French Birthday

Here's another one of the birthday cards I made yesterday.  Artistic Etchings has a great stamp of the Eiffel Tower..that I didn't know what to do with.  This was my first attempt, and I'm looking for more ideas, so please send them my way!

I paired the tower with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, which adds some lovely texture to that piece of Cherry Cobbler.  The final touch is the birthday greeting from Well Scripted (now retired) punched out with the Designer Label extra-large punch.  

This afternoon's bingo piece is Santa's hat.  Good luck--both with Bingo, and with your last weekend day of holiday prep!

Cheers!

~Melanie

Stamps: Artistic Etchings, Well Scripted (retired)

Ink: Basic Black

Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black, Whisper White

Extras: Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Designer Label punch

Monograms for the Holidays

Our next bingo winner will get a set of these simple monogram cards (on the right).  Since I don't know who will win yet, I made this one with a K for Kiran, and in her favorite color, green.  Of course, my favorite color is purple, and that inspired the congratulations card on the left.  Both of these are on a 4.25x4.25" base of Very Vanilla, and were quick and easy to make with the clear mount stamps.  If I had these in wood-mount, I'd have to use the stamp-a-majig...which is a great tool, but doesn't make for quick cards.

Well Scripted is the perfect set to match the lovely designs from Artistic Etchings--I wish they'd carried this stamp with its fantastic font over from the Occasions Mini!  Sadly, you can't get your hands on this set any more, but I'd be happy to let you use mine if you come over to stamp.

Today's bingo piece is the cardinal.  Good luck!

Cheers!
~Melanie

Congratulations and Happy Birthday cards:
Stamps: Artistic Etchings, Well Scripted (ret)
Ink: Perfect Plum, Basic Black
Paper: Very Vanilla

Monogram Card
Stamps: Artistic Etchings
Ink: Wild Wasabi, Early Espresso
Paper: Very Vanilla

Beautiful Blue Birds

I still need to get ready for all the babies that are on the way...but first, here is a card for two friends that recently got engaged.  I've seen these "love birds" cards in a few places, but the first was Kristin Moore's blog and she's the one who inspired me.

For this card, I used my Extra-Large Two-Step Bird Punch on Very Vanilla paper.  I sponged the birds and wings with Ballet Blue ink, so that they would coordinate with the heart of Bella Bleu DSP, and made them "pop" with dimensionals.  Thank the Full Heart punch for that heart.  Underneath that is a Very Vanilla rectangle, edged with the Scallop Trim Border and Scallop Trim Corner punches.  The final touch is my current favorite stamp set, Well Scripted, which just adds a touch of elegance to any card.  Can't wait to put this on in the mail!

Cheers!

~Melanie

Stamps: Well Scripted

Paper: Bella Bleu DSP, Very Vanilla, Brocade Blue

Ink: Basic Black, Ballet Blue

Extras: Dimensionals, Extra Large Two-Step Bird punch, Full Heart punch, Scallop Trim Border punch, Scallop Trim Corner punch, sponges

It's in the Mail...

I'm sending out my valentines today! At least, that's one of my goals--I have a few work things that I need to take care of first, and it looks I'm also going to have to do some serious shoveling to dig my car out. But since I'm mailing them, I thought I should share another valentine with you, just to get you in the spirit.

Remember all those Medallion cards I made? Well here is another, with the colors updated for Valentine's Day. The base of the card is Rose Red--and I've since gone on a Rose Red binge, since I decided that I really love it's dusty deep pink hue. Again, I used a brayer to ink up the Medallion with Versamark, and then stamped that twice--once on the Rose Red for the background, then again (after reinking) on Sahara Sand.

Then I got out my trusty pastels and sponge daubers, and chose whatever colors I liked (you'll notice that some purple worked it's way in--no surprise there!). A quick punch or two with the Full Heart Punch, and I had my layered heart to express my love in a lovely font.

That's it! I hope you'll be sending some Valentines this year too--if only to say hello.
Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Medallion, Well Scripted
Paper: Rose Red, Sahara Sand, Orchid Opulence, Regal Rose
Ink: Versamark
Extras: Stampin' Up! Pastels, Sponge Daubers, Full Heart Punch, Stampin' Dimmensionals

Something New

I'm still trying to get inspired for Valentines...I want to make some, but haven't had any luck yet! In the meantime, I thought I'd share this birthday card, which I put together from some scraps. While visiting my aunt and upline to see what's new in the Occasions Mini, I punched a sample bird with the Extra-Large Two-Step Bird punch, and also stamped a sample sentiment from Well Scripted. But I needed more...

So yesterday, I quickly took a break from my work to glue these few little things together. I added two punched corners with the new Scallop Trim Corner punch, and mounted my "sample" onto a piece of Cameo Coral to match the bird, and then onto an Orchid Opulence card base. Voila! From sample to the mail...and just in time for a January birthday.

Cheers!
Melanie

Stamps: Well Scripted
Ink: Basic Black
Paper: Orchid Opulence, Cameo Coral, Whisper White, Old Olive
Extras: Extra Large Two-Step Bird punch, Scallop Trim Corner punch