Love You

I have some exciting news!  In December, my project was one of the top picks at Inkspirational Challenges.  I was asked to be a guest designer this week and of course I had to say yes!  They have a wonderful inspiration photo for this challenge.

As soon as I saw this picture, I knew what stamp I wanted to use: With You by Sami Stamps.

I used GIMP 2.0 to invert the colors of the stamp.  Then I put it on a black background and cropped it so the portions of the umbrella that were outside of the background wouldn't print.  I also printed a regular black and white image on both yellow and white paper.  I pieced the umbrella, skirt and shoes.  The twine, doodling and sentiment finished off the card.  What do you know?!  I managed another CAS card!

I hope you will join in on the challenge.  This is a fabulous inspiration photo and I can't wait to see how you all interpret it!

Less Is More has a polka dots challenge. This couple is going to step out of the rain and play in that challenge.

Sami Stamps has a stitching (real or faux) with a Sami Stamps image.  This couple is going to visit that challenge and try to stay out of the rain.

Little Miss Muffet has an anything goes challenge.  This couple is going to visit and look at all of the projects in that challenge.

Creative Card Crew has a CAS challenge.  This couple is going to embrace the CAS look and play in that challenge.

Card measures 4.25" x 5.5
My Mind's Eye Kraft Funday twine
Stampin' Up! Best of Greetings stamp set

Growing Old

I am so excited to share this project with you today.  I had the opportunity to be a guest designer with Quirky Crafts Challenges.  I was a top pick in their January challenge and was invited to design for March.  The challenge theme this month is Quirky Masculine with ribbon or twine.

I used Gus Birthday - Optional from Bugaboo Stamps for this project.  The sentiment comes with the stamp as well.  My design was going to be a little bit different, but I had a terrible incident with my Silhouette.  Somehow my image got moved after I printed it (obviously it was me, but I sure don't know how or why!!) and he got sliced in half!!  I had to fussy cut him instead of having him in an oval.  Thank goodness I was able to save him! I also needed a larger scalloped oval so I used this Silhouette cut file and modified it for my needs.
 Since he feels growing up is optional, I raided my boy papers and totally fell in love with this plaid.  I used the colors of the paper to color him using Copics.  A little twine and a few metal embellishments and he was done!

I hope you will all play along with the challenge this month.  Don't let those masculine cards scare you away!  You can do it!

Pile It On has a green and two other colors challenge (plus at least one other challenge).  Gus is going to motor his car over and play in that challenge.

Southern Girls has a words challenge.  Gus is going to go read all of the other entries in that challenge.

Craftin Desert Divas has a lots of layers linky party.  Gus is going to show off all of his layers at the party.

Craftng With Friends has an anything goes challenge.  Gus wants to visit that challenge and play along.

Catch the Bug has an anything goes challenge.  Gus wants to go visit all of his Bugaboo friends and celebrate.


Card measures 4.25" x 5.5"
Spellbinders Classic Scalloped Ovals - Large
Silhouette cut file Doily Border Frame Oval by Jamie Koay
The Twinery Honeydew twine
TPC Studio Metal embellishments

Happy Valentine's...a Little Early

Hello everyone!  I have some exciting news to share!  I was asked to be a guest designer for the Art by Miran blog.  Well of course I couldn't say no!  I love Mi Ran's gorgeous girls and was so excited to get a chance to play along with her team.  Thanks for thinking of me!!

I used Heart Sign and thought I would go a little wild with some pink hair.  The papers I used are by Tracy Wray and can be found in the Art by Miran Facebook Group.  You will have to request to join the group, but the inspiration is totally worth it!  The sentiment is also included with the gorgeous papers.  I colored Heart Sign using Copic markers and used my Silhouette to cut it out.  That machine makes fussy cutting so much easier!

The challenge is always anything goes over at the challenge blog.  You have the chance to win up to four images if you use an Art by Miran rubber stamp or digital image to enter.  What are you waiting for?!  Get to coloring and go enter!

Brown Sugar has a Valentine/love challenge.  This little girl is going to visit that challenge and share the love.

Creative Corner has a Valentine's Day/love challenge.  This little girl would like to visit that challenge and play along.

Polkadoodles has a love and romance challenge.  This little girl is in love with love and is going to play in that challenge.

Simply Create Too has a love or Valentine's challenge.  This little girl wants to share the love and visit that challenge.

Whimsy Stamps has a with love challenge.  This little girl has a lot of love to share and is going to play in that challenge.

Card measures 5.5" x 5.5"
The Girls' Paperie Lace trim
Dress It Up Grandma's Grab Bag buttons - ridged hearts
Favorite Findings heart button
American Crafts Elements Pewter round buttons
Recollections pearls
The Paper Studio pearls
Flower from my stash

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!



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

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!