A Zinnia Pillow Box

The fabulous ladies of the Stampendous Design Team have been at it again this week...recycling, repurposing, and reusing for this month's Stampendous Challenge. Everything is fair game to be stamped, cut, encrusted, and Fran•taged!

I created a pillow gift box out of all sorts of found treasures. Have you noticed wrapping paper isn't rolled around a tube anymore? This makes me both happy and sad. There have been many wonderful 'light saber fights' at our house but I'm loving how the manufacturers are just using a rolled up piece of kraft paper. It holds so much crafting potential.

Using a template, I cut a pillow box from this terrific find and stamped it repeatedly in VersaMark Ink using the Stampendous Carte Postale, Cling Music Score and Cling Steamboat Map images. I then spritzed it with coffee that my husband left sitting around. Have you tried coffee-spritzing? Our dear leader at Stampendous, Fran Seiford has created wonderful video tutorials using this technique. You can watch these videos and so many more here at the Stampendous YouTube Channel.

After assembling my box, I tied it with a piece of saved tulle (from a present someone had given me) and created my flower embellishment. I stamped the Cling Jumbo Zinnia two times on Copic X-Press It Blending Card and colored it with Copics. After fussy-cutting, I layered the two flowers and melted Kaleidoscope Embossing Powder in the center and then covered the whole thing with Glossy Accents.

Check out what the ladies have been up to:

Stampendous Impressions
Lea Kimmel
Pam Hornschu
Suzanne Czosek
Melinda Gleissner (that's me)
Tenia Nelson
Wendy Price
Wendy Jordan
You have until Thursday, May 3, 2012 at 11:59 PM EST to add your direct link to our collection on the Stampendous blog. 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 newly released Mother's Love Perfectly Clear 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 may enter as many times as you'd like) this month.

Thanks for visiting and Happy Crafting!

Dream-pendous Blog Hop

This has been an amazing week. Hopefully, you have had a chance to follow along with us at Stampendous and Dreamweaver Stencils. I am personally in awe of the talent we saw this week from both teams and am grateful to be somehow linked with these incredible artists. Thank you both Dreamweaver Stencils and Stampendous for this opportunity.

As a Grand Dream-pendous Finale, please hop along with us today as we showcase some more creations that feature both Dreamweaver Stencils and Stampendous products. Be sure to comment and leave an email address for a chance to win a fabulous prize. For shipping and handling purposes, USA/APO/FPO/Canada winners only.

Card Notes:

A bird has been trying to make a nest all week out of my wreath. She steals a silk flower here, a silk flower there and thinks I don't notice. I noticed and was inspired. FYI: All this month, Stampendous is also having a recycling challenge. So when momma bird wasn't looking, I also stole a few twigs and such from the wreath.

Stamp the Cling Calligraphy Sampler on white panel.
Place Opto Checkerboard stencil on top of stamped panel; With foam applicator, ink over stencil to leave impression on design.
Dry emboss the panel usinng the same stencil being careful to line the stencil and panel up when placing them in embossing machine.
Ink Jumbo Songbird stamp with brown ink; Before stamping, wipe off the ink where the leaves would be and color these areas with markers; "Huff" on image and stamp.
Ink around edges of panel and distress with distress tool.
Sprinkle both Clear and Aged Gold Embossing Enamel randomly on panel and heat from underside to melt.
Embellish with twigs, cocoa fibers and button.

Stampendous Supplies:
Cling Calligraphy Sampler CRR138
Jumbo Songbird CRS5029
Aged Gold Embossing Enamel FREG024
Clear Embossing Enamel FREG020

Dreamweaver Stencils Supplies:
Opto Checkerboard LJ915

Enjoy the rest of the hop. Don't forget to comment.

Dream It Up!
Stampendous Impressions!
Kristine Reynolds
Cherylynn Moser
Susie Moore
Lynn Mercurio
Laura Drahozal
Pam Hornschu
Terrece Siddoway
Wendy Price
Liz Martin
Taylor Usry
Jessie Hurley
Krissy Fossmeyer
Cyndi Bundy
Jennifer Ingle
Georgia Sommers
Melinda Gleissner (that's me)
Kristi Van Doren
Stephanie Lee
Wendy Jordan
Suzanne Czosek
Lee Kellogg
Janelle Stollfus
Louise Healy
Jennifer Dove

Tenia Nelson and Lea Kimmel have both created fantastic projects for this month's Stampendous Saturday Challenge (recycling and reusing). Please when hopping, stop by and give them some love too.

Thanks again for stopping by. Have a Dream-pendous day!

Dreamweaver Stencils and Stampendous

Everyday this week, the design teams from Dreamweaver Stencils and Stampendous will be providing some "Dream-pendous" inspiration. Be sure to stop by both blogs daily for a chance to win a fabulous prize. Each day, different creations from both companies' design teams will be showcased. Just follow the links to see all of the amazing projects and then on Saturday, please join us for the final hop of the week. Everyone from both teams will be playing. This is your opportunity to see how to mix and mingle your creativity...if you are a stenciler, you will be fascinated at combining stamps with your first love. If you are a stamper, you will be wowed at how stencils can add to your impressions.

Be sure to leave comments as you visit the blogs for a chance to win one of three combined sets of Dreamweaver and Stampendous goodies. Please remember to include your email address when commenting. For shipping and handling purposes, USA/APO/FPO/Canada winners only.

Before I give you the details on my card, I just want to thank both Dreamweaver Stencils and Stampendous. This joint collaboration has been so much fun and has really allowed me to explore my creativity. You know how much I love the incredible products at Stampendous and now I can say that I am completely enamored with everything Dreamweaver!

Card Notes:
Stamp the Stampendous Cling Blossom Spray several times on watercolor paper using Memento London Fog Dye Ink; Color image using Twinkling H2Os and an Aquabrush; Set aside to dry.
Center the Festive Thank You stencil over the dry panel; secure with repositional tape (please note that before I adhered the stencil to my panel, I masked off areas of the stencil that I did not want to use on this card).
Generously spread Dreamweaver Pearlescent Embossing Paste over the stencil; Carefully scrape off the excess paste and return it to jar.
Carefully remove tape, lift stencil and set panel aside to dry (this is a good time to wash your stencil with soapy water and an old toothbrush).
When paste is dry, ink edges of card with Antique Linen Distress Ink. Sprinkle panel with Stampendous Aged Gold Embossing Enamel and heat from underneath to melt.
Add ribbon and antique pearl brad.
Adhere panel to card base.

Please visit the following blogs for today's Dream-pendous inspiration.

Stampendous Impressions!
Dream It Up!
Melinda Gleissner (That's me)
Cherylynn Moser
Suzanne Czosek
Jessie Hurley
Louise Healy
Pam Hornschu

Thanks so much for visiting. May you have a "Dream-pendous" day!
Melinda

Happy Thoughts

On the go for weeks, I decided to pamper myself this morning by creating a couple of cards for no other reason than I wanted to. That's right - no classes, deadlines, orders or challenges. Just because.

I recently made a purchase with A Jillian Vance Design but because I've been so busy I haven't had time to ink my new stamps...until today. If you aren't familiar with A Jillian Vance Designs, it's a wonderful company that sells adorable stamps with coordinating wafer-thin dies. Now here's the best part, the company was created by Jillian Vance at the age of 10, that's right, 10! I've never met Jillian but she must be incredibly intuitive and smart. Everything about my shopping experience was exceptional from her easy-to-navigate online store to the quick delivery of my carefully-packed order. Shortly after I placed my order, I received an email thanking me. A PDF of their current catalog was attached. When my package came a few days later, another thank you was enclosed with a little gift, Jillian's Pear Pins. So what's the product like? The Pear Pins are a must-have for anyone who adds beads and baubles to cards and mixed media projects. As for the stamps, I'm very pleased. They stamped easily, giving me a crisp, clean image. Wow, I know this sounds like a review. I've just had so much fun playing this morning that I wanted to share.

My first card is an Easter card that I'm going to send to a dear friend.

Supplies:

Peepster Stamp Set by A Jillian Vance Design
Follow Your Heart patterned paper by My Mind's Eye
Desert Storm cardstock by Neenah
Archival Jet Black Ink by Ranger
Easter Grass

My second card is for my son. The other night I found him looking in the bathroom mirror with a magnifying glass pressed to his face. We then proceeded to have a very long discussion about moustaches. I thought I'd make him a little card to tell him how proud I am to be his mother.

Don't you just love the little flocked mustache?

Supplies:

Mr. & Mrs. Moustache Stamp Set by A Jillian Vance Design
Neapolitan patterned paper by American Crafts for Dear Lizzy
Desert Storm cardstock by Neenah
Archival Jet Black Ink by Ranger
The Essential Glue Pad by Tsukineko
Plain Ol' Black Fun Flock by Stampendous
Small Snow Globe die by Memory Box Stamps
Small Scalloped Circle die by Memory Box Stamps

If you would like to see more of Jillian's stamps, please visit her blog.
Thanks for visiting.

Plume Portrait Give Away

Paper Crafts Magazine is showcasing the Stampendous Plume Portrait stamp over on their Facebook page. Head over to the Paper Crafts Magazine Facebook page and leave a comment to possibly win this beautiful lady! You can also leave a comment over at the Stampendous blog for 3 more chances to win.

Need to be inspired? The fantastic ladies of the Stampendous Design Team have been having fun with this lovely lady. Just follow the links on the Stampendous Blog to see their creations.

Supplies
Stampendous Stamps Cling Plume Portrait CRV260, Carte Postale P143, Corset Ladies SSC1136
Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black Dye Ink
Copic Markers (E00/E01/E02/E04)
Stampendous Aged Gold Embossing Enamel
Neenah Desert Storm Kraft Cardstock
The Paper Company Black Cardstock
Touch of Nature Feathers
Button (unknown)


Card Notes
Create a card base by folding a 11" x 4 1/4" piece of kraft cardstock in half.
Cut a 5 3/8" x 4 1/8" panel from black cardstock and a 5 1/4" x 4" panel from kraft cardstock.
Randomly stamp the text stamp from the Corset Ladies set and the Carte Postale stamp onto kraft panel.
Sprinkle Aged Embossing Enamel on stamped panel and heat from underside to melt enamel.
Stamp Plume Portrait image on separate piece of kraft and trim; color image with Copic Markers and mat with black cardstock.
Adhere all layers to card base.
Use a liquid glue to adhere feathers and button to image.

Have a wonderful day and thanks for visiting!

Stampendous Saturday Shaped Cards Challenge

I'm feeling under the weather today so I thought I'd share a card I made last Spring. It uses a retired Stampendous stamp set called Loopy Blooms SSC1069. To be honest, it is one of my favorite stamp sets so I was really sad when it was retired. You may be able to find it at your local scrapbook store. I hope so, it's worth the hunt.

I stamped the flowers several times on patterned paper by Echo Park and My Mind's Eye, fussy-cut the petals and blooms and then paper-pieced the image. The sentiment was stamped on a little tag I created with an EK Success punch. After adding a little twine, the tag was adhered to the card.

OK, so why am I sharing today when I'm sick... because it's Saturday and this month's challenge over at the Stampendous blog is shaped cards. What a great challenge! Just create something other than the typical square or rectangle card and upload your direct link to the Stampendous blog no later than April 5, 2012 at 11:00 PM EST. One lucky person (drawn at random from all the entries) will receive this gorgeous Cling Jumbo Hollyhock Stamp Set.
You do not have to use Stampendous products to play along, but we sure love it when you do! Due to shipping restrictions, the winner must have a US address.

Here is some amazing inspiration from Stampendous Design Team Members:

Stampendous Impressions
Pam Hornschu
Wendy Jordan
Janelle Stollfus
Kristine Reynolds
Jennifer Ingle
Taylor Usry
Melinda Gleissner
Susie Moore
Tenia Nelson
Wendy Price

Thanks for visiting and Enjoy your day!

Stampendous Texture Challenge

I had so much fun creating my card for this post. In case you missed it, this month's challenge over at the Stampendous Blog is all about texture. All you have to do to enter is to create a card, a layout or any other project with lots of texture. You have until March 1, 2012 at 11:00 PM EST to upload your project to the Stampendous Blog.

My card started with a 5" x 5" black card base made from Recollections black card stock. I then die-cut a frame using Neenah Avon Brilliant White card stock and my Cricut. The frame used was from the Lacey Labels cartridge. I inked the die-cut and then stamped it with my favorite Stampendous stamp, Cling Music Score. On a piece of Copic X-Press It Blending Card, I stamped one of the pretty ladies from the Stampendous Corset Ladies Perfectly Clear Set, colored her with Copics and then added her skirt, made from a piece of netting. I die-cut the colored image, stamped acouple of the small flowers from the set and then added Champagne Crushed Glass Glitter. It's simple to add this luscious chunky glitter to a project, just add Glossy Accents or any other liquid glue and sprinkle with the Glass Glitter. Dont you love the texture it creates? Before adhering my image panel to my card I added more netting and this beautiful May Arts ribbon. May Arts and Stampendous have been playing together all week. You can visit both blogs to see some of the wonderful works of art that the two teams shared. The last little bit of texture was created by adding a couple of Maya Road stick pins and a TPC Studio pearlized brad. Of course they didn't match but no worries...all you have to do is "fran'tage" them. I inked both the pins and the brad with VersaMark and then sprinkled them with Aged Gold Embossing Enamel. After heating the enamel with a heat tool I had the perfect embellishments. Here is a closeup of my card with all it's texture:

Need some inspiration? The incredible ladies of the Stampendous Design Team have created some fantastic projects. Please visit their blogs and give them some love.

Janelle Stollfus
Kristine Reynolds
Melinda Gleissner
Taylor Usry
Suzanne Czosek
Wendy Jordan
Wendy Price

Please play along with us. It's such a fun challenge. Oh, did I mention you have a chance to win a Corset Ladies Perfectly Clear Set?

Thanks for visiting!