Congratulations are in the Stars

Good Morning, Stampers!

Today is MY day!! This week, I am featuring the stamp set Bravo for my Create with Connie and Mary Card 'Create"tions Collection. This set is great for honoring someone special for an accomplishment, celebration or commemoration. Great sentiments to really make someone feel special!

My card today features the congratulations sentiment. I combined it 

with stars for a fun celebration of accomplishment!

To achieve this effect, I stamped the sentiment onto Vellum cardstock

using Jet Black Stazon ink. Then, I added Gold Glitz Dazzling Details along the 

edges and it naturally curled the ends of the stars for a 3D effect.

SU!pplies:

Stamps: Bravo

Ink: Crushed Curry, Jet Black Stazon

Paper: Crushed Curry, Basic Black, Whisper White, Vellum

Accessories: Stars Decorative mat, Stampin' sponge, Star framelits, Gold Glitz Dazzling Details

Curious to see the Card "Create"tions Collection? Be a subscriber!

Visit Create with Connie and Mary for all of the details!

Happie Stampin'!

~Melissa

Create with Connie and Mary FREE PREVIEW WEEK!

Good Morning, Stampers!

Great news! It's FREE PREVIEW WEEK at Create with Connie and Mary! What does that mean? You have a chance to win a FREE subscription to the Create with Connie and Mary Card Collection every day this week! All you need to do is visit Create with Connie and Mary, see who is offering the FREE BLOG CANDY and leave a comment. That's it! So simple!

Not only that, all of the designers will have NEW projects featured on their blogs - so much inspiration piled into one week! You will definitely need to visit everyone every day this week!

My card today features the Corner Garden background stamp and the Simply Wonderful Sale-A-Bration stamp set. I stamped the floral image using Jet Black Stazon ink and colored the image with a blender pen and household bleach. I love how the Crumb Cake card stock changes to resemble So Saffron ink when the bleach is applied. Super-simple technique created in no time!

SU!pplies:

Stamps: Corner Garden, Simply Wonderful

Ink: Jet Black Stazon

Paper: So Saffron, Basic Black, Crumb Cake

Accessories: Basic Black 1/8" ribbon, Apothecary Accents framelits, Wide Oval Punch, Basic Pearls

Visit Create with Connie and Mary to join!

and see who is offering FREE BLOG CANDY today!

Happie Stampin'!

~Melissa

Merry Everything!

Good Morning, Stampers!

Have you been enjoying the Create with Connie and Mary Holiday Card "Create"tions?!  

I am so impressed with the cards that have been showcased so far - The designers have really out-done themselves this time around! With all these great ideas, you will have plenty of fabulous cards ready to give this holiday season!

I have a card to share with you today that features the stamp set called Merry Everything. 

Not only does this stamp set have an image for each upcoming holiday, 

it has a coordinating punch to boot!!

When I first saw this punch, I thought it would make a great tombstone

to match the vampire image - what do you think?

SU!pplies:
Stamps: Merry Everything, Frightful Wreath, Skinny Mini ABC, Holiday Home
Ink: Whisper White, Jet Black Stazon, Smoky Slate
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Gray, Silver Glimmer, Smoky Slate, Typeset DSP
Accessories: Basic Black Baker's Twine, Note Tag Punch, Star Framelits, Confetti Stars punch, Lucky Stars embossing folder, Sponge Dauber

Be sure to visit Create with Connie and Mary and Subscribe to the Holiday Card "Create"tions.
Even though we are well into the first week, you will still have access to ALL projects so you won't miss a thing! Over 72 cards with full-color instructions for just $19.95. That's only .28 per card! Such a great deal!

Happie Stampin'!
~Melissa

FREE Preview Continues!

Good Morning, Stampers!

   Welcome back to another day of the Create with Connie and Mary 

Card "Create"tions FREE PREVIEW WEEK! 

My card today features the Holiday Home stamp set.

This is one set you won't want to be without! 

Create projects for Fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Winter - 

ALL events covered! 

Whatcha think of the background? Pretty cool, huh?

I took a basket coffee filter and spritzed it with water. 

Then, I dropped Pumpkin Pie, Hello Honey, Old Olive and 

Rich Razzleberry reinkers onto it and let the colors bleed together.

The result is this colorful blended background that can fit most any project!

The inside of the windows has a spooky glow.

I used a Blender pen that I have dedicated to household bleach.

I simply dipped the tip into the bleach and lightly touched the windows

and let the bleach do its magic!

SU!pplies:

Stamps: Holiday Home\

Ink: Jet Black Stazon

Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Whisper White, Basic Black

Accessories: Blender Pens, Homemade Holidays framelits, Itty Bitty Banner framelits, Basic Black Baker's Twine, Filligree Frame embossing folder, On Film framelits

NON SU!pplies: Household Bleach, Basket Coffee Filter

Remember, the Holiday Card "Create"tions go LIVE on Sunday, August 31st!

Enjoy new card ideas EXCLUSIVE to subscribers!

Head to Create with Connie and Mary to

see who is offering FREE BLOG CANDY today!

Be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win

and don't forget to subscribe, too!

Happie Stampin'!

~Melissa

Free Preview Week Continues!

Good Morning, Stampers!

Are you enjoying the Create with Connie and Mary Holiday 
Card "Create"tions FREE Preview Week this week?!
A BIG THANK YOU to all of you who left a comment
for a chance to win FREE BLOG CANDY yesterday!
Winners will be announced later this week -
GOOD LUCK to ALL!

Today, I have a Holiday Card to share with you today.
 I am IN LOVE with the new Wondrous Wreath stamp set and coordinating framelits!! It is just a gorgeous combination! I got
 lots of oohs and ahhs from this card from my class this past
week - simple and WOW! It's all in the products!

SU!pplies:
Stamps: Wondrous Wreath
Ink: Wild Wasabi, Garden Green, Cherry Cobbler
Paper: Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Gold Glimmer
Accessories: Wonderful Wreath framelits, Filligree Frame embossing folder, Beautifully Baroque embossing folder

Happie Stampin'!
~Melissa

Curious to see who has FREE BLOG CANDY TODAY? 

Visit Create with Connie and Mary to see!

Card "Create"tions FREE PREVIEW WEEK!

Good Morning, Stampers!

AHH! I AM SO EXCITED FOR TODAY - It's the Day 1 of the Holiday Card "Create"tions FREE PREVIEW at Create with Connie and Mary! Are you ready for some FUN??!!!

JOIN US for our NEW Holiday Card Create-tions 2014 

featuring stamp sets in the new Holiday Catalog!

• Over 72 EXCLUSIVE cards featuring 18 stamp sets!
• Edition runs August 31 - September 20
• FULL-COLOR printable supply lists, directions & measurements
• 24/7 access
• Perfect for classes or personal cards!

Create each and every card and your Holiday cards 

will be complete BEFORE the Holiday Season! 

Visit Create with Connie and Mary to 

subscribe each day this week.

You will have a chance to win one of 

several Blog Candy give-aways! 

Before you head out, I have a Holiday card to share with you! 

I love all of the coordinating products in the NEW Holiday Catalog!

It takes all of the "guess-work" out for you! 

One of the new sets I know you will love is the Festival of Trees.

It is so much fun to mix n' match! 

SU!pplies:

Stamps: Festival of Trees

Ink: Tuxedo Black Momento, Garden Green

Paper: Whipser White, Real Red, All is Calm Specialty Designer Paper, Gold Glimmer

Accessories: Tree Punch, Itty Bitty Banners, Itty Bitty Star Punch, Basic Rhinestones, Sixxix Little Letters

Happie Stampin'!

~Melissa

Card "Create"tions BONUS and BLOG CANDY!

Good Morning, Stampers!

Have you seen the Create with Connie and Mary Card "Create"tions All Occasion Edition? The fabulous subscription for oodles and oodles of CARDS!! Over 72 exclusive cards featuring 18 stamp sets that you you won't see anywhere else!  Pretty incredible, huh?!

We are in Week 2 of the All Occasions Editions but you can still get all of the tutorials from the very beginning! You won't miss a thing!

Here's a little taste of what you will see when you join in on the fun! This is a simple sketch - just the way I like it!

I created this card using the new stamp set A Round Array - the Sneak Peek stamp set from the upcoming 2013-2014 Idea Book and Catalog that is available now!

How about a little bonus??!! Create with Connie and Mary have a **BONUS** project and BLOG CANDY today! Check out Create with Connie and Mary for all the details!

Happy Stampin'!

3x3 Canvas Art

Good Morning, Stampers!

How did you enjoy the first week of Create with Connie and Mary's Card "Create"tions? Wheren't the ensembles incredible?! All of the card ideas for your favorite stamp sets all in one place!

Today, we are changing things up a bit. Instead of a card, we are showcasing our stamp set from this past week in a fun, 3D project!

The Up, Up and Away stamp set has the perfect little images for a miniature size canvas. You can find these little 3x3" canvases at your local craft/hobby store and create your own little work of art!I

I began with the Gumball Green DSP along the bottom for the grass. Next, I stamped the clouds in Island Indigo ink directly onto the canvas. The little birds are stamped in Basic Black ink. On a separate piece of Whisper White cardstock, I stamped and extra cloud and the balloon in Real Red and Tangerine Tango. I stamped the balloon basket in in Chocolate Chip ink and added the cut-outs using Stampin. Dimensionals. Finally, I added the Daffodil delight itty bitty punched flowers with Rhinestones to complete the canvas.

Be sure to check out Create with Connie and Mary for all of the Designer's Creations!

Happy Stampin'!

CCMC Color Challenge 246

Good Morning, Stampers!

I have to admit, I was a little unsure of the color combination this week at Create with Connie and Mary. It was totally out of my color comfort zone and I really wasn't sure what to do! Until I realized that it is the exact color combination of our fabulous Sent With Love ensemble! It was like a light bulb went off in my head!! After that, it was as simple as putting it all together!

My other favorite thing to do with the Sent With Love set  is adding our Itty Bitty Banners to the end of the airplane to look like a sky-writing banner! So many sentiment choices with that one stamp set! Cutting out the pieces from the Designer Series Paper make making this card a breeze!

SU!pplies:
Stamps: Itty Bitty Banners
Ink: Island Indigo, Real Red markers
Paper: Calypso Coral, Whisper White, Real Red
Accessories: Sent with Love DSP, Real Red ribbon, Dotted Scallop Borer Punch

DON'T FORGET! If you haven't yet subscribed to the fantastic Card "Create"tions yet, there is still time! Don't miss out on all of the fabulous stamp set ensembles created by the Create with Connie and Mary Designers! Head over to the Create with Connie and Mary website to join!

Happy Stampin'!
~Melissa

Card "Create"tions - LIVE!

Good Morning, Stampers!

I am so excited to be todays designer for Create with Connie and Mary's Card "Create"tions All Occasions Edition! My feature stamp set today is Up, Up and Away. I love this set because of it's versatility - you can't go wrong with any occasion and this stamp set!

Of course, the ONLY way to see my cards is to subscribe to the Card "Create"tions All Occasions Edition HERE.

I did, however, create a card for you today featuring this set, too!  Sort of like a *bonus* card!

This card is super quick and easy - my kind of card!

Begin with a Pacific Point card base. Stamp the clouds in Pacific point. Stamp the birds in Basic Black and the sentiment in Whisper White ink.

On a separte piece of Whisper White cardstock, stamp the balloon in Daffodil Delight and cut. Stamp the balloon tail in Pacific Point and cut.

Adhere the  tail to the card front. Adhere the balloon to the card front using Stampin' Dimensionals.

Be sure to head over to Create with Connie and Mary to see all of the details on how you can get in on the Card "Create"tions!

Happy Stampin'!

Card "Create"tions FREE Preview and BLOG CANDY Part Two!

Good Morning, Stampers!

Welcome to another Create with Connie and Mary's Card "Create"tions FREE PREVIEW today! Connie has a sample of cards as well as BLOG CANDY on her blog be sure to check it out for a chance to win!

JOIN US for a the NEW Cards "Create"tions for All Occasions Edition using occasions, nature and celebration stamp sets from the Main and Spring Mini catalogs!

* Over 72 EXCLUSIVE cards with 18 stamp sets featured! 
* March 31 - April 20
* Printable supply lists, measurements and DIRECTIONS!
* 24/7 access
* Perfect for classes or personal cards!
* Designers Elizabeth Price, Melissa Davies, Debbie Henderson and Deb Currier are joining us!

Create with Connie and Mary Card "Create"tions for All Occasions Edition only $19.95 US

I have a little teaser to share with you today! The Swallowtail is one of the stamp sets I will be featuring in the coming weeks!

I first cut the butterfly from Whisper White cardstock and the Sizzix Beautiful Butterflies. Then I inked up the Swallowtail stamp with Versamark ink and laid the butterfly cut out onto the stamp. I embossed the image with Early Espresso embossing powder and colored with Primrose Petals, Always Artichoke, Baja Breeze, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight and Crumb Cake markers. SUPER-EASY!

SU!pplies:
Stamps: Swallowtail, Curly Cute
Ink: Basic Black
Paper: Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie
Accessories: Primrose Petals, Always Artichoke, Baja Breeze, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight and Crumb Cake markers, Early Espresso embossing powder, Versamark ink, Dotted Scallop ribbon border punch, Sizzix Beautiful Butterflies die, Manhattan Flower embossing folder. Wire

Happy Stampin'!
~Melissa

Card "Create"tions FREE PREVIEW and BLOG CANDY!

Good Morning, Stampers!

I have GREAT NEWS to share with you! Create with Connie and Mary's Card "Create"tions for All Occasions has a FREE PREVIEW beginning TODAY! Mary is kicking things off with a sample of cards and BLOG CANDY! Be sure to visit her blog - Stamper Camper's Corner to enter!

JOIN US for a the NEW Cards "Create"tions for All Occasions Edition using occasions, nature and celebration stamp sets from the Main and Spring Mini catalogs!

* Over 72 EXCLUSIVE cards with 18 stamp sets featured! 
* March 31 - April 20
* Printable supply lists, measurements and DIRECTIONS!
* 24/7 access
* Perfect for classes or personal cards!
* Designers Elizabeth Price, Melissa Davies, Debbie Henderson and Deb Currier are joining us!

Create with Connie and Mary Card "Create"tions for All Occasions Edition only $19.95 US

I also have a card to share with you, too!

This card was SO quick and easy to do thanks to the Print Poetry Designer Series Paper Pack from the Spring Occasions Mini Catalog! The beautiful, rich colors are from the 2012-2014 In-Colors as well as Crumb Cake and Very Vanilla from the Neutrals Collection. I simply added the Just Thinking stamp set and some ribbons and trim along with a scallop circle. Can't get any easier than that!

SU!pplies:

Stamps: Just Thinking

Ink: Midnight Muse

Paper: Very Vanilla, Midnight Muse, Print Poetry DSP

Accessories: Sizzix Perfect Pennants, Lace Trim, Vanilla Seam Binding, Circle Punch

Happy Stampin'!
~Melissa

CCMC Color Challenge #244

Good Morning, Stampers!

This week's color challenge reminds me of sunshine and blue skies - something we haven't seen here in Michigan in a very long time! I was ready to dive in!

This card is a great way to use up scrap strips of cardstock! Just curl the ends of the cardstock.

SUpplies:
Stamps: Basic Label, You're Amazing
Ink: Daffodil Delight, Not Quite Navy, Marina Mist
Paper: Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist, Not Quite Navy
Accessories: Apothecary Accents framelits, Daffodil Delight stitched ribbon, stripes embossing folder, Bright Buttons

JOIN US for a the NEW Cards "Create"tions for All Occasions Edition using occasions, nature and celebration stamp sets from the Main and Spring Mini catalogs!

* Over 72 EXCLUSIVE cards with 18 stamp sets featured! 
* March 31 - April 20
* Printable supply lists, measurements and DIRECTIONS!
* 24/7 access
* Perfect for classes or personal cards!
* Designers Elizabeth Price, Melissa Davies, Debbie Henderson and Deb Currier are joining us!

Create with Connie and Mary
Card "Create"tions for All Occasions EditionOnly $19.95 US

                                           Visit Create with Connie and Mary to join!

Happy Stampin'!
Melissa