I'm still around!

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to let you know that I am still around! A recent move and the upcoming deployment of my husband has made it necessary for me to take a break for stamping for a while. I am no longer a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator and will be taking an indefinite leave of posting new stamping projects but rest assured that I am still available for questions on any of my past projects and my tutorials are still available for purchase and will be emailed to you within 24 hours of Paypal payment.

Take care all and please pray for our troops!

-Melissa

PS...I also found out I was an Artisan Award Runner-up!

Almost Artisan 3D Share: Day 10

My last project I entered for Artisan Award to share with you all, a name frame for my neice Ruby.
The chipboard letters are covered in patterned DSP. I scrunched the ribbon. The beads were hand threaded to line the interior of the frame.

Almost Artisan Card Share: Day 9

Another card for Artisan Award, I really liked this one too! This was my final entry I completed. The dragonfly's wings are double layered and loose to be flapped up. The cloud inthe background is popped up with dimensionals.

Inside I made a little hill of grass using the 3D Pop Up Cake Die.

Almost Artisan Card Share: Day 8

Here is another of my Artisan Award cards:
My monkey was popped up with dimensionals and the head was another layer also popped up for lots of depth.

Almost Artsian Card Share: Day 7

This was a more Clean and Simple card design for Artisan Award, but I still added a lot of detailing.

The watercolored image is layered for depth. The edges of the paper is distressed.

I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to place the sentiment from Herb expressions, the same sentiment peeks out from the under-layer of Old Olive.
The center of the flowers, top and bottom rim of the pot, and ladybug are all layered for depth.

Almost Artisan Card Share: Day 6

This was the first project I made for Artisan Award and I loved it, I really thought it was unlike anything I had seen before and I was very proud of it. It took me about 4 hours to make this card. i cut up cardstock into many tiny pieces and hand glued them, placing them with tweezers, to create a mosaic look of a cherry blossom tree. After all the pieces were in place I covered the entire image with Crystal Effects so it was glossy like glass.

Almost Artisan Scrapbook Share: Day 5

Here is my third scrapbook page Artisan Award entry I made with pictures of a funny-faced little llama from a petting zoo.

Almost Artisan 3D Share: Day 4

I truly loved this project I made for Artisan Award, its a baby mini scrapbook. The pages have headings with room for pictures and journalling. Luckily for me I made two so I could keep one! The chipboard 'b' is covered in silver microbeads. The banner off to the side says "is for baby"

I photographed all the pages but here are just a few, first bath and 3 months:

"Look Who's Crawling" and "First Words"
"First Steps" and a bitty envelope to hold the "First Curl"
Baby's First Birthday:

Almost Artisan Card Share: Day 3

Here is one of the cards I made for Artsan Award, going for a vintage look:

Almost Artisan Scrapbook Share: Day 2

So here is my second Scrapbook page entry for Artisan Award. I have two sons but wanted to do a girl page so I used a close up of one of my son's feet just after he was born and made a page for my imaginary daughter! Hey, a girl needs some pink sometimes!

A close-up of the paper punch flowers and the layering of the page:


Paper Piercing around the layer of Bermuda Bay:
Hope you like it!

Almost Artisan Share:Day 1

Well, I can't way I'm not bummed because I didn't win Artisan Award (a contest for Stampin' Up! Demonstrators) but it is nice to finally be able to share the projects I worked so hard on. I made 3 scrapbook pages, 5 cards, and 2 3D projects for the contest and I will be featuring one each day for the next 10 days so please check back daily to see them. (And a comment to stroke my bruised ego would be much appreciated too!!)

Here is my first share, an 8.5 by 11 scrapbook page of my son.




Its hard to see but the background is stamped in Versamark with the dotted swirl Treetop from Trendy Trees.

Some of the other "Almost Artisans" will be posting their projects on their blogs too-go check them out and leave a comment!

http://www.jhurley90.blogspot.com/

http://www.stampspaperandink.typepad.com/

http://www.igotstamps.com/

http://www.jackietopa.typepad.com/

http://www.paperpatty.blogspot.com/

http://www.onyxstamps.com/

http://www.reneevs.blogspot.com/

http://www.monikastamp.wordpress.com/

http://www.inkspotsandgumdrops.blogspot.com/

http://www.alattestampin.com/

Also, I've extended indefinitely my BIG Tutorial Sale!

Bummed

So I'm not an Artisan Award Winner, but I'm happy that starting tomorrow I'll be sharing my 10 projects I made to enter the contest, please check back!

BIG Tutorial Sale!

From now on, when you purchase my Shopping Organizer Tutorial you will receive my Bella Toile Candle and Matching Box Tutorial FREE! See this post to order today!

Inspiration Challenge

An Inspiration Challenge card for Late Night Stampers:

Another Sneak Peek

Here's another Sneak Peek at new Summer Mini products! This card features the new Island Oasis Designer Series Paper, Bouquet Bunch Stamp Set, and I used the Chat Room Rub-ons from the Occasions Mini Catalog (only available until April 30!)

Summer Mini Sneal Peek!!

My goodies arrived this week and I LOVE the new Summer Mini products! I think for me, getting "the goods" early is one of the best Demonstrator perks (other than the big discount!) This card uses the new Island Oasis Designer Series Paper. When I saw this pattern I immediately thought of the Cheer's to You stamp set! Hope you like it!!

You're so Tweet!

My youngest son (21 months) sees a bird lately and signs "bird" and repeatedly says "tweet, tweet" so he just LOOOOVED this card I made when he discovered it on my craft desk!


I love this little card for all the tiny details. The card base is Whisper White cut to 4.5 squared. A Chocolate Chip Scallop Square cut out with my Big Shot was added and my White Gel Pen added some faux stitching. The Old Olive cardstock was cut to 4" square and run through my Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Folder (my favorite!) My image is was stamped in Jet Black Stazon and colored with my Aquapainter and ink pads.

What do you think? Does it make you want to say "tweet!" too?!

Another late Night Stamper's Sketch Challenge Card

Here is another card for this week's Late Night Stamper's Sketch Challenge!

I really love the way this one turned out!


My card base is Kraft, followed by a layer of Very Vanilla I ran through my Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Folder. I rounded the corners with the Corner Rounder Punch. An Old Olive Satin Ribbon was added under my Rose Image which was matted on Rose Red cardstock. Some Hemp Twine finishes it off!

Do you love Stampin' Up? Then join our group at Late Night Stampers!

My Shopping Notebook

I made this little notebook to carry my shopping list and organize my coupons.

Inside is a shopping list and expandable file to hold your coupons.

(My shopping list came courtesy of Carole'Anne and her business...thanks Carole'Anne!!!)

You may order yours for $7.00 by clicking the button below. Please note you'll have to supply your own shopping pad (easily found at big box or dollar stores).

*****Update! From now until May 1, you will receive a FREE Bella Toile Candle and Box Tutorial when you purchase my Shopping Organizer Tutorial (if you have already ordered this tutorial prior to the promotion, please email me to receive your free tutorial!)***********