Easter Card using Digital Stamp

Good Morning Papercrafters.  I'm so excited to be the guest designer for Tuesday Throwdown Challenge Blog this month!

Each week we have been assigned a digital image and a theme.  This weeks theme is "spring" and the sponsor is Robyn's Fetish.  The digital image I used is "Lily".

I was given one image, but because it's a digital image, it is easy to flip and resize the image to create a pair.  It's difficult to see, but I added white glitter to the petals.  I used a 2-Way Glue Pen to adhere.  The yellow polka dot paper is from one of my new 6x6 paper pads "Gertie" (Stella and Rose) by My Mind's Eye.  I just love the bright colors in this pad and can't wait to use some of the other patterns in it. 

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a blessed Tuesday!

hugs, Melisa

You can view more of my Easter projects HERE.

You can view more of my projects using Digital Images / Stamps HERE.

************************************************************

On a personal note:

We are finally in the new house!  And I finally have all my supplies in my studio organized and I'm hoping to be back in the swing of things this week.  We are loving the new house.  Still lots of little projects to take care of, but now that we are in, we will slowly get those done.  And ....  my son has a job!!  Thanks for all of you who prayed about that for us.  4 month trial, and then hopefully he will be out on his own.  DH's back is much better as well.  Thank you to all my wonderful friends who have prayed for us!!

Wedding Favors

Aren't these the cutest little wedding favors!  They are by Creative Cuts and More.  They come pre-cut and pre-scored and ready for you to put together and embellish.

Dress Box

Tuxedo Box

I found this really pretty patterned paper and added it to the bottom of the dress.  Then embellished with pearls for a necklace.  The belt - pearl flowers and rose, are Making Memories.

I designed my own collar for the tux and covered the shirt portion with some shiney stiped patterned paper.  You can't really see it in the photo.  Then I added the black pearls and metal rose (Making Memories).

Thanks for stopping by!

hugs,

Melisa

Spring Collages

Good Morning Papercrafters.  

Let me start trying to reach a recent reader -  Someone recently contacted me, stating that they had seen some of my projects in Stamper's Sampler and asking a question about a stamp set I used.  Now I can not find your message any where.  And I feel very badly about this, because I would never purposely ignore someone.  I want to thank this person for their encouraging message!  So if you are reading this, please contact me again!  My email is melisa.waldorf@yahoo.com.  So, so sorry I lost your message.

When I think of spring, I think of butterflies.  So here is some Butterfly Collector inspiration for you.

Stamps : "Butterfly Collector" by Layers of Color

Spellbinders : Labels Eight using my Grand Calibur

Patterned Paper : Cosmo Cricket

Lace : Unknown

Old music paper

Stamps : "Butterfly Collector" by Layers of Color

Spellbinders : Labels Sixteen with my Grand Calibur

Patterned Paper : Cosmo Cricket

Lace : Unknown

Old music paper

Stamps : "Butterfly Collector" by Layers of Color

Spellbinders : Labels One using my Grand Calibur

Patterned Paper : Cosmo Cricket

Lace : Unknown

Old music paper

Thanks for stopping by today!

hugs,

Melisa

*********************************************

I love the Grand Calibur.  Let's face it, Spellbinders has the best dies.  If you love Spellbinders dies then you will love the Grand Calibur!

*************************************************************

Making the world more colorful with Layers of Color

Tomorrow is Faith Art Friday over on the Layers of Color blog!  HERE

Layers of Color is proud to be a Spellbinders Preffered Stamp Company and we all love and use the Grand Calibur.

Join us on Facebook HERE.

Share your Layers of Color projects with us in our Flickr Gallery HERE.

Easter Greetings

Hello Papercrafters.  I have the pleasure of playing along with the Christian Papercraft Magazine Design Team this month.  Each month on the 15th a new Design Team gallery opens with lots of inspiration for the theme they have chosen.  You can learn more about Christian Papercraft Magazine HERE.  Wonderfully sweet ladies over there, with bible studies, and challenges.  If you are looking for a place to hang out and spend some time with other Christian ladies who love papercrafting, then this just may be the forum for you!

I can not share the projects I designed for the DT gallery on my blog.  They are exclusive to CPCM.

But I will be posting some other Easter projects soon.  This one is an older one, but the stamp is still available by Impression Obsession.  Isn't that bunny so cute!  I used white fun flock to make him furry.

I hope you have a wonderful week!

hugs,

Melisa

Nature Walk Get Well

Good Morning Papercrafters.  Today I am sharing a card created using spray inks. 

Stamps : Flowering Gems and Nature Walk clear art stamp sets.

Cuttlebug embossing folder, brown pearl and sentiment stamp - unknown

deckled scissors - Fiskars

Spritz paper with yellow, green and hit of brown spray inks.  Cut it down to panel as shown and emboss with a Cuttlebug embossing folders.  Spray another peice of paper with yellow, orange and brown inks.  Stamp with brown ink using a couple of the flowers from Flowering Gems, cut, and layer.  Add a brown pearl in the center.  Stamp leaves from Nature Walk on patterned paper and trim.  Assemble as shown.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

hugs,

Melisa

****************************************

Making the world more colorful with Layers of Color!

Today is Faith Art Friday over at Layers of Color and we would like to invite you to check it out on the Layers of Color Blog!

Layers of Color is proud to be a Spellbinders Preferred Stamp Company and we all love and use the Grand Calibur!

You can now upload your LOC projects to our Flicker Group HERE, and find tons of inspiration.

And please join us on Facebook HERE.

Cute as a Button : Girl!

Good Morning Papercrafters.  I am sharing a baby card today.

Designed using Creative Cuts and More A7 Scalloped border card and "Little One" clear stamp set by Clear and Simple.

Border Punches : EK Sucess

Tuelle : Bazzill

Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder

Spellbinders Labels One and my Grand Calibur!

Not sure what I'm talking about??  Here it is ...

I love the way this baby cuts and embosses with my Spellbinders Dies!

You can actually pick one of at Hobby Lobby.  Not sure, but I bet you could use a 40% coupon.

You can view all of BABY themed projects HERE.

MIXED MEDIA / ART JOURNAL PROJECT

Hello Papercrafters!  I am very excited this week, because I started a 3 week Mixed Media Class taught by Christy Tomlinson and it is based on her "SHE Art" series.  While the inspiration is Christy's "she art", the fundamentals/techniques being taught on how to build a mixed media background with lots of layers and texture are the real lesson here.  And I think my first project based on this weeks video lessons is different from anything I have ever created.  Christy will be offering this class again in the future :  http://www.christytomlinson.typepad.com/

I decided to practice these techniques on canvas paper, before trying to create an acutal canvas for the wall.  I'm not new to using textured mediums like pumus, tissue paper, modeling paste, crackle paste, etc or paint, ink and stamps. But I have never brought them together in this way, with so many layers!  I did hold my breathe a couple of times when adding more stamped images. After I got to a certain point and had invested so much into it, I was afraid I was going to mess it up.  Our "SHE Art" Flickr group HERE.

And I chose a verse that I was reminded of over on the LOC blog for Faith Art Friday.  When I was reading it, I immediately remembered a song that used to me a favorite of mine years ago, by Steven Curtis Chapman called Free.  Please stop by and check out a new Faith Art Friday project each week HERE.
FREE by Steven Curtis Chapman

I get so caught up in my daily life, that is so easy to forget those years so long ago when I was not free.  My life in comparison is so different now and I am so thankful for my Saviour who set me free.  If you have never experienced the freedom that comes through salvation, then this may be a foreign concept to you and may not make sense at all.  But believe me, once you have experienced it, you know how real it is.  As always I welcome your emails if you have questions regarding this spiritual topic!

I hope you weekend is a beautiful one!
hugs,
Melisa

****************************************

You can view my other Faith Art projects HERE.

See all my MIXED MEDIA TUTORIALS HERE

See all my MIXED MEDIA / COLLAGE PROJECTS HERE

See all my ART JOURNAL PROJECTS HERE

Mixed Media Tutorial / Tag

Hello Papercrafters.  I had some questions about how I created the tags I posted last friday.  So I decided to create another one and take step by step photo's.  I created this one using the cutest little tree stamp set by The Stamps of Life.  I have to say thank you very much because I won it by playing along with one of the CPS challenges a while back!  Stephanie, the owner let me pick out the set I wanted!  THANKS Stephanie!

You can check out The Stamps of Life HERE.

Supplies

Stamps : The Stamps of Life "Tree's to Build"

Green and Yellow ink

Yellow, blue and green acrylic paint

tag

charcoal pencil

old book or music paper

**********************************

Project Details

Start by cutting a peice of old book or music paper slightly smaller than a tag.  The acrylic paints I use are really thick, so I added a little water to them in a dish to make them a little easier to smear around.  Paint yellow onto the word paper and blue onto the tag.  After the yellow is dry, brush on some blue paint.  Allow paint to dry between all steps.

Smear on some green paint.

Using a fan brush lightly wisp on more yellow.  Are you getting the picture now.  It's so easy, you just keep layering paint until you get the look you want. 

Adhere book paper to front of blue painted tag.  Smear on a little yellow paint around the edges here and there.  In this photo you can tell I lightly added more green with the fan brush.  Don't be afraid to use your fingers to smear it around as well.  Once I had decided what stamp I wanted to use (the tree), I decided to add more blue, so that the leaves would stand out a little more.  Used my finger on that one.  Outline with a charcoal pencil and draw on your scallops.  Distress edges with black ink here and there.

Paint inside the scallop green.  Add  Stamp the tree image and both birds.  Paint some old book paper yellow and then stamp the birds again, trim the bodies and adhere to tag as shown.  Stamp yellow and green leaves.  Doodle around the edges with fine tip pen - Micron 005, cut, and adhere around tree branches.  Add ribbon at top.

You can check out the other 2 Bookmarks I created using this technique HERE.

See all my MIXED MEDIA TUTORIALS HERE

See all my MIXED MEDIA / COLLAGE PROJECTS HERE

See all my ART JOURNAL PROJECTS HERE

If you are inspired to create a distressed painted background of your own or a book mark, let me know.  I would love to check it out.

I hope your week is a tree-mendously wonderful one!

hugs,

Melisa

Nature Assortment

Good Morning Papercrafters.  I hope it is starting to warm up where you are.  It is absolutely be-u-tiful in Houston TX with HI's in the 70's the past week.  Bird's are chirping loudly to express their joy with this lovely weather as well.  So I think some spring oriented nature cards would be appropriate to post.

Stamps: Nature Walk and Backyard Birds art stamp sets.

Sentiment is by Lisa's Altered Arts.  I used some of my old 1920's music paper.

The bird cage in the background is one of those $1 stamps you can get at Michaels.

Stamps : Nature Walk (flourish), Vintage Roses, and Butterfly Collector art stamp sets.

Sentiment : Lisa's Altered Arts

Stamps : Nature Walk (flourish) and Butterfly Collector art stamp sets.

Sentiment : Lisa's Altered Arts

I just love these purple buttons.  I always have a hard time remembering which one, but I think I got them at Hobby Lobby, but possibly Michaels.

Thanks for stopping by!

Melisa

Faith Art Friday

Hello Papercrafters.  Today I am sharing my Faith Art Friday project created for the Layers of Color blog.  I decided to turn tags into bookmarks and share a poem.

Isaiah 40:28-31

Our God does not faint

Nor grows weary each day

There's no searching His understanding

Or knowing His infinite ways

He gives power to the faint

Increasing their strength and might

For even the young lie exhausted

And grow weary in their lives

But those that wait upon the Lord

He shall strengthen and renew

They shall mount up close to God

And soar as eagles do

They shall run and not be weary

They shall walk and not grow weak

They shall be changed and renewed

As their God they humbly seek

© By M.S.Lowndes

http://www.heavensinspirations.com/scripture-poetry.html

I don't know what some of you may be going through today.  I hope that if you are struggling, you will be encouraged by God's word and know that no matter what you are going through, He is there for you and will sustain His children.

And I can not leave you without sharing the inspiration for these book marks.  I follow a mixed media blog called "Paper and Gluestix" by Amy Nieman.  And each time I open her post in my email, I can't help but smile.  I especially love here "pet" ATC's that she creates with her own little pup.  I recently got the opportunity to swap with her, and the ATC's below are what I recieved!  They were the inspiration for my bookmarks.  Amy also has a Flickr gallery as well HERE.  

I'm am off to try and pick out more paint and move some things to the new house!  I hope you all have a blessed weekend.

hug,

Melisa

********************************************

You can view my other Faith Art projects HERE.

You can view more of my Collage / Mixed Media projects HERE.

Cake Decorating Party!

Because of all the painting and cleaning at the new house (we closed on friday), I had drop out of this blog hop : ( .  I REALLY wanted to do it, so it was a hard decision.  I know that all the designers have designed inspirational projects that you don't want to miss.  There is  a FREE cake slice template, and an opportunity to WIN Layers of Color stamps.  So please hop over to the Layers of Color blog to check out all the details!!

Cute as a Button Ensemble : Boy!

I have created several ensembles using Creative Cuts and More products.  I just LOVE those shoes!

A7 Scalloped Card Creative Cuts and More

Stamps : "Little One" by Clear and Simple

Ink : Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate Tsukineko

Patterned Paper : Reminisce

Spellbinders Circle and Scalloped Circles Nestibilities

Deckled Scissors : Fiskars

Border Punch : Fiskars

Shoes : Creative Cuts and More, come pre-cut and pre-scored.  

You fold and adhere.  These shoes are a little tricky and hard to line up perfectly around the bottom.  So be prepared to add the bead fiber like I did or even a scalloped border (border punch).  I also had to trim the insole a little to make it fit.  I have a tutorial on how I created mine using the Swiss Dots embossing folder. 

HERE 

Diaper Invitation : Creative Cuts and More

Patterned Paper : Reminisce

Border Punch : Fiskars

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope your weekend is blessed!

hugs,

Melisa

You can check out all of my baby creations HERE.

Altered Paper Mache Heart Ornaments

Good Morning Papercrafters.  Today I am sharing 3 paper mache Valentine Ornaments I created.  I started with 3 pre-made paper mache heart ornaments from a local craft store.

This is the first time trying a project like this, so I think it will look much better the next time.  Since the ornaments were round, I needed to stamp on something that I would mold around the ornament.  So I used tissue paper.  The only problem was that I was determined I wanted the base color in beige, not white.  Well I didn't have beige tissue paper.  You would think I would have given up and just went with white ...  but no  .. .  that would have been too easy, teehee.  I decided I could color the tissue paper with ink, or paint.  And that's great, except he tissue paper color doesn't match my crackle paint color, so it doesn't blend well with the background. 

Now that I'm told you everything I don't like about it ...  let me tell you that the over all plan was a really good one that worked great and I will definitely try it again now that I have lived and learned!

Project Details

Stamps : The Love Chapter art stamp set by Nina Brackett for Layers of Color

Renaissance Hearts (marked down to $10.95), Royal Birds, and Regal Wings art stamp sets by Layers of Color. 

Paper Mache Ornaments pre-made, local craft store.

1. Coat each ornament with crackle paint and set aside to dry.

2. Stamp images on tissue paper ( I used pigment ink, Tsukineko VersaFine Onyx Black).

3. After the ink is dry, spread a few drops of water around the edge of the image.  The water allows you to tear the tissue paper easily.  Just make sure you don't get to close to the image and rip into it.  If you do get the water too close to the image, let it dry and start all over.  Better to do that, then tear into your image by accident.  When tearing, I keep 1 finger along the inside of edge of where I want to tear.  This also helps keep you from tearing to far in.  I like the torn look better than just cutting it with scissors.

4. After dry, use modge podge to apply image onto ornament, smoothing edges around curved area's.

At this point it's looking a little boring and definitely needs some red to spice it up.

5. Stamp bird, wings, hearts, and "L" onto beige cardstock with Momento Tuxedo Black and color with Copic marker.  Trim around the edges of each image and adhere to ornaments as shown. 

6.  Embellish with red rub-ons (I added the little swirly things).

The ornaments come with a gold cord coming out of the top.  I wanted red!

7. Tie red seam binding around gold cord at the top of the ornament.  Now pull the gold cord back and secure with a piece of tape/glue.  Ok there is probably a better way to do this, but I was in a hurry!  You could probably create a knot and then glue that to the top of the heart, and just cut the gold cord off.

8.  Embellish with little red roses (  I got mine at Michaels).

Thanks for stopping by!

hugs,

Melisa

You can view all of my VALENTINE projects HERE.

You can view all of my Altered Projects HERE

Baby Ensemble

Good Morning Papercrafters.  It's going to be an exciting day today.  We do the walk through for the house and then close next friday!  And then life will REALLY get busy, getting ready to move.  But it will be a fun busy.  I hope you are all staying warm.  It's been cold here, but the good news is, we will be back up into 70's next week.  Hey ... don't be a hater!  teehee.   

This is a set that I have submitted FOUR times.  I give up, teehee.  And now I can share it on my blog.

The Popcorn box, Scalloped card and baby shoes are all Creative Cuts and More, pre-cut, pre-scored dies.  You fold and adhere.  I have posted a tutorial in the past on how I make the shoes, and you can check it out HERE.  The shoes are a little challenging the first time since I am a perfectionist.  But I got better at it, the more I made.  Be prepared to use some trim along the bottom to cover up any area's that don't go together perfectly.  But they are worth figuring out, because they are so stinkin' cute!!  And what a hit they would be at a baby shower.

Thanks for stopping by!

Melisa

    *********************************************************

THE DETAILS

Stamps : "Flower Child" by Layers of Color on card, and "Baby" by Melissa Frances on gift box.

 Baby shoes, gift box, and scalloped card - Creative Cuts and More

Cardstock - Unknown Green paper on card - Making Memories

Copic Markers (card)

Ink - Momento Tuxedo Black, Versa Magic - Pixie Dust, SU - Old Olive

Cuttlebug embossing template,

Martha Stewart border/corner and border punches.

Tag Punch - EK Success.

Deckled Scissors - Fiskars.

Tuell - Bazzill,

Green bead fiber (Hobby Lobby) and pink ribbon - local craft store, green ribbon - The Angel Company.

Brads - Paper Studio,

Stick Pins - unknown

Card - Cut white panel 3 1/2 x 5 1/4" and run through Big Shot using Cuttlebug embossing folder. Ink dots and edges. Add green brads. Use Martha Stewart border/cornet punches to create pink panel. Stamp tree and color with Copic Markers. Ink edges with green ink. Use a Dove Blender replacement tip to ink inside small holes around border. Stamp baby carriage, color with Copics and trim. Adhere to front of pink panel. Trim green paper to create borders, using deckled scissors along the top and Martha Stewart border punch along the bottom. Adhere panels and borders to front of pink scalloped card by Creative Cuts and More. Tie tuell around lower border and add stick pins.

Gift Box - So easy using Creative Cuts and More. It came pre-cut and pre-scored. Traced pattern for front panel and trimmed. Ran panel through Big Shot using embossing folder. Ink with VersaMagic Pixie Dust over dots and SU Old Olive around edges. Created pink border using Martha Stewart border punch. Created upper border with deckled scissors. Tied pink sheer ribbon around top of panel. Adhered panel to front of gift box. Punched tag and stamped sentiment. Inked edges and adhered

Shoes - Come pre-cut and pre-scored from Creative Cuts and More. I ran mine through the Big Shot with a Cuttlebug embossing folder. Rubbed VersaMagic Pixie Dust ink over the dots. Folded and adhered using Killer Red Tacky Tape. Ink edges with SU Old Olive. Adhered green bead fiber around bottom of shoes. Added decorative brad to strap. Added green bow on top of shoes.

******************************************************************

SHOE TUTORIAL HERE

You can view more of my Creative Cuts and More projects HERE.

You can view more of my Layers of Color projects HERE.

You view more Gift Bags / Boxes HERE.

You can view more BABY projects HERE.

Mini Album #4 : Friends Altered Gift Tin

Hello Papercrafters! I'm sharing another Mini Album today.  I made this one a while back and just never shared, so the supplies are older.  But you can still be inspired by the idea!

This is altered Gift card tin I got at Michaels.  It's 3 x 5 " and perfect for storing a mini-album. 

I used the "Blush" 6x6 paper pad from a few years back.  Sorry, it's been discontinued.  I combined "friendship themed" embellishments I had been saving up, including chipboard and rub-ons.

And the patterned paper shapes and some punches added even more embellishing.  So when you are shopping for dp, consider the patterns and if they can be cut out, creating your own embellishments.

I had fun creating this little garden and thought it went perfectly wiht the "Plant a seed" quote on the pocket. 

There are 2 layers here that flip up.  Perfect for hiding journaling or photos.

I would love to recreate this one with current products and teach as a class someday, because it was so much fun!

I have several other mini albums I will be sharing in the future.  I would like to share 1 monthly, but not sure if I can keep up that pace.  We'll see.  If you miss them.  Just check the "Project - Mini Albums" label in my side bar to view them all!

You can view all of my Altered Projects HERE
You can view all my Mini-Albums HERE.

Thanks for stopping by!

and have a blessed week

Melisa