month's theme is scallops.

Here's my card, where I included some vertical scallops. I overlapped two rows, one cut with the large scallops and one with the small scallop die.

I also used the Mat Stack 4 die, Big Birthday Wishes and By the Numbers Dies. The patterned paper is from the Basic Grey collection, Hopscotch.

Thanks for hopping by!
Melissa

"It's your 4th birthday" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Big Birthday Wishes
Ink: Walnut Stain (Ranger), Chestnut Roan (Colorbox)
Paper: Berry Sorbet, Hopscotch (Basic Grey)
Other: Small and Large scallop dies, Mat Stack 4 Die, Berry Sorbet satin ribbon, By the Numbers Die, Foam tape, Sponge

Thinking of you, always

2011-02-24T16:25:00.002-05:00

We have a tiny purple crocus poking out in our yard! Spring flowers may just be my favorite! In honor of the upcoming season, I made a card using the beautiful tuilips from "Wishing You".

I stamped a few extra of the blooms, cut them out and used small pop dots to pop them up on my card.

Thanks for stopping by!
Melissa

"Thinking of you, always" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Wishing You, Year of Flowers: Lily of the Valley
Ink: Rouge (Colorbox), Purple Hydrangea, Versamagic (Memento) ** a good match for Plum Pudding**, Raspberry Fizz, Simply Chartreuse
Paper: Vintage Cream, Plum Pudding
Other: Raspberry Fizz satin ribbon, pop dots

Wishing you a happy birthday

2011-02-23T21:10:00.002-05:00

It's Make It Mondays time again! This week's challenge was to create a strip of glitter using Scor-Tape. Fun!

Thanks for looking!
Melissa

"wishing you a happy birthday" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Mat Stack 2 collection, In Bloom
Ink: Hawaiian Shores
Paper: Stamper's Select White
Other: Scor-Tape, Martha Stewart glitter, gems, foam tape

Get Well Soon

2011-02-20T15:03:00.003-05:00

Do you ever create a whole card and then really dislike it when you're finished??

That would be this card for me! I wanted to make something to enter the latest Make It Mondays challenge--to use a vellum sentiment strip. I had the idea to have several strips of vellum laying diagonally across the card. So far, so good.

I heat embossed "Get Well Soon" onto the lowest of the three strips. I stamped the background dots. I cut the bottom part of the three layers of cs with Edgers #1. Sewed the bit together. Still okay.

Then I added a ribbon diagonally, thinking it would draw the eye. Don't like it.

And then I die cut and stamped the butterflies and positioned and repositioned them about 14 times. Don't like them. I couldn't get them in the right place, and I feel they are too big also. The last step was to color some gems with a Copic marker and add them to the card.

Oh well, it's a learning experience, I guess! This card uses the latest WPlus9 color challenge . (Kraft, Lilac, Turquoise and White).

Thanks for stopping by!
Melissa

"Get Well Soon" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Love Lives Here, Healing Touch, Round and Round Anniversary Set
Ink: Lilac (Colorbox), Hawaiian Shores, Antique Linen and Walnut Stain (Ranger)
Paper: Kraft, Stamper's Select White, Lavender Moon, Vellum
Other: gems, Copic marker, glue dots, Edgers #1, sewing machine, sponge, Hawaiian Shores satin ribbon, White detail embossing powder (Filigree), heat tool

2011-02-08T20:24:00.003-05:00

I'm back with my card for a brand-new program sponsored by Papertrey Ink: Make It Mondays.

Those of you PTI fans already know all the details, but in case you don't and would like to learn more, go here .

I decided to use just one sentiment repeatedly on my card, the happy birthday from Enjoy the Ride. This is probably my favorite happy birthday stamp...it's a good size and I love the font combination!

Thanks for stopping by!
Melissa

"Happy Birthday" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Enjoy the Ride
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Hawaiian Shores
Paper: True Black, Hawaiian Shores and Aqua Mist
Other: True Black satin ribbon, small scallop border die, pearls (colored with a black Sharpie)

A little note

2011-02-06T21:07:00.004-05:00

Today's contest during the PTI Anniversary celebrations is one in which the winner will design a stamp set in collaboration with *the* Nichole Heady...how cool would that be!!

Go to Nichole's blog and read all the details and download your free digital images!

I created a card using Melissa Bickford's cute tag.

The rainbow and cloud stamps come from Up, Up and Away.

Thanks for looking!
Melissa

"A Little Note"
Stamps: Up, Up and Away
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), sky blue (Colorbox)
Paper: Stamper's Select White, Pure Poppy and Blueberry Sky
Other: Pure Poppy satin ribbon, Copic markers, Limitless Layers die

Papertrey Ink Customer Favorites

2011-02-05T08:54:00.003-05:00

Papertrey Ink is celebrating it's 4th Anniversary! And today it's hosting a contest in which customers post and link their own favorite project from 2010 in a chance to win a huge prize! See all the details here at Nicole's blog.

I'm going to repost my favorite project that I made in 2010, a scrapbook page.

This page features photos of my kids on their first day of preschool, back in September 2009, and their last day of school in June 2010. It was particularly special as it was my daughter's first year at preschool and my son's last.

I used a ton of PTI product on this: the stamp sets School Time and School Time Additions, the large scallop border die, stamps from Mini Scrapbook Series: Library Ledger and Tabs.

I did lots of fun background stamping and heat embossing. For all the details you can visit my original post .

Have a great weekend!
Melissa

Happy Birthday

2011-02-02T06:30:00.000-05:00

It's my turn to post today at the Waltzingmouse Makers Blog !

Here's my card:

All the details are posted over there.

Thanks for looking!
Melissa

Happy Mother's Day

2011-01-29T11:30:00.004-05:00

I managed to emerge from my bed and create a card this morning!

My kids and I have been sick all week, so this weekend I'll be cleaning, disinfecting, doing laundry and restocking tissues!

I wanted to play along with the Waltzingmouse Stamps CASE competition before the time ran out. Check here for details and to see the entries.

I chose to CASE Belinda's lovely card. Here it is:

So pretty! I created a card that also had a label 14 cut-out and I also stamped a musical background behind the focal image.

The flower basket comes from WMS's Spring Baskets. I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder for the dots. The cardstock is Hawaiian Shores, Raspberry Fizz and Stamper's Select. The velvet trim comes from American Craft. Everything was popped up with foam tape.

Thanks for looking!
Melissa

January PTI Blog Hop

2011-01-25T09:09:00.004-05:00

Hello fellow hoppers!

Our theme this month was to use a stamp set that had not yet been used, or something that was gathering dust. I don't have any sets that are unused, but I pulled out an old favorite that hadn't been used in a while, Baby Button Bits.

It's funny...I had two patterned paper layers ready to adhere onto my card base, and as I was sewing them the focal layer was on top of the base and I loved the way it looked! So I went with it...and now I have a clean and simple card!

The cupcake is paper pieced with some My Mind's Eye papers, onto which I added a button tied with silk ribbon. The sentiment is from Enjoy the Ride.

Sorry for the dark pictures, I couldn't get them to look any better in Photoshop.

Thanks for coming by!
Melissa

2011-01-24T09:45:00.003-05:00

Happy Monday! I've got two sick kids with me today...luckily there is no school today anyway. I'm getting a little tired of winter and all the sickies, so in an effort to invite spring, I've been making lots of cards with light, spring colors and beautiful florals!

The patterned paper is from Basic Grey, Hopscotch, and a Fancy Pants paper. The sentiment is from a Year of Flower set. Other cardstock colors are kraft, Lavendar Moon and Aqua Mist, along with an Aqua Mist satin ribbon.

Thanks for taking a look!
Melissa

WMS January Blog Waltz

2011-01-17T03:00:00.001-05:00

Welcome! Thanks for stopping by today! I'm taking part in the January Waltzingmouse Stamps Blog Waltz and the theme this month is Valentine's Day!

I made my card using Muscial Backgrounds, Label 14, and the sentiment comes from Say it With Style.

Thanks for looking! I'm hoping to check out all the project later..today is my son's 6th birthday, so we are celebrating all day!

Melissa

Stamps: Say It With Style, Muscial Backgrounds and Label 14 (WMS)
Paper: Hopscotch (Basic Grey), Enchanted Evening, Aqua Mist and White (PTI)
Ink: Night Sky (Versamark), Aqua Mist (PTI)
Other: Trim (Webster's Pages), pearls, Label 14 Nestabilities Dies

Be Mine

2011-01-15T18:08:00.003-05:00

Happy Saturday!

I made this fun Valentine card using some new Basic Grey paper, Hopscotch. The stamps used are Heart Prints (and the new dies), and the WMS set, Holiday Label 14.

We are getting ready for my son's birthday party tomorrow. Should be fun!

Thanks for taking a look!
Melissa

"Be Mine" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Holiday Label 14 (WMS), Heart Prints
Paper: Aqua Mist, Vintage Cream and Sweet Blush, Hopscotch patterned paper (Basic Grey)
Ink: Sweet Blush, Blue and brown (Colorbox), Walnut Stain (Ranger)
Other: sewing machine, border punch (EK Sucess), Sweet Blush Satin ribbon, foam and pop dots

Happy birthday

2011-01-09T20:42:00.003-05:00

Hope you had a great weekend!

Here's a card that I made for my grandma's birthday, which is later this month. I love this delicate patterned paper, from the My Mind's Eye line, Fine and Dandy. I'm so happy I cut into this sheet, but I may have to buy another to use on more projects!

The little butterflies are from Butterfly Dreams, and the sentiment comes from Delightful Dahlia. The scalloped circles were cut using the Love Lives Here die.

Thanks for coming by!
Melissa

Thank You

2011-01-06T20:11:00.004-05:00

I'm finally back to update my blog!

Of course, I'm needing thank you cards to send out after Christmas, and I found this post by Sara that made my jaw drop! I thought her cards were simply beautiful, so the next chance I had, I made some copies of her card. The only things I changed were the colors and the sentiment, and its placement.

After a few of those, I decided to make some cards in the same style that I've made in the past, changing a few elements. No time lately to reinvent the wheel!

I heat embossed the leaves from Beautiful Blooms with clear ep onto Ocean Tides cardstock, a somewhat forgotten color. (At least to me). Then I die cut and stamped the Fillable Frame image, and stamped the sentiment.

I've been busying working on my son's 6th birthday party...I'm a little behind. For him, it's all Mario, all the time, so not much stamping involved with my preparations. But I do plan to make some goodie "boxes" using a template, I think!.

Thanks for stopping by!
Melissa

Top Ten of 2010

2011-01-01T12:54:00.003-05:00

Hi, friends! Happy New Year!

I love seeing all the top ten posts going up, and I thought I'd look through my posts from the last year and choose my top ten favorite projects.

This is the calendar that I made for my mom's birthday using the Year of Flower series and Calendar Basics. Here is my favorite flower, Morning Glory.

Next up is my card for the August Waltzingmouse Blog Waltz. This is the first time I used Glimmer Mist and I love how the stamped background paper looks.

I made this card for Sara, who was my proxy shopper at CHA. To me, this card is so cheerful and I love the papers and the tickets!

This is my favorite scrapbook LO that I made this year! I love the backgrounds I made using School Time and clear embossing powder. And this is such a great way for me to remember my kids at this point in time.

This fun, oversize card was a blast to create! I really like all the glitter!

This layout is so special to me! I'm so glad to incorporate my stamping into scrapbooking.

This card showcases my love of the color hawaiian shores!

I really like the ribbon on this card. It's silk ribbon colored with Copic markers.

LOVE the embossed background on the hawiian shores piece. A fun color combo that I rarely use!

And finally, my first GSS win. This card was for my Grandma's birthday. I love the big cluster of balloons.

I'm feeling inspired to go back and copy some of these cards now.

Hope you enjoy your weekend!
Melissa

Christmas cards

2010-12-30T06:00:00.000-05:00

As usual for me, it was down to the last minute for making Christmas cards, and those of you receiving them probably got them after Christmas :)

On this card, I decided to try making my own background paper similar to the newest PTI paper, Sweet Symphony. I stamped the Musical Background from Waltzingmouse Stamps onto Distressed Dots (PTI) paper with black ink. The focal image was created with Fillable Frame #10 and a sentiment from Waltzingmouse's The Compliments of the Season.

And the inside also uses Compliments of the Season and the gorgeous scroll from PTI's Vintage Label set.

This card was made using some leftover Christmas patterned paper (Basic Grey and the Girl's Paperie, I think), Vintage Labels 14 set and Compliments of the Season, both from Waltzingmouse Stamps. A bit of sewing and some PTI ribbon.

I didn't have enough time to take pictures of the rest of the cards!

Thanks for stopping by!
Melissa