The Cutting Cafe / GinaK Joy Word Shaped Card

Hello friends.  Today's Christmas card was actually featured in the November issue of Paper Crafts Magazine.  It was designed using The Cutting Cafe's "Joy Word Shaped Card" (comes in a PDF for hand cutting or WPC / SVG if you have one of those fancy cuttin' machines) and embellished using one of the images from Gina K. Designs "A Very Merry Christmas". 

I love sending cards.  I can't make any promised because I'm not sure how many cards I will get done on my trip ... but if I don't already have your address and you would like to receive a Christmas card from me :

Email me your address and birthday to luv_2_stamp@yahoo.com

More Christmas card inspiration tomorrow.
thanks for stopping by!   Melisa

You can check out all my Gina K. Designs projects HERE.
You can check out all my Cutting Cafe projects HERE.
You can check out all my Christmas projects HERE.

The Cutting Cafe Baseball and Bat Shaped Card

Hello card makers.  Today I'm sharing a fun 2 card set perfect for any little boy.  I designed this set using The Cutting Cafe's "Baseball and Bat Shaped Card Set Template / Cutting File"

Regina at the Cutting Cafe is sooooo talented and if you have never taken a minute to hop over and check her out then you need to.  HERE.

Every monday is cyber monday and Regina bundles up some files and practically gives them away!  GREAT DEALS!  Every Wednesday her design team shares wonderful projects using the assignned files for that week and you can get a chance to win them by leaving a comment!  

So check out the blog HERE.

I teamed it up with some embellishments by Basic Grey "Hey Boy" and a Crafter's Workshop stencil (stars).  To create some of the star images I used a retired Gina K. Designs set.  

You can check out all the step by step details below if you want to.

I hope you are all having a great week.  This was the first week we have had cool mornings (60's) and it has been so wonderful to sit outside some mornings, do bible study and listen to the birds.  They are so loud around my house in the morning singing their happy little songs.  I was overwhelmed with a feeling of peace and happiness that was coming from such a simple morning.  I didn't have to go on vacation, just step outside on the patio.  So I took some time to thank God for this wonderful blessing.  I don't ever want to take it for granted because I know there are so many who don't have this awesome privilege.  

Hope all of you have your own little peaceful place where you can go and spend time with God as well.

Have a fabulous week!
Melisa


You can check out all my projects by The Cutting Cafe HERE.

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Project Details

Base Ball Shaped Card  - 4 ½” x 4 ½”

Template / pattern : The Cutting Café

Patterned Paper and paper embellishments : Basic Grey

Stencil : Crafter’s Workshop

Cut card by hand or with cutting machine (PDF and SVG files

available) from brown cardstock and blue patterned paper. 

Ink edges of blue piece with brown ink and adhere to card front. 

Use the stars stencil by Crafter’s Workshop and patterned paper to create star shaped paper embellishments.  Adhere threads, chipboard embellishment,  and paper star embellishments to card front.  Trim sentiment into a banner and adhere to card front.

Bat Shaped Card - 3” x 9 ¼”

( fits in business size envelope 4” x 9 ½”)

Template / pattern : The Cutting Café

Patterned Paper and paper embellishments : Basic Grey

Stamps : Gina K. Designs

Dies : Spellbinders 

Coluzzle : Circle Cutter

Cut card by hand or with cutting machine (PDF and SVG files

available) from brown cardstock and orange patterned paper. 

Ink edges of orange bat and adhere to card front.  Print

sentiment on cream cardstock and cut into a circle.  Cut another

circle and scalloped circle from blue patterned paper.  Ink edges and

layer.  Stamp ticket / sentiment on patterned paper and cream cardstock.  Assemble cream sentiment over ticket. Adhere both to card front.  Embellish with paper star and banner embellishments.

The Cutting Cafe Blog Hop with Give-aways!!!

Hello friends!  Today is the last DT post for the current TCC team.  So we are finishing up with a blog hop and lots of give-aways!!  Each designer will be drawing a name from her commenters to give away a free copy of the file she used for her project.  So you have 15 CHANCES TO WIN something!!  Don't forget to leave your email address with your comment.

I am giving away "Tall Ice Cream Shaped Card Template / Cutting File".  I used punches to create the butterfly and floral embellishments.  I used my Scor-pal to create the  grid for the cone, then gently ran some ink over it with an applicator to add some depth.

You have until 12MN Friday August 30th to leave a comment for my give-away.  Saturday I will draw a name and announce a winner!!

The next blog to visit is 

Krista Norman

Just in case there is a break in the hop ... here is a link to all the blogs.

Regina Easter

Rose Miller

Sheryl Wilder

Jeri Thomas

Rhonda Zmikly

Tmika Miller

Flowerdisco Agnes

Barbara Burgess 

Lisa Minkcler

Audrey Long

Leslie Foley 

Mary Ann Guth

Tanya Alley

Melisa Waldorf -- YOUR HERE

Krista Norman

Thanks so much for stopping by!

hugs, Melisa

You can check out all my projects by The Cutting Cafe HERE.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow !!!

Hello friends!  Hope you are all doing well and finding some time to relax and get crafty.  We arrived back in town last Wednesday night and have been playing catch up ever since then.  Lots of laundry and yard work to catch up on.  I think I need another vacation to rest from my vacation, teehee.

Today I'm sharing some Christmas / Winter projects I designed using cutting files for The Cutting Cafe.  The DT was given 3 files to choose from this week to create our project : "Christmas Card Fun Cutting File", "Snow Globe Shaped Card Cutting File", or " Christmas Car Printable Stamps" .  You can check out lots of inspiration for these digital files on the TCC DT Blog HERE later today.  

Make sure to leave a comment for a chance to win free files!!

As soon as I saw the "Snow Globe Shaped Card Cutting File" I thought of acetate and Fun Flock.  I used Fun Flock on the snowman hat and for the show.  I adhered it with a glue pen on the hat and Aleene's Tachy glue for the snow.  The acetate gives it a snow globe feel.  The snow man is from "Frosty the Snowman Printable Stamp Set"

Here is another fun shaped card from The Cutting Cafe, "Mitten Shaped Card".  I used  brown Fun Flock on the cuff of this one.

Monday's are Cyber Sale Monday over on the TCC blog.  So make sure you hop over and check out the great deals.  They are only available til 12 midnight on Monday's!

Hope you are having a great week!!

hugs,

Melisa

You can check out all my projects by The Cutting Cafe HERE.

Strawberry Treat Box and Shaped Card for The Cutting Cafe

Good morning friends.  Today I am sharing a sweet little treat / gift basket designed using "Strawberrry Treat Box" by The Cutting Cafe.  The choices for our DT assignment this week were the treat box above, "Strawberry Shaped Card", or the "Berry Sweet Greetings Printable Stamp Set".  The only thing extra I added was the scalloped mat at the bottom of my box.  Read more about how to create one below.  

The Cutting Cafe DT blog post up will be up later this afternoon.  Hop on over and check it out so you can  get lots of inspiration using these files HERE.  

All the files from The Cutting Cafe come in PDF, SVG and WPC.  I don't have a cutting machine.  I wanted to make sure the borders around the card matched.  After printing the images on cards I cut around each shape leaving about 1/8" border.  I lined the green leaves / stem over the strawberry and adhered it in the center with a piece of double sided adhesive tape.  I wanted to go back later and pop it up, so that's why I didn't adhere all of it down.  Next I created a folded card 5" x 7".  I adhered the strawberry to the front of it allowing part of the strawberry to hang over the fold edge.  I trimmed around the image, trimming off the part of the image that was hanging over the folded side.  I pulled the leaves / stem up and then adhered it with pop dots.  Of course if you have a cutter, then you let it do all the work, teehee.

Some of the files in the "Berry Sweet Greetings Printable Stamp Set" are already colored for you.  I printed the bingo card twice.  I trimmed around the bingo card with one of them and then layered it on black card stock.  I trimmed around the scallop on the other copy and layered it on black card stock.  I used pop dots to adhere the bingo card.  I was going to use the pre-colored strawberry's as well.  But my printer was acting up and you could see faint lines across the solid area's.  So I printed the images on card stock instead trimmed the pieces and then layered them.  Regina has great instructions on how to print just one image from a PDF page HERE.  I print mine first on printer paper.  The image is in the center of the page.  I use a piece of light tack tape to adhere a piece of card stock or patterned paper over the image, then run it back through the printer.  Make sure when you trim you paper you leave extra space at the top to run a piece of tape over it.

HOW TO CREATE A SCALLOPED BORDER MAT

The first thing you have to do is figure out what size to cut your rectangle mat before trimming the edges with the border punch.  So I measured from where the edge of the paper would be to where I wanted the edge of the treat box to be.  For this particular punch it ended up being 1 little line (1/16") short of 1/2".  Which = 7/16".  I guess you could just added a little more and made it 1/2". But that looked to wide to me.  

You need to multiple that measurement x 2.  7/16" x 2 = 7/8".  or if you prefer the 1/2" measurement .... 1/2"  x 2 = 1".  

The size of the bottom of the treat box is 2 " x 3 7/8".  So you would cut your mat 2 7/8" x 4 3/4"   (using the 7/8" + 2" and 7/8" + 3 7/8").  Now punch around all edges with your border punch and then adhere the box to it.  Clear as mud??  I hope that made sense.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

hugs, Melisa

this one measured over from the edge of a scrap  piece of paper to the point I wanted the edge of the box.  This is a scalloped border punch by EK Success

GOT COFFEE??

Hello friends.  Boy this week really gotten away from me.  I'm excited to share that I'm going on a scrapbook retreat with one of my best girlfriends, Melayne at the end of the week ( thur - sun ) !!!  So excited about that.  I haven't even started packing though.  I'm hoping to work on painting some gingerbread ornaments, as well as create tons of Christmas and birthday cards.  I also have a really fun card set / holder project that I will making for Christmas gifts this year as well.  I'm hoping that will keep me busy enough.  In the past I have really over packed.  But sometimes you just don't know what you will need.  So after work tomorrow the mad dash to pack with begin.

I was so excited about this week's theme over at The Cutting Cafe because it's all about coffee!!   I have a layout started, but didn't quite get it finished.  My daughter and her boyfriend are crazy about coffee and the images from "Got Coffee" were so perfect.  I will have to share that one later.  For the project I'm sharing today I used a cutting / PDF file called  "Coffee Cup Shaped Card".  It includes an optional gift card pocket for the inside of the card as well.  The Cutting Cafe also has a really cool "Coffee Cup Holder"as well.  I'm sure some of the girls will be sharing some great inspiration using all three of these files over on the DT Blog for our Wednesday DT reveal.  THE POST DOESN'T USUALLY GO LIVE TIL WED AFTERNOON.   Regina is so generous and every week she does a random drawing for all those who leave comments so you definitely want to check it out.

I found the perfect shabby chic paper pad to use with this one, DCWV "The Primrose".

Hope you are inspired to create your own coffee inspired project.  If you do, link me up so I can check it out!

Have a fabulous week!

hugs, 

Melisa

Impression Obsession Egg Shaped Card

Today I have an EGG-stra special card to share with you, teehee.  I thought it would be fun to create an egg shaped card for Easter.  I used a foam egg shaped I purchased at Hobby Lobby as a template ...  but I'm sure you could google "egg shape coloring page" and you would get lots of options for creating your own egg shaped card.  You can see the fold on the left side.  I used this fun image by Impression Obssession on this one.  Impression Obsession is another one of my favorites.  Especially image by Alesa Baker.  Check them out HERE.  I got some new ones a few months ago that I still haven't found time to use.  But hopefully soon.  Another thing I like about Impression Obsession is that you have a choice between wood mounted or saving 30% off for cling mount.  And since I end up removing all my stamps from the blocks and converting them, this is definitely a deal for me.  You can get some of the image in clear sets as well if that's what you prefer. 

Today's project features "Large Bunny in Watering Can".  I used a border puch and some ribbon to try and make it look like an easter egg.  The border punch is one of those large ones, I think by Martha Stewart.  And you can't really tell, but I used white fun flock on the bunny.  That alone is a reason to by a bunny stamp of some kind in my opinion, teehee. 

Have an egg-stra special day!

Melisa

You can view more of my projects :

using Impression Obsession HERE.

shaped cards HERE.

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Challenges

Creative Inspirations - Anything goes

Dutch Dare - cute and cuddly (my bunny)

Impression Obsession - spring is in the air

Stampendous - shaped card

Paper Play Challenges - spring colors

Raise the Bar - in the garden

The Crop Stop - shaped cards til March 31

FREE Teacup Template

Good Morning paper crafters.  Today I want to share another sample using my free Teacup Template.  You can download my free template HERE.  I have a Vintage Hat template as well.  Scroll down to bottom left side bar to see all my templates.  It is easier if you do not use the template open.  I have found it easier to create a a pattern out of cardstock that I can use over and over again by tracing around the edges.  Begin by folding the cardstock in half.  Lay the teacup pattern with the top of the cup along the fold, and trace around the edges with a pencil.  Trim.  I created mask for the handle and bottom of the teacup then stamped the background image.   Doodle around the edges with a pen.  Stamp sentiment and punch with oval shape.  Doodle around edges and adhere to front of card.  Punch butterflies, doodle around edges and color center black.  Adhere to card front and add black glitter.

You can check out a really fun Alice and Wonderland version designed by Scrappy Sugar Girl HERE. 

Here are a matching hat and purse.  These are pre-cut dies from Creative Cuts and More.

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a great week,

Melisa

You can view all of my Tea / Teacup related projects HERE

You can view all of my shaped cards HERE

Free Teacup template!

Good Morning!  Today Layers of Color is having a Tea Party and we hope you will join us!

If you have arrived from Linda's Blog, then you are in the correct place.  If not, you might want to start at the Layers of Color Blog HERE.  It's a circular hop, so you will end up back here.

My project today uses a hand drawn teacup template I designed.  Thank you so much Laura for turning it into a PDF file for me!!  With this template you can create a teacup shaped card, or a teacup shape to put on the front of a card.  So many LOC stamps would have been fun to use on this, but I'm working on my Christmas Cards right now. 

This template is free for you to use, but I ask that you not post the file anywhere else.  Please link to my blog.  If you loose this post, then you can always find my templates on the side-bar near the bottom of my blog.  Not only is the link to the template there, but a link to any projects I have created using the template is there as well.  This template will also be available over at LOC.  Thank you!

Download the Teacup Card Template PDF HERE.  Right click, then click print.

Your next stop in this hop is

NINA! 

Hop on over, or stay for a few more minutes and review my step by step tutorial.

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Project Details

Let me start out by saying you do not have to cut the pattern as shown on the file.  It might be difficult to get both side to match if you do.  The easier way is to print the PDF onto sturdy cardstock and then cut out 1/2 the pattern to use as a template.

I decided I wanted the bottom of my teacup and handle to be red and thought I came up with an easy tutorial to accomplish this without you have to cut the pattern from a seperate piece of red cardstock.  I'll let you be the judge!

Start with a white card. 

Adhere a piece of red cardstock on the inside of the card.  I used Aleene's Tachy glue.  I wanted to make sure it was glued down, so that when I started cutting, the pieces didn't seperate.  Just keep in mind that wet glue can warp your card, so a little goes a long way.  I scribbled it all over the back of the red cardstock and then adhered it inside the card.  Let it dry.

Lay the teacup pattern you created over the back of the card and trace around the edges lightly with a pencil.  Cut around the outside.  Do not cut the inside of the handle. 

back of card

Flip it over.  Sketch a guideline / cut line  along the side and bottom of card.  The photo only show my sketch line on the side, I forgot to include the bottom.  Sorry.    Unfold the card.  Cut off the handle and bottom of the cup from the front of the card along your sketch lines. 

front of card



Now you will be able to see the red handle and bottom of cup from the front of the card.  Flip it back over and continue cutting the inside of the handle.  I started with a x-acto knife to cut the center out, but I can't get smooth cut lines with it, so I finished with a pair of scissors.  Cuticle scissors work great for cutting small curved area's.   I was able to see a little white cardstock around the edges, so I used a red marker to color around the edges.

This photo is of the card opened up, back of card on left.  See how the front of the card doesn't have the bottom of the cup or handle.  Slide the front of the card into an embossing folder.  TIP : Pull the handle above the template if possible.  I didn't and I ended up with a slight line across my handle from the edge of the embossing folder.  You might also try adding another piece of paper across the top of the back of the cup, or you will get that same line across the back of the card. 

Now embellish your teacup card!  I used one of Nina's labels from her newly released "Elegant Labels" art stamp set (stamped in red).  The labels in this set are compatible with Spellbinders Nestibilities Labels Five, Labels Ten, and Labels Sixteen.  All available over at the LOC Boutique.  Mine is hand cut because I don't have Labels Five. 

The sentiment is from "Sentamental Banners" art stamp set.  Dove and holly images are from the "Glad Tidings" art stamp set.  I cut them out of the wreath image.  And the holly images at the top are from the "Christmas Blessings" art stamp set.

I think you can see how I added lots of glitter (Stampendous Ultra Fine White ) ....  around the cup edges, all over the doves, around banner, and around the edge of the label image.  I use a 2-Way Glue Pen to added glitter.  TIP :  If you get glue and glitter on your image lines, then quickly use a tooth pick or paper piercer to scratch it off the lines. 

I hope you enjoy creating your own teacup card!  I have another one already done and will be sharing very soon.  I don't have the step by step photo's done yet.  It is much easier to create than this one ...  I promise, teehee!

And as always, if you were inspired by this tutorial, I would love to see your creation.  Just leave me a link in the comment section or email me.

big hugs,

Melisa

You can view all of my Tea / Teacup related projects HERE

You can view all of my Shaped Cards HERE.

You can view all of my Christmas project HERE.

Stencil Tutorial #2

Good Morning!  Today I want to share another stencil tutorial with you.  Did you know that Layers of Colors sells Art Stencils??  Gorgeous patterns!  You can check all of them out HERE.

Last week I shared a project using one of the stencils and modeling paste.  If you missed it, you can check it out HERE.

This week I want to share a card using a stencil and color sprays.  Another messy project, but worth the effort.  This background turned out so cool.

Supplies

White watercolor paper, Black VersaFine Ink (Tsukineko), Clear Embossing Powder (Stampendous), Memento Tuxedo Black, Glimmer Mist - Glimmer Mist Fully Purple, Lily Pad, Twighlight, Ink - Brilliance Pearlescent Crimson around the edges, Copic Markers, Stencil (background) - Layers of Color, Stamp set - "Under the Sea" and "Old World Flourish" - Layers of Color.

Technique : Stencil with Color Sprays

Use a circle cutter and cut watercolor paper / card.  Spray watercolor panel with twilight Glimmer Mist.  After dry lay stencil over watercolor paper ( I used stencil adhesive with mine).  Spray with Lily Pad and Fully Purple Glimmer Mists.

I just love how this background turned out.  And with all the choices for color sprays, the results are endless.  I am totally loving these stencils!!

After drying ... ink edges with Brilliance Pearlescent Crimson.  Stamp flourishes, sea grass, and coral with pigment and emboss with clear embossing powder on watercolor paper.  Adhere to front of card. Stamp shells, fish, and sea horse on white cardstock with Momento Ink and color using Copic markers. Cut these images out and adhere to front of card.

Glimmer Mist tip:  Do not shake up and down to mix.  Shake from side to side to help keep it from clogging up.

I hope you will try a stencil out on one of your projects!  If you do, leave me a link.  I would LOVE to see what you come up with!

More stencil techniques coming in the future.

I'm linking this one to the following awesome challenge blogs!

A Spoon Full of Sugar - "Anything Goes"

Creative Inspirations - 2 or more shaped images

Have a blessed weekend!

Dare to Get Dirty Projects

So, as you may have read on an earlier post, that I have been crazy busy making projects for 33 challenges over at SCS for this years Dare to Get Dirty Contest.

It's only done once a year, they post challenges for 7 days for a total of 33 challenges, and you have to be a Fan Club member to play. Now, you didn't have to complete 33. But, there was a chance for 12 participates who complete ALL the challenges to win prizes, so I had to give it a go. Let me tell you this really pushed me. And I'm not a big fan of sketches, so those were to hardest for me. I have already posted some of those projects, but there were a few more I wanted to share with you (and a couple I don't, teehee). So today is a parade of some of these projects. The contest ends July 31 and I'm hoping that I am a winner!

You were able to combine challenges and I posted 19 projects total.

This one was a color challenge.  I have chosen to leave several of my cards without a sentiment on the front recently, so I can use them for whatever comes up.

Stamp sets : Flourishes Nurture Yourself (pot), Stamper's Anonymous (scalloped border), Great Impressions (swirly background), butterfly unknown

I gathered tissue paper to create my ruffled border.

I actually had stamped a couple of these images out a while back and colored, but never complete on a card.  Don't you just want to sit down and color sometime??  I have a pile of images that are colored and I just need to do something with them.  So I was thrilled to finally use this one.  This image is by Kraftin' Kimmie.  There is another image with it that is so cute.

This one was for a "movie challenge".  My daughter loves Audrey Hepburn and I had bought her this image a while back.  So it was a perfect fit.  Then I bagan googling quotes by her.  This one worked out well I think.

Stamps : B-Line Designs (Audrey), SU (background stamp)

For this shaped card I used a template I downloaded from Bee-Crafty Downloads.  Looked like a good idea when I down loaded it, but I turned it into a fiasco.  After I figured out to enlarge and printed it, I decided that I didn't like the thickness of the lines so I decided to paper-piece it.  But that meant that I had to draw the icing lines myself.  But after all the frustration, I think the outcome is ok.  I considered turning the cherry into a candle, but the practical side of me won out.  The cherry fits in an envelope.  BTW, I like alot of her templates, but just be aware that they are adobe files.  So it was a little tricky for me to figure out how to copy and paste it into a word doc so I could resize it.  If I had know, I wouldn't have went with this one.

Stay tuned for a blog candy announcement coming August 1st!

I hope your day is filled with great joy!

Beach themed Circle shaped Card

I found this digital company recently and fell in love with their images.  Even if your not a digi fan, I think these images will tempt you to give a try.  So when your done here, take a minute to check out Isabella's Sketchbook.  I double dog dare you!  And if you decide to give them a try, let me know if I helped to convert you!

OH, and guess what??  I played along with their challenge blog last week and won!!  Wooowhooo!!  Check out the Challenge Blog HERE! 

 

I just love that these 2 friends seem so joyful just being together.  So I used the sentiment "Life's a beach with a friend like you".

I used Beach Fun, Shell 1, Shell 2, Shell 3.  Oh no!!  And I just realized while linking this up that there is a Shell 4.  How did I miss that one!?!?  The shells are much bigger in the original file.  That's the fun thing about digital images, you can resize them to fit your design!

DP : Memory Box 6x6 Paper Pad - Spearmint

I love the soft colors of this pad

Ink : Versa Magic Oasis Green (around the edges of both circles)

Coluzzel extra lg circle template

Spellbinders die

ribbon - unknown

Chalk : Pebbles Inc

I used an aqua on the outer area and then transitioned into a light green.  You can barely see it in the photo, but in real life it adds so much.  I use these alot.

The "Shimmer" Chalks are the best because they go on and blend the best to me.

Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous weekend!

You can view more of my projects using Digital Images / Stamps HERE.

You can view my Shaped Cards HERE.

You can view more of my Summer / Beach themed projest HERE.

Impression Obsession Challenge

I created this one for the Impression Obsession "Shaped Card" challenge.  Mine is definitely not as fun as some of the other creative shapes that some of the other participates and DT came up with, so if you interested, hop over to the Impression Obsession Blog and check out the blog hop, HERE.
If you love Impression Obsession and would like a chance at winning a $25 Gift Certificate, then you will definitely want to play along with their challenges !! 

Stamp Set : Lucky Ladybugs by Impression Obsession

Patterned Paper : Melissa Frances

Purple Cardstock

Colorization : Copics

Distressing tool : Tim Holtz

white ink around edges of scallop by Brilliance - Cloud White

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend!