Thursday, December 30, 2010

It was a Mystery

............to me what April was going to send us with our Mystery package last month. But, isn't this image a beauty?!

I'm a part of a Mystery swap group on SCS. Each month a different hostess sends out images, the same image to each swapper. When you get the images, you make 4 cards all the same with that image and mail them back to her. She then swaps them out and sends you cards back that other swappers have made using that same image. It's so neat seeing how everyone else used/colored the image.
April had also sent a roll of decorative tape for us to use on our cards. I used mine under the button....


I used Melon Mambo card stock as my base. Then a strip of Chocolate Chip and a piece of dp from my Stack 6 (DCWV) paper stack.
I have a few copics now. Mostly flesh colors and browns. I love them. I'm just trying to get the shading right.
I can't wait to get cards back from this swap :)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Stampin' Up! Only Challenge #9

It's that time!

Another Challenge over at SU-Only Challenge Blog.

This round, we want to see all your Stampin' Up! creations with bling! Use rhinestones, pearls, glitter, embossing powders, etc. Anything that shimmers, shines, sparkles or is just plain "showy"! We want to see it!

Here's what I came up with...


Now, I'm still not an expert at using the Smooch Spritz. But I think it came out okay.

Supplies:
Paper ~ Natural White, Pretty in Pink, Old Olive, Melon Mambo, Perfect Plum, Crumb Cake
Ink ~ Versamark, Perfect Plum
Stamps ~ Butterfly Prints, Perfect Punches
Accessories ~ Pretty in Pink taffeta ribbon, Log Cabin Smooch Spritz, Butterfly punch, 2 way glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds glitter

I hope you'll get a chance to join us for this challenge. I'd love to see what you come up with!

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Sunday, December 26, 2010

They Say It's Very Rare....

....to have a white Christmas in Alabama....but we got it this year!
We woke up Christmas morning to this...


and as I type this, the day after Christmas, it is still snowing! Two days of snow is really unheard of around here. Right now we have about 6 inches! That is also a rarity and by the way it's snowing right now we're looking at an inch or 2 more. Wow! I love it. It's beautiful. The only down side is that church was called off today and we really can't go anywhere. It's 29 degrees so the roads are covered over and icy and there are no salt trucks in site. Oh well, we have great indoor plans. Bethany and I are going to make cookies in a little while and both the kids get lots of time to play with their great Christmas gifts. Oh yeah, we got a WII gaming system "for the kids" that is keeping Brandon and I busy! We love it! Hummmm, I think stew or chili will be in the plans today too. Yummy.

Here's our little crafty snowman. He has button eyes, a sewn scarf and a ribbon mouth. :-)
Ain't he cute?!

Speakin' of cute, here's my niece, Presley (my sister's daughter)...

Is she not the most adorable child?! She just had her 2nd birthday and she is so sweet. When she sees you come in the door she runs to you for a hug saying "HI!" at the top of her lungs and then there's the sweetest little "I uv you" while she's hugging. Another cute thing she does is saying "I sorry" when she bumps into you.

Oh and of course out of all the great things she got for Christmas, at Nana's house she decided the box was the best of all!

I know you have a pic of your kids or grandkids like this. The box is always the greatest!

I hope you all had a great Christmas.
Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Monday, December 20, 2010

Teacher's Christmas Gifts

Hiya people!

How are ya? I hope you are all well and looking forward to Christmas!

For my kiddos teachers I bought some Christmas tins from Wal-Mart. You know the ones they have this year that look like a pale with the little metal handles?! They are the cutest!

I filled those with hand towels, candles, candies and these cards:


very, very simple note cards with envelopes that I wrapped with ribbon.

I can't believe Christmas is this week. It's really come up on us quickly hasn't it?

Have a great day and thanks so much for visiting my blog :)

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Friday, December 17, 2010

Forest Friends Swap Card

Hello Lovelies!

Here it is the last shopping weekend before Christmas! Are you ready?! I know I'm SO not! ;0) It's really going to come down to the wire for us this year. But, I have no other choice than to be up for the challenge! What will be, will be...

Another thing that came down to the wire is getting these Forest Friends Swap cards out to my good friend Jeanette. I'm working around boxes so it's taking me longer to get to crafty things as far as time goes and it's like an obstacle coarse here! But, they did arrive, which I'm so happy and I can't wait to get cards back.


I found this great patterned paper at Hobby Lobby. I thought when I saw it that it fit the swap theme perfectly! I loved the earth tones in it too so to give the card a punch of color I used this coral red card stock (also from HL) for my base. I used more mustard with the sentiment and added a mustard brad. The flowers are from my stash along with the wide grosgrain chocolate ribbon. The hemp twine finishes the card.

Have a great weekend. Be safe!

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

This Month's Dueling Darling Challenge;

This month's dueling darling challenge is just..............well............DARLING!

Terry sent out the kit this month and how cute is this?


I love the paper she sent and the image. I wish I had this SU! retired set! Those are the cutest little snow people!

With her challenge, Terry wanted us to list a "few of our favorite things" :)

Well, mine would have to be..........
My belief in the Lord
My Family
On a little lighter note, Red Velvet cake (hee! hee!)
Crafting of course!
Seeing my kids faces on Christmas morning
Baking
Sharing /Giving to someone who needs it a lot more than me

I could go on and on but I know you have other blogs to visit, so I'll cut my list a little short.

Be sure and stop by my other dueling sisters blogs to see what they created for this challenge. Their blogs are listed in my left sidebar.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

One Layer Christmas

Hi All! :)

I'm so glad you stopped by my poor little, neglected blog today! I promise you when this move is over with, I'll get back to "business" ;)
We have found a new house! We have it planned to close the same day as the one we're currently living in. That's going to be a challenge getting out of this house and having all our belongings in a UHaul truck, going and closing on both houses, then going to unload the UHaul at the new house!!!! I'm SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO STRESSED!!!!!
I have been getting major migraines. I'm a worrier though so it shouldn't be a surprise to me that I'm feeling yucky, stressed, overwhelmed, weepy, etc, etc..... Oh Well, it'll all be over in 2 weeks...................I hope.

Anyway, getting to the craftiness......

Today, over on the SU-Only Challenge Blog, we're making Clean and Simple Christmas cards! Come join us! We would love to see you there!!!!

My card is really, really, simple. I added some SU pearls to the middles of my snowflakes and used my paper cutter to score 2 lines at the bottom under my sentiment.

Each year I make around 75 Christmas cards. So, I make really simple Christmas cards. I don't know if I'll use this layout for all of them but I will use this card for some that I send.

Again, thanks for hanging with me through my "life events"! You are the BEST!!!!

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

I'm Here! So Sorry to be Gone so Long!

Hey ladies!

I can't believe it's been 3 weeks since I last posted! I'm so sorry!
Lots and lots of things have gotten in the way of blog"y"land...
We're selling our house! The closing is next month. The first people that looked at it, made an offer!!!! WOW! It's been a whirlwind to say the least, because now.......WE GOTTA FIND SOMEWHERE TO LIVE HELLO!!!!!! Oh my goodness I do not know how people that flip houses and live there then sell and buy another house to flip and live there then sell do it! This is SOOOOOOOOOOOOO Stressful!!!

Anyway, I've got all my craft stuff stored away and I'm feeling sad about that. SUO Challenge blog this week is to make a Thanksgiving table setting or something to go on your table for Thanksgiving. Pretty cool challenge huh?! So, for this challenge I dug out some Fall stamps, ink and card stock. Here's what I did...


I love candles and I love making wraps for them!
I hope you like them...

Thanks for visiting me today!

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Lots of Coloring!

For all of you that know me and my crafting style, you know that I don't do a lot of coloring. Well, not the case with this Halloween card. I don't know what got into me but I like it! :)

I'll be entering this in the Really Reasonable Ribbon's Halloween Challenge (#10)
Go take a look! They have some great prizes!!!


I used the great new set from SU!, Fang-tastic. I don't have any Halloween sets. I DO NOT do the scary Halloween thing, only "cutesy" so this is the perfect set for me.
I made the "dirty hills" and then stamped the cat, pumpkins and bat. I stamped, colored and cut out the cute little trick or treater and her goodie bag and popped them up on dimemsionals. I colored my scene with watercolor pencils, SU! markers and a blender pen.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Little Bitty Door Prizes

Hello lovely ladies!

I hope your weekend is a great one!!! :)

I wanted to share with you some little prizes I gave away at my card class last night.
Just some simple 3x3 pretties...


The Merry Christmas stamp is from the SU! set "Come to Bethlehem"
The snowflake is from the SU! set "Season of Friendship"

I can't remember the vendor on the card stock. I loved it though. These were just some scrap pieces from scrap box.
The sentiments are from the SU! set "Fundamental Phrases". I punched them with the modern label punch and 1/16" hole punch and put them together with a vintage brad.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Thursday, October 21, 2010

What a Cute Mystery Package!

I just finished a swap with my "Mystery Friends"! Each month one of the ladies hosts and sends out images. When we get the images, we make 4 cards with them and mail them back. The hostess swaps them out and sends us 3 different cards made by the other Mystery Friends using the same image! It is so much fun seeing how everybody used the images.

Jeanette sent us this cute little bear and fire images along with the sentiment.....


I love this little guy!
I added a snail brad and a card stock moon to finish the scene :-)
I colored the images with watercolor pencils and a blender pen.

Thanks Jeanette for such a cute Mystery package!

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Another Competing Princess Challenge!

Hello lovely ladies!

I hope you're having a great week ;-)

Today is the day to post the next Competing Princesses Challenge. This month our team had a great hostess...........giggle.............it is ME! Hahahahaha And for our other team AnnMarie is hostess.
We decided to make the theme "Punch Art", since AnnMarie and I love it so much!

Here's what I came up with, with the kit I sent to my team....

I love that Sweet Pea dsp. I hate that it retired. :(
For my punch art I used the SU! butterfly punch and a brad. I sponged two punchies and drew on some "veins" to make a pansy.

Thanks so much for visiting today!

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Join Us At SU-Only Challenges!

Hi!

Thanks so much for visiting my blog today :-)

I hope you have a chance to join us over at SU-Only Challenges. Today's Challenge is to use the new fabric or waffle paper in the Holiday Mini. Oh, and if you don't have either of those you can use ribbon in a creative way! Yay for that! Because I didn't have any of the new fabric or waffle paper *Whoops*

Oh well, I think my use of ribbon is pretty cute....

Supplies:
Paper ~ White, Garden Green
Ink ~ Early Espresso
Stamps ~ Word Play
Accessories ~ Pumpkin pie ribbon, Early Espresso ribbon, Real Red ribbon, Bashful Blue ribbon, SU! pearls


I never use Garden Green. I thought it went well with the colors of ribbon I used so I tried it. What do you think?

I hope you're having a great week!

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Friday, October 15, 2010

Let's Duel!

It's time for another Dueling Darlings Challenge! Can you believe it's the middle of October already! Where in the world has this year gone?! Wow!

This month for the DDDazzlers, Lil' DJ was our hostess. She sent the cutest kit. I loved all the elements even though I didn't get to use them all on my card. She sent bunches of goodies! I've never seen the image that she sent.....It is darling!!!! ;-) Thank you Debbie!!!

So, I decided to go with a 6"x6" card base, but, my card is just a litttttttttle different....


In the kit was this adorable patterned paper. Debbie was so kind to cut it where there was an entire doll on it. So, I had to cut it out and make it a part of my card. That's why I had to make the card base 6x6! This cute little doll is not so little! hahaha But, I just had to use her!
Deb asked us to use a treasure of our own, on our creations. Okay, so I forgot....I'm blond!!! But, after thinking about it I do have a treasure on the card. I just received it, it was in the kit, that technically makes it mine right?! Yeah, I know that's not what you were talking about Deb, sorry. Anyway, the patterned paper doll is my treasure. I just couldn't bare to cut her up!!!!

Here's a pic of how you "open" the card...


The ribbon, flower and button were all in the kit along with the paper that is backing my image. There was also another piece of grosgrain ribbon and some brads. I'll get to use these on another project ;-)
I used Not Quite Navy for my card base. I colored the image with watercolor pencils and SU! markers.

Thanks so much for visiting with me today! And, don't forget to stop by the other Darlings blogs and galleries to see what they created! I'm on my way to find out now!

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Check Out my Mom's Blog!!!

Hello ladies!

Many of you know that I'm getting my house ready to sell. So, I've not had any time to craft. Our Realtor even told me it would be a good idea to put my craft stuff out in the garage!!!!! Ummmmm, no it wouldn't! Can you believe that?! She's obviously not a paper crafter is she?! :) Who stores their supplies in a non-temperature controlled area?! NOT ME! NOT GONNA HAPPEN! I did hide them from potential buyers, in case they're not a fan of scrap paper everywhere and inky stamps laying all over my desk....*rolling eyes* right?!

Oh well, I posted today to let you know about an exciting thing happening over at my mom's blog!
She is a Creative Memories consultant and also a Copic Retailer!!!! How cool is that?!
She is having a CM give-away! Click here to check it out! Also, check out an earlier post she has about her copic prices. She has a super sweet deal on refills!!!!

I hope you are having a great week

Until next time...
Blessings...

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Pretty Friend Colors

I have really liked using Marina Mist lately. It's becoming a favorite.

I like how easily this card came together too. Toooooo easy!


Supplies:
Paper ~ white, marina mist, rose red, old olive dsp
Ink ~ marina mist, rose red marker, versa mark
Stamps ~ Friends Never Fade
Accessories ~ Scallop Trim border punch


Thanks for visiting today!

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Another Challenge at the SU-Only Challenge Blog!

How is everyone today?
Well, we are having some very blustery days around here. I love it! Right now as I type it is 56* outside and it's lunch time! Wow! I love cooler weather :-)

Okay, I'm posting to let you know about our 3rd challenge over on the SU-Only Challenge Blog! Please go check it out and look at all the great design team creations. Wow! The ladies did a great job. I hope you like the card I made!!!! You can find it there too :-)
I hope you find time to play along with us!

Have a great day!

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Monday, October 4, 2010

An All Time Favorite!

Hello!

This is my 4th post in as many days.....what's up with that? ;-) Thanks for the motivation April!!!

I told you all yesterday that I would try and post my other card we'll be making at card class at church later this month. But, guess what I did? I didn't take a picture of it this morning before I took both cards to church. I have them on display so the ladies will know what cards they will be making. So, I'll have to get that post up later. Sorry....

I do have a card I made a couple months ago for a CAS challenge over on SCS and I can't find where I've posted it yet. I went through my blog posts and didn't find it so hopefully I'm right on this.

The challenge was to use a Kraft (crumb cake) and turquoise color combo.
Here's what I came up with...


Supplies:
Paper ~ Natural White, Tempting Turquoise, Crumb Cake
Ink ~ Crumb Cake, Tempting Turquoise, Early Espresso
Stamps ~ Just Believe
Accessories ~ Sponge Daubers


This is one of my all time favorite cards I've ever made. I don't know exactly why. I just love how it turned out, the layout and the colors. I know this design will be used in an upcoming card class! :)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!
Have a great week...

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Sunday, October 3, 2010

He was Born to Die

Hello everyone!
I pray you're having a great Sunday.

I thought this card was great to post on a Sunday :-)
Christ was Born. He was born to die. To die for our sins, so that we would have a way to Heaven through Him!
Now, Christ is Risen, Praise His name!


Supplies:
Card stock ~ White
Ink ~ Cherry Cobbler, Soft Suede
Stamps ~ Christ is Born, Refuge and Strength
Accessories ~ Hemp twine, dimensionals


This card was super fast to make. Cutting out the images was the "work" and that took minutes.
I'm having a card class at the our church this month. This is one of the cards the ladies will be making. They're buying kits. Each kit will make 5 cards all of the same design. There are 2 different kits to choose from. I'll try and have the other card posted tomorrow!

Thanks so much for coming over!

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Pretty Little Ornaments

Hiya ;-)

I hope you had a great week and now get to relax a bit for the weekend! I'm planning on doing just a little cleaning and a lot of crafting today. *giggle*

This is a card I made for the card class I had Tuesday night. The card I posted yesterday was another I did for that same class.


Supplies:
Paper ~ white, old olive, pretty in pink
Ink ~ pretty in pink, old olive, tempting turquoise, chocolate chip
Stamps ~ Christmas Greetings, Tree Trimming
Accessories ~ Stamp-a-ma-jig (used the hound out of that tool on this card!!!), sponge daubers, dimensionals


This was my favorite of the class. Of course, it is the card that took the longest to make! I had to use the stamp-a-ma-jig quite a bit on this card....to line up the ornaments so they were straight, to line up the strings and to stamp the sentiment. It is worth it though. Pretty, pretty ornaments!

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Friday, October 1, 2010

Let it Snow, Let it Snow........

Hey everyone!
Sorry I've been missing in action lately. I've had a full week....tough week, subbing. Middle school...I don't remember it being so rough!! whoa.....

Anyway, I'm starting off October with.....SNOW!


Well, not outside but inside with this simple card. :-)

I used the new Northern Flurries SU! embossing folder on white card stock then matted it with bashful blue. I added a silver brad to the corner of the panel. Then for the silver snowflake, I used my SU! snowflake punch on white c/s, inked it with versamark and then embossed it with silver embossing powder.

I love this clean look. A great card to add a beautiful sentiment to the inside.

Thanks so much for visiting me today!

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Kickin' Off Fall!

Hi! ;-)

Is there a crispness in the air? Are you reaching for the light sweater?.......Shoot, I wish I was!!!
We are still enduring mid 90 degree temps here in the good ole' South.
I'm not worried though, as I start the drive up the mountain we live on, I can see the colors of Autumn and I know cooler temps are right around the corner. I just gotta wait for it!

Today, I wanted to show you a card I made for this week's CAS challenge over on SCS. We were to create a card using Fall Colors.


Supplies:
paper ~ whisper white, cherry cobbler
ink ~ cherry cobbler, chocolate chip, pumpkin pie, delightful daffodil
accessories ~ lg. oval punch, chocolate chip grosgrain ribbon


The Leaf Lines stamp set is becoming one of my favorites! I love the different outline leaf images with all their details.....just beautiful!

Thanks so much for visiting me today!

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Big Shot Challenge at the SU-Only Blog!

Hello Everybody!

It's time for another SUO Challenge! We had a great number of entries for our first challenge. I hope you can join us for our second challenge, "Use your Big Shot".

My card is a little different. I decided to make a round card with my scallop and circle dies...


Supplies:
paper ~ dsp pack (In Colors) - Concord Crush, Old Olive, Very Vanilla
ink ~ Chocolate Chip
stamps ~ Fundamental Phrases
Accessories ~ Big Shot, Scallop circle die, large circle die, dots embossing folder, XL Bird Punch, circle punch, half pearl

I distressed the edges of my sentiment piece and adhered it with glue dots and then popped my bird up on dimensionals.

Thanks so much for stopping by and make sure to hop on over to the SU-Only Challenge Blog to check out the other ladies creations and enter your own!

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Monday, September 20, 2010

September's Competing Princesses Challenge!

Hello ladies...
I'm so glad you stopped by today.

I'm having computer problems, because of....VISTA!!! Ugh! It came on the computer and worked wonderfully for 9 months and now it's like it had an evil baby! ;-) Anywho, I've not been able to update my blog as much as I'd like since I have to work my schedule around my computer's temperament. Worse case, I have to go to my mom's or the library to get on the internet. hoooo, hummmm....

Well, today I wanted to share with you my September creation for the Competing Princesses Challenge!
Terria, is our team's hostess this month and she sent a cutie cute kit!!! She and Colleen (hostess for the other team) chose "apple cider" as the theme. This is what I came up with...



I didn't add anything! All of this was in the kit she sent! You did a great job Terria :-) I decided to use the green textured c/s as my base and mount the image at the top. It's a slender card but still fits in a standard A2 envelope.
(see my random flower behind the card? It came up out of nowhere....hummmm, it's beautiful, even prettier than some of the "intentional" flowers I planted!)

I finally got a few copic markers (yeah, I know, I'm behind!) and used those on the little mouse and my watercolor pencils on the "apple cider".

Be sure to visit my competing princess sisters and see all their wonderful creations this month. Their blogs are listed in my left sidebar.

Have a great day!

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Dueling Darlings Challenge #2

Hi out there!
I do hope this has been a great week for you so far!
My week has been super busy already. No subbing today though so I'm getting a few household things done...OH....and of course a few crafty things too ;-)

Today is Dueling Darling Day! My team is the Dazzlers..
September is my month to host and our theme is cute and fluffy.
So, my kit included the cutest little House Mouse image, "Make a Wish"


I also included papers from SU! (the bottom orange polka dot) and DCWV (the top multi polka dot), blue rick rack ribbon, white half pearls and a little white chipboard "cloud" I cut with my Cricut. I used old olive c/s as my base. I also added some Star Dust Stickles to the cupcake.

I hope you enjoyed my card today. Now, don't forget to go give some love to my fellow Dazzlers...

Jeanette
Debbie
April
Terry
Paola
Michelle

And to the other Dueling Darlings team....the Divas, who had their own September hostess, Joan. She sent out kits using the same "Cute and Fluffy" theme.

Visit Kelly's blog to link to all the Divas creations!
Kelly

Thanks so much for visiting my blogland today!

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Touch of Country Christmas

Hiya sweeties!
Thanks so much for stopping by :)

Lately, I'm in the Christmas mood. So, I'm making lots of Christmas cards.
This one took minutes to make and has an old Country Christmas feel to it. In real life it does, I hope that comes across in the picture.


Supplies:
Paper ~ Very Vanills, Cherry Cobbler, Merry Moments dsp, Old Olive
Ink ~ Cherry Cobbler
Stamps ~ Bright Christmas
Accessories ~ linen thread, XL Bird Punch, Sheer vanilla ribbon

The dsp bird is popped up on dimensionals. I punched an extra wing in old olive just for a little pop. I roughed up the Cherry Cobbler c/s on the edges.
The bird is a great way to use up those patterned paper scraps!

Thanks for visiting and have a great day!

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Friday, September 10, 2010

Couple of Pumpkins

Hey people! ;)

I'm getting more and more into punch art with my paper crafting. Slowly but surely I would love to start making those cute creatures/animals/people I see crafters making.....some day maybe.
But, today I'm sharing some easy, easy punch art!


Who among you have not tried the oval punch pumpkins? If you haven't you need too. They are super easy and super cute! For the stems I cut 3 pieces of hemp twine and twisted them together with a dab of tombo adhesive. The card base is Crumb Cake with the splatter stamp from Itty Bitty Backgrounds stamped all over in chocolate chip ink.

Supplies:
Paper ~ Crumb Cake, Pumpkin Pie, Natural White
Ink ~ Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip
Stamps ~ Itty Bitty Backgrounds, Just Believe
Accessories ~ Sponge daubers, kraft ribbon, hemp twine

Hope you like my creation today! Also, hope you're enjoying some cooler temps like we are! Yay! I'm lovin' it :)

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Craft Show Projects Part 2

Hiya!

I've got quite a few things to share with you today. If you've been reading my blog, you know I'm trying to get ready for a Craft Show this Saturday....yeah, this Saturday!!! Yikes! I've never had a booth at a Craft Show and I'm very anxious. I don't know if I'm making too much and too many or if I'll wind up making lots more through out the day. Of course, I hope it's the latter. I'm taking most all my supplies, even my Big Shot and dies so I hope to be able to "demo" lots of things as people walk by and visit. The CS I'm going to is a first for the town. It's a neighboring town about 20 miles away. So, I'm not sure what kind of crowd to expect. I'm hoping I get lots of new SU! customers from this though.

Here are a few projects I've been working on this week to take:

If you have not ordered the new punch from the Holiday Mini....WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? This punch is a must have! I've used it A LOT since I've gotten it. It is a perfect size for little tags.....whether it be for goody bags or on gifts. I used the SU! stamp set, "Fang-tastic" for these tags and the 4x6" cello bags (SU!). The string is crochet thread.


Simple, Easy, peasy!!!! Christmas card! I used the SU! set "Christ is Born". The ink colors are Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive.


This is one of my favorite cards I've made for the show. I used the SU! set, "Jolly Bingo Bits". The card base is bashful blue then a panel of old olive c/s that I punched with the scallop trim border punch. I stamped the images with real red, bashful blue, old olive and chocolate chip ink and punched them out. The sentiment is stamped in real red ink (SU! Bright Christmas set)


Kickin' it old school with this card. This is the layout I used with the very first SU! card I ever made.....stamping the images on the top and putting a piece of c/s or dsp on the bottom....VERY, VERY, EASY!!! This card also uses the Jolly Bingo Bits set and the Bright Christmas set. The ink is certainly celery, real red and old olive and the ribbon is certainly celery grosgrain.

Thanks so much for visiting today!

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Debute over at SUO Challenge Blog!

Hello! I hope you're having a great day

I am honored to bring you my card for the very first challenge over at the SUO Challenge blog! I am thrilled to be a part of their Design Team. We will have a different challenge every other Tuesday. If it really takes off, we'll start having them every Tuesday, so get over there and have some fun!!!

For the first challenge, we want to see your Fall creations

Here's what I came up with:



Supplies:
Paper ~ crumb cake, very vanilla, chocolate chip, pumpkin pie
Ink ~ chocolate chip, pumpkin pie
Stamps ~ Just Believe, A Word for You
Accessories ~ pumpkin pie taffeta ribbon, linen thread, lg. oval punch, square punches, modern label punch, sponge daubers, blender pen

I "double dipped" my leaf stamp (one on the squares). First, I stamped it in chocolate chip ink then in pumpkin pie ink then stamped on very vanilla c/s. That way I could mute the pp ink a little to match the coloring on the larger image.

I would love for you to join us for our first challenge. The only requirement is use all Stampin' Up! products on your creation....other than that just have fun!!! :-) Visit the SUO Challenge Blog for more information.

Thank you so much for visiting!

Until next time...
Blessings...

Friday, September 3, 2010

Craft Show Projects Part 1

Hello ladies!

For the next few days I want to share with you some things I'm making for a craft show on the 11th. Yep, I'm waiting until the last minute as usual. I'm such a procrastinator!


I love candles and love finding new ways to decorate the pretty little things that hold them!



These are super easy. Just cut a strip of dsp in a 1 inch strip. Use sticky strip to adhere it in the back. I punched some butterflies out of coordinating card stock and ran them through my big shot with my dots embossing folder. Then tied a bow with some hemp twine. :)

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Until next time...
Blessings...

Monday, August 30, 2010

CAS82 ~ Guest Designing Again! :)

Hello out there!!! How are ya?!
I hope your week is starting off well.

Today I wanted to share with you the card I made for this week's CAS challenge over on SCS. I was chosen as a guest designer this week! yay! :) I love making clean and simple cards so I was dancing with joy when I was chosen!

This week was an inspiration challenge. We had to create a card using the word "delicious" as our inspiration. I am a huge sweets lover...LOL (need to keep away but I can't help myself)....so of course, the first thing that popped in my head was....CAKE!!!


size: 6x4.5 (fit perfectly in the invitation envies you can get at Wal-Mart now!)

I used my Cricut with the George basic shapes cartridge to cut my rounded rectangles. Then I used my Big Shot with the Elegant Lines embossing folder to emboss each piece separately.

Now what's yummier...when you're talking about sweets.....than Birthday cake?!!!

~Supplies~
cardstock ~ whisper white and pretty in pink
stamps ~ A Word For You (SU!)
ink ~ real red
accessories ~ Cricut, George cartridge, big shot, elegant lines embossing folder, SU! pearls, pink rhinestones (Kaiser Krafts), white gel pen


Thanks so much for visiting today!

Until next time...
Blessings...

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Just Keep Swimming!

That's what I've been telling myself these last couple of weeks. With the kiddos off to school, the house is so quiet during the day. What to do, what to do?! I think I'll craft! hahaha

Here's a card I made a while back for a CAS challenge over on SCS. I thought it went "swimmingly" with my title today!


I received the image in a swap, so I'm not sure who the company is. The dp was also in a kit swap I received. The sentiment is from the SU! set Word Play. I added some brown grosgrain ribbon and a gold star brad to finish it off :)

Thanks so much for stopping by...have a great day!

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Pencils for the Teacher

Anyone have a sharpener? :)

How are you today? I hope you're having a great week so far...


I used a digi image that I picked up a couple weeks ago...it was free....but I didn't label it and now I can't remember which company it's from. Do you know?

Supplies:
Papers ~ real red c/s, tangerine tango dsp, natural white
Accessories ~ SU! Decorative label punch, MS 3 hole border punch, linen thread, watercolor pencils, blender pen, computer generated sentiment

I thought this would be a card to give to one of our kids' teachers. They both have wonderful teachers this year!

Until next time...
Blessings...

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Unsung Hero

We are having a special service next Sunday for our Pastor and his family. It is their 6th year of being at our church.
Our Sunday School class thought it would be nice to have an "Unsung Hero" recognition for our Pastor's wife. She is the most precious lady you could ever meet, so humble, meek, and understanding. She is so kind and easy to talk to....just a lovely person all around. A Pastor is recognized many times on several occasions, but it is seldom that his help mate has the "spotlight". Don't get me wrong, our Pastor's wife would never ask or expect this so called spotlight but we would like to honor her for all that she does. Being a Minister's wife, it warms my heart that our church family thought of this great idea!!

So, I made some sets of cards to go in her basket we're presenting her...


Supplies:
very vanilla card stock
accessories ~ elegant lines embossing folder, large oval punch, big shot machine
Stamps ~ perfect punches
Ink ~ cherry cobbler

Align CenterSupplies:
papers ~ crumb cake, early espresso, cajun craze & white card stock
Stamps ~ leaf lines, itty bitty backgrounds
Inks ~ early espresso, cajun craze
accessories ~ sponge daubers, blender pen


Supplies:
papers ~ crumb cake, marina mist, peach parfait & white card stock
stamps ~ punch potpourri
inks ~ marina mist
accessories ~Xlarge bird punch, XL decorative label punch, crumb cake ribbon, pearls

~Be back soon with more craftiness~

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Friday, August 20, 2010

Competing Princesses August Challenge!

It's Friday!
It's Friday!


Are you jumping up and down with excitement?! Come on....jump around....get happy!!!
I LOVE Fridays :-)

Today is the debut of another card kit competition I'm in.
We are the Competing Princesses!
We consist of ladies in my blog group over on SCS.
We have 2 teams:

Moira ~ Team 1's Captain
April
Colleen
AnnMarie
Lesley

Nancy ~ Team 2's Captain
Melanie
Terria
Me

Please go visit each one of these fabulous ladies' blogs. The links are located in my left sidebar under our Paper Princess Blog Sisters Badge.

So, for August, April from Team 1 and Melanie from Team 2 agreed on a theme and sent kits out to their team mates. They went with "Sizzling Summer". Everyone created a card with their own card base and the items from the kit. I am so excited to see what image the other team's hostess sent out and what she sent in her kit too. Also, it's going to be great to see how my own team mates used the same kit I got.

Here's what I came up with. Thanks Melanie for this cute kit!

Ain't he darling?!
I added the black card base and the small piece of orange polka dot dsp (from SU!). The rest came from Melanie! ;-)
I colored this cute little guy with SU! markers and watercolor pencils.
This is my first time using dew drops. I love them. I'm going to have to me some!

Now, go see what everyone else created! :)
That's an order! Ha Ha ~JUST KIDDING!~
Please go see?!! *giggle*

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Are You Ready for Fall?!!!!

I AM!!!

The 100 degree temps just won't let up here in 'Bama! I'm so ready for some 70's! :)

Today I wanted to share with you my first Fall creation of the season...


All SU! Supplies:
Card stock ~ White, Cajun Craze
Stamps ~ Leaf Lines, Watercolor Trio
Inks ~ Cajun Craze, Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie
Accessories ~ Chocolate chip ribbon, linen thread, Chocolate chip chalk, sponge daubers, blender pen
Techniques ~ Ink pad palette watercoloring

I love these crisp Fall colors!

Thanks so much for visiting today and remember, if you don't have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, I would love to help you! Just visit my SU! website...the link is in my right sidebar...the place to shop 24/7 for all your crafting needs! :)

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Monday, August 16, 2010

Dueling Darlings Challenge #1

Hello!
Is it Monday already?!

I'm a part of a group of ladies that thought it would be neat to send out some images, paper and embellishments (1 hostess per month sending these kits to ladies on their team) and put 'em all together on a card. This may sound a little confusing. The idea behind it was for each lady to have the same kit, use her own card base, and then see how differently the same kit can look.

There are 2 teams. Each team has a kit sent by their August hostess. Our August theme was Ice Cream! Yummmm...



Look at the cute things the Dueling Darling Dazzlers August hostess sent!
The image is called Sweet Ki Ki La Rue from CC Designs.

Here are my teammates...

The Dueling Darling Dazzlers!
Jeanette
Michelle
Debbie
April
Terry
Paola
Me!

Now, the other Dueling Darlings team....the Divas, had their own August hostess that sent out kits using the same "Ice Cream" theme.

The Dueling Darling Divas! Visit Kelly's blog to link to all the Divas creations!
Kelly

Neither team has been able to see their teams creations or the other teams kits until today!
Be sure to click on the team members names to view their sweet cards :)

Thanks so much for visiting me today.

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Friday, August 13, 2010

You Want Something from the Goody Basket?

Hi!

I had a card class the other night and I wanted to do a little something for the ladies that came so I had a goody basket. Each lady that came, got to pick 1 item from the basket. There were 3 pack 3x3 gift cards, top note die cuts, beautiful wings embosslit die cuts, and page accents. Here's a few pics....


Old olive 3x3 cards embossed with vintage wallpaper folder. The sentiment is from A word for you stamp set stamped in pumpkin pie ink.


3x3 cards with Crumb cake card stock and a piece of cherry cobbler punched with my eyelet border punch. The sentiment is stamped in cherry cobbler ink.


More 3x3 cards with vanilla textured card stock and some circles punched from pumpkin pie dsp. The sentiment is stamped in old olive ink.


Here's some page accents. I stamped the large flower from Vintage vogue in marina mist ink then used the rock and roll technique and inked on cherry cobbler around the edges. Then I took the smaller flower from the same set and inked it in Wild Wasabi and did the same technique with cherry cobbler ink. I added a large pewter brad to the center.

Have a great weekend!

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina