Inspiration from Melissa

Saturday, October 31, 2009

My girl's b-day invite

So I got busy and actually made my first invites for my girl's birthday party! Can you believe it? I've been a demo for almost 4 yrs and never remembered to do it! ;)) To make the pocket for my invite is real simple. Cut a 8 1/2 X 11" sheet of paper in half the long way so your paper will then be 4 1/4 X 11". Then score 3 1/2" from each long end and fold over. Then cut a corner off depending on how big of a 'V' you want on the front for your insert to show through. and i just tacked the bottom w/ sticky strip so it won't go anywhere!

supplies:
paper: choc chip, whisper white, melon mambo, pumpkin pie, (pink and orange polka dot paper was a scrap that's been in my pile for ages!)
ink: pumpkin pie, melon mambo
stamps: perfect princess, really retro sayings(you're invited)
tools: scallop square punch, eyelet border punch,

Friday, October 30, 2009

Upsy Daisy Challenge SCS252

This was Wed sketch challenge on Split Coast that i gave a whirl. For my main image i just took a rectangle scrap a bit smaller than my very vanilla piece and did the masking technique. So i tacked it on there and then used a sponge to ink the old olive color around it. When i was done sponging i pulled the scrap off and i have a frame of sorts! Then i used my stamp a ma jig to place the flower from Upsy Daisy inside! Putting a bit of crystal effects on all the flowers gives some dimension and shine.

supplies: paper: old olive, very vanilla, basic black
ink: basic black, old olive
stamps: teeny tiny wishes, upsy daisy
tools: big shot, perfect details texturz plate
accessories: crystal effects, polka dot black ribbon, stampin dimensionals

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Animal Stories...

A high school buddy of Jesse's recently had their second little boy and so tis' the tradition to make a baby card and send their way! Boy colors are so fun! I love putting choc chip and old olive together! I think it makes me hungry, is that possible? This is a simple card that goes a long way just by adding the button. Picture this card w/o out it, very plain huh? So by just adding a button w/ a smidge of ribbon in this case, pulls it all together! tip: for the giraffe, i inked up my stamp good w/ old olive and then "stamped off" once on a scrap piece of paper b4 i put it on the whisper white bc i didn't want it SO dark.

supplies:
paper: choc chip, old olive, whisper white, choc chip dsp
ink: old olive, choc chip
stamps: teeny tiny wishes, animal stories
tools: scallop edge punch, stampa ma jig(get that title perfectly STRAIGHT)
accessories: button, choc chip ribbon, stampin dimensionals



Wednesday, October 28, 2009

CAS37

i wanted to put together a simple sympathy card for a gentleman who passed away from our church. This is what i came up w/ on the challenge of CAS(Clean and Simple).

supplies:
paper: choc chip, whisper white, wild wasabi dsp
ink: white craft ink
stamps: thoughts & prayers
tools: scallop edge punch, big shot, button die(for the little wild wasabi button)
accessories: stampin dimensionals, linen thread

Monday, October 26, 2009

On your Birthday...


Ever make a card and wish you had a button just the right color but you don't? Well here is an option for you to solve your problem! The jumbo button you see above, i made out of paper! I first punched 5 circles(1 3/4") out of scrap cardstock, glued them all together on top of each other. Then punch one more circle out in your color of choice, i chose this Razzleberry Lemonade dsp for the top of my button. Glue that to the top of your stack, sand the edges so they are all smooth. Punch your hole pattern w/ your crop a dile. Then be generous w/ the crystal effects and set aside to let dry. When dry, tie your ribbon of choice through the holes and you have a custom made button!

supplies:
paper: rich razzleberry, crushed curry, whisper white, razzleberry lemonade dsp
ink: rich razzleberry
stamps: on your birthday
tools: big shot, little leaves sizzlits die, texture plates, scallop edge punch
accessories: rich razzleberry polka dot ribbon(flipped over so the polka dots are hidden)

Deal of the Week #4

Week 4 Deals of the Week

Item

Description

Special Price

116214

Princess Party Kit

$9.99($15.95 reg)

116213

Pirate Party Kit

$9.99($15.95 reg)




If you are needing to plan a child's birthday party this would be the perfect kit to buy! You get treat boxes, invitations, and more! This offer is good until next week Monday morning 9:50 MT! As always, you can place an order online 24/7 or contact me and i can place for you too!














Saturday, October 24, 2009

Season of Friendship

When i seen this card @ Convention, i thought ... "i gotta give that a whirl!" I love all the punched circles to make the tree complete! the grass is just scraps from when i'm done punching w/ my scallop border punch~

supplies:
paper: ruby red, old olive, choc chip, whisper white
ink: choc chip
stamps: season of frienship
tools: scallop oval punch, scallop border punch, small oval punch, 1/2" circle punch, 1" circle punch, matte pack( for piercing on scallop edge)
accessories: hodge podge hard ware

Friday, October 23, 2009

Tree Trimmings

Hello! Been slackin a bit in the stamping/sharing dept as i've been busy designing for my upcoming stamp camp! Today's card is a simple Christmas card that packs some punch!

supplies:
paper: whisper white, perfect plum, bermuda bay
ink: perfect plum, white craft ink
stamps: tree trimmings, Many Merry Messages
tool: paper snips, stamp a ma jig
accessories: organza ribbon, stampin dimensionals

Don't forget this week's Deals of the week! Contact me if you would like to share shipping fees if you are in my area! Or you can order anytime online 24/7 by clicking the upper left corner of my blog!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Almost all my Derksen cousins & Deal of the week #3!!


This was at the lunch after my Grampa's funeral. So from my counting i think we are still missing 11(mostly little people and for some reason there are 3 adults missing here...all men... i tell you they just don't listen when i say picture time!!!) There could be more i'm not even sure! ;)

Below you can see the speicals of the week good till this coming Sunday the 25th. As always you can contact me to place an order or order online by clicking on the upper left SHOP 24/7!!

Item

Page

Description

Regular Price

Special Price

114348

179

Basic Jumbo grommets

$6.95

$4.49

109857

179

Mini Library clips

$12.95

$8.99

112571

179

Circle Designer brads

$5.95

$3.99

112581

179

1/2" Library clips

$6.95

$3.99

Monday, October 19, 2009

Die Cut Box #2

This cute little box was made using the die cut Box #2 along w/ the big shot. After it's cut and b4 it's assembled i used the Retro Remix standard wheel to roll along the edge. I just did tone on tone, so Old Olive ink right on the Old Olive paper. Used my 1/2" circle punch to take a little notch out of the side so you know which side to open it on. Use some sticky strip to put it together and then tie a bit of melon mambo ribbon around it. For the whisper white piece i used the stamp set Hello Again to embellish a bit! Stamped the flower on scrap and snipped out w/ scissors and popped up w/ a dimensional.

supplies:
paper: textured old olive, whisper white, textured crushed curry
ink: old olive, (melon mambo, bermuda bay, crushed curry stampin write markers)
stamps: hello again, retro remix standard wheel
tools:big shot, 1/2" circle punch, Modern Label punch
accessories: melon mambo polka dot ribbon, rhinestone brad, stampin dimensional, 2 way glue pen, dazzling diamonds(for top of flower)

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Nursery Necessities


Just another simple stack of baby girl thank yous to give as a baby gift. Using punches makes card assembling a cinch! who wants to take the time to cut out stars??? Not me, so having 2 different size star punches is the way to go~ and don't forget to stamp your envelope so it matches perfect...

supplies:
paper: Sahara sand, whisper white, pretty in pink dsp
ink: white craft, regal rose(pretty in pink wasn't dark enough to show up on the Sahara sand)
stamps: nursery necessities, really retro sayings
tools: big shot, texture plates, large star punch, small star punch
accessories: brads, stampin dimensionals

Friday, October 16, 2009

NO STAMPING!!!


Almost feels weird making a card w/0 doing any stamping on it? But this is an easy way to have a stash that would be great for any occasion. Real simple layout w/ some designer series paper good to go!

supplies:
paper: bashful blue, so saffron, delicate dots dsp
ink: NONE!!!
stamps: NONE!!!
tools: big shot, texture plates, 1 1/4" circle punch, boho blossoms punch, matte pack(for piercing)
accessories: brads, stampin dimensionals

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Wedding Thank You's


This is the stack of thanks you that i made for my cousins last weekend for a part of their wedding gift. Tried to follow the same layout as i did for their actual wedding card! I think they turned out rather elegant! Those texture plates along with the big shot add SO much w/o over doing it~

supplies:
paper: bashful blue, soft suede, whisper white
ink: soft suede
stamps: sincere salutations
tools: big shot, texture plates, eyelet border punch, wide oval, scallop oval and large oval punches
accessories: stampin dimensionals, white organza ribbon

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Sincere Salutaions SC249



Got to play w/ another sketch challenge here. It was fun! I felt like i've been dealing w/ very dreary colors lately so wanted to liven it up a bit for this one! Not sure about you guys but i kinda get in ruts using the same colors over and over, that's why challenges are GREAT for me! Get me out of my box a bit! TIP: to make those leaves, i folded a piece of old olive paper in half and snipped (half) an oval out... just like we used to cut out half a heart when we were little, then open it up and it would be a WHOLE heart! Then leave it folded in half and run through the crimper to give it some veins!


supplies:
paper: melon mambo, crushed curry, rich razzleberry, razzleberry lemonaide, soft suede, old olive
ink: rich razzleberry
stamps: sincere salutations
tools: big shot, embosslits simple flower, crimper, stamp a ma jig, eyelet border punch
accessories:stampin dimensionals(stacked 2 high to really pop it up!), jumbo eyelet

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Memories w/ my Grampa Derksen

Now my girls chasing the cats in the barn that gramps would bring his table scraps to whenever Gramma's bucket was full
Wes n Crystal's wedding~ the evening of his last good meal....
A few of the cousins gathered for this shot... a few were stubborn and wouldn't get in the pix(my hubby being one of them...)
Hannah and Haley posing w/ Grampa & Gramma Derksen on a beautiful Sunday afternoon

Grampa always smiled when little kids were around him.

Patterned Pines


Goodmorning~ It was an early morning today, i'm not usually up by 6:30 but Mom called me to let me know that my Grampa had passed away. It's a sad day for me, but i am SO thankful i had this past weekend in WI to say goodbye. We thought he was on his deathbed but then...you never know for sure. So we hope to be planning a trip again to WI for the funeral now, once the arrangements are made.

Today's card is made w/ the cute stamp set Patterened Pines and the printed window sheets. Can you see it? (hence the major glare on the second pix)

supplies:
paper: melon mambo, old olive,whisper white
ink: melon mambo, old olive
stamps: patterned pines, sincere salutations
tools: horizontal slot punch, corner rounder punch, crop a dile(to set the 3 white eyelets)
accessories: printed window sheets, white grosgrain ribbon, white eyelets, stampin dimensionals

Monday, October 12, 2009

NEW Stampin Up! Deal's of the week!!!

Throughout October, get all-new Deals of the Week—with select products up to 50% off! See below for this week’s Deals of the Week (only available with on-line orders):

Dates

Item

Page

Description

Regular Price

Sale Price

October 12, 10:00 AM (MT) through October 19, 9:50 AM (MT)

115961

200

Perfect Setting Bigz XL Die

$42.95

$25.99

114515

195

Flower Burst Embosslits

$11.95

$5.99

116760

201

Bigz XL Cake 3 Tier Die

$39.95

$25.49



Please contact me w/ any ? you may have! Thanks!

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Simple wedding card

So we had a wedding in WI this weekend and this is the card i made for the bride and groom! My dear cousin Wes is gettin hitched!

supplies:
paper: bashful blue, soft suede, whisper white
ink: soft suede, bashful blue
stamps:together forever
tools: big shot, texture plates, eyelet border punch, stamp a ma jig(a MUST to get that '&' symbol nice and centered!) 2 way glue pen
accessories: stampin dimensionals, whisper white organza ribbon(ONLY $5.95 for 15 YARDS!), dazzling diamonds

Saturday, October 10, 2009

(I) got a HAND STAMPED card!!!!

k so i'm a bit giddy! I'm usually making them to give away and boy it's sure fun to be the receiver! ;P Thanks to Allison and her talents... Nice work girl!

supplies:
paper: chocolate chip, close to cocoa, sage shadow, whisper white
ink: chocolate chip, sage shadow
stamps: Upsy Daisy
tools: big shot, top note die
accessories: chocolate chip taffeta ribbon

Friday, October 9, 2009

Patterned Pines


This is my new level 1 hostess set out of the xmas mini! I just love it ... this is my first card made with it!


supplies: paper: rose red, basic black, whisper white
ink: rose red craft, basic black
stamps: Patterned Pines(level 1 hostess out of mini), heard from the heart
tools: big shot, texture plates, small star punch, heat gun, crop a dile(to punch holes for brads), eyelet border punch
accessories: fine cosmo glitter, heat n stick powder(for that glitter to adhere to), brads

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Winter scene



Hello guys! So i was playing w/ my brayer again here to make the sky scene, i ripped some paper for my rolling hills. I have a video tutorial on the side of my blog if you need some tips on how this process works! and also for the shadow of the tree on the snow. My 'iced' tree is just a two way glue pen to give me some quick ice cycles and then dump on the dazzling diamonds!

supplies;
paper: Not quite navy, basic black, whisper white
ink: bordering blue, basic black
stamps: season of frienship
tools: brayer, stampa ma jig, 2 way glue pen, matte pack(for piercing)
accessories: dazzling diamonds

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Quick party bling

So i had to make some cupcakes for a party and wanted them to be for either a girl or boy so i used chocolate chip designer series(for my chocolate chip cream cheese cupcakes;)) paper to punch out some squares. Then cut them in half diagonally and fold over the tip of a toothpick for a little flag! I thought they turned out super cute!

supplies:
square punch, designer series paper, toothpicks

Sure thing! Here is the recipe!

1 chocolate cake mix
1 (8oz) pkg. cream cheese
1/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 tsp salt
1 c. chocolate chips

Frosting(i was lazy and bought it)

Mix cake as directed, then fill 30 cupcakes 2/3 full. cream remaining ingredients(except chocolate chips). stir chocolate chips into cream cheese mixture, and drop by teaspoons into each cupcake. Bake at 350 for 20 to 25 minutes. cool n frost! easy peezy lemon squeezy! enjoy!

Monday, October 5, 2009

Nursery Necessities


Two baby boy cards done just a smidge different from the next~ One using those texture plates w/ the big shot and one not.... really dresses it up huh? That is why EVERYONE needs the big snot!!! ;) hehe

supplies:
paper: bashful blue, soft suede, bashful blue dsp
ink: soft suede, bashful blue
stamps: really retro, nursery necessties
tools: big shot, texture plates, little star punch, crop a dile, matte pack(for piercing)
accessories: soft suede polka dot ribbon, brads, stampin dimensionals


Happy Monday! melissa

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Fight of the butterfly



Playing around w/ the adorable set flight of the butterfly lent to me by Sara... This is a super quick card to put together and i think turned out quite nice! In my opinion... the stamp a ma jig is a MUST here to line the two colors up perfectly on that butterfly! There is no guess work involved w/ using the SAMJ!!

supplies:
paper: elegant eggplant, whisper white, crushed curry
ink: elegant eggplant, crushed curry(stamped off 2X b4 stamping on the white)
stamps: flight of the butterfly
tools: scallop edge punch, horizontal slot punch(slick hole to tie the ribbon through), 2 way glue pen
accessories: dazzling diamonds, linen thread, crushed curry polka dot ribbon

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Dashing through the snow....

on a one horse open slay.....gets me in the mood if i sing for a bit! ;) (good thing you can't hear me!!) This is my version of 'cheery' christmas w/ some more non traditional colors!

supplies;
paper: rich razzleberry, dusty durango, razzleberry lemonade dsp, whisper white
ink: rich razzleberry
stamps: dasher, teeny tiny wishes
tools: ticket punch
accessories: brad

Happy creating! Melissa

Friday, October 2, 2009

Thoughts & Prayers

So I had left over make n takes from a party this week and stamped them up quickly! I tried to do each one a bit different from the next~ Some simple, some a bit more detailed...


supplies:
paper: not quite navy, old olive, creamy caramel
ink: not quite navy
stamps: Thoughts & Prayers
tools: big shot, texture plates, large oval punch, scallop oval punch, 1 1/4" & 1 1/2" square punches, ticket corner punch, 1/2" circle punch, matte pack(for piercing)
accessories: brads, stampin dimensionals, stamp a ma jig(to get those words nice and straight)

Happy Stamping!!! Melissa

Thursday, October 1, 2009


I am so excited to tell you about a new and ongoing sale at Stampin'Up! It's called the Clearance Rack and it features retired and discontinued items at up to 80% off! These items are available ONLY while supplies last and that can only be ordered via online ordering.

The items will change as supply and demand changes so be sure to check it out before you place your online orders. Right now you can find ribbons, Designer Series Paper, felt snowflakes, rub-ons, Chipboard and metal tins. Here's the link: SU Clearance Rack.

Happy Shopping! Melissa

Deals of the week are BACK!!!


Trio Flower Punch

My Way Punch

5 Petal Flower Punch

These are normally $15.95 each so this is a great deal!!!

Contact me today to place your order or you can always order online as well in the upper left corner of my blog!

Week 1 Deals of the Week

Item

Description

Special Price

109183

Trio Flower punch

$10.99

109041

5-Petal Flower punch

$10.99

110709

My Way punch

$11.99