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

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

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

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

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

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

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.