Happy Birthday Corrine!

SURPRISE!!! Here's another Corrine Special to celebrate her wonderful Birthday, that she refuses to share even with her own TWIN sister! LOL  The one thing she didn't count on was sharing it with my little Miss Isabelle, hahaha.  Hope you have a WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY and enjoy this Blog Hop set up just for you by the FABULOUS Queen of Halloween Betty Roberts!  Big Hugs & lots of treats.  Now we are off to celebrate with my daughter because it's her day too :p !

On my way to the CABIN!

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to get a quick post up before meeting my Stampin' Sisters, The Moos, at Cabin on the Creek.  There will be lots of great cards and ideas to share once I get back from a weekend of stamping.  My daughter and I have been very busy taking classes at Let's Create in Wisconsin Rapids.  If you haven't been there it is SOOOO worth the trip.  Classes fill up fast too so if you see a card or technique you like don't wait until it's too late.  I would also like to remind everyone that I am fortunate enough to be one of the designers for this store.  Frankie, Sara and Lori are some wonderfully talented women so just being asked to join them made me giddy.  Below is a card that I designed for a swap with the Moos.  This card was such a hit that I have made more and they are available to buy at Let's Create.

The stamps are from Our Daily Bread Designs but as you can see each Soldier is just a little different.  I hand colored them with prismacolor pencils then sealed each one with Aleen's paper glaze.
Hope you like this I will update this post with links and labels next week but wanted to put up a little treat before leaving for the cabin!
Inky Hugs!
 Mel

WOW ~ Where did the time go?

It's been way too long so I will give an update and a teaser.  We had a nice turn out at the Labor Day event for Muddy 13.  School started just before that so things were very busy.  I was able to chaperon a field trip for the first time in 3 years, so the new Fibromyalgia medicine is amazing.  Still needed time to recover & recharge but got to enjoy a healthy day with my baby!!
Now for the teaser, I am applying for the Sweet Pea Stamps Design Team!  All 3 of the cards submitted for consideration will be posted here after the designated time has pasted.  I can't wait to show everyone.
Plus, The Moos will be stamping in Freemont this weekend so there will be lots of great cards to show you from our wonderful get together as well.  So, for now I leave you with the promise of many GREAT creative joys soon to come.
Thanks for stopping by,
Melissa

Sparkle N Sprinkle July Sketch Challenge

This is my entry for Sparkle N Sprinkle's July Sketch Challenge.  It is also one of the projects I submitted on my design team application.  The stamps used on this card can be found HERE not to mention tons of great glitter, sparkling fluff and countless other products to add deminsion to all your craft projects.  Everyone that knows me knows my love of all things shiny!  A passion for glitter that has been passed down to my daughter as well.  Can you imagine if I get on this design team?  The ceiling won't be the only thing covered in glitter around here.  Hope you liked this card, until next time.
{Big Inky Hugs}
Mel

Scrapbook Betty!

I love this stamp!  You can find her and many more great Bettys HERE.  Most of these are colored the same with the exception of her hair.  That one little change made a big difference while customising each notebook to the person receiving it.  We (The Curds)pack up the cars, get together and stamp every other month.  Usually a card, anything but a Card, 6X6 recipe card (done like a scrapbook page) and a completely rockin' Secret Sister gift!! These ladies have some serious skills not to mention the fact that they are great friends.  You can stamp with us if you live in Wisconsin.  The next get together is a Shoebox Swap in Hartford.  We would love to see you there.  Meanwhile I am continuing to submit applications for design teams.  As always thanks for stopping by ~
Happy Stamping!
Mel

SBS Bettys 3 Hop Contest

This card was made using Simply Betty Stamp's Who's Out There Ali from the Jude and the Rockers Outdoors Collection.  The card I "Cased" for this exciting 24 hour challenge was For My Precious by Laura B at Crafty Little Woman.  After going through the Hop featuring the new Bettys 3 Collection this Blog stood out in my mind most.  What a great inspiration it turned out to be. Ali is colored with Copic Markers and the sentiment was printed off the computer then added to her once it was punched out with an oval punch.  I used the Branches background stamp from Cover A Card, embossed with fine line black on a dark blue for the next layer.  This was then mounted on a slightly lighter blue with a Black base the help make the details pop.  The easiest part of the whole card was the sparkling Moon in the corner, it is simply Glitter Mat Stack paper punched out and trimmed.  Be sure to check back for more challenges, contests and creations. 
Thanks for stopping by!
Mel

One Sweet Challenge ~ June

This adorable little fairy is my entry for Sweet Pea Stamps current challenge.  For the month of June stampers were challenged to use yellow, blue and green to create a warm Summer card.  There is green grass at the bottom of the flower so this should work just fine.  I colored this stamp (Little Daisy) with Copic Markers then used Sakura Stardust pens to add shimmer on the wings.  The Shimmer on the flower petals ~ also Sakura pens.  The center of the embellishment is a glue dot covered in glitter.  Just dip your glue dot in the glitter while it is still on the sheet then gently remove the dot and attach a wonderful, shiny circle anywhere you want. I also used glitter on the center of the flower on her hat and the little circles on her shoes.  There is a bronze tinsel glitter by recollections,  that is just perfect to use with this stamp.  Any color will add a beautiful shimmer I just really liked that one because it made me think of daisies.  Hope you like her and be sure to check out Sweet Pea Stamps if you enjoy entering challenges.  Bonus this card qualifies for another challenge too!  Cute Card Thursday has the challenge ~ make a Summer Card.

Inky Hugs as always!
Mel

It's Finally here! Challenge #3

Miss Isabelle and I have been quite the jet setters this Summer.  We just got back from Chicago, IL on Wednesday, now we are in Jefferson, WI stamping with the Curds!  My office will be put back together by the time we return on Sunday.  This is Bikini Betty from Simply Betty Stamps colored in Prismacolor Pencils.  The number 1 is darker than I expected but I think you will all be able to get the just of it.  Good Luck everyone! Please email your guess as to what girl was colored by who to melissavarga13@gmail.com .  Thanks for playing along!!!
{BIG Inky Hugs}
Mel

Update on recent Challenges

As many of you may have noticed Challenge #3 has not been posted yet due to technical difficulties.  Our office is completely torn apart because we got a new floor.  Good news is that this is a once every 20 year event so we won't be delayed again for a while.  Sorry for the inconvenience.  The new pics will be up just as soon as I have my office back.
Big Hugs!
Mel

Challenge #2

Here is the second challenge.  This stamp by Sweet Pea Stamps was colored with Prismacolor pencils.  Now it is up to you to guess who colored #1 and who colored #2.  Once again my daughter Isabelle is only 10 years old and the classes we are taking are offered at Let's Create in Wisconsin Rapids.  So now you get to guess which one I colored and which one she did.  Please send and email with the subject "Blog Challenge" to me, Melissa at melissavarga13@gmail.com or post your answer in the comments section of this post.  Good Luck! 

Challenge #1

Here is the first Challenge of three.  Your job is to decide who colored which image Isabelle, my 10 year old daughter, or me.   Please send you answers to me at HERE with "Blog Challenge" in the subject line or post it in the comments section below.  One winner will be selected from all of you that are correct, any of you that get all 3 right will be entered into a Bonus Prize group where 1 additional winner will be chosen.  This card was made at Let's Create as part of Sara's Prismacolor Technique class for skin tones and hair color.  The stamp  used is "Baking Betty" from the line Simply Betty Stamps.  We have been having a blast with several stamps from the Teen Scene lines offered by this company.  Everything used on this card can be purchased at Let's Create in Wisconsin Rapids so be sure to stop in and check out all of the great supplies. 

Here is another look at those cards from a different angle.

Good Luck & Happy Stamping!

Mel

Let's Create in Wisconsin Rapids

HI Everyone!
Isabelle and I have been taking classes at this GREAT little store in Wisconsin Rapids called Let's Create.  The classes are wonderful!!! You can take Copic or Prismacolor Technique classes for $5 each both classes offer patient instructors, all your supplies (except adhesive) and tons of fun.  There will be 3 upcoming challenges on this blog with BLOG CANDY  and prizes.  The rules are easy just guess who colored which image ~ Me or Isabelle, my 10 year old daughter ~ one random winner will be chosen from everyone that guessed correctly for each challenge.  This is not as easy as you may think even my husband got one wrong.  Those of you that get all 3 rounds right will have a chance to win a bonus prize.  All of the stamps used are available for purchase at Let's Create.  We have already finished two of the classes used in this challenge with the third one scheduled for June 9.  Get ready for a Summer colored for fun.

My Favorite Things

     This year at the One of a Kind trade show in Madison we found a great little item that is the perfect gift.   DEBIT REGISTERS!  You can buy them HERE at www.vikwing.com .  Vickie is really nice and she will take the time to answer any of your questions should you need to call about your order.

    First stamp the actual vinyl on the outside with Black Staz On.  The stamp used is Paper Inspirations ~ Soldier Calligraphy, set it aside to dry.  TIP you need to put something into the holder before you stamp it so that the other pocket does not leave a line through your image.  Next time I will just ink the word Soldier and leave the other words off because they are distracting from the picture. 

    The last step is to make an insert to put in your Debit Register.  This will be the cover that is displayed for people to see.  I stamped the image from Stampin Up ~ Courage in Memento ~ London Fog.  Then cut with Spellbinders Deckled Rectangle and mount on Black Cardstock.  There is a small piece of silver cardstock to give the look of a pedestal and even out the image so it is evenly spaced.

Happy New Year!

Here's to a new year full of new beginnings!  We are back from Florida (I LOVE THE BEACH!) and I am sorting shells.  It's almost as fun as gathering them.   This has been the BEST Winter yet in Wisconsin.   I should have some new cards to post soon.  All of the challenges have started up again now that most of the design teams have been chosen.  The creative juices are soooo starting to flow.
More Later! Stay warm :o)
Mel