Ballerina Tilda

Good morning friends...and Happy Friday to you!! I was able to enjoy a few days off this week as my boss was away. As a result, I was able to get some of my crafting and colouring done during the daytime...usually I'm a late evening crafter. It really was a treat to have the house to myself for a couple of hours...it was so quiet!! Pure bliss. :)

Today I have a card to show you featuring the gorgeous Ballerina Tilda...this stamp was a gift from Phebe, owner of The Town Scrapper. (Thanks Phebe!) Some of you know that I have a soft spot for ballerina images as my daughter loves ballet. I was so excited to get my inky little paws on this one! I've been seeing these gorgeous flowers all over blogland, so I thought it high time I try making one. They are super simple folks...I just took two strips of patterned paper (I think I used 1"x 9" strips for this flower), scored them every 1/2", folded them accordion-style and then glued the ends together. The next step takes a little fiddling to shape it into your flower. I had cut a base for the flower out of scrap cardstock and covered it with some Score Tape and my Tombow Glue...then I arranged the flower on top and placed a really heavy book on top to weight it down until the adhesive was dry. That pretty pearl brad in the middle is from KaiserCraft. I also used my Spellbinders Lacey Circles to cut a mat for the flower. I pulled out my Viva Decor pen for another whirl too...still not having the best success with this product. Don't get me wrong...it's a fantastic product. I just need to practice with it more. This time around, I thought I was being clever by lightly tapping my card onto my hand after creating my pearls....you see, I thought this would help to level out the slight peak in the pearls. (you know how you can tap the bottom of pans to get the bubbles out of cake batter?? that's kind of what I was doing) I will NEVER do this again!! lol The pearls around the flower sure did lose their peaks...they totally flattened out. Yikes!! I was not exactly thrilled with this blunder, but there wasn't much I could do to fix them at this point. Once again I ended up with "smushy" pearls. Armed with my new found knowledge on "what NOT to do", I added some more pearls to the bottom punched border. These turned out much better...still not perfect, but a vast improvement on the above fiasco!! I am determined to get the hang of this product, as I know it will be a huge $$ saver for this pearl-lovin' gal! The layout of this card is courtesy of the January Sketch For You To Try. (I haven't entered a challenge in quite a while!)



Tilda was stamped on Neenah Smooth cardstock and coloured with Copic markers. I did add some Prismacolour pencil to her dress afterwards...mostly a bit of white to highlight the folds of her tutu. When I was assembling my card, I realized that Tilda was too bright for this muted and slightly vintage card. So, I pulled out my Antique Linen Distress Ink and used my Inkssentials Blending Tool to very lightly apply the ink over the entire image. It did help to mute the intensity of the Copics, but you need to use a very light hand as the Antique Linen Ink will make your white areas appear quite yellow if you apply too much. Her little tiara and the trim on her tutu were given a coat of Stardust Stickles



Copics: Skin: E000, E00, E21, E11, R20 Tutu: RV000, R81, R83, R85, R89 Hair: E50, E30, E31, E33, E37, E59

Phebe carries both Magnolia Stamps and Spellbinders at The Town Scrapper. You can contact her by telephone at 519-882-0623 or by email at info@townscrapper.com to arrange a visit to the store, or to place an order.

Thanks for looking in today folks, and I'll see you back tomorrow with a new challenge for Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!

Blessings,

Melanie

Stamps: Magnolia "Ballerina Tilda"
Ink: Memento, Copics, Antique Linen and Walnut Stain Distress Ink, Prismacolour pencils
Paper: Neenah, Kraft cardstock, Bazzill, Basic Grey, SEI, Prima
Tools: Spellbinders Lacey Circles
Embellishments: Tim Holtz tag, Viva Decor Pearl Pen, machine stitching, Martha Steward border punch, KaiserCraft brad

The Town Scrapper's Prima Ballerina (and an encouraging word on colouring mishaps!)

Good afternoon friends! Time for the weekly Town Scrapper Challenge...this week we're calling for you to use Spellbinders Nestabilities on your project! I've also got a little surprise for you today...my project features a sneak peek of a soon to be released exclusive Town Scrapper Victoria Case Stamp! (Fair warning...this is a long post today!! So feel free to grab a cup of coffee or tea and get comfy!! lol)

There are a few new stamps on their way to the Town Scrapper shelves...this one is my absolute favourite! I have a soft spot for ballerina stamps as one of my daughter Ainsleigh's passions is dance. She started ballet at the tender age of four, and she will be turning eleven in January. Over all those years, her love of ballet has only grown. I love watching her dance...we recently had observation week at her studio and the Christmas Open House is fast approaching. This ballerina stamp by Victoria Case is so beautiful, and I just had to colour her the moment I got my hands on her. :)

I decided to make a shaped card this week...Nestabilities are perfect for this! For the card base, I used the largest die in the Labels 8 set. The ballerina was stamped on Neenah Smooth cardstock with Memento Ink and coloured with Copic markers. The design paper is all from My Mind's Eye (Holly Jolly). She was pop-dotted on layers created with Spellbinders Petite Ovals Small and Labels 10. I topped it all off with bow...tied of course with my Bow Easy. For finishing touches, I added some Stardust Stickles, a few rhinestones and a sentiment from Whimsy Stamps. (I used Spellbinders Petite Ovals Small and Fancy Tags for the sentiment.)



Copics: Skin: E000, E00, E11, R20 Hair: E50, E31, E33, E37, E59 Crown: YR31, Y17, E35 Tutu: R20, R22, R27, R46, E59, G82, G85, G99

I absolutely LOVE this stamp, and this ballerina will definitely be making an encore appearance on my blog! She is so versatile and I cannot wait to ink her up again soon. :)


Ok...here's where I'm going to share about my colouring conundrums. (LOVE that word!! lol) Sometimes, I run into problems while colouring but I'm usually too stubborn to start over. I tend to keep working at something until it is "passable" in my eyes. This little ballerina was giving me quite the difficult time! First of all, my paper seemed to act a little funny...it does that once in a while. There are spots on her tutu where the ink behaved badly and refused to blend or lay down smoothly. I also didn't achieve the highlights and depth of shadow that I was attempting to create. Stardust Stickles to the rescue there...I coated her tutu with them!! I had planned to do that anyways, but I hoped it would help conceal some of those troublesome areas too. I also had MAJOR issues colouring up the ballerina's tights...they ended up being my greatest point of frustration. I just couldn't get the right combo for the "ballet pink" shade I was going for...my daughter Ainsleigh only wears those tights like three times a week, so you'd think I'd be able to nail it. NOPE. I just kept layering colour upon colour upon colour...with no success. It kind of turned into a big mess. So, in the end I just decided to give her red tights (went over everything with my R27)...not at all what I wanted, but I didn't have time to start over. I also ended up loosing all of the shading I had been working on. Then I figured her pink pointe shoes looked silly with the red tights, so I made them green. Again, this was not what I had pictured but sometimes you have to change plans to salvage a project. SIGH.

I am sharing this with you friends, because we ALL have difficulties and frustrations with projects sometimes. We have grand visions of how our project will turn out, and sometimes the end product just doesn't measure up to our expectations. We usually just post our "best" stuff...but I think sharing some of our pieces that presented us with difficulties is beneficial too. Making mistakes is all part of the learning process...and I make a TON of them!! Don't be discouraged though...it is just colouring after all. You can always start fresh again tomorrow, armed with the new knowledge you have acquired through trial and error. My best advice when you're frustrated??? Walk away! lol Have a cup of tea and forget about your colouring for little bit. Return when you are refreshed, calm and ready to tackle it again. Also, make sure that you have the free time to sit and colour for a while...if you are rushed and feel pressure to "get it done", then chances are you may not be colouring at your best. My project today is a prime example of this...my time was tight, and so I rushed it a little. In the end, I made errors that ended up costing me more time in the long run. Had I tried out my colour combos on a scrap piece of paper first, perhaps I would have ended up with the results I had first envisioned. Remember...this is ultimately supposed to be fun and relaxing!! For me, it is also typically a stress-reliever...a way to unwind at the end of the day. If you're not smiling while colouring, just take a break. Be encouraged...and never craft angry. hehe

We'd love to have you play along with our Nestabilities Challenge this week...you just may be the lucky winner of a brand new Town Scrapper Victoria Case stamp! If you are in need of some new Nestabilities, Phebe has a wonderful selection of Spellbinders at The Town Scrapper and right now, ALL NESTABILITES ARE CURRENTLY 35% OFF. You can contact her by telephone at 519-882-0623 or via email at info@townscrapper.com to arrange a visit or to place an order. She also has many other wonderful stamp companies and product lines in stock...just perfect for all those crafty loved ones on your Christmas list. :)

Thanks so much for stopping by today friends, and I hope you enjoy the rest of your Friday!!

Blessings (and happy crafting!!),

Melanie

Stamps: Town Scrapper exclusive Victoria Case "Ballerina", Whimsy Stamps sentiment
Ink: Memento, Copics, Black Soot Distress Ink
Paper: Neenah, Bazzill, My Mind's Eye (Holly Jolly)
Embellishments: Rhinestones, Ribbon, Stardust Stickles
Tools: Spellbinders Petite Ovals Small, Labels 8, Labels 10, Fancy Tags, Bow Easy

A SugarPlum Christmas

Welcome to another Showcase Monday at The Town Scrapper! I was going through my stamps, wondering what I should work with for today's Showcase when I came across this adorable CC Designs SugarPlum stamp called "Ornament Trevor " and he had yet to be inked up... gasp!!! I think I acquired him last year, just after Christmas, so little Trevor has been waiting patiently in his package for a chance to come out and play! It was a bit of a treat for me too, as I completely forgot that I had him...kind of like finding some money in a coat pocket that's been put away since last season. Gotta love finding "treasure"! :)

The pretty paper on my card today is from Imaginesce. The ribbon and jingle bells are dollar store finds. I decided to use some X-Press It Blending Cardstock in place of my beloved Neenah Smooth Cardstock. Everybody in "blogland" seems to LOVE this new paper...including my 10 year old daughter Ainsleigh! (she has actually requested that I keep buying this paper for her, even if I choose to stick with my Neenah, lol) I've had a few sample sheets kicking around for a while now, but personally I've not been thrilled with my previous attempts at colouring on it...I found that I just was not achieving the same depth that I did with the Neenah paper. However, I'm determined to give this paper a fair chance...I usually take a while to adjust to change. So, I think I'll keep playing around with the X-Press It on occasion before I make any final decisions...as of right now, I'm not ready to make the big switch. I'm still a "Neenah girl". :) Paper really is a personal preference...I have friends who love Beckett, Bristol, Canson, Wassau and X-Press It. You really have to try out different papers to find out which works the best for you. I did find that it was easier to create texture in the hair on this paper...since it is not as soft and absorbent as Neenah, the marker strokes tend to remain a bit crisper or more defined. Sometimes, it's easy to over-blend on the Neenah, which is something you want to avoid when you are looking to create texture with your marker strokes.

I used some Distress Ink in Bundled Sage to sponge around the edges of the paper. Phebe has a great selection of Distress Inks at The Town Scrapper...I love these inks, and I rarely make a card without reaching for them. Stardust Stickles were applied to Trevor's ornaments.

Copics: Skin: E0000, E000, E00, E11, R20 Hair: E50, E30, E31, E33, E37, E59 Clothes: G20, G82, G85, G99, B91, B95, B97, B99, E40, E41, E42, E43, E47 Shoes: E50, E5, E21, E25, E47 Ornaments: Y00, Y11, Y21, Y23, YG00, YG11, G14, G05, BG0000, BG10, BG11, BG72, BG75, R20, R22, R27, R46, R59

Make sure to check out what the other Scrapettes have created for today's Showcase on The Town Scrapper Blog...these ladies always make such gorgeous projects with the product lines available at The Town Scrapper.

To arrange a visit to The Town Scrapper or to place an order, you can contact Phebe via telephone at 519-882-0623 or by email at info@townscrapper.com.

Have a wonderful Monday...and thanks for stopping by!!

Blessings,

Melanie

Stamp: CC Designs "Ornament Trevor"

Ink: Memento, Copics, Bundled Sage Distress Ink

Paper: X-Press It, Bazzill, Imaginesce

Embellishments: Ribbon, bells, Stardust Stickles

Jack-O-Lantern Mini Note Cards

It's time for a brand new challenge over at The Town Scrapper, and this week our theme is "Buttons"!! As always, if you participate in our challenge you will have the chance to win a great stamp from The Town Scrapper.

My little note cards today feature a trio of fun Jack-O-Lanterns from The Town Scrapper's Humble Pie line. I'll let you in on a little secret...these are images that I coloured up last Halloween, but never got around to putting on a card. What a blessing it was to find these little guys just waiting to be put to use, as my crafting time this week has been extremely tight...I've been a busy bee sewing up Halloween costumes. (I'll be sharing pics on my post tomorrow!) I think I need to start a little collection of coloured images, as they come in so handy for making up quick cards! The design paper is from Graphic 45. I used some little snippets of ribbon and tied my buttons with a bit of twine. The fun sentiments are from Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps "Halloween Sentiments".

The Jack-O-Lanterns were stamped on Neenah cardstock and coloured with Copic markers. I must apologize for not having a colour list for you today...there's no way my brain can remember colours from last year! lol

Hop on over to The Town Scrapper Challenge Blog to check out the projects by the rest of the Scrapettes, then grab those buttons and go get inky! Just link up your project on the Town Scrapper Blog for your chance to win a great prize.

To arrange a visit to the Town Scrapper, or to place an order you can contact Phebe by phone at 519-882-0623 or by email at info@townscrapper.com.

Have a wonderful Friday friends, and thanks so much for stopping by today.

Blessings,

Melanie

Stamps: Humble Pie Jack-O-Lanters, Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps "Halloween Sentiments"

Paper: Neenah, Bazzill, Graphic 45

Ink: Memento, Copics, Walnut Stain Distress Ink

Embellishments: Ribbon, buttons, twine

A Little Monday Morning Pixie

Good morning stampers! I hope you've all had a fantastic weekend...we enjoyed one Thanksgiving dinner with my side of the family last night, and we've got another dinner planned tonight with Dean's family. (I'm thinking elastic pants might be in order, lol) We're also heading out to the Brigden Fair today. Ainsleigh has a Highland Dancing demonstration, and then we'll be hitting the midway, barns and exhibits.

We've got another Showcase Monday for you today at The Town Scrapper Blog. I decided to pull out one of my cute Swiss Pixies this week...this is "Heidi". The Town Scrapper has a great selection of CC Designs Stamps. The pretty green paper is from Pink Paislee. The floral paper is from October Afternoon (so is the red polka-dotted paper used on her dress). The paper edges were all sponged with Bundled Sage Distress Ink. All of the above product lines as well as the cute little charm are available at The Town Scrapper.

Heidi was stamped on Neenah smooth cardstock and coloured with Copic markers. I paper-pieced her dress with some October Afternoon paper. Don't forget to add shading to your paper-pieced areas so they don't appear flat. I also added some Stardust Stickles to her wings.

Copics: Skin: E000, E00, E11, R20 Hair: E50, Y21, Y23, Y17, E31, E33, E37 Shading on dress: R59, R32, R00 Boots: G20, G82, G85, G99 Wings: E41, E42, E43, E50

Make sure to check out The Town Scrapper Blog to see what my fellow Scrapettes have created today using some of the great product lines that you can find at The Town Scrapper. Don't forget about our current challenge...the theme is "Distressing". You can read the details and then link up your project on THIS post.

To plan a visit to The Town Scrapper or to place an order, Phebe can be contacted by phone at 519-882-0623 or by email at info@townscrapper.com.

Have a wonderful day friends, and thanks so much for stopping by.

Blessings,

Melanie

Stamps: CC Designs "Heidi"

Paper: Neenah, Bazzill, October Afternoon, Pink Paislee

Ink: Memento, Distress Ink, Copics

Embellisments: Metal Charm, jump rings, self adhesive pearl, jewelry spacers, assorted flowers, ribbon. Stickles

Heartfelt Thanks

Mondays. Everybody views them differently. Some of us greet them with a big smile and a chipper attitude, ready for whatever adventure will unfold. Others may groan and mourn (I am definitely part of this group!! lol) the end of the weekend, knowing that there's another week of work, packing lunches and busy after-school schedules awaiting them. However you may choose to greet your Mondays, we can always offer a bit of cheer over at The Town Scrapper Blog during our Showcase Mondays. If you stop by for a visit at the beginning of every week, some of the Scrapettes will have gorgeous projects to show you featuring some of the product lines that Phebe carries at The Town Scrapper store.

It's been quite a while since I pulled out one of my Whiff of Joy stamps...too long really! This is "Melinda With Bouquet". Now, I don't think that Phebe has her in stock currently, but she has some other great Whiff of Joy stamps just waiting to find a new home. (she can always place an order for you if there is a particular stamp you are looking for) I have always loved the slightly "romantic" feel of this stamp line....Melinda is beautifully illustrated. I chose to pair her up with some pretty papers from the Basic Grey Porcelain collection. The sentiment is part of a Thank-You sentiment set from CC Designs, which is another company carried by The Town Scrapper.

Copics: Skin: E0000, E000, E00, E11, R20 Hair: E31, E33, E35, E37, E50, E59 Pants: E41, E42, E43, E47, E50 Shirt: RVooo, R83, R85, R89, G20, G83, G85, C5 Wings: RV000, BG000 Bouquet: Y21, Y23, Y17, E35, E50, YG00, YG11, YG63, G99, C5

Hop on over to The Town Scrapper Blog today to see the lovely projects by my fellow Scrapettes...they are such a fantastic group of ladies! While you're there, you can also check out our current challenge on THIS post.

For your stamping and scrapbooking needs, you can contact Phebe at The Town Scrapper by telephone at 519-882-0623 or by email at info@townscrapper.com.

Thanks for visiting today, and have a wonderful Monday!

Blessings,

Melanie

Stamps: Whiff of Joy "Melinda With Bouquet", CC Designs Thank-You Sentiment set
Paper: Neenah, Basic Grey, Bazzill

Ink: Memento, Copics

Tools: Spellbinders

Embellishments: Stickles, pearls

Back to Business at The Town Scrapper!

(This is one of THREE posts for me today! Please check back later this morning at 6:00 am EST for a brand new Wags 'n Whiskers Challenge, and then at 7:00 am EST for another sneak peek at the upcoming Kraftin' Kimmie September release!)

Well, after a lovely summer hiatus it's back to business for the Scrapettes! We have a brand new recipe challenge over at The Town Scrapper Blog...1 cardstock colour, 2 design papers, 3 types of embellishments, 2 ribbons and 1 stamped image!

I used one of the The Town Scrapper's exclusive Victoria Case stamps named Rock Star Lola on my card today. I paired her up with some pretty design paper from October Afternoon that is also available at The Town Scrapper. For my embellishments, I used pearls, a brad and a punched border. (well, I also snuck in a bit of Stardust Stickles on her microphone and the swirly design on her jeans!) The paper edges were all sponged with Walnut Stain Distress Ink. Phebe carries several colours of Distress Ink...I love these inks and use them every chance I get!

Thought I would work on colouring red hair again. It's coming along, but I lost a few of the highlights I was trying to achieve...I over-blended a bit again. It's a learning curve though, and if you never work outside your comfort zone then you won't grow! Next on the list is blonde hair!







Copics Skin: E0000, E000, E00, E11, R20 Hair: E11, E13, E17, E18, E19, E50, E59 Shirt: G20, G82, G85, G99 Jeans: B000, B12, B23, B24, B39

You can see the rest of the Scrapette's fabulous projects over at The Town Scrapper Blog. We'd love for you to join in the challenge this week...you just may be the winner of a great prize from The Town Scrapper! You can contact Phebe by phone at 519-882-0623 or by email at info@townscrapper.com.

Thanks for stopping by...if you'd like to come back later today, I will have two more cards to show you!

Blessings friends,


Melanie

Stamp: The Town Scrapper's Rock Star Lola
Paper: Neenah, Bazzill, October Afternoon
Ink: Memento, Copics, Distress Ink
Embellishments: Pink Paislee brad, ribbon from Walmart, dollar store pearls, Stardust Stickles
Tools: Martha Stewart border punch

"Anything Goes" at The Town Scrapper

(This is one of two posts today...I'll have another sneak peek later this morning for the Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps June Release, so I hope you check back in with me later...say around 7:00 am EST!!)

Yay...it's Friday! Now, you might be thinking that it's about time for another new challenge over at the The Town Scrapper...but you'd be wrong!! lol Actually, Phebe is sending the Scrapettes on a summer hiatus...THANKS PHEBE! So, as a summer send-off many of the Scrapettes created a final project featuring various stamp and product lines available at The Town Scrapper. Don't despair though...we still have a fantastic PRIZE up for grabs this week...and you don't even have to do any work for the chance to win! Well, ok maybe a little bit of work, lol. All you need to do is create a post on your personal blog advertising The Town Scrapper and link it back to The Town Scrapper Blog...yes it's that easy!

I pulled out one of The Town Scrapper's exclusive Victoria Case stamps "Rock Star Zeke". I had this fantastic paper from Imaginesce that I picked up at The Town Scrapper...what a perfect match for this rockin' guy. Oh, and that little guitar charm? Phebe carries those too, along with a great selection of other charms.

Hop on over the The Town Scrapper Blog to see what the rest of the Scrapettes have made this week! You can read all the details of our candy this week and how to win it! Remember to include a link back to The Town Scrapper Blog on your post.

Even though Phebe has given her DT some time off, her store will still be OPEN for business! You can contact her via telephone at 519-882-0623 or by email at info@townscrapper.com to either arrange a visit to The Town Scrapper or to place an order. The Scrapettes will be back in full swing with brand new challenges in September!

Blessings...and good luck winning the candy!

Melanie

Stamps: "Rock Star Zeke" exclusive to The Town Scrapper

Paper: Neenah, Bazzill, Imaginesce

Ink: Memento, Copics, Distress Ink (Stormy Sky)

Embellishments: Guitar charm available from The Town Scrapper, ribbon

Jack and Ginger

Happy Monday!! I know we're not usually excited when another work week kicks off, but the Scrapettes are always ready to help bring you some sunshine with The Town Scrapper Showcase Monday! This is the day that you can look forward to seeing some of the fantastic product lines that Phebe carries out at The Town Scrapper.

Phebe has so many beautiful stamps in stock right now, and I am THRILLED this week to be working with a Mo Manning stamp called "Jack and Ginger" from Stampavie! This particular image is a favourite of mine...although, it's kind of hard to narrow down a favourite when it comes to Mo Manning...her artwork is INCREDIBLE! Her images never cease to bring a smile to my face...whether it's because of a chuckle or because it just warms my heart. "Jack and Ginger" fall into the latter category...I think this image is just beautiful. To be together for so many years and have shared memories, joys, heartaches, victories and struggles...yet still be so in love that you can take a stroll hand-in-hand. Sigh. Love this stamp!

"Jack and Ginger" were stamped on Neenah and coloured with my Copics. I used my Spellbinders Labels 8 and the "out of the box" technique to cut them out. I matted this layer with two Spellbinders Fleur De Lis pendants. (design paper is from both Pink Paislee and TPC...both are lines Phebe carries!) I sponged all paper layers with various Distress Inks to add to the vintage feel of this card. (Oh...you should see the display of Distress Inks Phebe currently has at the store...I think I'd like one of each please! lol Well, eventually anyways...a girl has to stick to her budget you know!)



I just love all the details Mo puts into her artwork...right down to the bit of slip peeking from under Ginger's skirt!

Are you also on a stamping budget?? Good news...Phebe is always running fantastic sales at The Town Scrapper! Her current sales are always listed in my sidebar, right under The Town Scrapper picture (which will also link you up to her blog).

You can contact Phebe at The Town Scrapper by telephone at 519-882-0623 or by email at info@townscrapper.com . (Phebe also has a great selection of Spellbinders...if she doesn't have the one you're looking for currently in stock, chances are she can order it in for you!)

Ok friends, I'm sending you off to The Town Scrapper Blog to see what some of the other lovely Scrapettes have made for your viewing pleasure this week! You can click on the links to go the Scrapette's personal blogs for more information on the products and techniques used on their cards.

Blessings,

Melanie

Stamps: Mo Manning's "Jack and Ginger" by Stampavie

Ink: Memento, Copics, Distress Inks

Paper: Neenah, Bazzill, TPC, Pink Paislee

Embellishments: Dollar store crocheted trim, pearls and metal embellishment, Daisy Buckets ribbon

Tools: Spellbinders,Scorpal

Tent Cards at The Town Scrapper!

This week, the lovely Maria has challenged us to make a Tent Card at The Town Scrapper. Hmmm...tent card?? And you make one how?? Lol...I honestly didn't know what a tent card was! Lucky for me, Maria did an amazing tutorial this week on how to make one of these fun cards...you can see that post HERE.

I pulled out "Lela" one of The Town Scrapper's exclusive Victoria Case collection. I used some pretty Pink Paislee paper, which is also available at The Town Scrapper...Phebe has some gorgeous new paper packs in stock! I used my oval Spellbinders to cut out the window, and paired it with Spellbinders Labels 8 to make the frame. After stamping and colouring Lela, I pierced holes in the image and in the top of the card to allow for the insertion of some jump rings. The flowers are from Prima...gosh I love these flowers! I couldn't resist adding a few rhinestone swirls, just to jazz it up a bit.




I hope you play along with us this week! You could be the lucky winner of a fantastic prize from The Town Scrapper! Hop on over to The Town Scrapper blog to see what the rest of the Scrapettes have made!

You can also check out Phebe's current sales on my side-bar. Contact her by phone at 519-882-0623 or by email at info@townscrapper.com to place an order, or to arrange a visit out to The Town Scrapper in Petrolia, Ontario.

Blessings,

Melanie

Stamps: "Lela" exclusive Victoria Case image for The Town Scrapper

Ink: Memento, Copic markers

Paper: Neenah, Bazzill, Pink Paislee

Tools: Spellbinders

Embellishments: Prima flowers, crocheted trim, rhinestone swirls, mini brads, jump rings, ribbon

A Little Monday Morning Tilda...

Happy Monday Morning!! It's time for Showcase Monday at The Town Scrapper. Several of the Scrapettes have projects to show you today featuring some of the product lines that Phebe carries in her store. Today, I'm on the schedule for showing you a little something!

This is Tilda Holding Lamb from Magnolia Stamps. I always get so excited when Phebe gets a new shipment from Magnolia! This lovely little Tilda would be perfect for an Easter card, but there are so many other possibilities for her! I made a card that could work as a thank you card or even as a little something for a treasured friend. This gorgeous paper is from Jilly Bean Soup...picked it up on one of my recent trips out to visit Phebe!! The sentiment is from Amy R Thank you Sentiments from CC Designs...another stamp company Phebe carries.

I used an assortment of warm grays on the little lamb and coloured in a "swirly" motion to try and acheive a "woolly" look. (swirly...how's that for a technical term?? lol) I went back in with the colourless blender to soften the marker strokes a bit.

Take a look at see what the other Scrapettes have made today for an idea of the product lines you will find at The Town Scrapper! If you are not close enough to Petrolia, Ontario to make the trip, don't hesitate to give Phebe a call at 519-882-0623 or email her at info@townscrapper.com. Phebe will ship orders out to you!!

TOWN SCRAPPER SALE ALERT: For the month of June, stamps are buy one get the second of equal or lesser value at 50% off!! Distress Inks and microfine glitters are all buy 5, get the 6th for free...you can mix and match these two products for this great sale!

Don't forget about our current challenge at The Town Scrapper..."Save A Tree"! Use up your scraps and link up your project for a chance to win one of the Town Scrapper's exclusive Victoria Case stamps!

Blessings,

Melanie

Stamps: Magnolia "Tilda Holding Lamb", CC Designs Thank You Sentiments

Paper: Neenah, SU, Jilly Bean Soup

Ink: Memento, Copic markers

Embellishments: Ribbon

Tools: Bow Easy

S'up Dude?

(This is my second post for today...scroll down to see this week's Wags 'n Whiskers post!!)

This week, our new challenge at The Town Scrapper is "Save a Tree". We're asking you to be paper conscious this week by encouraging you to use up those scraps, or limit your project to one piece of cardstock. Now I know we all have that drawer or box FULL of scraps...this is your chance to use them up!!

I used this "soon-to-be-released" Victoria Case stamp exclusive to The Town Scrapper...this is "Moe". I LOVE this stamp...I think he may even be one of my favourites!! He was so much fun to colour up. I also decided to take advantage of this challenge to create another masculine card. No frilly, sparkly or flowery embellishments here...just those two brads holding the sentiment (which is from The Greeting Farm's "My Guy Ian" set that I got from The Town Scrapper). I pulled out a scrap of green Bazzill cardstock, and made a smaller card base measuring 4x5". The patterned paper is a double-sided scrap of My Mind's Eye paper, which was also from Phebe's store. Even guy cards need just a little pizazz...so I used a Martha Stewart border punch on the orange panel.

Moe was stamped on Neenah with Memento ink and coloured with Copic markers.

For those of you who like to know the colours used, here's your list:

Skin: E50, E13, E21, E25 and E29

Hair: 100, C7, C5 and a touch of C3...I just used these to "scribble" in strands of hair, and left some areas white

Shirt: YR00, YR02, YR04, YR07, E08

Pants: Boo, B12, B93, B95, B97, C7

Shoes: R27, R29, R59, 100, C7, C5, B60

I hope you have time to play along with us this week! Go take a look at what the other Scrapettes have made to inspire you!! You can link up your project there, and get your name in the running for a fantastic prize from The Town Scrapper!! (You'll also get to see projects by some of the newest amazingly talented members of our team!! )

If you are not local, feel free to contact Phebe by email at info@townscrapper.com or by phone at 519-882-0623.

Blessings,

Melanie

Stamps: "Moe" available exclusively from The Town Scrapper

Ink: Memento, Copic markers

Paper: Neenah, Bazzill, MME

Embellishments: KaiserCraft brads

Tools: MS border punch

A Town Scrapper Sketch Challenge!!

(This is my second post for today! For the weekly Wags 'n Whiskers Challenge, just scroll down or click here!)

Time for a brand new challenge over at The Town Scrapper. This week we have a fun sketch for you to follow designed by our very own talented Scrapette Maria! I really enjoyed playing with this sketch, and plan to pull it out again sometime...great job Maria! For my card today, I've used Hockey Sophie, one of The Town Scrapper's exclusive Victoria Case stamps. The smaller design paper panels were created with the accessory stamps that come with Hockey Sophie and Hockey Evan.




Sophie was stamped on Neenah cardstock and coloured up with my Copic markers.




You should see what the rest of the Scrapettes came up with...these ladies are so talented!! Hop on over to The Town Scrapper blog for some inspiration! If you participate in our sketch challenge this week, you could be the lucky winner of a fantastic prize from The Town Scrapper in beautiful Petrolia, Ontario. Phebe's contact information is on her blog here. Not only does she carry this exclusive Victoria Case line, but she also has so many other fantastic product lines including stamps, paper, flower, inks...you're bound to find tons of stamping goodies!!

Have a wonderful Friday, and I hope to see you back tomorrow!!

Blessings,

Melanie

Stamps: Exclusive Victoria Case stamp for The Town Scrapper "Hockey Sophie" plus accessory stamps
Paper: Neenah, Bazzill
Ink: Memento, Copics

A DT Call and A Special RAK

Hi folks! Hope your week is going smoothly. I don't have a card to show you today, but thought I'd update you on a couple of items that just may pique your interest. (It's a bit of a long post with lots of details to read, so please grab a coffee or tea and get comfy!!)

1. One of my DT sisters at Sunday's With Crissy has a very special request that I hope you will consider participating in. Lisa has shared with us that her sister Jayme has been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Lisa would really like us to help put a smile on Jayme's face by sending her cards, especially with frog images as Jayme really loves frogs! Now, she is asking that these cards NOT be get-well cards...something pretty or humorous to help brighten Jayme's day would be perfect!! Lisa has a detailed post on her blog HERE with instructions...she's also got some lovely blog candy up for grabs as a thank you for participation in this RAK. Crissy Armstrong has also designed a brand new image just for Jayme.

This adorable new frog image called "Beach Baby Jayme" is available FOR FREE at Whimsy Stamps...you can download it HERE. I've always felt that handmade cards are a beautiful ministry...the time and love you put into your cards can mean so much to the recipient. Won't you please help us send some smiles along to Jayme? (I'll post mine on my blog here as soon as I'm done!)

2. The Town Scrapper is having a DT call!!! This is a fantastic store in beautiful Petrolia, Ontario. Here are the details:

We are a growing Canadian stamp company carrying many popular stamp lines, (including Magnolia, CC Designs, Magnolia, My Favorite Things, Motivet, Whiff of Joy, Wags 'n Whiskers, CC Designs, The Greeting Farm, Kraftin' Kimmie, Hanna, Scrapmagasinet) along with our very own line of rubber stamps, illustrated by Victoria Case, and a challenge blog! We are looking for Senior Design Team members, who have a passion for paper crafts, and rubber stamps! Your coloring of stamped images should be your strength - whether it's with Copics, watercolor, or any other medium. Previous Design Team experience is not necessary, but would be an asset. We welcome international applicants. You should have an active blog (post at least 3 times per week).

We will be taking submissions starting immediately, until all positions are filled (so, the sooner you apply, the better your chances!). We are currently expanding our design team. So, if you are ready to become a part of a growing stamping and paper crafts company, we want to hear from you!

As a senior member of our Design Team, you will be asked to:

• Create 4 projects a month (using stamps carried by The Town Scrapper), by participating in weekly blog challenges, and provide high-quality digital images of these projects to our Blog Managers. You may be asked to work with digital images.


• Mail two of your cards/month to Phebe at the Town Scrapper, in Petrolia, Ontario,
  Canada


• Contribute a minimum of one (papercraft) tutorial (with photos and detailed
  instructions) during your six month term, and one "tip or trick" per month


• Participate in Blog Hops, to promote release of new stamps, approximately every
  2-3 months.


• On a weekly basis, help promote/advertise The Town Scrapper on your personal blog
  and to any message boards where appropriate.


• Provide quality scans/photographs of all projects as well as posting any related
  tips/tricks


• Have an active blog presence on your own personal blog (posts at least 3 times
  per week)


• Commit to a 6-month term beginning immediately

To apply, please send the following information to Kim, Design Team Co-Ordinator at: love_10s@hotmail.com

--Link to your online gallery and blog
--Provide full contact information - name, phone number, email address, and location
--Submit a short paragraph or two of why you want to be one of our designers
--List your current DT/designer/site commitment(s)

As a Senior Design Team member for The Town Scrapper, you will receive:

 25% discount off the regular price of anything purchased from The Town Scrapper
 50% off one item per month
 One free rubber stamp per month
 The experience of working with one of the best stamp companies in the world! ;)
We look forward to seeing your beautiful creations. Good luck!!

Whew!! Did you make it all the way to the end of this post?! So sorry I didn't have any projects to share today, but if you have a bit of time to spare over the next few days, I have several posts planned! Tomorrow I'm hoping to share a card I made with a Popcorn the Bear image, Friday is a double post day with challenges for The Town Scrapper and Wags 'n Whiskers and Saturday is always Kraftin' Kimmie day here on my blog! I also hope to be posting my card for dear Jayme very soon!

Have a blessed day friends!

Melanie

Another Monday Showcase Featuring Mother/Daughter Duos

While I do not have a card for you today, I just wanted to remind you about our Monday Showcases for The Town Scrapper. For the month of May, we will be featuring several amazing mother/daughter duos! Today, we have none other than Nikki and Zoe Fairbairn!! Make sure to hop on over to our blog to check out what this talented pair has made featuring some of The Town Scrapper's exclusive Victoria Case stamps!

Have a wonderful day friends!

Blessings,

Melanie

Purple and Pink

(This is my second post for today! If you came by looking for the Wags 'n Whiskers Blog Hop, just scroll down or click HERE !!)

Good morning! Boy, time is just flying by. We celebrated my husband's birthday earlier this week...complete with roast beef dinner! We'll be celebrating my son's birthday on Monday. He'll be turning 17. Yup, that doesn't make me feel old at all. (just to clarify, that last comment was DRIPPING with sarcasm, lol). Oh, and my hubby and I will be celebrating our anniversary at the end of the month too! We're hoping to sneak in a weekend getaway at some point. Any suggestions?? In recent years, we've gone to the Elmhurst Inn, St. Jacobs, Niagara Falls and last year we went to the Benmiller Inn. So, I'm open to suggestions! (as long as it's within Southwestern Ontario...it will only be for a weekend!)

This week, the Scrapettes are throwing down a colour challenge...we would like you to break out all things PINK and PURPLE to participate this week for the chance to win a fantastic prize from The Town Scrapper!!

For my card, I used one of Phebe's exclusive Victoria Case stamps called "Sophie Feeding the Birds". I stamped her on Neenah cardstock and coloured her with my Copic markers. Those pretty hydrangeas are from Prima. I love these flowers, and have bought several packages in different colours from The Town Scrapper. Confession time--I may have a slight hoarding issue with them! lol I also used jewelry spacers as flower centres. Phebe carries some gorgeous spacers and charms. I like to stock up on them whenever I pay her a visit. The sentiment is also from The Town Scrapper's exclusive Victoria Case release.





You can contact Phebe at The Town Scrapper by telephone at 519-882-0623 or via email at info@townscrapper.com. If you are close enough to take a trip to visit Phebe in person, you will fall in love with Petrolia's small-town charm. I love going out to visit. There are so many gorgeous Victorian homes with wrap around porches, gingerbread trim and TURRETS!! Oh how I would love to have a house with a turret!! lol However, if you are not within driving distance, don't despair! Phebe will ship orders to you. She carries so many wonderful product lines.

Have a blessed Friday!

Melanie

Stamps: Exclusive Town Scrapper Victoria Case Stamp "Sophie Feeding the Birds" and Town Scrapper sentiment.

Ink: Memento, Copic markers

Paper: Neenah, Bazzill, DP from my scrap bin

Embellishments: Prima Hydrangaes, jewelry spacers and mini-brads

Don't Forget About Spotlight Mondays at The Town Scrapper!

Good morning!! I don't have a card for you today, but I wanted to remind you to visit The Town Scrapper for Spotlight Monday. We're doing something a little different this month. Each Monday, we will be featuring a fantastic Mother/Daughter duo!! This week we have Phebe (owner of The Town Scrapper) and Katrina Meeder!

Have a fantastic Monday!

Blessings,

Melanie

A Reminder of The Town Scrapper Blog Hop...with prizes!!

Mondays...time to get back to the grindstone. Yup, you can almost hear the collective sigh as kids get up to get ready for school and the grown-ups head out for work. Sigh. I did have a great weekend though, so I shouldn't really complain! My daughter competed in a Highland Dancing competition this weekend and took two thirds and two fourths!! This was enough for her to advance to the next competitive level, so she was just thrilled! I also had the privilege of being a guest designer yesterday for Crissy Armstrong's new challenge blog "Sundays with Crissy"!! What an honour that was. Crissy is such a sweetheart...and oh so talented!! (please scroll back to my post from yesterday for details on rules, prizes and links to Crissy's blog!) I also have some exciting news that I will be announcing on Friday, so I hope you stay tuned!!

Ok...let's get down to business!! lol I want to remind you of the two-week long Blog Hop we are having at The Town Scrapper to help Phebe celebrate the release of her exclusive line of Victoria Case stamps! Last Monday, I had a card to show you featuring "Birthday Sophie"...you can check out that post here. Half of our design team made cards last week, and the other Scrapettes are participating today!! Their projects are bound to be gorgeous, so you do not want to miss out on our hop! Make sure to leave comments on all the Scrapette's blogs, as there will be some random giveaways. We teased you last week with the promise of a grand prize...today we are revealing what the grand prize winner will be getting. Trust me, it's a HUGE prize package!! You can find the details over at The Town Scrapper blog!

So off you go! Here is a list of the participating Scrapettes:

The TownScrapper
Katie
Kim S
Kylie
Lisa
Phebe
Shelly
Tricia
Zoe

If you'd like to buy some of these amazing new stamps for yourself, Phebe can be reached by phone at 519-882-0623 or via email at info@TownScrapper.com . She ships worldwide!

Have a blessed Monday!

Melanie

A Town Scrapper Blog Hop!! (Complete with Prizes!!)

Happy Monday!! I had a fantastic time at Scrapfest on Saturday with my pal Amy! I had a chance to visit with Phebe owner of The Town Scrapper, Bob and Jennie from Skribbles & Scraps and had a chance to hang out with Kimmie and Andrea! Oh...and who else did I run into, but my friend and fellow Scrapette Krista!! Sadly, I completely forgot to bring a camera...but I know that Amy, Andrea and Kimmie were snapping away so they probably will post some pics! I did a fantastic make and take with the amazing Linda Heavens (You must go check out her blog...oh my goodness!! What talent! Be prepared to drool! lol) at the Stamping Bella booth. It was also my first time working with a Stamping Bella image (I know!! I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that, but I think I'm going to have to get me some of these adorable stamps!!) I had never tried out Prismacolour pencils in regards to stamping, so this was a completely new venture for me! I do have some old Prismas from art class hanging around here, so I'm hoping to pull them out sometime and try something new!

We have a treat for you today! The Scrapettes are helping Phebe, owner of The Town Scrapper in Petrolia, Ontario, to celebrate the recent release of her brand new exclusive line of stamps designed by Victoria Case! These stamps are adorable, and have been flying off the shelves at The Town Scrapper! (They were a HUGE hit at Scrapfest!) The Scrapettes have been having so much fun playing with these images and we are excited to show you some of our projects in our two-week long BLOG HOP!! Half of the Scrapettes will be posting projects today, while the others are posting next Monday. You can find a list of the Scrapettes participating today at the Town Scrapper Blog. I also have them listed below.

The Town Scrapper Blog

Ann

Janet

Kelly

Krista

Leah

Maria

Melanie (you are here!!)

We thought it would be fun to focus on "Girlie" projects for our hop. You will have until midnight on Saturday April 24, 2010 to link up your creations on The Town Scrapper Blog . Winners will be announced on Monday April 26, 2010 (well, except for the grand prize winner!). What can you win? How can you win?? Well, you have three ways to win!

1. You must leave a comment on every blog on the hop, as two lucky winners will be chosen randomly from the comments left! (Some of the Victoria Case stamps are up for grabs here!)

2. Participate in our challenge for creating something "Girlie". As always, a winner will be chosen from the participants who link up their projects. (Yup...another chance to win an exclusive Town Scrapper Victoria Case stamp!!)

3. There will also be a grand prize winner at the end of the two week hop...but we're keeping you in suspense over that one until next week!! Just make sure to participate, and you're in the draw! (Stay tuned to the Town Scrapper blog to find out when the grand prize winner will be announced.)

I chose to work with "Birthday Sophie". I stamped her on Neenah cardstock and coloured her with Copic markers. The pretty DP is from My Mind's Eye, and I tied the bow with my Bow Easy. The little blue border was created with a Martha Stewart punch (love that punch!!). The sentiment comes with Sophie.

I sponged the edges with Antique Linen and Brushed Corduroy Distress Inks. Hmmm...Balloons are tricky!! I wanted to try to make them appear translucent. Wondering if I should have had the rear balloons showing through the front one a bit. It's a learning process, so perhaps I'll work on that for next time I colour balloons!

In case you're interested, the Copics I used for Sophie were:

Skin: E000, E00, E11 and R20

Hair: E31, E33, E35, E37, E50 and E59

Dress: BG10, BG72, BG75, R81, R83 and R85

Shoes: 100, C5 and C3

(sorry...I'm forgetting the colours of the balloons and presents.)

All the fantastic Victoria Case images are in stock now at The Town Scrapper!! If you are not close to Petrolia, Ontario don't despair!! Phebe will ship worldwide, so feel free to contact her at 519-882-0623 or via email at info@townscrapper.com!!

Have fun hopping stampers! (Don't forget to leave those comments to be in the running for some fantastic prizes!!)

Blessings,

Melanie

Stamps: Exclusive Town Scrapper stamp "Birthday Sophie" and sentiment

Ink: Copic markers, Distress Inks

Paper: Bazzill, MME, Neenah

Embellishments: Walmart ribbon

Tools: Martha Stewart punch, Bow Easy

News Tidbits, A Thank-You and a Little Card!

Hey there! Thought I'd pop on to share a bit of news with you all. Before I get to that though, I just wanted to say a heartfelt THANK YOU to each and every one of you who take the time to stop by my blog. I know we are all busy, and spare time is a precious commodity. That you would take the time out of your busy day to come by is greatly appreciated. I am always so touched by your sweet comments...you are all too kind!! I wish I had the time to respond to every comment, but sadly my computer time is limited too. I don't want any of you to think I take you for granted...if it was not for all my readers, I wouldn't even have a blog! You are all fantastic...mwah!

I wanted to let you know that Phebe, owner of The Town Scrapper, has a special sale in honour of Autism Awareness month!! For the remainder of April, all you need to do is wear blue while shopping at her store, and you will receive an extra 5% discount off your purchase!! (This is over and above any special that she may be running at the time.) Now stampers, I was just there the other day and she has some fantastic new products in stock...including her exclusive Victoria Case line! Don't miss out on this fantastic sale! Oh, and Phebe is a vendor this weekend at Scrapfest in Kitchener, Ontario. So if you are there, make sure to stop by her booth to say hello! (well, and to shop of course!! lol)

Oh yeah! Make sure to check in with the Town Scrapettes at our blog tomorrow, for our weekly challenge! Phebe will be offering a brand new Victoria Case stamp as a prize!

Did you also know that Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps is the sponsor this week for CPS?? For participating in the sketch challenge at CPS, you will have the chance to win a Kraftin' Kimmie prize! As if that's not enough motivation, Miss Kraftin' Kimmie herself is offering up an extra chance to win some KK goodness! If you hop on over to our Krafty Girl's Blog, you will see some projects made with the CPS sketch by our very own amazing DT. If you use a Kraftin' Kimmie image for the CPS sketch challenge, and then also link it up to the Krafty Girl's Challenge Blog, Kimmie will put your name in the running for an extra prize she is offering! This of course, is all in addition to our regular weekly challenge...did you finish your Black, White and Red project yet?? (you still have time you know...we will be posting our next challenge Saturday morning!)

Ok...I think that's it for now! Oh, unless you wanted to see a little card I whipped up the other day?? I was invited to a shower last weekend for my best friend's youngest sister who is getting married next month! This was a small get together with just a few girls, for the purpose of outfitting Carolyn with some pretty little things for her honeymoon nights. I pulled out a previously un-inked Kraftin' Kimmie image to create a little card to go with my little gift! "Vivienne" was just perfect for this themed shower.

I stamped her on Neenah cardstock and coloured with Copic markers. I used the KK sentiment "Strut Your Stuff" which is an accessory sentiment that comes with Vivienne. Believe it or not, I actually whipped this card up in about 45 minutes...including the colouring!! That, my friends, is a new record for me!! Carolyn loved it!

See you back here Saturday morning with the newest Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge!

Blessings,

Melanie

Stamps: Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps "Vivienne" and c0-ordinating sentiment.

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic markers

Paper: Bazzill, DCWV