My Inkspirations

It's been a while...yada yada yada

I am coming back, I promise!  Just bear with me while I re-aquaint myself with Typepad and PSE.  So much has changed here at Typepad! heeheehee

Also, if you were a recepient of some Corporate gifts or visited me at the Holiday Craft Show, be assured that I am working on a page where you can purchase those and many other gifts and cards.  Wait until you see what else I have in store for you.  Did you love the Holiday Cottages that were filled with chocolates?!  Well you won't believe what I have been working on. 

Let me see if I can find a photo already resized to be able to at least share "something" with you all.

Ok, found one!  I made this little Valentine Cottage for a contest over at Papertrey Ink.  I didn't win, but I did however get an honorable mention by Nichole, which in all honesty sent me over the moon!!!

Thanks for popping by, and I will be back very soon!

Hugs,

Melanie 

Still Loving Santa....

Ok, so here is THE card that was inspired by the Great Anna Wight, very similar..just a few different details...(like her awesome watercoloring..)

 

Anna's card can be seen Here.  That was the card that totally sold me on purchasing some High Hopes images, and let me tell you that I am very happy with their stamps. I just Love them!  Anyhoo..Santa was stamped with Palette Noir onto SU's faboo watercolor paper.  I watercolored him with an Aquapainter and SU's Classic Inks...recipe to follow.  Isn't he just the cutest thing ever?! The glitter extravaganza are the Anna Wight-flakes as described in my previous post.  The banner idea came from Anna as well.

Thank You Anna for the wonderful inspiration!  I hope you all have enjoyed yet another installment from the semi dormant "My Inkspirations"....  Hugs to you all!!

I have a couple other High Hopes cards to share with you all tomorrow...think Cat & Mouse, but "cute"

And, coming soon....my Snowman ornaments that were a hit at the couple Craft Fairs I did recently!

Ingredients:

Stamps:  High Hopes

CS: PTI Cream & Ripe Avacado; SU's Bravo Burgundy , Summer Sun & their faboo watercolor paper; Patterned Paper from a K & Co. paper pack; shimmer bronze

Ink: Palette Noir, Summer Sun, Ridinghood Red, Blush Blossom, Going Grey, Bravo Burgundy, Pink Pirourette

the extra's: Marvy and MS Snowflake punches, MS branch punch; Dimensional Glaze, Glitter stuff from M's

I Love Santa!!!

Am I the worst blogger ever???  Anyway... a couple of weeks ago as I was going through the many blogs in my google reader account, I came across this  card by the incredibly talented Anna Wight.  I just loved everything about it..the super cute image by High Hopes , Anna's snowflake accent, the coloring...I could go on forever!!  I was so inpsired by her Anna Wight-flakes (that's a name I came up with) that I just had to try to replicate.  You can see Anna's post on this technique Here.  I used some cheapo fluff stuff from M's, it looks ok, but on my next trip to Mike's I'm going to look for some Diamond Dust Glitter.

So here goes                                                              

Isn't this Santa image adorable!!!  I am just in love with High Hopes rubber stamps!  I colored him in with Copic markers and just sponged the "beach" and "sky" with SU's inks.

Here is my attempt at a close-up of my Anna Wight-flakes.  I'm still trying to learn how to use my camera in manual mode, so I apologize for the blurry picture. 

I also made a second card which is pretty much the same except for the sentiment and the center snowflake accent.

 

I used a star button here.  I inked up the edges a bit either Riding Hood Red or Bravo Burgundy (can't really remember) and just threaded some copper cording through.  Here is another close up attempt, again sorry for the blurry pic.

 

Ihave been having problems lately with my black inks and coloring with Copics.  I have Palette Noi, but it has been smearing lately.  I also have Memento in Tuxedo Black, that smeared on me too.....Insert pouty face here.....Maybe I'm not letting them dry long enough before I start coloring...I dunno..do you have any suggestions?  I ended up using my Onyx Black Versafine pad and clear embossing powder, I was then able to start coloring immediately!  I'm not good on the waiting thing. 

Anyhoo....don't you think this would make a cute retirement card for someone?  You don't necesserily have to adorn the card with snowflakes...hmmmmmmmmm my wheels are turning now.....stay tuned.  Either later today or tomorrow I will post another High Hopes creation that is very similar to Anna Wight's Santa Face card.  Actually, I placed my first order with High Hopes because of Anna's card!!! 

Well, I hope you enjoyed today's post!  And I promise that I will not let time slip by me again!! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to either email me or leave a comment on this post!

Supplies:

Stamps: High Hopes, sentiments from Papertrey Ink

CS:  Cream and Ripe Avacado from PTI, Bravo Burgundy and Summer Sun from Stampin' Up!

Ink: Versafine in Onyx Black

The extra's:  Copic markers, Marvy and MS snowflake punches, Nestablilities ribbon label die, ribbon from PTI, button and snowflake doo-dad

New Picture

So, I have a brand new picture over to the right.  What do you think?  I don't usually like myself in photographs...not very photogenic at all...I know you've heard me say that before, but I must say that I am thrilled with the way this turned out.  This was taken during the Soulology Weekend I spent with Erika and a bunch of other wonderful women....Hi Mary!!!!!....  Jen/  took our pictures and she is Amazing. 

 

Ok, so enough with the babbling...here's another Halloween card I made a few weeks back.  This is a fluffles stamp..I'll take a pic of that drawer too someday and show you all...anyway he is colored with my Copic Markers.  I double stamped him so I could cut out the had and the frog to give the finished card a 3-D effect.  It's really cute in person.  I then just sponged some random colors around the main image. 

Cardstock is Su's Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, PTI white.  The designer paper is from SEI.  The Bat brad is from MM and the little skulls are rub-ons from SU.

Here is a side view, you can click on it for a larger version. 

 

Thanks for stoping by!!!

AaaaacK!

Sorry I'm so late in posting the winner, so here we go!!!

Shirley from ND

email me your address and full name and I will get the package out to you!

I will be away this weekend spending time with the Stampin' Mama herself Erika Martin!!!!  Can you belive it?  A whole weekend with Erika, Jenn and some other women, in Lancaster County!!  A little time away from the boys and my Termite....I mean doggie....will do me some good!!!

I will post again either Sunday or Monday morning with a cute little Halloween project I created.  I'm heading out early so I can spend some time with one of my Bestest friends who lives in Lancaster before the weekend retreat begins...that's who the gifties are for, so I don't want to post pics yet!

Have a beautiful weekend!!!

I Love Boris

About 4 months ago I went on a Spender Bender over at AMuse.  I will not divulge the dollar amount spent....so I will let the photo speak for itself

 

Yea...Ouch!!!  You should see my Fluffles & Elzybells drawers..well, maybe some other time..

So, I finally inked up by buddy Boris!  I just love him! 

Isn't he just a riot!!!  This was a super simple card to make.  He is stamped with Palette Noir and colored in with my Copic markers.  Isn't the bubble thought adorable?  It's from The Cat's Pajama's and I thought it would go well with Boris.  What do you think?  The sentiment is also from Amuse.  After I colored Boris, I masked his feet and stamped one of the clear Ovals from Amuse to "ground" him.  All the way to the left is some piercing I did with an Ornare Template that I bought from Ellen Hutson's store.  The ribbon is from Michael's I think, I bought it last year.  Cardstock is PTI white, Pumkin Pie and Basic Black from SU.  The rectangels were cut using my Nesties!

Thanks for stopping by, and don't forget about the BOOTY!!!!!

Thank You & Some Blog Booty Too!!!!

I want to take a moment to Thank all of You for your kind comments and emails!  It really means so much to me.  Thank you for letting me share my life with all of you! 

I am truly Thankful for so many things...my Family (which I babbled about yesterday), Brandon who has been my rock for all this time, he does his normal teenage stuff with attitude (which he should) but he is always there for me when I need it the most.....and of course Ryan who makes me laugh everyday!  My termite err I mean dog, Rocky who makes sure I get out of bed every morning!  I am Thankful for my home, my health and my  wonderful friends!  I say Thank You before I go to bed every night and when I wake up in the morning.  I could go on, but I'm sure you get the drift..I am Thankful and Grateful for all I have.  Put some Gratitude in Your Attitude..that's the motto I am living by right now!!

I needed to make a quick Thank You card for someone so I pulled out my PTI set Out on a Limb with the accessories and whipped this up. 

Cardstock:  PTI Vanilla, SU's More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip and Really Rust.

Ink is Chocolate Chip, More Mustard and Really Rust (rock and roll technique)

The little {thank you} is from SU's All Holidays and was punched out with the Word Window punch, add some brads and voila!  Oh, I did use the Canvas bg stamp on the base of the card with More Mustard ink but I'm not sure if it shows up well in this photo.

So, onto my next card. 

 

Again, the base is More Mustard stamped with the Canvas bg stamp and the little thank you guy is the same from above. 

I used the masking technique to create the main image.  I then stamped the pumpkin a second time and about 7 leaves by themselves.  I watercolored the image with an Aquapainter and ink from the lids of the pads.  I then covered the "seperate" pumpkin and leaves with Crystal Effects.  Instead of leaving things be.......I sponged MM and RR ink around the edges.....oh well...I will leave it alone next time!!!

CS:  PTI white, More Mustard, Basic Black, Old Olive & Really Rust.

Ink: Palette Brown, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Really  Rust & Old Olive

I think I heard this morning on the news {I was still half asleep, so I'm not sure I heard correctly} that they will start working on a Pirates 4?!  Yippee!!  I Love the Pirate movies...so in honor of this..well, not really...in honor of all of you..I will move on to the Blog Booty!!!

You will receive the Pumpkin Card above and this

An SAB set Friendship Blooms with coordinating Rub-Ons, Tag-Line chipboard pieces from We R, brads, ribbon and 2 containers of paper flowers from American Crafts.

Soooooooooo, what do you have to do?  Just leave a comment on this post and tell me what you are Thankful or Grateful for.

You have until Sunday the 28th at midnight (eastern time) and please, only one post per person.  So tell one...tell all!!!!

Thanks for letting me babble!!!

Rocky Update

So, this past Wednesday Rocky went back to the Vets to have his stiches removed..I made this card for the staff of Ardmore Animal Hospital as a Thank You for taking such wonderful care of our Rocky!

 

This is the same Elzybell image from my previous post, just a different card design.  Rocky just loves visiting the Vet's office...Can you imagine??!!  That definately says something about their office!!!  Well, Ok....he is a love bug too!!!! 

The collar and boo-boo was stamped twice and is raised....though my photo of the detail is blurried....

Tomorrow I will have a beautiful Fall/Thanksgiving card for you all.  It is covered in Crystal Effects right now...so I must let it dry.....Me thinks I am quite pleased with the outcome so far!!!!! 

So sorry, but James Bond is on right now......I am FANATIC....so I must run...

And....tomorrow I will post The Most Wonderful Blog Boot Ever!!!!!!  Lots of goodies will be up for grabs!!!!! Squeal!!!!

My Beautiful Family

I just wanted to share a picture of my Wonderful and Beautiful Family...just to give you all a background of me...who I am... 

Back Row: Greg (my Husband who passed) Me, My Oldest son Brandon, My Brother Harry, My SIL Anna

Front Row:  Ryan (my youngest, Harry my Father and Mary my Mother

Ok, so disregard my photo...I am not  photogenic....eeeeewwwww... I do look very different now though......BUT....I am the luckiest person ever!!!!  I have the most wonderfully supportive family ever and  I thank the powers that be every day for them.  This picture was taken December 2006 when my Father "Harry" turned 80! Go Pop!!!  He will be 82 in just a couple of months...He really misses his "Coffee Buddy Greg" every morning.  Sheesh don't we all!!!  I am not posting this to depress anyone, but just to shed a bit of my life.  Please, thank your blessings everyday, and hug your loved ones!  I sure do!  I wouldn't be here without them!!!  I LOVE my Family... and we have gown since then...I now have a niece/Godaughter Sophie and I will show pictures of her soon as well...miss grumpy....oops....did I say that out loud?!

My Poor Little Guy.....

So, this is why I was unable to post anything yesterday......

  This is Rocky!!  I bought him about 7 months ago and he is a wonderful Therapy Dog.  He fit right in with our family.  Talk about personality!!! He cracks us up everyday.  Well, Rocky is just about 10 months old and was beginning to "hug" us a little too often (if ya know what I mean!!!) so he had to go visit Dr. Snip-Snip.. Poor little guy!  I picked him up from the vets early yesterday morning.  He was just a hurtin' little guy and had trouble getting around on his own, and since he is the "baby" that warranted some carrying up and down the steps and a lot of extra TLC!! That cone really hurt when you get wacked with it!

Rocky inspired me to make this card yesterday.  I just received some images last week from Elizabeth over at  Elzybells UK, her images just make me smile!!!

  The puppy image was colored with my Copic Markers E31 and E33.  The cone was colored with B60.  His little boo-boo bandage was colored with C1 and C3 and his "grounding" is with C1.  I am still trying to really learn how to color with my markers, but I'm pretty pleased with the outcome.  I sure wish Copic would have a class here in the Philly area..

I stamped the image twice so I could "lift" his head and boo-boo.  They are popped up with SU's dimensionals.  I also purposely did not line up his head perfectly so it has the illusion of him turning to the side a bit.  And even though you can't really see it in the photo, I applied Crystal Effects to his nose and boo-boo bandage.

The ovals are cut with my Nestablilities, the sentiment is from Papertrey Ink's Pond Life Sentiments, and the Pawprint is from Elzybells.

Full Recipe:

CS:  Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, PTI white

DSP: Retired SU (can't think of the name right now)

Ink: Palette Noir, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa

Extras: Dew Drops, ribbon, Crystal Effects

Stay tuned cause there is some Blog Booty coming your way!!!  I just have to gather the "stuff" and take a picture.  Also, for anyone living near me, I am having a Craft Yard Sale on September 20th.  I am cleaning house "Big Time" and you will benefit.

Thanks for stopping by!!