Wednesday, November 30, 2011

25 Days of Christmas Creations! Day 1

Hello! Happy last day of November!
I have decided to do my own 25 days of Christmas event here on my blog. I'll be posting Christmas creations from now until Dec. 24th. I'll try to have a little something different posted on the 25th.
I really don't like posting to my blog every day. I like trying for every other day. That way you ladies have a chance to get around to them. Every day is a hard task. Anyway, I thought if I tried posting all my Christmas creations every other day, you'd still be seeing Christmas stuff into February! LOL! So, I'll be posting my Christmas Cheer everyday. Some days there may be more than one pic in a post. Some days I have Challenge obligations so those cards will also be in the post. But, all post from now til Christmas Eve will be Christmas themed.
You might say, that's not a new concept....why wouldn't you post Christmas creations during December? I know this, but I think this will keep me blogging throughout the month, so maybe I won't be absent for weeks without posting something b/c I got too busy with life! :)
So, I'll stop rambling now and let you see my first Christmas card of my "25 days of Christmas event"....


So, not my usual CAS creation huh? This is an easel card I created at a SU! card class in October. We used the new jingle bells and pewter embossing powder and the Frostwood Lodge dsp.
I love the layering on this card and will definetly be sending this card to someone that will appreciate it! :)

Thanks for visiting today! I hope you can make it back for all 25 days!

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Note: There won't be supplies lists on these Christmas posts. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me and I'll get you the list :)

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Sunday Challenge

Happy Sunday! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We did, we traveled most of the day as usual, but, we love spending time with our family....it was all worth it.

Over on SCS, I'm in a blog group called the Paper Princesses. We decided recently to try some fun weekly challenges. AnnMarie is our challenge Princess! :) She wanted us to think about whom we are thankful for in our lives and make them something.
Well, I'm of course thankful for my hubby and our kiddos and all our family, but for this challenge I wanted to thank someone who didn't even know they were a blessing in my life. Those that follow my blog, know we moved February of this year. Where we did live was at times scary. Now, it wasn't a drug ring part of town or anything, but we had some neighbors that were sketchy and there was another that raised big, crazy dogs for other purposes than just man's best friend. We would get knocks on the door at all hours of the night and when we would check there would be shaving cream on our car or poop on the doorstep, stuff all over the walkway, laughing and cursing in the bushes. It was never ending teenage pranks that we called the cops for on more than one occasion. Not to mention the goats in our yard everyday from the neighbors crude, broken fence. I was DONE! I wanted a neighborhood that was quiet, but that had good neighbors that would be there when you needed them. Okay, now I know that is a large order, and we thought we'd never find it. BUT WE DID! I know we've only been here 9 months, but our neighbors are wonderful! Brandon got his truck stuck in the ditch one day and 2 of our neighbors saw it and got chains and got to work! I've had 2 yard sales (yes 2 we had lots of stuff!) with one of my neighbors. The ones across the street moved a couple months ago because of her hubbys job and we all about cried because we knew we were loosing great neighbors.
So, anyway, I thought about all this when I saw AnnMarie's challenge and knew what I wanted to do.

It's not much but my daughter and I made cookies for our neighbors and delivered them before we left Thursday morning for our family get-togethers.
Each one of them were surprised and happy to see us and took a few minutes out of their busy mornings to say thanks. I am so thankful for good neighbors. I sleep so much better at night now.

Here's a close up of the little turkey I made. He is made with the leaf from Day of Gratitude stamp set, the small oval punch, one of the Itty Bitty punches from the punch pack and circles from the Owl punch. I used the rock and roll technique on the leaves (also on the 3x3 card I attached to the cookie package) with cherry cobbler, pumpkin pie, daffodil delight and choc. chip ink.

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Monday, November 21, 2011

Mystery Time Again!

We have finished another round of Mystery swapping! (a group of us ladies over on SCS take turns hostessing rounds, send the images out to all the participating ladies, no one can say what the image is or what they are doing on their cards. The due date to have these to the hostess is the 18th of every other month. We then can post them on our blogs after the due date.) I can't wait to see what the other ladies did with this adorable Whipper Snapper image Barb sent us!
You that know me, know I rarely color images. I just don't feel I'm that good at it. So, I stick to simple, solid images most of the time. I have to say though, I enjoyed coloring this adorable snowman and his blue bird pal. Well, mine's a blue bird, everyone else's may not be! giggle

I used watercolor pencils and a blender pen to color the image. I also outlined the image with a Copic (BV23). You can't see it well in the picture but I used dazzling diamonds on the snowman's face and belly. I had to give him some sparkle to cheer him up :) The glittery paper came from my scrap pile (love when I can use those pieces) and I added a purple rhinestone to the sentiment along with pearls and purple satin ribbon to the side of the image.
Do you know someone that could use some cheering up? Maybe winter time gives them the blues or they've lost someone close to them recently. Or maybe it's someone that feels lonely around the holidays. I think this would be a good card to give, a good image to use for one such card. The snowman just looks like he's had it and the bird is there for him. :) That's why I chose this sentiment (SU! petite pairs).
Happy, happy Thanksgiving week! Have a wonderful holiday!

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Friday, November 18, 2011

My First Attempt at a Lollie!

Goodness, goodness, I know what you're thinking. How can this be the first time I've ever attempted a Lollie (the pleated circle on the card). Well, I tend to stay behind on trends. I'm too busy trying to catch up. Usually I get to the "it" thing about 3 months after it's become popular! LOL
Anyway, this is the card I made for Monday's CAS challenge over on SCS. Jen challenged us to make our projects centering around the word "Party". That was our inspirational word to use as we wished.

I had just gotten the Party Hearty SU! set about 1 month before the new catalog came out. Wouldn't you know it would be on the retired list, just after I got the money to buy it? Well, the bright side is, I got it before it was gone!
My Lollie flower/pinwheel whatever you call them, is 3/4" wide by 6" long. I scored the dsp (numbers paper from Celebrations pack) at every 1/4" Then after I pleated and laid it flat, I adhered it to some pacific point c/s that I punched with the small scallop circle punch. Then for the top I used a 3/4" circle punch on some more pacific point c/s and on top of that used a punch from the Itty Bitty Punch pack on some old olive dsp.
I found that ribbon at the back of my drawer. It's real red taffeta that I bought a long time ago.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend! :)

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

supplies: white c/s, Celebrations dsp, pacific point c/s and old olive dsp, real red and pacific point ink, real red taffeta ribbon, scor tool, circle punch, scallop circle punch, Itty Bitty punch pack
stamps: Party Hearty

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Welcome Baby!

My Sis is Preggo!
This will be she and her hubby's 2nd child.
Congrats Elisha! Love you! :)

I don't make a lot of baby cards. I needed a little help so I used the Mini VSN challenge #2 (SCS). To make a mostly white card with a little sparkle.

My sparkle is dazzling details on the polka dot embossing.
Love, love using the SU! stocking punch as baby booties :)

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

supplies: stocking punch, top note die, big shot, white, bashful blue and pretty in pink c/s, bashful blue ink, circle punch pretty in pink ink and blender pen (for doodles), white baker's twine
stamps: petite pairs SU!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Dueling Darlings ~ What Not to Wear Challenge

Okay, before you look at this card, I was so totally stumped by Jeanette and Kelly's challenge. They sent us clothing images (an image having something to do with clothing) and then sent lots of mismatched papers and embellishments. We had to sort through using what was in the kit to make a card. I will be the first to admit I was so lost and I don't like what I created.


There is so much stuff covered up on this card it's not even funny! Jeanette I did use all but 2 of the papers you sent...most might be covered over though.
It seems I don't have much fashion sense. LOL! The people on that TV show might be knocking on my door any minute telling me how bad I am!
For the sentiment (not the one on the American Arts, Body By stamp) I punched a piece from one of the papers and then the 100% is from a sticker sheet Jeanette sent. I love the floss she sent and thought with me making lots of circles on my card that the floss would look best left like it came to mimic the circle shapes. The doodle dots I made, I thought, brought a little unity to this very fussy card.

Now, there was 1 more challenge this month. J and K asked us to post a picture of ourselves or someone else depicting WHAT NOT TO WEAR.
Have you ever played a game at a Christmas party and thought "how embarrassing" only to find out that it made it's way online?!
This is my mother in law playing a game at a BIG family get together.

The object (or I think this was the object) of the game was to get as many balloons as you could into the stockings and then place the stocking over your head while singing your favorite Christmas song. The one to finish first, won. They were so goofing looking! I just had to get pics. I can't wait to make scrapbook pages of these! hahahaha

Be sure and check out all the other Darlings cards. Links to their blogs can be found in my left sidebar (toward the bottom). Thanks!
We also have a guest designer this month! Please check out Janet's blog found here!

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Mini VSN Challenge #1

Mini VSN was yesterday over on SCS. I didn't have a chance to play then but I made my cards today.
Here's a card I made for the first challenge....Bundle Up! and use felt.
I have plenty of felt lying around....love that stuff!

My felt is pink cheetah print. I cut it to look like a scarf.
My stamps are from Verve Hello Pumpkin set and a swirl set from Inkadinkado.

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Friday, November 11, 2011

Backyard Inspiration!

Hi All! Happy Veteran's Day and while I'm at it, Happy weekend!
Take time today to pray for our soldiers, veterans and their families.
I made a card for the Featured Stamper's challenge and Ways to Use It challenge over on SCS. I love when I can combine a couple challenges into one card :)


I chose the colors mostly because I get to look at these colors everyday in my backyard. We have lots of trees on our property and it's a joy to watch the colors changes. So, I decided to go with a "backyard" color palette :)
For the panel, I started with a scrap of summer sun c/s. I tore the edges and then stamped my flowers. I then sponged the piece with cajun craze, chocolate chip and early espresso inks. For my butterflies I stamped them in cajun craze ink onto textured crumb cake c/s and cut them out. I adhered them with glue dots and then lifted their wings a little to give dimension. I love how this turned out. It's a little more involved than I'm used too and was afraid of doing too much. I hope you enjoyed it though. Ever get in a rut....take inspiration from the things around you!
I hope you have a blessed day. Thank you so much for stopping by my little blog!

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

suppiles: textured crumb cake c/s, early espresso c/s, summer sun c/s, cajun craze, early espresso and chocolate chip inks, sponge daubers, early espresso brads, modern label punch
stamps: watercolor trio and three little words

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Finally A Scrap Page!

Hello!
I can't believe it the start of another week. It's sad to think about how time just flies. Especially when I'm scrapbooking. I was playing in my craft room the other day and decided it had been way too long since I scrapped. I'm a chronological scrapper so, when I looked at where I had gotten to, it shouldn't have surprised me that I'm up to Fall of 2008!....but it did. Oh well. Anyway, looking at our kiddos in these pics made me a little sad. They were so little. Now our son only like about 3 inches being as tall as me! Wowzers!
You know if you really sit and think about it, scrapbooking can be a sad art form. We're trying to capture memories in a book. Scrapbooking is a wonderful journey, but it can also "pull at the heart strings". I'm a little weepy just typing this post! Good Grief!
Sorry, I'm getting all mushy! I want you to come away from my blog happy and inspired. Not weepy and depressed! Ugh!
Look at what I did....


It is certainly not the best page I think I've ever done. But, I'm looking at scrapping from a new point of view these days. I need to get all the pictures I have organized in their neat little drawers.....SCRAPPED! These beautiful memories deserve a page and an album. I can't keep worrying if my pages look as good as Sally Suzie's over on SCS (advanced apology if there really is a lady with that user name over there! :) or on any challenge blog I may run across. I gotta scrap the "Melina" way. That and I gotta hand write journaling. I want my albums to reflect me so that my kids (and maybe grandkids someday waaaaaaay down the road) can see "me" in them.
Well, I'm so sorry I spilled my heart out so much to ya. Forgive me :) I just got a little "mom"motional. giggle

Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

Friday, November 4, 2011

Christmas is Only How Many Days Away?!!!!

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not one of those that jumps directly into Christmas mode and forgets about Thanksgiving. My house is Fall decorated right now. I am very thankful for my family and friends. We will get together and eat way too much in 3 weeks.
But, you do have to admit, it is very hard to ignore the calender! Have you done any Holiday shopping? I have my dear hubby 2 things. He's great at dropping hints and when I run across those things, I grab 'em! :)
Another reason I tend to gravitate toward Christmas sooner is that I don't send that many Fall cards, unless they're Fall Birthdays. Christmas is my biggest card giving holiday as I know it probably is yours. So, I'm sharing the cards I've been making these past few weeks. I like making all different designed cards to send. I know some of my friends like to make 1 card and mass produce for their card each year. What do you prefer?


This is a card I made for a CAS sketch last week over on SCS. The 3 pieces in the background are made with some scrap dsp and real red card stock. I ran the scallop border punch over the rr.
I love, love the Tree Trimming set from SU! I put a little pearl at the top of the ornament image. Mostly b/c there was too much space between the ornament and the stamp string! LOL :)

Thanks so much for visiting me today.
Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

supplies: very vanilla c/s, SU! dsp (can't remember the name), real red c/s, old olive c/s, old olive ribbon, linen thread, Cricut George basic shapes cart for ovals, real red ink, scallop border punch, pearl, sponge daubers, choc. chip ink
stamps: Christmas Greetings, Tree Trimmings

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Patterned Paper is My Friend!

Hi all!
I hope your week is totally crafty so far!
I made a card last week for a couple of challenges over on SCS. In making the card, I wanted to do something I don't do a lot and that's use patterned paper. It's a real challenge for me. I most of the time, think it looks to busy on my creations.
I do really like how this one turned out though...

I like how the tree from the SU! "Snow Swirled" set looks when you off set it. Probably cause I never can get it straight when I want it front and center! This is the first project I have used my red corduroy buttons on. I am hoarding them! :~)
Well, what do you think? Did I use the patterned paper well? To give the card a little more dimension, I inked around the paper, image and red frame for the image with crumb cake ink. The sentiment is from the SU! set "Word Play".
Thanks for visiting! Your comments make my day!
Until next time...
Blessings...

Melina

supplies: white, old olive and cherry cobbler c/s, jolly holiday dsp, cherry cobbler baker's twine, real red corduroy button, sponge daubers, old olive, crumb cake and cherry cobbler ink, ticket corner punch
stamps: Snow Swirled, Word Play