blog buddies...

Happy Tuesday everyone!  I can't believe September is over...but certainly LOVE October.  My little girl is so excited--you'd think it might be about trick-or-treating or something like that, right?  Nope----she knows the precise day that the dear hunts opens and lets us know on a daily basis----only a few more days and I'm going to be a widow for awhile again.  But, I don't mind.  I love that my husband supports me in my crafting and am certainly supportive of him and the things that make him happy.  We all need our creative outlet, don't we.

So.....I'm especially excited today because I'm sharing this day of card making and blogging with my sweet friend, Wendy Johnson.  I still remember when she first contacted me out of the blue quite a few months ago.  We became fast friends and I enjoy her friendship so much.  We were able to meet for the first time earlier this month at the Editorial Board meeting for Paper Crafts magazine.  It was such a treat for me because I have adored her work since the beginning.  She is the heart of Paper Crafts magazine and has so much creativity and love to share with many, many people. 

So, today we are both offering up challenges on our blog.  The challenges are the same...the deadline the same...but she has some beautiful samples to share with you on her blog and will have a special giveaway for you.  I will share some of my own samples here and will offer my own giveaway.  Now.....to double your chances of winning, post a comment linking us to your creation on both of our blogs. 

First off....the samples and challenge.  It's all about warm fuzzies around here today, and so we deiced to  try using felt in creative ways to inspire you and get your creative juices flowing.

  For this first card I couldn't resist using the negative images left over after using my die cut machine and flower die cut for a card I'll post in a bit---these little scraps make great embellishments for cards, tags, and layouts.  I also love to use a block of felt as my base and use my Fiskars pinking shears to create a fun decorative edge.  Felt looks even sweeter when stitched whether it be by hand or machine.  I used Basic Grey paper, Deja Views rubons, Martha Stewart string, Worldwin cardstock, and buttons and tulle from the craft store.

  As you can see from this card....I cut flowers from felt.  You can do this by hand simply by tracing around a chipboard flower and then cutting it from felt, or using a die cut machine.  I used my Cuttlebug die cut machine and die cut for these flowers and then stitched them by hand to add a little more charm.  I LOVE the texture that felt bring into projects.  As you can see I used it as my base as well.  I used Basic Grey paper, Making Memories chipboard flowers, Crate Paper ribbon, Making Memories tag, Heidi Grace rub ons, MAMBI gems, and Basic Grey chipboard.

Lastly, what would a baby card be without a touch of soft felt?    I cut a scalloped border from felt for this card and then hand stitched buttons to the center of each scallop.  I love scallops in the first place and thought it would be fun to try creating my own scallop border.  For this you can also cut a border from cardstock and then trace and cut it from felt, but I actually tried using my scalloped scissors on the felt itself---didn't work, but it left an impression in the felt that I could then follow and cut to create the border.  Everything you see here is from Melissa Frances except for the fun wired ribbon from Mara May's etsy shop and the glittered heart from American Crafts.

So.....are you ready to try your own creation?  I hope we've inspired you to spend some time crafting and using some of this warm, fuzzy stuff. 

The challenge goes as follows:

1.  Create a card using felt in any way, shape, or form.

2.  Post in any online gallery or on your blog and then come back here and link me to your creation.  If you want to double your chances of winning, link your creation to Wendy's post as well.

3.  You have ALL week and weekend to do this---fun, huh?  Let's end at midnight on Sunday and I'll randomly choose a winner on Monday.

For the giveaway, I'll set up a sweet little package for you filled with felt and other goodies.

Hope you'll play along.

Be sure to check out Kim Kesti's blog for some DARLING cards along with Teri Anderson, and Alice Golden.

Melis

Comments

[Alison Behan]

Oh my word. I LOVE those cards, ALL OF THEM!lol. Oh man Melissa, you are wayyyyyyyyyy outta control girlie. I wouldn't even know where to start but I love to look at yours :-)

[Chelle]

oh how wonderfully gorgeous those cards are! i am going to take this opportunity to tell you miss melissa, that you inspire me every day! your creations, your conversations, your honesty...a joy! thank you!

here is my card using felt for this fun little challenge of your's and wendy's!
chelle

http://apaintergirl.typepad.com/the_many_adventures_of_a_/2008/09/happy-autumn.html

[Fiorella]

Every day I can't wait to visit your blog to have a look at your wonderful creations...Thank you so much!

[Nancy from Conroe]

Melissa,
Your cards are incredible! Would you mind sharing the plate recipe to cut the felt with your cuttlebug? I wondered if I could use it with felt but have been afraid to try it. I have been itching to make a card with felt and you so gave me the inspiration and the nudge to do it finally! Thanks again for sharing your incredible works of art!

[Shari]

Beautiful cards!!!

[Christine]

WOW! These cards are so inspiring, Melissa! I just love the texture that the felt brings to these projects...they're so warm and welcoming! I'm going to have to give this challenge a try, and will come back to post the link to my card!

Thanks for such a great challenge and for the beautiful cards to inspire us!

[Joey Quan]

Thanks for the great tips! LOVE your baby card! They r super darling!

p/s: I nominate you as One of the 7 blogs I love on my site at http://www.bearybox.blogspot.com!

What can I say? obssesed with your cards!

[DeeDee]

Oh my, oh my!!! These are all so beautiful!!! Can I come sit by you and just watch?? I'm gonna play along with you this weekend...I have the whole house to myself...Hubby left for the hunting lease this morning, so it's nuttin but crafting for ME!!! YAY!!! Hugs!!

[Annette Taylor]

I bet you already have one of the 'I love your Blog' awards, but I've left you one on my blog just to say thank you for all the (daily) inspiration you've given me xx

[Becky G.]

Melissa, as I told you once before, you are a great inspiration to me, and now I find we have the love of felt in common! I just LOVE putting felt on my cards. You can find my card "Joy to the World" on my blog. Thanks again! Becky G.

http://camelliacottagedesigns.blogspot.com/2008/10/joy-to-world.html

[Pat]

Ready for a fun weekend of crafting - here's my first creation using felt (I don't think I've ever used it before)
http://scrapworthy-arts.blogspot.com/2008/10/wcmd-and-theyre-off.html

[Eveline van Heijst]

I missed reading your blog for a couple of days because I've been busy. So I'm trying to catch up. I came upon this post only today. I posted a message on my blog only this afternoon. My take on Kazan's sketch over on 2s4y.
Here it is.
http://vanheijstditjesendatjes.blogspot.com/2008/10/kazans-sketch-10.html
I loved using the felt. It's such a fun material.
Eveline.

[Jennifer]

Beautiful cards, especially the 2nd one!!!

[flati]

This is lovely

Hugs, Sonja xxx

[**JulieG**]

Love, love, love this challenge! Felt always makes me fell all snuggly - here is my take!

http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?cmd=display&gallery=1&layout_id=1398733

[Jennifer]

These are great cards, and the felt really adds a warm touch! Here is my card:

http://www.simpleflourishes.com/2008/10/little-felt-flowers.html

[Dawn McVey (dawnsing)]

Hi Girly,

I just had to play along with you and dear Wendy! What a fun challenge.....I loved playing with felt! Here's a link to my card....thanks so much!

http://dawnmcvey.typepad.com/these_are_a_few_of_my_fav/2008/10/world-card-making-day-giveaway.html

P.S. Love the new photo of you and your little bean! So pretty!

[Jackie W.]

Hi Melissa! I made a card for your challenge here:

http://jackiestamps4fun.wordpress.com/2008/10/02/my-world-card-making-day-challenge-card/

What fun! Thanks for the inspiration!

[Sophia]

Hi Melissa,
Thanks so much for your wonderful blog!!! I look forward to each and every new creation of yours. Not sure if I linked this correctly, but here goes:

www.scrapbook.com/galleries/142645/view/1746221/-1/0/1.html

[amber00]

Melissa
Just love your challenges. Your page is full of inspiration and it is a must for me to visit daily. Here's my link for my cards using felt:
http://thecountryscrapper.blogspot.com

[Debbie Olson]

Melissa, I adore the sweet vintage looks here--especially the little boy card! And I am going to get some of that wired ribbon ASAP, you enabler--in the best of ways!

[Daniela]

I love this challenge, I had to make a card right away...I am a little behind on life.
http://danieladobson.blogspot.com/2008/10/melissas-felt-challenge-and-2-sketches.html

[Mindy]

What a fun project! Here is my card...

http://mountainviewmemories.blogspot.com/2008/10/world-card-making-day-and-felt.html

[Wendi]

I'll play!
http://dreamincolor.typepad.com/dreamincolor/2008/10/pocket-full-of-fall.html
Love your blog Melissa! You are one talented girlie!!

[Melissa Bove]

Hi Melissa!

Your work is amazing! Thanks for being such an inspiration!

Here is my card:
http://www.createmykeepsake.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=39377&cat=500&ppuser=9884

Thanks!
Melissa