A Special Gift for the Saturday Stampendous Challenge

Happy Memorial Day Weekend Everyone!

If you are looking for my Friday Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Post please scroll down or click here.

Today I am playing along with all of the Stampendous Ladies. There is a new inspiration for this month's Saturday Stampendous Challenge. This month's theme is gift making. Create a gift. Simple.

My gift is a set of coasters. It was so easy. I bought inexpensive tiles at Home Depot, brought them home and washed them with dish soap and warm water to get the tile dust off then set them aside to dry. On tissue paper, I stamped some of my favorite Stampendous floral images using Memento Tuxedo Black dye ink. I colored the images with colored pencils and then adhered the tissue to the dry tiles using a matte gel medium. While the medium was still wet, I sprinkled each tile with Stampendous Champagne Crushed Glass Glitter. I did add another coat of gel medium after the first coat was dry to seal the image and glitter. Felt circles were added to the bottom of each coaster for padding.

For my coasters, I used three terrific stamps: Daisy Thanks SSC1112; Cottage Rose CRS5034; Narcissus SSC1107. I love all of the Stampendous floral stamps. The best thing about Stampendous is that they have such a diverse selection of stamps, florals, cute 'kiddos' images, steampunk...you name it and Stampendous has it in their highest quality deep-etched stamps. Please check out their online store.

All of us at Stampendous would love it if you would play along with us this month. Please check out all of the challenge details here at the Stampendous blog and while you are there, please follow the links to the other Design Team members. Their creations are absolutely amazing!

Jennifer Ingle
Lea Kimmel
Pam Hornschu
Susie Moore
Tenia Nelson
Taylor Usry
Arty Carty

Thank you for looking. Have a safe Memorial Day Weekend filled with happiness.

Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Thank You

Today's Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge is all about creating a thank you. Make a card, LO or other project using only digital stamps and give it a theme of gratitude. You can find all of the challenge details here at the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge blog.

I created a thank you card because frankly, this is the time of the year that you can never have too many laying around. My card is really basic - a base, a mat, a rub-on and an image panel but look at that image. Isn't it beautiful!?! It's the Sweet 'n Sassy Coneflowers and Butterflies digital stamp and I think it's stunning. After coloring the image, I matted it on Hero Hues paper, adhered it to a card base which is also Hero Hues paper and added a Deja Views Rub-on.

Everyone at Sweet 'n Sassy would love it if you would play along with us. Please keep in mind as you play along to ONLY use digital images for the challenge. You don't have to use SNS digi images to play along but we sure love it when you do. Please share a link to your creation using the Linky feature at the end of today's Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge post. If the link feature is down, please add a link with your comment. When uploading to online galleries, please use keyword SNSDC55.

For every card you link to the Challenge Blog throughout the month of May, you will receive one entry in the monthly drawing. One lucky winner will receive 3 digital images of his/her choice from the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps store. Please note, if you use SNSS digital images to create your project, you will receive two entries! Be sure to play along every week... The more you play and/or use SNS digis, the more chances you have to win!

Did you know Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge has a facebook page. Please 'Like' us and join in the fun there as well.

Thanks for looking and may you have a safe, peaceful weekend filled with happiness.

Stampendous Saturday Challenge: A Gift for a Friend

Happy Saturday Everyone!

Today, I'm playing along with the Saturday Stampendous Challenge. This month's theme is gifts. It's simple. Create a gift. It can be a card set, a gift card holder or some really special project.

I created a canvas for my best friend. I'm so very blessed to have the best friend in the world. Ilene is the kind of person that would literally do anything for anyone. She's always the first to step up and volunteer at school and church. As a friend, she always calls and checks in when she knows things aren't going well and she's the first to call and cheer you on when something good happens. She takes friends to the airport at ungodly hours and sits with them when they have medical procedures. She does all of this without ever having to be asked. She's just there, like a good friend should. Did I mention she also makes the best brisket in all the land and loves to share it with her friends.

I'm not as good a friend to her. It seems life always gets in the way and I feel badly about that. So when I saw this amazing picture of her and her dear husband (yes, he is just as cool as she is), I knew I had to make something to let her know I appreciate her.

Jo-Ann Fabrics has a great selection of canvases is all sizes and shapes. So I picked up a 10" x 10" and started by wrapping the edges with a satin ribbon which was also a great find at Jo-Ann's. I then stamped the flourish from the Cling Jumbo Dahlia set several times around the edge of a piece of My Mind's Eye paper. I used Memento Expresso Truffle Dye Ink. I stamped the Cling Calligraphy Sampler on a separate piece of paper and inked around the edges. The Cling Jumbo Dogwood was stamped on X-Press It Blending Card, colored with Copics and fussy-cut. Before adhering everything to the page, I die-cut the photo and edged the papers using VersaMark Watermark Ink and Stampendous Aged Gold Embossing Enamel (love that stuff). I used matte gel medium as a glue to attach everything to the canvas.

Thanks for visiting today.

Be sure to check out what my teammates have created for the challenge. You will be amazed by their talent.

Stampendous Impressions

Janelle Stollfus
Lea Kimmel

Melinda Gleissner
Pam Hornschu

Taylor Usry

Tenia Nelson

Wendy Price

And we want YOU to play along with us!  Simply make a gift, gift set (could be cards, could be an altered item), or a gift card holder of some sort and add the direct link for your project to our collection at the end of this post (or on the Stampendous blog) no later than Thursday, May 31 at 11:59 PM EST .  You do not have to use Stampendous products, but we sure love it when you do!  As an extra incentive for playing along, one lucky crafter (drawn at random) will receive this fabulous new Cling Jumbo Tropical Garden stamp set:

Due to shipping restrictions, the winner must have a US address.  We hope you have a chance to play along with us (you an enter as many times as you'd like!) this month

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps May Digi Release Blog Hop

It's time for another Sweet `n Sassy Digi Challenge but it is also Digi Release Day. To celebrate the new digi designs, the ladies of the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Design Team have put together a little blog hop.

Have fun hopping along but here's a hint: You will want to leave some love on each of the Design Team posts. One of the team members will be picking a random winner from the comments on her post but it's a mystery as to which member gets this honor.

The winning prize will be the whole May Digi Release! The winner will be announced at Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Blog on Friday, May 25th.

And now for today's challenge...It's a Recipe Challenge. Create a card, LO or other project using one ribbon, two gems and three different colors(plus neutrals).

Please keep in mind as you play along to ONLY use digital images for the challenge. You don't have to use SNS digi images to play along but we sure love it when you do. Please share a link to your creation using the Linky feature at the end of today's Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge post. If the link feature is down, please add a link with your comment. When uploading to online galleries, please use keyword SNSDC54.

For every card you link to the Challenge Blog throughout the month of May, you will receive one entry in the monthly drawing. One lucky winner will receive 3 digital images of his/her choice from the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps store. Please note, if you use SNSS digital images to create your project, you will receive two entries! Be sure to play along every week... The more you play and/or use SNS digis, the more chances you have to win!

My card is a CAS design using the new Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Baseball Rhubarb. The sentiment is from the Sports Sentiment Digital Stamp set. After printing the sentiment on kraft paper, I created panels and added them to the card base. I then printed Rhubarb on Copic X-Press It Blending Card, colored him with my Copics, fussy-cut and adhered him to my card base using foam dimensional adhesive. The ribbon is actually fabric tape from Dailylike.

Please hop along to see more Recipe Challenge creations using the new, May Release Sweet 'n Sassy Digital Stamps.

Cathy Wallington
Ceal Pritchett
Cyndi Bundy
Makiko Jones
Melinda Gleissner (you are here)
Meredith "Crafty Math Chick"
Patricia Hays
Stephanie Serrano
Stephanie Wright
Wendy Jordan

Thanks for visiting!

Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge: Create a Feminine Card

Yay, it's Friday. That means a new Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Digi Challenge. This week's theme is feminine cards. With Mother's Day just around the corner, I knew exactly what image I wanted to color, the Poppies Digital Stamp. My mom has a beautiful garden. As long as I can remember she has grown sweet peas and columbine, foxglove and coral bells but my favorite would have to be her poppies. I just love when the poppies are in bloom so I colored this one for my mom.

To play along this week, just create a feminine card using digital images only and upload it to the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Blog. You don't have to use Sweet ‘n Sassy digital images to play along but it would be terrific if you did! Please link your creation using the linky tool featured at the end of the SNS Digi Challenge post. If the linky tool is down, please add a link with your comment. When uploading to online galleries, please use keyword SNSDC53.

For every card you link to the Challenge Blog throughout the month of May, you will receive one entry in the monthly drawing. One lucky winner will receive 3 digital images of his/her choice from the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps store. Please note, if you use SNSS digital images to create your project, you will receive two entries! Be sure to play along every week... The more you play and/or use SNS digis, the more chances you have to win!

OK, Are you ready to be inspired? Please check out what the fabulous Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Design Team ladies have created.

Cathy Wallington
Ceal Pritchett
Cyndi Bundy
Makiko Jones
Meredith "Crafty Math Chick"
Patricia Hays
Stephanie Serrano
Stephanie Wright
Wendy Jordan
Melinda Gleissner (that's me)

Thanks for visiting today. Have a wonderful weekend!

National Scrapbooking Day at Stampendous

Happy National Scrapbooking Day!

I have two posts today so if you are looking for the Jillian and Friends Blog Bash post, please feel free to scroll down or click here.

There are so many things going on over at Stampendous today. There's a Layout Blog Hop to celebrate National Scrapbooking Day and another hop to kick off this month's Stampendous Challenge. I would like to invite you to visit both. You will be in awe when you see the fabulous creations. A day doesn't go by that I am not completely amazed by the incredible talent of the Stampendous Design Team. And you know what? They are not only talented but incredibly kind and caring. I'm blessed to be a part of this group of women who would drop what they were doing to help you out, answer a question or just give a cyber-hug when things aren't going your way. So please 'hop' along and give them some love today. Thanks.

This month's challenge is all about gift giving. If you'd like to play along, the rules are simple: create a gift. It can be anything you like - a scrapbook, a giftcard holder, a card set...After you have completed your project, upload it to the Stampendous blog by using their linky tool. You have until Thursday, May 31 at 11:59 PM EST to play along. As an extra incentive for playing along, one lucky crafter (drawn at random) will receive this fabulous new Cling Jumbo Tropical Garden stamp set.

Due to shipping restrictions, the winner must have a US address.

For my gift, I created a little journal for my son. Ian loves to draw and sketch ideas for new games. He is also, always asking for paper. This 5-1/2" x 4-1/4" journal is the perfect size for him to carry around and use to record his thoughts and ideas.

The new Stampendous Gears Kiddo set is perfect. I think it is my new, all-time favorite set. Isn't the kiddo the cutest!?! The set also comes with the big gear image as well as a bunch of cool sentiments. LOVE IT! After creating the journal, I stamped and colored the cover. "Dreams by Ian" was stamped using the Stampendous Small Typwriter Alphabet.

Remember how I said the Gears Kiddo set includes cool sentiments? I used those sentiments along with ones from another new set called Guys and Gears and stamped a little something at the bottom of each page.

Sorry my pictures aren't the best. I'm writing this at 4:30 in the morning after spending the night in the ER. Here's a friendly warning: take cover when cutting the shank off the back of a button. But that's a story for another day.

Want to see some more gift giving inspiration? Check out the following blogs and please remember the layout hop as well.

Janelle Stollfus
Melinda Gleissner (that's me)
Stephanie Lee
Susie Moore
Taylor Usry
Tenia Nelson
Wendy Price

Thanks again for visiting. Have a crafty day!

Jillian and Friends Blog Bash

Happy National Scrapbooking Day!

To celebrate the day, I am playing along with all of the terrific ladies over at the A Jillian Vance Design blog in their Jillian and Friends Blog Bash. I guess that makes me a friend. If you aren't familiar with this company, I invite you to check them out. Everything about AJVD is fabulous, from the fantastic designs made from the highest quality of materials to the really great customer service. Their online store is easy to navigate and the turn-around-time from the moment you hit the 'confirm order' button to the time the mailman brings you your happy mail is incredibly fast.

This has been a crazy week for me so I ended up creating a CAS card. I must admit I really like how it turned out. The border along the bottom of the card is the Quatrefoil Background. I stamped it, matted it on a black panel, wrapped a red ribbon around it and adhered it to the card base using foam adhesive. The sentiment is from a little set that AJVD included in one of my orders (what was I saying about customer service?) and was stamped using Ranger Archival Jet Black ink. I added a little bling and the card was done. Simple yet elegant.

Thank you for visiting my blog today. I hope you enjoy the bash. It's been an honor to play along with these very talented ladies, who have all used fantastic A Jillian Vance Design products. If you have been following along in order, your next stop will be at Rhonda's blog. I know you are going to love what she created!

Once you complete the Blog Bash, please go back to the A Jillian Vance Design blog, become a follower and leave a comment on what you thought of the bash. Please make sure you leave some love on everyone's blog. Two lucky winners will be selected, each of which will receive a $5 Gift Certificate off of anything in the AJVD store.

A Jillian Vance Design
Jillian Vance
Ruby Aleman
Jennifer Palmer
Bunny Vance
Tina Keller
Allie Gower
Margie Higuchi
Denise Speigle
Misty Christensen
Melinda Gleissner (that's me)
Rhonda Van Ginkel
Annette Witherspoon
A Jillian Vance Design

Have a crafty day!

Exciting News / What's Your Favorite Holiday?

Happy Friday!

I have some exciting news: I have been asked to join the Sweet ‘n Sassy Digi Challenge Design Team. Every Friday, I will be playing along with a great group of ladies. We’ll create cards, layouts and other projects using fabulous Sweet ‘n Sassy digital images. Here’s more exciting news: You can play along too. Just link your creation to the Sweet ‘n Sassy Digi Challenge Blog using their linky tool. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Please use digital images ONLY for the challenge.
You don't have to use Sweet ‘n Sassy digital images to play along but it would be terrific if you did!
Please share a link to your creation using the linky tool featured at the end of the SNS Digi Challenge post. If the linky tool is down, please add a link with your comment.
When uploading to online galleries, please use keyword SNSDC52.

For every card you link to the Challenge Blog throughout the month of May, you will receive one entry in the monthly drawing. One lucky winner will receive 3 digital images of his/her choice from the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps store. Please note, if you use SNSS digital images to create your project, you will receive two entries! Be sure to play along every week... The more you play and/or use SNS digis, the more chances you have to win!

This week's challenge, in honor of the blog's 1 Year Anniversary, is Favorite Holiday. To play along, just create a card, layout or other project using digis that relate to your favorite holiday.

For my first card I used the very cute Cocoa's Santa Hat image. I have the feeling you will be seeing a lot of Cocoa on my blog because I LOVE this mouse! When I saw this image I knew I would pop Cocoa's head up with one of the new Action Wobble Springs. I then paper-pieced the hat and colored using my Copics. The patterned paper is from the Authentique Wonder Collection.

My second card uses the Sweet 'n Sassy Christmas Candle image. One of my favorite parts of Christmas is the Midnight Candlelight Service at my church. The music and sea of white candles is very moving. This image reminds me of these services. After I colored the image with Copics, I added a little Glossy Accents to the flame, dripping wax and berries. Both the die border and the patterned paper are from Memory Box.

Are you ready for more inspiration? Please visit the following blogs:

Cathy Wallington
Ceal Pritchett
Cyndi Bundy
Makiko Jones
Melinda Gleissner (that's me)
Meredith "Crafty Math Chick"
Patricia Hays
Stephanie Serrano
Stephanie Wright
Wendy Jordan

Thanks Sweet 'n Sassy for this incredible opportunity and thank you for visiting today! I hope you'll play along this week. What's your favorite holiday?