LilyBean Paperie

Chilly little card challenge...

If you're like me---your looking forward to spending some down time at home for New Years Eve and New Years Day---so, join me in a card challenge while your roaming about in your pj's!

Here are the details:

• Create a WINTER card in either blues or pinks.
• Card must have glitter or bling---you know some sparkle!
• Must include either fabric or felt
• And, must have a snowman on it---die cut, paper pieced, from patterned paper, sticker, etc.

Link me to your creation---you have until midnight on New Years Day!   I know you'll make me drool with your creations.

Here is my humble approach to this:
Paper and sticker from Paper Salon, KI Memories paper clip, Doodlebug gems, HOTP fabric brad, SEI brads, and Doodlecharms Cricut cartridge.

Just a couple of other cards I made using some fun Paper Salon products.

This is supposed to be a slice of watermelon---not sure you can really tell or not---but that was my intention, haha.  Paper Salon paper and stickers, Worldwin cardstock, EK Success stickers, Doodlebug brads.

Paper Salon paper, stamps, ink, and chipboard, KI Memories brads, flowers and trim from craft supply.

Well....I feel like cooking up a storm---you know meatballs, hot wings, cheese ball, fudge----but that would mean I'd have to get out of my jams in order to get to the grocery store---sigh....off I go!

Happy New Year!

Melis

it's a wonderful life...

what a sweet day today was.  My husband had the day off---my little girl was extra adorable and cuddly, it was gorgeous outside, I organized, my home was warm and toasty all day....lots of little things that make me so happy.

I have been asked by several of you if I am always this positive and happy.  "Heavens NO" is my answer, haha, but I have far too much to be thankful for to ever complain, and I have been blessed so much by my Father in Heaven that I would feel so ungrateful to not count my blessings and choose to complain instead.  I have a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is the most powerful influence in my life and I am thankful for the knowledge I have been blessed with and for parents who taught my brothers and I the gospel in our home from the day we were babies.  I believe in a loving Heavenly Father who understands me better than I understand myself---who loves me every minute of every day, even when I do not deserve His love---of a Savior who died for me and suffered for my sins---I feel abundantly loved and blessed and it is because of my beliefs.  I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I would love to answer any questions you may have about my religion---happily and wholeheartedly.  I have a friend who is trying her very hardest to come back to church---she is such a strong mom, wife, and woman.  On Christmas Eve, she lost the baby girl that was due only days before.  I can't think about her without crying---I don't know her that well, but I love her and my heart aches for her and I feel how sad she is when her arms seem to be so empty that nothing could possibly fill them as she had been hoping and dreaming of for 9 months and more.  But, I know she will be with that sweet baby girl someday, and will have the opportunity to be a mother to her daughter.  Our Heavenly Father has such a perfect love and understanding---life is so hard, and so confusing---that's why I am grateful to have faith in Him and His plan for me. 

I've wanted to share these things with you for so long, but have always been very quiet about my faith and my religion. 

So....before I get to work for the night, here are a few cards I have neglected to share with you.

This second card is in the February issue of Paper Crafts magazine.  I used 7gypsies wax and a stamp for the seal in order to resemble chocolate.  Sigh...this card along with the others published in this magazine arrived on my doorstep yesterday.  I didn't hear the delivery man as it was dropped off and had let our adorable yet bad, bad, bad hound dog out of his kennel for a bit.  He ate the entire box---it was in shreds---cards were gone including this one--bad dog.  I don't care much about the card---but don't touch my magazines haha.  They are gone too...sigh.

And, this last one was created for Sketch This Cards blog.  Love me some Basic Grey mingled with Melissa Frances!

Alright--- I must take advantage of a snoring husband and dreaming little girl and get working.

Hope you are all well.

Melis

just a couple of pounds heavier...

fudge

ham

sugar cookies

See's chocolates....you get the picture:)

I'm so lucky to belong to a family of such amazing cooks. 

I'm popping in quickly tonight, then I'm crawling back into bed---I have the most dreadful feeling that I've caught the flu---not very funny is it?  I CAN"T have the flu----who has time for it---so say a little prayer that I'll feel better in the morning.

Sharing a treasure with you tonight that I ran across today---I made this quite a while ago--all about the little things that bring me joy---and still do today.

We have so much to be thankful for.  My eyes have once again been opened this holiday season---there are so many with so little, and the things I tend to take for granted are the things that would bring so much happiness and peace to others.  I am always very thankful for those reminders.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

Melis

mercy mild...

did ya wonder if maybe I wandered off?  I have been wandering lately---but thought I'd post a few things before I start off on the next item on my list, haha.

A few projects for Provo Craft this month:
This was my generic Cricut assignment---I just used the Joys of the Season cartridge for the stockings, Plantin Schoolbook for the alphabet, my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder, and Cricut cardstock.

I used one of the paper lines from the Destinations collection on this along with my Cuttlebug die cuts and embossing folder, and Provo Craft chipboard stars.

And, for this I used anything I wanted--Rob and Bob file folder, clear envelops, rubons, along with Provo Craft felt flower and Cricut paper.

I'll end here for today and save some things for tomorrow, as I may not have much time to get to scrappin' for a bit.

Hope you're all having a great week-before-Christmas!

Melis

so be good for goodness sake...

We got to see the jolly old fellah yesterday.  It was Sierra's first time EVER getting to see Santa.  She ran right up to him and sat on his lap---it made me smile.

I can't believe how quickly Christmas is approaching---time for me to get my neighbor gifts made, and finish up some family gifts as well. 

Here are my Lime Tart projects for December.  I loved making these jars so much, this is what I'm giving away to my neighbors, except with some homemade goodies inside.

This is a little ornament I made using a Jenni Bowlin bird from a past Lime Tart kit---I love the felt that comes in this kit this month--and I love to hand stitch---and I love glitter, and, and, and...

And, one last one for today.  The kit comes with these darling little ornament boxes to dress up and fill with treats.  Be sure to check out the other creations in the gallery----I love my adorable Lime Tart mates, and their amazing creations!

And, Lime Tart has a fun 10 sleeps til Christmas giveaway going on.  Check out this link to enter yourself in for a goodie from the Outback, haha.

Well, I'm off to scrub a toilet,  haha.  Back to mommy duty.

Have a happy Friday.

Melis

snickerdoodle wednesday...

Took a little time to make some of these today!.  The batter is the yummiest, they smell so good baking, and they melt in your mouth when they're ready to eat.

Snickerdoodles:

2 3/4 cups flour

2 tsp. cream of tartar

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup shortening

1 1 /2 cups sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 tbsp. sugar

2 tsp. cinnamon

*Cream together butter and shortening, gradually add in sugar until mixture if fluffy.  Beat in eggs, add vanilla, and gradually mix in flour, cream or tartar, baking soda, and salt.  Roll in to balls, coat in cinnamon/sugar mixture, and bake at 400 degrees for 8 minutes.  Don't over bake or they just won't melt in your mouth I tell ya!

Another old, little Christmas treasure of mine.  I adore the Melissa Frances Vintage labels, and had to use them on this box, along with some tea-dyed trim, and other goodies.

That's it for tonight---it's time to sing Rudolph about 10 more times today, stories, and then snuggle time.

night.

Melis

Jack Frost Nipping...

So chilly today.  Sierra and I ventured to the park---she needed an outing, and it looked so beautiful outside.  So---off we went---I stitched a bit on her stocking, she played---we FROZE.  It's bitterly cold here today.

So, now we're inside with a nice fire going and I thought I'd hurry and post a couple of things.

The first is for the CPS blog this week.  I used Worldwin cardstock, My Mind's Eye paper and die cuts, felt from the craft store, and Colorbox fluid chalk---oh, and a sweet, little button from Melissa Frances.

The second is for the Sketch This Cards blog this week.  K&Co. paper, My Mind's Eye paper, Provo Craft felt stars, My Mind's Eye button, Wright's pom pom trim, Cosmo Cricket rubons, and Ranger ink.

And, now for an oldie---but I kinda like it.  It's hanging in my house.  This was published last year in Paper Trends magazine. 

Just a quick note about how I take my pictures, as I have had a couple of questions lately.  I don't own a light box---don't even know what it is---do I need one?--haha.  I just have a big window that let's in perfect light in the morning.  I drape a white sheet over a chair, set my projects on the chair and position them to get the best light, TURN OFF MY FLASH---I promise this works---and shoot.  Then I crop all of the stuff in the background out, and that's it.  I sure wish I had a fancy camera---but it's not in the budget.

I hope that helps---let me know if you have any other questions.

Well...gotta run my husband some lunch---or her won't eat---then he's cranky, just like a kid I tell ya.

Have a great day!

Melis

sugar & spice...

for those interested in the Homemade Oreo Cookie recipe---here is the one I used:  From Cooks.com

HOMEMADE OREOS
2 Devil's Food cake mixes 4 eggs 1 1/2 c. shortening Mix cake mixes, eggs, shortening. Roll in prune-size balls. Bake at 350 degrees on cookie sheet for 10 minutes. Let cool on cookie sheet. FILLING: 8 oz. cream cheese 3 c. powdered sugar 1/2 stick butter Mix filling - put between 2 cooled cookies. Makes about 5 dozen.

I don't pay attention to the Devil's Food cake mix---if you have a dark cake mix, it will work just fine.

And....I'm searching for the name of the pattern book the stocking came out of---I've got to call my sis-in-law and will get that for you shortly.  The stocking is still sitting in the same place as the other day----so it sits, so it sits, haha.

LOTS of Creative Cafe going on in my life.  LOTS of fun new Art Bar projects for the upcoming months---so I can't share these with you just yet---but hopefully soon they'll find their way to your scrapbook store.

Here is one tiny, sweet, quick little project I can show you using Creative Cafe and a card as well.

I love to save my candle jars after the candles are gone.  I pop them in the freezer for a bit, and then the wax comes out very easily---they make great little gift containers.  This is just lined with some adorably polka-dotted felt from Creative Cafe along with trim, and puffy felt flowers and words.

The card uses Creative Cafe paper, stamp, puffy felt flower, felt button, felt word, scalloped velvet trim, and pearl brad.

Today, I've been puttering with my latest Lime Tart kit---it's a fun one girls.  LOTS O' CHRISTMAS---which is pretty much the only thing on my mind right now---been enjoying every minute of it, so I'll share one sneak peek with you and some more tomorrow.

My little one is calling from her bed---having a hard time falling asleep tonight--so my time is up.

Have a great Sunday!
And thank you all so much for your sweet comments!

Melissa

a merry little christmas...

simple little life...full of simple little things that make me happy.

Today Sierra and I made these:

She is the best beater licker around haha.

We finished decorating this:  (forgive the pictures--how on earth do people take pictures of these beasts anyway?)

I didn't make any progress on this:

This is one stocking---that will probably be done about the time Sierra goes to college---next step is hand-stitching around all of the fun shapes and fabrics---so much fun--not so much time haha.

Here are just a couple of cards for the card sketch blogs this week.  The first is for the CPS blog. 

Flourishes stamp, Melissa Frances paper, trim, and cardstock sticker.

And this is for the Sketch This Cards blog.  Scenic Route paper, felt from craft store, Queen & Co. felt, Making Memories pebble, and American Traditional Designs stickers.

Let's see....I think that should about cover my day today.  For any of you who wanted information on the metal stocking I altered---my mom bought this for me and purchased it at Joann's last year  (she thinks---could have been Robert's though or Bed, Bath & Beyond)---sorry---not much help, huh?

Hope you all had a great day!

Melissa

Say hello...to friends you know...

and everyone you meet...

Isn't it wonderful how this time of year brings out the good in people---at least for me, I haven't seen too much of the ugly and for that I am thankful.

I think I feel like my mom must have felt when I was a little girl and Christmas was approaching---there is just not enough time in the day to do it all----but, I am certainly enjoying the holiday season---busy or not.

I had a request to share the full images of some sneak peeks I posted a while ago---sorry that I didn't do this sooner---I need to remind you all again---I am getting forgetful in my 30's, oh...and I'm blond haha.

These were all created for CreativeXpress for this current month.

The tutorial for these cards is posted here if you have any questions.

The tutorial for these is posted here.

Hmmm...seems like there was something else I was going to do here tonight...but I must have forgotten.

I'm very excited about tomorrow---I'm heading off to finish up the cutest handmade Christmas stockings at my sis-in-laws house--I can't wait to show you.  Plus---I owe you pictures of the trees, don't I---see how I forget!

Have a great night---it's time for stories and snuggles here at my house.

Melis

Let the Merry Bells keep ringing...

Happy Holidays to you!

Ohhhhh...I love listening to Christmas music---it always makes me so happy.  My goal this year is to NOT buy another CD---gotta be a good girl and buckle down---I could certainly add some Josh Groban to my collection though haha.

I'm just enjoying my Melissa Frances stash right now---I love each and every product made.  I altered this cute little metal stocking pocket to fill with goodies and give away if by chance I can part with it.  The paper, trim, glitter chipboard, and cardstock stickers are all from Melissa Frances.  Then, I decided to use a large resin frame from Melissa Frances and made it into an ornament for my tree.  The paper, frame, button, glitter snowflake, and cardstock stickers are all from Melissa Frances.

So tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing---I'm craving some homemade cinnamon rolls---and tuning into the First Presidency Christmas Devotional here in a bit.

I hope you're all enjoying your Sunday too.

Melissa