So grateful

Grateful:  adjective :warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received; thankful: I am grateful to you for your help. (as defined by dictionary.com)

I am grateful for many things: my husband that is always there to comfort me, my dog that always puts a smile on my face, my parents for helping us out when I was at my lowest point, my siblings for always being there, my niece and nephews for making me feel loved, my online friends that let me vent and are concerned for me, and my creativity for giving me a stress relief outlet.  There are many more things I am grateful for but I won't bore you with them!

This is a card I made for a swap.  Although I love vintage, my cards lately have been clean with layers.  I love the look of embellies like rhinestones, pearls, brads, etc that look like they have been placed at random.  When I try and do it, it looks too "placed."  I wanted that look for this card because it really needed just a little something.  I actually drew dots then had to look at the card to see if it looked random enough.  Then I either erased or changed the dots to what I wanted and viola!  I liked it so I copied the same randomness on every card.  Kind of an oxymoron right?

The wheat image is stamped with three different color inks.  Don't know if it comes thru on the picture or not. 

Materials used:  Harvest Linen paper by Bo Bunny; Frayed Burlap, Gathered Twigs, Bundled Sage Tim Holtz Distress Ink by Ranger; D1312 November Word Puzzle by CTMH; Orange Say it With Bling by Want 2 Scrap; Green cardstock - unknown

I hope everyone has a very Happy Thanksgiving and tell those that mean the most to you that you are grateful for them in your life.  Let them know; just don't let them assume it.

Thanks for stopping by and see ya next time!  Be creative!
Mel

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!  I know, I know, it's too early and you aren't ready yet!  I am!  I've started decorating the yard this past weekend and all the totes are pulled to start the inside.  My mom likes to decorate before Thanksgiving for the grandkids to "ooh and ahh" at all the decorations while they are here for Thanksgiving lunch.

Here are some cards I made for a couple of swaps.  I "scraplifted" the idea from Paper Crafts mag Nov/Dec 2013 edition.  They had a section on five holiday cards for $5 or less.  I loved one in particular and thought it was so clean and elegant.  Of course, I had everything on hand.  I made a few changes to make it mine - rhinestones in stead of sequins, changed the sentiment (don't particularly care for Happy Holidays) and added a little glitter cardstock.  Hello! It wouldn't be made by me if there weren't some bling added!!!

These cards were a little tricky, as I had to tilt the paper at an angle.   I'm not good at math and geometry to try and figure out the shape and dimensions and, ugh!!!  So I improvised and did it my way; not going to tell you how.  I don't want any snickering behind my back! 

For my next set, the only thing I may change is the card base.  My papers were crème and not white, but I think they came out great for my swap.  I'm going to keep the same general layout for my cards that I send out to friends and family.  I'm just going to change papers.

Materials used:  Magic of the Season paper by Paper Studio, Glitter cardstock by Core'dinations; red and black Say It With Bling by Want 2 Scrap. 

I'm up-to-date now on posting and will be working on more things in the coming weeks.  Something about the cold weather makes me want to create, especially while I'm drinking coffee or cocoa!

Thanks for stopping by and see ya next time!  Be creative!
Mel

Vintage Halloween

Oh Halloween has come and gone by now.  Maybe you have some leftover candy that you are squirreling away for later?  Since I'm running behind on posting, I'm going to post some Halloween cards I made for a swap.

I'm all about vintage.  Looooove it!  I just had to use these cutie patootie vintage images on my cards.

I hope that my swap partner enjoys them!  That's the problem I have in joining swap.  I always wonder if my partner likes them. 

Materials used:  Halloween images by Crafty Secrets; Purple Bling CS by Bazzill; Metallic Orange cs by DCWV; Raven lace by SU!; Flowers - Sweetheart Collection by Prima; Spider brads by Oriental Trading; Spook Alley bat stickers by Making Memories; Hallowhimsy paper by Imaginisce; Green Rhinestones by ZVA; spider by Bazzill; Say it with Crystals by Prima

Check back tomorrow for some Thanksgiving cards!

Thanks for stopping by and see ya next time!  Be creative!
Mel

Can't believe it!

I can't believe I have not posted anything here since June 23!  That will not do! 

I have not been in the craftiest of moods lately.  Well, that has changed and I have created a few things to get my crafty mo jo going.

I made this for Father's Day for my father-in-law and didn't post it.  I love the way it turned out!  Love the color palette! No coloring, just stamping.

Materials used:  Artistic Collage - Tim Holtz Collection by Stampers Anonymous; C1416 In the Month of June by CTMH; Walnut Stain, Vintage Photo, Pumice Stone - Tim Holtz Distress Ink by Ranger; Silver nailheads metal stickers by Mark Richards; background patterned paper - unknown. 

I will be making another post tomorrow to try and catch up to current day.

Thanks for stopping by and see ya next time!  Be creative!
Mel

May Your Colors Be True, Red White and Blue!

Oh no!  What did this cutie forget?  She forgot someone's birthday!  Oh no!  Let me introduce Sally's Uh oh Moment by Cheryl Alger from Squigglefly.

She is for Squigglefly's challenge for this week: 

This week's challenge is SFC2413 May Your Colors Be True, Red White and Blue!

 

I used a bunch of items from my miscellaneous supply bin - the embossed cardstock background, ribbon and die cut.  Trying my best to use what I've got!

 

Materials used:  Copics - B21 Y32 YR14 C7 E000 E00 E02 R29 R39 B26 B29, Frosted Lace Stickles by Ranger, Bling by Want2Scrap, Flower from Queen&Co, ribbon/diecut/cardstock by unknown.

 

Thanks for stopping by and see ya next time!  Be creative!

Mel

End of the school year brings graduation and happy kids

This time of the year brings smiles and cheers of joy to kiddos everywhere.....school is out and summer is here!  This end of school year has my niece graduating from kindergarten and my one of my nephews having great grades.

Tuesday was my neice's graduation.  My parents went to the ceremony and took my littlest nephew with them.  My sister made her a presentation bouquet.  Here is the card I made to go along with her gift.  She called me last night to say thanks and how much she liked the card.

Her school colors are maroon and gray.  I loved putting this card together!

My mom, being the awesome granny that she is, couldn't get something for my neice without getting something for my nephew.  So she gave him a few bucks to spend at baseball camp this year.  So, I made this card to give to him:

I knew right away he would love this card.  He loves baseball and is an amazing player.  He makes the All Star team every year.  This year his uniform is red, so I colored this guy up to look like him.  When my nephew got on the phone last night, he thought it was "cool" that I made the batter look like him with the same uniform and blue eyes.  He even said I made the bat aluminum and not wood, like they use! 

I think I did good and saved about $3-5 per card and made something personalized to them.

Materials used on "Congrats" card:  Copics - E00 R39 C4 C6 C1 0 E02 E0000 R20 E57, Labels Four Nestabilities by Spellbinder, Burgundy and Silver Stickles by Ranger, cardstock by DCWV and Bazzill, Silver glitter tape by Bazzill Basics Paper.

Materials used on "School's Out!" card:  Copics - E00 E02 100 R27 R29 B0000 C00 C3 C27 C5 B32 E30 E33, Wonky Rectangles Nestabilities by Spellbinder, White Signo pen by Uniball, Brads (unknown)

Thanks for stopping by and see ya next time!  Be creative!
Mel

Working on the assembly line

This is my output yesterday!  I worked the assembly line, card making style.  I was able to make 38 patriotic cards to send to the troops in about 5 hours.  Making an assembly line was definitely the way to go and it seemed like it went pretty fast for the amount of cards I made.  I was in the zone!

I used a bunch of hoarded materials and I'm all about that!  The brads I had forever and got rid of the whole baggie I had!  All the stamped images were from one set of CTMH stamps.  I started by putting the background strips together.  Then I stamped the images.  If I was using glitter glue, I added it now.  While the glue was drying, I adhered the background strips to the card bases (that was premade).  Then put everything together.  Easy peasy!

Materials used:  D1458 American Celebration by CTMH, Chipped Sapphire and Barn Door Tim Holtz Distress Ink by Ranger, Frosted Lace and True Blue Stickles by Ranger, Red glitter glue by Studio g (Hampton Arts), Brads Spare Parts by Paper Studio, 1" circle punch by EK Success, Versamark pad, Red Zing embossing powder by American Crafts and Doilies - Cardstock - Texture folders by unknown.

Hope you enjoy!

See you next time and happy creating!
Mel

Flowers for Mother's Day

Flowers for Mother'sDay!  What could be better?  My siblings and I always get my mother either plants or something for her garden.  This year we bought her two big ceramic pots with fleur de lis on them.  She saw them at the little shop and town and loved them.  She is going to be so surprised.

This card was made for my mother-in-law for Mother's Day.  I know she will love it because of the tea cup and roses!  I love the monotone yellow color.  My iPhone isn't the greatest for taking pictures.  There is some glitter on the edges of the yellow roses that really pop!  For the life of me, I can't find my camera.  It's driving me crazy!

I'm entering this card in the ScrapbookPlace challenge blog for May.  The theme for this challenge is "May Flowers" and it runs from May 1st to May 14th at which time a winner will be chosen by Random.org and the winner will be posted here on the blog.  I think I've got the theme covered - flowers in the image, flowered background paper and fabric flowers as embellishments.  Done and done!

Materials used:  Copics: Y000 Y19 Y17 Y15 Y13YG03 YG17 R20 R22 V06 Y11, Tea for Two paper by Cosmo Cricket, Mustard Seed Tim Holtz Distress Ink by Ranger, gem brads by Oriental Trading, flowers by Bazzill, pearls by CTMH and Lemon Spica pen by Atyou.

I wish everyone a very Happy Mother's Day!  I hope you enjoy the card.

See you next time and happy creating!
Mel 

It's a Monotone Kind of Day!

 

 

Here is my entry for Squigglyfly's challenge - Squigglefly Challenge #18, SFC1813 It's a Monotone Kind of Day - using pink as my monotone color.  I had to make a couple Mother's Day cards and figured I'll kill two birds.  (No actual birds were harmed in the making of this card!).

 

I used Tea Roses by artist Marla Shega (available at Squigglefly).   I thought this card would be great for my husband's grandmother.  I even got my hubby to write a poem on the inside, instead of me doing that!  I hope she likes it!

 

Materials used:  Copics: RV19 RV17 RV13 RV11 RV10 YG03 YG17 Y13 Y17 V06, Tea for Two paper by Cosmo Cricket, Victorian Velvet Tim Holtz Distress Ink by Ranger, Frosted brad from Oriental Trading, Pearls from CTMH and crochet flower by my good friend Linda Weber.

 

Hope you enjoy!

 

See you next time and happy creating!  Happy Mother's Day to everyone.

Mel

Love conquers all

 

 

 

I love this sentiment.  I truly believe that love does conquer all.  I've had enough trials and tribulations the last 3 years to last a life time.  I would have never made them through without the love from my amazing husband.  That man has been my rock but can still cry because of my pain. 

 

Enough of the mushy stuff!  This is a beautiful image from Sandra Caldwell at Babycakes Doodle This&That called Love Conquers All.  Sandra is giving away four free digis (wow!) for the challenge at Your ScrapbookPlace blog for the April contest.  I think I got in my card just in the nick of time.  There are some great prizes available for some lucky winners!!!

 

Materials used:  Copics, Starfish/Purple Pansy/Viva Pink/Tattered Rose Glimmer Mist - Tattered Angels, Gold Stickles - Ranger, VMarketplace paper tape and Kraft Basics patterened paper - Bazzill Basics Paper, Say it With Baby Bling - Want2Scrap, doily - unknown.

 

Hope you enjoy!

 

See ya next time and happy creating!

Mel

Hey, it's been a while!

Well hello there crafty people!  It's been a while, hasn't it?  I'm finally back in the creating mood after four month of letting life get in the way.  Instead of being stressed and nervous about issues that are out of my control, I decided to do a bit of card making to get those relaxing hormones working. 

This cute guy is for a Cinco De Mayo challenge over at ScrapbookPlace's challenge blog.  Plus, to help get the creative flow going, it's a sketch challenge.  My favorite!!!

I didn't realize how dark the bottom came out.  I had to take the pic using my iPhone because I'm fresh out of batteries for my camera.  You cant's see the glitter trim of the sombreros or the little glitter pom poms on the sombrero on the cactus.

Here's the template/sketch:

Here's what I used:  Copics E84,E87,R24,R29,R39,YG03,YG05,YG06,G03,G0000,G29,Y19,N0,G94; Images - Doodle Dragon Studios;  cardstock - DCWV;  red and green Studio g Glitter Glue by Hampton Art;  Candy Stripe Baker's twine by We R Memory Keepers, skittles - unknown.

Now I'm off to see what other projects I can get into! 

See ya next time and happy creating!
Mel