Control Freaks May Blog Hop - Plant a Garden

 Hello, Stampers!

Welcome to the May Tour de Freaks blog hop! 

This month, the theme is Plant a Garden. We've been enjoying

some gorgeous planting weather here, so it's perfect timing for this theme!

Whether you are just arriving from the wonderful Wendy Weixler or

just starting out here, this hop will sure to inspire your own garden-themed projects!

I combined the Hello Lady Bug and Ringed with Nature stamp sets

for these cards. It was a bit of a challenge as these are two stamp sets

are complete opposites when it comes to design - one clean and simple and

the other has a little more rustic/nature feel. But combined, they work!

I decided to give the flowers the stage for the top card and kept the ladybug

all in white. The card on the right combines a few of the flowers but 

also leaves room to add a photo, too. This would be great to send to

grandparents with their grandkids photo. A sweet little keepsake.

SU!pplies:
Stamps: Hello Lady Bug, Ringed with Nature

Ink: Early Espresso, Shaded Spruce, Granny Apple Green, Lemon Lime Twist, Pool Party, Melon Mambo, Highland Heather, Daffodil Delight, Calypso Coral, Versamark

Paper: Basic White, Smoky Slate, Les Shoppes DSP

Accessories: Stylish Shapes dies, Iridescent Rhinestones, Basic s3D embossing folders, White embossign powder, heat tool

Happie Stampin'!
~Melissa

Be sure to continue along on the rest of the hop!

We've have so much more to share with you!

Next up is Cindy - you will love what she has to share with you!

Control Freaks April Blog Hop - Sketch Challenge

 Hello, Stampers!

Welcome to the Control Freaks April Blog Hop!

This month, we are creating around this sketch. So many

possibilities to include fun patterns, designer papers and

textures with embossing! Whether you are just arriving from Debbie's

blog or just starting out here, we have lots of great ideas for you

to incorporate into your own projects so be sure to 

hop around to see them all!

I did a masculine and feminine version using the Legendary

Ride bundle. The Ready to Ride designer papers add color, texture 

and interest and and it's so versatile! Perfect for any biker fan!

SU!pplies:

Stamps: Legendary Ride

Ink: Tuxedo Black, Polished Pink, Craft White

Paper: Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Polished Pink, Pumpkin Pie

Accessories: Legendary Ride dies, Metal Plate embossing folder, Stylish Shapes dies

Happie Stampin'!
~Melissa

Cindy is up next - you'll love her sketch design!

Control Freaks March Blog Hop - Color Challenge

 Hello, Stampers!

Thank you for joining us for the March Blog Hop!

We have a fun color challenge for you that will really get you 

kicking off the Spring and Easter season! Whether you are just starting 

out here or arriving from Bree's blog, we know you'll be

hoppin' right into a little creative inspiration!

I really love this color combination! So much so that I created

the same card featuring the Easter Bunny stamp set with

all three bunny images and the NEW Radiating Stitches dies from

the Online Exclusives in the challenge colors! Not only

is this set great for Easter, it works great for baby and any 

springtime event or occasion!

SU!pplies:

Stamps: Easter Bunny

Ink: Smoky Slate, Blushing Bride, Craft White

Paper: Basic White, Highland Heather, Granny Apple Green, Balmy Blue

Accessories: Radiating Stitches dies, Blender pen, Iridescent Rhinestones

Stampin' Blends: Balmy Blue, Highland Heather, Granny Apple Green

Happie Stampin'!

~Melissa

Next up is Debbie Henderson.

You'll LOVE what she has to share with you!

Control Freaks February Blog Hop - Spread Love

 Hello, Stampers!

Welcome to the Control Freaks February Blog Hop! This month's theme is 

"spreading the love" and whether you are just starting out here

or arriving from my friend Cindy Elam at Heart's Delight Cards, 

we can't wait to share some of that love with you! 

Nothing says LOVE like a wedding or anniversary! 

I created these cards featuring the Decorative Borders stamp

set from pg. 47 of the January-June mini catalog.

The set gives you so many options for creating

beautiful floral deorative borders. You can use them

alone or combine them for a unique look all your own!

SU!pplies:

Stamps: Decorative Borders, Celebrating You

Ink: Early Espresso, Craft White

Paper: Very Vanilla, Polished Pink, Early Espresso

Accessories: Quatrefoil embossing folder, Cane Weave embossing folder, Scalloped Contours dies, Very Vanilla Baker's Twine, Alphabet a la Mode dies

Stampin' Blends: Polished Pink, Mossy Meadow

Happie Stampin'!
~Melissa

Ready for more great ideas? 

Next up is Bree Renwick at

Craft-somnia Momma

Control Freaks January Blog Hop - Fun Folds

 Hello Stampers!

Welcome to the January Control Freaks blog hop!

The team is so excited to share some fun and fancy

folds with you - you'll want to create to impress for

yourself, too! Whether you are arriving from the wonderful

Wendy Weixler or just starting out here, I know you

will enjoy these projects as much as we have creating

them for you - ENJOY!

I am so in love with these sweet little Adorable

Owls from Sale-A-Bration! I combined them with the 

Ringed with Nature bundle - it's a perfect match!

I was so happy to see that this bundle made the carry over list!

You may be wondering where the fun fold is on here.

You need to take a peek on the inside to see the.....

SURPRISE! A fun little pop-up that has these 

little owls enjoying an afternoon flight! 

It's so easy to do, too! The outside card measures 

4 1/4" x 5 1/2" folded. The inside card measures 

4" x 5 1/4" folded. To get the center to pop, just 

bring the center fold to the inside, line up the edges

of the card and press the closed. For thicker cardstock,

you can just used your score tool. So fun!

SU!pplies:

Stamps: Adorable Owls

Ink: Tuxedo Black, Balmy Blue

Paper: Basic White, Soft Suede, Basic Black, Mossy Meadow, Crumb Cake

Accessories: Stylish Shapes dies, Tree Rings Hybrid embossing folder and die set, Cloud punch, blending brush

Stampin' Blends: Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Granny Apple Green, Balmy Blue, Medium Deep

Happie Stampin'!
~Melissa

Ready for more folding fun? 

Go NEXT to see what LeeAnn Greff

has to share with you!

Control Freaks November Blog Hop - Devine DSP

 Hello, Stampers!

Welcome to the November Control Freaks blog hop!
This month, the team is back sharing some fun ideas 

featuring our beautiful and festive designer papers!

Whether you are arriving from Debbie's blog or just

starting out here, I am sure you will find lots of fun

and new ways to create with your own collection

of gorgeous designer papers!

I created these two cards using some of my favorite designer

papers from the mini catalog -  Santa Express and Storybook Gnomes.

I was going for a patchwork look and I think these cards fit!

The best part (and the hardest part) is deciding what

patterns to choose for the projects! 

SU!pplies:

Stamps: Kindest Gnomes

Ink: Craft White

Paper: Basic White, Pacific Point, Storybook Gnomes, Santa Express

Accessories:Scallop Contour dies, Wonderful Snowflakes, Wintry 3D embossing folder, Santa Express Memories and More 

Thanks so much for joining us this month!

Happie Stampin'!

~Melissa

Ready to see more ideas?

Follow along on the hop to see how the rest

of the team created with designer paper!

Next up is Bree Renwick!

Control Freaks October Blog Hop - Happy Holidays

 Hello, Stampers!

The FrEaKs are back this month with a festive holiday

theme! It's hard to believe it's already that time

of year. The next several weeks are going to go by so fast

and the team is here, ready to help you get a head start on

some project ideas for all the upcoming holidays. Whether you are

joining me from Debbie's blog or just starting out here, be sure

to check out all the festive project ideas to get you in the holiday spirit!

I couldn't decide which holiday to focus on, so I did all three!

This card features the Merriest Moments bundle.

I stamped the springs, berries and holly all before running 

it thru Merry Melody embossing folder. Then, I topped it off

with a sentiment and a few poinsettia flowers.

I kept it really simple for this Thanksgiving card.

A little embossing with the Elegant Eucalyptus embossing

folder and some layered wreaths with the Country Wreaths

dies. A little gold trim and flower embellishments add 

just the right amount of sparkle. 

This is a fun one! I covered a pill box from the dollar store 
using the Celebrate Everything designer papers and the Alphabest stamps. 

I filled it with a bunch of fall-colored candies and topped it off with a
few die cut bats. You can easily personalize this idea
for a birthday, graduation, get well, etc.. or you could use this as a special 

treat for a spouse/child/co-worker, etc. and fill it with their 

favorites, too! A tasty little treat for every day of the week!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Happie Stampin'!

~Melissa

There's lots more to see! Next up is Cindy! You will

love what she has to share with you!

Control Freaks September Blog Hop - Stepping it Up

 Hello, Stampers!

The FrEaKs are back and are Stepping it Up for this month's Blog Hop!

The team will be showing how to take stamping from a beginner,

to a casual and finally to an avid level. Whether you are starting out here

or arriving from Debbie's blog, we definitely have something for everyone today!

This card is for the beginner stamper. It has a little

basic ink to paper stamping as well as a simple

"speckle" technique. Just dip a wet paint brush into

a little Crumb Cake ink and tap the brush over the paper.

This card is for a casual stamper. It has a little basic

stamping but also introduces a little die cutting,

embellishing and layering.

With the addition of more stamping and embellishing,

this card is more for the avid stamper. It also may

introduce a little more tedious cutting, an additional

technique or extra embellishing. Here, I added a banner

to the sentiment. To give it more of a 3D look, I

added a couple of score lines on each side and folded 

the ends to make the sentiment stand out. 

SU!pplies:

Stamps: Cottage Wreaths

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Soft Succulent, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Evening Evergreen

Paper: Basic White, Soft Succulent, Distressed Gold

Accessories: Stylish Shapes dies, Scalloped Contour dies, Country Wreaths dies, Soft Succulent ribbon, Elegant Gold trim, Real Red Rhinestones, Waterpainters

Happie Stampin'!

~Melissa

Check out more great Stepping Up ideas from the team!

Next up is Bree Renwick!

All Aboard the Santa Express!!

The Holiday Project Kit to Go!

(click the photo to enalege)

Get all the details HERE

Control Freaks August Blog Hop - Seeing Spots

 Hello, Stampers!

Welcome to the August Tour de Freaks blog hop! This month,

we are SEEING SPOTS! Whether you are arriving from the

very talented Debbie Henderson, or just starting out here, 

I think you will find lots of fun ideas using circles that you 

can incorporate into your own papercraft projects!

For this card, I created a fun background by cutting  (3) circle masks in 

varying sizes using the Stylish Shapes dies. I then used my blending brush 

along with Petal Pink ink to add the different sized circles to the card base.

This card was so simple to do and really is eye-catching!! I simply cut

(11) Basic White and (1) Basic Black circles from the Stylish

Shapes dies and stamped the butterflies using Tuxedo Black ink and the

sentiment using Craft White ink. A little texture on the background 

really makes the images "pop"! 

SU!pplies:

Stamps: Biggest Wish, Butterfly Brilliance, Stitchery

Ink: Tuxedo Black, Craft White, Petal Pink, Pool Party, Calypso Coral

Paper: Basic White, Polished Pink, Crumb Cake, Basic Black

Accessories: Blending Brush, Seasonal Sequins, Stylish Shapes dies, Gingham embossing folder

Happie Stampin'!
~Melissa

I hope you enjoyed these ideas!

There is lots more to see so be sure to check out

all the ideas! Next up is Cindy at Hearts Delight - she is so creative!

Control Freaks June Blog Hop - Favorite New In-Color

 Hello, Stampers!

The Freaks are back this month creating our projects

using our favorite new colors from the 2022-2024 In-Color

Collection! Whether you are arriving from Bree's Craft-somnia

Momma's blog or just starting out here, we have some fun ideas to share

with you featuring these beautiful colors!

I was tickled to see a bright green! Parakeet Party is quickly becoming

my favorite because it works so well will the rest of our color 

collection as well as all on it's own! It's such a happy color!

These sweet little hippos are from the upcoming Sale-A-Bration

promotion beginning in July. I paired these images with the 

Sweetest Cherries stamp set for a fun birthday and gift card set. 

The NEW Mini Pocket Envelope dies are the perfect

size for a gift card, a little cash or a small treat!

SU!pplies:

Stamps: Hippest Hippos, Sweetest Cherries

Ink: Tuxedo Black, Parakeet Party

Paper: Basic White, Parakeet Party, Parakeet Party DSP

Accessories: Parakeet Party Metallic Ribbon, Mini Pocket Envelope dies, For Everything Fancy 

Sequins, Basic Rhinestones

Stampin' Blends: Parakeet Party, Smiky Slate, Flirty Flamingo, Petal Pink, Daffodil Delight, Pool Party

Happie Stampin'!
~Melissa

Continue along on the hop! Next up is Wendy at Wickedly Wonderful

Creations! Can you guess what her favorite color is????

Control Freaks May Blog Hop - Clean and Simple

 Hello, Stampers!

Welcome to the Tour de Freaks May Blog Hop!

Whether you are arriving from LeeAnn Greff's blog or

just starting out here, the team is ready to share some 

fun clean and simple and easily duplicatable projects with you!

Clean and simple cards are my favorite type of cards to create!

They are great time-savers or when you need to make a large

batch of holiday cards or invitations. They save on postage, too!

SU!pplies:

Stamps: Garden Birdhouses

Ink: Whisper White, Tuxedo Black, Parakeet Party

Paper: Basic White, Parakeet Party, 2022-2024 In-Color DSP

Accessories: Scallop Contour dies, Hydrangea dies, Basic Rhinestones, Stitched Greenery die

Stampin' Blends: Parakeet Party, Daffodil Delight, Balmy Blue, Tahitian Tide, Crumb Cake

Happie Stampin'!
~Melissa

We have more great clean and simple

ideas for you! Next up is the talented Cindy Elam!