Sunday, August 15, 2010

My Favourite Time of Year...plus a little CANDY!!!

(This is my second post for today. Please scroll down or click HERE for the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps August Release Blog Hop!)

Welcome to another brand new challenge at Sundays With Crissy! We were all thrilled to see your gorgeous "Christmas in July" submissions for our last challenge...thanks so much for playing along! This time around, Crissy would like to see projects relfecting "Your Favourite Time of Year"! She is leaving it up to your interpretation...perhaps a favourite season or holiday?

I'm also offering a bit of blog candy today, but you'll have to read all the way through my post to find out how to win!

I chose to go with my favourite season, winter!! (although fall is a VERY close second) I know many of you are hot weather fans...but I am not. The hot humid weather of summer causes me to retreat to my central air conditioned house, lol. Being a redhead, I burn easily...and my allergies are always worse in the summer months. So, I look forward to the cooler weather...and I love when the snow starts falling. It's always so beautiful right after a fresh snowfall...when the snow is still clinging to the trees and everything sparkles in the sunlight.

Earlier this week, I showed you a Halloween themed wall hanging. Well, it put me in the mood to create one for the winter months. I chose to work with "Zoe and Gemma's Snow Fun" which is one of Crissy Armstrong's digital images available at Wags 'n Whiskers Stamps. The shadow box (from the dollar store) was painted with a base coat of blue followed by a glittery dimensional "snow" paint.



This pretty image was printed on Neenah Cardstock and coloured with Copic markers. I ripped the edges of a few strips of cardstock for the snowy hills, and adhered them at different depths within the recessed window. I used Polar White Flower Soft on the "ground" and the snowman. The sentiment is chipboard letters covered with the snowy paint and then sprinkled with Flower Soft. Finally, I added a cluster of snowflakes and flourishes made with Spellbinders dies. I sponged them with blue ink while still in the dies and then coated them with Stardust Stickles. (the little punched snowflakes in the background were also "Stickled" up!)



Need a little inspiration? Why not hop on over to Sunday's With Crissy? My fellow Crissy's Crew members have just outdone themselves once again with with some stunning creations. We'd love to have you participate in our challenge...you will have lots of time to complete your project, as this is yet another extended challenge. Just make sure to use one of Crissy's digital images to be elligable for a fantastic prize! (Crissy has put together a great package of some digital stamps and a pad of paper for one lucky participant!)

You can find Crissy's images at Wags 'n Whiskers, Squigglefly and Whimsy Stamps.

I really appreciate all the support and encouragement I have received from all of you over the past year. It means so much to me that you all stop by and leave such lovely comments, so I thought I would try to do a little something in return. I will be offering a few different blog candies throughout the month of August. For today's prize, Crissy Armstrong has very kindly (and generously) donated this wonderful prize package...your choice of three of her gorgeous digital stamps!! Crissy's images are always such a joy to colour, and I have felt so blessed to be a part of her very talented team. Would you like to be the lucky winner of this blog candy? Just leave me a comment on this post by August 21, 2010 (by 11:59 pm EST). I will announce the lucky winner (chosen by random.org) on August 22, 2010. Good luck!

Have a blessed Sunday stampers!

Melanie

Digital Stamps: "Zoe and Gemma's Snow Fun" by Crissy Armstrong available at Wags 'n Whiskers Stamps
Paper: Neenah
Ink: Copic markers, Memento
Embellishments: Polar White Flower Soft, Stardust Stickles, Spare Parts brads, chipboard letters
Tools: Spellbinders Snowflakes and Doodle Parts,
Other: Snow paint, blue craft paint

26 comments:

Tasha said...

Wow this is fantastic, love how you created the snow it looks amazing and the lettering is awesome too. Fab colour work
love tasha xx

sammi said...

Gorgeous card! Great job on the snow!!!

mycardz said...

Hi Melanie! Wow, wow, wow ... a definite triple wow creation. I sooo love this, I don't even know where to begin!! All your amazing details on the shadow box are sooo wonderful, it looks absolutely real! And, then there's your awesome coloring. Phew, I've been studying this forever and am just in awe! Awesome! hugz, Mary

Renkata said...

Great scene Melanie, Love the snow. It's really like real one :)

Lisa said...

another great card Melanie, I don't really like the HHH weather we have been getting either

fionalawlor said...

This is gorgeous! Winter is totally my favourite season too, who doesn't love snow and christmas?! lol
thanks for a chance to enter for your fab candy!
Fiona x

gea said...

wow ! I like the chance to win your beautiful candy !!

Claireabelle said...

Melanie this is just amazing!!
x

Ginny said...

Love your shadow boxes and yay for candy!

Shaela said...

what a beautiful creation! I am so glad that I stumbled across KK stamps last year and thus found your blog... I told me hubby that when I "grow up" I want to color like you - you are such an inspiration! :)

Yvonne Russell said...

Love your gorgeous card. Crissy's imgaes are wonderful... a lovely prize. Thanks for the chance.

Sally Cicada Designs said...

Okay I am so ready to say good by to the heat and humidity too--no central air hear and I think I have lost ten lbs just from sweating (oh that that ere true LOL)!!
Your project this round is lovely Melanie!! Love the flower soft snow!!! I've yet to try using it!!! Your colouring and shading look absolutey amazing too!!

Thinking cool thoughts...
Hugs,
Sarah :D

Linda Carson said...

Your shadow box is delightful! Love your beautiful artwork! We should be giving you gifts for all the inspiration you give us!

jan farnworth said...

wow how wonderful.

Nicole Brenna said...

that is a great card I love the "snow"... thanks for the chance to win

Margo said...

such an adorable little scene in your shadowbox!!

And I just wanted to say that I am so glad to have found your blog - your colouring skills are such an inspiration!!

And I am a fellow Canadain - on the opposite end of the country - Vancouver Island!!

Patricia said...

Great card love your coloring. Thanks for the chance to win =P

Saxon and Jaedyn said...

I really love your blog..your work is amazing!!! you are incredibly talented!!! thanks for the chance to win!!!

Fabella said...

Oh girl .. you really rock. I'm so in love with your coloring. It is such a joy to see your cards. LOL .. after my last visit at your blog, I "must" order the neenah paper ... it isn't expensive to order from UK to Germany, but I really hope I could coloring a little bit like you with this paper :)

I'm looking forward to your next cards!

Oh, and thanks for the chance to win three of those lovely images!

Saxon and Jaedyn said...

Wow Really great job!! love it!!!

Stampvanwinkle said...

Melanie, I just love your work. Your coloring technique is amazing. Thank you for sharing your wonderful talent. Have a great day.

Jodi said...

Melanie this is just beautiful!! When I look at this I feel like I'm there too! That is a gorgeous Christmas shadow box!
Hope you are doing well!
Hugs
Jodi =)

Lynne in NI said...

Oooh beautiful shadow box Melanie!
Our summer has been rubbish so we definately cannot complain about it being too hot ... far from it! Though I don't think I fancy your weather either .... humid weather just makes my hair shrink and go fuzzy! LOL!

Mary Lou said...

Amazing Melanie!! As I view this creation I can actually feel the snow on my feet. That is so cool that your work is SOOO REALL and I can actually feel me in the presence everytime:)
You blow me away!!LOL
Hugz

Crissy Armstrong said...

Melanie, you have so captured the look of snow, like I have never seen on a card before! That looks amazing! And of course your colouring, out of this world, as always! What a treat to see what you did with this image!

Marjo said...

Gorgeous DT card. Love the Snowman detail!

Hugs, Marjo