Monogrammed Note Card Portfolios

Hi everyone,
I hope you are enjoying this blessed time of year, we are getting ready for the New Year.  My son, Bryan, was born New Year's Eve two years ago, so we will be having a party with family.

I wanted to share with you some monogrammed note card portfolios that I made from family members.

Recipe:
White card stock
Stampin Up Baja Breeze card stock
2" scallop punch
2 3/8" scallop punch
1 1/4" circle punch
1 3/8" circle punch
Assorted embossing folders
Big Shot
Stampin Up, Alphabet stamp set
Stampin Up, So Many Scallop stamp set

Rosette Photo Ornament

This is the photo ornaments that I made for my two boys.  It is a simple rosette that I made with a score board and some punches.

Recipe:

(2) 1.75" x 12" pieces of paper scored every 1/2"

Christmas paper

Photo

Scoreboard

2 1/2" Circle punch

2 1/4" Circle punch

1 1/4" Circle punch

Stampin Up Real Red ink pad

Stampin Up's So Many Scallops stamp set

Hand Made Photo Cards made Affordable

Everybody love sending and receiving photo cards this time of year, so I thought I would share what I created for some of our family photo card. 

I almost didn't get cards out this year, but it just didn't feel right.  So I sat down and created a quick photo card in Photoshop and sent them to our local Wolf Camera shop and had them printed at 3.5" x 5".  Wolf Camera has a sale on this size every Tuesday and Wednesday for $0.06, so that is really affordable.  I then took my stash of Christmas paper and cut that to 4" x 5.25" and mounted that onto an A2 size base of 4.25" x 5.5".  If you wanted to get fancy I am sure you could add ribbon or other embellishments.  Easy right?

Merry Christmas from our family to yours,

Melanie

Welcome Baby

Today's post is actually a card that I included with a baby gift to my cousin.  I made her diaper burp cloths with a fabric center panel, click here to see.

This card is simple in its design and was made with the"Slice of Life" hostess stamp set from Stampin Up.  I have used this several times and love to practice my coloring techniques with them.  I am still a beginner at that:)

Merry Christmas to all,

Melanie

Christmas Party Favors

I wanted to share with you the party favors I made for my son's preschool class.  I really enjoyed making them and it was so easy with the Stitched Stockings stamp set and matching stocking punch set from Stampin Up.  The celo bags are also great, I used them for Halloween treats too.

This is the little Merry Christmas Card we gave Tyler's classmates as well.

Merry Christmas,
Melanie

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog - Rolling in Ribbon

Hello Everyone and Happy Monday! I hope that everyone had enjoyed their Thanksgiving and are safely back home. How about getting back into the swing of things with a Challenge Me Monday over at Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog.

This week's Challenge Me Monday is #90 - Rolling in Ribbon: use ribbon somewhere on your project along with your Cricut cut.

Recipe:
Stampin Up Real Red Paper, White card stock & green glimmer paper S
Christmas Tree from Christmas Solutions at 4.40" using the Gypsy
Real Red 1/4" Gross Grain Ribbon
Martha Stewart Score board

Did you know that you can link your own "Rolling in Ribbon" project to the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog? We would love to see what you come up with and thanks for stopping by on Challenge Me Mondays.

Melanie

Christmas Gift Card "Make & Take"

For my local friends, I am offering my first "Make & Take" class here in Charlotte this coming Thursday.  We will be making three Christmas Gift Card Holders. Please check out my Facebook page, Melanie Makes for the details.

If you aren't a local to Charlotte and are interested in these Christmas Gift Card holders I would be happy to make some and send to you for $10.  I will be posting some of these on Etsy too.

Thanks - Melanie

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog - Holiday Cards

Hello Everyone and Happy Monday!  I hope that everyone had enjoyed their Thanksgiving and are safely back home.  How about getting back into the swing of things with a Challenge Me Monday over at Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog.  


This week's Challenge Me Monday is #88 - Holiday Cards: make a holiday card.

Recipe:
Paper Studio Paper: Kraft Brown, White, Patterned Paper, Red & Green
Ornaments from Christmas Solutions at 2" & 2.5"
Stampin Up Top Not Die
Cuttlebug dots folder
Red Ribbon
Gold Thread


Did you know that you can link your own "Holiday Card" to the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog?  We would love to see what you come up with and thanks for stopping by on Challenge Me Mondays.


Melanie

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog - Spotlight Sunday

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving, we drove back yesterday.  We have this great tradition of getting my mom's side of the family together every Thanksgiving.  We had 41 people this year, that equals a lot food, great times and laughs.  

Today is Spotlight Sunday over at Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog and I am being featured since I am a new design team member.  If you want to learn more about me and how I got my start head on over, here.  Be sure to come back tomorrow as well for another challenge.

Take care and safe travels,

Melanie

Baby Burp Cloths

Hi everyone,
I hope this finds you well, we are busy preparing for Thanksgiving family reunion.  I really enjoy our time with family, it is a great time of year!

I thought I would share a quick project that I made for one of my cousin's that just had a baby girl.  I wanted to give them a little something so I made these diaper burp cloths with fabric center panel.  These were my favorite when I had my little ones, they are super absorbent so that makes them great for so many things.

Have a safe happy Thanksgiving!
Melanie

Inking It Up Crazy Design Team - Fun Fold Card

It is time again for another DT challenge at Inking It Up Crazy, this week's challenge is to create a fun fold card.  Since I am fairly new at card making, I haven't ever attempted anything like this.  My first attempt was a peek-a-boo slider card, but the image I was using too big and I couldn't make it work (believe me I tried).  So, my take two was this pop up slider card.  There was a small learning curve on this, but it was actually pretty easy once I understood the mechanisms.   

There are so many examples of fun fold cards on YouTube, so I hope this inspires you to make your own.  Please check out what the other talented ladies have come up with at Inking It Up Crazy blog.

Have a great end of the week,

Melanie

Fantabulous Cricut Crawl - Harvest Blessings

Hi everyone and welcome to Melanie Makes and the Fantabulous Cricut Harvest Blessings Crawl...Fantabulous Cricut's version of a blog hop!  This is my first Crawl with FCCB's DT and I am blessed to by a part of it.

It's Fall and everyone at Fantabulous Cricut has decided to create projects to give thanks for our Harvest Blessings!   Each Design Team member will be featuring an original Fall project that includes Brown, Orange and Red – along with at least one Cricut cut.

If you've come from visiting Marlene at Scrappin Cookie, you're in the right place! If you've just happened across my blog and would like to play along with our Fantabulous Cricut Crawl, start HERE .

Make sure to check out each DT member's blog for some awesome inspiration! There will be PRIZES along the way at some of our DT members' blogs, AND there will be a Grand Prize up for grabs at FCCB for one participant that submits a "Harvest Blessings" project at FCCB!

For my project I created a "Thankful" sign  as part of my dining room centerpiece.  The Thankful is in front of some pumpkins that I welded using my Gypsy then I added the cute little turkeys from Create-a-Critter to either end.  This sign has many more possibilities besides a centerpiece, it could easily be adapted to the mantel or add some twine or raffia and it could be made into a hanging sign for your wall or door.

If you would like more inspiration for Harvest Blessing projects please check out an earlier post HERE.

Recipe:

Cartridges:  Create-a-Critter, B is for Boy & Gypsy Font

Assorted Cardstocks: red, oranges, browns & yellow

Stampin Up Chocolate Brown Ink

Charcoal Chalk Ink

Green wrapped floral wire

Adhesive

Foam Dots

If you like what you see I would love for you to become a follower, so I can share my creations and ideas with you.

Now it's your turn! Let's see your Harvest Blessings projects!  Make sure to include a Cricut cut somewhere on your project and be sure to use the colours Brown, Orange and Red as well!

Next stop… Melissa's blog, at Create with the Cricutkateer .  Go and see what she has in store for you today.  And when you're done, make sure to link up your project to FCCB's Fantabulous Cricut Crawl post to be entered into the contest!

Happy Crawling!

Melanie

__________________

Beckie - http://justbcreativecrazy.blogspot.com/

Cathie – http://www.creativecutter.org/

Charlotte - http://alittlebitofdetail.blogspot.com/

Crystal - http://www.littlecreationsblog.blogspot.com/

Faith Abigail - http://www.faithabigaildesigns.com/

Glenda - http://glendascards.blogspot.com/

Jamie A - http://scrapqueen141.blogspot.com/

Jennie - http://earthyscrap.blogspot.com/

Jessica - http://cricutafterdark.blogspot.com/

Jewels – http://beautifulcrazyscrappylife.blogspot.com/

Kate – http://www.smallbitsofpaper.blogspot.com/

Larelyn - http://www.handmadefromtheheart-designsbylarelyn.blogspot.com/

Lisa F - http://indymermaid.blogspot.com/

Marlene – http://www.scrappincookie.blogspot.com/

Melanie – http://melaniemakes.blogspot.com/ <== You are here

Melissa – http://cricutkateer.blogspot.com/  <== Up Next

Peggy – http://dailygracecreations.blogspot.com/

Robin - http://robinscreativecottage.blogspot.com/

Sabrina – http://www.scrappinwithsabrina.blogspot.com/

Sarah - http://www.sarahvaitstamps.blogspot.com/

Sherrie – http://sherriescraps.blogspot.com/

Suzanne - http://cricutcraftingrammy.blogspot.com/

Stork Baby Shower Peek a Boo Card

It seems like a lot of my friends are having babies, so I have been making lots of baby themed cards lately.  Here is a quick peek a boo style card that I made with an embossing folder, a few punches and a simple $1 stamp from AC Moore.  I also used a blender pen and some ink pads to put some quick color on the stork.

Recipe:

$1 Stamp AC Moore

2 3/8" Scallop Punch

2" Scallop Punch

1 3/4" Circle Punch

Swirls Embossing Folder

Cuttlebug

Blender Pen or Markers

Yellow Ribbon

Have a great weekend!

Melanie

Book Lover - FCCB #85

Hello Everyone and Happy Monday!  Today is my first post as a design team member for Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog.  


This week's Challenge Me Monday is #85 - Book Lover: make a book, project with a book on it or even a bookmark.

Recipe:
Paper Studio Paper: Kraft Brown, Brown, Black, Greens, & Red
Apple from Create-a-Critter cut at 2"
Worm from Create-a-Critter cut at 1.5"
Sewing machine with a straight stitch


Did you know that you can link your own "Book Lover" project to the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog?  We would love to see what you come up with and thanks for stopping by on Challenge Me Mondays.


Melanie

Inking It Up Crazy Design Team - Gratitude & Thankful

Since today is the first of November and Thanksgiving is around the corner, the Inking It Up Crazy design team made a projects showing what we are grateful or thankful for.

For my project I made a center piece to hand from my dining room table.  I think it set the theme with the pumpkins, oak leaves and acorns.  The hanging leaves are stamped with things that I am thankful for.

Check out what the other talented ladies have come up with at Inking It Up Crazy blog.

Enjoy this first of November,
Melanie

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog Design Team

Hi everyone,
I wanted to let you in on some exciting news, I am a new member of the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog Design Team!  My first project for the Design Team with be post next Wednesday, November 7th.  I am so looking forward to sharing my projects with people and hope it inspire some of you.

If you don't follow Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog you should go check it out they have great daily inspiration which includes: Challenge Me Mondays, Quick Tip Tuesdays,  Wednesday's Winners, Thursday's Tutorials, Fantabulous Fridays, Scrapin Saturday & Spotlight Sunday.

Have a safe and Happy Halloween,
Melanie

Fall Harvest Party Treats

Hi everyone,
I hope many of you are enjoying the beautiful weather and colorful trees.  I know I have been stuck in the house this week with my oldest being sick, so when we drove to school today I really enjoyed the colorful scenery.

Today is my son's Fall Harvest party at preschool and I wanted to share with you the treat bags that I made for the children.  I think they are going to love them, I know I loved making them.

Recipe:
Stampin Up Top Note Die
Stampin Up Autumn Harvest stamp set
Studio G Alphabet stamp set
Staz On Ink
Stampin Up Chocolate Chip Ink
White Card Stock
Kraft Brown Card Stock
Orange Card Stock
AD Markers
1 1/2" Circle Punch
1 3/4" Circle Punch
2 3/8" Scallop Punch
Adhesive

Enjoy your day,
Melanie

Inking It Up Crazy Design Team Post - Halloween Treats

Today's post for the Inking It Up Crazy is Design Team was to create Some Halloween Treats.  I decided to make some party favors and cupcake toppers.

To make the cupcake toppers and the party favors I used the 2" scallop punch, 1 3/4" circle punch, 1 1/2" circle punch & the Stampin Up "Batty for You" stamp set.  I used an extra scallop punch on the party favors to conceal the back part of the favor.  Overall this is a really quick project, the longest part was filling the celo bags with candy.

I hope this inspires you to make some of your own tasty Halloween treats.  Be sure to stop by and check out what the other ladies have come up with on Inking It Up Crazy.
Have a great weekend,
Melanie

It's All about Baby!

This post is all about Babies, I am going to a friend's baby shower this weekend and it put me in that kind of mood.  I really love making banners, since they go together really quickly.

I used the same template I created for my parent's anniversary banner.  This scallop shape is really versatile.  I created it using my Gypsy.  In making the banner, I used the Accent Essentials, B is for Boy and the Songbird cartridges.

I hope this inspires some banner making.

Melanie

Falling for Autumn

This Fall card was inspired by some acorns my son collected in a park behind our house.  He just had a ball picking them up and throwing them into a lake.  We even took some home for hours a more fun with a dump truck.

With the acorn inspiration in hand, I was off to create this card.  Here is the recipe:

Cuts:

Acorn; 2.75" from "B is for Boy"

Leaves; 2" & 1.75" from "B is for Boy"

Autumn; 3.5" from "Stretch Your Imagination"

Frame Base; 3.5" x 1.25" (sized using Gypsy) from "Gypsy Wanderings"

Frame Outline; 3.5" x 1.25" (sized using Gypsy) from "Gypsy Wanderings"

Tools:

Cuttlebug; "Distressed Stripes" 

Materials:

Kraft Brown Card Stock (11"x4.25" folded in half)

Kraft Brown Card Stock

Brown Card Stocks

Yellow / Orange Card Stock (3.75" x 3.5")

Orange Paper

Green Pattern Paper (4" x 5.25")

Yellow poka dot ribbon

Stampin Up Chocolate Brown Ink

Cut the list of cuts above in desired card stock and assemble pieces.  Fold 11"x4.25" card base in half.  Cut a 4" x 5.25  piece of pattern paper and 3.75" x 3.5" of  orange / yellow card stock.  This last piece will need to be embossed with "Distressed Stripes", rip the bottom off and then crumpled into a ball for additional texture.  Adhere these layers together and tie ribbon towards the top of  the card.  Adhere this to the card base and now it time to start layering all the elements.  The acorn and the Autumn frame edges were inked.  The acorn was popped up with foam adhesive.  Lastly, I place the bow over where the leaves connect.  Voila, a cute Autumn card!

I hope you enjoyed this card, it is one of my Fall  favorites.  I am entering this into the My Craft Spot Design Team search.  Clink the link to check it out or even audition yourself.

Have a great week,

Melanie

Inking It Up Crazy Design Team Post - “Cricutless” Challenge

Today is another Inking It Up Crazy Design Team Post and this one is the "Cricutless" Challenge.  I decided to use my favorite punches as the focal point.


The punches I used are the small and large Retro Flower Punches from EK Success.  I punched two large flowers, small scallop and two small flowers.  They are held together with a brad.  A scalloped border punch was used on the rectangular elements and birthday sentiment.  The pattern paper is DCWV and the sentiment is from "So Happy for You" from Stampin Up.

Please check out what the other ladies have made for this challenge over at Inking It Up Crazy.

Melanie