LilyBean Paperie

healing wishes...

Good morning!  Today I'm up on the Papertrey Ink blog with a Make it Monday tutorial using colored pencils and Kraft cardstock.  This is something I have seen and have wanted to try for quite some time.  Now I'm hooked and love the results.

I've used Papertrey Ink's Kraft cardstock, Botanical Blocks II, Background Basics:  Sheet Music and Inside & Out:  Well Wishes stamp sets on my first card.  I love how those lovely blues turned out on Kraft!

Once again I used the Botanical Blocks II stamp set along with the Polka Dot Basics II and Keep it Simple:  Praying for You sets.

To watch my tutorial and learn more, visit Nichole's blog.  

Enjoy your Monday!

Melis

wishing you well...

Hi there!  I've been craving flowers....spring flowers in all of their sweet, soft, pastels.  I've got the bug to redecorate my whole house to freshen it up after our long winter.  BUT, that's not very feasible, so I'm getting my floral fix with my stamps today :).  Anyone else feel like this after winter comes and goes?

I began with the Whole Lotta stamp set from Reverse Confetti.  I love the darling 4-step flowers found in this set.  I stamped them in a variety of soft colors, outlining them in black to bring in some bold contrast.

I then used the Outlined stamp set for my sentiment.  This is a fun two-step sentiment set, but it doesn't have to be more than just one step....you choose :).  I used a couple of different colors here, softening up the bold black used in my flowers.  My card base was created using the Linked Circles Cover Panel....a favorite of mine.

 

My next card was created for Emma's Paperie and is based on a sketch you can find on the blog there.  

I've used beautiful, shabby, vintage-y Kaisercraft products on this card...love that old typewriter.

You can find lots of inspiration on Emma's Paperie blog along with a complete list of the supplies I've used on this card.

(Source)

I haven't share a quote on my blog in quite some time...and quotes are little bursts of sunshine and happiness in my life, so it's due time I shared one of my favorites...from a woman I admire and look up to very much.  If you haven't read her book, Glimpses, I recommend it!  It's one that I turn to over and over again.   It will lift, brighten, encourage, and make you feel, oh, so loved!

Thanks for stopping.

Melis

 

papertrey ink - celebrating the past, present, & future: 2016...

Hello and welcome to another week!  Today is the last day of revisiting wonderful stamp sets from Papertrey Ink.  I've chosen the To Have & To Hold set...the darling twiggy, heart wreath had me from the very beginning.

I stamped my wreath in watermark ink and heat embossed it using two different colors of embossing powders, Shabby Green and Aged Rose from Stampendous.  I then stamped a few flowers and leaves in Autumn Rose, Pale Peony, Sweet Blush, Spring Moss, and Simply Chartreuse.

Another of my most favorite sets is the Choose Joy set and I wanted a simple sentiment to add to the center of my heart, and this one was just perfect.  Across the bottom, I used the Be Happy die to create my scalloped border and then added a couple of die cut bows from the Gathered Garden die collection.

There's plenty more to see and enjoy on Nichole's blog.  Thank you for joining me in this fun trip down memory lane!

Melis

papertrey ink - celebrating the past, present, & future: 2014...

Hey stampers! Feather Finery is up today, as my choice of Papertrey Ink stamps to revisit from 2014.  It's one of those "must have been made just for me" stamp sets :).  I love the delicate, intricate nature of it.

I "thought" that this sentiment shown in this photo was the one I wanted to use, until just as I was finishing up my card and went with a different one, from another stamp set I just love, Birds of a Feather.  These two sets work wonderfully well together.

I used the largest of the feathers on my card, wanting it to take center stage.  These images look so lovely heat embossed, so I used my WOW Embossing Powders in Salsa and Fairy Tale.  I then splattered on a few droplets of water mixed with my Fine Linen re-inker and let the cardstock dry before stamping my sentiment and Fancy Flourishes.

This is one of those sets that is just flawless and so easy to use...not much effort required because the images are so beautiful.

Thanks for stepping back into time with me today.  Lots to see on Nichole's blog!

Melis

get well wishes...

Hi there!  Don't you love receiving a "picker-upper" kind of card when you're feeling down?  One that makes you smile and forget how yucky you're feeling?  Me too.  Just one of the reasons why I love the Cured stamp set from Reverse Confetti.

The hogs are adorable of course, and I have a slight affinity for these creatures, so it's no wonder I have so much fun stamping with this set.  I paper-pieced my pigs, using bits and scraps of paper in my stash.  Before adhering my stamped images, I lightly sponged on ink using the Heart Stencil.

And of all the bitty stamps in the universe there are to love...the tiny hearts banner from the Cured set is the one I love the most :)...had to use it on this sweet, little get well wishes card.

Happy weekend!

Melis

papertrey ink - celebrating the past, present, & future: 2012...

Hi there!  We're highlighting a few favorite stamp sets from 2012 as we continue to celebrate Papertrey Ink's 10th anniversary.  Today I've chosen to focus on the lovely, Embroidered Blooms stamp set.

After creating my card base, I used the Noted:  Scalloped A2 die collection to create a dainty, scalloped border around my card.  Embroidered Blooms always reminds me of dishcloths, aprons, and gingham, so I had to add a few scallops to this card to carry on with that feel.

I then stamped my blooms using Melon Berry, Fine Linen, Lilac Grace, Pale Peony, Bright Buttercup, Berry Sorbet, Green Parakeet, and Spring Moss.   I attached this stamped block of cardstock to my card front and started adding a few embellishments.

I mentioned my love for gingham earlier, so I stamped a strip of cardstock using Bright Buttercup ink and the Background Basics:  Super Gingham stamp set.  My sentiment was stamped in Lilac Grace on a die cut banner and then I added a few die cut flowers and leaves using the Make it Market Mini Kit:  Garden Gild dies.   

I haven't used this set enough!  But, here is a set of projects I created using the beautiful Embroidered Blooms stamp set.  

Lots of news and details on Nichole's blog, so be sure to tune in and play along with us as we celebrate!

Melissa

papertrey ink - celebrating the past, present, & future: 2010...

Hi!  So glad you stopped by to celebrate Papertrey Ink's 10th anniversary with me.  Today we are revisiting 2010 and the stamp set I picked to use was none other than Love Lives Here :).  It is near and very dear to my heart as it was the first stamp set I got to collaborate with Nichole on and contains all of the things I love.

Yellow is the color that makes me the happiest and this set deserves to be stamped in some yellow.  As my project was sitting on my desk waiting for me to finish it up, it felt like sunshine to me.

I used the scalloped circle, inner circle w/heart cutout, and the solid heart images to create a background, stamping in Bright Buttercup, Pale Peony, and Mint Julep.  I then layered on a block of Sheer Basics Vellum and started arranging my toppings.  I created a focal point for my little stamped house by adhering it to a die cut Stitched Primitive Heart.  My house is stamped in Pale Peony with a touch of Hibiscus Burst and Mint Julep with a touch of Aqua Mist.  I used the coordinating Love Lives Here dies to die cut a tiny heart to fit inside the heart on my house, cutting it from Harvest Gold felt.

Across the bottom of my card I used the Inspired:  Blessed die.   

I then used flowers from the Gathered Garden stamp set to bring in just a few frills.  They are stamped in Pale Peony, Sweet Blush, Berry Sorbet, and Harvest Gold.

Here are a few older projects of mine, using the Love Lives Here stamp set.

 


Make sure to stop in a visit the Papertrey Ink blog to find out about the challenge and giveaway!

Melis

papertrey ink - celebrating the past, present, and future: 2008

Hi there, friends!  Thanks for celebrating 2008 with Papertrey Ink and little, old me today.  Since I'm a country-loving girl, I have to mention that way back then, I'd be listening to some Zac Brown Band playing Chicken Fried, for sure Alan Jackson singing Country Boy, and most definitely, Brooks & Dunn singing Cowgirls Don't Cry :)...anyone else?....oh wait!  How could I forget some Gorgeous George, singing How 'bout Them Cowgirls...my fave!

My card today uses the sweetest floral set called, Flower Garden.  I have loved that set for ages, and since digging it out, have noticed just how much fun it is to stamp with and use some techniques that were perhaps not around as much back in 2008, namely water-coloring combined with stamping.  I'm so glad that technique is so prevalent now.  There are oodles of stamping and paper-crafting products on the market right now that make this technique so easy.

I stamped all of my solid images on watercolor cardstock and then added the outline images, stamping them in watermark ink and heat embossing them using white powder.  I didn't want my outlines to line up perfectly, so I off-set them a bit.  After heat embossing, I added water and Zig Clean Markers to blend my colors and add some shading.  Once my cardstock was dry, I then went back over each image with the outline images once again, stamping this time in colored ink instead of watermark ink so the details popped a bit and created some definition with each flower and leaf.

I then stamped some outlined images on my card base and layered on my watercolored flowers, using dimensional adhesive to give them depth.  I also die cut some leaves using Sheer Basics Vellum and the Branching Out die.  I stamped my sentiment from Flower Garden on a die cut Tinier Tag and attached it to some Rustic Twine wrapped around the top of my card.  

There's lots to see today and each day as we celebrate Papertrey Ink's 10th Anniversary, so be sure to follow along on Nichole's blog to learn all of the details and participate in the challenges...there are prizes up for grabs of course!

Thanks for visiting!

Melis

let your light shine - SFYTT...

Hey there! My card today was created for Reverse Confetti using the Sketch for You to Try (SFYTT) for February.  These sketches are so simple but so inspiring...a great jumping off point when you are in need of a little inspiration. We'd love for you to play along. You've got until the 27th of February to create and enter, and you may enter as many times as you'd like using Reverse Confetti stamps and/or Confetti Cuts! There will be a winner each month and that person will receive a $20 gift certificate to the Reverse Confetti store and claim the title of ‘Fetti Fave. The winner of SFYTT will be posted on the Reverse Confetti blog on the 28th of this month.

Here's the sketch that inspired my card and the one you can use for the challenge.

"Let your light shine" is a favorite phrase of mine, one that I learned the meaning of in my youth, so for today's card I used that phrase from the My Rock stamp set, stamping it on a die cut Lacy Scallop Circles Confetti Cuts and embellishing with hearts cut using the XOXO Hearts Confetti Cuts.

The background of my card was created using the Large Eyelet Panel Cover Plate Confetti Cuts and is stamped with flowers from Blooms 'N Buds and Whole Lotta Thanks stamp sets.

Visit the Reverse Confetti blog to link your creation, read more about the challenge, and see what the design team members have created with the sketch.

Thanks for stopping by!

Melis

beastmode blog hop...

Hello friends!  Thank you for joining me today, for a very special blog hop for my new, friend Jen.  I have only known her a few short months, but she has welcomed me so warmly and treated me with so much kindness, that my love for her was instant.  

Here's a bit about her:

Jen was diagnosed with breast cancer toward the end of last year. She's been dealt a pretty bad hand as far as the treatment for her type of aggressive cancer, but the prognosis is good. This year will be quite the journey and battle, but she is a strong and very motivated woman. She's done lots of reading up on how she can take on a positive role in fighting her cancer from all angles, including diet and exercise. With only a couple of treatments under her belt so far, she is looking and feeling good, and plans to keep it that way! Her mantra has become a viral hashtag among her friends and crafty peers - #beastmode - and it totally fits Jen's personality! 

Today's hop is all about you, Jen!  Love you!

The word that always comes to my mind when thinking of Jen, is "beautiful"...so that was the theme of my card today.  I used the Reverse Confetti You're So stamp set for my sentiment, stamping a portion of it on a Tall Tag Trio Confetti Cut.  I also used the Blooms 'N Buds stamp set to create some pretty blossoms.  The XOXO Hearts Confetti Cuts were used across my card to create my background.

Hugs and love Jen!  So lucky to know you. #BEASTMODE

Melis

Susan Liles  
Amy Kolling  
Leigh Penner  
Jeanne Jachna
Heather Hoffman  
Amy Tsuruta
Laurie Schmidlin 
Amy Sheffer
Lisa Henke 
Audrey Tokach
Heather Pulvirenti
Amy Rohl  
Jennifer McGuire

 

reverse confetti february blog hop...

I just love February....pretty sure I have already mentioned, a time or two, that it's my most favorite time of year to create for :).  Today, the Reverse Confetti team has put together a fun blog hop...with a chance to win included as well!  I created a Valentine pocket using my favorite Reverse Confetti supplies...lots of fun to put together.

I started by using the All Heart Cover Panel to create the front of my bag. I then cut a layer of vellum and adhered my cover panel to that, and then created a backside for my pocket using paper from the True Love 6x6 Paper Pad.  

Before stitching my pocket layers together, I added a bit of pink tulle trim across the backside of the top portion of my pocket.  Then came the embellishing.  I created a circular pocket filled with flowers by using the Pop Up Circle Confetti Cuts.  I die cut the bottom layer from Piggy Bank cardstock and then cut a half circle using the same die from white cardstock, stitching it around the edges to create a pocket.

My sentiment across the front of my circular pocket is from the Crazy About You stamp set and is stamped in Piggy Bank ink.  I used flowers and leaves from the Blooms N' Buds stamp set along with hearts from the XOXO Hearts Confetti Cuts to create the fillings for my pocket.

I love how it plumps up when filled :).

It is wide enough to hold some chocolates, jewelry, gift card, notecard, etc.  Mine of course contains chocolate...Dove milk chocolates to be precise.

Lastly, I attached some trim across the top to create a handle, using my hot glue gun to secure it in place.

There's plenty more inspiration waiting for you by following the blogs listed below, and be sure to stop by the Reverse Confetti blog to hear all about a chance to win!  Thanks for stopping by!

Melis

Reverse Confetti blog
Amy Kolling
‘Fetti Friend Deanne Kuntz
Heather Pulvirenti
Lisa Henke
Melissa Phillips (you are here!)
Amy Rohl
Heather Hoffman 
Amy Tsuruta
Audrey Tokach
Amy Sheffer
Leigh Penner 
Jeanne Jachna 
Laurie Schmidlin
Susan Liles 

 

 

 

MFT Stamps Release Night...

The My Favorite Things Release Day is finally here!  It's been such a fun month to get to join the wonderfully talented team at MFT...thank you for having me!  All of the new stamp set and Die-namics I've been using are available right now HERE in the MFT Boutique.

One last card before I go, this one using the lovely, Sketched Blooms 2 stamp set...it's such a creative and inspiring set with lots of possibilities waiting to be explored.

I stamped my Sketched Blooms 2 on a block of cardstock, then created a heart-shaped window from a second block of cardstock using the Die-namics Pierced Heart STAX.  Before adhering it to my stamped portion, I added a few Sketched Blooms 2 near the bottom and upper corners, then embossed it with an embossing folder from my stash.  

The "Friend" from the new Words for Friends Die-namics was used across the bottom of my card, stitched on after I sponged on some coordinating colors.

I then adhered my two blocks together using dimensional adhesive and stamped a sentiment from the Lots of Hugs stamp set on a Stitched Sentiment Strips Die-namics and adhered it across the center of my heart.  I used my white pen to add a few details to the centers of my flowers to finish off my card.

Thanks again for sticking with me!  Thank you MFT, it's been a treat!

Melis

MFT February Release Countdown - Day 5...

Hey!  Welcome to the last day of My Favorite Things' February Release.  Tomorrow night is the New Launch Post, so you'll want to come back for that, but in the meantime, how about a little intro to the new Boss Babe stamp set!  Such a fun and unique set that's all about celebrating YOUR amazingness :).

I've wanted a stamp for my little etsy shop, thanking customers for their orders, and here it is!  I stamped my sentiment on watercolor cardstock that was cut using the Stitched Rectangle Scallop Edge Frames Die-namics.  After stamping it in watermark ink, I used white embossing powder and heat set it in place.  Next I added water and used my Zig Clean Color Markers to bring in color.  

I stamped my bag using another sentiment from Boss Babe that I love, stamping it in different shades of pink and orange.  Don't you love that sentiment too?  I added a stamped heart, also from Boss Babe, on a heart cut using the Pierced Heart STAX Die-namics.

Check out the delightful My Favorite Things blog for lots of inspiring ideas using this set along with lots of other products.

Melis

MFT February Release Countdown - Day 4...

 

Hi again!  I'm back with more new release products from My Favorite Things.  Today I am sharing a project using the new Uncorked stamp set, Wine Tag, Wine Service, and Cheers Die-namics.

 

I transformed my Wine Tag into a soda pop pocket :), folding the bottom portion of the tag upwards to create a pocket that could contain a gift card, note, tag, money, etc.  I used the Tiny Check Brights Paper Pack to create my tag along with Whip Cream Cardstock. Before adhering the folded portion, I attached a scallop border, cut using the Stitched Rectangle Scallop Edge Frames Die-namics.  Next, I stamped a few stars on my pocket using the new Space Explorer stamp set, and adhered my die cut Cheers and stamped balloons.

My tag is embellished using the new Wine Service Die-namics bottle and I added balloons springing out of the top, stamped and die cut using the Space Explorer stamp set, with my stars paper-pieced with bits of different patterned paper.  Down the side of my tag I used the new Uncorked stamp set, finding a sentiment that would work perfectly for my soda pop pocket :).

The tag fits nice and snug inside the pocket, and is ready to share with the birthday girl or boy.

There's oodles of inspiration waiting for you on the My Favorite Things blog. Thanks for visiting!  
Melis

MFT February Release Countdown - Day 3...

It's another day closer to the My Favorite Things February release!  Today I get to share with you a card created with the ever-so-sweet, Happy Together stamp set and coordinating Die-namics. These new products will be available on February 7th, 9PM EST.

I used chalk to color in my images on this card and love the soft effect.  I added a bit of color and detailing with my colored pencils and Copic markers.  My images were framed in using the new Single Stitch Line Rounded Square Frames Die-namics, and I stamped my background using the new Denim Background stamp in Sno Cone ink.  I used an image from the So Much Love stamp set near the bottom of my card as well as some bright, happy gingham patterned paper from the Tiny Check Brights Paper Pack.

The Cloud 9 Die-namics and cream felt added the perfect touch of softness needed for my little scene.  I had the hardest time choosing a sentiment from Happy Together, but settled on this one, stamped on a die cut Stitched Sentiment Strip Die-namic.

This card made me think of my little girl as I created it and made the creating even more enjoyable...not to mention, it has a fresh, spring feel to it as well!

Be sure to visit the My Favorite Things blog for lots of inspiration.  Sure appreciate you stopping by!

Melis

MFT February Release Countdown - Day 2...

I'm back with more delightful, new products from My Favorite Things.  I have a big old crush on today's products, the Sketched Blooms 2 stamp set and Single Stitch Line Rounded Rectangle Frames Die-namics.

Floral stamp sets are a weakness of mine and the new Sketched Blooms 2 set is gorgeous and lends itself to so many different techniques and styles.  I stamped my card base with a few of these images, then moved on to my aqua rectangle, cut using the new Single Stitch Line Rounded Rectangle Frames Die-namics.  On this layer, I stamped my images with watermark ink and heat embossed them using white embossing powder.

Then I moved on to my messy, watercolored flowers in the foreground.  These were stamped on watercolor cardstock the heat embossed layer was meant to be scattered and soft and messy, as I like the way these flowers look that way.  I left some embossing powder on to further enhance this effect, instead of stamping them very precisely and cleanly.  After I heat embossed my blooms, I added water and more ink using my water brush.

Lastly I added my sentiment, part comes from the new Words for Friends Die-namies, and the stamped portion comes from the new Lots of Hugs stamp set.  I used a Stitched Sentiment Strips Die-namics to anchor this section of my sentiment....these are must haves in my craft stash of supplies :).  Some of the colors used on my card today come from Set 16 - Premium Dye Ink Cubes and Set 17 - Premium Dye Ink Cubes...such loves colors in both of these sets.

More to enjoy on the My Favorite Things blog!  Thanks for visiting.

Melis

reverse confetti newsletter feature...

Hi, friends!  I've got a special project prepared just for the Reverse Confetti Newsletter today.  My card was created for the Inspiration Station section of the newsletter, which is so much fun to participate in, and I'm crazy about my inspiration piece...I want to own one!

The Inspiration Station feature of our newsletter is where one of the Confetti Crew members has found something (a photo, an actual item, etc.) that has inspired a Reverse Confetti project or card. This time, it's my turn to inspire you!

This is just a small peek, but to see the whole thing, and get some handy tips about how I made this, you'll want to sign up for our FREE weekly newsletter where I know inspiration abounds! Head over on the RC website HERE before you miss another issue!

Enjoy your Friday!

Melis

MFT February Release Countdown - Day 1...

Hello!  I'm lucky enough to get to join the My Favorite Things team as a guest this month and I couldn't be more excited about it!  Today is day 1 of their February release and I have used the new Friends Furever stamp set and Die-namics.  Such a sweet set and perfect for this time of year when love is in the air, but perfectly suitable for even more occasions throughout the year.

Paper-piecing is one of my most favorite techniques and this little set is perfect for it.  I used patterned paper to add color to my bear, puppy, and tiny bird.  They're sitting on top of letters cut using the new Twice the Hugs Die-namics.  My sentiment across the bottom is from the Friends Furever stamp set as well...this set is full of the sweetest sentiments.

Across the top of my card I added some scallops, cut using the Stitched Scallop Basic Edges 2 Die-namics and added a few hearts cut using the Stitched Heart Grid Die-namics for finishing touches.

All of these new products will be available in a few, short days, February 7, 9PM EST HERE at My Favorite Things.

There's so much more to see by visiting the My Favorite Things blog and following along to each designer's blog.  Thanks for stopping in today!

Melis