Mario Make a Wish Birthday!

Today's card is a fun kids card featuring a Punch Art "Mario" from Mario Brothers.  I created this for one my son to take to a Marion Cart birthday party.  I can tell you everything I look at this I smile.

I used a series of circles both plain and scalloped to create this Mario.  Foam adhesive helped me achieve dimension.  The radial checked background is the perfect backdrop for this Mario Cart race inspired card.  I hope to do a tutorial soon, to show you the shapes and steps in making this fun card.

Happy Crafting,

Melanie

Trim the Tree with Christmas Cheer

This Christmas card was inspired by one of my most popular blog posts that I did three year ago.  You can check it out here.   The tree is the main focal point and I think its curves are timeless and that is what everyone likes about it.  So, why not use the same tree in another card?  Well, that is exactly what I have done and I like this card as much as the previous one.  Here is how I did it:

The tree I used from a Cricut Christmas Solutions, cut at 4.5" on green glimmer paper.  I first used Simon Says Stamp's "Bundle of Stitched Shapes".  If you look close you can see the stitching detail around the edge.  I them made it into the background with a stencil and texture or embossing paste.  The stencil is Tim Holtz's "Holiday Knit".  I just love the texture it adds and it's subtlety behind the tree.

For the red banner, I stamped it with Stampin Up's "Sweet Essentials" Christmas Cheer sentiment.  For the finishing touch, the holly and berries were added from Papertrey Ink's "Holly Jolly Die Collection".

I may be inspired to see what other backdrops I can come up with to support the star of this card.  That tree is
Happy Crafting,

Melanie

Colorado Inspired Wedding Gift Card Holder

My brother-in-law go married in Colorado over the summer and the wedding decor was inspired by the beautiful mountains surrounding Denver.  We gave the new married couple a gift card and I wanted to design a gift card holder that would be in keeping with this natural theme.

Here is how I created it:

I used Stampin Up's "Top Note" bigz die to cut the gift card holder as well as the interior pocket.  To create the gift card holder I folded a 4.25" x 5.5" piece of card stock in half.  I place the folded edge just below the cut line on the Top Note die. I then cut another Top Note from the dies and cut it in half.  I ran some tombo adhesive around the 3 side of my interior pocket and glued it to the folded I just made holder.  

Next, I needed to create the embellishment on the front.  I embossed the outer pocket with the Stampin Up "Woodgrain" textured impressions embossing folder.  Cut a piece of burlap from the Apothacary Framelits dies, stamped and clear embossed a sentiment from the "Label Love" Stampin Up stampset.  I used stampin write markers on the "Tags Til Christmas" pine cone image for the rustic feel.

Now it is time to assemble, I used Stampin Up dimensional, glue dots to hold it all together.

I hope you enjoyed this gift card holder and may it inspire you to get crafty for a special occasion.

Happy crafting,

Melanie

Masculine Thinking of You

I really have been enjoying the "Sweet Essentials" stamp set from Stampin Up.  I just love the font!  Here is a card I was inspired from a Stampin Up post.  It was awhile back, but I thought I would try my take at it.  This is my masculine version of a birthday, thinking of you card.  

I used a window frame framelit that I cut in half and the cheveron is from the Tasteful Trim die.

Hope you enjoy and as always Happy Crafting,

Melanie

Banner Butterfly Trio

Welcome to the butterfly trio of cards.  I took a simple sketch to start the basis for my three designed.  I used the large banner as in beautiful blue paper adorned with butterflies.  The butterflies seen here are done with Stampin Up punches.  They are a great "go to" for cards, because who doesn't like butterflies.

  

Another great thing about these cards is that you could pair it with almost any sentiment; birthday, anniversary, sympathy or congratulations.

Here are a few more close ups:

Happy Crafting,

Melanie

Banner Birthday - Make a Wish

I have never really created a banner card before and have been inspired to try from seeing all my fellow crafty friends posts.  Here is my first attempt.  

I used the "Hearts A Flutter" stamp set and framelits as well as "Sweet Essentials" for the sentiment.  This is one of my favorite sentiment sets from Stampin Up.  The center piece flower is from the "Blossom Party" die. 

Have you made a banner card lately?  I hope this inspires you.

Happy Crafting,

Melanie

Beautifully Baroque Christmas Cheer

Here is another Christmas card using the "Beautifully Baroque" stamp set from Stampin Up.  If you missed my Christmas card using this stamp set from yesterday, click here Beautifully Baroque Seasons Greetings.  

For this card, I cut out the center portion and made it into a festive Christmas ornament.  The "Christmas Cheer" is from the lovely "Sweet Essentials" stamp set.  I may try another one using some sparkly red embossing powder to give it a little kick.

Come back tomorrow for another Christmas card using Beautifully Baroque stamp set.

Happy Crafting,

Melanie

Yippee, Make a Wish!

This adorable birthday card was made for my nephew's first birthday.  I thought the retired, Moving Forward, stamp set worked great for this card.  The sentiment is from Sweet Essentials, one of my new Stampin Up favorites.

Since this was a first birthday card, I wanted it to be fun.  I can't help but smile when I see this little frog and the bright colors really make the card cheery.  Perfect for a first birthday or any other.

Don't forget to stamp the inside of your cards and your envelopes too.  It just adds that extra touch.
Happy Crafting,

Melanie