Hello

Hope you're having a great week! I made two cards recently with the same layout and elements. I just switched out the papers, colors and sentiments.





Those gorgeous buttons are from Neat and Tangled .

Thanks for taking a look!
Melissa

Bonjour

Another challenge card this week!

I decided to team up two challenges again, this time the Waltzingmouse Sketch and the Playdate Cafe's colors!





I thought these colors called for French Country!



The background was impressed with PTI's Simple Stripes impression plate. The Aqua Mist strip was stamped with the beautiful background stamp and heat embossed with clear powder. The rooster and sentiment are also from French Country.

Thanks for looking!
Melissa

Sending smiles

Still loving the sketch challenge at Retro Sketch ! Here is this week's sketch:



I decided to also use the latest color combo from CR84FN .



I pulled out an under-loved set, Bitty Background Blocks and the pinked square die for this card. The background was created with the Sunrise impression plate.



The sentiment is from another set that I hardly use, Little Labels. I used Royal Velvet cardstock and ink, Simply Chartreuse and Enchanted Evening cardstock, and a green and blue A Muse Studio ink (still getting used to their names, but I LOVE how well they stamp!).

Thanks for taking a look!
Melissa

You bring me sunshine

I'm playing along with the Waltzingmouse Stamps July Blog Party ! This month's theme is the great outdoors, and I used My Island. So fun!



The background was impressed with PTI's Sunrise Impression Plate. I clear embossed with sentiment.

Thanks for coming by!
Melissa

"You bring me sunshine"
Stamps: My Island
Ink: Aqua Mist, Summer Sunrise, Orange Zest (PTI) , Rich Cocoa (Memento) and Versamark
Paper: Kraft, Orange Zest, Dark Chocolate and Soft Stone (PTI)
Other: Sunrise IP and Wine bottle tag die (PTI), foam tape

You color my world

Hope you had a great 4th of July if you're in the US!

I'm still playing around with Happy Hexagons and wanted to try a "rainbow" styled card.



The sentiment is from Happy Trails.

Have a great night!
Melissa

Every single day...

Happy Monday!

Did you survive the weekend? We had a crazy storm hit on Friday night which knocked out power for millions of people in our area. We spent the weekend searching out open movie theatres, pools, and restaurants....but couldn't find much open! Luckily our power came back on Saturday night. I really feel for those still without power, it's hot!

I had a chance to play around with my hexagon set "Happy Hexagons".



The sentiment comes from Movers and Shakers Sentiments, and the ink colors used are Hawaiian Shores, Aqua Mist, Ocean Tides, Fine Linen, Kraft and Rich Cocoa (Memento).

Have a good day!
Melissa

You make me happy

It's definitely sunshiny here! Hope everyone is staying cool! I played around with the Sunrise Impression plate, Lovely Layers and We Go Together tonight and make this:



I decided to add a second set of the leaves to my flower, and I stamped and cut off just this portion of the sentiment (no gray skies on this card!).

Thanks of coming by!
Melissa

"You Make Me Happy" (All PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Lovely Layers and We go together
Ink: New Leaf, Ripe Avocado, Raspberry Fizz, Pure Poppy, Winter Wisteria, Royal Velvet, Summer Sunrise, Canyon Clay
Paper: New Leaf, Raspberry Fizz, Rustic Cream
Other: Lovely Layers die, Sunrise IP, Foam Tape

You...

Hello! It's been forever since an update, but I have been soooo busy! Lots going on!

Today I'm taking part in a blog hop for a special lady, Janelle! She is a talented crafter and inspirational woman! You can see her gorgeous cards and read about her at her blog .

Here is the card that I made for Janelle:



Janelle, you truly are loved so much! I think of you each day and pray that you are feeling well.



Melissa

"You" (all PTI unless noted)
Stamps: Simoly You, Pretty Peonies
Ink: Raspberry Fizz, Melon Berry
Paper: Stamper's Select White, Pure Poppy, Melon Berry, Random (Crate Paper)
Other: Melon Berry satin ribbon, Mat Stack 4, Linen/Canvas Impression Plate

Thinking of you, always

Today's PTI Anniversary challenge is to make a card with leaves and butterflies, so I pulled out my trusty Harvest Berries stamp set.



The little butterflies in Berry Sorbet are from Round and Round (Anniversary set), and the leaves are stamped with the new Kraft ink! Sentiment is from Year of Flowers: Lily of the Valley.

Thanks for looking!
Melissa

Happy for you!

Next up is my Lisa card! I wanted to create a focal image like Lisa did, layering a Mat Stack die cut with a Fillable Frames one. The sentiment comes from Enjoy the Ride.



One more to go!
Melissa

Just a Note

I had some time to play along with the PTI Anniversary contest today! Here is my first card, inspired by Dawn's card.



I used the same stamp from Table Service to make a background. I also used Edgers #3to die cut the bottom edges. "Just a note" is the same sentiment as Dawn used, from Postmarks.

Thanks for looking!
Melissa

Harvest Berries Mania!

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

A Bird...

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

Know that you...

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!

Thinking of you today and always

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

Hello There

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

hello friend

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

Thinking of You

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

June PTI Blog Hop

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

Card-Making Evening

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