Water Spritzing

 Good Morning, Stampers!

There’s something magical about autumn crafting—the crisp air, rich colors, and of course, pumpkins! Today I’m featuring Stampin’ Up’s Beautiful Pumpkins stamp set paired with one of my favorite techniques: water-spritzed stamping. This simple trick transforms your stamped images into soft, painterly works of art, perfect for cards, tags, scrapbook pages and seasonal décor.

Water-Spritzed Stamping:

• Ink up your pumpkin stamp with your chosen fall colors.

• Before pressing to paper, lightly spritz the inked stamp with water. A fine mist works best—you want droplets, not puddles.

• Stamp onto watercolor paper or thick cardstock. Watch as the ink blooms and blends, creating a watercolor effect without the brushwork.

Each impression is unique, with soft edges and natural blending that feels like hand-painted art. It’s a wonderful way to add depth and texture to your autumn projects!

SU!pplies:
Stamps: Beautiful Pumpkins
Ink: Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake
Paper: Thick Basic White, Pumpkin Pie, Gathering Together DSP
Accessories: Stampin' Spritzer, Gold Striped Ribbon, Water Painter

Happie Stampin'!
~Melissa

Paper Craft Crew Weekly Challenge #646

 Good Morning, Stampers!

(click photo to enlarge)

Welcome to the Paper Craft Crew Weekly Challenge!

There's something about this season—its deep rusts, warm ambers, 

muted greens and cozy browns—that invites reflection. 

It’s a time to pause, gather, and celebrate the blessings 

tucked into everyday moments. Choose what inspires

you and create along with us!

I combined the Natural Botanicals and Layered Thoughts 

stamp sets for my card using Old Olive, Cajun Craze and

Crushed curry inks. I love the simple technique of adding water

to ink with a water painter - it really adds depth and dimension and

creates a gorgeous backdrop for any image! 

May your days be full of cozy inspiration, your hands busy 

with beautiful things, and your heart wrapped in the warmth 

of being grateful, thankful, and blessed! Thanks for joing us today!

SU!pplies:
Stamps: Natural Botanicals, Layered Thoughts

Ink: Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze, Old Olive, Early Espresso

Paper: Very Vanilla, Gathering Together DSP, Gold Foil

Accessories: Water Painter, Branching Out dies, Blending Brushes, White and Gold Baker's Twine

Happie Stampin'!
~Melissa

Check out more ideas featuring this week's challenge:

CSF Saturday Blog Hop - Fall Flowers

 Good Morning, Stampers!

Welcome to the Create with Stampin' Friends Saturday

Blog Hop! Today, the team is featuring flowers that are full

of rich color and bring a touch of warm and cozy to the Fall season.

We are so happy you are here to join us!

My card blends a little rustic texture with floral elegance by combining

the Sunflower embossing folder, Impressions Abloom dies

and the Paper Tags stamp set. The Sunflower embossing folder 

is stunning on it's own, but I just love how the detail "pops" 

with a little swipe of the ink pad. The floral dies can easily

adapt to any season and the simple sentiment ties them all together!

SU!pplies:
Stamps: Paper Tags

Ink: Early Espresso, Craft White

Paper: Misty Moonlight, Mossy Meadow, Crushed Curry, Early Espresso, Country Woods DSP

Accessories: Impressions Abloom dies, Traditional Labels dies, Gold Striped Ribbon, Traditional Sparkling Sequins

Happie Stampin'!

Ready for more Fall flowers inspiration?

Go NEXT to see what Connie created or BACK to 

see what Libby created!

Paper Craft Crew Weekly Challenge #645

 Good Morning, Stampers!

This week, the  Paper Craft Crew invites you to play
along with a creative Tic Tac Toe challenge where every square 
is a spark of inspiration! Here's how it works:

Choose any three elements in a row—horizontal, vertical, or diagonal
—from the tic tac toe board above and create a project that 
brings them to life. Whether you're stamping, layering, 
or die-cutting, let your imagination run wild!

I chose Leaves/Plaid/Neutrals for my card. The focal point is a die-cut

 leaf window featuring the Gathering Moments bundle layered with a 

clear window sheet, allowing a peek-through to the sentiment tucked inside.

 It adds a playful surprise and a touch of dimension—like peeking 

through autumn foliage to discover a heartfelt message!

Here is a little trick I used to line up the two sentiments.

I placed them onto the window sheet and inked it right up!

I then folded the card shut and pressed to transfer the ink.

Worked like a charm!

SU!pplies:

Stamps: Simply Said, Beautiful Butterflies

Ink: Early Espresso

Paper: Basic White, Window Sheet, Timeless Plaid DSP

Accessories: Gathering Moments dies, Antique Flat Pearls, Essentials Baker's Twine, Glass and Gardens embossing folders

Stampin' Blends: Balmy Blue, Crumb Cake

Thanks for joining me today! I hope you'll give this week's Tic Tac Toe Challenge a try!

Happie Stampin'!
~Melissa

Making Multiples with Watercoloring

 Good Morning, Stampers!

There’s something magical about fall—the crisp air, the golden light, and the way nature seems to paint the world in watercolor. Today, I’m sharing a project that captures that cozy, colorful feeling using Stampin’ Up!’s Gathering Moments bundle. With its detailed imagery and heartfelt sentiments, this bundle is a dream for autumn crafting. And when paired with rich fall hues and a few splashes of watercolor, the result is a work of art!

Shop the Gathering Moments bundle HERE

SU!pplies:

Stamps: Gathering Moments

Ink: Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze, Early Espresso

Paper: Fluid Watercolor Paper, Pumpkin Pie, Gold Foil

Accessories: Gathering Moments dies, Black/White Gold Baker's Twine. Loose Gold Sequins, Thoughtful Moments hybrid embossing folder, Water Painter

Happie Stampin'!
~Melissa

Quarterly Team Gifts!

 Good Morning, Stampers!

I LOVE MY rubberFUNatics TEAM! We just ended our Stampin' Up! year last month and I had a few team members who reached their goals for the final quarter. I gifted them pop-up trash bins with our team name along with these tags featuring the NEW Gathering Moments bundle. I'm so blessed to have these amazing people to share my love of paper crafting with! I'm a lucky girl! 

Shop the Gathering Moments

bundle HERE

SU!pplies:
Stamps: Gathering Moments

Ink: Old Olive, Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze

Paper: Basic White

Accessories: Gathering Moments dies, water painters, blending brushes, raffia, Gold Loose Sequins

Happie Stampin'!

~Melissa

I would love to have you join my team!

Contact me with any questions or

JOIN HERE  to start your crafting journey!

CSF Saturday Blog Hop - Neutral Fall Colors

 Good Morning, Stampers!

Welcome to the Create with Stampin' Friends 

Saturday Blog Hop! This week, the team is paying tribute to fall’s quieter 

side, featuring neutral tones that evoke warmth, calm, and natural beauty.

Fall is a season of reflection, warmth, and connection—and the 

Gathering Moments bundle captures that spirit beautifully with the 

neutral tones. It's like a warm hug, perfect for celebrating the quieter 

moments of autumn!

SU!pplies:

Stamps: Gathering Moments

Ink: Pecan Pie, Petal Pink, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake

Paper: Very Vanilla

Accessories: Loose Gold Sequins, Linen Thread, Pressed Flowers embossing folder,

Gathering Moments dies

Happie Stampin'!

Check out more ideas featuring neutral Fall colors!

Go NEXT to see what Connie has created or 

BACK to see what Libby has created!

October Monthly Fun Folds - Gathering Moments

 Good Morning, Stampers!

It's HERE! The October Monthly Fun Fold Kit to Go features the Gathering Moments bundle. Beautiful Fall leaves with (3) all-new folds. Limited kits available while supplies last. Reserve your kit by October 15th - kits ship by October 31st. Shipping is included.

(click photo to enlarge)

SU!pplies Needed to Complete:
Stamps: Gathering Moments
Ink: Crushed Curry, Pecan Pie, Basic Beige, Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, Mossy Meadow

Gathering Moments W/ BUNDLE - $82.00 - Contact Me Directly

Gathering Moments KIT ONLY - $25.00 - HERE

Gathering Moments PDF ONLY - $6.95 - HERE

Happie Stampin'!
~Melissa

CSF Saturday Blog Hop - Fall Favorites

 Good Morning, Stampers!

Welcome to the Create with Stampin' Friends Saturday

Blog Hop! Today we're celebrating all the cozy, colorful, and creative 

joys of autumn with a lineup of inspiring projects from the team.

 Whether you're drawn to pumpkins and plaid, acorns 

and apples, or just the golden glow of fall leaves, 

you're sure to find something that sparks your seasonal spirit!

As the leaves turn and the air grows crisp, it's the perfect time to cozy up 

with some creative inspiration. This card celebrates all the things I adore 

about fall—rich colors, comforting textures, and those little seasonal joys

 that makes my heart smile. Whether it's apple pie, a steaming mug of 

cider or an apple cinnamon sugar doughnut, this design wraps up 

autumn's charm in one festive creation!

SU!pplies:
Stamps: More Than Autumn

Ink: Versamark, Timid Tiger, Pecan Pie, Mossy Meadow

Paper: Crumb Cake, Basic White, Pecan Pie, Cherry Cobbler, Mossy Meadow

Accessories: Stylish Shapes dies, More Than Autumn dies, Basic Beige ribbon, Linen Thread

Stampin' Blends: Mossy Meadow, Timid Tiger, Darling Duckling, Cherry Cobbler, Pecan Pie, Smoky Slate

Happie Stampin'!

Ready for more Fall inspiration? Go NEXT to see what

Connie created or BACK to see what Libby created!

  

CSF Saturday Blog Hop - Falling Leaves

 Good Morning, Stampers!

The Create with Stampin' Friends is stepping off the beaten 

path and letting our creativity wander into unexpected palettes

for this week's Saturday Blog Hop! Think whimsical colors

that defies the usual harvest hues!

Autumn is a season of cozy gatherings, crisp air, and creative 

inspiration—and Stampin’ Up!’s new Gathering Moments bundle 

captures that spirit beautifully. I reached for Cloud Cover, Cajun Craze,

 and Basic Beige—an ink trio that brings softness and warmth, with

 touch of gold foil to add a little sophistication to the season! 

SU!pplies:
Stamps: Gathering Moments

Ink: Craft White, Cloud Cover, Cajun Craze, Early Espresso

Paper: Cloud Cover, Basic Beige, Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Gold Foil

Accessories: Gathering Moments dies, Loose Gold Sequins

Happie Stampin'!

Ready for more unexpected color combinations 

from the rest of the team? Go NEXT to see what

Connie created or BACK to see what Libby created!

   

Peek-A-Boo - Thinking of You

 Good Morning, Stampers!

Today's card features a little simple stamping stepped up with a peek-a-boo sentiment! This idea can be designed to work for any occasion using any shape die or punch. Simply stamp your card front as desired. Then, cut out a shape to fit your desired sentiment. Cut and adhere a panel to fit the inside of your card.  Close the card and stamp the sentiment through the opening for perfect placement - so easy! You can finish off the card as desired - add ribbon and speckles as shown, or add your creative touch with a few decorative embellishments to coordinate with the occasion!

SU!pplies:

Stamps: Natural Botanicals

Ink: Cajun Craze, Craft White

Paper: Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla

Accessories: Stylish Shapes dies, Water Painters, Vanilla Baker's Twine

Happie Stampin'!
~Melissa

rubberFUNatics Weeklt Challenge #358

 Good Morning, Stampers!

(click photo to enlarge) 

 This week's rubberFUNatics Weekly Challenge features 

this fun faux-weave design in warm, Fall colors.. As the leaves turn and 

the air gets crisp, it’s the perfect time to cozy up with your craft 

supplies and dive into a seasonal sketch challenge!

I chose the Beautiful Pumpkin stamp set and coordinating 

dies—a bundle that brings all the warmth and charm of the autumn 

season - for my card. It's one of the new bundles featured in

the Online Exclusvies Collection this month. I love the detail 

in the Distinktive Stamps line - they add so much depth and

dimension to the images!

Shop the Beautiful Pumpkin bundle HERE

SU!pplies:
Stamps: Beautiful Pumpkins

Ink: Versamark, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Pecan Pie

Paper: Very Vanilla, Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake, Old Olive

Accessories: Beautiful Pumpkins dies, Loose Gold Sequins

Thanks so much for joining me this week!

Happie Stampin'!
~Melissa

rubberFUNatics Weekly Challenge #357

 Good Morning, Stampers!

(click photo to enlarge)

It's Friday! That means it's time for another

rubberFUNatics Weekly Challenge!
This week,we are embracing the beauty of Autumn!

The NEW Gathering Moments was the perfect

bundle for this challenge. It captures the essence of Autumn - 

from the details in the leaves and the variety of sentiments,

to the intricate textures in the coordinating dies, there is 

beautiful foliage for all your Autumn projects!

Whether you're crafting for an occasion, a seasonal swap, 

or just to celebrate the changing season, 

I hope this challenge inspires you to dig into your 

stash and let Autumn lead the way.

SU!pplies:
Stamps: Gathering Moments
Ink: Timid Tiger, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Mossy Meadow, Craft White
Paper: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Water Painters, White and Gold Twine, Loose Gold Sequins

Happie Stampin'!

~Melissa

Paper Craft Crew Weekly Challenge #637

 Good Morning, Stampers!

The Paper Craft Crew is back this week with a 

Fall-themed inspiration challenge. 

As the leaves turn and the air gets crisp, it's the 

perfect time to gather our creative spirits and 

celebrate the magic of Fall together. We hope

you'll play along with us!

If you love all things warm, cozy, and delicious, you’ll love 

what you can do with the More Than Autumn Stamp Set! 

I combined the bundle with the Party Alphabet dies to

capture all my favorite things I love about Fall!

SU!pplies:
Stamps: More Than Autumn

Ink: Tuxedo Black, Craft White, Versamark

Paper: Crumb Cake, Basic White, Basic Black, Cajun Craze, Timid Tiger, Pecan Pie

Accessories: More Than Autumn dies, Stylish Shapes dies, Party Alphabet dies, Forever Plaid embossing folder

Stampin' Blends: Pecan Pie, Timid Tiger, Peach Pie, Crumb Cake, Cajun Craze.. Smoky Slate

Thanks so much for joining us today - we hope you'll play along!

Happie Stampin'!
~Melissa

Check out all the ideas featuring this week's challenge: 

CSF Saturday Blog Hop - Orange Colored Sky

 Good Morning, Stampers!

Welcome to the Create with Stampin' Friends Saturday Blog Hop!

We are closing out our month-long colors in the song titles theme with our final

song Orange-Colored Sky by Nat King Cole.

There’s something magical about the way sunflowers stretch toward the sun, and even more so when they’re set against a sky ablaze with orange hues. Today’s card is a celebration of that golden-hour glow—a blend of texture, warmth, and nature’s charm, brought to life with the Sunflower Embossing folder and a dreamy Orange Colored Sky theme.

The detail in this embossing folder is just gorgeous!

I simply swiped my craft white ink pad over the top of 

the embossed cardstock and the card just pops!

SU!pplies:
Stamps: Gathering Moments

Ink: Craft White, Pecan Pie

Paper: Basic White, Pumpkin Pie

Accessories: Perennial Postage dies, Sunflower embossing folder, Stylish Shapes dies, In-Color Flat Pearls, Gold Open Weave Trim, Gold/Silver Trim Combo Pack

Happie Stampin'!

Ready to see more Orange Colored Sky ideas?

Go NEXT to see what Connie created or

BACK to see what Libby created!