A whimsical place to play, where paper and ink become one.

Monday, November 24, 2014

Paper Nest Dolls Caroling Snowmen

Hello Friends,

The weather has turned chilly here in the south so I decided to use this adorable stamp called "Caroling Snowmen" by the Paper Nest Dolls for this weeks Design Team Card. This stamp was such fun to color and you can find it available to purchase in The Paper Nest Store.
I have used a shimmering piece of designer cardstock as the background of this card. It has the most beautiful glitter snowflakes on it so I wanted them to be a part of the design. I have added Joy Craft/ Noor! Snowflakes and I have to say these are the best dies on the market. They have just recently opened a USA website so these lovelies are available to us now without all the extra shipping costs of overseas shipping. I am completely in love with them.

 Here is a close up of my coloring. I have used the stippling effect in multiple blue tones to shade the icy snowmen. The Copic Colors used were:

B0000,B000,B00, B91,B93,R32,R37,YG11,YG13,YG17,YG61,YR02,YR04,C1,C3,C5,C7,E21,E23

Also the Joy Craft/ Noor! Dies used were:

 Picture    Picture

Thank you for stopping by today, Have a great day!

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Open-Minded Crafting Fun ~ Thankful Challenge

Hi Friends,

I hope everyone is having an amazing day today. This week's challenge theme over at Open-Minded Crafting Fun so I decided to make a "Thank You" card.  I've used a digital image named "Jolene" by the Stamping Chef.


 I have had fun with my layers in this card. I have used a variety of items including Joy Craft/Noor! and Spellbinder Dies, Martha Stewart border punch, Whimsy sentiment stamp/die set, and lovely Wild Orchird Crafts flowers.

 Below is a close up of my coloring. I colored this one during my vacation back in September so I no longer have my list of Copic Colors.She was a joy to color though.


I would like to thank this weeks amazing sponsors:

A DAY FOR DAISIES


DIGISTAMPS4JOY


JUST SOME LINES


THE EAST WIND

and of course the sponsor who supplies my amazing image
THE STAMPING CHEF

Please make sure to stop by there shops this week and support their amazing stores!

Thank you for stopping by today, I hope you have been inspired and that you have a wonderful CRAFTY week!

Saturday, November 15, 2014

House-Mouse & Friends Blog Hop Challenge

Hi friends, 

I have a little something different to share with you today. I have been collecting House-Mouse Stamps for quite sometime and I ran across a fun Blog Hop this week over at House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge 182 so I decided to give it a go. I decided to go with a cute Christmas Card as the challenge theme is "Brr it is cold outside, with an optional anything goes". I did not have any outside winter stamps that showed snow or something cold so I thought Mr. House snuggling up with a kitty was as close as I could get.

 I've made this card for my mom for her Christmas Card. She loves her tabby kitty so I attempted to make him look like a tabby. The mouse is fast asleep and they are curled up inside staying warm wanting for Santa hopping to get some nibbles from the treats he is going to leave in the stockings.

I have used my Silhouette Cameo to cute out this sweet card. I Also used Copic Markers to color this adorable stamp with and chosen some Prima flowers and a sentiment from the stamp set From Treasured Times Rubber Stamps called "Vintage Santa & Sentiment Set" By Illustrator Vickie Duffill. This stamp set has so many wonderful images. 
Here is the stamps you receive in this amazing sentimanet set. You can purchase it by going to the Treasured Times Stamps Shop.

I am entering this card into the 
House-Mouse & Friends Monday's Challenge 182

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Noor! Designs UK ~ Design Team Call

Hello friends,

I am busting at the seams tonight with this project I am publishing. I feel like I have come full circle as an artist. I know my work will always be evolving, but this Noor! Designs U.K. Design Team Call really moved me. I loved the change of focus from focusing mostly on the image to focusing on showing off the actual dies. This was such a creative feeling. I was worried at first because I only own 3 Noor! Designs/Joy Craft Dies, but when I put a blank slate in front of me and focused on those 3 dies, magic began to happen! My thanks go out to the entire Noor! Designs Family for making such beautiful products for us to work with. 



I started this project by choosing a shaped base card and used my Cameo Silhouette to cut out the
4 shaped pieces. From there I added the beautiful Noor! Designs "Butterfly Edge" using two layers to give a shadow effect. 
 Here is a close up of the Noor! Designs "Butterfly Edge". I added pretty pearls to the butterflies.
 In this photo you can see a close up of my coloring. I have used Magnolia's Rubber Stamp named "Tilda with cross Necklace" She was a joy to work with and design around. I have colored her using Copic Markers in the following colors: 
E000,E00,E04,E11,E21,E23,E25,E27,E33,E35,E37,E51,E53,E55,E59
B91,B93,B97,YR12,YR14,YG93, & YG95
This is where the fun began. Utilizing the Noor!/Joy Craft French Lily Oval set I have used the frame to die cut my image and have used a background trace to add a frame behind that showcasing the beautiful lattice corners of the Lily Oval Die. This Die set also comes with matching vines and fleur de lis which I have also used to add even more interest. The background lattice behind the image in the corners is from the "Square Frame" Die from Noor!/ JoyCraft and I have both inked as well as fussy cut it to fit perfectly within my shaped card layers. Below are the actual pictures of these amazing dies.
Butterfly Edge
French Lily Oval

Square Frame


 Now for the actual entry requirements for this Noor! Designs U.K. Design Team Call. 

A Little Bit About Myself

 I am 41 years old, married to my soul mate, and have 3 amazing children. Two of my children are in college out of state and one is a junior in high school. I am a stay at home mom and live to be crafty. My new year’s resolution for 2014 was to stay focused and learn all I could so I could eventually join design teams. I started my first team in April 2014 and have been learning and evolving as an artist every since. I am focused and driven to be the best I can be, and am always up for a challenge. I think that is why this design team call has been so rewarding. I feel like I have found myself with this card. 

Why should I be chosen for this position??? 

When I set my mind to something, the sky is the limit, but I am also very much a team player and love teams which support each other. I am very organized when it comes to posting to blogs and having my projects completed by the required date. I am a positive person who focuses on growth and love supporting everyone around me. If I was chosen for this team I would be honored to work with the current design team.

what media sites you belong to???

I absolutely love Facebook and am online numerous times a day. I have started playing around with Pinterest and Twitter as well. One thing I am setting my goal on for 2015 is to begin a
YouTube channel. My 16 year old has one and I think I would love to share with other crafters the way they have shared with me. I have spent many hours learning from you tube as well as Kit & Clowder which I am a member of. I am currently signed up for the Hair & Skin class, Clothing Class, and numerous project classes. .

I believe this completes my Design Team Entry, the only thing left is posting this post and adding myself to the Inlinkz information and the Noor! Designs DT Call Blog. Click HERE if you would like to also try out for this amazing team. Thank you Noor! Designs for such an rewarding opportunity.







Monday, November 10, 2014

The Paper Nest Dolls ~ Artist Ellie

Hiya Friends,


I have a simple card for you today. As soon as I saw this new stamp by The Paper Nest Dolls I immediately new I had to color it. After all, what is better than a wagon full of Copic Markers???

 I did not want to cover up the artistic paper I used here so I have simply added a bow to the side for added interest.
I had fun coloring Artist Ellie in Rainbow colors. She is ready to go coloring with her girlfriends.Here is a close up of my coloring. I have used ALOT of different Copic Markers, which I will list below:

E000,E00,E11,E21,E08,E51,E53,E55,R20,R27,R29,RV06,RV09,RV14,B06,B28,B29,BG05,BG23, V05,V06,V09,V25, BV00,BV13,G02,G09,YG06,Y06,Y08,Y17,YR02,YR65,YR68,C1,C3,C5,C7

Thank you for stopping by & Happy Coloring!



Saturday, November 8, 2014

Open Minded Crafting Fun Challenge ~ Fowl Of All Kinds ~ The Stamping Chef

Hello Friends,

Life has been a little hectic around the Smith household. The cool air of autumn is currently changing all the leaves here in Georgia very vibrant colors. I love this time of year and this year we have a lot to be thankful for. In the spirit of the Thanksgiving season The Open Minded Crafting Fun challenge this fortnight is "Fowl of all kinds" So get your thinking caps on and create a card using any kind of bird. This image called "Ella Lovely" by The Stampin Chef was just perfect. If you look close you will see Miss Ella looking up at her 'birdie friend' - The bird is actually part of this adorable image but I decided to cut them apart for my card :-)

 I used the sentiment on the background paper and worked my card around it with matching papers. I distressed all the edges with my Tim Holtz distress tool and distress ink.

 Just an angled look to see the dimension of the flowers.

 This cutie is part of the "Ella Lovely" image and I have fussy cut him out and added him to the top of the card. Isn't he adorable?

Here is a close up of just my coloring. I used Copic Markers in the following colors:
E000,E00,E04,E11,E21,R20,R24,R27,R29,G12,G14,G17,BG02,BG05,Y17,100,E13,E15,E35,E37,E59

I want to thank all of our awesome sponsors this week. 






Please consider stopping by their stores in an effort to support these amazing companies. 

Friday, November 7, 2014

Hello Mr. Snowman ~ Exclusive stamp By Mi Ran Jung

Hello Treasured Times Friends,


Today I come to you with a really fun inspirational post using one of the newly released rubber stamps from Treasured Times Rubber Stamps. This is an Exclusive stamp By Mi Ran Jung. Isn't it just precious? I absolutely love snowmen at Christmas time and they are so fun to color. I have also used a "Merry Christmas" sentiment from our newly released "Modern Christmas" Stamp Set. Make sure to check all the newly added stamps over on our website simply by clicking on "recently added" 

 I have used Copic Markers to color my image and used paper from my stash. The die is from Joy! Crafts Dies and I have cut it down to create the shapes shown. Lace and flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts.
 Here is a close up of my coloring.

Thank you for visiting today. I really appreciate any comments that are left. If you begin following my blog please let me know your blog address in the messages below and I will return the favor. :-) 

Happy Crafting!

Melanie Smith

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Treasure Times Stamps Christmas Blog Hop Party!

Hi welcome to the Treasured Times Rubber Stamps "Christmas Release Blog Hop". The TT design team has created some amazing projects to inspire you. We hope you will follow along for your chance of some amazing prizes!

My project for this hop is one of the new release stamps simply titled "Aleks" By Jehanne Silva Freimane. The stamp measures 3.75" Tall x 2.75" Wide.

I  have a special person who will be receiving this come Christmas.  I tried to keep the card somewhat masculine due to the person I will be sending it to. The image was such fun to color and I absolutely love the little birdy looking up at "Aleks"

I have used an image from the new release set called "Modern Christmas Set" By Vickie Duffill. It is an amazing set of sentiments which I am sure I will use over and over again :-)


Here is a close up of my coloring. I have used Copic Markers in E000,E00,E04,E11,E21,E31,E33,E35,E44,E47,E49,E59,R20,R27,R29,G24,G94,G99,Y17

I hope you like my project and be sure to leave a comment to be eligible for the blog candy and I would love for you to become a follower of my blog. I look forward to reading your comments about my work, now please hop on over to Tracey's blog for more inspiration.
Here is the blog hop line up in case you get lost along the way

 Keeley Ainsworth
Denielle Sargeant


Many thanks for hopping with us today and hope to see you again soon.

Winner will receive 1 of each of the new stamps being released today, 12 stamps total.
Winner to be announced November 3rd.