Mismatched Madness

The challenge at Meljen's Designs is to use paper from at least two different manufacturers.  This was an easy one for me.  I rarely use paper from the same manufacturer.  Some of my paper I bought so long ago, I have no idea who even printed it in the first place!  I did make sure to pull out paper that I knew so I could be sure they were from different manufacturers.

I used Swim Time Mouse and colored him with Copics to match my papers.  The stripe is from My Mind's Eye.  It is the Stella and Rose-Mabel collection.  The other patterned paper is from Carta Bella and is the Winter Fun collection.

Card measures 5.5" x 4.25"
Stampin' Up! baker's twine
TPC Studio metal embellishments

Tag! You're It!

Tag was always so much fun to play as a kid.  It is just as much fun to play as an adult...as long as it is the crafting kind.  I am fairly certain I could not run to goal if I tried!  Our challenge this week is to use or create a tag in your project.

I used Kitty Cat Cuddles and of course colored it with Copics.  I decided to make the card tag shaped.  Rather than pull out the Cricut, I just marked off the corners at a 45 degree angle using an acrylic quilting ruler.  I just don't have a place to set the Expression up right now!  I have had these stray metal tags rolling around in my stash for ages.  They are pretty small so it is hard to find a sentiment that fits.  I stamped the letter on a punched circle and embossed with silver embossing powder.  I used all of them!  Woohoo!  One more thing cleaned out of the stash.  The twine at the bottom of the card is actually the strings from the tags.  I just knotted them, staggered the knots and cut off the tails.

I can't wait to see what projects you come up with now that you are "it"!

Card Measures 5.5" x  3.5"
Lifestyle Crafts Circle and Scalloped circle dies
tags from my stash

How Charming!

We have to use charms for the challenge this week.  There are so many cute ones that it is hard to decide which to use.  I had to keep my project simple this time.  In fact, I will be in Phoenix as you read this.  I had limited time to get my project done, so I relied on one of my favorite layouts to make this card quick and easy.

I used Little Heart Vase and colored the image with Copics.  The charm didn't photograph very well, but it says "thank you".

It is supposed to be 118 degrees in Phoenix on the day this posts.  Wish me luck!  I might melt!

Card measures 5.5" x 4.25"
Cuttlebug Paper Lace 2 embossing folder set
charm from the wedding section at Michaels
ribbon from my stash

Father's Day Funny

The challenge this week is Dad, Daddy, Father.  Does that challenge give you an anxiety attack?!  It does me.  There is nothing harder than trying to design a card for a guy:  no bling, no frills, no ribbon!  How does a woman cope with so much stress. =P

I looked through my library of images and just wasn't coming up with any ideas.  So I hit the shop and had a look around. Of course I found my perfect image!

I used Bear Butt and colored him with ProMarkers.  Why not my Copics you ask?  Well...as I started coloring with my E71 marker, it went completely dry!  And of course, I had no refill on hand.  I printed a new image and found some colors that would work.  I used my favorite color combo for a masculine card.  The upper right corner seemed the teeniest bit empty.  Normally I would put gems or pearls, but since this is for my hubby, I pulled out these great metal embellishments by TPC Studio.

I also have to share the inside of the card.  Not because it is fabulously decorated, but because it is punny!

I am willing to bet it will make my hubby laugh!  (UPDATE: In fact it did!  Long and loud. =P)  Both sentiments were printed on the computer.

Card measures 4.25' x 5.5"
Cuttlebug Forest Branches embossing folder

Fun Color Challenge

Do you find yourself using the same colors for every project?  The challenge this week will help you step outside of your creative comfort zone.  Use the inspiration picture to create the palette for your challenge project.

Love the colors in this picture.  More importantly, I can imagine myself sitting in that chair right over there!

As soon as I saw Funky Flower Hat, I knew it would be perfect for this color challenge.  I colored it with Copics, which proved to be a challenge as I didn't really have blending pairs in the colors I wanted to use.  Luckily, letting the ink dry and coloring over the top with the same color helps to create the shading.

I cut strips of cardstock 1/2 inch wide and embossed them with various embossing folders to create the background.  I doodled some stitching to set off each strip.  The mat was created by tracing around the outside of the die that I used because the next die was too big.

The giant button was actually the lid for a container of buttons that I bought at Michaels.  I saved them because I just knew I would find a use for it one day!

Card measures 4.25" x 5.5"
Cuttlebug Swiss Dots, D'Vine Swirls, Argyle, Textile embossing folders
Ribbon from my stash

Words with Friends

The challenge this week at Meljen's Designs is Words with Friends.  Use something with a lot of text in your project to join in on the fun!  It could be a page from a book, a stamp, or an embellishment!

I used the image Story Keeper Gnome and colored him with Copics.  I stamped a script stamp on the front and back of some paper that looked like parchment.  I cut two strips and layered them on the right side of the large piece leaving the right corner free of adhesive.  I rolled each layer over a pencil to create the look of curled pages in a book.  A simple sentiment stamp and ribbon finished off the card.

Card measures 5.5" x 4.25"
Hero Arts Sentiment Stamp
Hero Arts French Script stamp
ribbon from my stash

What's the Point?

The point is you should join us on the Meljen's Designs challenge blog.  Our theme this week is to use something pointy on your project.  It could be a pin, a star, or anything that has a point!

I used the new image, Steampunk Girl and colored her with Copic markers.  Her gold accents were colored with Copics first and then I colored over them with a gold Copic Spica pen.  You can't tell in the picture, but they have a lot of sparkle to them.  I used sprocket gears from Tim Holtz and found the one with the pointiest spokes to fit the theme.  I embossed a piece of Core'dinations cardstock and sanded it so the embossing would show.  I bought the embossing folder ages ago and never used it, but it was perfect for this card!  As my hubby always tells me, "It will turn up in something!"  The clockwork face from Tim Holtz finished it all very nicely.  I am not sure what I will use this card for, so I didn't add a sentiment.  My sister is angling for it to be her birthday card!

Once again, I primarily used scraps on my card!  The only new piece used was the Core'dinations cardstock, and that was from a small stack so there weren't scraps left over.  Even the lace was a scrap from a previous project that was still laying on my table.  I was trying to use a different style of lace and saw the scrap laying there.  I plopped it on my project and it was the perfect size and style!  Love when that happens!

So go find some pointy objects and carefully add them to your projects!  We would love to see them.

Card measures 4.25" x 5.5"
Cuttlebug Clockworks embossing folder
Tim Holtz Sprocket Gears
Tim Holtz Clock Faces