I'm having a bee-utiful saturday!

Hello Paper Crafters.  I hope you are all having a fabulous saturday and doing something fun.  I have lots of things I "need" to do.  But I worked some extra hours this week, so I am definitely making time to play as well.  No my husband would totally have said that differently, teehee.  He would have said that I play a lot and he would like for me to make some time to work.  Next week will be very busy as well with work and then my daughter is coming for another visit on thursday!!  Yah!!  She will be here for 11 days and I"m really looking forward to it.  We are going to take a little trip to San Antonio while she's here, so that should be lots of fun.  We haven't really taken the time to explore outside of Houston since we moved here. 

So today I'm sharing an ensemble inspired by this week's Moxie Fab Trigger Tuesday.  And I couldn't resist using my "Honey Sweet" art stamp set by Layers of Color.  This is such a fun set with the cutest bee sentiments.  You can check it out HERE.

I have no idea where Cath find's all her inspirational photo's she shares, but I hope she keeps them coming!  I would not look so great in that coat, but I LOVE it.  I love the folds and the shape.  I think it would look awesome in red as well.

... and here is the matching gift bag.  I used the Square Bag 01 large, pre-cut / pre-scored from Creative Cuts and More.  I think if I had added a little black ribbon / bow at the top to tie the handles together it would look better. 

I think the Prima Notecard from Flora Fairy just made the card below.  Of course the Warbler image from Layers of Color is the shining star though. 

I LOVE birds.  I'm not sure how many times the birds on my bird feeder outside my studio window have made me smile this week.  They are just one of God's most amazing little creatures.  The ones who have been stopping by are so small.  There are a couple of different kinds.  I've been trying to catch a photo, but the fly off as I approach the window.  I need to get my zoom lense out.  I'm thinking aboutr picking up another feeder and putting sun flowers seeds in that one.  I would love to see a red bird sitting outside my window.  Luckily the cats think they have to be in the house at the window to enjoy them.  They haven't figured out that if the jumped the fence and went around to the front of the house, it might be easier to catch one. 

I hope you get a chance to enjoy some of God's wonderful creations this weekend!

hugs,

Melisa

My "Bee Mine" ensemble was chosen as a Trigger Target over at Moxie Fab!!!

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Project Details

Honey Sweet Card

Stamps : Layers of Color "Honey Sweet" art stamp set

Copic Markers

Patterned Paper : The Paper Studio, Glitz

Border Punch : Martha Stewart, Oval Punch - Paper Shapers

Deckled Scissors : Fiskars

Trim patterned paper and adhere to front of A2 card. Trim white cardstock strip and punch along bottom of strip and cut with deckled scissors along the top. Tie yellow ribbon and secure ends around back of strip. Adhere. Stamp bee’s, color, trim and adhere. Doodle flight path and antenna‘s. Stamp sentiment, punch with oval, and adhere with pop top.

Honey Sweet Gift Bag

Stamps - Layers of Color "Honey Sweet" art stamp set

Patterned Paper - The Paper Studio and Glitz

Gift bag - Creative Cuts and More

Fold and adhere Creative Cuts and More gift bag. It comes pre-cut and pre-scored. Trim patterned paper and white cardstock. Stamp sentiment. Adhere pieces together and tie yellow ribbon. Adhere panel to front of bag. Stamp images, color, and trim. Adhere to front of bag. Doodle flight path and antenna’s.

Warbler Card

Stamps : Layers of Color "Warbler" cling art stamp and "Sent With Love" art stamp set

Ink : Brilliance Peralescent Chocolate by Tsukineko

Cardstock : Bazzill     Patterned Paper : Prima Annalee Collection - Sonnet

Fiber : local craft store

Buttons : Dress It Up  (Michaels)

Copic Markers

Other : Prima Tag / Notecards Flora Fairy

Stamp image with brown ink on cream cardstock and cut out. Color branch and blooms with Copic Markers. Stamp sentiment on Prima note card.  Cut brown cardstock to 5 1/4" x 5 1/4" and adhere to front of card. Cut patterned paper 5x5" and ink edges. Adhere to brown cardstock and stitch around the edges. Adhere Prima notecard as shown. Adhere fiber / lace along top edge. Adhere Warbler image. Embellish with buttons.

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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 bee projects HERE

May Flower Bouquet Clean and Simple

This image is another one of the new releases from Layers of Color.  Such a pretty image!  I wanted to keep this one clean and simple.  Bright blue is not a color I use a lot, but it was one of the recent Paper Craft calls, so I decided to give it a try.  What about you??  Do you use bright blue often??

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods!

Melisa

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Project Details

Stamps : Layers of Color May Bouquet cling art stamp and Sent With Love art stamp set

Markers : Copic B24, B29, E23, G61, G24, G82

Ribbon : The Paper Studio

Tools : Spellbinders Labels Fourteen Nestibilities and Grand Calibur
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (Victoria)
Make card from cardstock, emboss, and create window with Spellbinders  

Craft Your Passion - general sentiment card

The Shabby Tea Room - flower power

Flourishes - embossing

Pixie Cottage - wrap it in ribbon

die. Stamp floral bouquet, color with markers, trim, and adhere to card

front with pop dot. Trace inside window with pencil to use as

guideline for stamping sentiment. Stamp sentiment inside card.

Tie ribbon / bow.

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Challenges

Teacup Card

Layers of Color

Summer 2011 New Release

Tea Party Blog Hop!

(If you came from LInda's blog you are in the right place.

If you have just stopped in, please start at the beginning so you can get all the goodies!)

Welcome!    I’m so glad you can join us for this wonderful celebration! We've been brewing up a super exciting party with lots of great treats! …

Don't you just LOVE that teacup image??  It's called Teacup Blessings.  It's such a fun set.  The sentiments come seperately so you can add what ever you like to your cup.

I also fell in love with these cute bee's!  This set is has lots of cute "bee" sentiments with it.


Put on your favorite tea party hat and let's check out the next blog!...

Next blog is Nina

You can view all of my Tea / Teacup related projects HERE

You can view all of my Bee themed projects HERE

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Project Details

Cards #2

Stamps : Layers of Color “Honey Sweet”

Markers : Copic RV0000, RV10,

Patterned Paper : Bo-Bunny,

Border Punch : Fiskars, Oval Punch : Paper Shapers,

Floss : DMC, Glitter Glue : Stickles

Make card from cardstock. Border punch front edge. Stamp sentiment and punch. Stamp bee images, color with markers and trim. Trim patterned paper. Plan placement of bee’s, lightly draw flight lines with pencils and sew. Erase pencil lines. Adhere bee images. Adhere sentiment with pop dot.

2 more sneak peaks and a tea-rrific invitation!

Hi Paper Crafters!  I have 2 NEW RELEASE cards to share with you today.  One more day and you get to see them all!!  The blog hop begins at 8am EST monday morning.  And as mentioned before there are lots of stamps being given away.  It's Layers of Colors 3rd birthday and we are celebrating in style.  We are going to have a tea-rrific time!!

So are you ready to win some stamps??   You can begin the hop over on the Layers of Color blog tomorrow.  HERE.  It's a circular hop, so you want miss a thing.  Comment on each designers blog for a chance to win a free stamp set.  Winners will be announced Tuesday and you will be ask to contact Laura with your mailing info so she can get your stamps in the mail to you.  Easy peasy!

You can see the glitter on the birds and around the frame on this close-up.

Masking Technique

I did wan to take a minute to explain the masking technique used in this card.  The image is a corner - triangle image.  I decided to stamp the image twice to create a square.  I wasn't brave enough to try in directly on the front of the card, so I stamped the images on a seperate piece of white cardstock, colored and then trimmed.  But with a little practice, you might be able to stamp it perfectly directly on the card and save a little time.

Stamp Pansy Corner once on cardstock and a second time on masking tape.  Trim masking tape and cover image on cardstock.  Save you mask and you can re-use it.  (I stick mine to the back of the stamp board panel that my stamp is stored on).   Stamp other corner, overlapping the edges, to create a box.  Remove masking tape and color with markers. 

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******  YOU CAN WIN Layers of Color stamps ******

 by playing along with the CR84FN Challenge HERE (deadline July 14th)  and by leaving a comment on this Moxie Fab Stamp of Approval post HERE. 

 

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Project Details

Card #1

Stamps : Layers of Color NEW RELEASE "Gifts of Love"

Patterned Paper : Lilybee Designs Picket Fence

Copics : BV31 and V15 (tip to tip around edges)

Border Punch : Fiskars

Glitter : Stampendous

Trim patterned paper and adhere to front of A2 card. Trim purple and white strips using deckled scissors and border punch as shown. Adhere lace to white strip, wrapping ends around edges. Adhere both strips to card front. Stamp image, color and trim. Embellish birds and around edges with glitter. Adhere to card front. Embellish ends with pearls.

 

Card#2

Stamps : Layers of Color NEW RELEASE "Pansy Corner", "Encouragement"(sentiment), "Butterfly Collector"(large butterfly) and  "Flutterescent"(small butterfly)

Copics : BV02, BV13, BV17, Y11, E43, YG61, G82, G24

Eclipse masking tape

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Challenges

Card #1

Fab N Funky - purple

Tuesday Taggers - flower power

Cute Card Thur - Lace

Crafty Catz - vintage

Card #2

Stamp Something - bugs and butterflies

Charisma Cardz - flowers


See ya tomorrow!
Melisa

Birds of a feather ...

Sneek Peak #3 ... check out that bird nest! I'm in love! One of the things I love about my Layers of Color stamps is that they go together so well. And that bird nest is perfect for one of my favorite LOC stamps - the Warbler. As soon as I seen this patterned paper by Pink Paislee (Gypsy Chick), I knew exactly what I was using it for. The photo doesn't show it well, but the blue in the background is more of a blue/green.

These little cuties are from "Backyard Birds". It's so easy to create your own birdhouse.

Did you know it's Layers of Color's 3rd birthday??

I am so excited to be helping Laura celebrate on monday with a fun tea themed blog hop and we would love to have you join us as well. Lots of give-aways, so you don't want to miss it!

Wanna see more sneek peaks??
Check out the other design team member blogs :

Diana

Janice

Jennie

Jessica

Linda

Nina

Wanna a chance to WIN Layers of Colors stamps today???

Then head on over to the Moxie Fab World blog.  Thursday Layers of Color was featured as the "Stamp" of Approval company!!!  We are so excited about that.  Cath is giving away stamps and you can check it out here:

http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2011/07/moxie-fab-stamp-of-approval-layers-of.html

I'll see you tomorrow with another sneek peak!!  2 days left til the big tea party!

Melisa

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Challenges
Card #1
Sentimental Sundays - Anything goes
Stampin' Sisters in Christ - Clean and Simple
City Crafters - birds of a feather

Card #2
Papertake Weekly - anything goes
Truely Scrumptious - Things with wings

Card #3
Stampin' for the weekend - Wings and things
Allsorts - anything goes
Card Patterns - sketch

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Project Details

Card #2

Stamps : Layers of Color “Backyard Birds” and

“Sent With Love” art stamp sets

Copic Markers : E43, E57

Patterned Paper : Making Memories (word paper) and

Pink Paislee (polka dots)

Border Punch : Martha Stewart Spellbinders die : Classic Ovals

Tear word paper and adhere across bottom of A2 card. Hand cut bird

house. Cut small oval from word paper. Punch scalloped border

and adhere to back of roof. Adhere house to card front. Stamp

sentiment. Stamp birds on card front. Stamp birds again on

white cardstock, color and cut bodies. Adhere over birds

stamped on card front.

Card #3

Stamps : Layers of Color “Backyard Birds” and “Sent With Love” art stamp sets

Copic Markers : E43, E57 Pearls : Prima

Patterned Paper : Making Memories (word paper) and Pink Paislee (polka dots)

Oval Punch : EK Success Ribbon : American Crafts

Stamp warbler and color with markers. Trim patterned paper

3” x 4.25” and adhere to front of A2 card. Adhere ribbon

and pearls. Punch oval and stamp sentiment. Adhere to card front.

Layers of Color New Releas SNEAK PEAK #2!

Good Morning. I am back today with another sneek peak as promised! Don't you just love the florals in the tea cup!! Your gonna love this set too. And I used my new Spellbinders die - Labels Twenty One with my Grand Calibur! Isn't that a cool shape?? I love it! Which Spellbinders die is your favorite??

Stamps : Layers of Color "Gifts of Love", "Sent with Love", and "Touch of Elegance" art stamp sets.

Patterned Paper : My Mind's Eye

Spellbinders : Labels Twenty One, Labels Eight, and Classic Ovals Small

Make sure you join us on Monday

when the entire release will be revealed. Laura is giving away the entire collection to one lucky winner. And each design team member will be giving away a set as well.

You can help us spread the word by sharing a Layers of Color banner on your blog. Get the code HERE.

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Challenges

Totally Paper Crafts was playing BINGO this week (flowers, die, gems-pearls)

Our Daily Bread - anything goes

ABC Challenges - a challenge from "yesterday" (I chose "2 or more images")

Flourishes - use a sentiment with the word friend in it

Stamptacular Sunday - 2 of the same thing

Have a fabulous day!

Melisa

PS - sorry about the spacing. Blogger is acting up!

Layers of Color NEW RELEASE sneak peeks!

Good Morning Paper Crafters. I hope you all had a great 4th. We finally got our livingroom furnature ordered. I'm so relieved to have that taken care of. Now we can move on to curtains, a TV stand, and a curio. And if it takes as long to take care of these items as it did picking out the couch, chair, and recliner, then we should be done by Christmas, HA!

I have great news to share with you this morning. Layers of Color will be releasing 5 new art stamp sets and more cling art stamps as well!! The new release will be available next monday and we are celebrating with a tea party. We would "bee" delighted if you joined us for a "tea-rrific" release party! You can display a banner on your blog to let others know about it as well. Check out the "link love" page to get your banner.

The card above is just a sneak peak of new images! You don't want to miss this blog hop! Laura is giving away the entire collection to one lucky stamper! Each design team member is giving away stamps as well!

Check out more sneak peaks this week on all of the design team blogs :

Diana Janice Jennie Jessica Linda Nina

I also want to mention that we have another guest designer joining us for July. I have forgotten to mention this in the past and will do better, because Laura books some of the best designers out there to join us each month. So please check out the Layers of Color blog wednesday to check out July's guest designer!! It is someone that I think most of you know already.

I'll be back on thursday with another sneak peak.

hugs, Melisa

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Project Details

You’re So Sweet

Stamps : Layers of Color “ Honey Sweet” art stamp set

Copic Markers

Glitter Glue: Stickles

Corner Rounder -

Stamp bee’s and sentiment. Color bee’s and embellish wings

with clear stickles. Embellish with gems. Round corners.

Pink Persimmon "Vintage Girl"

Hello Papercrafters!  I just wanted to drop back into today to share with you a new release form Pink Persimmon.   This set is called "Hello Vintage Girl".   Sewing images are really in style right now, so I think stampers are going to LOVE this set.  I had so much fun paper piecing her.  And I love the clever sentiment that comes with it.  The image is tall, so the card is 5 x7.   There are lots of other idea's for using this set over on the Pink Persimmon blog today HERE.  And you can check this set out in the store HERE.

6x6 paper pads are perfect for paper peicing your stamp images.  For her blouse, I used a sheet from My Minds Eye - Gertie, and the skirt is from Cosmo Cricket - Odds and Ends.  I just love the buttons.  They are made by Dress It Up and can be found at stores like Hobby Lobby and Michaels.  I love the vintage look of them and the package comes with multiple colors.  The background paper is older - Melissa Frances and the shaped page is Making Memories.  I got this booklet from Hobby Lobby.  They may still have some.

I hope you are inspired to get crafty this week!

Have a great day,  Melisa

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Project Details

  Stamps : Pink Persimmon “Hello Vintage Girl”,

Markers : Copic

Patterned Paper : Melissa Frances, My Mind’s Eye, and Cosmo Cricket.

Shaped notebook page : Making Memories

Buttons : Dress It Up

Flowers : Recollections

Create card from cream cardstock 5 x 7. Trim green patterned

paper slightly smaller. Trim rose paper and adhere to card front. Adhere lace along right side. Stamp measuring tape image.

Stamp notebook page with lady , number, and sentiment images. Adhere to card front. Stamp faux stitches. Paper piece lady

image. Stamp mini dresses and color. Trim and adhere to

card front. Embellish with buttons and roses.

Artist Trading Card / Pink Persimmon

I have to say that I had sooooo much fun making these!!  I was definitely in my happy place and now everytime I look at them they make me smile.  I was totally inspired by some "pet"  ATC's I had seen.  There are people who take photo's of their pets and then use them on their ATC's.   Here are a few links to :

http://heartnsoul-amy.blogspot.com/2010/07/theme-thursday-animals.html

this first link is to Paper and Gluestix blog - Amy.  She is one of my FAVORITE mixed media / ATC card makers.  Her cards are amazing and she seems to always come up with something different.  I have seen some very talented people, but their projectst tend to look very similar.  I love that Amy's are soooo fun and that she comes up with so many ways to express herself on just 2.5" x 3.5".

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14222287@N04/page4/

And this is Amy's Flickr album "Paper and Gluestix", with more ATC's using Harley her dog.

I've seen other's do this.  Amy was just the easiest for my to find and link to.

  I would love to trade these for some of your ATC's.   And if you would like to make some just like these, then check out the step by step project instructions below.  I'm excited to share that these are featured on the Pink Persimmon blog today as well!  Thanks Darcy and Judy!

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Project Details

Stamps : Pink Persimmon "Scottie Dogs"

Patterned Paper : Cosmo Cricket (green floral on ATC #2) and Jilibean Soup (green collage on ATC #2) 6x6 paper pads

Digital Images : Digital Collage Sheets (the numbered strip and butterfly on ATC #1 and the flower stamp and small ticket in front of the cup on ATC #2 are from their "Color Collection" series. 

and

Lisa's Altered Arts (the bottom 1/2 of the house on ATC #1 and the tea cup and butterfly wings on ATC #2 are from the "$1 sheet" section.

(for more detailed info about using these digital files and for finding pre-printed ones to order, scroll all the way to bottom of post)

Old music paper or patterned paper

Aqua and yellow acrylic paint

Bubble wrap

Black Pigma Micron 02 pen by Sakura (Michaels)

Trim heavy cardstock or watercolor paper 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" to create a sturdy card base.  Thin down aqua acrylic paint with water or glazing medium (golden or liquitex).  Apply over music paper and set aside to dry.  You should be able to see the music paper through the paint.  After dry, trim to 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" and adhere to front of card base.  Apply yellow acrylic paint to bubble wrap and apply to front of card randomly.  Trim and tear green patterned paper for both cards as shown and adhere to front of cards.  Print and cut digital images : number strip, butterfly, and house base for ATC #1, cup, wings, ticket and flower stamp for ATC #2.  Type and print words for the quotes in a document and trim.  Trim roof top from orange patterned paper or cardstock.  Stamp Scotties and trim.  Assemble all pieces.  Use black pen to outline as shown.

I would LOVE to see your collages ATC's!  Email me or link me in a comment.

hugs,

Melisa

You can view all of my ATC's HERE

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Details for Working with Digital Images

These are digital image sheets that are sold by the sheet.  So once you order, they send you and email with the attached file for you to print.  I save all my digital images under "downloads".  Then I create a file for "digital stamps and images".  Then I create files for each manufacturer as well as by theme and save it twice.  So the Digital Collage Sheet page is saved under "Digital Collage Sheets" and "Yellow Images".  The Lisa's Altered Arts sheet is saved under "Lisa's Altered Arts" and "Yellow Images".  To open / print your files later, just go to that file in your downloads section, right click, and click print to print the whole page.  Or to save on ink, right click and open with whatever program you use.   Now you can crop and print the individual images. 

To crop and print and individual image in Adobe Paint:

1. Open in Paint, it will open as a very large document, so decrease the size so that the images are easier to crop.  Click "Image" and then "Resize / Skew" from the drop down box.  Decrease size from 100% to 50%.  This doesn't change the size of your file, just your viewing size.

Use the the slide bar along the right side to scroll up and down the page.

2. Use the "select tool" to draw a box around the image you want.  Click "Image" and then "crop" from the drop down box.

3.  Click "File" and then "save as" from the drop down box.  Make sure you do not click "save"!!  You don't want to loose your original file.  Save the cropped image in the same folder with a new name.

Once you have saved it you can print it.  I don't like to print from Paint because it's a pain in the patootie.  I'm not going to even go into what settings you have to change to get it to print right.  Too confusing.  So what I do is open a document, Microsoft Works, Word or whatever you use and I insert the image into a document.  I don't want to waste cardstock, so I usually fill up a page with image or digital stamps and print a full sheet at a time.

Clear a mud???  I'm sure there are other ways to do this.  If you have questions, please email me and I can hopefully help you, if you are a newbie to all of this.  It's so much fun to play with and collage image, so it is certainly worth learning how to do so you can print and cut your own images. 

There are companies who sell printed collage sheets to mail to as well, so you don't have to worry about printing your own.  Here is a list that I am aware of :

Lisa's Altered Arts

The Shabby Cottage Studio

Collage Stuff

Stampfrancisco

I'm sure there are more.  I am not sure of the quality of these, so I'm not responsible if you hate them, ha!

Excellent Customer Service

Hello Paper crafters.  Today I'm sharing a card designed with a newer stamp store.  While the store may be new to you, the designer of the stamps will not be.  The designer is Nina Brackett.  You have probably seen many of her wonderful designs over at StampTV in the past.  Well now, in addition to continuing to design for Layers of Color, she will be designing stamps for The Crafts Meow.  This one was soooo easy to create.  No coloring!  Clean and Simple.  In fact, all 3 sets I received have solid stamps in them for easy cardmaking.  I will be posting more cards using these fun stamps soon.

UPS could learn a little something about customer service!

I just had to take a minute to share some wonderful customer service I received recently.  I order from Scrapbook.com and paid for express shipping.  Scrapbook.com had my order together and shipping within hours of the order!  However, when my package arrived, the box was "dented".  It looked as if UPS had set something heavier on my package.  The package had 12x12 paper in it.  All the paper was damaged with a huge indention that could not be flattened out.  Now the paper was only worth about $8.  But what really upset me was that I had paid extra for shipping and UPS had mishandled my package, resulting in the damage.  I called them and filed a report and was told that I could not use the contents for up to 5 days ...  any of it ...  because someone may be stopping by to take a look at the package to make sure the shipper had packed it correctly.  I explained that I had paid for extra for shipping so that I could get the products asap to use for a call, and now they were telling me to wait 5 days to use the product.  Does that even make sense??  They said I should contact the shipper as well and make them aware of what had happened.  So I let Scrapbook.com know what was going on and how upset that I was with UPS.  The next day, without any hesitation, Scrapbook.com gave me a refund for the expidited shipping and 10% off my order.  Now, that is not why I was contacting them, because it was not their fault, so imagine my surprise when they credited my paypal account.  Talk about customer service!  I felt bad and emailed them again requesting they take the money back since it was not their fault, but they didn't. 

UPS has not even contacted me!

Shame on them!

I will definitely be using Scrapbook.com in the future.  FYI .... other fast shippers:

 Ellen Hutson and Mark's Finest Papers!

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Project Details

Stamps : The Craft’s Meow “Happiness is”

Ink : Tsukineko VersaFine Onyx Black

Patterned Paper : Lilybee Designs “This and That”

Cardstock : Bazzill

Ribbon : local craft store

Deckled Scissors : Fiskars

Aleene’s Tacky Glue

Create A2 card with white cardstock. Trim black cardstock 4.25” x 5.5” and adhere to front of card. Stamp image and sentiment on yellow cardstock with black ink and trim slightly smaller than black cardstock. Trim right edge with deckled scissors and adhere to card front. Trim patterned paper and adhere as shown. Adhere ribbon to front of card leaving extra hanging over top and bottom edges. Add white glue to both ends along the top and bottom of card before cutting so it will not unravel. After glue is dry, trim ribbon along top and bottom edges.

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Challenges

Crafty Emma's - clean and simple

My Partner in Crafting Crime - uncolored image

Craft Your Passion - anything goes

Stampin' Sisters in Christ - use something new (new stamps)

Update on hacked email

Hello friends.  I feel so bad about so many of you receiving the fake emails from me.  What a day.  I was finally able to get back into my facebook and email account about 6pm today.  But in the process we noticed that a new account had been opened and that the address included my name as well.  If you recieve ANY emails with my name ... melisa_waldorf or melisa.waldorf ...  block them.  My email address in the future will not include my name.  Once I got back into my email account I found that all my email address / contacts had been deleted.  I tried to contact as many people as I could letting them know to block the account by getting the info from old emials.  I lost everyone's address's as well.  I don't guess I'll be sending out many birthday and christmas cards this year : ( .   If you have been on my Christmas list in the past I would love to add you back on if you feel safe sending me your address to the new account.

If you normally receive my blog post via email, you should continue to do so, because the feeds are from Feedblitz, not my email account.  So if you get this post, then you don't need to email your email account / info.  I only need you to email your email for personal communication purposes.

I have to say I have been a contact hoarder.  I just never took the time to delete contacts that I had not communicated with in a very long and frankly didn't even need.  I will definitely do a better job in the future of not keeping uneccessary contact info in my new accounts.

I have posted my new email address on my side bar, but again, it is luv_2_stamp@yahoo.com.

Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience this has caused any of you.  I feel really bad about this.  

***I'm going to leave this post at top for a while.  To see my most current post, scroll down ***

Big hugs to all of you!  Melisa

Pink Persimmon "Flower Garden" and "Small Banner Set"

Arn't these images to stinkin' cute!  I am having a ball creating with the Pink Persimmon images!
If you haven't signed up to get the Pink Persimmon newsletter, hop on over!  HERE  Click on the grey bar across the page, near the bottom.  So I realized that I am in a card funk.  Where are the layouts, atc's, altered pieces????   So I'm going to try and change my focus.  And I started by creating 2 REALLY cute ATC's.  And I have 2 more in the works.  Sooooo if you like to do ATC's, I would love to swap with someone.  Get to work!  I will post 1 set next week and the second set in July.  And I already have idea's for a 3rd set for August.  I got me one of those 7 Gypsies wooden ATC box holders and I'm ready to fill it up!

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Project Details

Stamps : Pink Persimmon “Banner Set (small)”, “Flower Greetings”

and “ Singing Birds”

Patterned Paper : My Minds Eye “Stella and Rose - Hazel”

Cardstock : Bazzill

Markers: Copic

Hemp : Local Craft Store.

Form 5.5 x 5.5” top-folded card from white cardstock. Cut green cardstock 5.5 x 5.5” and adhere to card front. Cut background patterned paper slightly small and adhere to card front. Tear gree patterned paper and adhere along bottom of card. Stamp pennant images in matching ink colors and trim. Punch tiny holes in each corner and add help. Adhere to card front. Stamp flower images multiple times on patterned paper. Cut the different layers and piece together. Stamp stems and leaves, then adhere flowers. Stamp bird images and color with markers.

Thanks for stopping by!
Melisa

Don't go breakin' my heart ....

Wanna know how to break my little artsy heart???  Issue a "cardboard" challenge for the summer issue, and then don't publish my little Under The Sea art piece.  :  (     I don't usually whine or complain on my blog, I save that for DH, ha!  But Stampers Sampler has broken my heart.  It's a day like this that makes you want to throw in the towel and stop submitting.  What I am more upset about is that I sent them $10 to mail this and 3 other cards back and they haven't!  I worked hard on this, and I hope it didn't end up in a trash can somewhere.

But I want give up!  I love their challenges and template challenges and they really spark my creativity so I will push on!  And I have to say that the June / July issue is OUTSTANDING!  Even if you don't want to buy it.  Stop by a nearby Michaels or Barnes and Noble and check it out.  The hot air balloon template projects are AMAZING!  What creativity!   And of course I love all the cardboard art.  I saw 1 name I recognized.  This chick is an outstanding mixed media artist.  I wanna be just like her when I grow up!

Lynn Stevens.

If this issue inspires you to create something using cardboard then I would love to have you add it to my Flickr group HERE.

Need more inspiration ??? 

You can check out more of my cardboard art HERE.

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Project Details

Stamps : Under the Sea art stamp set by Layers of Color. Sentiment - Unity.

Ink - VersaFine Onyx Black, Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate both by Tsukineko.

Spellbinders - Labels Eight  and Grand Calibur

Corrugated Cardboard.

Pumus - Golden.

Crackle Paint - Ranger

Acrylic Paint - Making Memories.

Tuelle - Bazzill.

Raffia, hemp and shell fiber - local craft store

Clear pebble embellishment - Making Memories

Cut corrugated cardboard to size and tear away some area’s to expose the ripples.

I started out applying some vintage music paper but it was eventually layered over

and now you can only see hints of it (The Etude at the top).  Apply acrylic paint (mine

is watered down so that it is a little transparent). Apply pumus (it’s this wonderful sand

like product you can find I the artist section of local craft store) with a palette knife.

Pumus is grey in color, but you can mix it with paint. I used a beige color. After dry,

apply crackle paint. Add brown ink. Stamp images and trim. Stamp sentiment and

trim with Spellbinders die, then ink edges. Cover back of project with white paper.

Wrap with fibers and adhere clear pebble to center of knot. Adhere sentiment

and images. Add a cardboard frame stand to the back so you can display it

on a table top.

Have a blessed weekend!!
Melisa

I'm on the Pink Persimmon 2011 Creative Team!

I am so excited!  I made the Pink Persimmon Creative Team.  I have been a fan of theirs for a long time and LOVE their stamps.  So much that I own 16 sets!  LOVE them!  So since I am such a big fan, I am thrilled to be working with their Creative Team!



Here is my first creative team card and I look forward to sharing so much more over the next 6 months. 

If you have never checked Pink Persimmon out, then take a moment to hop over HERE.

Click the grey bar along the bottom of their home page to sign up for their newsletters and make sure you check out their AWESOME gallery of idea's!

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PROJECT DETAILS

I had so much fun creating this.  This set is contains "jewel" images and this clever little sentiment.  I started by color the images with a purple copic and then started embellishing with Stickles, Liquied Pearls, and 1/2 Pearls.  Hope you like!!

Stamps : Pink Persimmon "You're a Jewel"

Patterned Paper : Lilybee Design "Picket Fence" 6x6 Tiny Tablet

Spellbinders : Labels Five Nestabilities and Grand Calibur

Glitter Glue : Stickles Lavender   Liquid Pearls : Lavender Lace

1/2 Pearls : Stampin' Up colored with Copic Marker BV31

Ribbon : Creative Impressions

Chalk : Pebbles Inc.    Markers : Copic BV31

Create A2 card. Trim patterned paper, adhere to card front, and ink edges wit black ink. Trim white cardstock with Spellbinders Labels Five Nestibilities and Grand Calibur. Apply lavender chalk and black ink around edges of label. Stamp sentiment. Stamp “jewels”. Color with lavender marker. Embellish with glitter glue, Liquid Pearls, and ½ pearls as shown. Trim all jewels and adhere 2 larger ones to black cardstock. Trim around edges of jewels with deckled scissors. Wrap lavender ribbon and tie bow. Slide label under ribbon and adhere. Adhere jewel images as shown.

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You can check out the other designers who were selected as well.  I am in awe of their talent and feel very blessed that I even made this team. 

Andrea

Cindy

Denise

Kristii

Laura

Lindsay

Nancy

Have a great day!!