Sunshine, Easter and pppssttt!

After the quite unusual snow we had 9 days ago, we are now enjoying wonderful springtime weather. I see many yards full of crazy blooming wildflowers and dandelions and know that it would be long before we smell fresh cut grass on every corner. Can you imagine it??

I know I'm jumping ahead, but since I have NO Easter cards made, how about a summer card?






I used Jenni Bowlin Homespun mini-papers pack for this (I just love mini-paper packs!), an older Melissa Frances vintage label, Piggy Tales chipboard, Adorn-it alphas and Prima flowers.

And I may not have an Easter card, but I do have an Easter page. This is from an egg hunt my little one had a school last year.





I used JilliBean Soup papers and corrugated alphas (YUM) that I sprayed with Glimmer Mist. The green alphas are American Crafts, Prima Flowers and SEI Stickers.

And one more PPPSSSTTT - that I should have mentioned sooner. There is a giveaway over at CupCardsToGo! that ends TODAY! CupCardToGo will reopen in June. Bookmark the site (save it to your google reader), and get on over there NOW and leave a comment on the give-away post.


~melanie~

I've been creating...but....

I HAVE been creating.
But
...its not paper craft stuff.
I pulled out the paint and canvas last weekend and have been like a mad artist as of late. Want to see what I've been doing?

First - a long overdue painting for my chiropractor. Not a good photo, but I didn't think ahead and bring my camera - hence a fuzzy cell phone pic.



The verdict? He loved it - and so did the staff (that's good b/c they will be facing the reception area and have to stare at it the most). It's 24" x 24" on stretched canvas with 1.5" deep sides. It was so much fun to do.

And some of my most fun and most popular pieces - my funky New Orleans pop art pieces. They are both 16" x 20" on 3/4" gallery wrapped stretched canvas. These haven't been sold yet.... but will go up online soon.



Title: New Orleans Jazzy Shotgun House No. 1



Title: Garden District 305

I have some new scrappy goodies that I can't wait to play with, but I need to get more art work done. Oh - and I forgot the most important news - I resigned from my job before spring break - so I'm now a permanent fixture in my studio. I've had the most freeing week of all doing what I love. And it's SPRING!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful week.

~melanie~

Spring Snow

We woke up yesterday to snow. Yes. Snow.
Snow in the south.
Snow in the south the 2nd day of Spring.
hmmmmmm.
It snowed for at least 3 hours. Temps not low enough for accumulation. But it was pretty to see. I spend a few hours working on a painting and looking up and watching the flurries. All the while going "Snow??? really???"

And in case you did or didn't catch that - yes, I'm painting again. More on that in another post.

Here's a little something for today.





Background papers and ribbon are from Jillibean Soup. Label and "pea" papers are from Cosmo Cricket.

Oh - and guess what I've heard??? I don't know if I'm supposed to say anything so ssshhh.... but I hear that CupCardsToGo Card Kit Club will be re-opened soon!!! Again...ssshhhhhh!!!

And, I know so many people say things like, where did time go? March already? Etc... Etc... But seriously - March is almost over?? I'm still getting over the fact that February came and went so fast.

Have a great day!!
~melanie~

Back from our Mini-Vacay

Wheww- back from Texas! We spent all day yesterday at Six Flags. We got there before it opened, but apparently they let you in anyway - and some of the rides were even open. Woohooo - it was fun getting on rides with short lines - or even no lines. Little Miss Priss was very selective on what she would or wouldn't get on - but we did manage the milder roller coasters (mini-coasters). Here are a few pics and I'm off to recoup!










Have a wonderful weekend!!!!

~melanie~

M M M Material GIrl!

I have to give photos credits... did you notice my new blog banner? I had to give up the snow photo (no matter how cool it was that it snowed in the South) when the azaleas are blooming (yeah - I know!!). About two weeks ago my daughter wanted to take a nature walk to take photos with her new digital camera (she bought it with her birthday money). I asked if I could use one of the geese photos for her blog. :) She was more than happy to agree.

So.... on to other things...

Sometimes you just have to create just to create, right? Here's what I did with some my Cosmo Cricket Material Girl. I love the 6x6 paper pads - they are great for cards.

(card set removed for publication)





The felt alphas are from Making Memories. The felt flower is from my stash.



The stamps are from Paper Trey Ink (Blooming Button Bits).

Packing my bags tonight - Six Flags, here we come!! Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by.

~melanie~

Tuesday Trigger!

Just a quick post to put up my Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger card. I just LOVE this week's green and white and toile inspiration.

I was going through my stash (you know - the one where I hoard things I love and then they are not-so-new anymore) and saw this wonderful Graphic 45 paper with the newsprint ads on one side and the floral print on the other. Thought it was perfect for this challenge.




Gotta run! Have a wonderful week and thanks for dropping in. :)

~melanie~

Spring Break is Here!

Can you believe it? I still have a snow photo on my blog banner, but it's Spring Break in the south! Kids are out of school for a week and we are heading out in a few days for a mini-vacay! I can't wait! Looks like we'll be heading to Six Flag Arlington. Anyone else going that way??

Here are some things I made over the weekend. The first is a card I made using Jillibean Soup's Old World Cabbage Stew on White collection and the white Corrugated Alphas.



I used Krylon Short Cut spray paints on the alphas. Flowers are from Prima. The green twine is from Jillibean.

One more Jillibean project for today.







The papers are from the Chicken Noodle on White collection and Soup Staples (Kraft); letters are the white corrogated alphas. The papers used on the the butterflies and the brown mini-alphas are from Cosmo Cricket. The bird sticker is from My Mind's Eye. The metal frame is an older Making Memories frame I've been hoarding. The crystals are from Prima and the other chipboard elements are from Crate Paper.

Enjoy your day and I hope you see signs of Spring in your neighborhood today!

~melanie~

Stamping a Smile

Such a busy week this week with not much creative time, but I'm hoping to keep my blog updated.

Here's a little something made entirely of cardstock (I rarely do this!) - but thanks to stamps and colored ink, it's fun.





I used some stamps designed by Kelly Panacci available here at Hampton Art. I used Friends I for the flowers and You and Me for the sentiment. I stamped the flowers in different colors, cut them out, and mounted then with foam adhesive. I used the cricut for the scalloped squares, and the Cuttlebug for the background. The border punch is from Fiskars.

Have a wonderfully "sunshiney" Tuesday and thanks for stopping by!

~melanie~

Fabric Flowers and Texture

I played with texture a bit this weekend in between hosting a birthday party at my home and house cleaning. I was rummaging through some of my older kit club finds and came across this fabric flower. Yes - I was hoarding a fabric flower. I was also hanging onto some felt Heidi Swapp butterflies. After uttering "thou shalt be used" (well, I really didn't say that) I ended up with this:






Supplies: Bazzill cardstock, (used cricut to cut the scalloped white card), baby yellow chenille, fabric flower and brad (kit club), yellow ribbon (Bo Bunny), patterned paper for leaf (Cosmo Cricket), felt butterflies (Heidi Swapp), red alpha letters (Adornit).

It's going to be a very busy week. Gotta help manage the office while the boss is out of town which means I won't get my two off days to create with this week. I'm sad when I'm not creating, but maybe I can sneak into my scrap room if I'm not too wiped out in the evenings. Have a great Monday!


~melanie~

Sweet Springy Tuesday Trigger

Did you see the current Tuesday Trigger on the Moxie Fab Blog? If this doesn't get you in the mood for spring - I don't know what will.



Here's my take on the trigger.



(So sorry - I had to take it down)

The cardstock stickers are from My Mind's Eye "Mary Mary Quite Contrary", the papers are from My Mind's Eye "Breaking Free". I used pink chenille on my card because to me it mimics the icing on the cake in the trigger, and it's so perfect for a baby card.

It's a sunny day in the south! I think spring is not too far! Have a great day.


~melanie~

A Little Hump Day Humor

Here's a little card I forgot to share last month. Thought it might make someone smile today. Excuse my slightly off-angle photo. That little quote from the hubby makes me snicker.






Title: Regular Guy

This card is in the January/February issue of Papercrafts Magazine in a feature focusing on Anne Taintor style cards. The papers are from My Mind's Eye. The vintage label is from Crafty Secrets.

That's all for today. Thanks for stopping by.

~melanie~