Birthday Tilda (post #2 today!)

I am so happy to be posting a card with this stamp!! I have been waiting a long time to get my inky paws on this cutie! This is "Jam Tilda" from Magnolia. As soon as I saw her, I HAD to have her!! Thankfully, my friend Phebe from The Town Scrapper carries Magnolia stamps! As soon as Tilda arrived in Petrolia, I drove right out there to pick her up...along with some other goodies! Phebe is still running her "buy one, get one of equal or lesser value for 50% off" sale, so you can stock up on some great products right now and save big $$$!! She also has all Christmas stock on sale for 50% off! (her contact info is on her blog...just follow the link above!!)

Now, my in-laws were in need of a birthday card and "hired" me to make one for them. Perfect opportunity to use my new stamp! I inked up Tilda and stamped her on Neenah cardstock and coloured with Copics (big surprise huh??). I just love these "sitting" images...perfect to perch on the edge of layers. This pretty double-sided paper is from We Are Memory Keepers (bought this out at The Town Scrapper too!). You know, the nice thing about double-sided paper is that it takes the guess work out of co-ordinating patterned paper. I used Bazzil cardstock as a base, as well as for the punched border. The sentiment is from Stamping Bella. I mounted it on a wooden tag covered with DP.

When I was out visiting Phebe, I picked up another new stamp set!! I am hoping to get a card posted later in the week with it, so stay tuned!

Blessings!

Melanie

Stamps: Magnolia "Jam Tilda", Stamping Bella "Happy Birthday"

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics

Paper: Bazzil Cardstock, WRMK

Embellishments: American Crafts ribbon, Dollar Store brad, wooden tag, machine stitching

Winter Birthday Wishes

Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps is sponsoring the challenge over at Pink Elephant this week. The challenge is a pretty simple one: Birthday Cards!! We all need a fairly large stash of these, right? So, you should hop on over and enter in...you could be the happy winner of three stamps from Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps (including ones from the new release! did you see the blog hop yesterday?? feel free to scroll down my previous post for more information on that)

I chose to use Clara for my birthday card. I think she is just so elegant...and I love her clothes! I think she makes a lovely winter birthday card! I paired her up with this beautiful Cosmo Cricket Paper (appropriately called Klara!!). I have been hoarding this paper for a while, just waiting for the right image. I matted Clara on ovals cut from my Spellbinders.

As always, I stamped my image on Neenah, and coloured it with Copic markers. I pop-dotted Clara for dimension. Those little pearls are dollar store treasures!! Saving money on embellishments=$$ for more stamps!

So, off you go to the Pink Elephant to play along with the challenge. There will be some more examples over there by Kimmie's Krafty Girls featuring her fantastic stamps!

I hope to see you back later this morning...I will have another card to post featuring a Magnolia image!

See you soon!

Melanie

Stamps: Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps "Clara", Stamping Bella "Happy Birthday"

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic markers

Paper: Cosmo Cricket "Klara", Bazzill Cardstock

Embellishments: dollar store ribbon and adhesive pearls

Tools: Various Spellbinders

High Hopes Challenge #58: Use a Bow!

(This is my second post today...scroll down or click here for the Kraftin' Kimmie Blog Hop!!)

Did you all know that every Sunday, a new challenge is posted on High Hopes?? Did you also know that with every challenge, there is a fantastic prize up for grabs?? That's right...all you need to do is make a project following the challenge topic, but it MUST include a High Hopes image. This week, the challenge is brought to us by the talented Karen, who is asking you to include a bow on your project!

For this challenge, I chose to use "Girl Talk"...what a cute stamp!! (my daughter LOVES this image!) The image was coloured with Copic markers...all except the nightgown of the little girl on the left. I paper-pieced that, and added some shading with my Copics for depth. The little "Giggle" embellishment was a find at the dollar store! I don't know a single stamper who doesn't scour the dollar store for a good card treasure! Actually, I was there today, but sadly left empty-handed this time :(. I also had some little wooden heart tags, so I covered one with design paper and mounted the "sentiment" on it. The bow was made with that fabulous little tool, the Bow Easy! I love this tool now...but I have to admit, it did not seem so "easy" at first. It took me a bit to figure it out!

I also pop-dotted this group of friends for dimension. Do you remember having slumber parties?? Oh, how much fun they were. Popcorn, movies, talking about boys, make-overs, games...and lots of "giggles"!!

I hope you find time this week to join in the Challenge over at High Hopes. The High Hopes Divas have some great examples posted on the blog, so come on over and take a look...then link up your entry for a chance to win!!

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Blessings,

Melanie

Stamps: High Hopes "Girl Talk"

Ink: Copic markers, Memento Tuxedo Black

Papers: Bazzill and Bazzill Bling cardstock, All My Memories, Kaisercraft

Embellishments: Wooden Heart Tag, Metal Dollar Store Embellishment, Walmart Ribbon

Tools: Spellbinders

It's Relase Day...and a Kraftin' Kimmie Blog Hop!!

Kimmie has announced the winners of yesterday's Blog Hop over on the Challenge Blog!! You can find the names here !! Congrats ladies!! Even if you missed out on the fun yesterday, feel free to hop along anyways, as there are many wonderful projects to get you mojo going! Then get yourself over to Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps to place your order!

I know you all have been waiting, especially with all the fantastic sneak peeks of these new images...but wait no longer! It's RELEASE DAY over at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!! This new release is jam packed with so many incredible images and sentiment sets! There are four new fantastical images from Crissy Armstrong, four new fun and funky images from Annie Rodrigue, four adorable images from Jean Grant and two new sets of coordinating sentiments!! You’ll get to check out all the images throughout our fabulous blog hop!! You might as well just buy them all, and save yourself the decision making!

To celebrate the new release, we're having a blog hop! You will see some fantastic projects by Kimmie, the Krafty Girls, artists Crissy Armstrong and Annie Rodrigue, and some Krafty Friends!! The hop starts off at Kraftin’ Kimmie Challenge Blog! As you hop from blog to blog, be sure to leave a comment at each and every stop because three lucky stampers will win packages of stamps from the new release!! When you’re done hopping, be sure to head over to the Kraftin’ Kimmie store, because ALL the new images are NOW available!

So, if you have come here from Betty's blog, then you are on the right track. If not, start over at Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge Blog and follow the links along the hop. Kimmie has posted a list for the order of the blog hop at the Challenge Blog, just in case you get lost along the way!

Today, I have chosen to work with one of Crissy's stunning fairies. This stamp is called "Tree Fairy". Isn't she just lovely? These fairies are all so delicate...I adore them! I stamped "Tree Fairy" on Neenah cardstock and coloured her with Copic markers. I also added Stickles to her wings...however, when I had her mounted on my card, I felt her wings were just to bright for this beautiful vintage paper from TPC Studio (called Ancestral Bird Brocade). So, out came the Antique Linen Distress Ink and a make-up sponge (I keep a whole stash of these in my ink box!!). I think it toned them down just enough...and yet retained the shimmer I was going for. What do you think?

You know, I rushed out to buy this Fleur De Lis Spellbinder when it was a brand new release...and yet it had sat unused! Gasp!! I know...terrible huh? So, I used it to cut and emboss this Bazzill cardstock pendant for Tree Fairy to sit upon.

Now before you continue on to Diana's blog, you should know that Kimmie is running a fantastic special!

1. Each and EVERY order placed on Sunday, January 10th and Monday, January 11th will receive a special little surprise in with their package!!

2. The first 50 orders of $75 or more before shipping and taxes, will receive the special little surprise PLUS a free Oliver stamp!!

3. And as usual, EVERY order over $100 will receive free regular shipping!!

So, off you go to Diana's blog, the next stop on the hop! Remember to leave comments on each Krafty Girl's blog so you will have a chance at the prizes! When you have completed the hop, get yourself over to Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps to place your order!!

Have fun stampers!

Blessings,

Melanie

Looking Dapper!!

Saturday marks a new challenge over at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps Challenge Blog! The challenge this week is "Heavy Metal", brought to us by Krafty Girl Tara who would like to see you using metal embellishments. Once again, you just might see a few sneak peeks of the January release images...including right here! I am using one of the new Moonlight Whispers images drawn by artist Annie Rodrigue. I would like to introduce you to "Chester".




Dapper...yup, that's what I think of when I look at "Chester"! I immediately fell in love with this character when I saw him! How can you resist him in his suit and top hat? I decided to use Chester to make yet another Valentine's Day card...'cause he looks like he's dressing to impress some lady friend, don't you think?? Imagine Chester showing up at your door...looking so very snazzy! I paired Chester up with papers from My Mind's Eye and Bazzill cardstock. The little sentiment tag was part of the MME paper kit. I have had these metal snaps in my stash for quite some time, and have been waiting for just the right project to use them on. I also had this entwined heart brad kicking around in my collection too...how fitting!



So, are you game?? Play along with Tara's "Heavy Metal Challenge" and you just might find yourself the winner of a terrific prize. Hop on over the the Challenge Blog for all the details, but remember, you MUST use a Kraftin' Kimmie image to be elligible for the prize!

Tomorrow is the big day! The new January Release will be available for purchase!! Not only that, but Kimmie and all the Krafty Girls are having a blog hop to showcase the new images! You will find all the details of the hop and links to the blogs tomorrow over at the Challenge Blog. See you again tomorrow!!

God bless!!

Melanie

Sneak Peeks of Kraftin' Kimmie's January Release!!

Have you played along with the Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge for this week yet?? You still have today to get your submission in before the winner is announced tomorrow...so grab a Kraftin' Kimmie image (which is a new rule this year to be eligible for the prize!), get paper-piecing and enter in for a chance to win!!

Now, some of the Krafty Girls used a few of the new images for the upcoming January 10, 2010 release for the challenge last week!! Did you see them?? I used one of new images by Crissy Armstrong for my first guest DT project...you can find that post here. You can still see the Krafty Girl's examples on the Challenge Blog.

You might have also caught a peek over at Cute Card Thursday this week (including my card here today!!), as Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps is the sponsor!

Today we are bringing you more SNEAK PEEKS!! So grab a cup of coffee or tea (or O.J.-whatever your preference!), and join us for this fun preview. You can find a list of the Krafy Girls who have previews today over on the Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge Blog!

My card today features "Dance Recital" by Krafty Artist Jean Grant. This is a new image for the "Cindy and Mindy" line of Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps. I HAD to have this stamp, as my daughter is very passionate about ballet. She's been dancing since she was four, and is now just about to turn ten. This stamp reminds me of her first recital, where she wore a little blue tutu!

Now, I just recently saw a fabulous tutorial on making frame cards, so I had to try it out!
I'll try to find the link and add it here later, or perhaps to another post.

I stamped "Dance Recital" on Neenah cardstock and coloured with Copic markers. I really wanted their tutus to "pop", so I generously coated them with Stardust Stickles. I used a backdrop of Bo Bunny paper in the recessed area, and then pop-dotted Cindy and Mindy for extra dimension. This stamp also comes with the sentiment I used here "Dance Like No One is Watching"...I LOVE this quote!! I mounted the sentiment on a Spellbinders Fancy Tag. The flowers are all Prima Hydrangeas.

I'm hoping you can see the recessed window on this shot! I really enjoyed this technique, and have plans to use it again soon.

Are you excited for the new release?? It's only a couple of days away! On the Challenge Blog tomorrow, you may just see a few more sneak peeks, and then Sunday we are having a blog hop to showcase all the fabulous new images by Kimmie's three talented artists! So stay tuned for the details!

Before you go, I have to have a proud mommy moment. I don't usually post pictures of my family, but I wanted to let you see a couple of pictures of my daughter doing what she loves best!

The first picture is from when she was four years old (and before my hubby was a photographer, so this was taken with an old point and shoot! ). Can I hear a couple "awww's"?

This next photo is one of my favourites! My husband took this in 2008 (she was eight years old here) during her ballet studio's production of The Nutcracker. It was fantastic...we brought in two professionals from the National Ballet of Canada to play the leads. This was her "Snow Maiden" costume...which I loved on her! So beautiful! (lol...did I mention that I was in the production too?? I played the maid...a "non-dancing role"...cause believe me, nobody needs, or wants, to see me in a tutu! lol...I just got to chase "Fritz" around the stage with a hairbrush, and act frustrated!...figured you don't need to see a pic of that! haha)

Ok...I'll stop gushing now. But, again...this is one of the reasons that I really love "Dance Recital"...takes me back to Ainsleigh's "rookie" ballerina days!!

See you tomorrow morning for a new challenge! Off you go to see the sneak peeks! Remember, all the links are over at the Challenge Blog!!

Blessings

Melanie

Cute Card Thursday (Post #2 today)

Just a quick second post for today! Don't miss my first post for Sweet 'n Sassy's new Digis for today, and about our Digi Day on SNR!! Just keep scrolling for all the info and links, my friends!

Ok, did you land on my blog today courtesy of Cute Card Thursday?? Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps is the sponsor this week!!! You are probably wondering why you are not finding the card posted there, hmmm??? Well, I can explain. You see...I have a "sneak peak" planned for tomorrow of the brand new January release...as do many of the Krafty Girls!! As the theme over at CCT is "new", many of the DT are showing their cards featuring the "new" images there today! (so technically, you could get a "sneak peak of my sneak peak"...hee hee)

I PROMISE if you come back first thing tomorrow morning, I will have not only pictures posted here, but also details about my card that is up on CCT!! Hope to see you again tomorrow!!

Blessings!!!

Melanie