Last Guest Designer Post

It is with a heavy heart that I post my last Meljen's guest designer post.  I have had so much fun trying to come up with projects to share each week.  I love the versatility of Meljen's Designs and have so much fun using them.

My project this week has a trash to treasure kind of story.  My father-in-law gave one of the boys a belt clip.  It came in this awful tin.

I hear the words "You can throw it away.  I don't want it."  My ears perk up and I immediately rescue this ugly tin from certain doom. 

I knew I could use a Meljen's image and turn that tired tin into something fabulous!

I used the image Little Girl Bear Hugs and colored it using Prismacolor pencils blended with baby oil.  I used papers from the Basic Grey Hopscotch pad so they would all have the same color and feel.  I added some lace trim, ric rac and ribbon to the top.  My hubby told me it was a bit busy, so I figured it was just right!

I want to thank everyone for visiting me today and each Saturday this month.  I look forward to seeing what the next guest designer has to offer!



Blast from the Past!

This week the challenge at Meljen's Designs is so easy!  Simply post the first project you made using a Meljen's Designs image.  Coincidentally, my first Meljen's project was also my very first blog post!  I was selected in the top five and Flickr wouldn't allow the picture to be copied!  All they could use was a thumbnail and it was sooooo tiny!  I decided it would be easier to share if I started a blog.

I created this card for the Operation Write Home challenge, so this card has since been sent to Sandy to be included in one of the many packages that OWH sends to troops to use to keep in touch with their loved ones.  It is a wonderful organization and I hope to send another package soon.

I used Monkey Toes and paper pieced the image using design paper and vanilla cardstock that I darkened with some Crumb Cake ink.  I created the box using another piece of vanilla cardstock tinted with ink.  I stamped the background of the card using a clear stamp set with sentiments that look like postage.  It has the cancellation watermark too.  Unfortunately, I cannot remember the name of the company and no longer have the packaging!

Card measures 5.5" x 4.25"
Cuttlebug Spots and Dots embossing folder
ribbon from Stampin' Up!

Sparkle, Glitter and Shine

That is the challenge this week at Meljen's Designs...sparkle, glitter and shine.  I don't often use glitter.  I make a complete mess when I use it, but I broke out a vial of it for this challenge.

I used the image Cherry Mouse colored with Prismacolor pencils and then blended with baby oil.  I applied Crystal Lacquer to the cherry and covered it with glitter.  It gives a raised effect to the cherry.  I also used some Terrifically Tacky Tape and applied glitter to the background on the embossed stripes.  Last but not least, I dabbed a button on my glue pad and then applied some glitter to that too.

Now if you will excuse me...I need to try to get the glitter off of my face.

Card measures 4.5" x 4"
Stampin' Up! Textured Impressions embossing folder-Stripes
Martha Stewart glitter-Garnet
Spellbinders Labels One dies
Ribbon from my stash

Sweetest Ever!

This month the challenge at DeNami Design is a sketch created by the one and only Nami!

DeNami has changed from having 2 challenges a month to only one each month. I have discovered this causes some extreme procrastination! I made myself sit down and make this card before I had to skid in by the seat of my pants again.

I turned the sketch on it's side and used N133 Polka Dot Background for a tone on tone design.  I used K55 Ice Cream Cone and colored two of the scoops, the cone, and the cherry using Copics.  The other three scoops are pieced using the foil wrapper from a piece of chocolate.  I stamped the image on the foil using StazOn and cut out each of the scoops I wanted to use then glued them to the original stamped image.

Here is a close up of the foil scoops.

Card measures 4.25" x 5.5"
Ribbon & sentiment-Stampin' Up!

Button, Button...Who's Got the Button?!

The theme for the challenge at Pike's Playground this week is to use buttons.  I saw an awesome button border on Britta Swiderski's blog during a recent blog hop at DeNami Design.  I wanted to try that technique for this challenge.

I used some buttons from my stash that created a monochromatic border.  I colored the image using Prismacolor Premier pencils and blended them with baby oil.

Card measures 5.5" x 4.25"
Sentiment-Stampin' Up! Everyday Grettings set
Ribbon & twine from my stash

Happy Day!

For my third project as guest designer for Meljen's Designs I created a banner.  Banners are all the rage right now so I thought I would try my hand at one.  WARNING:  Lots of pictures to follow! 

I used my Cricut and the Mother's Day 2010 cartridge to cut the banner flags.  I used my gypsy to hide the holes so the Cricut didn't cut them.  They were quite large after sizing the flags so I just used eyelets.  I used a punch to create strips of scallops to edge the flags with.  I also cut the letters using the Cricut and the Winter Woodland cartridge.  I cut lacey circles using the Lacey Labels cartridge.  I punched a hole in the point of the center flags on the first row and the center top of the remaining flags.  I set an eyelet in each hole and using a decorative paper clip, I hung the remaining flags from the first row.

       

I popped up both the letters and the images as well as the lacey circles.  The images are popped up less than the lacey circles are.

For the first row I used Birthday Cup Mouse, Topsy Turvy Cake, and Little Layered Flowers Stitched Lotus.  You can get the Little Layered Flowers individually or as a set.

I also used Happy Birthday which is part of a freebie pack you can download here, Birthday Bee, and Cupcake Mouse.

On the second row I used Party Time Cat, Birthday Cake Mouse, and Cuddle Bun Birthday.

Birthday Cup Mouse and Birthday Cake Mouse are also available in gorgeous red rubber stamps as well, if you prefer.  I have several of the Meljen's Designs rubber stamps and they stamp beautifully!

All images are available for purchase in the Meljen's corner of Whimsy Stamps.  I colored all of the images using Prismacolor Premier pencils and blended with baby oil.

Flags measure 8" x 6"
Circles measure 2.5" with Lacey Circles cut at 3"
Stampin' Up! Scallop Trim corner and border punch
Eyelets and ribbon from my stash

Guest Designer part 2

Welcome back for day 2 of my Guest Designer Spotlight at Meljen's Designs.  This is the project I have for you this week.

When I saw the image Stuffed Elephant, I thought it would be adorable paper pieced for a baby card.  I couldn't decide if it should be a card for a boy or a girl so I made both.  I used the Itsy Bitsy Baby Boy and Girl paper pads from K&Company.  The lace trim was white, but I used dye ink pads to color it.  I wiped the ink pad on my non-stick craft sheet and misted it with some water.  I laid the lace trim in the ink and patted it with a paper towel.  I like the uneven color I got using this method.  I even dusted off my sewing machine and added some stiching on all of the layers. 

Cards measure 4.5" x 4.5"
charms-Michael's
ribbon and lace trim from my stash

It's a Jungle Out There!

The challenge this week at Meljen's designs is to use black.  As soon as I saw the release this week, I knew what I wanted to do.  An unusual situation for me!  My daughter is leaving for school next week so I made this card for her.  She is moving into an apartment with a couple of friends and will have to wear her big-girl pants from now on!  She is quite nervous and I am nervous for her.

I used Safari Rhino from the new release.  He is colored using Prismacolor pencils and baby oil.  I found some pictures of animal prints on the internet and pasted them into word.  Then I put the sentiment on top of each of the animal prints before I printed it out so I could paper piece the sentiment.  To make that work, you have to make the background transparent.  There is a great tutorial on the Meljen's blog on merging images.  It explains how to make the background transparent if you have never done it before.  I cut a square of each of the animal prints and matted them with black cardstock. 

I don't usually finish the inside of a card until I know what I am going to use it for.  In this case I already know, so here is the inside.

It is important to me to let her know that her dad and I are always going to be there for her.

Card measures 5.25" x 5.25"
Viva Decor pearl pen-black
Ribbon from my stash

Back to School

It's that time of year again...the time that all kids dread: the end of summer vacation and the start of the school year.  The challenge at Meljen's Designs this week is Back to School. 

When I saw the new image, Desktop Mouse, I knew I had to have it.  I colored it using Prismacolors and baby oil.  The sentiment was computer generated using a font I found at dafont.com.  the font is called Life Lessons and it actually looks like a penmanship lesson with the arrows showing the direction of the strokes!  It even includes the lines.

Card measures 4.25" x 5.5"
EK Success edge punch
binder clip from office supply store
ribbon from my stash

Girl Power!

The challenge this week at Pike's Playground is Girl Power.  You have to use one of Dustin's images and create something girly.  I didn't want to use pink, because not every girl likes pink.  I know...hard to believe...but neither of my girls like it.

I colored the image using Prismacolor pencils and baby oil.  What could be girlier than ribbon, lace, pearls and flowers?!  Even if they aren't pink.

Card measures 5.5" x 4.25"
Stampin' Up Texturz Plate-Perfect Details Pattern 2
Prima mulberry paper flowers
Recollections self-adhesive pearls
Ribbon from Stampin' Up

August Guest Designer!

I am so excited because I have been asked to be a guest designer at Meljen's Designs for the month of August!  I couldn't believe it when I got the email.  My family couldn't figure out why I fell out of my chair at the computer!

I have been thinking about how to use up some of my many scraps.  I had been thinking about making some 3 x 3 mini cards and thought this was the perfect opportunity to give it a try.  All of the cards shown below measure 3 x 3 and were made using scraps of cardstock, paper, and ribbon.  No new pieces were harmed in the making of this blog post!  I love the fact that I could resize the images to fit the mini cards perfectly.

I have shown each of the cards in more detail below along with the list of supplies used for each card.  All of the images were colored using colored pencils and baby oil.

Left:  I used the image Little Layered Flowers-Stitched Lotus and Stitched Leaf.  You can get these images as part of a set or individually.  I printed the Stitched Lotus twice to layer it and folded the top flower petals slightly for some dimension.  I embossed the brown cardstock with D'Vine Swirls.

Right:  I used the image Little Bug Line.

Left:  I used the image Johnny Bird Boots and the freebie sentiment Friends.  I used some paper flowers and pearls in addition to some baker's twine from the Twinery.

Right:  I used the freebie image Giraffe's Necktie, which is available in a freebie pack you can download here, and the freebie sentiment Stitched Hello.  I cut the border using Lattice Rectangles from Spellbinders.  The polka dots were stamped using the Polka Dot Background from DeNami Design.  The image was punched out using a punch from Stampin' Up.

Left:  I used the image Double Scoop Ice Cream and the freebie sentiment Sweet (available in the freebie pack).  The rhinestones were colored to match using Copic markers.  The ovals were punched with punches from Stampin' Up.  The scalloped circle was cut using a die from Lifestyle Crafts.  The mat pieces were punched from a piece of cardstock embossed with the Tiny Bubbles embossing folder.

Right:  I used the image Cuddle Bug and the freebie sentiment Thinking of You (available in the freebie pack) printed inside the freebie Little Stitched Cloud.  The background was embossed using the Flourish Texturz Plate from Stampin' Up.

Left:  I used the freebie image Stitched Country Heart and the freebie sentiment Thinking of You (available in the freebie pack).

Right:  I used the image Simple Little Butterfly.  The background was stamped with the steam curl from the Espresso Stamp Set from DeNami Design.  The small button brads are from the Paper Studio.

Left:  I used the image Smile Flowers.  The blue strip was punched using the Pinking Hearts border punch from Stampin' Up.  The yellow flowers were punched using a mini punch I got in the dollar bin at Michaels.

Right:  I used the image Little Pocket Mice.  The background was stamped using a stamp from the Sprinkles stamp set from Stampin' Up.  The circle and scallop were cut using dies from Lifestyle Crafts.  The button brad is from the Paper Studio.

Whew!  That was a really long post!  Thank you for sticking with me until the end of this post.  I hope I have inspired you to create your own mini cards!

Frames

The theme this week for the challenge at Meljen's Designs is Frame It.  Your project must have a frame on it.  Not sure I have been in the right frame of mind, though.  My mojo is still gallivanting somewhere and this card took me ages to pull together!

Maybe the summer heat has melted my mojo...it was 101 degrees here yesterday with a heat index making it feel like 110!  There is no end in sight either.  It is 88 degrees now but feels like 103.  I guess that's why I turned to fall colors for this card. 

I used the image Country Scare Crow.  I cut the frame using the Lacy Labels Cricut cartridge.  I popped up the top of the crow and left his legs loose to make it look like he was sitting in the circle.

Card measures 4" x 4"
Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder
Rubbernecker Stamps Flourish Background
White Blossom rhinestone flowers
Ribbon and paper flowers from my stash