Cards and more cards

I know! I've neglected my blog lately. Been super busy. Did I mention I have an art show coming up in the early fall? Busy painting..painting.. painting. I do miss my paper crafting time more and more, tho.

I did get to make a few cards a few weeks ago.

I made this card from some of my Cupcardstogo June kit. The stamps are from Unity. The tiny alpha stickers are from Adornit.





This one uses Basic Grey's Koishi with Stampin' Up Stamp, and punches.



For this baby card, I paired Webster's Pages with Pink Paisley's Queen Bee.



I used Stampin' Up stamps for the sentiment on this card. Prima bling and flowers and a Martha Stewart butterfly punch. Papers are Webster's Pages and Pink Paislee.



Thanks so much for stopping by!!
~melanie~

Cards from July CupcardsToGo Kit!

Today is the day! In just 6 hours the Cupcardstogo July Kit goes on sale! This is such a fun, summer kit! Oodles and oodles of goodies and I didn't use it up yet - there's so much. And stamps....TWO stamps!!!

Here are my cards.























You won't want to miss this kit - so stalk the Cupcardstogo website tonight at 6pm Pacific time and get one before they are gone!

As my previous post states - I've been painting, painting, painting! Exciting things coming up including an art show in the fall. I'll update more later. I DO have some more cards to post - so check back soon! Have a wonderful long weekend. Happy Birthday to the greatest country in the world - USA!



~melanie~

Blog Hop Sneak Peek Time Again

Oh my gosh! It's sneak peek time again! This time for the July Cup Cards To Go!!! Can you believe it's almost July! Your mouth will water when you see this delicious summery card kit! Now, it pains me but I'm only allowed to show a very tiny peek. Not my rule - sorry!



And if you haven't been to their website, hop over there now. Sonda's been showing kit peeks this week! Awesome! And don't forget to leave a comment here and on the other blogs. Sonda has an awesome embellishment prize to give away!

If you are here for the hop, then your next stop is Chrys!

I'm off to take my daughter to art lessons. Have a wonderful day and stay cool!


~melanie~

Weekend in New Orleans

I just got back from a weekend in the French Quarter in New Orleans. I had a door open with an art gallery in the Riverwalk mall and jumped on it. I took eight paintings there and am going to work on new art and send it down. The owner also invited me to come anytime and paint live in her store - something I've always wanted to do in New Orleans. I'm so excited! You can bet I'll be working on finding a way back down there in the fall to do just that.
Here are a few photos from my trip.











If you happen to be going there, look for my art in the Rougarou Trading Post.
Thanks for stopping by. Check back soon for sneak peeks from the July CupCardsToGo Kit!

~melanie~

Happy Friday and a NEW painting!

I'm heading out to the big easy next week. Beignets at Cafe Dumonde, eating dinner on the balcony watching the horse and buggy and shopping quaint shops on Magazine Street. I can't wait. The street I'm staying on is loaded with art galleries. I'll come back with so much inspiration!

This is what has kept me busy this week. It's for a collector and it's going to hang in their apartment in the French Quarter. Someone asked me if this was me in the painting (since I own a dachshund) - so I guess the secret is out, huh. (wink).





This painting, "Mardi Gras Night" is 24" x 30" - which is why it took most of the week to complete. I'm working on another doxie painting now, and when that is finished I'm getting back to paper and scissors for a different kind of fun!

Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for stopping by!

~melanie~

First Friday in June!

Yeah - it's the first Friday in June. Know what that means? I have no idea!!!!

But I did want to share one of my lastest paintings today. I wanted to create the look of a vintage quilt along with one of my favorite summer flowers - sunflowers.








I used my scrapbook stash for the collage around the edges and center of flowers.

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!


~melanie~

Cupcards To Go New Kit Reveal!

Have you seen the Cupcardstogo June kit that went live last night? If you haven't, you might want to run RIGHT NOW because there are a limited number of kits! Hurry...then come back here.

Here is a sneak peek of the cards I made with the kit!



You can see these cards and all the design team cards at the CC2G website.

Meanwhile, I'm still busy getting some paintings done. I might share a few here later this week. Have a great day!

~melanie~

It's Tuesday but...

...it feels like Monday! Gonna be a short week, huh.

I'll be in my art studio most of this week cranking out some more paintings so I may not have much on the blog this week, but I have a couple of cards to share today. Both of these cards use Cosmo Cricket's "Earth Love" collection.






The chipboard are Cosmo's Paul Bunyan alphas; alphas are Cosmo's tiny brown type. Border punch is from Stampin' Up!






Stamp is from Stampin' Up.

So - now it's time to announce the winner of the Paper Crafts magazine giveaway. Congratulations to Kristen! Check your e-mail.

Summer has officially begun! School is out, summer camps and swimming lessons are all scheduled. Looking forward to sunshine and swimming. Thanks for stopping by and have a "Sunshiney Day" (can you hear the Brady Bunch singing that one??)


~melanie~

Memorial Weekend Giveaway!

Yeah - it's Friday!

I just have one card to share today, but keep reading because I have a long weekend surprise giveaway!





Papers are Jenni Bowlin, chipboard is Crate Paper, and the stamp is Stammpin' Up.

So, are you ready for a giveaway? I ended up with two copies of the May/June 2010 Paper Crafts magazine!


So I would like to share it with someone who really, really would like it. Just leave a comment below before Monday night May 31 at midnight (Central Time) and I'll draw a random name. I'll post the winner Tuesday so check back. (I have to add that this is for US residents only - I can't ship international...sorry!!)

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend!

~melanie~

It's a beautiful day...

Did anyone catch the post title? That song is going through my head after hearing Lee sing it after he won American Idol last night. Wasn't that an awesome show? It was so good seeing all the past contestents over the show's history.

Anyhoo...
I don't have much to share. But I did break away from my busy week a few days ago and made a few cards.






Papers are Webster's Pages Life's Portrait 6x6, Prima Flowers and bling, and Stampin' Up stamp.





Papers for this card are Lullaby Lane 6x6 from Webster's Pages. The stamp and punches are from Stampin' Up.




This card uses 6x6 paper from Webster's Pages (Lullaby Lane and Life's Portrait), Webster's Alphabet stickers and eyelet trim. The scalloped sticker is from Pink Paislee.

Have a wonderful long weekend. It's always busy, busy for us because my daughter's ballet production is always Memorial weekend. This is her fifth year in ballet and I'm amazed at how much she's grown in dance. Her costumes are getting more and more grown-up. She always gets "tired" of going to practice every year half way through the year, but once it's recital time, it all becomes new again and she falls in love with it all over again. She's doing three dances - one in each of ballet, tap and jazz (the jazz is the most fun!)

This is one of the photos from last year that my photographer friend took. We just took portraits last weekend and I don't have them back yet.



Dress rehearsal is this afternoon so I'm taking my camera!! Again - have a wonderful weekend!

~melanie~

Paper Crafts Card Creations 8

The Paper Crafts Connection blog is celebrating the release of Card Creations Volume 8. There are great tips and prizes, so be sure to hop on over there.

I just have one card to share today - my Friendship card published in Card Creations 8.



Papers are Cosmo Cricket. Stamp and ink are from Stampin' Up!

Check out Paper Crafts Magazine for more inspiration.

Have a great week and thanks for stopping by.

~melanie~

One more CupcardsToGo Sneak Peek

Seven days until blast off!!! Next Tuesday, June 1 - the CupCardsToGo June kit will go live! Are you ready???

I'm posting one last peek here for our blog hop.




Be sure to leave a comment here for your chance to win a stamp set, and then hop on over to Wendi's blog for more peeks!

Thanks for stopping by!


~melanie~

Cupcards To Go Blog Hop! Hot Diggity!!!

I can't believe it's finally time!! Yippeeee. The girls at CupCardsToGo have been waiting for this day!!!

If you've been hopping along the Blog Hop - you should have arrived here from Danni's blog. I hope you are enjoying all the sneak peeks! So, I won't chatter on anymore..... (giddy here).... so here's my peek for you!!!




And that's it! That's all I'm going to show for now! BUT - leave a comment here and you'll have a chance to win a summer stamp set from Cupcardstogo!!!

I know you are ready for the next "hop" so hop on over to Wendi's blog and continue on with the fun!

~melanie~

Playing with Queen Bee

I finally stole away some time to play with my Pink Paislee Queen Bee papers and die cuts. From the moment I saw the first sneaks of this (months ago) I fell in love with it.



I used a Stampin Up border punch for the ruffles on the bottom of the card, lightly sanding them. I sprayed the Creative Imaginations chipboard crown with glimmer mists and let it dry. The coating on the chipboard prevented the color from soaking in, but still took away the stark whiteness.





I used a punch for the layers in the flower, crumpling and sanding them. The rhinestones are from Prima and the rub on is from Scenic Route.





Have a wonderful Friday and great weekend. Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's out there. I'm going out in the country tomorrow for a cookout at my mom's house. Thanks for stopping by!

~melanie~

I have a Sneakie Peekie from CupCards to Go!

Psssstttt...... I have a teensie weensie sneakie peeky from the June CupCardstoGo! Yes, - in case you haven't heard - the CupCards to Go Card Kit Club is back in full spring starting with the June kit!!! Yiipppeeeee!!! You won't want to miss out on this kit.

Here's my little peekie.. and I was only given permission to make this an itty bitty peek.



I do know that the other design team members have or will so be sharing sneak peeks on their blogs. Hop on over to the site for links to their blogs and keep your eyes peeled!! Oh, and check back around the middle of the month for a blog hop!

I have a busy day planned out in a tiny town out in the country - yep - one that only has 3 or 4 redlights, helping my photographer friend on a job. It should be fun. Thanks for stopping by today!

~melanie~