Yikes! it's been ages since I've posted!  I guess life just gets busy and we don't always get to do the things we'd like to do.  I have been stamping, just not photographing everything!  This is one of the Christmas cards we made last Saturday at my annual Christmas Stamp-A-Stack.  After I took the pic I noticed my Rhinestone Jewel was off a bit...oh well.
I'm hoping to take lots of pictures this weekend at the Providence Regional Seminar.  My sister (my up-line) and I will be going together.  Stampin' Up! always puts on a great seminar.  I'm ready to get inspired, get creative and get STAMPING!!
Have a blessed day!
Melissa

what did i use on this card?
paper:  very vanilla cs, glitter paper
ink:  perfect plum
stamps:  papaya collage, word play
extras:  polka dots embossing folder, perfect plum taffeta ribbon, snow flurry bigz die, big shot

Father's Day..."Open Sea"

Father's Day or any "Mans Day"

I've been wanting to use this set for awhile, but I haven't had the chance.  Father's Day is the perfect day for the "Open Sea".  This set would be good for a Mans Birthday or even a sympathy card.  I can't wait to try it out on a scrapbook page!  I think that would look awesome!

 The first photo is of the card closed.  I used 2 brads and some hemp twine to keep it together.




The second picture is the card open.  I used the "You mean the world to me" from "Word Play".

This last shot is the card completely opened.

 If you'd like to make this card at home, just leave me your e-mail in the comments section and I'll give you the dimensions and tell you how I made it.

Thanks for stopping by,
Have a blessed day,
Melissa


(for those who attend my Monday Make-N-Takes, this is one of the cards we're making this Monday)

It's that time of the year again!!  It's one of those things that you love/hate at the same time.  Retiring List means there will be LOTS of NEW stuff soon and also some old favorites have to leave.  Check out the lists and order as soon as you can......some items are while supplies last.  Happy shopping!
Melissa

Retiring Stamp Sets
Retiring Accessories
Retiring Décor Elements

Be a BIG SHOT!

If I wasn't already a Demonstrator this deal would push me over the edge to join!!  Now is the time to join this great company, get this amazing Big Shot for FREE and all the incredible discounts that come with you being a part of the Stampin' Up! family.  Click on my link to help you sign-up TODAY!

Happy Stampin'
Melissa
www.missy.stampinup.net

Blessings of Summer

Happy Labor Day!  It's been a long summer and it sure did end with a bang here in Ct!  Hurricane Irene knocked out our electricity for 2 1/2 days.  After getting it back we realized our internet, phone and cable wasn't working.  It then took until this past Saturday for At & T to get it fixed!  The kids and I have decided that we can live without electricity but not without TV!
Hope you all had a wonderful, blessed summer!  Here is a photo taken of my family at Timothy Hill Christian Camp in MA. this summer after my daughter Elena was baptized into Christ by her dad!  God is good!
Melissa

graduation owl (ppa98 sketch challenge)

I gave this card to my friends son who will be graduating high school this week!  It's funny how OLD you feel when a friends child reaches a milestone!  My kids have a ways to go as far as graduations and things like that, but it seems our close friends all have children who are either married, in college or just leaving high school.  My girls will be entering 8th and 5th grade this fall.  Maybe there's a method to our madness......we're the youngest of all our friends! (and there kids used to babysit for us)!!

have a great day, and thank you for stopping by,
blessings,
Melissa

what i used on this card:
stamps:  word play
paper:  naturals ivory, very vanilla, marina mist, night of navy, soft suede, newsprint dsp
ink:  not quite navy
extras:  owl punch, antique brad

Last Chance Lists are HERE!!

WOW!!  So glad some of my favorite stamp sets DIDN'T make the list this year!!  But unfortunately, some of my holiday favorites did..boo-hoo : (
Check out the lists and get the ones you want before they're gone....click here to order on-line at my store
Some of the accessories are up to 40% off!!
pdf stamp set list
pdf accessories list
pdf definitley decorative list

A challenge & A challenge!

This week I combined two challenges!  One is usually hard enough, but two!!  The PPA94 challenge was a sketch and the Splitcoast CC324 was using the color combo of Perfect Plum, Baja Breeze and Soft Suede.  

Thanks for stopping by

Have a blessed day,

Melissa

what i used:

paper:  naturals ivory, soft suede textured, perfect plum textured, baja breeze textured, greenhouse gala dsp

ink:  perfect plum, soft suede

extras:  1 1/4" circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, scallop circle punch and scallop trim border punch

Hydrangea Mother's Day Card

This week I decided to use the sketch challenge at Splitcoast to get me inspired.  I totally CASEd the card from someone,  here is the link to her site,  http://paperscaper.blogspot.com/ Stop by her site and you'll see how shamelessly I cased her!!  

I hope you like my card (and her's as well)!!

what i used:

stamps:  because i care (level 1 hostess set)

paper:  perfect plum textured, certainly celery, very vanilla, pink pirouette

ink:  none

extras:  versa mark, stampin' pastels, embossing plate, big shot, pearl accents

Join Stampin' Up! today

This is a GREAT time to join Stampin' Up!  You will get the Digital + Starter Kit (valued at more than $310!) for ONLY $122.50!  That's 30% off and you can also purchase the Stampin' Memories Add-On for 30% off! (the standard kit or other add-ons are not eligible).  Contact me today to join!  www.missy.stampinup.net 

Spring is Blossoming (still)!!

Only a couple of weeks left to take advantage of this "Sneak Peek"!!

Spring is Blossoming!!

Come over to my Stampin' Up! web-site to learn more about the "Spring is Blossoming" special!

www.missy.stampinup.net

New Friends!

This is my new little furry friend.  Her name is Charcoal, Coal for short.  She was found yesterday in my neighborhood.  The kids down the street found her in their back yard.  It looked like she was attacked in the eyes, but after a trip to the vet she has conjunctivitis, upper respiratory and dehydration!  She might be around 8 weeks old, but we're not too sure.  At first I didn't want to have another cat in the house, but something called compassion took over and I found that I could not say no to this little one.  Last night was like having a newborn in the house!  I had to feed her every 4 hours during the night!  Well I look like I haven't slept and feel like it too!  So that was how I spent my Sunday afternoon...

Here are a couple pictures of me and my sister Cindy at the Hartford Regional on Saturday.  We sat with a nice woman from Springfield, Ma.  The seminar was a lot of fun and the Make-N-Takes were challenging but beautiful.  I'll post pictures of them soon. 

 Gotta go now and take care of my little friend!!  

Have a blessed day,

Melissa

I'd like to thank.......

I'd like to thank Chanda Stehlik for this award!  It's my FIRST ever blog award!  Check out Chanda "style" over at her blog :  http://www.onecraftymommy.com

When you receive this award you are to pay it forward and follow these rules:

1) thank the person who gave this award to me and link it back to their blog (see above link)

2) share 8 things about yourself 

3) pass this award to 8 other individuals that I have recently discovered

4) leave a comment so that they can pass along the recognition!

OK, so here goes; 8 things about me:

1.  I'm the 7th of 8 children

2.  I had my front teeth knocked out when I was 13 while roller skating! (who knew it was a contact sport?)

3.  I have a goal of earning enough money selling Stampin' Up! so I can quit my day job!!

4.  I have the best husband who is also my best friend!

5.  My daughters inspire me every day with their compassion and generosity toward others!

6.  I have kept every card my husband has ever given me...we've been married over 18 years and dated for 2!!

7.  I'm the wife of a preacher.

8.  I love my life!  I'm blessed beyond what I deserve, but am thankful that my Lord sees fit to constantly shower His abundant grace and mercy in my life.

So now I have to pass this forward, I think I'll go the route of Chanda and give it out to those who follow me from Stampin' Connection.

Bog Front

Eileen's Stamping Corner

Turtle Creations

Amy Taylor

Little Ink on the Prairie

Taylor Made

A Work of Heart

Scrap Happy

Thanks again to Chanda!  I had fun doing this and hope those I've awarded will have fun also!

Have a blessed day!

Melissa

Owl Congratulations!

Here's a card using the Splitcoast sketch SC320 this week.  I'm sending this to my recruit who was just promoted!!  Thanks for stopping by,
Have a blessed day!
Melissa

It's Time to SALE-A-BRATE!

I love Sale-A-Bration time!  For every $50 (pre-tax/shipping) you get to choose one item from the Sale-A-Bration catalog!!  This year Stampin' Up! has put together some really terrific stamps, ribbon, buttons and even Digital Downloads!  Click on the catalog on the side bar and it will bring you to my Stampin' Up! web-site and you can look over the catalog.  You can make your purchase at my on-line store and have  your order delivered right to your door!

Won't you SALE-A-BRATE with me?!!?

Thanks for stopping by,

Melissa

Filled With Love!

Believe it or not...  Valentine's Day is just around the corner!  This special bundle will get you started and with the FREE Bitty Buttons your cards will have that extra touch!  Just click on the link on the right side of the blog and you'll be at my on-line store!

Thanks for stopping by,

have a blessed day!

Melissa

Vanilla Ornaments

I played along today with the PPA72 Fashion Inspiration Challenge!!  I find it a little hard to stay within the "rules" of using lots of white!  I think the card came out nice though.
Thanks for stopping by today!
Melissa



What I used:
stamps:  Bells and Boughs
ink:  Crumb Cake
paper:  Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Deck the Halls DSP
extras:  Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, Ornament Punch, Very Vintage Embossing Folder. Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder. Scallop Trim Border Punch

A Cute Christmas! (splitcoast sketch challenge 310)

I was inspired by the sketch challenge over at Splitcoast today. I'm just getting started with making my Christmas cards!  I'm feeling a "little" overwhelmed.....so this sketch really came in handy!  Everything is Stampin' Up! except the "snowflake punch".  

Thanks for stopping by,

Have a blessed day,

Melissa

Mummys!!

This is the box of treats that my daughter Elena brought to school on Friday.  There are a total of 17 "Mummys"!  They were a lot of fun to make but I'm glad Halloween is over. Each "Mummy" had a twizzler package and a starburst package stapled to the inside.  She said all the kids LOVED the mummys and thought they were the best Halloween treats in the class!  So now I guess I'll have to come up with something even better for Christmas?!
Blessings,
Melissa