For MMM

    Hello! This posting is for the new challenge over at Make My Monday. The theme is time is: #272 Male Card - Any Age. I know I'm not the only card maker that says this but, I do struggle with masculine cards. First, I think it's because I don't have as many masculine stamp sets as I do feminine ones. Second, my style tends to lean towards lots of layers and embellishments so, with that being said, see how I used the theme below...

 My main two masculine stamp sets are a Lighthouse and Under the Sea/Fish sets. I do like them and continue to keep & use them but I would like to add to my manly sets. Oh, I do have a Deer set that is nice. I kept the card simple and tried really hard not to get all frilly..LOL!

 Thanks so much for visiting! I hope you will be back or check me out on Instagram where I post more cards and art journal things I make!

Bye for now...

Melissa

 

FOR SPARKLES MONTHLY

  Hello and welcome. Glad you stopped by to see my DT entry for Sparkles Monthly Challenge. The Theme is Vintage/Mixed Media...see my card below...

This is one of my favorite looks. I am a maximalist and this look seems to fit!

I like the layered, collected, used look of vintage...not all shiney and new. Nothing wrong with new, but it's nice  remembering the craftsmanship of the past...

  Thanks for stopping by and checking things out...hope to see you in the gallery...bye for now...

Melissa

For Make My Monday

  Hello and Happy Monday...it's a very happy one for me because I havr 3 off in a row so tat means I have extra time to craft! Speaking of crafting, let's take a look at the theme this challenge over at Make My Monday This challenge is #271 Use 2 Dies. See my card below..

  Whether you drink coffee or tea, it always makes a great start for the day!! I die cut allmy coffee cups out and took a stamp set that has all different designs and textures and stamped the cups in different colors. I then stenciled the background with two different patterns in a gray and blue. 

 Splattered a little pink and blue, placed the cups dancing across the front and die the sentiment and placed that. I placed tiny multi-colored jewel dots peppered here and there and my card is complete!  

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you will join us for the USE 2 DIES challenge. Bye for now...

Melissa

For Sparkles Christmas

  Hello there! It's February and time for a new challenge over at Sparkles Christmas Challenge. The Theme is Baubles chosen by Dawn. Who doesn't love some beautiful shiny ornaments for Chritmas. See my card below...

I used an older Stampin Up! set and chose the smaller images and made a dimensional raised layout that covered the entire face of the card. in between, I placed shiny metallic gold discs for some shine.

Here is a close up of the card. I usually choose the larger images but decided to show some love to smaller one's that up until now, didn't get used much!

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look. This challenge runs all month long...hope to see you in the gallery!!

Melissa

For Make My Monday Challenge #270

  Hello! Glad you stopped by to see my DT sample for the new challenge over at Make My Monday. The theme this time chosen by Helen is CAS...a Clean and Simple card. See how I used the theme below...

 In design, a CAS card is very simple with a lot of "white" or space left on the front of the card. So with that in mind, I always try to select an image that stands out or draws your attention so you don't miss anything else in the space then, add a sentiment. I like to have sympathy cards on hand and when I decided on the swan image, I thought she would make a very pretty one...

Here is a close up of the Swans of Peace set by the American stamp company, Creative Worship Stamps. They have lovely products for cardmaking and Bible and Art Journaling.  Thanks so much for stopping by and visitng! Can't wait to see what you create in a CAS card...bye for now...

Melissa

For Sparkles Monthly...Welcome 2026!

  Hello and Happy 2026!  Can you believe we are starting a new year and that means a new round of monthly card challenges! So I am the hostess this month and I chose SNOWFLAKES as the theme for challenge #196 over at Sparkles Monthly Challenge . See how I used the theme below...

 I used a stencil and texture paste on the base before I added the snowflakes for some demension. I decided on a soft green and I thinkit looks great with the soft white snowflakes for a wintery look. 

 Here is a close up of the details...a few layered sparkly sequins and this winter card is complete! Thanks so much for stopping by to see my card for this months challenge. I hope you will feel inspired and join in with us. Bye for now...

Melissa

For Make My Monday #269

  Hello welcome back and welcome 2026! A new year & month means we are starting off the New Year with a brand new challenge over at Make My Monday. This is challenge #269 and the theme is use PAPER WITH A PATTERN. I love patterned paper and really as crafters, what would we do without it!?! To me, it's the fasted way to create a fast & pretty card with hardly any effort. Select your paper, add a sentiment and your card is ready to mail!  See how I used patterned paper below...

 I used just a touch of patterned paper and I even stamped on it! I found this pretty floral vintage look paper and stamped this lovely butterfly in purple and it works wonderful in the card design! But before I did that, I watered colored with ink on palstic and kinda smeard that onto the card stoack. Then, stamped a few vintage look snippets here and there and then stamped that large lovely bloom that the butterflies come to rest on. 

Here's a close of all the details and those pretty stamped butterflies. 

So glad you stopped by to check things out. Challenge #269 will run until  Friday, January 23rd. I hope to see how you use some Patterned Paper in your creation...bye for now...

Melissa