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December 19, 2011

The Shape of Inspiration

Did you see the release at Meljen's Designs this week?  They are the greatest images!  Something to get you through this pre-holiday madness!


I know I will need a vacation once the holidays are over! 

This week the challenge is to create a card that is any shape but a rectangle.  For my inspiration project I decided to give a snowflake shaped card a try.


I cut the snowflake using the Cricut Christmas cartridge.  I welded together two 4.5" snowflakes and cut them out of Core'dinations cardstock from the whitewashed collection.  I embossed the snowflake and then sanded the embossing.  After that was finished, I sprayed the card with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Marshmallow.  You can't see it in the picture, but it has a lovely pearly sheen!  I colored the Snow Bunny image using Prismacolor pencils and baby oil.  The sentiment is from Craftwork Cards and has a pearly sheen to it as well.  I won some blog candy from Enfys at the Going Buggy blog, and received a package full of goodies from Craftwork Cards.  I have to say, I am in love with their products.  I so wish it were easier to get them in the US!  After I cut the scalloped circle and oval punch, I sprayed them with the Glimmer Mist as well.

Card measures 4.5" x 4"
Lifestyle Crafts Circle and Scalloped Circle dies
Stampin' Up Oval punch
Ribbon and snowflake gems from my stash


December 8, 2011

New Challenge

It is time for a new release at Meljen's Designs and with a new release that means a new challenge!  The images this week are sure to melt your heart! 


Aren't they just adorable?!  They are available in the shop now. 

The challenge this week is to use any shade of green.  I used Cozy Winter Wolf Pup for my card.


I colored the image with Prismacolor pencils and blended with baby oil.  The snowflakes were cut with the Cricut Christmas cartridge.  I created stitiching with a Signo gel pen.

Card measures 5.5" x 4.25"
Rhinestones and ribbon from my stash


December 1, 2011

Exciting News!

I have been waiting anxiously for December 1st to arrive.  No...not because it is officially December and Christmas is only 24 days away!  But today I officially become part of the Meljen's Designs design team!  I applied when they had their design team call and was thrilled when I was invited to become part of the team.  I love Meljen's Designs digis and I am looking forward to using them to inspire you.

Here is my debut project:


I used Christmas Star Snowman from last week's release and based my card on the challenge for this week: inspired by a Christmas song.  I love the song Do You Hear What I Hear? and thought this image fit perfectly for that song.

The images for the release this week are all Christmas carols.  You can find them in the shop today!


So join us for the challenge with your Christmas carol inspired project!

Card measures 4..25" x 5.5"
Stampin' Up! Textured Impressions Embossing folder-snowflake
Martha Stewart Swirling Lace Punch around the Page
Sentiment was computer generated
Star button, twine, and velvet ribbon from my stash



November 27, 2011

DeNami Design Sketch Challenge

The challenge this month at DeNami Design is a sketch created by Amber, one of the very talented design team members at DeNami Design. 


I kept the layout the same, but I used a square card instead.


You may recognize the stamping on this card.  When I created my project for the Anything but a Card Blog Hop, I wanted to give the technique a try before I created my project.  This is one of the practice pieces.  I thought it was too pretty to toss, so I made it into a card.  For more details on how to create the look, see the original post.  I used two stamps: Decorative Flourish, Mini Solid Flower that you can currently buy from DeNami Design, and two retired stamps.  The sentiment is from Stampin' Up! (Whimsical Words).

Card measures  4.5" x 4.25"
pearl trim from my stash
Recollections adhesive pearls
Spellbinders Labels 18
Clear embossing powder
Stampin' Up! ink-So Saffron, Crumb Cake, Tea Stain
Memento ink-Rose Bud


November 20, 2011

Happy Fall

The challenge this week at Meljen's Designs is to create a project with a fall theme.  There are lots of wonderful fall images in the shop as well as some adorable Thanksgiving images that were just released.


I used the Happy Fall Badge available in the Meljen's Designs shop.  I colored the image using Prismacolor pencils.  I sponged some Tea Stain ink from Stampin' Up! over the image to warm up the white cardstock a little.  I created faux stitching around the diecut that was sponged with some Baroque Burgundy ink from Stampin' Up! as well as some Tea Stain ink. There is light embossing on the scalloped circle, but it is so light it didn't photograph at all.  I used the Flourish Texturz Plate from Stampin' Up!

Card measures 4.5" x 4.25"
Pearl Brad-American Crafts
Small brads-Basic Grey
Lifestyle Crafts Nesting Scalloped Circles
Die cut shape & ribbon from my stash



November 15, 2011

Fall Favorite

The challenge this week at Meljen's Designs is to use Orange and/or Brown.  There are so many adorable fall images in the shop.  I used one of my favorites.


I colored Pumpkin Bumpkin with Prismacolor pencils.  I will probably add a sentiment, but wasn't sure what I wanted to use.  I added some flowers, ribbon and punched borders.

Card measres 5.5" x 4.25"
Martha Stewart Doily Lace border punch
ribbon and flowers from my stash


November 13, 2011

Anything But a Card Blog Hop for DeNami Design


Hello everyone.  Welcome to your next stop on this journey of crafty inspiration.  You should have come here from Pattie's Blog.  If not, you should hop over to the DeNami Design Blog and start from the beginning.  I know you are probably tired, but you are almost finished.  Just a few more stops to go!


I used the DeNami Design Purse Template and printed it on Very Vanilla cardstock from Stampin' Up!.  After cutting it out, I stamped an overall design in VersaMark ink using a large stamp (pictured below) that is now retired.  I am not sure what it was called, but it is the P size and was made in 1999.  I used clear embossing powder to heat emboss the overall design.  I sponged on So Saffron (Stampin' Up!), Rose Bud (Memento), and Crumb Cake (Stampin' Up!).  I wiped the ink from the embossed areas.  After getting the shading I was happy with, I stamped the Decorative Flourish over the design in So Saffron, the Mini Swirl Flourish and another retired flourish in Crumb Cake, and the Mini Solid Flower in Rose Romance (Stampin' Up!).  I wiped the ink from the embossing after each application of stamps.

Before assembling the purse, I printed another template on some pretty floral paper to line the inside.


After assembling the purse I added some ribbon trim and a ribbon rose to the front of the purse.  The last step was creating the handle.  I used some glass beads from Stampin' Up! and threaded them onto some wire and attached them to the purse.

These are the stamps I used to make this project:



This little purse is the perfect size to hold a gift card.  Thank you for stopping by and don't forget to comment.  DeNami Design is giving away two $20 gift certificates to two random commenters and one to a random participant (design team not eligible).  You have until November 14, 2011 at 11:59 PST to get those comments in. 

The next stop on your journey is Barbara's blog.  I am sure she has something wonderful in store for you.



November 12, 2011

A Fall Hello

The challenge this week at Pike's Playground is Anything Goes.  After missing the chance to play in the last two challenges, I was determined to get a card done in time this week!  I had cards done...I just got the challenge ending times wrong.  So frustrating!


I dare you to take one of his apples!!  I colored the image using Prismacolor pencils.  I used a few dew drops by The Robin's Nest and a paper flower with a tiny brad in the center.  Not many embellishments.  I loved the image and wanted it to be the center of attention.

Card measures 4.25" x 5"



November 2, 2011

Christmas?! Already?!

The challenge this week at Meljen's Designs is to create a project with a Christmas theme. I still can't get my head around the fact that it is that time of year again!  Hopefully this will get me jump-started for the holiday season!


I had to pull out my Meljen's Designs rubber stamps to make this card.  I discovered I don't have any Christmas digital images!  I will have to remedy that fact!  You can find the gorgeous red rubber images at Whimsy Stamps.  They stamp beautifully and are backed with cling foam for use with acrylic blocks.  This stamp is Elf Bell Mouse.  I colored the image with Prismacolor pencils.

Card measures 5" x 5"
Martha Stewart Doily Lace border punch
American Crafts rhinestone brad
ribbon & rhinestones from my stash


October 26, 2011

Red and Gold

Wow!  This is my 100th post!  It doesn't seem like it has been that long since I have started blogging.  It was just about a year ago that I started my little piece of this online world.

The challenge this week at Meljen's Designs is to use the colors red and gold.  When I think red and gold of course I think fall.  Fall means jackets and cozy blankets.  My card is inspired by those things.


I used the image Fall Wreath and colored it with Prismacolor pencils.  I printed a second image and colored the crow and cut it out.  I added it to the colored wreath using some scraps of foam.  I cut a circle window in the gold panel and embossed it.  Then I adhered the image behind it.  I cut a scalloped circle from a cozy plaid paper and used the same size circle die to cut out the center of the scalloped circle and applied it to the circle window in the gold panel.

Card measures 4.25" x 5.5"
Cuttlebug embossing folder-Pumpkin Harvest
Ribbon-Stampin' Up!
Cardstock-Stampin' Up! More Mustard and Cherry Cobbler
mini buttons from my stash


October 23, 2011

Color Challenge

The October challenge at the DeNami Design blog is a color challenge.


I always seem to struggle when I am given specific colors to use.  Once I decided on a design for the card, it finally came together for me.


I used Round Leafy Tree and stamped it using Crumb Cake ink from Stampin' Up!.  I used Crystal Lacquer and applied glitter to the leaves of the tree.  I used Labels 18 from Spellbinders to cut out the image and the mat.   I popped up the image layer off of the mat using some foam scraps left from trimming stamps.

Edited to add:  Apparently, I was super inspired by Lisa's card on the DeNami Blog!  When I went to link my card, I realized our trees were very similar! 

Card measures 5.5" x 4.25"
Spellbinders Label 18 # 3 & # 4
Stampin' Up! Texturz plates-Flourish
Stampin' Up! Pinking Hearts border punch
Martha Stewart Glitter-Brownstone, Fire Opal, Verdelite
American Crafts pearl brad
Paper Studio Spare Parts button brads
seam binding from my stash


October 17, 2011

Feelin' Witchy

The challenge this week at Meljen's Designs is Ribbon.  Melissa has some wonderful Halloween & Fall images.  You should take a peek at them in the shop!


I used the image Little Bunny Witch and colored it with Prismacolor pencils.  I distressed the edges of the image to warm up the white cardstock.



Card measures 4.25" x 5.5"
Cutlebug embossing folder-spider web from Mini Monsters set
buttons & rhinestone flower from Michael's
ribbon & lace from stash


October 9, 2011

TGIF! (Thank Goodness It's Fall)


It's time for the DeNami Design October blog hop.  The theme for this month is fall.  I am so thankful that fall has arrived.  The temperatures had cooled, but we were back up into the 80's this week.  Still better than our summer temperatures this year!

You should have arrived at my blog from Vera's blog.  I am sure she had some wonderful inspiration for you.  If you didn't come here from Vera's blog, you can always pop back to the DeNami Design blog to start at the beginning if you have gotten lost along the way. 

Now on to my project for the hop!


I used a stamp positioner and stamped the Pumpkin Patch Border twice at the top and the bottom.  I used a mask to cover the the first image so I could line them up next to one another and colored the pumpkins using Copic markers.  I stamped the Pumpkin Chickie, colored it with Copics, and punched it out with a circle punch.  I sponged some Stampin' Up! Crumb Cake ink to warm up the white.  I stamped the Double Circle and used a circle die to cut it out, then cut a larger circle and embossed it.  The scalloped circle was cut at 3" using my Cricut and the Lacy Labels cartridge.  The green panel is also embossed.  I added som pearls and raffia to finish it off.

Thanks for stopping by.  Don't forget to comment on each of the blogs along the way.  DeNami Design will give away three $20 gift certificates.  Two lucky commenters will each receive a gift certificate and one gift certificate will be given to a random participant (design team members are ineligible).  You have until October 10, 2011 at 11:59 PST to comment to be eligible to win.

The next stop on your journey of fall inspiration is Pattie.  From what I have seen on her blog, I am sure she has something fabulous whipped up for you!

Card measures 5.5" x 4.25"
Cardstock-Stampin' Up Pumpkin Pie, Really Rust, More Mustard, Old Olive
Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing folder
Stampin' Up! Stripes Textured Impressions folder
Stampin' Up! Scallop Trim border punch
1.25" circle punch
Lifestyle Crafts Nesting Circle dies at 1.75" and 2.25"
Pearls-Recollections
raffia from my stash


October 5, 2011

Where's My Mummy?

I had a horrible realization yesterday.  I realized it was Tuesday.  It was quite late when I had this realization.  Why was it horrible?  Because it meant that today was Wednesday and the challenge at Meljen's Designs was ending and I had no idea what I was going to make for a card!  The challenge is to use a square and a circle on your card.


I used the image Mummy Bear and colored it with Prismacolor pencils.  I also used Quilted Boo which is a freebie for now.  Many of the old freebies will be going into the shop for the low price of $1, but I am not sure which ones.  If you have wanted to get some of Melissa's generous and adorable freebies, now is the time!

Card measures 4.5" x 4.5"
Spellbinder's Labels One small dies
Lifestyle Crafts Nesting Circles
Dew Drops from the Robin's Nest
ribbon from my stash