Home for the Holidays

This is the time of year when holiday travel looms, schedules overflow and stress levels are a little too high.  Which is a shame, since that makes it hard to enjoy the best thing--being home for the holidays, with family and friends whom you don't see enough.

I'm staring at a lot of travel and unusual schedules over the next month, but I can't wait.  Just like I couldn't wait to CASE this card when I saw it on Connie Babbert's blog.  It's just so perfect!  I love the glowing windows, the sparkly frame, and of course, the promise of Santa landing on the roof.

I had everything cut to make two of these at once...but then I couldn't stamp the sentiment straight--even though I tried twice and photopolymer is see through!--so I had to improvise.  I like this version as well, and was happy to use that script sentiment from Greetings of the Season.  In fact, I can't say which card I like more, so both are headed into my growing pile of cards to mail.  Another thing that makes this time of year hectic, but so much fun.

Cheers, and safe travels!
~Melanie

Stamps: Holiday Home, Greetings of the Season
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento, Bermuda Bay, Cherry Cobbler, So Saffron, Crumb Cake, Garden Green
Paper: Pool Party, Bermuda Bay, Whisper White, Silver Glimmer, All is Calm DSP
Extras: Big Shot, Homemade Holiday frailest, dimensional

Simple Snowflake Greetings

This week's sketch at Clean and Simple Stamping is just fantastic, and called for me to use more of my DSP.  Out came my All is Calm DSP, and the circles framelits to crop the snowflakes out of the foil sheet.  I also used my favorite retired sentiment, from Greetings of the Season.  And that's it!  Which is why I love Clean and Simple sketches--go check them out.

Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Greetings of the Season
Ink: Lost Lagoon
Paper: Lost Lagoon, All is Calm DSP, Whisper White
Extras: Circles framelits, Big Shot, Corner Rounder punch

Project Winter Card

I entirely forgot to post this yesterday, but it's even more appropriate today because baby, it's cold AND windy outside!  I love that song, and had fun assembling this card from some Project Life supplies.

Everyone has been buzzing about Stampin' Up! carrying Project Life, and it looks like a great way to scrapbook to me...except that I now do my scrapbooking exclusively with My Digital Studio.  So I haven't purchased any of the cards, and saw them in person for the first time when I was at my aunt/upline's Stampin' Loft.

Stampin' Up!'s Project Life cards are just lovely, and make holiday (or anytime) card making quick and easy.  I picked out this "baby it's cold outside" card, choose to pair it with Crumb Cake and Coastal Cabana, and quickly had a card to mail.

That said, I hope it's warmer where you are.
Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Holiday Home
Ink: Silver Encore, Coastal Cabana blendabilities
Paper: Crumb Cake, Coastal Cabana, Seasonal Snapshot Card Collection
Extras: Frosted Sequins

Sparkly Stars

Since it seems I've had a theme going this week, I decided to round it out with some sparkle for your Friday too.  This is another of the card's I made in my aunt and upline's Stampin' Loft, just so I could play around with this great stars set from the Holiday Supplement.

I didn't have a plan, but can't complain about how this card turned out.  My favorite thing is how well the stamps layer--each of the stamps on the big star is separate, so you can use them together or individually as you like.  Those dots and lines have lots of uses after Christmas is over (and snowflakes are good for at least half of the year in Massachusetts!), so I've ordered Many Merry Stars for my collection.

My other excitement was the extra sparkle provided by those silver sequins.  Did you notice them in the Holiday Catalog?  You get a variety of sizes and some snowflakes, and they're so fun to scatter over your cards, plus flat for your mailing pleasure.

Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Many Merry Stars
Ink: Silver Encore, Coastal Cabana, Smoky Slate
Paper: Coastal Cabana, Smoky Slate, Silver Glimmer, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer
Extras: Stars framelits, Big Shot, Itty Bitty punch pack, Frosted Sequins

Sparkly Trees

I really loved the Freshly Made Sketches layout last week (#160), and so I had to make a current version.  This card came together so easily and I just love it!  My favorite aspect is those decorations on the tree--I colored my rhinestone embellishments with the medium shade of the Coastal Cabana blendabilites...you can color anything with those, and I intend to!

See how they shine?  Everything else for this card was really straightforward and simple, especially with the magnetic platform for the Big Shot.  You get perfect framelit placement that way, and what could be better?

I wasn't planning to design a single Christmas card for everyone this year, but this might be it.
Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Good Greetings, Festival of Trees
Ink: Coastal Cabana, Pear Pizzazz
Paper: All is Calm DSP, Pool Party, Coastal Cabana, Whisper White
Extras: Rhinestone Embellishments, Tree Punch, Bitty Banners framelits, Banners framelits

Sparkly Santa

I had to do some traveling last week, and only part of it was planned, so everything has been up in the air.  But a great thing was that I visited my aunt and upline in her Stampin' Loft (aka, my stamping heaven!) and got to play with some fantastic stamps that I don't have.  I also got oodles of inspiration from all the things she's been doing to get ready for the holidays, so stay tuned.

I just love this fun card that we made.  More fun with blendabilities!  Santa looks so real, and so cheery with his rosy cheeks, not to mention all that snow in his beard.  It's a pretty simple card to make, and I'm sure it will be lots of fun to receive.

Two quick notes before you make your own:

• Remember that Dazzling Details needs time to dry!  I didn't have a lot of time, since I had to get back on the road, and his beard is a little smeared.  Still cute, but not as perfect as when I made it.
• To only use the borders from Just Sayin', you'll want to put a piece of scotch (or wash) tape over the sentiment and use markers to do the inking.  That way you won't get any shadow stamping from leftover ink, and have the perfect space to insert your own greeting.  

That's all you need to know.  Go have some fun with your own Christmas card making!

Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Santa Stache, Just Sayin', Good Greetings
Ink: Memento Black, Blendabilities in Cherry Cobbler, Skin Tones, and Calypso Coral
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Glimmer White, Whisper White, Silver Glimmer
Extras: Mustache Framelits, Word Bubbles Framelits, Silver Sparkle Dazzling Details, Itty Bitty Accents punch pack

Freshly Made Snowy Flashback

It's another Flashback Friday!  And I have a confession...of all the paper I don't use in time, the worst offender is anything from the Holiday Catalog.  I always love everything and try to use restraint, but by the time the catalog ends, I've seen so many great ideas and have so many more of my own that I've gone overboard, AGAIN, even though I still have a stash of stamps and paper that I didn't use from last year.

And so here we are.  I love the Festive Flurry stamp set and matching framelits, even though I've barely used them.  So when I saw this week's sketch on Freshly Made Sketches, all I could see was snowflakes, and it gave me an excuse to bust out the nearly full pack of last year's Winter Frost DSP.  I'm a sucker for bold geometric patterns, and surprised I didn't use more of that pattern last year...though maybe it's because I was so behind that I didn't get all my Christmas cards sent!

I'm trying hard not to repeat that lapse this year, and pleased with this sparkly creation.  It's mailable!
Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Festive Flurry
Ink: Silver Encore
Paper: Bermuda Bay, Island Indigo, Winter Frost DSP, Silver Glimmer
Extras: Banner framelits, Festive Flurry framelits, Northern Frost decorative strip die

Haunted Houses

Though I've been stamping for years, I've never made a Halloween card.  So this is my first, and I rather love it.  The Holiday Home stamp set is primed for every holiday, and was so much fun to play with.  I wasn't planning to make a Halloween card, but once I got done coloring and cutting out my houses, I really wanted to use that ghost to pop out of the chimney...and things just went from there.

Some of my favorite things here are how bright the houses are--thanks to Blendabilities!  I didn't do much shading, since the spaces are so small, but these markers are also fantastic for loading up with vivid color.  They remind me of cartoon houses.

I'm also in love with the little details: the spider on the door of the middle house (yuck!), the bats winging back and forth, and that perfect little jack-o-lantern that shows on the inside of the card as well.  Too cute!

So, I hope you're ready for Halloween and that, even if things are spooky, they are also so much fun.
Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Holiday Home
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Basic Grey, Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie, Blendabilities in Calypso Coral, Rich Razzleberry, Cherry Cobbler, Coastal Cabana, White Stampin' Chalk Marker
Paper: Whisper White, Smoky Slate
Extras: Homemade Holiday framelits

A Sneak Peek

...at what's in progress. Stay tuned!

Cheers!

~Melanie

Baby Smiles

Of course, I had to make a baby card to go along with the library starter pack I shared on Wednesday. But, since I don't have kids or many baby stamps, I wasn't sure what I would have to work with.  A quick look at my stamp shelves and I knew I was in luck, thanks to one of Stampin' Up!'s many all-purpose stamp sets.  This little ducky is from Embellished Events, and it was fun to ink up with my markers for a bright image.

I also love the sentiment, which isn't a traditional baby sentiment but fits just perfectly: "So many smiles...begin with you."  How true!  Once I found that couplet in Petite Pairs, this card came together really quickly and I got my package out on time.  That's a personal win-win.

This card also fits my "flashback friday" goal, since I used some retired DSP for the front, inside and coordinating envelope.  I just love how quick it is to make a "fancy" envelope with the Envelope Punch Board.  If you don't have one...well, what are you waiting for?

Wishing you a wonderful weekend, full of smiles!
~Melanie

Stamps: Embellished Events, Petite Pairs
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Marvelous Markers in Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, Real Red, and Pacific Point
Paper: Pacific Point, Polka Dot Parade, Tangelo Twist, Gumball Green, Whisper White
Extras: Chalk Talk framelits, Bitty Banners framelits, Envelope Punch Board

Library Starter Kit

All of a sudden, it seems like everyone--but me--is having babies.  And I'm just fine with that, but since I lack firsthand experience, I've been at a bit of a loss when it comes to baby gifts.  I don't know what you really need, and I'm terrible at shopping off a registry (which I realize is silly, since registries make things easier).  The problem is, I want to give something that's personal.

I love to read, and I think it's pretty important for kids.  Books almost never appear on baby registries, but I always pick up board books for gifts.  So when I found this poem by Jane Yolen, one of my favorite authors from growing up, I had an AHA! moment.  From now on, I'm giving all new babies a library starter kit.

This one goes in the mail tomorrow, and hopefully my friend will be too busy with her new baby to check out my blog before she opens the gift.  I used the Storytime Kit for My Digital Studio to illustrate the poem, and have it all packaged up with a stack of books so that parents and their wee one can spend some time bonding and expanding their imaginations.  I hope it's a gift that will grow as they do.

Cheers!
~Melanie

My Digital Studio: Storytime Ensemble

Hello Fall

Fall is definitely in full bloom here in MA, and the colors are just fantastic!  I've seen lots of fall wreaths using the Wondrous Wreath stamps and matching framelits, and inspired by more cards than I can count, I decided to make this one.  Actually, I made multiples of this one because I love it so.

Photopolymer stamps make two-step stamping soooo easy, and the addition of tabs for lining up everything--from your stamps to your framelits--makes this card a snap to make.  Honestly, the hardest part was choosing my colors.

Because I wanted to use that bold Blackberry Bliss as the card base, I decided to add some Crushed Curry embossing for a sentiment that pops.  I hope you love it as much as I do.

Happy fall, y'all!
~Melanie

Stamps: Wondrous Wreath, For All Things
Ink: Hello Honey, Tangelo Twist, Perfect Plum, Versamark
Paper: Blackberry Bliss, Mossy Meadow, Whisper White, Tangelo Twist
Extras: Crushed Curry embossing powder, Woodgrain embossing folder, Wonderful Wreath framelits

Hello Polka Dots

After making and falling in love with Wednesday's card, I wondered what else I could create using the same techniques.  So I started with the Dots decorative mask, a sponge dauber, and Island Indigo ink.  When I pulled the mask away, I was in awe of the lovely watercolor look that I had created by not inking each circle fully...and I didn't want to cover that up!

So I flipped through my framelits, and found this script hi in the Circle Card set.  I cut that out of Silver Glimmer paper--with adhesive sheets underneath it, of course, for easy glueing and cropped a word bubble from Calypso Coral using the Word Bubbles framelits.

I think this makes a great anytime card, and I'm going to have to make a lot more because I don't think I can bear to part with this one!

Cheers!
~Melanie

Ink: Island Indigo
Paper: Whisper White, Calypso Coral, Silver Glimmer Paper
Extras: Dots and Stripes Decorative Masks, Word Bubbles framelits, Circle Card framelits, sponge daubers, dimensionals

Golden Joy

Another from my long crafting weekend.  I first saw this technique and this card on Mary Fish's blog, and I immediately knew I had to make it for myself.

First of all, I thought layering and building up the "Joy" cut out was genius, and I love how it gives the card easy dimension as well as instant interest--in person, you can see that the layers below the gold foil are Island Indigo.

Secondly, while I might have used the Stripes decorative mask diagonally, I would have never thought to use only partially color it in.  I also love how the smears of ink give the card a clean and abstract look.

It's so simple, and so pretty!  If you want to make one of these yourself--and you should--check out Mary Fish's video on how to use Adhesive Sheets before you use your framelits.  It makes this gorgeous card much easier than it looks.


Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Endless Birthday Wishes
Ink: Blackberry Bliss, Island Indigo
Paper: Gold Foil, Island Indigo, Whisper White
Extras: Wonderful Wreath framelits, Dots and Stripes Decorative Masks, Sponge Daubers

All In on Blendabilities

I hope you had a lovely long weekend!  Mine was great--it was the first time in quite a few weeks that we stayed at home, which meant that I had lots of time to play with my newest Stampin' Up! goodies, as well as some old favorites.  Creating is relaxing and so much fun!

I'm sharing this card first because I think that Blendabilities are my new favorite thing.  Blendabilities are alcohol markers that come in sets of three shades of the same color, so you can shade and blend (hence the name) to give your coloring dimension.  Stampin' Up! first introduced them over the summer, and I wasn't sure that they would be for me.  I thought they'd be too fussy and, as much as I love the SU's regular markers, I rarely color with them.  (I use them to ink parts of stamps.)

After playing with Blendabilities for the first time on Sunday, I can say that I was wrong and these are definitely for me and for everyone else!  You start with the darkest shade and overlap the medium and then the lightest, which gave an old favorite--Pleasant Poppies--a whole new way to pop off the card stock.  I just love how much these look like real flowers or printed paper, and can't wait to get more colors in Blendabilities and try them on everything.

This was super easy, lots of fun, and is just gorgeous.  I can't wait to get this card in the mail.

Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Pleasant Poppies
Ink: Memento Black, Pear Pizzazz
Paper: Whisper White, Canteloupe Crisp
Blendabilities: Cherry Cobber, Pumpkin Pie, Coastal Cabana, Rich Razzleberry, Calypso Coral

Flashback Friday

Time to use my scraps!  I love designer series paper, but never use it up before I fall in love with the new patterns. So I've challenged myself to use up what I have on hand...and I have a LOT on hand, so this might be a regular feature. 

First up is Orchard Harvest from last year's holiday catalog.  I did a quick search on Pinterest for some inspiration, and found this great card that Mary Fish made.  I just love the layout, and am likely to use it again many times.

But I don't have the Autumn Accents Bigz die. I was disappointed...until I realized that I had the digital files in My Digital Studio, and I could use them with my ecutter.  Score!

And then I had lots of pretty patterned leaves, so I also made these cards. Not bad for forcing myself to use my stash, right?

What will you do with your paper stash?  Have some fun and enjoy autumn this weekend!

Cheers!

~Melanie

Stamps: Four You

Ink: Early Espresso, Island Indigo

Paper: Orchard Harvest DSP (retired), Island Indigo, Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Raspberry Ripple (retired)

Extras: My Digital Studio

Making the Most of My Paper Pumpkin

This is the year, I swear, when my holiday packages will look fabulous as they go through the mail!  And by fabulous, I mean home crafted and personalized.

When we were moving, I loved the boxes from My Paper Pumpkin for corralling lots of little odds and ends.  They're a fabulous size and so useful.  And then, when we got here, I recycled them.  I wish I hadn't!

After making my birthday cards from Monday's post, I had a major aha! moment--and one that I got a little to excited about, I'm sure.  You can turn the Paper Pumpkin boxes inside out, and they're a great stamping surface!  Inside out, you have a kraft box, which seems to be quite trendy right now, just waiting for you to ink it up.

I used regular ink and the Festival of Trees stamp set for the first box, and then embossed the second with the retired Festive Flurry stamps.  I think the embossing will be even better than stamping for the mail, since the images won't run or blur if the mailman gets caught in the rain.

I can't believe I recycled all those other boxes!  This is such a fabulous idea, if I do say so myself, and sure to be fun even before the package gets opened.  I also discovered that I can do this with some shoeboxes too--if they aren't glued together, they're really easy to turn inside out and offer lots of stamping space, as well as room for bigger gifts.  Depending on your shoe size that is!

I'm still giddy about this project and I just love how these gift boxes turned out.  Plus I found a way to take My Paper Pumpkin goodies even further.  That's a win in my book!

Cheers!

~Melanie

My Paper Pumpkin
Stamps: Festival of Trees; Festive Flurry (retired)
Ink: Garden Green, Cherry Cobbler, Pacific Point, Going Gray, Tangelo Twist; Versamark
Extras: White, Pool Party and Tempting Turquoise embossing powders

Fun with Paper Pumpkin

Just before we moved, I got my July Paper Pumpkin kit in the mail.  I opened it up, got really excited because it had fantastic goodies to make birthday cards, and promptly packed it away.  My MIL, a new Paper Pumpkin subscriber visited the following week on her way home from vacation, and I wanted to show her the excitement that awaited her, but couldn't even figure out which box this was in!

For those of you who don't know, My Paper Pumpkin is Stampin' Up!'s relatively new monthly subscription service, and I think it's the perfect way to start stamping.  For $20 a month, which includes shipping, you get a great surprise kit that includes everything you need for a fabulous project, start to finish.  The kits are designed to take about 30 minutes, so it's a great breather from daily concerns.  Plus, you'll have some things left over--like ink, and stamps--to keep your creativity flowing and start building your crafting collection.  Sign up now!

Needless to say, I had this waiting for me after we unpacked, and it was a great treat to sit down and make a stack of birthday cards with it last week.  I started off simple with the first card, which used all elements from the kit and no extras.  Then I got out my Hearts & Stars decorative mask to make the second card.  I love it!

Why stop there?  I hadn't inked the Bright & Beautiful set from the Holiday catalog yet.  So out it came, with some Blackberry Bliss, for this fun card.  While I liked the little stars, I really wanted to try out the gorgeous big ones...

So I did.  I also added some of the All is Calm washi tape, since the colors match perfectly.  The lower band of silver stripes is from the Paper Pumpkin, but the Soft Sky dots are the washi tape.

And then I went a little washi crazy.  I also got out my stars framelits to crop the smallest star from the taped strips, and put one in for a different look just by taping the back of it.

I like each of these cards so much, and they all started simply with My Paper Pumpkin!  But I can't decide which one to use first...  What's your favorite?

Cheers!

~Melanie

My Paper Pumpkin: July 2014

Extras: All is Calm designer washi tape, Hearts & Stars decorative mask, Bright and Beautiful

Jazzing Up Jam

If anything, this has been the summer of canning, and specifically of making jam.  I've seen great things on all sorts of blogs, and read lots of magazine articles, about how easy and flavorful it is to preserve your own food...but I'd been reluctant.  My husband pushed me though, because he really wanted to try making jam and save/savor the summer.  So we made our first jam, a vanilla rhubarb in early June and there's been no stopping me since!  (The link will take you to the recipe, and to my favorite canning site thus far, Food in Jars).

Of course, as I was assembling all those mason jars and making sure they sealed (they did!), I was thinking about the really cute but now retired Perfectly Preserved and matching framelits.  I let mine go last summer, thinking it was cute but that I didn't really use it.  Alas!  And then...My Digital Studio to the rescue!

You can get the stamp images as a download in MDS...which I had already done, because I do think the jars are super cute, and so I decided to make custom labels for my jars.  I sized them and tried to get as many on the page as possible in MDS, where I also gave them some of my favorite colors for the fabric lids: Real Red, Pacific Point, Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive.  Then I exported the file to my ecutter software, printed them on sticker paper, cut around the jars and I was ready to label!  The image above is of a full sheet...minus a few labels.

Here's another shot of my finished product.  And there are lots more labeled jars in the cupboard, just waiting for winter days.  I can't tell you how exciting this whole process has been, from trying my hand at jam making (there are a few "peach paste" jars that we don't need to talk about...) to creating my very own labels for them.  One hint though: write on your labels before putting them on the jars.  It's much easier that way!

And if you're wondering about that tomato jam, it's divine.  Here's the recipe, and I recommend that you try some on meatloaf, or with eggs if that's your thing.  Yum!

Cheers!

~Melanie

My Digital Studio: Perfectly Preserved

Bag Tags

Getting away from cards for a second so I can share these great gift tags.  Stampin' Up! punches make these tags easy to make (or mass produce) and they'll add a fun touch to any gifts you give.  For these, I used the new stamp set About the Label which has one of my favorite things--coordinating punches!  So I stamped my little gift bags, then choose coordinating colors for the "hb2u" labels.

Does anyone use HB2U?  I easily figured out what it meant, but hadn't seen that text shortcut before.  The labels are punched and popped up on dimmensionals for a 3D effect.

Also, a short cut in your own tag making--I decided that I like the size on the right best.  It started off as a 2x3 inch piece of card stock.

Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: About the Label
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Blackberry Bliss, Calypso Coral
Paper: Whisper White
Extras: Little Labels Punch Pack, Scalloped Tag Topper punch, Dimmensionals

New Address Cards

I've moved too often for this to still be exciting, but it is.  I just love designing and sending out new address cards.  The links in that sentence will take you to the previous versions, and here is the one we just mailed.  As always, this was so easy to make in My Digital Studio--which you should totally download, if you haven't already.

The Fifty Nifty kit comes with outlines and punches for all the states, as well as this card almost all designed.  The original design uses the state of Texas, which takes up a lot of card space, but we didn't move to Texas.  So I deleted the things I didn't want and made Massachusetts a lot bigger (Note: you can do this with SVG files with no pixelation worries.  So glad MDS has switched to SVGs now!  The older files aren't all switched over, so be sure you check the format.)

I picked a favorite patterned paper to fill the state, put our address on the back, and then ordered a lot of these from the new printing service.  They arrived quickly, with envelopes, and I was ready to go.  By far the longest part of this process was getting the cards in the mail, but I *think* everyone whose address I had should have one now.  I hope they'll visit!

Cheers!
~Melanie

My Digital Studio: Nifty Fifty, Sycamore Street

CASE-ing the Catalog

When I got the annual catalog, I immediately fell in love with Flower Patch--and this is mostly because of the gorgeous cards featured on page 154 and 155 of the catalog (though I always love a good flower stamp, especially when it's layered!)  So I decided to C.A.S.E.--Copy And Share Everything--the cards on that page.

Did you know that Stampin' Up! publishes the card ingredients for every project in the catty?  It's true!  So if you aren't sure what color you're looking at, you can always look that up.  But they don't tell you what size the card is.  So I first made the card as a normal 4.25 x 5.5 card, and it just looks a little funny.  The spacing is off and I felt like I needed extra leaves.  Hmm, I thought, maybe that's a notecard?

So I tried again with a 3.5 x 5 card, and everything fit into place.  But I think this looks great at both sizes, and I will certainly make some more.

By the way, I noticed that I thought my colors were off--or at least darker than the catalog--when I was making these cards.  But as the ink dried, the colors lightened considerably, so keep that in mind as you work with the photopolymer stamps.  I don't know what it is, but something about the way they ink up seems a bit fuller than the clear and wood mount stamps.  Yet everything is beautiful once it's dry.

Floral cheers!

~Melanie

Stamps: Flower Patch

Ink: Crisp Cantaloupe, Calypso Coral, Melon Mambo, So Saffron, Crushed Curry, Bermuda Bay

Paper: Whisper White

Confetti Thanks

While it has been a busy few weeks, I certainly haven't lost my love for this confetti look.  This is my first card using Dotty Angles, and I just love it.  It's so easy to layer the dots and you don't need to worry about precision to make a card--or a stack of cards--like this one.  I think I might whip some up in fall colors, and in holiday colors, to get a head start on the busy-ness of the coming months.

Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Dotty Angles, Another Thank You
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo
Paper: Whisper White

You're how old?

We all know that cards for guys are hard...and they get even harder as the guys get older!  I had to make two this past weekend and didn't know what to do, until I remembered my Calling All Heroes stamp set. This is one of Stampin' Up's special photopolymer offerings (you won't find it in the catalog) and it's AWESOME!!!

I'm especially a fan of that dotty sky and the cityscape, but the comic letters are what takes the set over the top--endless possibilities!

I mean, how perfect for a funny inside?  I also thought about "I'd wear a mask too" but I was running out of time. 

I'm going to have lots of fun with this set!

Cheers!

~Melanie

Hump Day Leftovers

I find that the older leftovers get, the harder they are to work with--and the same applies to my stamping supplies!  So I'm challenging myself to use up my extras quickly, like the extra "smile" overlay and little banner from my latest Paper Pumpkin.  I have some birthdays coming up, so I grabbed my leftover Birthday Basics DSP from the last catalog...because let's face it, at a certain point it's not leftovers, it's hoarding.  I got my confetti colors from the balloon print and this card came together in no time.

I'm challenging you to put your leftovers to good use too!
Cheers,
Melanie

Confetti Fun!

Out of nowhere, I'm suddenly in LOVE with the confetti cards look!  I mean, how fun are these?

We just moved, and I'm waiting for our new address cards to arrive.  In the meantime, I updated my address with My Paper Pumpkin, and am thrilled with this month's kit!  I've already made all the cards, and have big plans for the extra pieces.

The best part is that I've been admiring all these confetti cards, and the kit had just what I needed to try my hand at making my own.  It's so simple and so fun!  I can't wait to get my hands on Dotty Angles from the new catalog now.  Mine should get here this week, along with the address cards.  Yippee!

Also, check out those sequins!  I hadn't played with any yet, and honestly, I thought they would be too fussy and messy.  I was wrong--sequins are so fun!  And the perfect touch for these confetti cards.  I'm excited to get them in the mail.  =D

I'm also excited for my new goodies, which should be arriving this week.  Look for those soon...  But in the meantime, think about signing up for My Paper Pumpkin.  It's a monthly surprise in the mail and oh, so much fun.  My Paper Pumpkin was the perfect size to give me a quick stamping fix on Sunday afternoon--the whole thing only took about 30 minutes and I love my new cards.

You can sign up here:  https://mypaperpumpkin.com?demoid=2042410

Stay tuned for more.
Cheers!
~Melanie

Happy Friday!

This stamp just makes me so happy!  I love the bold look, and how much fun with the matching framelits!  I hope this card will also bring some happy into my friend's day...it's on it's way to her right now.

Happy Friday, and have a great weekend!
~Melanie

Stamps: Starburst Sayings
Ink: Coastal Cabana, Real Red
Paper: Sahara Sand, Whisper White, Fresh Prints
Extras: Big Shot, Starburst Framelits, Banners Framelits

Bright Thank You

There are cards that say thank you, and then there are cards that beam it...and this is definitely one of the latter.  The bold tempting turquoise embossing provides high contrast against the calypso coral paper, and the whole card just screams spring to me.

It also screams thank you!  And let me tell you about this stamp--it's one of Stampin' Up!'s new photopolymer stamp sets, and I just love it.  So many thank yous, so little time!  But even better than this is the super cling these stamps have with our clear blocks, and the fact that you can see through them for perfect placement.  I highly recommend that you pick up a set (or more) for yourself.  You won't regret it.

Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Another Thank You photopolymer
Ink: Versamark
Paper: Calypso Coral
Extras: Tempting Turquoise embossing powder, heat gun, embossing buddy

Ombre Flower

Once I made the ombre background for Friday's hello card, I decided it would be great in a few different shapes as well.  I really love this flower framelit, and the second flower in Primrose Petals makes a great drop shadow.

The stamp is from one of my Paper Pumpkin kits.  Paper Pumpkin is a great new addition to Stampin' Up!'s lineup.  It's a subscription that sends you a new kit monthly with everything that you need (except adhesive) to create a wonderful project.  The project is different every time, but always wonderful and perfectly sized to take only 30 minutes--which gives you the creativity fix you crave even when time is short.  Check it out: mypaperpumpkin.com  If you sign up (and you should), please just list me as your demonstrator and HAVE FUN!

Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Background Builders
Ink: Pink Pirouette, Blushing Bride, Crisp Cantaloupe, Melon Mambo, Strawberry Slush, Primrose Petals
Paper: Sahara Sand, Whisper White, Primrose Petals
Extras: Big Shot, Floral framelits

Hello, Ombre

I just love how this card turned out!  I used Background Builders with my Stamp-a-majig to perfectly line up the patterns and create an ombre card.  This card also introduced me to what I think is going to be a personal favorite color combo--Crisp Cantaloupe and Calypso Coral.  So bright and springy!

Sadly, it isn't quite springy here yet.  It was way too cold and windy to take my photo outside, so I tried to use the natural light coming through the window...and you can can see some shade from the window panes.  At least it was a bright day!

Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Background Builders, Four You
Ink: Pink Pirouette, Blushing Bride, Crisp Cantaloupe, Calypso Coral, Melon Mambo, Strawberry Slush, Primrose Petals, Sahara Sand
Paper: Sahara Sand, Whisper White, Crisp Cantaloupe, Calypso Coral
Extras: Labels collection framelits, Big Shot

Sympathy Poppies

I cased this card from stamping genius Mary Fish at Stampin' Pretty.  She has a lovely video explaining how to do the painter's tape technique, which I think looks fabulous under the Pleasant Poppies.  And it's so easy!

I never like sending sympathy cards, but this is a great one to have on hand.  

Cheers!

~Melanie

Stamps: Petite Pairs, Pleasant Poppies

Ink: Tangerine Tango, Soft Sky, Crushed Curry, Early Espresso

Paper: Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla

Extras: Corner Rounder punch, painter's tape