LilyBean Paperie

crafty Christmas favorites...

This year, I am loving vintage Christmas lines with warm, rich, cozy colors such as dark burgundy, cranberry red, and elegant emerald with a bit of shabby aqua thrown in, and gold for an accent.

A few of my favorite collections that incorporate all of these colors are are Snow Village from Pink Paislee, St. Nicholas from Kaisercraft, and Reflections Christmas by Echo Park.  

 

I love, love, love these mini chenille candy canes found at Frost it Pink...definitely a hoarding hazard for me.  Oh, and the beautiful shimmered reindeer have been restocked at Frost it Pink as well.  

 

My Craft Spot has a lovely Spring Breeze scrunched seam binding that is shabby and just the right color of aqua to coordinate with my favorite Christmas color combo. And, May Arts has the most beautiful, wide, Antique Brown ribbon that is perfect for vintage Christmas packages.  

 

And, the gold resin flower embellishments from Maggie Holmes are just little treasures...I love them!

Papertrey Ink's Pillow Box die was used to cut out both of these little gift boxes and is so nice to have on hand for pretty packaging.

Thinking of you today!

Melissa

 

make it monday - wrap it pretty...

'Tis the season for packaging thoughtful gifts for those you love.  My Make it Monday for Papertrey Ink today, shows one way of dressing up a simple and inexpensive, Kraft Coffee bag.  You can find the tutorial HERE.  

These can be created in bulk and in no time at all you'll have your holiday gift packaging ready.

Tremendous Tags are just the right size for Christmas packages.  I used a combination of Rustic Wreath and Boutique Borders:  Christmas on my tags here along with adding in Background Basics:  Christmas, 2010 Holiday Tags, and Candy Cane Christmas to my bag.  

Wrap it pretty!

Melis

p.s...

(photo via Pinterest)

In case you forgot, which we all do at times.

Melissa

holiday sweets...

Well, the snow has landed, my little girl couldn't be happier.  We never know if we'll get snow here from one year to the next, so it really is a beautiful treat when it comes and actually sticks long enough for sledding and building snowmen.  I love it, especially from the inside with a warm fire crackling away.

This card was created for the Festive Friday Challenge Blog.  This 2 week challenge is a bit different as you get to be the one to choose which of all of the challenges posted throughout the year is your favorite and then create a card based on it.  You can read more about it HERE, oh and there are prizes!

I enjoyed the "Sweet" challenge, so I created another card based on that using Martha Stewart dimensional stickers, sweet chenille peppermints from Frost it Pink, Fancy Flourishes and Friendship Jar Holiday Fillers from Papertrey Ink, and scrunched seam binding from My Craft Spot.

I snagged me some of Echo Park's Reflections Christmas collection, love it so much, that I used it on all three of my cards today.  The chipboard elements on my last two cards are also from this same collection.  

I also used Papertrey Ink's Rustic Wreath stamp and die on this card, a Sizzix Mini Snowflake Rosette, and a Bundled Up badge from Crate Paper.

And lastly, this card was created for Emma's Paperie and is based on a sketch found there.  Lots of goodies layered on here.  A complete supply list for this card can be found HERE.

Wherever you are and whatever your wonderland looks like, I hope you have a beautiful day!

Melis

baby it's cold...

 

 

Hey there...it's mid week again, the week before Thanksgiving here in the States, with Christmas creeping up quickly, all the while I am trying not to panic and lose sight of what makes this time of year so special and at the same time trying to keep crossing things off my never-ending to-do list....that was a long sentence huh, can you feel my anxiety :)?

 

 

Thank goodness for pretty paper and things that make everything better, at least for a little while :).  My cards today were created for Emma's Paperie with this first card based on a color combination there.

 

Really, truly, the All Bundled Up Adhesive Badges from Crate Paper are irresistible.  You can view the complete supply list for this card HERE.  

 

 

And, bouncing back to Autumn, these next few cards were created with Carta Bella supplies as our focus last month at Emma's was on this manufacturer.

I love the warm honey color mixed in with cozy reds and greens.  

Supplies used on these cards can be found HERE.

I have cinnamon roll dough ready to be rolled out and I am very much looking forward to smelling them as they bake....one of life's simple pleasures I'd say.

Night.

Melissa

book of memories...

 

Hello!  I'm checking in quickly to post photos of my completed mini album, made especially and with tender loving card for a friend.  

 It feels I have been trying to complete this little lady forever, but looking back, I have loved taking my time on it and adding plenty of detail and extra special touches.

 It consists of 12 pages, 1 for each month of the year, each with a pocket of some sort to hold special memorabilia.

 It's plump and overflowing, just how I like it :).

 

I'll be back soon.  Thanks for your visit.

Melissa

 

 

papertrey ink november...

 

Today wraps up the November Papertrey Ink release.  All of the new items will be available for purchase on November 15th at 10PM in the Papertrey Ink store.

 

My first card uses the new Stitched with Love stamp set and coordinating dies....any guesses as to just how much I love this set? :)  I used it along with the Knit Bits set to created a cozy, homespun feel.  

 

The coordinating dies are just darling. I wound Orange Zest Baker's Twine around the stamped and die cut spool.

 

This next card uses the new Boutique Borders:  Congrats set and die along with the Congratulations stamp set   Such wonderful staples to have on hand when there is reason to celebrate.

 

 

 

Wonderful Words - Congrats is the next set used on this card along with the coordinating die and the new Tipped Tops dies.

 

 

 

The die cut stars are also from Tipped Tops with the larger star from the Seeing Stars die collection and the stamped flourish and die from the Fancy Flourishes set.

 

And, lastly, the Fancy Footwork set...very sweet and unique for the love in your life.  I embossed the stamped images using Zing Blush to create a soft background effect.

All of the supplies used on these cards are listed  for you below and if you have any questions, please just send me a note.

Such a fun release.  Thanks so  much for checking in each day.  Be sure to check out the other creations from the other designers.

• Cristina Kowalozyk
• Ashley Cannon Newell
• Erin Lincoln
• Maile Belles
• Nichole Heady
• Dawn McVey
• Heather Nichols
• Betsy Veldman
• Laura Bassen

Enjoy your day!

Melissa

 

P.S.  Little Miss and I are going to give these a shot this weekend...the picture is making my mouth water.

Ghiradelli Chocolate Crackle Cookies

Sew Glad We're Friends Card

Papertrey Ink Supplies Used:
Stamps:
Stitched With Love and Knit Bits
Cardstock:
Melon Berry, Rustic Cream, Aqua Mist
Ink:
Aqua Mist, Dark Chocolate, Pure Poppy, Classic Kraft
Tools:
Stitched With Love, Heart-2-Heart #7
Accents:
Spring Moss, Summer Sunrise, and Melon Berry felt, Spring Moss, Melon Berry, and Sweet Blush buttons, Orange Zest Baker's Twine

Other Supplies Used:
Freckled Fawn Glitter Enamel Dots

Congrats Card

Papertrey Ink Supplies Used:
Stamps:
Boutique Borders: Congrats and Congratulations
Ink:
Melon Berry and Smokey Shadow
Cardstock:
Rustic Cream and Kraft
Tools:
Boutique Borders: Congrats, Heart-2-Heart #7, and Stitched with Love
Accents:
Aqua Mist and Spring Moss felt, Melon Berry button, Vintage Cream twill

Other Supplies Used:

Sizzix Medallion die
Pebbles Inc, Simple Stories, and Lily Bee paper
My Craft Spot sequins
Freckled Fawn washi tape
Martha Stewart mica flakes

So Proud of You Card

Papertrey Ink Supplies Used:
Stamps:
Wonderful Words - Congrats, Fancy Flourishes
Cardstock:
Rustic Cream and Kraft
Tools:
Wonderful Words - Congrats, Seeing Stars, Tipped Tops, Fancy Flourishes
Accents:
Vintage Cream and Melon Berry Felt, Melon Berry button

Other Supplies Used:
Teresa Collins paper
Pink Paislee vellum star
My Craft Spot sequins

When We're Together…Card

Papertrey Ink Supplies Used:
Stamps:
Fancy Footwork
Cardstock:
Kraft, White, and Vellum
Tools:
Limitless Layers: 2 1/4" Hearts, Double Ended Banners, and Coffee Cozy Details dies
Accents:
Smokey Shadow Saddle Stitch ribbon

Other Supplies Used:
American Crafts paper
My Craft Spot sequins
Crate Paper resin embellishment

inside & out: get well wishes...

Hi again.  Are you ready for more stamping?  I LOOOOVE stamping, what can I say.  It just makes me happy:).  Today's Papertrey Ink group post focuses on the new Inside & Out:  Get Well Wishes stamp set and it's a sweet one with such thoughtful and sincere sentiments...they kind of have me thinking of stamping for many  more occasions than those that I think of regularly and that's a wonderful thing.

One thing we have been encouraged to do this month, is to turn to our older stamp sets and use them with the wonderful new sentiment sets that are available this month and I have to tell you how much fun that has been for me.  My first card uses the My Punny Valentine set...I just love that pie, and nothing speaks of comfort, love, and friendship, more to me than a homemade pie.  Not too many months ago, my neighbor baked me a fresh Strawberry Rhubarb pie and I can't begin to tell you how touched I was.  It was a simple gesture, but made me feel so loved and when I began creating my first card with the sentiment you see, I thought of that pie and had to stamp it.  The sentiment is stamped in Dark Chocolate with the pie stamped in Classic Kraft, Aqua Mist, and Pure Poppy.

I framed in my pie using the Garden Variety II stamp set and coordinating die.   It is cut from Kraft Cardstock, embossed in white, and stamped using Pure Poppy.

Across the bottom I stamped a second sentiment from the set on a die cut Tiny Tag.  I also used the new Strip Stitch die to add a bit of a homespun feel.  

We were also asked to create a masculine card using this new set, so brace yourself...I tried my best to create something manly:).  

Along with the Inside & Out:  Get Well Wishes set, I used the Masculine Motifs set...it's so beautiful, in a manly way, ha. I stamped my sentiment and images on Ocean Tides cardstock die cut using the Spiral Notebook Page die.  I tried Betsy's chalkboard technique by embossing using white embossing powder and smudging a bit of Fresh Snow ink across the sentiment and surface area.  The trees are embossed using Zing Brown Sugar.

I used the new Background Basics:  Needlepoint set across the top of the Kraft cardstock and stamped it using Classic Kraft ink.

And then, because I was really loving the whole masculine thing, I carried on into the inside of the card and added another sentiment to go along with the theme of the card.

I'm looking forward to seeing what the other design team members have created using this new set.  You can visit their blogs below:

• Dawn McVey
• Betsy Veldman
• Maile Belles
• Laura Bassen
• Cristina Kowalczyk
• Erin Lincoln
• Ashley Cannon Newell
• Heather Nichols
• Danielle Flanders
• Nichole Heady

Have a wonderful day!

Melissa

 

You're in my Heart...Card

Supplies Used from Papertrey Ink:
Stamps:
Inside & Out:  Get Well Wishes, My Punny Valentine, and Garden Variety II

Ink:
Classic Kraft, Aqua Mist, Pure Poppy, and Dark Chocolate

Cardstock and Paper:
Aqua Mist, Vintage Cream, Classic Kraft, and Holiday Flourishes & Swirls

Tools:
Garden Variety II, Tiny Tags, Strip Stitch dies

Accents:

Aqua Mist button

Other Supplies Used:
white embossing powder

Maya Road trinket pin

My Craft Spot scrunched seam binding

I'm Here For You Card

Supplies Used from Papertrey Ink:

Stamps:
Masculine Motifs, Inside & Out:  Get Well Wishes, and Background Basics:  Needlepoint

Ink:
Ocean Tides and Classic Kraft

Cardstock and Paper:
Ocean Tides, Classic Kraft, Holiday Flourishes & Swirls, Dotti Biscotti, and Dearest Jane

Tools:
Spiral Notebook

Accents:
Cotton Baker's Twine, vintage cream button

Other supplies used:

Flair button

Pink Paislee vellum tag

October Afternoon paper 

 

 

 

everyday happiness & year round happiness...

Papertrey Ink's new Everyday Happiness & Year Round Happiness stamp sets are the focus of my projects today.  Both of these wonderful sets can easily be combined with older sets you love and already have on hand.  Add in the One Liners:  Happy dies, and you've got even more to love and find fun new combinations with.

I created a Thanksgiving card to share with you using the Year Round Happiness stamp set, the One Liners:  Happy die, and added in the Out On a Limb and Scent-imentals stamp sets.  I used vellum and patterned paper to add a softness to my One Liners die and added die cut buttons using Harvest Gold felt and burlap and the Stitched With Love dies.  

My picket fence across the bottom was die cut from patterned paper using the Little Bittie Bird Additions Die Collection.  I used ink in Melon Berry, Ocean Tides, and Dark Chocolate with Zing Brown Sugar and Mustard embossing powder.

My next card uses a stamp from the Everyday Happiness set and another One Liners:  Happy die, die cut twice and layered to form a shadow effect.

 I added in images from the Postmarks set, stamped on die cut Tiny Tags to represent each season or time of year, or just a bit of everything :).  They are die cut from Aqua Mist, embossed in white, and stamped in Ocean Tides.

I used more die cut buttons cut from Harvest Gold felt and patterned paper using the new Stitched With Love dies, a few vintage cream buttons, and a resin flower.

There is plenty more to see by visiting the other Papertrey Ink designers:

• Dawn McVey
• Betsy Veldman
• Maile Belles
• Laura Bassen
• Cristina Kowalczyk
• Erin Lincoln
• Ashley Cannon Newell
• Heather Nichols
• Danielle Flanders
• Nichole Heady

Hope you have a great day and thanks for visiting.

Melissa

 

Happy Thanksgiving Card

Supplies used from Papertrey Ink:
Stamps:

Year Round Happiness, Out on a Limb, Scent-imentals

Ink:
Melon Berry, Dark Chocolate, Ocean Tides

Cardstock:
Rustic Cream, vellum

Accents:
Harvest Gold felt, burlap

Tools:
Little Bittie Bird Additions, Stitched With Love, One Liners:  Happy, and Scent-imentals

Other supplies used:

Kaisercraft and Webster's Pages paper

 

Happy Everything Card

Supplies used from Papertrey Ink:
Stamps:
Everyday Happiness and Postmarks

Ink:

Ocean Tides

Cardstock:
Classic Kraft, Aqua Mist

Accents:
Harvest Gold felt, burlap, vintage cream buttons

Tools:

One Liners:  Happy, Tiny Tags, Stitched with Love dies

Other Supplies Used:
Kaisercraft, Fancy Pants, and My Mind's Eye paper

Blue Christmas...

Hello again!  I have a couple of cards to share with you today created in one of my most favorite holiday color combinations, aqua, red, and cream.  These were both created for Festive Friday and are based on the challenge there.  

I used Pink Paislee Snow Village, a bit of Basic Grey, a Crafty Secrets vintage image and stamp sets from Papertrey Ink including Sew Simples Borders, 2010 Holiday Tags, and Confetti Garland Borders.    

This card uses more Crafty Secrets and Basic Grey's new 25th & Pine collections...it's so much fun.

I used Freckled Fawn washi tape, a Prima flower, and scrunched seam binding from My Craft Spot.

You can play along too if you'd like.  The details can be found HERE.

Have a wonderful day!
Melissa 

introducing polka dot parade #10...

Welcome to day 1 of Papertrey Ink's new release countdown.  Today I get to share with you projects using thew new Polka Dot Parade #10 stamp set, it's a cutie.

 

For my first card, I combined the stamp set along with coordinating dies and patterned paper to create paper-pieced holiday houses.  Scarlet Jewel ink was used on roofs, doors, and houses, with Simply Chartreuse for the tiny heart.  I borrowed the tiny sentiment from the 2013 Holiday Tags set and stamped it onto a Tiny Tag, and then embellished it with Spring Moss felt die cut using the Holly Jolly die to turn my card into a holiday card.

I used the Rustic Wreath stamp set to create a very faint background on my card base using Classic Kraft ink.  Across the top I used the new Background Basics:  Needlepoint stamp set....you will LOVE this :).  Lastly, I finished the card with a strip of Vintage Cream twill tied in a knot at the top.

I paired Rustic Wreath again here with the Polka Dot Parade #10 stamp set and dies.  

I embossed my house in white and then used my Copic marker in Light Tea Rose R12 to add color to the door and windows.  I stamped the roof in Sweet Blush and then coated both pieces in fine glitter.  I embellished the wreath with Prima flowers and added die cut centers cut using the new Stitched With Love dies and patterned paper.  The leaves were die cut from Spring Moss felt using the Heart-2-Heart #7 die.

Once again I used the Background Basics:  Needlepoint across the top stamped in Classic Kraft ink.  My sentiment was embossed in Zing Blush and stamped in Dark Chocolate ink.

For this fun, little card, I used Polka Dot Parade #10 combined with a new alphabet die (more on that subject coming soon).  I love this sentiment and think it would make the perfect title for a mini album...gonna put that on my list of "want-to-dos".

I cut each letter from patterned paper, (Snow Village from Pink Paislee), and then die cut the house from patterned paper and Rustic Cream cardstock.  I then assembled my letters with the house in the background and stamped my roof onto the die cut piece using Ocean Tides ink.  I added a heart in the center of the "o" using patterned paper and the Heart Prints die.  I then added stamped hearts from the set using Classic Kraft ink.  Across the top I added a strip of Vintage Cream twill, a bit of Pink Paislee, and vintage buttons.  

I've determined that any stamp sets that have the littlest thing to do with home, are bound to become my favorites...one can never have too many of these in my opinion.

That's it for me.  Plenty of other lovely places for you to visit today, each showcasing something new and beautiful coming from Papertrey Ink:

Nichole Heady

Betsy Veldman

Dawn McVey

Cristina Kowalczyk

Heather Nichols

Melissa Bickford

Lizzie Jones

 

And, speaking of home and the things that make it such a special place to be...my husband has been gone for the majority of the week.  I miss him, but he'll be home tonight.  I just pulled my latest simple pleasure out of the oven, Cinnamon Roll Cake....it's heaven on earth I tell you.  I crave cinnamon rolls this time of year, but don't always have the time or energy needed to make them, so this recipe satisfies that craving perfectly...you can just stand there with a fork in your hand and eat it right out of the pan, while your kids are sleeping, and your husband is gone, ha :).

Have a wonderful Sunday and thank you for your visit.

Melissa

 

cherished friend...

Once upon a time, many years ago, I met a woman named Cath Edvalson who worked for Paper Crafts magazine, a magazine I would very diligently study as I snagged each one from magazine stands.  She and I had something in common, the love of paper, glue, and creating crazy little handmade things called cards. I can still remember very vividly that very first acceptance email that came from Cath, informing me that a card I had made was to be published in Paper Crafts magazine.  Cath gave me something that cannot be touched or held, but an even more magical gift called, belief, belief in myself.  Cath was the first one who gave my shabby, piled on, sometimes way too girlie, pink, and over the top, cards a chance.  A whole new world opened up because Cath took a chance on me.

I loved my interactions with Cath throughout the years that I was fortunate enough to get to work with her.  A few things I will always remember about her:  I always felt like Cath was someone who would protect her friendship with someone, feelings were safe with her, she was loyal, and had a way of protecting the special connection we had, just as I know she protected each connection she made with others.  What a wonderful, valuable lesson to learn about friendship.  She is such a special lady and I count myself so lucky to call her my friend.  She also possessed and still has the amazing gift of helping others believe in themselves through her encouragement, her support, and her brilliant teaching skills.

This post marks a very sad goodbye as Cath's friends all over the world have gathered to thank and send fond farewell wishes to someone very special and influential while celebrating the love of handmade cards with her and one another.  She truly will be missed in the paper-crafting world.  

If you're following along on the blog hop, you may have arrived here from Katie Brooks' blog.

The next stop on the hop is Jennifer McGuire.  

If you happen to get lost along the way, or want to see who's hopping along, visit the Moxie Fab World blog for a full list, and it's a long one :).

Cath, thank you, thank you for helping me believe in myself, never making me feel like I needed to change the style that I call mine in order to fit in with the rest, and for being very forgiving as I grew, learned, and made many mistakes along the way.

I do wish you joy and happiness as these are things that you brought into my life.  

With love,

Melis

 

 

P.S.  If you'd like to know more about this card, here are the lovely details:
I used Melissa Frances paper, die cut, cardstock sticker, and vellum envelope, scrunched seam binding from My Craft Spot, resin flower and trinket pin from Maya Road, a Tim Holtz mini bottle cap, Prima flower, Stickles glitter, and the beautiful pocket watch on the front of the vellum envelope is a stamp from Darkroom Door, embossed in Zing Blush.

 

P.P.S.  Melissa Frances has some amazing Black Friday deals going on right now...don't want to miss them.

ohdeerme november...

Freckled Fawn's November OHDEERME embellishment kit is adorable! I think it's my favorite so far.  I love the little cork houses and shapes, the metal wreaths, the sweet wreath stamp, etc.

The kit includes a sheet of vellum stickers that I just love.  The quote above is one of those and most definitely a quote I agree with.

Here is a peek at what you'll get inside the kit and you can find out more information HERE.  

Here are a few more things I created with all of the goodies found inside this kit.

I painted my wood chip flag with off-white acrylic paint, colored the stars with a light pink Copic, and then added a dusting of glitter.  I also removed the resin flower from the bobby pin so I could use it as shown here.

The stitched badges couldn't be cuter...so much fun.

Have a wonderful day!

Melissa

cozy home...

It snowed here today and I loved it.  It brought on the cozy kind of day I needed.  I bundled up and went outside in it for a run and to feed the animals and then started myself a fire that is still going tonight.  I love November.

With November here and Christmas coming soon, I have put together a new crafting kit filled with fun trinkets, big and small.  Whether you're a card-maker, a paper-crafter, someone who loves dressing up their packages, etc., I hope you'll find things inside that inspire you to create.

The Merry Little Christmas crafting kit can be found HERE in my etsy shop.

Berries, die cuts, trimmings...

A sweet glass ornament, Flair Button, vintage trim, stamped Kraft bag, dimensional stickers, paper...

Glittered ornament or tag with vintage images, burlap drawstring bag, tussie mussie to assemble, crepe paper garland, bottle brush tree and wreath, glittered jingle bell, and the list goes on!  Happy Christmas Crafting!

And, just a quick peek around my home today.  

I love to surround myself with things that I love, things that speak of warmth and home and love.

Enjoy your evening.

Melissa

love lives here: holiday revisited...

Alright, time to dive into the holidays once again!  The Papertrey Ink Sr. Team members are revisiting one of my most favorite holiday sets, Love Lives Here:  Holiday.  My card uses the angel and wings from this set along with the coordinating dies.  I used Autumn Rose ink and stamped the angel onto Kraft cardstock.  The wings were also die cut from Kraft cardstock and embossed in white. 

Before adhering the angel to my card, I used the Rustic Wreath stamp set and pine sprigs from the Love Lives Here:  Holiday set to create a place for the angel to rest.  I used Ripe Avocado and Scarlet Jewel ink and Brick Beige E31 Copic Marker.  I then embellished the wreath using cream buttons and sequins found at My Craft Spot.

I think the sentiments included in Love Lives Here:  Holiday are so sweet and unique.  Makes it kind of hard to choose just one.  The patterned paper used on this card as well as my tag below is from the Holiday Flourishes & Swirls collection.

My tag uses silver embossing powder and images from Love Lives Here:  Holiday.  I used Tag Sale #4, Limitless Layers: 2 1/2" Circles,  vellum, and Kraft cardstock.

I stamped my sentiment onto patterned paper cut using the Double Ended Banners die.  My tag was then tied onto this sweet and oh, so beautiful glittered reindeer ornament found at Frost it Pink.  The rusty jingle bells can also be found there.  Lastly, I tied the tag and ornament onto a tea tin wrapped in Holiday Flourishes & Swirls paper and tied with Scarlet Jewel Saddle Stitch ribbon and Cream Cotton Baker's Twine.

For more Love Lives Here:  Holiday inspiration, be sure to stop by and visit the other Sr. Team members:

Dawn McVey

Heather Nichols

Maile Belles

Betsy Veldman

 

Hello to November, so much to be thankful for.

Melis

 

P.S.  The Festive Friday Challenge this week is all about wreaths, my card today is based on that challenge.  There's still time to grab your stamping and paper-crafting supplies and play along!