My Christmas Card

The first year that I hand stamped my Christmas cards, I sent out between thirty-five and forty cards.  The snowmen were stamped in basic black ink on whisper white cardstock, and I colored in every detail on those snowmen.  I might have added glitter or puff paint in the scene also.

This year, I decided to stamp a large solid image ( the ornaments) in one color and add details to complete the card.  My husband helped cut the layers that make this card.  I sat and ran those little scallop rectangles through the Big Shot one at a time.  The rhinestone was added at the finishing of each card to reassure myself that I was making progress with this huge project.

After many samples, here is the card that I decided to send to my friends and family this holiday season.  I am already imagining the quick scrapbook pages that I can create using those large ornaments in this stamp set.

All products are from Stampin' Up!

Stamp Set: Merry & Type

Cardstock: Island Indigo and Whisper White

Ink: Island Indigo

Basic Rhinestone jewels

Big Shot with Scallop rectangle clearlits die

Merry Christmas and Keep Stampin',

Melanie

The Detailed Preview

Most demonstrators like to play with their new stamp sets before they decide on the best thing to demonstrate.  Since I make so many Christmas cards, I play around and stamp several samples before choosing a final product that I will create eighty of.
This card has a little vintage flair and some great details.  Unfortunately, I do not have the time to make tons of these, and I would get sick of it fast.  I thought I would share this card with you.

All products are Stampin' Up!
stamp set: Merry & Type
cardstock: Verry Vanilla, Island Indigo, Pool Party
ink: Versa Mark and Island Indigo
punch: Decorative Label and Extra-Large Oval
Big Shot with the Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder
Basic Rhinestone jewels
Stamping Sponges
White Stampin' Embossing Powder with Embossing Buddy and Heat Tool

Keep Stampin'
Melanie

Christmas is Close

Can you believe how close Christmas is?  We only have two weeks left to make our final preparations to gather with family and friends to celebrate Christmas.  My family and friends have come to expect a card in the mail each year.  For years, I stamped all of my cards.  Then I found out that I was pregnant, and we sent out a picture card announcing the big news.  With the huge changes a child (and another) bring into life, the picture cards have been the easy way out for a few years.  I am happy to announce that I will be sending out my hand-stamped cards again this December.  Throughout December, I will be posting Christmas cards that I have made.  After my friends and family have received it in the mail, I will post the one that I sent out to more than 80 families.

This card was created with simple lines in mind.  Sometimes it is best to keep things simple at this busy time of year.  As you know, this card was made exclusively with Stampin' Up! products.

Stamp Set: Easy Events

Cardstock: Poppy Parade, Lucky Limeade, Basic Black and Whisper White.  Also, Pocketful of Posies designer series paper.

Ink: StazOn Jet Black ink pad with Lucky Limeade and Poppy Parade Stampin' Write Markers

Keep Stampin'

Melanie

Thankful for Birthday Month

Can you believe that we only have one week left of November?  We celebrated Thanksgiving yesterday with a houseful of family and friends.  The food turned out great, except the lumpy potatoes.  All had a great time and were thankful to gather together.  My experimenting with different cameras has proven that I need to figure out how to get these pictures better!

Stamp Set: Grunge Rock
Colors: Pumpkin Pie and Pacific Point and Whisper White Cardstock

This bright color combination has appealed to many boys.  Look for more cards next week, and I plan to figure out this picture taking task of cards so that you can seen them.

Keep Stampin'
Melanie

Birthday Month Continuing

Hello Stampers:
The weather continues to be so unpredictable, but the holidays are fast approaching!  During November, I continue to focus on my theme of birthday cards.  This card was created using pieces that I collected while participating in a unique swap with other Stampin' Up! demonstrators.  From one demonstrator, I received the clock from Easy Events and the old olive swirl image found in Baroque Motifs from another demonstrator.  I have been participating in this swap for a few months and decided that I need to make something of all these great images.  The images such as this clock were colored in with marker while sitting idle at the farmer's market.
Stamp sets: Easy Events and Baroque Motifs
Cardstock: Old Olive, Certainly Celery, Island Indigo and Whisper White
Ribbon: Old Oliver 1/4 grosgrain
Ink: swirls-old olive; markers-pacific point, lucky limeade, crumb cake and soft suede
Look for more birthday cards in a few days!
Keep Stampin' Melanie

Fun with Halloween and the Kids

Halloween just passed last week, and my kids made these bookmarks for school.  The amount of candy that each child brings home is unbelievable!  Many people are thoughtful by handing out themed pencils, erasers, squiggly straws, little bags of popcorn or small notebooks.  We used plenty of Anywhere Glue Sticks along with the Big Shot, Spider Web embossing folder, the 2 3/8 scallop circle punch, the 1 3/4 circle punch along with a bat punch that Stampin' Up! retired last year.  Our cardstock colors were basic black, tangerine tango, concord crush and basic gray.
My favorite part was the fun that we had assembling these together as a family.  The glue all over my table was not loved though.
Keep Stampin'
Melanie

Another All Ocassion Stamp Camp Card

Time flys by at this time of year when we are clearing the yard of ornaments and putting away the lawn mower for winter.  My stamping continues when the breeze outside gets a bits too chilly for my liking.  This card was inspired by another demonstrator, but I changed just a few slight things and used it for camp.

Stamp Sets: Raining Flowers and Teeny Tiny Words
Colors: Chocolate Chip, Pool Party, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White
Others: Big Shot, Framed Tulips Embossing Folder, and Color Spritzer Tool

Watch for more posts soon as I need to show you those birthday cards that I created for my birthday themed month of demonstrations.

Keep Stampin'
Melanie

Craft Show Crazy

For months, my calendar has been filled with events including sales here and sales there followed by a sparse Stampin' Up! workshop.  Stampin' Up! has designated a World Wide Week of Workshops from November 1 to November 8.  My theme will be "birthday" for this time frame.  All hostesses will be given a sample scrapbook page and handmade card to share with friends and family prior to the workshop or to help gather sales for their catalog show.  Many customers answered that they were too busy this time of year to have a stamping party or none of their friends are interested anymore.  The current products offered by Stampin' Up! include cookie stamps for the bakers in your life, digital designs for all computer savy friends including scrapbookers and card creators, organization boxes, and so much more.  No matter how busy life can be or who is interested, I always find time for stamping!  Creating cards relieves stress from my day.  When you save a few extra minutes from your day for creating projects, please let me know.  I would love to hear about your creations.

My card above features:
Field of Friends stamp set along with a retired Stampin' Up! word stamp
Scallop Oval Punch
Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine
Square Lattice Embossing Folder
Very Vanilla and Blushing Bride cardstock
Regal Rose, Pretty In Pink and Pear Pizzazz classic ink pads

Back to creating those birthday samples for my shows in a couple of weeks.  Look for at least one birthday sample to be posted here soon.

Keep Stampin'
Melanie

All Ocassion Stamp Camp

This past Saturday, more than 30 stampers gathered to assemble 15 cards each that had been designed by myself and two other local demonstrators.  Lady stampers ranged in age from 9 years old to 91 years old, and fun was had by all.  This All Ocassion Stamp Camp featured the Button Buddies, Delicate Doilies, My Friend, Snow Much Fun, Raining Flowers, and Easy Events stamp sets.  I also used words from Petite Pairs and Thoughts & Prayers stamp sets to finish the cards made with Raining Flowers stamp set.
On this sympathy card I used:
Raining Flowers s.s.
Cajun craze and always artichoke ink and cardstock
Oval and scallop oval punches
Papers snips
Pearl and dimensionals
Tulip Border frame embossing folder
Big Shot

Look for more pictures of camp cards later.
Keep Stampin'
Melanie

Back To School

While browsing my computer for photos of my cards, these Greeting Card Kids jumped out at me with those school uniforms.  School started just two weeks ago here in Wisconsin.  "Remember When" instantly triggers a person to think of the clothes they wore to school, who their friends were and how long ago that was.

• Stamps: Greeting Card Kids and Word Play
• Cardstock: Pear Pizzazz, Basic Black, Marina Mist, Real Red and Whisper White
• Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Marina Mist, So Saffron, Blush Blossom and Real Red Stampin' Write Markers and Jet Black StazOn Ink Pad
• Others: Big Shot, perfect polka dots textured impressions embossing folder, top note die, 1/8" marina mist taffeta ribbon, sticky strip, scallop trim border punch, 3/16" corner punch

I designed this card for an annual stamp camp that was held during the fall of 2010.  Inspiration for this card came from another Stampin' Up! demonstrator; however, I made a lot of changes to fit my liking.
Keep Stampin'
Melanie

Stampin' With Melanie

Just days ago, I started this blog and was curious to see if my new blog would show up when searched for in Google.  "Stampin With Melanie" pulls up a few different people.  I want to clarify that I do not have a facebook page at this time.  Therefore, the Stampin' With Melanie facebook page is not mine or associated with me in anyway.
Well, my goal is to get some pictures of cards added to this blog, so I need to get to work.
Keep Stampin'
Melanie

Getting Started--

Hello Stampers:
Many of you know that I have wanted to start a blog for sometime now!  Finally, we have internet service at our house.  Look for more information to be posted soon including the usual items that I email you.  My posts may include pictures of current cards that I am creating.  Most of my cards have been selling at the Galesville Farmer's Market this summer.  Several events yet this fall are keeping my stamps busy.  Look for details in the next few days.
Keep Stampin'
Melanie