MOJO 14

Here is my card for Julee’s Mojo Monday #14. I used foam board for the second layer. Instead of the diagonal going under the second layer, I ran it across – mainly b/c I wanted to see the edges. I used my SU! spiral, round tab and ticket corner punches for added interest. The paper came from my secret pal stash …. still don’t know what company! The flower was part of the paper – I cut it out and put an old button in the center. Topped it off with liquid pearls! Colored staples replaced adhesive in spots! Fun and easy! – Melinda

Artist Trading Doll

Remember a few posts back? I was working on my ATD and just had the eye blocked out. Well, she’s done!!!! The theme for this one was “Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder”. I used foam board as the body once again and pulled out some wire mesh I’ve had forever. It took a few days to get the components to fuse together but I’m happy with the results. Oh yeah, I also finally found a use for some spirals my dad gave me from a project he’d been working on … the spirals are made from plastic tubing he drilled into! I try to incorporate recyclables whenever they fit! I cut the center out of the foam board to insert the “eye” that was then placed behind a wire mesh. What sort of messages comes across to you? I would be interested in hearing about them! -Melinda

Mojo Monday #13 and ATD preview

To begin …. just so you know, I get bored easily!!! So I needed to change up my blog’s look … I thought this was festive!!! I also change my hair color at least 3 times a year!!! Ok, so I thought I was going to work on my ATDs today but got settled …. and found some mojo!!! I played with the new set SU! sent called Time Well Spent. I’m happy with how it turned out! I’ve also posted a sneak peek into the start of my ATD swap card.

Ok, so this card uses the following Stampin’ Up! products:

CS: very vanilla, basic gray, soft sky and whisper white
DS: charbon
Inks: choc. chip, basic gray, soft sky, blue bayou and river rock
Misc: silver brads, white grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals

The card is standard size and the ovals are 2 1/2″ x 3 1/4″ (white) & 2 3/4″ x 3 1/2″ (gray). Every edge was daubed to death with choc. chip (after being beat up with the distressor). Very simple to create!

My one picture of my upcoming ATD is centered on my eye. (yep, that’s a picture of moi! – I love to take photos of myself! – come on now – who doesn’t take their own “model” shots when no one’s looking Anyway, my theme revolves around “eye” and that’s all I’m saying for now …. it’s drying in my studio right now!

ATDs: Artists Trading Dolls

We’ve all heard of ATCs – those fun little works of art that get traded out? Today I am working on what is called an Artist Trading Doll – same size, same concept but in the form of a “doll” – and I interpret ‘doll’ loosely. The theme for the swap this month is “Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder”. So I started out with that theme in mind last night and somehow found a new path … I ended up with ” A Heart of Gold” …. not quite finished. After sleeping on the idea, I am renewed and have a sketch now to follow! I will post my little creations this afternoon! (with some deets on creating them) …. Have a great morning, afternoon or evening- depending upon your little part of the world! -Melinda

Festival of Trees

My tree has been delivered, set up and ready to go! Yah!!! I was in awe over all the wonderful trees created for this event. I felt like Charlie Brown with his little puny tree at first – ha! But I put that aside and told myself – there is a tree here for everyone! I kid you not – some of those trees looked like an explosion of ornaments! I was happy with how my tree turned out – especially for my first time! Here is a picture of the tree and final destination:

This is my tree complete with a star topper made from Stampin’ Up! products: DS Charbon, Silver Wire, Eyelets, Chipboard Stars. Scattered throughout the tree are various ornaments I created from the On Board Trimmings Chipboard Pack. I used either DS Cerise or DS Charbon to cover each one. My bling for each ornament started as punched vellum flowers, then covered with sequins and pearls. The vellum ornaments were created with Baroque Motifs stamped on vellum and embossed with silver, cut into strips and formed around brads. Check out Paper Pleasing Ideas for a wonderful tutorial on creating these vellum ornaments!

This is my MIL’s tree for the festival!! It’s so cute! Covered with handmade ornaments as well – her theme centered on hearts!

Now I can breath a sigh of relief – only for a second – it’s on to the next project! I have more pictures coming with close ups of the ornaments and hopefully clear instructions on creating them! Right now I have some clothespin angels to make with my kids! Happy Creating! – Melinda

My mini album

Even though I missed the wsc27 for this round, I thought I’d post my creation! I created a little mini album using paper coasters, chipboard, my Crop-A-Dile and bind-it-all coils …. I like it!

Mojo Monday #10

Yah – I found my mojo! Check out Poetic Artistry – it’s a fun site! Julee’s weekly challenge can be found here: Mojo Monday Week #10. My card is all about one of my favorite sets – now retired – from SU! “Like It a Latte” … I had fun!

Here’s what I used:

Chocolate Chip CS, Glossy White (cup), Paper Accents Pearlized White, around the block Shabby Blue Strip
Retired DS Paper Loves Me

Baroque Motifs Set
I Like It a Latte Retired SU! Set

Stamp-a-ma-Jig, Black Brads, Dimensionals

Close to Cocoa, Old Olive and Basic Gray Inks

Thanks for another fun challenge Julee! -Melinda

Beate’s WSC #26

Wow, I’m at a week now! I had fun with this sketch. I wanted to keep it airy and light so I used layers of vellum. I used the following stuff:

White CS, Vellum
Snow Burst, Holidays & Wishes
White Ribbon, Pearlized Button
ICE Stickles
ColorBox Fluid Chalks – Earths & Regals: Warm Red, Dark Brown, Olive Pastel
Pop Up Glue Dot, Mini Glue Dots

Thanks Beate for a fun sketch!!! -Melinda

Mojo Monday Week 9 Card

Yah! I am on my third day and just having a blast!!! This card is for Poetic Artistry’s Mojo Monday Week 9 Challenge. Julee is amazing and I love her work! I used the following SU! Products: Brocade Blue CS/Ink, Elegant Eggplant CS/Ink, Sky Blue CS/Ink, Rhinestone Brad: Ice, On Board Blossoms & Basics Flower, Holidays & Wishes Stamp – Merry Christmas, Baroque Motifs – Center Flower on Sky Blue, So Swirly Jumbo Wheel – Background on main card. Other products: Stickles – Waterfall and Paper from my secret pal (one of these days I’ll figure out the paper). Oh, can’t forget …. just got the crop-o-dile …. used it on my chipboard blossom – wow – soooo easy!!! My days of cringing at the thought of hammering away are OVER!!!

I edged all my pieces with brocade blue to unify the colors. I have found using my sponge daubers while holding the pieces comes out softer while still maintaining a dark edge rather than placing them on the table and sponging around edges (leaving the halo behind when done) – just a fun little discovery seasoned veterans probably already knew I’m on the lookout for a better way to create the varying degrees of circles and such … any suggestions? Well, that’s about it! Thanks to Julee at Poetic Artistry for her fun challenge.

Hello world!

I recently discovered the blogging community online …. found some amazing stamping artists. Well, I decided to jump right in and start participating! This card I made is for a weekend sketch challenge by Beate Johns at Fresh & Fun. I’m very new at this so I don’t quite know how to link to her site yet … http://beate.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/ … anyhoo, I had fun!