Prancing through the Snow!

YIt's almost that time of year and I have begun making Christmas Cards for family and friends.  I have been getting new supplies this past couple week and this is my first card.  I used several of Tim Holtz's BigZ Dies from Sizzix.  Love them!

I started off the card with a Stampin Up! Pear Pizzaz card stock card base.  I used Tim Holtz's "Holiday Knot" Embossing folder to create the sweater background.  On top of that I die cut a snowflake from Tim Holtz's Bigz die "Layered Snowflake" and a deer from the "Prancing Deer" die.  

The gold foil "Joy" die cut is from Stampin Up!'s "Wonderful Wreath" framelits.

Finally, I added some burlap ribbon and a thin strip of gold foil and some sequins to finish off the card.  

I really love the Bigz dies because you can cut through multiple pieces of card stock which is a time saver and very helpful when mass producing cards.

Hope this inspires your own Prancing Deer card!

Happy Crafting,

Melanie

Affordable End of the Year Teacher Note Card Set

If you are like me you like a good deal and I love Target's $1 section.  I happened upon these cute black and white note cards sets.  My wheels instantly were turning on how I could take these up a notch.  You may have seem my other note card portfolios or gift card bouquet that I have done in the past for my son's teachers.  I now have three sons and our family is going many directions, so I don't have the time to do projects from the past.  This note card set will be equally special, but done during one or two afternoons while the kids are napping or still at school.

Here is the card set I purchased from Target's $1 bin:

Next, I used some Big Shot Alphabet Dies to cut out the monogram letters.  I cut out 9 for each; 8 for the note cards and one for the front of the portfolio.

Note Card Portfolio Dimensions:
8" H x 9.5" W
Score at 2" along the 9.5" section
Score in half at 4.75"

I hope you enjoyed this project and it inspires you to make your own.  They make a great gift or thank-you for anyone in your life.  I went back to Target and picked up a few more sets for my shelf.

Happy Crafting,

Melanie

Monogrammed Note Cards - End of the Year Teacher Gift

Today's post is showcasing the hand stamped cards that are going into the Monogrammed Note Card Portfolio that was in yesterday's post, click here to check it out if you missed it.

Here are the cards the monogrammed cards that I created for the portfolio.  I had so much fun making these and using different stamps.  The following sets were used: Everything Eleanor, Field Flowers, Betty's Blossoms, Madison Avenue and Label Love.

Everything Eleanor

Field Flowers

Betsy's Blossoms

Madison Avenue

 Label Love

It was so fun to play around with stamps that I haven't used in awhile.  So, I hope this inspires you to create your own personal monogrammed gift.
Happy Crafting,

Melanie

Check out my most recent Teacher Note Card Portfolio, click here.

Monogrammed Note Card Portfolio - End of the Year Teacher Gift

Since the school year for my children is coming to a close, I decided to make these monogrammed note card portfolios for them.  I got to use lots of my stamps, some old and some new in the process.  In this post, I am going to focus on the Note Card Portfolio Holder.  In the following post, I will show case the monogrammed cards I included.

Can you believe that this folder is just made from a simple 8.5" x 11" piece of card stock?  Yes, it is that easy.  Here is a video from Angie at ChicnScratch that explains the details on it.  For the front I used the Everything Eleanor stamp set and Serif Essentials Alphabet Bigz Die that I got off the Stampin Up Clearance Rack recently.

Using the Primerose Petals stamp pad, I stamped the background stamp then heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  It really gives that little extra dimension with the shine.  The rest is pretty simple with punching and the big shot.  And of course a little bling to accent the Monogram.

To get the details on the cards, please see my post "here".  This is a perfect gift for many occasions, here is another version I did for Christmas gifts.  I hope this gives you some inspiration for your own projects.

Happy Crafting,

Melanie

Off to a New Home!

Need another idea for a "New Home" card, here is my second card using the house cut out from my previous post.  Click here if you missed it.

For this card, I used many Stampin Up products.  The embossed clouds is a textured emprssions folder called Cloudy Days and I used the Cupcake Builder Punch for the clouds.  The scalloped blue trim was made with the Tasteful Trim Bigz XL die.  To set off the house that I cut with my Cricut I cut out a Window Framelit with the Big Shot.

Adding a few foam dimensionals to the back to pop up elements and give it some interest.

I hope you try out one of these moving cards for yourself.

Happy Crafting,

Melanie

Children's Ornament Series, Part Five - Rosette Snowflake Photo Ornament

Today is the final installment of my Children's Ornament Series and I have saved the best for last.  This is also the most difficult, but really is stunning.

Every year I create a photo ornament of my children to put on our tree, although my oldest is only 5 we already enjoy looking back at how each of them have grown.  I am especially excited this year because we get to add one for our newest addition, William.  Click here to see last year's photo ornament.

Again, I was inspired by my Stampin Up products in creating this ornament.  My Big Shot sure came in handy for this one.  Here are the Bigz Dies that I used:  Designer Rosette Die, Snowflake # 2 Die and the Snow Flurry Die.

I cut out the rosette from Very Vanilla cardstock, the Snowflake #2 was cut from Cherry Cobbler cardstock, and the Snow Flurry was cut from sparkly gold cardstock.  The patterned paper is retired DSP from Stamp Up, I got a great deal on it from the Clearance Rack.  Finally the stamp set I used the Hostess Mixed Medley Stamp Set.  I really like it because it covers all the Holidays.

I hope I have inspired you to get crafting with your kids, it is such wonderful time spent share what you love.  Again, if you have missed any in this series please come check out the Poinsettia, Snowflake, Scalloped Christmas Tree and the Scalloped Gingerbread Man.  These are also available for purchase at my Etsy Store, Melanie Makes.

Make those special memories,

Melanie

Children's Ornament Series, Part Four - Scalloped Gingerbread Man

In today's post of my Children's Ornament Series, we featured another cute scallop Gingerbread Man ornament.

We created this cute Gingerbread Man very similar to yesterday's Christmas Tree.  We  used many Stampin Up products including; the retired Scallop Circle #2 Bigz Die and the Secentsational Season Framelits featured in the Holiday Mini.  These were used to cut out the fun foam shapes.  The white scallop is cut out of the thicker 3/8" foam that they sell at Hobby Lobby.  To finish the ornament off, I also used Licky Limeaide Twine, Rhinestones and Gumball Green Stitched Ribbon.

If you missed the previous ornaments in this series please, check on the Poinsettia, Snowflake and Scalloped Christmas Tree here to see them.  These are also available for purchase at my Etsy Store, Melanie Makes.

Melanie

Children's Ornament Series, Part Three - Scalloped Christmas Tree

Welcome back to Part Three of my Children's Christmas Ornament Series.  Today's ornament is this adorable scalloped  Christmas Tree.

This ornament was created with many Stampin Up products including; the retired Scallop Circle #2 Bigz Die and the Secentsational Season Framelits featured in the Holiday Mini.  These were used to cut out the fun foam shapes.  The white scallop is cut out of the thicker 3/8" foam that they sell at Hobby Lobby.  To finish the ornament off, I also used Cherry Cobbler Twine, Rhinestones that I colored with a red sharpie marker and Gumball Green Stitched Ribbon.  

 S

If you have missed Part One or Part Two of this series please come check out the Poinsettia and Snowflake ornaments.  If you don't have these supplies at home, this will also be available in kits.  Please visit my Etsy store, Melanie Makes for details.

Happy Crafting,

Melanie

Children's Ornaments Series, Part Two - Sparkly Snowflake

Welcome back for Part Two of my Children's Ornament series.  If you missed my post from yesterday with the Poinsettia Ornament, come check it out here.  Today's ornament is just as easy to assemble and another wonderful ornament craft to do with your children.

This Sparkly Snowflake was made with two Stampin Up Snowflake dies.  One is a retired die Snowflake #2 and the other is in this year's Holiday Mini Catalog, Snow Flurry die.  I used layers of white fun foam alternated with glitter paper.  These layers are held together with a rhinestone brad. 

This ornament is also available in an ornament kit, please come check out my Etsy store, Melanie Makes.  This would make a great gift, stocking stuffer or activity for a play date.

Thanks for stopping by,

Melanie

Children's Ornament Series, Part One - Poinsettia Ornament

If your like me, you are always looking for cute crafts to do with your kids.  With the holidays coming and kids home from school, this Poinsettia Ornament fits the bill. 

In looking at Tim Holtz's Tattered Florals die, I noticed the the middle sized flower looked very much like a poinsettia flower.

  

With this inspiration, I decided that I could make it into a really cute ornament.  To make it kid friendly, I used red and green fun foam.  For the center, I used a EK Success Flower Punch and a yellow rhinestone.  

I am offering kits of this ornament and well as several others, come check them out at my Etsy Store, Melanie Makes.  This would make a great gift, stocking stuffer or activity for a play date.

Thanks for stopping in and as always happy crafting,

Melanie