StampTV sketch challenge blog hop

Hello stampers.  Tonight I am excited to be playing along with the StampTV Center Stage Alumni team.  If you arrived from Miesje Flach blog then you have landed on the next blog in the loop.  If you are just checking in at my blog first .... then head on over to Vicki's blog to start the hop.

Carolina Buchting (Gina K. Designs DT ) has put together a wonderful blog hop and one blessed blog hopper will WIN a free grab bag of Gina K Designs products!!  Leave comments along the way on each blog for a chance to win.  There will be an announcement of the winner over at StampTV on Tuesday Oct 15th.

For this CSS Blog Hop we were challenged to create a card with the sketch below.  We would love for you to play along as well HERE .

My card was designed using Melanie's "Stately Flowers 1 ".  So many gorgeous images in her Stately Flowers series.  I decided to play with my water color crayons for this one.  I took a few close-ups and will share them at the end of the post.

You're next stop is ...

 Lori McAree's

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Project Details

I started out by creating a soft water color background.  I used NeoColor Watercolor II Crayons.  I also own Lyra as well.  I like the Lyra better (I think they are creamier), but only had a 6 color set, so I decided to give the Neocolor II a try for more color options.  Of course since them I found that you can get more colors with the Lyra as well.   I used some inexpensive water color paper from Target.  It for children.  The reason I liked it was because of the flat surface.  It was smoother and easier to stamp on than some of the water color paper I have used in the past.

I brushed some water over the entire panel ... then picked up some blue pigment  from one of my water color crayons and tried to randomly apply it.  I wanted a  mottled / soft look.  I heat dried the panel.

If you take a look at this particular set HERE comes with 2 different sizes of a California Posie.  I wanted to use both so I had to do some masking.  

When ever you are working with 2 images and layering them you need to mask the image in the forground before stamping the image in the background.  I use Eclipse Masking Tape.  In the photo above I had stamped the smaller image / foreground image, stamped it again on the masking tape, trimmed out the image, and then covered the image stamped on the panel.  It has a pink hue to it in the photo.  Then I stamp the larger / back ground image over it.

This is the result.  I played around with the first 2 petals and then decided I would try to shoot a few step by step photo's in case anyone was interested.

I started out dipping my brush in water and then loading it with yellow pigment from my water color crayon.  I don't "rub" the paint on because the paper is cheap and it will break down, but the other reason is because I have that blue in the background and it could mix with the yellow to make green.  I definitely didn't want green on my petals.  I just patted it on.  I wanted the color uneven so I let the paint flow where ever it wanted.

Next I switched to orange and patted it on.   While it was still wet, I reloaded with some yellow and patted from the outside edge of the petal in to try and blend and get rid of that harsh line you see with the orange.  

Sometimes it's a little hard to control the paint, so if I needed to, I added a little more orange to try and add depth / shadowing.  Water is your eraser.  So if you go out of the line a little, sometimes you can rub a little water over it and pick it up with a paper towel.  

Hope you enjoy the hop and are inspired to try using some watercolor crayons!
hugs, Melisa

You can check out all my Gina K. Designs Projects  HERE.

Gina K. Designs "Fall Foliage"

Hello friends.  I know "fall is in the air" for some of you ... sadly not here in Texas.  We are still in the mid 90's every day so far for September.  I am so ready for fall.  So I've started putting up all my fall decor.  I've started a fall banner for the mantel.  I have all the flags done ... just need to add some leaves between the banners.  Hopefully will be able to share that soon.

In the meantime you can check out a fall banner I made last year with a cool tutorial on how to make some textured leaves HERE.

Some of the ladies from the Stamp TV Center Stage Alumni are having a blog hop and here is the inspiration photo :

So I'm sure you will be able to find more fall inspiration based on this photo.

You can check it out HERE.

For today I want to share some cards I created using Gina K. Designs "Fall Foliage".  I will be adding some of these to my banner as well.  I wanted to play around and see what different looks I could get.  On the card above and on the last one, I stamped the image in brown ink over patterned paper.  I used my favorite brown ink Tsukineko - Brilliance "Pearlescent Chocolate".  

But for this one I used my a rainbow ink pad.  This particular one is by Tsukineko - Kaleidacolor "Cappuccino Delight".  Gorgeous fall colors.  Tsukineko makes rainbow pads in lots of fun colors and you can check them out HERE.

On the card above I simply stamp over patterned paper again.  You could whip up fall cards very quickly with these beautiful images!

Have a blessed day!

Melisa

You can check out all my Gina K. Designs projects HERE.

You can check out all my FALL projects HERE.

The Cutting Cafe Blog Hop with Give-aways!!!

Hello friends!  Today is the last DT post for the current TCC team.  So we are finishing up with a blog hop and lots of give-aways!!  Each designer will be drawing a name from her commenters to give away a free copy of the file she used for her project.  So you have 15 CHANCES TO WIN something!!  Don't forget to leave your email address with your comment.

I am giving away "Tall Ice Cream Shaped Card Template / Cutting File".  I used punches to create the butterfly and floral embellishments.  I used my Scor-pal to create the  grid for the cone, then gently ran some ink over it with an applicator to add some depth.

You have until 12MN Friday August 30th to leave a comment for my give-away.  Saturday I will draw a name and announce a winner!!

The next blog to visit is 

Krista Norman

Just in case there is a break in the hop ... here is a link to all the blogs.

Regina Easter

Rose Miller

Sheryl Wilder

Jeri Thomas

Rhonda Zmikly

Tmika Miller

Flowerdisco Agnes

Barbara Burgess 

Lisa Minkcler

Audrey Long

Leslie Foley 

Mary Ann Guth

Tanya Alley

Melisa Waldorf -- YOUR HERE

Krista Norman

Thanks so much for stopping by!

hugs, Melisa

You can check out all my projects by The Cutting Cafe HERE.

It's all about the girls again this week!!

Hello friends.  This week the DT is sharing projects designed using "Assorted Purse Box Template Cutting File" and  "Purse Shaped Card and Treat Box Set Template / Cutting File".  I decided to create a gift bag using the Assorted Purse Box file.  There are multiple options and the gift box size is approximately 4" tall (not including the height of the handle) x 5 1/2".  Great size for a small gift!!  It also comes with lots of little accessories like the little flower I added.  These files come with lots of cute phrases and sentiments perfect of purse shaped projects. 

Check out The Cutting Cafe blog on Wednesday night to see more inspiration using these fabulous files.  Regina will be giving away a free set to one lucky gal who leaves a comment.

One last thing ... next week is the end of the current DT term.  This means that there will be a DT blog hop and each designer will be GIVING AWAY A FREE CUTTING FILE !!!

Hope you are all having a fabulous week!!

hugs,  Melisa

You can check out all my projects by The Cutting Cafe HERE.

Back to School

As I mentioned in my earlier post today ... I'm working on cards for my sweet girl and I'm going to try and send her 1 a week.  She just finished her first week teaching!  She loves her 5th grade class and is having so much fun.

I used a really old stamp set by The Paper Studio and it includes cute little school images.  I paper pieced the pencils, and tied them together with twine.  This was not easy!  I created my own sentiment, my daughter likes puns.  You could easily find these images to create your own teacher cards.  I googled pencil image coloring book and found lots of outline images that you could use to paper piece.  HERE Coloring book images are usually copy right free.  Or see a list of links below for great school digital stamps / files.

The apple and A+ are part of the same older stamp set.  But the notebook paper (Hero Arts)

and decorative tape (Stampin' Up) images are current.  

The sentiment :

1.  Create the sentiment in a word doc. and print it out on regular copy paper.  Trim image leaving about 1/2 border along the top (you will be taping the image over the copy)

2.  Stamp the notebook paper on light weight cardstock (Target) because i didn't want to have problems with it feeding through the printer and I wanted to be able to see through it.

3.  Hold the copy with the notebook image over it in front of a window.

4.  Rotate the notebook paper so that the sentiment will print at an angle on the notebook paper image.

5.  Secure image in place with light tack tape (I use "Magic Tape") over the copy.  

6.  Run this through your printer.

7.  Sentiment is now printed on notebook paper image.  Remove tape and finish trimming image.

FUN Digital Stamp files for teachers :

from The Cutting Cafe :

Pencil Shaped Card (I'm definitely making this one for her)

Apple Treat Box 

Apple Shaped Card

All About School Printables (This one includes an apple)

School Borders Printable Stamp Set 

School Days Printable Stamp Set -(includes a pencil)

Fred She Said :

Apple for Teacher digi set

The Stamping Boutique :

Back to School Desk

You can check out all my Back to School / Teacher Appreciation Projects HERE.

I have some links to FREE word art downloads I created in these post!

Have a great week!!

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Challenges

Sentimental Sundays - one layer

Word Art Wednesday - "Teach me, O Lord, the way of the statutes : and I shall keep it unto the end"  Psalms 119:33

CASual Friday's - buttons

SCS free for all (fri) - back to school

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow !!!

Hello friends!  Hope you are all doing well and finding some time to relax and get crafty.  We arrived back in town last Wednesday night and have been playing catch up ever since then.  Lots of laundry and yard work to catch up on.  I think I need another vacation to rest from my vacation, teehee.

Today I'm sharing some Christmas / Winter projects I designed using cutting files for The Cutting Cafe.  The DT was given 3 files to choose from this week to create our project : "Christmas Card Fun Cutting File", "Snow Globe Shaped Card Cutting File", or " Christmas Car Printable Stamps" .  You can check out lots of inspiration for these digital files on the TCC DT Blog HERE later today.  

Make sure to leave a comment for a chance to win free files!!

As soon as I saw the "Snow Globe Shaped Card Cutting File" I thought of acetate and Fun Flock.  I used Fun Flock on the snowman hat and for the show.  I adhered it with a glue pen on the hat and Aleene's Tachy glue for the snow.  The acetate gives it a snow globe feel.  The snow man is from "Frosty the Snowman Printable Stamp Set"

Here is another fun shaped card from The Cutting Cafe, "Mitten Shaped Card".  I used  brown Fun Flock on the cuff of this one.

Monday's are Cyber Sale Monday over on the TCC blog.  So make sure you hop over and check out the great deals.  They are only available til 12 midnight on Monday's!

Hope you are having a great week!!

hugs,

Melisa

You can check out all my projects by The Cutting Cafe HERE.

TCC Nail Polish Gift Box

Hello friends.  We are on the road back to Houston today.  Colorado was beautiful ... but I can't wait to get home.  The mountains there are so beautiful.   We have a wonderful memory of Mt. Evans.  The highway leading to the summit is the highest highway in the North East.  We did not know what we were getting ourselves into.  I laughed soooo hard.  The highway is narrow and you have approx. 6" on the side and then it just drops off.  There was an occasional pull off and we pulled over every time we got the chance to take a break or to let other cars pass.  We were only going about 20 miles hours.  It was crazy how fast other cars were driving.  The funny part was my husband "freaking out".  We laughed so hard.  We kept telling him to focus on the center line and don't look over at the drop.  My daughter and I realized we were leaning toward the center of the car .... like that would keep us from going off the side, teehee!  We only made it half way.  Next time we will make it to the summit.  I will share photo's after I get home and get them edited.

Today I'm sharing this cute little nail polish gift box!!  I LOVE this one.  As always you can either cut them with your electronic cutter or by hand.  Sorry about the photo's.  I edited them before we left for vacation ... but didn't save them to my laptop.  I don't have a photo editing program on my lap top, so I had to use them directly from my photo card.  

You can find the file for this project HERE.  There will be more inspiration over on The Cutting Cafe inspiration blog later today HERE.

Hope you are having a great week!!

hugs, Melisa

You can check out all my projects by The Cutting Cafe HERE.

Gina K. Designs - "Retro Boutique" and WINNERS from last weeks give-away!

Good morning my crafty friends.  Quick post today to share a couple of cards designed using "Retro Boutique" by Gina K. Designs and the winners of last weeks give-away.  

Yesterday was a long day.  We finally made it to Wichita KS about 9 pm last night.  Today we are headed to Denver!  We will spend tomorrow moving our daughter into her apartment and then hopefully get to do some site seeing.  We have never been this far north before (We are GA, FL, TX people), so it will be fun to explore a different area of the country.

If any of you are familiar with Denver and have any recommendations for site seeing / eating out we would love to know!

I know we only had 12 commenters to draw from, but I still drew 2 names!  I used Random.org and the winners, after excluding blog hop participates are Maxine and Shelly!!  I know it says 1-100 on the photo's below, but I did use 1-12.  For some reason when I copied and pasted them, it changed to 100.

Ladies please email me your address's at luv_2_stamp.com and I will get your prizes to you as soon as we get back from vacation. 

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:7Powered by RAN
True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:9Powered by RAN

Thank you so much for following my blog and taking the time to comment!
hugs, Melisa

You can check out all of my Gina K. Designs Projects HERE.

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Project Details

Card #1

Stamps : Gina K Designs

Patterned Paper : Authentique 6 x 6 paper pad

Copic Markers Y13, R32, W4, C8

Cover card front with patterned paper.  Trim white card stock 2 5/8" x 5 1/2", stamp image and sentiment.  Color image and adhere to card front.  Adhere lace.

Card #2

Stamp set : Gina K Designs

Patterned Paper : Authentique 6 x 6 paper pad

Copic Markers : Y13, R32, C8

Deckled Scissors : Fiskars

pop dots

Cover card front with patterned paper.  Trim white cardstock 2 1/2" x 5 1/2", adhere to black cardstock, and trim edges with deckled scissors.  Adhere   and trim.  Adhere to card front.

Card / Gift Box Set from The Cutting Cafe

Hello paper crafters.  Today I'm sharing my DT project for The Cutting Cafe.  This little card storage box would be perfect as a gift set for someone.  I used "Card Box Organizer Set". 

You can check out more inspiration later today over on the TCC DT Blog.

I created a some coordinating cards.  The butterflies are from a Stampin' Up stamp set "Papillon Potpourri".  I LOVE this set.  If you love it too and don't have a Stampin' Up demo then you can order from my friend Melayne's online store and it will be shipped directly to your home.  This set also has coordinating punches so you don't have to hand cut those little butterflies, HERE.  I don't see the larger butterfly punch "Elegant Butterfly" available online.  But if you are interested, you can email her your order and she can set it up to be delivered to your home.  

I used an 8 x 8 paper pad (Citrus Stack) by DCWV.  You can get it at Joann's Crafts store.

I would like to invite you to enter my give-away HERE. The details are at the bottom of the post.

I'm giving away 3 brand new stamp sets!!  

The deadline to enter is Sunday July 14th at midnight.

  Hope you were inspired to get started on some card gift sets for your friends.
Have a fabulous week!
Melisa

Christmas in July Blog Hop!

 (approx. 2.75" x 2.5")

Good morning friends!  I'm so happy you are joining me today for a Christmas in July Blog Hop I am participating in with a few friends.  It's never too early to get started on Christmas cards and gifts.  I'm actually getting started much earlier than usual.  I've been working on some card gift sets for my co-workers. I just got 2 new Christmas stamp sets in from Sweet n' Sassy and Red Rubber Designs this week!  They both have poinsettia's in them.  I'm planning on putting together some samples so I can work on them on my 2 day drive to Colorado next week.  

Today I am featuring projects designed using files from The Cutting Cafe. If you need more Christmas inspiration then make sure you stop back by the week of July 28 to check out Christmas projects designed by the Design Team for The Cutting Cafe.  

Some of the participants of today's blog hop are offering give-aways, so make sure you complete the blog hop.  Read more about my give-away at the bottom of my post.

The first project showcases "Present Treat Box".  The Cutting files are available in WPC and SVG.  I hand cut mine using the PDF file.  I also used Gina K. Designs "The Magic of Christmas" stamp set  and Spellbinders "Layered Poinsettia" die set.

This little treat box was designed using "Stocking Box".  I don't really plan on giving anyone plastic silverware for Christmas, teehee.  I just wanted to give you an idea of the size.  I think    peppermint sticks would be perfect for this box.

Next up in the blog hop is 
Seleise

Here is a list of everyone in the hop :

Kat "Queen Kat" 

Melisa "Paperlicious Designs"  YOU ARE HERE 

Seleise "AmethystCat Designs"

Rita "Stamp Crazy - Strictly Amused"

Christy "Ten Crafty Fingers"

Stacy "Stacy's Cards" 

My Give-away last until Sun July 14 midnight.  Please share with your friends.  Just leave me a comment and your email address so I can contact you.  I will do a drawing for every 10 comments.  Names of bolg hop participates will be skipped.  Please do not leave more than one comment.  I will announce winners Tuesday (we will be on our way to Colorado, so I will do it whenever I have internet service).  If I have your email .... I will contact you.  If I do not have your email then winners have until Thur July 18th 8 am to contact me.  If I am unable to contact a winner ... I will draw another name.   I am leaving to go to Colorado through the July 25, so I want be able to mail prizes til the 26th.

Prize #1 (for first 10 commenters)

NEW Holiday Hospitality stamp set - Gina K. Designs

Prize #2  (for commenters 11-20)

NEW Delightful Daisies stamp set - Technique Tuesday

+ some ribbon

Prize #3 ( for commenters 21-30)

NEW Carnival Alpha stamp set ( small set ) - Pink Persimmon
+ some some ribbon

I will be posting again on Wednesday with my DT project for this weeks The Cutting Cafe Post.  It will be something perfect to give to friends as a gift!

Thanks so much for your comments and for stopping by!

hugs, Melisa

Butterfly Gift Box from The Cutting Cafe

Good morning friends!  Today I am sharing a project using the "Butterfly Treat Box Cutting File" by The Cutting Cafe.  Every Wednesday the design team for TCC shares projects over on the blog.  The post will be up later today and you can check it all out HERE.  Butterflies are the theme this week and we were assigned the treat box above and "Social Butterfly Printable Stamp Set".  

I also want to let you know that TCC sometimes has Cyber Monday sales.  Regina bundles lots of sets together for one low price.  These are great deals!!  

Next Monday I am participating in a Christmas in July blog hop with some friends.  I will be sharing a Christmas themed project created using one of TCC's cutting files.  So please stop back by.  Many of us in the blog hop are giving away prizes!!  

 Hope you are all having a fabulous week!

hugs, Melisa

Strawberry Treat Box and Shaped Card for The Cutting Cafe

Good morning friends.  Today I am sharing a sweet little treat / gift basket designed using "Strawberrry Treat Box" by The Cutting Cafe.  The choices for our DT assignment this week were the treat box above, "Strawberry Shaped Card", or the "Berry Sweet Greetings Printable Stamp Set".  The only thing extra I added was the scalloped mat at the bottom of my box.  Read more about how to create one below.  

The Cutting Cafe DT blog post up will be up later this afternoon.  Hop on over and check it out so you can  get lots of inspiration using these files HERE.  

All the files from The Cutting Cafe come in PDF, SVG and WPC.  I don't have a cutting machine.  I wanted to make sure the borders around the card matched.  After printing the images on cards I cut around each shape leaving about 1/8" border.  I lined the green leaves / stem over the strawberry and adhered it in the center with a piece of double sided adhesive tape.  I wanted to go back later and pop it up, so that's why I didn't adhere all of it down.  Next I created a folded card 5" x 7".  I adhered the strawberry to the front of it allowing part of the strawberry to hang over the fold edge.  I trimmed around the image, trimming off the part of the image that was hanging over the folded side.  I pulled the leaves / stem up and then adhered it with pop dots.  Of course if you have a cutter, then you let it do all the work, teehee.

Some of the files in the "Berry Sweet Greetings Printable Stamp Set" are already colored for you.  I printed the bingo card twice.  I trimmed around the bingo card with one of them and then layered it on black card stock.  I trimmed around the scallop on the other copy and layered it on black card stock.  I used pop dots to adhere the bingo card.  I was going to use the pre-colored strawberry's as well.  But my printer was acting up and you could see faint lines across the solid area's.  So I printed the images on card stock instead trimmed the pieces and then layered them.  Regina has great instructions on how to print just one image from a PDF page HERE.  I print mine first on printer paper.  The image is in the center of the page.  I use a piece of light tack tape to adhere a piece of card stock or patterned paper over the image, then run it back through the printer.  Make sure when you trim you paper you leave extra space at the top to run a piece of tape over it.

HOW TO CREATE A SCALLOPED BORDER MAT

The first thing you have to do is figure out what size to cut your rectangle mat before trimming the edges with the border punch.  So I measured from where the edge of the paper would be to where I wanted the edge of the treat box to be.  For this particular punch it ended up being 1 little line (1/16") short of 1/2".  Which = 7/16".  I guess you could just added a little more and made it 1/2". But that looked to wide to me.  

You need to multiple that measurement x 2.  7/16" x 2 = 7/8".  or if you prefer the 1/2" measurement .... 1/2"  x 2 = 1".  

The size of the bottom of the treat box is 2 " x 3 7/8".  So you would cut your mat 2 7/8" x 4 3/4"   (using the 7/8" + 2" and 7/8" + 3 7/8").  Now punch around all edges with your border punch and then adhere the box to it.  Clear as mud??  I hope that made sense.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

hugs, Melisa

this one measured over from the edge of a scrap  piece of paper to the point I wanted the edge of the box.  This is a scalloped border punch by EK Success

Scrapbook Layout using GinaK Designs "Gift's of the Sea"

My layout today was designed using stamps by Gina K. Designs.  I used up some really old products from my stash (patterned paper, cardstock sticker embellishments)!  The hemp / sea shell trim was a really cool find from years ago at a local craft store.

I created the sand using Pumice (Golden).  You can find it in the art supply section of a local craft store.  It is grey in the container but mixes with acrylic paint.

 I mixed it with a cream color and then rubbed some off white paint over it to add some highlights.  

You can check out all of my Gina K. Designs Projects HERE.
  
Hope you are staying cool this summer!
Melisa



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Project Details

Stamps : GinaK Designs "Gift's from the Sea" and "Lovely Labels 2"

Die : Tim Holtz (flourish)

Deckled Scissors : Fiskars

Distress tool : Making Memories

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Challenges

Scrap It Girl - Use your dies (swirlies and label with "Faith is Knowing" sentiment)
Scrap the Girls - Winter colors (blue and brown)