Sweetest holiday wishes

When I saw this card made by Jennifer Holmes I loved it so much and thought it was a perfect holiday card that I asked her if I could copy it. She said yes, so I did! I didn't have the patterned paper that she used--I made my own using Background Basics: Text Style I and some snowflake stamps that I heat embossed in white.



Thanks Jennifer, for letting me copy you! You created such a beautiful card!

Thanks for coming by!
Melissa

"Sweetest holiday wishes" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Background Basics: Text Style I, Rustic Snowflakes, Holiday Button Bits, snowflake (Inkadinkado)
Ink: Raspberry Fizz, Versamark, Antique Linen (Ranger), Chestnut Roan (Colorbox)
Paper: Sweet Blush, Raspberry Fizz, Vintage Cream, Holly by Jolly pp (Cosmo Cricket Mini Deck)
Other: Apron Lace punch (Fiskars), Raspberry Fizz and Dark Chocolate buttons, Rustic cream twine, White EP (Filigree), heat tool

Christmas placecards

I made some placecards for our Christmas day dinner and I was inspired to try something similar to the cards that Betsy Veldman made here (scroll down to the second set of cards).



I used Berry Sorbet and Pure Poppy carstock with my Label One die and then machine stitched down one side to hold it together. This is a fantastic technique that I need to try again! The placecards now stands and opens very nicely.



The ornament top is stamped from Holiday Button Bits and the circular edge is from Take Note. I tried to stamp the names, settled instead on printing them off in this beautiful font, Pavane. I'm still thinking about what we'll include on the inside--maybe a small candy??

What are you still working on? I am finished with it all, I think! The cards and written, addressed, stamped and ready to mail. The gifts are bought and mostly wrapped. We are travelling today to my family in WI--hopefully our big snow storm did not affect our flight.

I have one more post scheduled this week with a beautiful card that I copied (with permission) from Jennifer Holmes! Have a great Monday!
Melissa

(all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Take Note, Holiday Button Bits
Ink: Smokey Shadow
Paper: Berry Sorbet, Pure Poppy, Vintage Cream
Other: Berry Sorbet and Pure Poppy buttons, Scalloped Circle Punch (Marvy), Sewing machine, DMC floss

Last-minute Holiday cards!

I have a post today over on The Hybrid Chick blog - check it out here .

Here is a little peak of the set of cards I created using PTI cardstock, a few embellishments, a few stamps and some gorgeous digital papers.

Happy Friday!
Melissa

Aqua Home Made

I'm back with another cute little house! I made this one using the PTI template, Home Made. The roof was stamped with a stamp from Background Basics: Reto as my printer will not accept PTI cardstock. I also stamped most of it using Waltzingmouse Stamp's Off-Beat Backgrounds--the polka dot stamp. It did a while to do all that stamping! I added glitter again for the snowy look as well as some Stickles.

Thanks!
Melissa

(all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Home Made and Background Basics: Retro, Off-Beat Backgrounds (Waltzingmouse Stamps)
Paper:Aqua Mist, Kraft, Vintage Cream
Ink: Rich Cocoa (Memento), Aqua Mist
Other: Cream satin ribbon, EK Success punch, Scor-Tape, Doodlebug Glitter, Iciles Stickles (Ranger), Spray Adhesive

Happy Birthday Doug!

This is what I made for my brother's birthday--although I did not actually give him a Hancock Fabric card, it was a Best Buy gift card instead! I made the card as unsual size as I wanted it to fold into thirds and have a slot for the gift card.



I have a difficult time with masculine cards, but I was happy with how this one turned out. Enchanted Evening may just be my favorite PTI color!

Thanks for looking!
Melissa

"Happy Birthday" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Star Prints, Recipe Label, Fresh Alpha, Women of Life
Paper: Enchanted Evening, Vintage Cream
Ink: Enchanted Evening, Smokey Shadow
Other: Slot punch (SU!), Scor-Tape

Card Set

My mom and brother share a same birthday--pretty fun! Their birthdays were a few days ago and in my mom's gift I included a set of cards. I tried to keep them without bulk so she would have no problem mailing them.



The first one, of which I included two, was made using Damask Designs for the background and Wishing You for the cameo image. The colors are Scarlet Jewel and Sweet Blush.



The next one uses Out on a Limb, Birds of a Feather, Polka Dot Basics and Damask Designs for the sentiment. The colors are Ocean Tides, Vintage Cream and Sweet Blush.



The third card is the same polka dot background on Ocean Tides with a Damask Designs image as a focal point--stamped on kraft with Vintage Cream ink.

Thanks for stopping by today! Come back tomorrow to see what I made for my brother!
Melissa

Merry and Bright

This is one of the Christmas cards I've been working on lately. I stamped the background using an image from Vintage Labels with Scarlet Jewel onto the same color cardstock. The ornament tops and strings are embossed with Gold powder, as well as the sentiment.



Thanks for looking!
Melissa

"Merry and Bright" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Holiday Button Bits, Vintage Labels
Ink: Versamark, Scarlet Jewel
Paper: Vintage Cream and Scarlet Jewel, Gold (AC Moore)
Other: Zing Embossing Powder (American Crafts), heat tool, Threading Water punch (Fiskars), Rustic cream twine

Home Made

December 1st, wow! Sorry it's been so long... Thanks for all the nice comments and well wishes for the craft fair. I enjoyed it and sold quite a bit! I've been working on lots of different things, here's a house I made with the Home Made stamp set and template. These little houses are so fun to create.



I tried to go for a Christmas look for this one and used bits and pieces from other stamp sets, like Believe and Home for the Holidays. I also added Icicle Stickles and other glitter to the roof to look like snow, which I adhered with a spray adhesive (one coat before the glitter and one coat after to seal in place). The glitter is so pretty!

Thanks for looking!
Melissa

(all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Home Made, Believe, Home for the Holidays, Background Basics: Retro
Paper: Kraft, Red PP (Basic Grey)
Ink: Fresh Snow, Ocean Tides, Rich Cocoa (Memento)
Other: Vintage Cream satin ribbon, Copic markers, Scor-Tape, Doodlebug Glitter, Icicles Stickles, Spray Adhesive, Sewing Machine

Holiday Boutique tonight!

I've been such a bad blogger--sorry! In all my free moments I've been madly dashing out projects for the holiday boutique (aka craft fair) that I'm selling at tonight. I will also be selling at my MOMS club monthly meeting this Friday, so needless to say I've been trying to make a lot.



Here is a "Tucked Away" gift box that I'll be selling.



This set is a cocoa mix--in one of the milk made "jugs" is a bag of homemade hot cocoa mix and in the other is a bag of marshmallows.

In case you are local and interested in attending the holiday Boutique tonight there is the info:
Lucy V. Barnesly Elementary School
14516 Nadine Drive
Rockville, MD 20853
7-9pm

There are lots of great vendors: jewerly, Pampered Chef, purses, other crafts and health and beauty products!

Thanks for coming by!
Melissa

Holiday picnic baskets

I'm finally back with something to share! I've been making lots of things for an upcoming craft fair. I made some "Pack a Picnic" baskets, using a tag stamped with Vintage Picnic. The first is made with Scarlet Jewel cardstock and paper from the Holiday Cheer pack.



The second one I made with Kraft carstock and Pure Poppy paper from the Bitty Box pack.



Here's the tag:



Thanks for stopping by!
Melissa

"Holiday wishes" (all PTI unless noted)
Template: My Timeless Templates--Pack a Picnic
Stamps: Vintage Picnic
Paper: Scarlet Jewel, Kraft, Vintage Cream, Stamper's Select White, Holiday Cheer PP and Bitty Box PP
Ink: Rich Cocoa (Memento)
Other: brads, Rustic Cream Twine, Scarlet Jewel Satin ribbon, Copic markers

Happy Halloween!

Sorry I haven't been posting much this week--it's been busy and sick!

I made this fun card with some digital paper from the Digichick by Quirk Twerp called All Hallow's Eve . I stamped my witch twice, once in black and again in versarmark so I could heat emboss. I then machine stitched and distressed the edges of the paper and added the bow and tag.

Hope you have a fun and safe night...I am off in a bit with my ninja and lion to trick or treat!
Melissa

"Halloween witches" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Spooky Sweets II
Digital Paper: All Hallow's Eve by Quirky Twerp ( The Digichick )
Paper: Kraft, True Black, and Summer Sunrise
Ink: Versamark and True Black
Other: True Black satin ribbon, twine, Tags Trio Nestabilites Die, sewing machine

October PTI Blog Hop

"It's time for our annual Holiday Hop! Show us your best upcoming holiday plans for cards, gifts, wraps or whatever else you have up your sleeve! With everyone's cumulative efforts the participant list will be an amazing resource!"



I wouldn't call this my best holiday plan for gift--but it sure is any easy one! I made one of the new Timeless Templates, Cash or Charge #1, and used the Holiday Cheer patterned paper to decorate. I also stamped a circle tag with the dotted border circle from Take Note, a sentiment from Holiday Button Bits and a snowflake from Snowflake Serenade.



Thanks for taking a look!
Melissa

"A gift for you" (all PTI unless noted)
Template: Cash or Charge
Stamps: Holiday Button Bits, Take Note, Snowflake Serenade
Ink: Ripe Avocado, Scarlet Jewel, Antique Linen and Walnut Stain (ranger)
Paper: Scarlet Jewel, Holiday Cheer PP
Other: Ripe Avocado Satin Ribbon, Hole Punch, Craft Knife, Sponge, Scor-Tape

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge

Hi everyone and Happy Friday! I'm back today with my card for Dawn's Raspberry Suite Color Challenge 18 . Aren't those colors beautiful together?



I used Waltzingmouse's Off Beat Backgrounds and the PTI sets Holiday Button Bits and Vintage Label.



Have a great weekend!
Melissa

"Sweetest Holiday Wishes" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Off Beat Backgrounds (Waltzingmouse Stamps), Vintage Label and Holiday Button Bits
Ink: New Leaf, Raspberry Fizz, Vintage Cream, Dark Chocolate and Walnut Stain (Ranger)
Paper: Vintage Cream, Kraft, and Dark Chocolate
Other: Sewing Machine, New Leaf buttons, Memory Box gems, Copic maker to color gems, Foam Tape, Sponge

Happy Birthday Brock!

Tomorrow is my son's best friend's birthday...Happy birthday Brock! He is having a Star Wars party, so I tried to fashion a card with that theme!



I used several sets: Off-Beat Backgrounds (Waltzingmouse Stamps), Boy (Sandylion) and Mother and Fresh Alphabet (PTI). The colors used are the new formulation of Spring Rain (Love it!), Pure Poppy and Starlite Silver (Brilliance Dew Drop)

Thanks for looking!
Melissa

"Happy Birthday Brock" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Off Beat Backgrounds (Waltzingmouse Stamps), Boy (Sandylion), Mother and Fresh Alph
Ink: Pure Poppy, Spring Rain, Starlite Silver (Brilliance Dew Drop), Black (Memento)
Paper: Stamper's Select White, Pure Poppy, Shimmer Silver, Spring Rain
Other: sewing machine, Copic markers

Joy

I made this card for the "Just us Girls" Challenge Week 3 .

The colors are Aqua Mist, Pure Poppy and Vintage Cream and I used Snowflake Serenade.



Thanks for stopping by!
Melissa

"Joy" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Snowflake Serenade
Ink: Aqua Mist (new formulation), Pure Poppy
Paper: Vintage Cream, Pure Poppy, and Aqua Mist
Other: Aqua Mist Satin Ribbon, Kasiercraft Gems

Embellish the Cure Challenge

I'm back today with my card for the Embellish the Cure Color Challenge , which, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October), is to use two shades of pink, with gray and bling!

I made a card with a new (to me) and quite possibly the most beautiful snowflake set ever, Snowflake Serenade. I also made a notepad using the same snowflakes and the new set Take Note. Here is the notepad open:




And here it is closed.



Thanks for looking!
Melissa

"Peace" and "Holiday Planner" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Snowflake Serenade and Take Note
Ink: Smokey Shadow, Sweet Blush and Raspberry Fizz
Paper: Vintage Cream, Smokey Shadow, Sweet Blush, Notepad
Other: EK Sucess Scallop Punch, Raspberry Fizz Satin Ribbon, Kaisercraft Gems, Copic Marker RV19 (to color gems), foam tape, Scor-Tape

Sweetest holiday wishes

My new Papertrey Ink order arrived and I had to stamp something! I love this holly image with the polka dots. I paired it with a bit of Holiday Cheer patterned paper, which I sewed onto the card.

I'm sure I'll be back soon with lots more!
Thanks for coming by!
Melissa



"Sweetest holiday wishes" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Holiday Button Bits
Ink: Ripe Avocado and Scarlet Jewel, Walnut Stain (Ranger)
Paper: Vintage Cream, Ripe Avocado and Holiday Cheer PP
Other: Scarlet Jewel buttons, sewing machine, sponge

Dog Frame

Dog Frame, originally uploaded by madtown17.

I made this frame for a friend's daughter who loves dogs. When I saw the dog paper in the Basic Grey JuneBug collection, I knew I had to make this!

I traced the frame onto the paper for the pink polka dot mat. I cut out the dogs and the "speech" bubbles, inked the edges and added those with foam tape to the frame. I then added the threaded buttons randomly.

Thanks for looking!
Melissa

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

"Believe" in plaid

Hi everyone! We are having a cold rainy day here, but both my kids are off at preschool, so I'm happy! I've been trying to make a card for a few days now, but nothing seemed to be working...tried different colors, different stamps, it all looked bad! I'm not super excited about this card, but at least I finished one, LOL! Hopefully I'll be feeling more inspired soon!



Believe or not, the plaid (from Waltzingmouse Stamps) is stamped with Enchanted Evening and raspberry fizz--it looks more like Scarlet Jewel to me, so I think I may have overdone it with the reinker, oops! The Santa and sentiment are from Believe (PTI).

Thanks for looking!
Melissa

"Believe" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Off-Beat Backgrounds (Waltzingmouse Stamps), Believe
Ink: Raspberry Fizz, Enchanted Evening, Vintage Cream, Versamark
Paper: Vintage Cream, Enchanted Evening
Other: Scarlet Jewel Copic Trio, Scarlet Jewel buttons, Clear Detail EP (Filigree), heat tool, foam tape, Sewing machine, Label 1 Nestabilites, Liquid Applique

Rocket Wish

Hope you're having a great weekend! This card is a different one I made when playing around with Off-beat Backgrounds by Waltzingmouse Stamps . I love this set, very well designed and great quality! Congratulations Claire, on making your successful new venture and making your dream come true! This card is going to my son's friend for his 5th birthday!



The card also uses a rocket, trail and star image from a Sandylion set, but I'm not sure of the name...maybe baby boy??

"Make a wish" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Off Beat Backgrounds (Waltzingmouse Stamps), ???? (Sandylion)
Ink: Pure Poppy, Orange Zest, Summer Sunrise, Lemon Tart, Black (Memento)
Paper: Stamper's Select White, Pure Poppy, Summer Sunrise
Other: Copic markers, foam tape

M's Challenge

Once I read about M's Sketch challenge on Savitri's blog, I just had to play along. What a great little crafter at such a young age! I decided to make a Halloween card using PTI's Spooky Sweets II set.



Have a great night!
Melissa

"10/31" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Spooky Sweets II
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Smokey Shadow
Paper: True Black, Summer Sunrise and Orange Zest
Other: Clear detail EP (Filigree), Orange Zest Twill Tape, Coluzzle Circles, Scor-Tape, glitter (Doodlebug), Scor-Pal

Sweet Little Baby

I played along with the "JUGS- Just us Girls" challenge this week. The challenge was to use pink and to paper piece.



For my card, I made a....you guessed it...plaid background using Waltzingmouse's Off Beat Backgrounds and a tone on tone polka dot background for the top portion. The little bunny is paper pieced from that same pattern.

I also used Sketch #35 from 2 Sketchs 4 You .

Enjoy your day!
Melissa

"Sweet Little Baby" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Off Beat Backgrounds (Waltzinmouse Stamps), Bitty Baby Blessings
Ink: Smokey Shadow, Sweet Blush, Black (Memento), Antique Linen (Ranger)
Paper: Vintage Cream, Smokey Shadow and Sweet Blush
Other: Sweet Blush satin ribbon, 2 " circle punch, EK Success Scallop punch, foam tape, sponge, Threading Water edge punch (Fiskars)

Plaid Peace on Earth

Happy Saturday! I got my stamp set from Waltzingmouse Stamps the other day and I finally had enough energy to play with it! I stamped the plaid pattern using Ripe Avocado and Enchanted Evening, sponged the edges and machine stitched onto my layer stamped with the houndstooth background.



I also used Vintage Labels (stamped in vintage cream), the dove image from 2008 Holiday Tags and the sentiment from Believe.

I may just have to try it all again with a different color combo, it was fun! Thanks for coming by!
Melissa

"Peace on Earth" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Vintage Label, 2008 Holiday Tags, Believe, Off Beat Backgrounds (Waltzingmouse Stamps), Houndstooth Scrapblock (Cornish Heritage Farms)
Ink: Enchanted Evening, Ripe Avocado, Vintage Cream, Antique Linen and Walnut Stain (Ranger), Versamark
Paper: Vintage Cream, Ripe Avocado, Kraft and Enchanted Evening
Other: Clear Detail EP (Filigree), Enchanted Evening Satin Ribbon, Foam tape, Sewing machine, sponge

Make a Wish

ETA: Totally forgot to mention that this card is based off a sketch! It can be found here , at Kristin's blog. I flipped the sketch upside down and changed it a bit.



Hope you're having a great week! We seem to have been hit with a cold at our house--the parents get it the worst, right?? My daughter has a double ear infection but seems to be on the mend and my son (with tubes in his ears) is pretty good! I think it's going to be a long winter in terms of illness!



Anyway, I made this card after Dawn shared her cute ruffly ribbon technique. I like how it turned out except that my Melon Berry ribbon doesn't match at all with the Melon Berry cardstock!

Thanks for having a look!
Melissa

"Make a Wish" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Wishing You and Recipe Label
Ink: Ocean Tides, Smokey Shadow and Antique Linen (Ranger)
Paper: Vintage Cream, Ocean Tides, Melon Berry, Earth Love PP (Cosmo Cricket)
Other: Oval and scallop oval Nestabilities Dies, foam tape, Ocean Tides and Melon Berry Satin Ribbon, sponge, sewing machine