Sneek Peek - Candle Party

 Good Morning, Stampers!

Bring the party to your paper crafting with the Candle Party bundle from the Online Exclusives Collection. Featuring candles in a variety of patterns, birthday cake, and celebratory accents, this bundle is designed to create playful handmade birthday cards and more. The coordinating stamps and dies let you stamp, cut, and layer delightful birthday details. Select candle and ribbon dies in this bundle are Impressions Dies, which add special embossed texture to your cutouts.

The Candle Party bundle also features two-step stampin’ which allows you to layer two or more images to create one final image with extra texture and dimension in the colors you want as well as impressions dies that can cut shapes AND emboss textural details. There is so much fun with the Candle Party bundle! Watch for it to hit my online store in November!

Happie Stampin'!
~Melissa

rubberFUNatics Weekly Challenge #410

 Good Morning, Stampers!

It’s time for another RubberFunatics Weekly Challenge, and this week 
we’re playing with a sketch challenge!

I love a good sketch because it gives you a starting point while still leaving 
plenty of room to make the design your own. For my card this week, I decided to keep things clean and simple with a little Christmas cheer!

This card is a great reminder that you don't have to add lots of layers or embellishments to make a card feel special. Sometimes a simple design, a few carefully chosen details, and a fun focal image are all you need!

SU!pplies:
Stamps: Merriest Tags , Soiree Salutations

Ink: Basic Black, Real Red, Bubble Bath

Paper: Thick Basic White

Accessories: Merriest Tags dies, Water Painter, Real Red Stitched Ribbon, Old Olive RickRack, White Twine, Seasonal Cheer Mini Embossing Folders, Stylish Shapes dies

Stampin' Blends: Real Red, Bubble Bath, Old Olive

Thanks so much for joining me this week!

Happie Stampin'!
~Melissa

12 Days of FREE PROJECTS!

 Good Morning, Stampers!

There’s something extra special about creating a handmade card for someone who could use a little pick-me-up and today’s card featuring the 12 Days of Creativity stamp set is all about sending a little love and a whole lot of cheer.

This sweet Get Well Soon card combines soft colors and delicate flowers using some of the gifts included in the 12 Days of Creativity Advent Calendar. 

 Four Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators collaborated to create this extra collection of projects, giving you even more ways to use your 12 Days of Creativity Advent Calendar and keep the creativity going!

Purchase the 12 Days of Creativity Advent Calendar

 and receive the FREE 12-project tutorial PDF FREE!

Get the 12 Days of Creativity Advent Calendar HERE

(PDF will be emailed once payment has been confirmed)

Already have the Advent Calendar? Purchase the

12 project PDF for just $20 - HERE

(PDF will be emailed once payment has been confirmed)

Happie Stampin'!
~Melissa

Hit the Slopes!

 Good Morning, Stampers!

There’s just something about a snowy mountain scene that makes me want to bundle up, grab a cup of something warm, and head for the slopes! Today I’m sharing a wintery birthday card featuring the Hitting the Slopes stamp set from Stampin’ Up!’s Online Exclusives collection.

The Hitting the Slopes stamp set is perfect for creating cards for the winter sports enthusiasts in your life. And I especially love that the images can be used for more than just holiday cards. The “Have an Epic Birthday” sentiment makes this design perfect for celebrating a winter birthday and the 2-tone card stock is the perfect choice for "tearing" into some snowy mountains!

Happie Stampin'!
~Melissa

rubberFUNatics Weekly Challenge #409

 Good Morning, Stampers!

(click photo to enlarge)

It’s time for another rubberFunatics Weekly Challenge, and this week we’re getting a little sketchy! 

I love a good sketch challenge because it gives you a starting point without telling you exactly where to go. You can follow the sketch pretty closely or use it as inspiration and put your own creative spin on it.

At first glance, a sketch might look pretty specific, but that’s the fun of it! The shapes and placement give you a jumping-off point, while the papers, colors, stamps and embellishments are completely up to you.

I gave the sketch a Christmas twist with the Pretty Poinsettia bundle

from the Online Exclusives collection. 

The three poinsettias create a visual triangle across the card in keeping with the sketch. The layered flowers and leaves add lots of dimension, while the soft neutral plaid background gives everything a place to shine without competing with the flowers.

Use the sketch as your inspiration and create a card of your own. Follow it exactly, change it up, rotate it, or simply use it as a starting point. The goal is to have fun and get creating!

SU!pplies:
Stamps: Pretty Poinsettias

Ink: Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Peaceful Pine, Golden Glow

Paper: Basic White, Cherry Cobbler, Peaceful Pine

Accessories: Pretty Poinsettia dies, Metallic Gems

Happie Stampin'!
~Melissa

CSF Saturday Blog Hop - Leaves or Trees

 Good Morning, Stampers!

Welcome to the Create With Stampin' Friends Saturday Blog Hop! This week's theme is Leaves or Trees, and I couldn't resist creating a card inspired by the beautiful colors of autumn. Even though the temperatures here in Arizona are still over 100 degrees, I love bringing those rich fall hues into my crafting room!

For today's project, I focused on creating a colorful background that captures the feeling of a forest transitioning into fall. The combination of warm oranges, reds, yellows, and greens creates a vibrant backdrop for a row of simple leafless trees. Sometimes the most striking scenes are created with the simplest images.

The background was created using a loose watercolor technique with plenty of splattering to add texture and movement. I love how the unexpected droplets create interest and give the appearance of falling leaves, drifting snow, or even a misty autumn morning. The organic look makes every card unique.

  (1) Add inks with blending brush      (2)  Add speckles with water painter

                                                      (3) Add speckles with Early Espresso ink

SU!pplies:

Stamps: Noel Tidings, Thanks and Giving

Ink: Cajun Craze, Old Olive, Golden Glow, Craft White, Early Espresso

Paper: Basic White, Early Espresso, Old Olive, Golden Glow

Accessories: Water Painter, Blending Brushes, White Twine, Seasonal Cheer Mini Embossing Folder, Stylish Shapes dies

Happie Stampin'!

Ready to see more Leaves and Tree ideas?

Go NEXT to see what Connie created or

BACK to see what Libby created.

Paper Craft Crew Weekly Challenge #689

 Good Morning, Stampers!

Welcome to another Paper Craft Crew Weekly Challenge! This week, we’re celebrating one of my favorite times of year with a Fall Theme! Fall crafting is all about warm colors, pumpkins, cozy patterns, and those little touches that make you want to curl up with a cup of something yummy. So, for this week's challenge, I created a card with a soft, vintage-inspired fall feel.

For my card, I wanted to step away from the traditional bright oranges and reds and instead use a softer palette of crumb cake, pecan, and warm golden tones. The result is a fall card that feels rustic and cozy!

SU!pplies:
Stamps: Thanks and Giving

Ink: Pecan Pie, Golden Glow

Paper: Basic White, Pecan Pie, Golden Glow, Glow of Harvest DSP

Accessories: Perinneal Postage dies, Stylish Shapes dies, Golden Glow Stampin' Blends, Pecan Pie Stampin' Blends

Happie Stampin'!
~Melissa

Check out more ideas featuring this week's challenge:

CSF Saturday Blog Hop - Favorite New Sept-Dec Catalog/Online ExclusiveSU!

 Good Morning, Stampers!

The crafting season is officially in full swing, and between the Sept–Dec Holiday Mini Catalog and the ever‑growing Online Exclusives Collection, inspiration is everywhere! For this week’s Create with Stampin’ Friends Saturday blog hop, we’re celebrating our favorite bundles from these two exciting collections.

Whether you love the cozy classics of the holiday lineup or the fresh surprises tucked into the online releases, this time of year makes it easy to create projects that sparkle with creativity!

For me, the standout is the Wrapped Greenery bundle — it captures the cozy elegance of the season, so I layered rich greenery and berries against a textured white background. I paired it with a sentiment from the Scalloped Christmas Cheer stamp set. The result is a card that feels crisp, classic, and full of traditional holiday cheer!

SU!pplies:

Stamps: Wrapped Greenery, Scalloped Christmas Cheer

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Cloud Cover

Paper: Basic White, Cloud Cover, Peaceful Pine, All Wrapped Up DSP

Accessories: Cloud Cover ribbon, White Baker's Twine, Basic Rhinestones, Wrapped Greenery dies, Softly Woven embossing folder

Happie Stampin'!

Ready to see more favorite new bundle ideas?

Go NEXT to see what Connie created or

BACK to see what Libby created!

Sweet Old Friends

 Good Morning, Stampers!

At our latest Shoe Box Swap, I had the pleasure of creating this darling notebook designed by Claudia. Her project instantly tugged at my heartstrings — a perfect blend of whimsy and warmth that celebrates the joy of old friends. If you’re new to the magic of a shoe box swap, it’s one of my favorite ways to craft with friends. Each participant designs a project, packs all the supplies into a tidy little box, and everyone rotates through creating each other’s designs. It’s creativity, camaraderie, and a whole lot of paper‑craft joy!! 

The Sweet Old Friends bundle and coordinating designer

papers are part of the Online Exclusives Collection and are available in my 

online store while supplies last.

Shop my online store HERE

Happie Stampin'!
~Melissa

Under My Wing - Coming Soon!

 Good Morning, Stampers!

The NEW Under My Wing stamp set is one of those quiet gems—simple at first glance, but overflowing with creative potential once you start playing. Whether you’re crafting encouragement cards, whimsical scenes, or soft seasonal designs, this set will bring a breath of fresh air to your craft table. Watch for the NEW Under My Wing stamp set from the Online Exclusives Collection to hit my online store in September!

Happie Stampin'!
~Melissa

rubberFUNatics Weekly Challenge #404

 Good Morning, Stampers!

(click photo to enlarge)

This week, we’re trimming the tree with creativity! The rubberFUNatics Weekly Challenge is all about Christmas tags—those tiny festive treasures that turn any gift, treat, or handmade goodie into something extra magical. Whether you love classic holly‑and‑berry elegance, peppermint‑striped whimsy, or cozy gingerbread charm, this challenge invites you to craft a tag that feels like a little holiday hug.

I couldn’t resist diving into the Merriest Tags set for this week’s project. 

Each tag layers rich holiday colors — red, green, white, and a touch 

of black — with poinsettias, holly leaves, and snowflakes for texture 

and charm. A mix of stitched ribbons and textured trims ties 

everything together for a cozy, classic look!

SU!pplies:
Stamps: Merriest Tags

Ink: Basic Black, Craft White, Versamark

Paper: Thick Basic White, Real Red, Peaceful Pine, Basic Black, Shimmering Stripes DSP

Accessories: Merriest Tags dies, Real Red Stitched ribbon, Old Olive RickRack, Red/White Baker's Twine

Stampin' Blends: Real Red, Old Olive, Peaceful Pine

I hope this week's challenge gives you a little kick start to your holiday paper crafting!

Happie Stampin'!
~Melissa

Oh, My Pumpkin!

 Good Morning, Stampers!

The Oh My Fright Bundle and Spooktacular Designer Paper are the stars of today’s frightfully fun project—a pumpkin treat box that’s equal parts spooky and sweet! This project was designed by Karen for a recent shoebox swap I attended and I absolutely love it! This little box is perfect for candy favors or table décor and captures the playful spirit of Halloween. It’s quick to assemble, easy to customize, and guaranteed to make your spooky season sparkle!

6-1/4" x 4" x 2-1/2"

Shop the gable boxes and Halloween products

in my online store HERE

Happie Stampin'!
~Melissa

A Merry Little Gift - FREE TUTORIAL!

 Good Morning, Stampers!

The holiday crafting season is tip‑toeing in—peppermint steam swirling, twinkle lights warming up, and our creative fingers itching for festive fun. And because I love spoiling my crafty friends, I’ve put together a FREE Christmas Banner Tutorial as a special gift for my email subscribers!

This banner is pure holiday cheer: crisp layers, cozy textures, and a sprinkle of rubberFUNatics whimsy. Whether you’re decorating your mantle, trimming the tree or brightening your craft room, adding a handmade touch to your holiday gatherings with the Pretty Poinsettia bundle from the Online Exclusives Collection has never been more fun! Join my email list HERE - Watch for the tutorial in my newsletter beginning August 16th! Enjoy over 100 tutorials to print with new ones added every week!

Happie Stampin'!
~Melissa

Fun with Simply Leaves

 Good Morning, Stampers!

Leaves set the tone for fall crafting, and the Simply Leaves bundle from the Online Exclusives Collection brings that cozy feeling right to your craft table. I went a little out-of-the-box for today's project and created a flower using the 2026-2028 In-Color designer papers. Each “leaf” became a petal, cut from patterned paper and curled with a bone folder. I layered them around a textured die cut circle, added striped leaves for contrast, and suddenly my workspace looked like a garden in full bloom! 

Shop the Simply Leaves bundle in my online store HERE

Happie Stampin'!

~Melissa

Appreciate All You Do

 Good Morning, Stampers!

There’s something cozy about crisp embossed leaves and a sentiment that says “I truly appreciate all you do.” Today's project celebrates gratitude with the Simply Leaves bundle, pairing soft texture with rich autumn tones for a card that feels both heartfelt and timeless.

The Simply Leaves Bundle reminds us that creativity doesn’t always need to be bold. Sometimes the simplest designs carry the most heart. If you’re craving a project that feels peaceful, grounding, and beautifully simple, this bundle is your new crafting companion!

SU!pplies:
Stamps: Simply Leaves 
Ink: Timid Tiger, Cajun Craze, Early Espresso
Paper: Thick Basic White
Accessories: Simply Leaves punch, Seasonal Cheer embossing folders, Old Olive gems, White Seam binding, Linen Thread

Happie Stampin'!

~Melissa

Paper Craft Crew Weekly Challege #683

 Good Morning, Stampers!

This week's Paper Craft Crew Challenge is Simple Stamping! This spooky-cute spins a little magic from the Web of Fun bundle from the Online Exclusives Collection.  I wanted something that felt both eerie and fun— a starry night sky dotted with paint‑splatter “stars,” a silvery web glistening in the moonlight, and a friendly spider dangling below. The trio of die‑cut BOO sentiments adds playful pops of color that make the design come alive! 

SU!pplies:
Stamps: Web of Fun

Ink: Craft White

Paper: Basic Black, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive

Accessories: Water Painter, Web of Fun dies

Happie Stampin'!
~Melissa

Check out more ideas featuring this week's Simple Stamping challenge:

Poetic Petals Sneak Peek

 Good Morning, Stampers!

I'm sharing a first look at the upcoming Poetic Petals bundle from the Online Exclusives Collection coming in September!  This bundle brings mixed lettering sentiment stamps together with decorative floral square dies, giving your greetings a beautiful setting. It’s an easy pairing for cards, tags, and notes when you want the words and details to feel beautifully balanced and will certainly WOW as a fun, inter-active shaker card, too!

Watch for the Poetic Petals bundle to hit my online store in September!

Happie Stampin'!
~Melissa

rubberFUNatics Weekly Challenge #401

 Good Morning, Stampers!

(click to enlarge)

Who says poinsettias have to wait until December? This week,
I'm adding a little holiday cheer to the rubberFUNatics sketch challenge with the NEW Pretty Poinsettia bundle for a card that feels both festive and fresh! It's a joyful mix of holiday magic and summertime brightness. The embossed white background adds cool texture, while the plaid banner and bold red mini banner give that cozy Christmas‑morning feel.
The star bloom steals the show, layered in Real Red and Peaceful Pine with a pop of Golden Glow in the center — because even in July, we deserve a little sparkle!

SU!pplies:
Stamps: Pretty Poinsettia

Ink: Early Espresso

Paper: Thick Basic White, Peaceful Pine, Real Red, A Stitched Season DSP

Accessories: Pretty Poinsettia die, Gold Gltter Dots, Swirls of Magic embossing folder

Stampin' Blends: Peaceful Pine, Golden Glow, Real Red

Thanks so much for joining me this week - I hope you give this sketch a try!

Happie Stampin'!
~Melissa

Join the fun HERE today!

Paper Craft Crew Weekly Challenge #682

 Good Morning, Stampers!

This week, the Paper Craft Crew is celebrating the art of wordplay—because sometimes, one word says it all! Whether you stamp, emboss, die‑cut, or layer your letters, have FUN with LETTERS and let your sentiment take center stage!

I included some fun NEW Online Exclusive products for my card.

Merriest Tags “JOY” card—is a golden reminder that typography can be just as expressive as imagery. The embossed gold letters shimmer with personality, while the holly sprigs peek through to add festive flair. I finished off the card with some colored rhinestones for added sparkle!

Tip for the wreath: Stamp the holly image around a die cut circle!

SU!pplies:
Stamps: Merriest Tags

Ink: Basic Black, 

Paper: Thick Basic White, Gold Foil

Accessories: Party Alphabet dies, Swirls of Magic embossing folder, Basic Rhinestones

Stampin' Blends: Real Red, Peaceful Pine

Happie Stampin'!
~Melissa

Get a box full of surprises when you join

the Stampin' Up! family!

Get more information and join HERE