Flourishing Butterfly Tag

Whipped up this little tag with some of my holiday fabric, embossing folder, Kinds Matters stamp set and additional do-dads.

VC Rock III ~ Digi Art

Welcome to the third installment of "VC Rocks blog hop".  Projects ideas offered by demonstrators to highlight SU! product.

The main image below is from the "Always Elegant" set.  Would you be surprised if I told you this is actually a digital image?  Yep!  It's one of the new downloads from My Digital Studio (MDS).

While the downloads are designed to be used with MDS software, you can purchase the images (PNG files) and use them as digital rubberstamps for your cards.  Most of the images included with MDS are solids, obviously to give you the choice to change the image to a pattern fill or specific color.  However, I've been searching for more 'coloring book' images so I can color them using markers, dye pads or watercolor pencils.

I'm looking forward to SU! offering more "digital" coloring book images (hint, hint).  What I really like about having this option is the capability to scale up the image to a size that's useable for my specific project (which is exactly what I did here).

One thing to note, if you want to purchase an individual image.  They work in MDS.  However, if you don't have MDS, you can pull them into Photoshop OR even a word document as an 'image', but this works ONLY for the open images (you can't change the colors of the solid images).

Now, on to my project:

The flourish was inserted into MDS and scaled up (so I could work with it at reasonable size).  I copied it 3 other times so my final white cardstock had 4 images (3 to color in the future).

Markers were used to color the main image.  I used the Coffee Crumb and the small row of flowers from "Because I Care" to stamp just above and below the flourish.  The main image is lifted with dimensionals.

Be sure to check out the other projects the VC Rock demos have set up for you.  To do so, you can select the blog directly in front of after me.

Preceding blog:   Jackie Watson

Next blog:   Kim Overholt

Old World Hydrangea ~ Nick Bantock Inspiration

Something I worked on this past weekend.  I am a HUGE fan of Nick Bantock.  If you're into collage, ephemera and water coloring, then you should check out his book "Urgent Second Class". 

Nick uses lots of old maps in his artwork.  Here I've used the new designer paper from SU! and stamped an image directly to it (the hydrangea).  Afterwards I colored the image in with Daffodil and Tangerine ink with a blender pen (and the ink from the dye pad cover).  The leaves are colored directly onto the paper with the Pear Pizzazz marker.

Additional images from the Because I Care stamp set added with the scrumptious Coffee Crumb dye pad.  The butterfly is one of the A-la-mode stamps from last years catalog.

Tour de Freaks ~ June 2010

Yep, it's the 20th of the month which means another Tour de Freaks blog hop.

I'm setting up now but the hop doesn't officially start until the 20th.  So, if you're here early be sure to come back Sunday morning when all the links are working, allowing you to view full-circle.

If you're already been touring this month, then you've probably just come from  Debbie Currier  and her beautiful art work.

The projects for bloggers this month was to focus on the products offered in the upcoming 2010-2011 SU! catalog.  It was hard narrowing down what to use.  Here were my final decision.

First up, a french style card using the yummy new Early Espresso and Cherry Cobbler.  Those two colors sing out to me, especially with the new Artistic Etchings stamp set.  Extra texture was created with a new embossing folder and some super think espresso ribbon. 

These colors are so rich, like those dark chocolate covered cherries during the holidays.

Here's a fun 3D project.  It's a magnet friend coaster.  I've been smitten with sewing on my cards and knew it would jazz up those plain strips.

With the "FRIENDS" text displayed so prominently, you'd had to give it to someone.  Wouldn't this brighten up her/his dull file cabinets at the office?

Once again I used the new embossing folder.  The new "Friends Never Fade" stamp set was used to add the stamped Espresso and Marina Mist (blue) on the strips.  In addition, I stamped the flower from the set 3 times, cut out selective pieces and then reassembled to create a 3D flower.

Isn't that thin ribbon super cute?  So dainty.

A little close-up of my stitching handy work.  I figured out the other day how to make a stitch backwards, LOL, (and I don't mean by turning around the paper/fabric).  My sewing skills are very limited, but THIS I can do!

I hope you've enjoyed my projects.  It's time to head on over to Jen Smith's beautiful blog by selecting the button below.  Thanks for joining me.  Enjoy the rest of your tour. 

Wood Block Gift Box Tutorial

I've created a video walks you step-by-step for creating a gift box from a 2 x 4.  It's a great way to utilize those extra sheets of scrapbook paper, or any paper scraps for that matter.

Here's a little close-up:

This bag uses the same technique, but instead of the wood block I used a paper back book.

On another note.  All those interested in the Miniature Mixed Media Lab, should know that early bird registration ends tomorrow!!  So, if you'd like to save a few bucks, sign up before midnight tomorrow.

The mixed media lab gives step-by-step instruction on creating two 4" x 4" mixed media canvas's.  We use those watercolor crayons that have been collecting dust on your shelves, as well as those the small craft stampin' spots.  Full list of supplies included.

Remember, just ONE MORE DAY for the earlybird special.  Register now using the "Buy Now" button on the sidebar. 

Winged Things

Take a look of what's inside the April "Winged Things" issue of Paper Crafters Sampler.


PCS ~ April promo from Melanie Schulenberg on Vimeo.

Turtle Parade and Holiday Treats

Playing with my new Fox and Friend set.  Here's something I whipped up.

Paper:  Durango, Olive, Chocolate, Vanilla

Ink:  Olive, Durango, Curry, Chocolate

Stamp:  Fox and Friends (Occasion Mini) and Trure Friends.  If you look close at the chocolate card stock you can see the text from that set.  The "Thank You" is from the Overall set.

Accessories:  The leaf is from the "Two-step bird" punch and the decorative edge for the label is the "Scallop Trim Border" from the upcoming SAB catty.

Here's some other things I"ve been working on. 

Making some imitation Thin Mints for holiday gifts.  So many friends enjoy hand-made goodies but rarely have the time to make them.

The recipe is easy.  You only need three things:

• Ritz Crackers
• 1 block Almond Bark (that large block of chocolate)
• Peppermint OIL

Chop your chocolate so it's easier to melt.

You want to use a double broiler.  I make my own.  Just fill a pot with 1/2 cup of water and let it simmer.  Place a smaller metal pot on top to melt the chocolate.  Here I'm using a mixing bowl.

Once the chocolate is melted, add 3 - 4 drops of oil.  Make sure it's OIL and not extract.  BIG difference.  Sometimes when pouring oil out it hugs the side of the bottle.  To eliminate that I simply rest the bottle on the side of my fork and let it drip down the side.

Dip Ritz in chocolate to coat, and remove it with a fork.

Lay them on wax paper, this will help to remove them easily.  I cut the Ritz box and lay the paper on top of that.  After the tray is filled I put them in the freezer to chill for a minute so I can move them without chocolate getting all over.  Then I can reuse the tray.

I placed a few of the cookes inside some saran wrap, tied them up and wrapped some holiday fabric around them. 

Use a plate to trace a circle and cut around them with pinking shears (because it makes the edges pretty).

I added some of my Advent MDS prints and a gold ribbon to tie it up.

Here's a couple of bags I've made. 

Now, back to stamping!

Melanie

A Whosville Color Palette

Moving on with my gift wrap inspired card creations.  Here's my second using the same gift wrap I used in my prior post, using a different section of the paper. 

It's unusal to use pinks this time of year.  After posting my last gift wrap inspired card, Kathy Strubel emailed and said it reminder her of Dr. Suess.  I totally agreed.  In fact, it reminded me of the Who's in Whosville.  Fun and cheery.

Here's a close-up of the center star.

Used my little leaves sizzlet to create the leaves here.  They were cut, sponged and then hand-drawn lines brown marker.  The white snowflakes were created with the white signa-gel pen.

See the rich pink color in the background of the snowflake?  I used my watercolor wonder crayons to create that depth.  You've gotta love those crayons!  Just scribble some of the crayon on your Regal Rose cardstock and smudge away with your finger.  Of course you can activate the wax crayon a bit with water, (and I did), but smudging also gives it a randomness of where the color is distributed.

The scripted text are words from the song "My Favorite Things".   Didn't have a clue as to what the text on the Gift Wrap said so I opted to write something myself.  The song is not written word for word (couldn't really remember all the words), so I only jotted down the lyrics I knew.  It was all done in a Close to Cocoa marker.

The text around the Regal Rose and snowflake square says "Joy".  If you look closely at the written text around the square on the gift wrap, you'll notice it's Gregg shorthand (remember that???).  You know, I took shorthand in school but couldn't remember a lick of it when looking at this paper. I think it has something to do with trimming a tree.  Still, it looked great around the square so I added something of my own, "Joy".

Below is the gift wrap I've been using for inspiration.  There are still many options for card samples.  The music note heart is my next inspiration.  I think that heart is what drew my attention to the paper in the first place, well that and the writing on the paper.   

Anyone up for a little gift wrap Inspiration Blog Hop?  Create a card, scrapbook page or anything using the gift wrap paper here as your inspiration.  You don't need to have squares and rectangles like I did.  Try creating just the snowman, just the tree or any of the other features.

If you're interested, just email me by Friday so I can get a head count and we'll post our creations first thing Tuesday (that'll give you an entire week).  We'll post our creations Tuesday morning to share with everyone.

Hope your day is filled with inspiration.

Melanie

Mixed Media sneak peek

A closer sneak peek of my upcoming online workshop: WAY Beyond Basics: Mixed Media and SU!.

This online workshop is designed to show you how to extend your rubberstamping supplies beyond cardmaking and scrapbooking.

Paper Craft Fanatics ~ Butterfly Sampler

Just a few weeks left before the Paper Craft Fanatics Virtual Club (PCF) kicks off it's very first issue.

This online club offers 5 projects each month, showcasing one product, stamp set, or accessory. The projects are designed to offer a variety of uses, allowing you to maximize the full potential of your purchase.

The virtual PCF club cost just $5. a month. To register, simply select the link below:

To view your complimentary issue of the "Beautiful Butterfly" issue, simply follow THIS LINK.