Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #13

I had some time today to make a card for Dawn McVey's Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #13. Another fun color combo!


Here is my card:

{click on picture to enlarge}

I love the quilted look to this card and I think it would make the cutest baby cards. Unfortunately, I don't need baby cards very often so I will have to adapt it to other kinds of cards. I'm actually on a kick right now and a few of the next cards I have to post are "quilted" in some way. This is probably my favorite little bird from Bird Watching Additions and I think he looks so lonely sitting on that branch all by himself!
Thanks for stopping by!
Melanie

Supplies (all Papertrey Ink, unless noted otherwise)
Cardstock: Stampers Select white, Berry Sorbet
PP: Pink Patterns, Bitty Dot Basics, Bitty Box Basics
Stamps: Bird Watching Additions, Out on a Limb, Mega Mixed Messages
Ink: Dark Chocolate, Pure Poppy, Spring Moss
Other: Berry Sorbet and Spring Moss buttons, button twine, Spellbinders Label 3 Nestibilities, sewing machine

Remphry Family BBQ

This past Sunday we invited James' family over for a BBQ and a day of swimming. We had so much fun! The boys {and by boys, I mean the adult 'boys'!} spent the better part of the day trying to hurt themselves on the diving board. I'm sure they regretted it the next day...I know James was a little sore! We had a great turnout... we were only missing two of James' cousins and their spouses and James' nephew. The weather was beautiful and I think everyone had a really good time just hanging out. Hopefully, we can do it again before the summer ends.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Our Backyard Oasis

I'm so excited to post some pictures of our *new* backyard. We couldn't be happier with the way it turned out. Don't get me wrong there is still plenty to do, but it's to the point were we can sit out back and enjoy watching the kids swim or listen to the waterfall and really just feel a sense of accomplishment.

This is the view from the patio looking towards the waterfall which sits in the back, right corner of our property:


This next picture is also taken from the patio looking further to the right:


This one is still from the patio just looking off to the left {we love this view!}:

And finally a close-up of the waterfall:


I didn't take any pictures of the patio because all of our furniture is not in yet, so I'll save that for another day.
If you're interested... I posted a few pictures of the progress here and here. It has been a long, painful process, but so worth it in the end!

Thanks for stopping by!
Melanie

Papertrey Ink Blog Hop

I love the 25th of the month! The crafty people who follow Papertrey Ink are so talented so it is so much fun to see everyone's take on the challenge. So, for this month it's all about text. Here is what the challenge is:

Taken from the Papertrey Ink website (written by Nicole Heady):
I have been experimenting a lot with text lately, whether it be in the form our or recent addition Background Basics: Text Style, some of our text patterned papers or even old book print. I'd like to see your twist on anything text integrated into a fun project! Cut it, punch it, tear it, distress it, paint it, ink it, brayer it, stamp it, stitch it, layer it. Use it as a background, border or a focal point. Use several text styles on one project or just focus on a single look. Try a technique layered on top of text like emboss resist or watercoloring. You could even run it through an embossing folder. Most of all, have fun and experiment! Branch out and try something new! We look forward to seeing all of your fabulous creations!

It was a challenge for me just to use text on a card...I did have Background Basics: Text on hand so that is where I started. I bought this set when it came out and I'm ashamed to say it has never seen ink til today.


I stamped the print text onto Kraft cardstock and embossed the flourish over the text with clear embossing powder. I also embossed the scripty text on my flower petals with clear embossing powder. Once I started embossing, I couldn't stop! LOL


I used Papertrey Inks Vintage Touch ink around my petals and also on the Polka Dot cardstock layer....which those polka dots are embossed, too... I couldn't help myself!

Thanks for stopping by!
Melanie

Supplies (all Papertrey Ink-unless indicated)
Cardstock: Lemon Tart, Kraft
Stamps: Fancy Flourishes, Background Basics-Text, Mega Mixed Messages, Polka Dot Basics
Ink: Dark Chocolate, Versamark (Tsukineko), Vintage touch-Chamamile
Other: Lemon Tart button, twine, clear embossing powder, Cuttlebug flower and tag die, Nestibilities Label one die

2S4Y #31

Is tomorrow really Friday?!? Where has this week gone? Oh well, I'm just glad the weekend is almost here! We are home again this weekend...I can't get my husband to leave the backyard!! I can't blame him...he put a lot of work into it and he is very proud!! I promise if tomorrow is sunny, I will take pictures. We have had the strangest week of weather for July... it has been cool and low humidity and just really unusual for our area. I'm not complaining, I just know if we didn't have a brand new pool in our backyard it would be 110 degrees in the shade all summer!! Anyway, I made a card for the 2 Sketches 4 You challenge this week.
Here is the sketch:


I used Everyday Button Bits again on this card. I just can't put this set down. It is seriously the best stamp set ever!!





Thanks for stopping by!
Melanie

Supplies
Cardstock: Sweet Blush, New Leaf; PTI
PP: DCVW
Stamps: Everyday Button Bits; PTI
Ink: Topiary; CTMH
Other: Fiskars Threading Water border punch, buttons, PTI; sewing machine

Somebody Pinch Me...

Seriously, I can't even believe it!!! Dawn McVey picked my card to be 'In The Spotlight' this week for the Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #12. How cool is that?!!?! I can't even tell you how excited I am! Check out all of the amazing 'In the Spotlight' cards here.
So, In the words of my 5 year old...... "this is the best day ever"!!! (Of course she says this just about every day!)

Card Patterns #24

Just a quick post for card I made for Card Patterns #24

Here is the sketch:



....and my card using Papertrey Ink's new Everyday Button Bits stamp set. You need to run, not walk, and check out this amazing set...It is so cool!! It is definitely my new favorite PTI set!





Thanks for stopping by!
Melanie

Supplies:
Cardstock: Summer Sunrise, Vintage Cream, New Leaf (all PTI)
PP: DCVW
Stamps: Everday Button Bits, Mega Mixed Messages, PTI
Ink: New Leaf, PTI
Other: Button twine, PTI; Lemon Tart Buttons, PTI; EK Success edge punch, Cuttlebug tag, sewing machine

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #12

Hello! I am buried in paperwork today, but thought I would take a break to post my card for Dawn McVey's Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #12. Here is the inspiration photo:
This reminds me that I need to take "after" pictures of our backyard waterfall and landscaping project. Maybe I'll do that next...after I finish working! *wink*



I used some new Papertrey Ink stamps on this card, including Polka Dot Basics II and Everyday Button Bits (sentiment, which I curved to fit around the flourish...gotta love clear stamps!). The bird is from Bird Watching Additions. I also ran the blade of my scissors along the edge of the Spring Moss layer to rough it up a little.
Thanks for stopping by!
Melanie

Supplies (all Papertrey Ink, unless indicated otherwise)
Cardstock: Spring Moss, Scarlet Jewel, Raspberry Fizz, Cream
Stamps: Bird Watching Additions, Fancy Flourishes, Polka Dot Basics II, Everyday Button Bits (sentiment)
Ink: Scarlet Jewel
Other: Scarlet Jewel buttons, Cuttlebug embossing folder, sewing machine, Fiskars threading water border punch, pink gems-unknown

CPS 124

It's been awhile since I've played along with a CPS challenge. I loved the sketch this week and this is what I came up with for CPS 124:






I'm posting this from the office today and for some reason the background looks pink-ish. I hope it's just my monitor here, cause there is no pink in this card! Anyway, I have a ton of work to do and only 4 more days of summer school for the kiddos so I need to take advantage of every quiet minute!
Thanks for stopping by!
Melanie

Supplies:
Cardstock: Rustic Cream (PTI)
PP: DCWV
Stamps: Fancy Flourishes (PTI), Mega Mixed Messages (PTI)
Ink: Topiary (CTMH)
Other: Butterfly die (Spellbinders), button (PTI), Rustic cream twine (PTI), pearl gemstones (unknown), EK Success edge punch, corner rounder, sewing machine

Card Patterns # 23

Okay, I'm trying to get back into the swing of things after spending the last month with Edward! {wink} Seriously, the Twilight series should come with a warning...Only start reading these books when you have nothing to do for weeks. I mean nothing!! So, I wanted to jump back in with a sketch challenge, but I had the hardest time with this one. I finally pulled out the scraps from the last card I made and used those to pull this together. I know...a teacher card in July?? At least I will be prepared for the next school year...right?!?! Which I might add is right around the corner!
So, here is Card Patterns sketch #23:






Thanks for stopping by!
Melanie

Supplies: {all Papertrey Ink, unless indicated}
Cardstock: Dark Chocolate, Kraft, Raspberry Fizz, Vintage Cream
PP: Chocolate Remix (alphabet paper)
Stamps: Teacher's Apple, Fancy Flourishes, Writing Paper Scrapblock-Cornish Heritage Farms
Ink: Dark Chocolater, Raspberry Fizz
Other: Dark Chocolate satin ribbon, EK Success edge punch, Nestabilities Label 2 die, hemp twine-PTI, Prima flower, sewing machine