Winter Wonderland

 This week at Creative Knockouts, our challenge is Winter Wonderland.  I was able to choose an image from my  stash to work with this week.  I was on the Meljen's Designs team for a long time and decided to pull out one of those images to work with.  Sadly, the shop is closed now, but I still love her images.

This is Marshmallow Snowman from Meljen's Designs.  I just love that smile!  He was colored with Copics and cut out using the Silhouette Cameo.

You have a chance to win a $6 gift certificate from our sponsor, Di's Digital Stamps. Click the badge to visit her shop.

Card measures 4.25" x 5.5"

Spellbinders Lacy Squares dies

My Favorite Things Stitched Fishtail Banners Die-Namics

Spellbinders Card kit embellishment

Ribbon and lace from my stash

Sad News!

It is with a heavy heart that I tell you as of March 31st, Meljen's Designs will be closing its doors.  I am so saddened by this news.  I have been on the Meljen's Designs team for just over four years.  I have loved working with all of Melissa's wonderful stamps and have met some wonderful people over that time.  Melissa is going in a different direction with her art and wants a complete new start.  She will be moving some of her digital stamps to her Etsy shop soon, but until then, if you want to scoop up a few of you favorites, the entire shop is 50% off until it closes.  You can read Melissa's post on the blog here.

Love is in the Air!

So Valentine's Day is right around the corner and of course that means our theme for this week's challenge is all about love!  We want to see your projects inspired by love and your special someone!

I was shuffling through the many Meljen's Designs stamps I have printed out.  I always intend to get a few colored ahead of time, but that never seems to happen!  I have quite a few that I thought would work for a Valentine's Day card and then I saw Bad Hare Day.  As soon as I saw him, the song Wild Thing popped into my head! I thought that was perfect for a card with a bit of sass!  So I pulled out my Copics and colored him up.  I am not completely happy with the way the banners turned out, so I may rework them.  But of course the inside will read..."you make my heart sing!"

Card measures 5.5" x 4.25"
Stampin' Up! Hearts a Flutter die set
Sizzix Banner stamp & die set
American Crafts twine
Cuttlebug Hugs & Kisses embossing folder
pearls from my stash

Team Spirit! Go Pack!

The new challenge this week at Meljen's Designs is to use your favorite team colors to create a project.  I grew up in Wisconsin and am a die hard Green Bay Packers fan.  So of course my project had to have green and gold.  It seemed like a great color combo for a little spring pick-me-up and this is what I came up with.

The card is even CAS.  That doesn't usually happen!  I used the Little Layered Flowers Sunburst Daisy and Little Layered Flowers Round Leaf.  You can get both of them in the Little Layered Flowers Set that has a bunch of great flowers.  I colored them with Copics and created dimension with foam.  I am going to add a sentiment above the twine, but I am not sure what I will use this card for at the moment.  I will decide and then stamp the sentiment.

Card measures 5.5" x 4.25"
Martha Stewart Eyelet Lace Punch Around the Page
Spritz package twine (Target)

Shabby Chic Is My Kryptonite!

So it is time for another challenge at Meljen's Designs.  The theme this week is shabby chic.  For some reason I struggle with shabby chic almost as much as I struggle with masculine cards  There is something about the style that I just can't get my head around!  I even had to do a search on shabby chic cards just to get a good idea of what I wanted to do.

I used Peaceful Heart Quilt Square and used some ink to distress it after coloring the heart with Copics.  It is popped up slightly from the die and the die is popped up from the back of the card.  I made the distressed looking flowers.  Can you guess what I made them out of?!  Nope!  A used dryer sheet!  Yes indeed, a used dryer sheet spritzed with Tattered Angels glimmer mist.  I am pretty happy with the way they turned out.  I made the "hat pin" on the right as well as the tassel.  All in all...my kryptonite didn't hurt me too badly, I think. =)

Card measures 5.5" x 5.5"
Spellbinders Luscious Labels One
Maya Road Vintage Butterfly pin
Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist
Lace and pearls from my stash

Anything Goes for the New Year

Wow!  It is 2015!  Where does the time go?  We are starting our new challenge year at Meljen's Designs.  We took it easy on you and started off with an Anything Goes challenge.  This way you can recuperate from the holidays and create whatever you have the inspiration to create.

I used Little Top Hat Cat and colored him with Copics.  He is all set to celebrate the new year!  I didn't add a sentiment because I am not sure what occasion I will use this card for.  I don't really send New Years cards...so...

I hope you will join us in our Anything Goes challenge.  You have a chance to win new images from the shop.  If you use a Meljen's Designs image, you get an extra chance in the random drawing.  You can also join us on Facebook in the Meljen's Designs Club.  You can share your projects and chat with other Meljen's Designs fans.

Card measures 5.5" x 4.25"
Recollections border punch
Spellbinders Classic Oval dies
Stampin' Up! Large Dots embossing folder
ribbon & rhinestone stars from my stash

It's Magic! Hidden Elements

The challenge this week at Meljen's Designs is to incorporate a hidden element on your card.  This is always so much fun to do!  There are so many different ways to incorporate this challenge into a project.  I hope you will enjoy what I have created for you.

I used the new image Ghoulie Girl Cupcake as the main image for my card.  I bet you are thinking, "but you didn't even color it!!"  Nope...but we will get to the reason why.  I also used Trick or Treat Bag and Bottle of Poison as embellishments.  Quilted Boo is a the top on the tab.  Wait...why is there a tab?! A tab usually means pulling!  So let's get to pulling that tab!

Oh my gosh!  What is happening?!  Let's keep pulling that tab!!

And there she is in all of her Copic colored glory! =)

I thought you might want a little video show and tell as well!

The magic of this card is in the construction.  I can't take the credit though.  I had seen one years ago at a convention.  I forgot until this challenge, so I had to find instructions.  Card Making Magic had a great tutorial for making one.  You have to convert from metric measurements if you don't use them, but it wasn't hard.  You use a 12 x 12 sheet of card stock and divide it into thirds (4" each).  A little trimming and gluing and you are done!

I hope you will join us this week with your own hidden elements!

Card measures 5" x 6"

Melted pony bead enamel dots

Paper Studio paper rose sprayed with Copic ABS
Martha Stewart Drippy Goo border punch

Ribbon from my stash

It's Sketch Time!

Oh my poor neglected blog!  It is a direct result of my poor neglected craft space!  It has been a crazy time at my house and with the holidays coming, I am happy to have a bit of a break before the next round of mayhem!  We have a sketch for you this week at Meljen's Designs created by our teamie Amy.  It is great for Halloween cards because it has lots of lovely layers to showcase all of your favorite papers you only get to pull out for a short time each year!

When I saw Fuzzy Monster Cupcake in the new release images, I fell in love!  I knew he would be one of the first images I colored up and here he is!

Unusual for me, I stayed pretty true to the sketch.  I had a completely different look in mind, but you know how those things go!  The card took on a life of its own and dictated the end result.  I am sure I will find a use for all of the other bits that I cut first.

Card measures 5" x 5"
Ribbon from my stash

Splat!

The challenge this week at Meljen's Designs is simply...Splat!  The idea is to use ink, paint, or ink mist on your project.  I was not expecting to make a project for this challenge so I really had to do some searching.  I am still away from my crafty space which is where all of my mists are!  I tried making some marbled paper using the shaving cream technique, but the colors were just not combining in a way that I liked!  I finally found something I could use.  I had a piece of glossy cardstock that I had applied ink to using a rubber brayer!  Whew!

I used the image Unicorn's Rest and colored it with Copics.  You can see the glossy panel behind the stamp.

Card measures 4.25" x 5.5"
Recollections decorative border
American Traditions L'il Charms
American Crafts ribbon

A Little Metal...Well Okay...a Lot

Hello everyone!  What a fun challenge at Meljen's Designs this week:  use metal on your project.  It can be a little or a lot!  I decided to go with a lot!

Do you know how hard it is to photograph metal?!  It took me several tries to get a picture that I was happy with.  I used Hot Air Balloon colored with Copic markers and I also used Little Stitched Cloud.  To create the background, I used a piece of craft metal.  It came in a 12 x 12 sheet and I have had it forever, so I am not sure who made it.  I printed Little Stitched Cloud several times in a couple of sizes and cut them out.  I used them as a template to pierce the metal with my Tim Holtz piercing tool.  I also used a larger sized Little Stitched Cloud for the sentiment and a smaller one for the embellishment.  All of the images are popped up with leftover stamp foam for a lot of great dimension.  I found the lace trim at a local antique mall along with some great buttons and other fun embellishments!  You never know what you will find!

I am also going to link this up in the Blitsy Linky Party!  Love that website!  So many great crafty finds!

I can't wait to see how you get creative with your metal embellishments!

Card measures 4.25" x 5.5"
Stampin' Up! Island Indigo Baker's Twine
Stampin' Up! Send Me Soaring stamp set
Basic Grey button
Paper Studio Ribbon Scraps
lace from my stash

Candy Land Colors

Wow!  It is time for another challenge at Meljen's Designs!  This time we have a color challenge for you.  Take a look at this color swatch photo!

Such bright colors!  When I looked at that photo, I immediately though of the digital stamp, Candy Land Dreams.  So, of course, that is what I had to use for my card!

The stamp is colored with Copics.  My "candy dots" are actually melted pony beads!  It is the latest craze sweeping the crafting world.  If you don't mind a little bit of stinky odor, you can cook up a batch of these yourself.  I used mini beads and melted them at 350 degrees for about 5 minutes.  You can get glitter beads, pearl beads, translucent beads...the list goes on and on!

I am also going to enter this in the Card Makin' Mamas challenge to use Buttons, Bits and Baubles!  

I hope you will join us this week for our color challenge!

Card Measures 1.25" x 5.5"

Spellbinders Labels Nine

Cuttlebug Mini Monsters embossing folder

Stampin' Up! Goody-Goody Gumdrops Stamp set

ribbon from my stash

Happy Anniversary

We are celebrating Meljen's Designs 4th anniversary this week.  What better way to celebrate than to get a gift, only in this case, YOU get the gift!  Melissa has drawn a special digital stamp that you can get for free for this week only.  Just pop on over to the shop and download it.  (Clicking on the image below will also take you to the shop.)  To play in this week's challenge, you MUST use this image.

Isn't it just adorable!  It is called All Our Friends and you can see many of the images that have become favorites over the last four years:  Brooke, Jaycen, Cupcake Mouse, and Raggy Puppy.  The design team has used this image on their projects and I am amazed at how different they all are!  Here is mine.

I continued with spring colors because today was a gorgeous day and I was inspired by sunshine and warmth!  The image was colored with Copics and it was great practice in using a light hand!  There are a lot of wonderful details in this image.  My card is 5.5" wide so the image was about 2.5" wide!  I think I may print it just a bit larger next time. =)  I made the crocheted flower myself.  I have actually gone a bit crazy and have an entire garden of crocheted flowers!

Don't forget...to play along, you MUST use the anniversary image.  It's free, so what are you waiting for?!

Card measures 5.5" x 4.25"
Spellbinders Lattice Rectangles
My Mind's Eye Collectable Notable Wonder brads
Heidi Grace printed punchboard add-ons
Stampin' Up Friendly Phrases

Getting Springy

It was my turn to post on the Meljen's Designs blog this month.  I am excited by the return of sunshine and warmer weather, so I thought I would post a spring project.

The colors and patterns were inspired by the current Card Makin Mamas photo challenge.

When I saw this picture, I just had to play along!  I decided to step out of my comfort zone and mix patterned paper.  Still not sure how I feel about it!  I used Little Round Flowers from Meljen's Designs and paper pieced the image.  I also popped several layers up on dimensional foam.  The base image was closely cropped with a die so that parts of the image would extend when pieced.  I like how the piecing turned out at least!

And since the card fits into the spring theme over at the Blitsy Linky party, I am going to post it there too! 

Card measures 5.5" x 4.25"

Spellbinders Labels Twenty-Two

TPC Studios metal embellishments

ribbon and gems from my stash

Let's Hear it for the Girls!

I am so excited by the challenge this week at Meljen's Designs.  The challenge is to create a girly card!  Easy peasy!  I got out all of my favorite embellishments and went to town!

I used Tiger Butterfly and colored it with some soft, girly Copic colors.  Then I layered on flowers, ribbon, trim and gems.  I am not sure it is girly enough!  What do you think?!

I am going to add this to the Blitsy Linky Party happening now.  Fingers crossed for some Blitsy credit!  Love that website!

Card measures 4.25" x 5.5"
Martha Stewart doily
LifeStyle Crafts nesting circles
Fancy Pants embroidered trim
flowers, ribbon, gems from my stash

Winner! Winner!

First, I would like to thank everyone for all of the sweet comments you left during the blog hop.  It is always so much fun to read them and I love them all!

Second, I used random.org to draw a number out of the...well...not really a hat...from the cybersphere.  Drum roll please!

The winner was comment number 32, which was an anonymous comment.  The comment was:
                 
                    ·:*¨·••·¨*:· Thanks.·:*¨·••·¨*:·for sharing such a beautiful creation with us.
                    your creation is super cute, love your design and fab coloring!Fantastic project! 
                    I wish you many more creative years of inspiration!!Keep up the fabulous work.
                    Have a marvelous weekend.take care of yourself and stay warm.

                                  (¯`v´¯) 
                                   `*.¸.*´ 
                                  ¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨) 
                                 (¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•sending hugs across the miles
The email address has snowbird in it, so Snowbird...you are the winner!  Lovely ASCII art in your comment too!  You will be receiving an email from me with the image attached.  Please let me know if you do not receive it.

Thanks again for all of your lovely comments.  Stop by again soon!