Havin' Flies!

I only had a little bit of time today to play in my craft room, so I got one quick card done.  I really love it when a card just comes together and ends up looking so cute!  I picked out the image, then looked at my box of patterned paper and this piece was sticking up saying "Use Me!", so I did!  And the rest just fell into place!  This card took me only about 20 minutes to make!

Image - Meljen's Designs "Froggy's Pad"

Here's the list of challenges:

Card Patterns -- Sketch

Digital Tuesday -- digi + bling and ribbon

A Spoon Full of Sugar -- Sparkle and Shine

Pollycraft Monday -- Anything Goes

Card Makin' Mamas -- Digi

Cowgirl Up -- Anything Goes

Paper Sundaes -- From Your Stash (the paper, ribbon and that flower brad have all been in my stash for a long time!)

That should do it!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Crafting!

A little Vamp for you

Hi there!

I promised you a new release Lil' Lolita image yesterday, and here she is!!

Meet Lil' Haunt Lillith the Vampire

Isn't she just spooky?

All of the amazing Pink Ladies at Tickled Pink Stamps have also shared some beautiful cards with Lillith on the Tickled Pink Stamps blog - check it out!  And, if you leave a comment on the blog, you have a chance to win Lillith!

I've got another new release to share with you... but, you'll have to visit tomorrow to see her!!

Willow's gettin' Witchy!

It's October!!  That means that I am officially a Guest Designer for Lil' Lolita Boutique!!  Yay!!  But... my first official card won't be posted until Thursday with the new challenge... so, in the meantime, I have a little Witchy Willow to share with you!

I've got Willow in digi form, so I printed her a little bigger and had a blast coloring her!  I wanted her to be a little spooky with her light black hair and gray flowers, but still girly with her mimosa green dress!  I had some fun with my new Halloween papers, too!  The sketch is from the current challenge at Lil' Lolita.

If you've got a Lil' Lolita image, be sure to come play along in the challenge!  If you don't have a Lil' Lolita yet, well.. you can get them here in digi or rubber!

Check back tomorrow - I've got a new release Lil' Lolita to share with you!!

Karen's Doodles

What does Monday mean???  How about a new challenge at Karen's Doodles??  AND, a new challenge at Karen's Doodles KIDS, too!  Yay!!  It's a doubley fun Monday today!

Our challenges for you are to create a Halloween (or Fall) themed card!

Emily had so much fun with this theme that she actually made 2 cards!!  Please visit her blog to see them and leave her a comment, she really does LOVE to hear all the comments that are left for her!

For my card, I have used a non-Halloween image and just altered him up for my card!  This is one of the images from the Nutsy Fun set, which is 6 adorable images!  I used the Open Acorn image and sliced it just a tad so that I could squeeze the cute pumpkin sticker into it!  I also added more pumpkin stickers, so that it would seem like Nutsy was at the pumpkin patch picking out the perfect pumpkin!

I really think this is cute and I hope you like it too!

Come join in the fun at Karen's Doodles this week, there are always prizes to be won!

And, don't forget to check out the Kids blog and Emily's blog as well!  Grab your little ones and let them play along, too!

SSC #79 - Better Late than Never!

Good Morning!!

Sorry this is late - better late than never, right?

Our challenge for you at Stamptacular Sunday is to Layer It On!!  We'd like to see AT LEAST 5 layers on your cards!  I know that's easy for some, but you don't have to limit yourselves to 5!  Challenge yourself and see how many you can get on there!

Here's my layered card!

Images: Unity - October KOTM

I hope you get a chance to play along this week!  Our awesome sponsor is

The Greeting Farm!

Our random winner will receive 1 Single rubber stamp of their choice!

Pumpkin Bumpkin

Just a cute little card I made for a few challenges :)

Image: Meljens Designs

Sketch -- Card Patterns

Colors -- Picture Perfect Creations

Orange - If the Shoe Fits... & Copic Creations

Digital -- Card Makin' Mamas

Salute to Fall - Drunken Stampers

Happy Crafting!

Meljen's Designs Special Blog Hop!

Wow, it's finally Friday, and for weeks now we at Meljen's Designs have been keeping a secret!  Do you want to know what it is???  I know you do!!  Well, today is the day we get to spill the beans!  WOOHOO!  Meljen's Designs (one of the hottest new digital stamp lines around) has asked 7 AMAZING new crafters to join us on our Design Team! 

We all just love Melissa Jenkin's images, they are so cute and always make us smile when we see one!  So, when we asked these talented girls if they wanted to be on the team, they all jumped up and said YES!!  

Seven HOT designers + the existing team = a team with twice the members and twice the talent!

I would also like to announce that I have been promoted to the brand new Meljen's Designs SENIOR Design Team!

(Check out Miss Fancy Cat - that's what we are, Miss Fancy!)
The 5 of us that have been with Melissa since the very beginning are now all Senior Designers!
Lauretta, Lisa F, Andrea, Nicole and myself!
Soon, we will be adding to the Senior Design Team, as the new members stay on.  This is an honor and I am so proud to display this new badge on my blog!
Thank You, Melissa!!

Tons of inspiration will continue to be coming your way here on my blog and at the Meljen's Designs blog, especially Thursdays, where (each week) there is a new release and a new challenge!  Each challenge gives you a chance to win free images, too, so I hope you play along with me!  And, don't forget Tuesdays, when we post our inspiration photos of other creations from the design team and challenge entries!  It just shows how much everyone loves these images!  Of course, you'll want to check back on Mondays for the Freebie, as well!  Can't miss out on the freebie, right?

So, we would like to introduce the new FULL team to you with a party!  Today marks the beginning of a three-day BLOG HOP PARTY!!  If you are already HOPPING, you should have come here from Cheryl's BLOG!  If not, the list is below, but first let me tell you about my card!

I've made a card with the Spiders Web image that is perfect for the season, but has been around almost since the very beginning of Meljen's!  Just a little reminder for you, that while every new release gets cuter and more amazing, the older stuff is just as cute and amazing!  So if you haven't taken the time to browse through the Meljen's shop, you really should!  You never know what you might find!

Now, before you continue Hop-Hop-Hopping along, you have to know that there's a prize to be won!  So, as you're oohing and aahing at all the awesome displays, be sure to leave some love for each of us and we'll announce a winner on Monday with our Freebie post, so really, with a new freebie image - Everyone's a winner!

Andrea

Anita

Audrey

Callie

Cheryl

Dee - You Are HERE!  :)

Dianna

Jessica

Lauretta

Lisa

Marlena

Melissa F.

Nicole 

Sandy

Meljen's Designs Blog

I have a question for you! It's not required that you answer, but I really want to know - What is YOUR most favorite Meljen's Image??

Go ahead and leave a comment and let me know!

Ok, on you can hop on over to visit one of our Newbies, Dianna.  I know she's expecting you and she's got something so stinkin' cute to share with you!!  I just love the color combos that girl comes up with!!  So pretty!

Off you go!  Have FUN!!  And don't forget your comments!!

Meljen's Challenge #27

Well, Hi there!  I'm a little behind the times, aren't I?  I got the challenge post typed up on the main blog, but I forgot my own!!  LOL!!  Sorry!

This week's challenge at Meljen's Designs is Monochromatic with NO GLITTER!  We are showcasing Operation Write Home this week, which is an AMAZING organization that sends loads of handmade cards to deployed heroes so that they can keep in touch with loved ones back home!  Mail is so important to the soldiers when they are far from home, letting them know that they are missed, loved and appreciated!  But, what about the friends and families waiting patiently here?  Isn't it awesome that now, a soldier can go pick out a card, that was loving handmade by someone who appreciates their service, to jot a nice note on and send home?  I think it's just the coolest idea I've ever heard!

This is what I posted on the challenge blog about why this is so special to me -

I also come from a long line of Military Heroes, which makes Operation Write Home hit close to home for me.  I was raised an Army Brat.  My Father served our country for 28 1/2 years.  He also served in Vietnam (during the same years as Melissa's Dad) as a Combat Medic.  My Mother served in the Army for 2 years, before she decided to start a family after meeting my Dad.  Both of my Grandfathers were Career Military and both of my Uncles also served our country.  My Dad's brother, my Uncle Bruce, served in Desert Storm in the 1990's.  My Mom recalls being so young when my Dad was in Vietnam, before email and computers.  She recalls the long silences between "phone" calls that were always monitored and timed.  Letters from home were really the only way to communicate with loved ones, if only we had an organization like this all those years ago!


In addition, I'd like to add - 
In talking to my Mom about writing up this post, she told me about the phone calls and mail delivery.  When my Dad was in Vietnam, he was in a mobile unit.  It would take 2 weeks for the mail to literally "FIND" him!  It would get there and then someone would have to track him and his unit down to get it delivered.  My Mom would bake cookies every single Sunday and mail them every Monday and even though they were 2 weeks old, by the time they got there, my Dad and his buddies loved every one of them!  Now we have email and cell phones and so many easy ways to get hold of our heroes.  But the mail is still SO important!  You can't take a phone call with you in, tucked in your pocket.  You can't reread an email late at night when you're lying on your cot unable to sleep.  Having a note from home is so precious!  And, being able to mail a note home is just as precious!  Sending a beautiful card home, letting them know that you are ok, that you miss them and think of them often... well, that's just the best!  I am so glad to be able to work with the amazing founder of this organization, Sandy, on our Design Team!  She is an incredible woman and an inspiration!


Here is the card that I have made for this weeks challenge - you can earn an extra entry to win our prize, just by linking to Operation Write Home in your entry and you can earn yet another extra entry by actually mailing your card (or more) to Sandy and her super helpers to go to our heroes!  Just remember, NO GLITTER!  Glitter is not safe for our soldiers!

Thanks so much for playing along with us this week!  I do hope you send your cards to OWH!  You can send any other cards you like as well, just take a peek at the guidelines on our blog or the OWH blog to know what to send.


Happy Crafting!

I'm a busy card-maker today!

{Please scroll down for todays Karen's Doodles challenge card}

I decided to play along with some challenges today, there are a lot of fun ones going on right now!

First, we have the sketch at Friday Sketchers and my Card Makin Mamas group wanted us to use borders.  This card is part of an inside joke between my friend, Jessica and I.  When she posted the CMM challenge as "Run for the Border" I told her that I was going make a Taco Bell card!  I hope she likes it!  From my research, Te Quiero means "I Love You" in Spanish... if I'm incorrect, please let me know!  I'd hate to have my card say something completely different!  LOL!

Image: Meljen's Designs

Next is the sketch at Kenny K and the colors from the new Ribbon Girls challenge blog - Black, Orange and White

Image: Kenny K

And last, is the sketch at Waltzing Mouse

Image: Meljen's Designs (Today's Freebie!!)

New Karen's Doodles Challenge

Hello, friends!  I hope you all have had a wonderful weekend!!

The beginning of the week, of course, brings with it a new challenge at Karen's Doodles!  This week, we challenge you to combine your Karen's Doodles images with 7 of something!  Anything your little heart desires, as long as there are 7 of them!!  Flowers, gems, images (can you get 7 Karen's Doodles images on one card?)

There are some beauties from the Design Team this week!  Be sure to check them out and see if you can find their 7 somethings :)

Anne - Annita - Chris - Dorte - Gini - Gro - Joey - Kelly - Lori - Nancy - Peri - Sandy - Tanja - Tracy - Zoe

For my card, I used the image Bigsby Wreath - which just happens to have 7 ornaments - and I added an acrylic bauble to each ornament.  I've seen so many beautiful PINK Christmas cards this year, and I really wanted to try to make one myself and see if I could pull if off... what do you think?

Sentiment: Ippity

And, there you have it!  Another Karen's Doodles challenge with a super fun Karen's Doodles image!

I hope you can play along this week, too!!  I look forward to seeing your SEVEN!


I'm also entering this card into the challenges at The Crafty Pad - Christmas Sparkle, Sew Many Challenges - Christmas & Totally Gorjuss - Christmas

SSC #78 - Seasons Change

It's Stamptacular Sunday Time, everyone!!

This week, we challenge you to create a card or project using as many colors as you can BUT only the colors of Fall!

I've used a lovely Swiss Pixie that I thought would look great in Fall colors

I hope you can join us at Stamptacular this week!  Our sponsor is Magnolialicious with an awesome Magnolia stamp for our random winner!

I'd like to enter this card into the challenge at Drunken Stampers - Salute To Fall & Stamp Something - Fall Colors

Thanks for visiting!

New Meljen's Challenge!

Hi Friends!!

There's a fun new challenge at Meljen's Designs DT blog today!
In Celebration of FALL and the beautiful colors that come along with it, we are challenging you to create a card or project using only Fall Colors!  And, there's five awesome new release images to get you in the mood!

This week, I've used the new release Little Pocket Mice on my card.  I knew I wanted to use this image, but I couldn't figure out how to do it with Fall Colors, until I looked at my own pants!!  I was wearing khaki slacks that day and thought that I could do a khaki pocket for the little mice!

Here's what I came up with

Such a fun card, I think!  I had a paper pack that came with matching die cut tags and frames, so I picked this frame and I used my Ippity stamps to add the sentiment.  Then I tied it on with some twill tape and added some eyelets.  I'm really happy with this card!  It's so easy to make fun cards using Meljen's images!  These little mice are so darn cute!

I hope you get a chance to play along this week, Fall Colors are so pretty and easy to work with!

Have fun and thanks for visiting!

Karen's Doodles Challenge & Blog Hop

Karen's Doodles is hosting a blog hop today along with our weekly challenge.  Visit each team member's blog and leave a comment.  We will be awarding random prizes of digi images chosen from the people who comment.  If you arrived here from Chris' blog you are on the right track.  If not, start at the Challenge blog for a list of the DT members in hop order.  In addition to our normal 3 winners, the Design Team will also pick a favorite entry who will be invited to join us as a Guest Designer for the month of October.  

*
Heres my card using this week's Lace challenge theme

Image: Bovine Beauty

I've had this lace forever and have been waiting for an excuse to use it!  I thought that it went well with Miss Bovine Beauty and the whole card made me smile, so the sentiment was perfect as well!  The sentiment can be found with many, many, many more here.

*

And now it is time to continue on with the hop by visiting my litter stamper, Emily.  But before you go, there is one more twist, if your name is chosen as a random winner and you have entered into this week's
Lace challenge, your prize will double!  And don't forget, if you get lost along
the way, you can always return to the Challenge blog for a
complete list of blogs to visit.  Winners will be announced on Tuesday, September 28th.  

SSC #77 -

Hi everyone!

I'd just like to give a big thanks to everyone who participated last week and sent their cards off to Operation Write Home!  I'm sure the soldiers will love to have your beautiful cards to send home to their loved ones this holiday season!

This week our Stamptacular challenge for you is

GRIDS!

Somehow, someway you are to use a grid on your project!

I've used Willow from Lil' Lolita @ Tickled Pink Stamps for my Grid card.
Don't forget to check ME out in October as I am honored to be a Guest Designer for Lil' Lolita!

I created a grid background by embossing the lines on my Scor-Pal - so simple!

If I can "Grid" it - so can YOU!  So come on, play along!

Our sponsor this week is 

You can't win it if you don't play!

Meljen's Inspiration!

Have you had a chance to play along with the recipe challenge at Meljen's yet??

1 Ribbon (Knot or Bow)

2 Flowers

3 Brads

Oh, shoot... I just realized that I'm missing a brad!  Will you forgive me???

For the 2 flowers, I've done 2 of each of the new Mini Cuties flowers from this weeks release, so cute, huh?

(**Please note: The Whimsy Shop is still undergoing some fixes, so in the meantime please email Denise directly if you are interested in purchasing the new digis. Thank you for your patience!**)

I also followed the sketch at ICS this week

Play along at Meljen's for your chance to win 3 free digis!