Children are Born, Traditions are Passed, Love Continues On - Friends with Flair Friday!

Greetings and Happy Friends with Flair Friday over at the Unity Stamp Co. blog!

I am so happy to be back on my blog sharing the start of my family heritage scrapbook (the title page that is!).  My mom, sister, and I have been getting together a lot lately to research our family heritage - which by the way has been very interesting!  I have been using Ancestry.com to lay out my family's tree, and there have been lots of interesting facts I have found along the way.  For instance, one of my ancestors and his wife were one of the first families to come to America.  They were Amish and started what is now called Pennsylvania Dutch country.  Three of their children fought in the Revolutionary War and, there is a book that is published about him and his family!  Pretty cool stuff!

Given the theme of this scrapbook is family heritage, I am going all out to make sure it looks vintage.  My Tim Holtz products, Unity Stamps, and Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist are coming in really handy. 

For the title page, I used papers from two different collections - Echo Park's Reflections by Lori Whitlock and Heidi Swapp's No Limits.  Together, these two collections create a nice mixed media feel.  I added some old dictionary paper in the background as well.  Also, I created a checkered pattern on the base layer (turquoise) using glimmer mist and burlap.

To ensure a vintage look, I wrinkled up the papers and used my Tim Holtz Paper Distress Tool and lots of Distress Ink in Tea Dye.

For the title, I used the Reflections collection to create the word 'Family.'  I cut it out of one of the 12x12 papers, then cut it into three horizontal pieces to give it some texture.  I love the effect this gave it. 

The word 'Heritage' was created using a Papertrey Ink alpha die along with lots of Glimmer Mist.

 

I couldn't imagine this page without keys and a clock so I added these elements as well.  The key stamped image is from Unity Stamp's Aug 2012 Kit of the Month.  I created the clock hands using SVG's from Lettering Delights (I would share a link to the SVG collection, but it was clearanced out a couple months ago).

Lastly, I had to add a quote that speaks to what ancestry is all about.  I used Microsoft word to create the quote, then printed it out and cut it into strips.

I hope this page has you grabbing for your vintage tools and supplies!  I will share more pages from my family heritage scrapbook in the coming weeks.

Happy Friday ya'll!

Melanie

Thinking of You

Remember me?  I hope you do! :)  I am still around - I just haven't been able to craft the last couple months.  Life has been challenging and crazy for me, and I am hoping it gets better soon.

Today I am sharing a card I made for a dear friend that has been struggling a lot lately.  I chose to embellish the card with butterflies because they symbolize hope and have that uplifting quality.  I was inspired by the February "Be Inspired" Unity Stamps Challenge - the sketch and the colors.  I love, LOVE, love my Unity stamps and used several for this card! 

I created the background for this card using many of my craft supplies.  I used a misting mask, spray ink, dictionary paper, distress ink, a doily punch and Unity stamps.  I love creating my own backgrounds!  I love being able to mix different patterns and colors to get the perfect, yet imperfect vintagy look.  Not sure "vintagy" is a word, but I am thinking you know what I mean!  :)

I was also inspired by a card I saw on Pinterest that had a multi-colored stacked paper butterfly.  You can see the card I was inspired by here.  I decided to create a similar butterfly for my card! 

Below is the list of materials I used for this card:
-Unity Stamp Sets - With Her Own Wings, BorderLINE Love, Feb 2013 Kit of the Month, July 2012 SMAK Kit
-Cardstock by Baazill Basics & Stampin' Up!
-Dictionary Page
-Mistables Misting Mask by Pink Paislee
-Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist - Multiple Colors
-Sprinkler in Pink Balloon by October Afternoon
-Distress Ink in Old Paper by Tim Holtz
-Butterfly Punch by Stampin' Up!
-Doily/Circle Scallop Frame Punch by EK Success
-Gem stickers by Want2Scrap & Creative Charms

Thank you for coming by!  Hoping to share another project this weekend so come by again!

Mel

World Card Making Day at Unity - Challenge #2 Texture

It's Melanie here and I am having so much fun making cards today - it's World Card Making Day!  I am loving all of the fun challenges at Unity Stamps so I decided to make a card for their 2nd challenge of the day which is to create a card using 2 or more textures.

I used felt, twine and stitching to add texture to this card.  The baby clothes are dies from Papertrey Ink.  I started with white felt and used glimmer mist to add color to the clothes.  Glimmer mist works awesome on felt - I didn't realize this until now!  :)

Now for all the details on the baby clothes!  It is hard to tell from the pictures, but I stamped polka dots onto the cute little baby dress using a mini background stamp from the Ippity Stamps 'A Moment in Time' collection.  I added a button and a heart to two of the onesies and a stitched pocket to the blue onesie.  I felt like a baby clothes designer making these!  LOL!  Here are close-ups:

 

 

The patterned paper is by My Mind's Eye and the 'Heaven Sent' stamped sentiment is from the 'Precious Little One' stamp set by Unity Stamps and Simple Stories.

I am hoping to enter more of the challenges for World Card Making Day over the next couple weeks!  I hope you are getting time to craft today too!

Mel

Guest Designer at Paper Dolls! I Love these Free 3D Rolled Flowers!!!

I am a Guest Designer for the last Paper Dolls challenge!  I am so excited to share my project for the challenge, but before I do, I want to thank Thienly and Tamara, aka The Paper Dolls, for the work they put into the Paper Dolls blog!  I enjoyed following the blog, entering the challenges and playing along in the link-ups.  My favorite part was seeing their fabulous projects each week - they are uber talented!  T&T, thanks for introducing me to so many fabulous SVG designers and for letting me be a part of your final challenge!  I wish you continued success on your personal blogs (Thienly - Mod Paperie and Tamara - Happy Life, Crafty Wife) and other creative outlets!

I was originally planning to do a bigger project and ended up having a crazy busy week, so I decided to make a card instead. 

Aren't these rolled flowers gorgeous!!!

 



THE CHALLENGE - Create a project using the FREE 3D rolled flower SVGs provided on the Paper Dolls blog (created by Cindy from Creative Pointe).  There are three different rolled "swirl" flowers - a large and small rose, and a carnation. 

Other Materials:
- Circle punch
- Stamps by i-cling
- Glimmer Mist
- Distress Ink
- Paper by Bazzill & Coredinations
- Lace by Stampin' Up!
- Felt flower brad by Making Memories
- Gems by Creative Charms

I really really hope you will join us for the last challenge!  Let's send off the Paper Dolls on a high note!  I can't wait to see what you create!

Mel                                                                                            

Whimiscal Wednesday Blog Hop is HERE!!! Fab Prizes!!!

Welcome to the Whimsical Wednesday blog hop!!! You should have arrived here from Amber's blog http://my3escrapbooking.blogspot.com/. If you just happened to drop by to say hi please go to the Whimsical Wednesday blog to start at the beginning of the hop. For this hop, we all made banners/wall decor that will be sent to a nursing home. The link to read more about this great cause is posted on the Whimsical Wednesday Blog.

For my project I decided to make a 10x10 shadow box.  My inspiration was the motivational quote I used (word art/digital stamp by Raindrop Echo Designs).  This quote seemed appropriate for all ages including residents at a nursing home.  I enjoyed every minute of making this!!!  When you are making something for a wonderful cause as this, the inspiration just doesn't stop!  I like the end result and I am sure the recipient will too!  I might have to make one for my craft room too!  :)

Other Materials:  Ribbon by American Crafts and Celebrate It; Used Cricut and SCAL to cut flower SVG by Images by Heather M and frame SVG by SVGCuts; Tim Holtz inks and paper distresser,Vintage brad and Gradient Gem stickers by Creative Charms, Glitter by Martha Stewart Crafts; Shadow box frame by Collector's Museum

These our the generous sponsors for our blog hop and what they are giving away for PRIZES!!!

• Patsy from the Prairie Bird Boutique http://www.etsy.com/shop/prairiebirdboutique- Your choice of one bundle of Shabby Crinkle Ribbon
• Babbette from The Kraft Outlet http://www.kraftoutlet.com/store/Default.asp- The Kraft Outlet has generously donated their “Inspiration Play Pack”;  This is a collection of The Kraft Outlet's top selling items valued at over $45. The play pack comes with 10 yards each of the red and brown baker’s twine, an assortment of 50 of the plain and grungy tags, an 8 sheet assortment of their cardstock and text weight papers, an 8 envelope assortment, one sheet of Kraft labels, a set of their vintage dictionary pages, 1 yard of black twill tape and a CD full of 100 graphics and backgrounds.
• In addition the Kraft Outlet is offering 10% off all purchases made during the ENTIRE  month of July. All you need to do is enter the code JULY10 at checkout.
• The grand prize for the blog hop is a Gypsy, donated by Stephanie. In order to qualify for the grand prize you must leave a comment on each of the designers blogs. At the end of the hop please return back to the Whimsical Wednesday Blog to leave a comment saying that you finished the hop and left a comment under all our post. The blog hop will run through Sunday and end at Midnight.

Thank you for joining us for the Whimsical Wednesday blog hop! Your next stop is the very talented Faith-Abigail at http://www.faithabigaildesigns.com/.

Here is the full blog hop line-up in case you get lost along the way:
1. Whimsical Challenge Blog: http://whimsicalwednesdays.blogspot.com/
2. Stephanie: http://www.alwayscrafting.com/
3. Star: http://starspaperpassion.blogspot.com/
4. Jessica: http://chick-n-scrap.blogspot.com/
5. Shelly: http://cardsbyshelly.blogspot.com/
6. Chloe: http://chloeandherclipons.blogspot.com/
7. Amber: http://my3escrapbooking.blogspot.com/
8. Melanie: http://inlovewithabug.blogspot.com/
9. Faith-Abigail: http://www.faithabigaildesigns.com/
10. Cindy: http://cindybcreations.blogspot.com/
11. Joni: http://justcounting.blogspot.com/
12. GiGi: http://thecricutbug.blogspot.com/
13. Amber: http://stayingcrafty.blogspot.com/
14. Carlene: http://misspinkcricut.blogspot.com/
15. Karen: http://kaleidoscopicsparkles.blogspot.com/
16. Glora: http://glorascrafts.blogspot.com/
17. Nanne: http://nannes-creations.blogspot.com/
18. Cathryn: http://inthepinkcathryn.blogspot.com/
19. Whimsical Wednesday: http://whimsicalwednesdays.blogspot.com/

Mel

Purse Birthday Card!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful July 4th!!!  The weather in Minnesota is perfect and I can't wait to see some fireworks tonight!  I just finished making this adorable purse card for my niece.  She is turning 13 so I wanted to do something that is more grown-up, but not too mature.  I put a lot of thought into this so I hope she really likes it.  She is a girlie girl, so I think she will! 

 

I made this shape card using Sure Cuts A Lot (using the weld function) and the purse SVG from the Glamour Cut It Set which I purchased as part of the Lettering Delights Super Shapes Cut It Bundle.  This bundle is available for a extremely low prize until July 11th.  You can check it out HERE. 

Materials Used:

• Purse SVG (Cut It File) - Glamour Set by Lettering Delights
• Flower SVG by Images by Heather M
• Stamped sentiments by i-cling
• Patterned paper by DCWV
• Gems by Creative Charms
• Glitter Glue by Martha Stewart Crafts
• Ribbon
• Black Stamp Ink
• Glimmer Mist
• Scalloped Cut by Purple Cow Paper Cutter

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

- Birthday Sundaes Challenge - Anything Goes

- Sentimental Sundays Challenge - Anything Goes

- Angi's Gifting Challenge at Do More with Less

Thanks for stopping by! 
Mel                                                                        

Butterflies B-Day Card, Some News, & LD Super Cut File Bundle!

I made this birthday card for my niece.  I love the purple, green, ivory, and brown color combo and the butterflies were fun to make.  Also, I used the print and cut functions in SCAL to print the digital stamp on a SVG cut.  Earlier this week, I shared a tutorial on how to do this - click HERE to read the tutorial. 

Materials Used:
- Digital Stamp/Word Art by Elegant WordArt by Bethany
- Frame/Mat SVG by Sensationally Chic Boutique
- Butterfly Silhouette SVG by SVGCuts (no longer available)
- Sizzix Stampin' Up! Embossing Template
- Corner Punch
- Glimmer Mist, twine, staple, and pearl stickers to embellish

I am entering this project in the latest Paper Dolls Challenge - Stamps!  I love this new blog!  Great challenges, link-ups, and the best part - I get to use my SVGs!!!

I have some exciting news to share too!  My Flower Ball Trees/Topiaries were featured on Heather M's blog a couple weeks ago.  You can check it out HERE!  Heather is one of my favorite SVG designers and I am so honored that she shared my project on her blog!!!  Also, I can't share too much information yet, but I will be joining a Design Team soon!!!  I will share more about this soon! 

And lastly, I wanted to mention an AWESOME bundle of cutting files available at Lettering Delights!  This new product called "Cut Its Super Shape Bunde" is being introduced at a very low price of $49 (regular price is $150) and if you have a 25% coupon from your last purchase (in puchase confirmation email from Lettering Delights), you can get it for ONLY $36.75!!! 

The cutting file formats included in the bundle are ai, dxf, eps, gsd, jpg, pdf, and svg, and below are a few of the really cute cutting files in this bundle.  There are a total of 760 cutting files in a variety of themes.  I will be purchasing this bundle tonight!  I can't wait to have fun with these!

Hurry, this deal will only last for another week - click HERE to get it!                                          

Have a wonderful day!!!                                                                

A Fab Card and Disney Blog Hop Winner!

My inspiration for this card is Getting Cricky's Sew Fabulous Challenge.  I took a different approach to the challenge and used a stitching template to create the pattern on the background of my card.

I made this card for my niece.  She has been through a lot of hard times in her life and is still trying to find her way in the world.  I hope this card brings her encouragement and brightens her day - the sentiment I chose is absolutely perfect I think.  "If you can imagine it, you can create it.  If you can dream it, you can become it" - William Arthur Ward.  Ahhhh, so inspiring...  The digital stamp used is from Sentimental Sundays.

 

To create the background of this card, I used 3 different glimmer mist colors and a circle stitching template by Bazzill Basics.  I placed the cardstock on a piece of chipboard, then adhered the template to chipboard using tape.  Then, I sprayed the colors on the template trying not to overlap the colors too much.  Then, I removed the template and lightly misted the paper to add more of a color splash look.  I love the imperfect look of all of the circles!

 

 

I framed the background with plum cardstock.  I also used a corner punch, a star flower by Creative Charms, and pearl accents to add more charm to the card.

Now for the winner of the Mickey and Friends bottle caps (from the Disney Blog Hop)....

Denise-Scrapmouse said...
Beautiful layout! Love how you used the big fireworks picture as kind of a background paper with the two little pictures up front. Looks awesome. Thanks for sharing. And have fun at Disneyland!

Congratulations Denise!!!  You were the winner via Random.org.  I will send you an email to get your address.  Thanks for the Disneyland wishes too!  I can't wait!

Thanks to everyone that participated in the Disney Blog hop and thank you for the lovely comments you left on my blog.  I am making my way to your blogs to see your creations too!  I love finding new blogs to follow!
                                                                                                              

For My Mom

**For the Disney Blog Hop, click HERE**

Happy Mother's Day!  Today, my siblings and I are taking our mom out to lunch and I can't wait to give her this card that I made.  I am diggin' the vintage feel of this card!

I love to create my own background paper using white or ivory paper, lots of glimmer mist, and digi stamps, and this was my first time adding an embossed stamp.  I love how this turned out so I will definitely be adding more embossed stamps to my backgrounds in the future! 

 

Materials:

• Butterfly silhouette SVG by SVGCuts (cut with Cricut using Sure Cuts A Lot).  SVG is no longer available.
• "Mom" digi stamp by Vickie Fernandez (printed on card using Sure Cuts A Lot)
• Star glitter and gold embossing powder by Martha Stewart Crafts
• Glimmer mists in Tiger Lily, Tuscan Sun, Olive Vine, and Riptide
• Pearl accents by Recollections
• Flourish stamp by Stampin' Up!
• Butterfly embossed using Tim Holtz Cracked template and Sizzix Texture Boutique

I have entered this project in the following challenges and link-ups:
Claudia & Company Challenge 81 - Butterflies
More Than Favors Wacky Wednesday - Mother's Day
Paper Cutz Challenge 90 - Mother's Day
Sentimental Sundays Challenge 54 - Anything Goes
                                                                                 
Melanie

"Grow Your Dream"

Happy Thursday!!!  I finally finished the project I have been working on!  Let me tell you, it was quite the project!  I had a vision of flower topiaries with the saying "Grow Your Dream," and I didn't really think about the time it would take to hand make all of the flowers.  Even though it was time consuming, this project was worth it.  I absolutely love the way the these turned out and I finally got to use my Creative Charms kit!

Here is a picture of the Flower Topiaries:

Materials Used:

• Styrofoam balls and cylinders (for inside pots), Pots, Spanish Moss, and Paper-wrapped Wire Sticks (all in floral section of JoAnn's)
• Lots of Glimmer Mist!!! 
• 6 Petal Flower SVG by Images by Heather M cut in two sizes (cut with Cricut using Sure Cuts A Lot).  See tutorial here on how to make these flowers.
• SNF Lollihop font by Lettering Delights in brown vinyl (cut with Cricut using SCAL)
• Butterfly embellishments by Creative Charms (part of the April Deal of the Month kit)
• Ric Rac ribbon by Bazzill

I have entered this project in the following challenges:

Home Decor Challenge at Moxie Fab World
Whimsical Wednesday Challenge
Patches of Pink Link-up Party
Sentimental Sundays Challenge #51
Frosted Designs Fabulous Friday Challenge

Thanks for stopping by and have a great rest of the week!
Melanie

Sweet Sixteen Card

It always feels so good when my friends and family appreciate the cards I make for them.  My niece proudly displays this sweet sixteen card in her bedroom.  She surrounded the card with sea shells and candles.  She is the sweetest!  I used Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist and a Glimmer Mist Screen from the Garden Blossom set to create the background of the card.  Colors used were Tuscan Sun, Garden Fairy, and Riptide.

The Sweet Sixteen die-cut was a SVG cut on my Cricut using Sure Cuts A Lot.  The SVG file is available for free at Scrapcation Getaway.  To finish, I added green pearls to embellish the card.  

I am entering this card in this week's Play Date Cafe Challenge.  The prize is two stamp sets from Ippity and they are adorable.  I would love to win these sets!

Thanks for looking,

 

Getting Cricky's A to Z Challenge Entry

Below is my entry for Getting Cricky's A to Z Challenge.  The winner will win the Pack Your Bags Cricut cartridge!  I have been working on two scrapbooks as of late - one of a Caribbean cruise my husband and I went on with friends and our recent San Francisco trip - both trips were a blast!  This page stood out for the challenge, which requires the use of letters or an ABC theme (I don't have kids yet, so no ABC theme yet).  I used a large letter "A" die-cut for the title, then embellished it with a pretty painted flower.  I have listed all of the materials used below.

Here is a close-up of the painted flower:

I used my Cricut cartridges to make this layout:

The letter A is from the Plantin School Book cartridge

The rest of the title is from the Opposites Attract cartridge

The Day 4 frame is from the Fabulous Finds cartridge

The painted flower is from the Home Decor cartridge

I used glimmer mists in Candy Apple Red, Cherry Blossom, and Tattered Leather to paint the flower.  I sprayed the glimmer mists on a sponge, then applied to the flower.  The metal accents are the Filigree brads by Stampin' Up.  I also used paper flowers, glitter stickers, brads, and a button on this page.  The patterned paper is from Me & My Big Ideas.

Update: I have entered this page in two more challenges:

• Scrappy Saturday Challenge - Featured someone I love on my page, Prize is 30yds of colorful twine
• Frosted Designs Fabulous Friday Challenge - I used metal Filigree brads from SU, Prize is Campin' Critters Cricut Cartridge