2011 Paper Playtime Royal Court

Hey All My Crafty Friends

Just wanted to share some exciting news with all of my readers. The Paper Playtime Royal Court has been announced.  I am happy to say that I have been asked to continue my reign as a design team member for 2011.  (YEAH FOR ME !!!)

I am so honored to be included among these talented paper crafters.... I f you have not had the chance to go by and see what is going on over at PAPER PLAYTIME I invite you to take a look... Each week we have a new challenge ... And what I love so much about this challenge blog is it can be any PAPER CRAFT you want...MINI ALBUM, SCRAPBOOK LAYOUT, CARD, ALTERED ITEM, 3-D ITEM..The chose is yours...just has to include the THEME of the WEEK and my favorite 2 things in the world... PAPER & GLUE !! So when you get a free moment in this busy holiday season...stop by and check it out...IT IS SO WORTH THE VISIT !!

I have included a list of the 2011 team (on the right side of my blog) with a list of this talented team, so stop by and check each one of them out, their work will leave you wanting more...(I PROMISE !!)

Until Next Time

Hugs & Scraps

Melissa 

CHRISTMAS CARDS 2010 #8 & #9

Hey All My Crafty Friends

Just wanted to share a few cards that are made especially for that teenage girl in your life !!!

I used JOLLY HOLIDAYS & CREATE A CRITTER to make the cards ... (So love both of these carts!!!)
I don't know what it is but I have been in a Weird Kinda Color Scheme lately ... I guess with all the red, green & white EVERYWHERE I LOOK...I have been inspired to think outside the box and make my own CHRISTMAS COLORS for this season... LOL

Teenage Girl Inspired Cards

Don't cha just love LIME GREEN & HOT PINK together?

CARD # 1 STOCKING

CLOSE - UP GLITTERED STOCKING ( Love the BLING !!)

CARD # 2 JOY

CLOSE - UP of the Glittered JOY ( Love me some Glitter Paper !! )

 CARD INSTRUCTIONS:

Both cards ar A2 size cards 5 1/2 x 4 1/4

All Mats are 1/4 inch smaller than the previous layer

I used the Joy from Create A Critter pg 73 (phrase key) *see special note at the bottom of the instructions * 

Stocking is from Jolly Holidays cut @ 3 1/2 inches

Snowflake brads (Micheals)

Sizzix Snowflake Embossing Folder (JoAnn's)

Argyle Cuttlebug Folder

Diamond Stickles

Lime Stickles

Doodlebug Pink Glitter Paper (for the word JOY) cut at 3 1/2 inches on FIT TO LENGTH (2 1/4 inch cut)

So there you have it Christmas cards for the TEENAGE GIRL in your life !!! I can see I will be making several more of these for my daughters friends... She just loved how they turned out and the colors are SUPER CUTE TOGETHER !!!

Until Next Time

Hugs & Scraps

Melissa   :0)



CRICUT CARDZ CHALLENGE # 55

Hey All My Crafty Friends

I don't know about you but the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season has caught up with me...I can't believe that it is next Saturday...Where did December go?? I have been so busy crafting and blog hopping along with all the things that I have to do for Santa arrival that I swear it seemed just like yesterday that I was planning Thanksgiving Dinner....

I think I need to have a "CALGON TAKE ME AWAY MOMENT", when this month is over!!!

Okay sorry was having a moment there....LOL

Back to the challenge....

Over at CRICUT CARDZ CHALLENGE the design team was asked to make a Christmas Card using any cartridge and any color we liked....easy enough right?? The catch...It has to include a BANNER !!!

WOW !! I had never made a banner until a month ago and if you remember it was 9 inches tall by 6 feet wide...So how in the heck was I going to fit a banner on a CARD !!!

Love me some MARY...she always challenges ME !! And makes me come out of my comfort zone...

Well I decided to make it simple on myself and only use the word  "JOY"...but I didn't want to give you the typical red, green and white card....

So I started looking through my paper stash and found this awesome black, white and hot pink candy cane paper.... How funky is that? I just love hot pink and black together...And I knew I had a winner when my teenage daughter said "that's cool Mom"...so this card is for all the teenagers in your life that need a little Christmas JOY...

Card Front



Side View

Close up of embossed banner flags

Card Recipe

Card Base 5x7

White Mat 4 3/4 x 6 3/4

Hot Pink Mat 4 1/2 x 6 1/2

Candy Cane Patterned Paper 4 1/4 x 6 1/4

Striped Patterned Paper 4 1/4 x 2 3/4

Banner Flags Country Life Cricut Cartridge cut @ 3 inches

J is on pg 54

O is on pg 46

y is on pg 43

(USING THE SHIFT FONT KEY)

Banner shadow is the banner key (shift)

Swiss Dots Cuttlebug Folder

Snowflake Brads (Micheal's)

Black Hemp Cording (Walmart)

Pop Dots for the banner flags

Black Brads

Well I think that is it.... I hope it has inspired you to do something different ..WHO SAYS CHRISTMAS COLORS have to be RED GREEN & WHITE??? Remember creativity is within so if it feels right to you ......then its probably pretty darn CREATIVE !!!

So please stop by and play along with us this week at CRICUT CARDZ CHALLENGE...And leave a link so I can come by and see what you have created..

And just for fun if you could change the typical Christmas Color to what ever you wanted ...What would they be?  Leave me a comment and let me know...

Until Next Time

Hugs & Scraps

Melissa

Paper Playtime Blog Hop WINNER !!!!

Hey All My Crafty Friends

Just want to announce the winner of the Paper Playtime Queens Blog Hop  CANDY WINNER, from this past weekend. Thanks so much to everyone that stopped by and left such wonderful comments.  I really appreciate your comment love :0)

So the winner is:  DRUMROLL PLEASE !!!!!

MELISSA

Melissa said...

Brilliant! I think you need to have an eye for ugly to make it beautiful like you did! I just can't seem to get past the ugliness of some things enough to see potential in it! lol

Melissa
http://www.disneydreamerdesigns.blogspot.com/

Congrats Melissa !!!!

Please contact me at Mseigler2423@aol.com by Friday December 17th to claim your prize

Until Next Time

Hugs & Scraps

Melissa



Paper Playtime Queens Blog Hop !!!!

Hey All My Crafty Friends

Welcome to the 1st ever Paper Playtime Queens Blog Hop !!!!!

If you came from Sandra blog then your in the right place

I am so excited to participate in this hop, it is about INEXPENSIVE STOCKING STUFFERS !!!

And with all of us trying to pinch pennies to get through the Christmas season, this hop is made just for you.

The talent in this hop is just amazing and I am so excited to be in the same company with these talented crafters. If you get lost along the way just click the top of the list and it will take you back to the beginning.

List of the talented crafters in this hop:

1. Paper Playtime - http://paperplaytime.blogspot.com/
2. Janis - http://pausedreamenjoy.blogspot.com/
3. Sheree -  http://cravinscrappin.blogspot.com/
4. Carley -  http://www.the-real-icarley.blogspot.com/
5. Pam -  http://simply-pam.blogspot.com/
6. Mary -  http://cardztv.blogspot.com/
7. Maria -  http://joyfulstamper.blogspot.com/
8. Sharon -   http://meemeescreations.blogspot.com/
9. Michelle -  http://mumoftwoblog.blogspot.com/
10. Corri -  http://www.buglvr.blogspot.com/
11. Lisa -  http://www.crop-and-create.blogspot.com/
12. Kathi -  http://www.blogbykathi.blogspot.com/
13. Alex -  http://www.youhadmeatcraft.com/
14. Sandra -  http://www.365daysofcricut.blogspot.com/
15. Melissa -  http://www.apaperjourney.blogspot.com/ YOUR ARE HERE !!!
16. Abby -  http://www.scrapbookaholicbyabby.com/
17.  Theresa - http://www.thescrapbookingqueen.com/

18. Heather - http://www.freshbreweddesigns.blogspot.com/

So on to the project

I am the mother to 3 daughters (21,17 & 11) they all lead very busy lives and sometimes it is hard to coordinate our schedules around one another.  So this year I am giving each one of them a personal planner and a small notebook to carry in there purses. That way the next time I need to know what is going on with them they can pull out there planners and look.... (well that's the plan !!) I will hope they get in a habit of using them ...LOL :0)

Both project were made using 1 sheet of 12x12 designed paper !!!! How economical is that?

I purchased the paper from Hobby Lobby when it was 50% off which made it $1.00, I didnt quite know what I was going to use it for...So I put it in the give me inspiration box in my studio...

Well I was in JoAnn's last week and saw 2011 personal planners in the dollar section, I grabbed 3 not exactly my favorite patterns, but so worth a DOLLAR !!

When I got home I said these are just plan UGLY !!! my girls will hate them and will never use them...So I went to the inspiration box and there was the paper from Hobby Lobby...So then the creative juices started flowing and UGLY PLANNER is now FABULOUS PLANNER and so much more age appropriate for my girls.....The possibilities are endless !!!!

PROJECT # 1

Picture of UGLY PLANNER !!

Told you it needed some help.... LOL

Designer Paper from Hobby Lobby $1.00

Slide the planner out of the plastic cover and measure across the planner (opened)

I used Tacky Glue to cover the planner and made sure to leave an edge all the way around

Take a craft knife to the edge of the planner and get the excess edges of paper from around the edge (this is important if you want it to be able to fit back in the plastic cover)

Side view of FABULOUS PLANNER !!

Close- up view of planner

Sure doesn't look like it cost $2.00 NOW !!! hehe

For Project # 2 , I used the scraps that were left from the 12x12 (which is about a 6x12 piece) so you could actually cover two planners with one sheet, but I decided to make a matching notebook.  I hate when I need a piece of paper and all I can find is an old Walmart receipt to write on......

2 pieces of designer paper cut @ 6 x 4

2 pieces of chipboard (these is an old granola box)

cut @ 5 1/2 x 3 1/2

Tacky Glue chipboard to the paper

Snip the corners all the way around to give a mitred finish on the corners

Begin rolling the edges over the chipboard make sure to press firmly to get all the glue to under the edges of the paper and to insure the corners stay in place

It should look like this !!!

Next cut a piece of coordinating cardstock @ 5 1/2 x 3 1/2

Place it over the chipboard

Should look like this...

I used copy paper from Walmart 500 sheets for less that $3.00

Inside sheets should be cut @ 5 x 3 1/2

I chose to use my BIND IT ALL, but you could easily bind this together with eyelets and binder rings the chose is up to you....

Close - Up of the notebook put all together

Side view

 Sure does'nt look like it cost me about $1.50 to make...does it ???

So there you have to really inexpensive stocking stuffers GRAND TOTAL $ 3.50 ...YIPPEE !!

I hope you have been inspired to make some of these fun little organizers yourself....They are super easy to make and only took about an hour to make both .....EASY PEASY JAPANESY !!!

We have some fabulous prizes to give away at this hop so don't forget to leave a comment in everybody's post...

And I would like to offer a little BLOG CANDY to all of you who stopped by.  I am giving away 4 sets of Studio G Clear Stamps

I will draw a winner on Tuesday Morning December 14, 2010

@ 8 am EST

Just leave me a comment in this post and as always if you would like to become a follower I would love that too...so click on the box in the upper right corner and follow along in the JOURNEY...I have some exciting things planned in the New Year and you don't want to miss them !!!!

So on to the next stop in the hop...the super talented ABBY just click on her name and you will be on your way!!!!

Also don't forget to go back to Paper Playtime once you are done with the hop and enter to win for some awesome prizes from some very generous sponsors...

Until Next Time

Hugs & Scraps

Melissa

CHRISTMAS CARDS 2010 # 7

Hey All My Crafty Friends

I am still working on my Christmas cards for this year and thought I would share with you a cute little card I made over the weekend. I love how this card turned out and will be making these for Matthew's class...so that means 20 little cards !!! Good Grief Charlie Brown !!!


For the card I used the cute little Santa from Simply Charmed...super duper easy to layer....The card took about 10 minutes to make from start to finish !!! Love when that happens...



Card Recipe:

5x5 card Base (green cardstock)

4 3/4 x 4 3/4 (Christmas red cardstock)

4 1/2x 4 1/2 (Patterned paper) Hobby Lobby - I Love Santa

Striped Patterned Paper Hobby Lobby - 2 1/2 x 4 1/2

Santa - Simply Charmed cut @ 3 1/2 inches

Martha Stewart Clear Ultra Fine glitterl

Red/White Polka Dotted Ribbon (Hobby Lobby)

Pop Dots

See I told you super simple and super quick!!!!

Until Next Time

Hugs & Scraps

Melissa

PAPER PLAYTIME CHALLENGE #28

Hey All My Crafty Friends

Hope the weekend was good to you and you got some things accomplished this crazy holiday season....I have so much left to do, but I will just breath and take one day at a time.

This week at PAPER PLAYTIME the design team was asked to create a card using a SNOWFLAKE, well snow flakes are hard for this Georgia Girl because I have only seen snow about 8 times in my whole life...I so long for snow but every year it seems to past us by, we did get some snow last year and my 11 year old daughter finally got to see the "wet stuff".

I made a card for this week's challenge using one of my favorite cartridges WINTER FROLIC....cute winter cuts on this cartridge all though the layers can be VERY TINY at times...

Front of Card:

Side View of Card:

Inside Back of Card:

Close up of Card Front: Lots of BLING !!!!

Card Recipe:

Z Fold Card 4 1/4 x 11 (score @ 2 3/4 & 5 1/2)

Light Blue Coordination Cardstock

Patterned Paper ( Hobby Lobby)

Snowflake Stickers  (Recollections)

Snowman - Winter Frolic page 32 cut @ 3 1/2 inches

Frosty - Winter Frolic page 28 cut @ 1 1/4 inches (fir to length @ 3 inches)

Lacy Labels Snowflake Label cut @ 3 inches

Poly Flake Clear Glitter

Cuttlebug Polka Dots Folder (for snow layer)

Well thats it .... I THINK !!! I hope you will come by and play along with us over at

Paper Playtime...

Make a Snowflake Project youself and post it to the challenge I would love to stop by and see what you have created...

Until Next Time

Melissa

SANTA & ME - JOLLY HOLIDAYS

Hey All My Craft Friends

Well I finally have the tree up at my house and the lights for the house will be going up later today. Did you hear the big WHO HOO !! I just shouted.... ;0)

 I so love the holidays and the magic of the season. Preparing for Santa's arrival and celebrating Jesus' Birthday all in the same month can for us all be overwhelming, but for me the magic of Christmas and the memories I hold of my childrens faces on Christmas morning will live in my heart forever....

We are planning our trip to see Santa next week with Matthew and I have already done the layout !!! Okay not like me to be so prepared and ahead of the game, but this layout came together so easily.  As I told you in an earlier post I am in love with the new Jolly Holidays Cartridge.... SUPER STINKIN CUTE !!!

Everyone should have this one in there cartridge library...

So on to the layout:

Special thanks to my Scrappin Bestie Kendra aka Scrappin Cricut for inspiring this layout !!

Close Up of the Cute Little Elf

Close Up of Santa (De-bossed Beard)

Layout Recipe:

Jolly Holidays

Feeling Groovy (Santa & Me) cut at 2 1/2 inches

Santa cut at 6 1/2 inches

Elves cut at 4 inches

Presents cut at 2 1/2 & 1 1/2

Martha Stewart Fine Glitter

Stickles  ( Lime Green)

Black Brads ( Elves Eyes)

Pop Dots

Green Coordination Cardstock ( 12 x 12)

My Minds Eye Patterened Paper (11 1/2 x 11 1/2)

Divine Swirls Cuttlebug Folder (Santa's Beard)

Until Next Time

Hugs & Scraps

Melissa

CRICUT CARDZ CHALLENGE #53

Hey All My Crafty Friends

This week over at Cricut Cardz Challenge the design team was asked to make a set of Christmas Cards (2 or more) or a set of gift tags, using any colors or cartridge we wanted.  I was so up for this challenge and knew just what I wanted to use... My new JOLLY HOLIDAYS cartridge I purchased on Black Friday. 

If you haven't already got this cartridge you need to log on to Walmart.com and GET IT !!  It has to be one of the best Christmas cartridges that Cricut has made.  The layering is fairly simple... but the images on this cartridge are just adorable...And so worth buying...So enough with me marketing for Provo Craft and back to my project...WINK ;0)

I chose to make GIFT TAGS...I also used SWEET TREATS to make the tag bases for both of my tags

GIFT TAG # 1

Tag Recipe:

Sweet Treats Tag cut @ 4 inches

K & Company Christmas Cardstock (2010)

Jolly Holidays Ice Skater cut @ 3 1/2 inches

Coordination Cardstock ( tag top)

Pink & Purple Fibers

Brown Ink (tag edges)

GIFT TAG # 2

Tag Recipe:

Sweet Treats Tag cut @ 4 inches

K & Company Christmas Cardstock (2010)

Jolly Holidays Elf w/lights cut @ 3 inches

Brown Ink (edges)

Coordination Carstock (Tag top)

Holiday Ribbon (Hobby Lobby)

I hope you will take the time and come and visit us over at CCC this week and take part in the challenge... Also take a visit to the other design team members blogs and take a peek at what they have been up to the holiday season.

Until Next Time

Hugs & Scraps

Melissa

ADVENT CALENDAR BLOG CANDY WINNER !!

Hey All My Crafty Friends

I had a blast this weekend participating in the Advent Calendar Blog Hop.  I was so inspired by all the calendars and have so many new ideas going through my head, as to the next one I will create. Thanks again to Ruthie for asking me to participate... You ROCK Girl !!

Thanks to all who came by and left such sweet comments, I appreciate each one of them so much... They are the fuel that keeps my creativity flowing... So THANKS GUYS !!!

The winner on the Recollection Stamp Set is:

SIMPLY AJ

AJ's comment said:

Simply AJ said...

 

You are right... the little Elves are so stinkin' cute!!!! Thanks for sharing such an great inspiring idea. I always enjoy your work. AJ

Thanks AJ for being a follower of my blog and for your sweet comment. I will be sending you an email to get your mailing address so I can get your stamp set to you...

So back to crafting, I got the new Jolly Holidays & Twinkle Toes Cartridges this weekend and I am busy working with some new designs .... I will be posting them in the next day or so....

Until Next Time

Hugs & Scraps

Melissa

ADVENT CALENDAR BLOG HOP !!

Hey All my Crafty Friends

Welcome to the Advent Calendar Blog Hop

Haven't you just been so inspired by all the other calendars along the way...

They are so amazing and each one of the talented ladies has given such great ideas.

If you have arrived from Mary's blog then your in the right place.... If you get lost along the way just click on the names below and it will take you back to the blogs.... I know I will be returning just so I can be inspired all over again...

Blog Hop Order:

Angelica http://www.handmadebyangelica.com/

Dawnica http://www.dawnicakorner.blogspot.com/

Gale http://www.thehappystamper.com/

Janice http://www.typicalscrapbooker.blogspot.com/

Joanna http://www.scrap-making.blogspot.com/

Joy http://www.joyslife.com/

Mary http://www.cardztv.blogspot.com/

(ME) http://www.apaperjourney.blogspot.com/

Michelle http://www.mumoftwo.blogspot.com/

Nicole http://www.primpedinpaper.wordpress.com/

Raven http://www.love4stamps.blogspot.com/

Theresa http://www.thescrapbookingqueen.com/

Tracy http://www.craftjunkietoo.com/

Yolie http://www.yoliebean.blogspot.com/

Denise http://www.cricutmyway.blogspot.com/

Ruthie http://www.septemberninth,blogspot.com/

So on to my calendar....

When Ruthie first asked me to do this I was a little out of my comfort zone...I had seen many advent calendars, but for some reason I had never made one...So I put on the old crafting boots and got to work...

Calendar Materials:

Paper Doll Dress up ( Elf) cut @ 6 inches

Boy /Girl Hair layers (Misc through out the cartridge)

Santa cut @ 6 inches

Sweet Treats Tag cut @ 10 inches

Mini Monograms Scallop Circle cut @ 2 1/2 inches

Coordination Cardstock for all layers

Coordination Gemstone Cardstock for tags

Peachy Keen Everday Faces

Misc. Ribbon for Binding Ring
Binder Ring ( 3 inch)

I should warn you there are alot of pics to this calendar...each ELF has its own personality...and I think they are so stinkin cute !!!

And No Advent Calendar would be complete without

Jolly Old St. Nick !!!

I hope you have enjoyed my calendar....

and I hope it inspires you to make one yourself.

No Blog Hop would be complete without a little BLOG CANDY

 In order to win this blog candy leave me a comment in this post and a way to get a hold of you.

You have until Sunday November 28, 2010 at 9 pm to enter for your chance to win!!

If you are not already a follower I would love for you to become one, so click the followers box on the right side of the page.... Some times it cool to BE A FOLLOWER !!!

Thanks for stopping by and on to my friend Michelle's blog

Just click here and your on your way

MICHELLE

Until Next Time

Hugs & Scraps

Melissa