I have been having lots of fun this weekend help my daughter plan her non-candy Valentine's for school. I, of course, had tons of candy-filled ideas BUT her teacher asked us to not include candy so we will respect that and make this super cute Tic Tac Toe bags! Marianne is obsessed with Tic Tac Toe right now so these make perfect sense! 

​I used a mini muslin bag and the cute XOXO stamp from this past month's Paper Pumpkin. It stamps easy with our Basic Black Ink. Add some black and gold paint markers and some cute glass tiles and we are done!

Now a few cards that are pretty simple... The Love Blossoms paperstack makes this one! (The stamp is an old one I had around...)

This one highlights the new Bloomin' Love bundle with that intricate thinlit! SO pretty!

Of course one of my favorites-- from the Going Global suite~

And another one which highlights the different looks you can create with this set!

I want to wish you all a happy Valentine's Day and a happy week! Have fun making sweet treats for your friends, family, and coworkers!!

Happy crafting,
​Melissa

This year there are three items that are only available for FREE during Sale-a-bration for 6 weeks!!! EEEKKK! That's fast. And what's even crazier is-- it's almost over. First, I want to showcase the really cute "Sky is the Limit" stamp set! It is great for graduation, birthdays, well wishes, and romance-- it's the total package! Look at this adorable sample made by my upline, Candy Rattray!

​And do you see that subtle variegated paper-- with the blues and the grays? ALSO, a Sale-a-bration item that is disappearing on February 16th!!! The Perfectly Artistic Designer Series Paper is so much prettier than the catalog shows... In fact, I used it in my blog hop card a few weeks back-- the pretty pink one? You need this paper!

Another cute card that I got from a swap is the one below with clouds sponged in the back and a small detail you might not be able to see----  the propeller of the plane is a clear plastic circle held down with a tiny brad. She also put brads on the wheels.  

Now, the other stamp set disappearing on February 16th is the Hello stamp set-- which has this pretty HELLO font and phrases like:
--little sunshine--
--birthday girl--
--birthday boy--
--my friend--

I LOVE the way the hello stamps-- so clean and crisp every time! 

This is the card using the pink Perfectly Artistic paper... Pretty right?

So, how can you get these items? Order $50 worth of product from any of our current inventory-- including clearance rack, weekly deals, pre-paid Paper Pumpkin subscriptions and for each $50 you can select one item! 

Check out my class schedule if you want to come play with some of the new spring catalog items-- such as the Shine On paper! 
​
Happy crafting,
Melissa

Have you seen this month's Paper Pumpkin? Isn't it cute? I love that this kit gives everyone so many options-- they can be treat holders, or a cute banner, or even a card! 

Do you know what Paper Pumpkin is? It's a monthly surprise craft box that comes with stamp, ink, and everything needed to make that month's project-- usually 8 or so cards but sometimes treat holders, and in this month's case- a banner! 

I finally hit on why I love Paper Pumpkin so much-- I very rarely get surprises anymore and so it's like being a kid all over again! Plus, I love seeing what other subscribers do with the kit past the instructions...

Every month I designed an add-on project for my subscribers (and we even have a closed Facebook group to share our creations)! Below was the start of my creative process-- I like to send them something from the catalog to show them all the cool stuff we have beyond Paper Pumpkin. I thought I was going to feature the Watermelon Wonder ribbon but... I just couldn't get it to do what I wanted it to do. 

I also knew I wanted to feature tone-on-tone stamping and the Watermelon Wonder ink spot could make this happen for sure! So I highlighted that and a few of my favorite punches-- the Sweetheart punch and the Bow Builder Punch. Below was my detailed photo that showed them all the pieces of the bow and how to put it together... 

And the final product is... A sweet card to send to your loved ones! 

If you love this and want to be a part of the monthly fun-- then subscribe to Paper Pumpkin! If you purchase a 3 month prepaid subscription now during Sale-a-bration you not only get a welcome gift from me and monthly gifts from me, but in your first Paper Pumpkin box you get a clear block ($8 value) AND a free Sale-a-bration gift PLUS $5 off the subscription! Links to all the supplies and the Paper Pumpkin subscription below...

Happy crafting,
Melissa

Welcome to our first blog hop for Stampin' Friends in 2016! Hopefully, you just arrived from Deana's blog-- aren't they terrific? Make sure that you keep hopping on over to Kirsteen's blog- I can't wait to see what she has designed for this month's theme: LOTS OF LOVE! Plus, keep reading for a chance to win a bunch of new crafty goodies!

This month we have several guest blog hoppers. Make sure to check them out too!
Siara Acdal
Steph Jandrow
Mandy Reedyk

First, to show my "Lots of Love" this card showcases a more feminine side of the Going Global stamp set.

The details on this card are what make it so pretty-- three different types of Designer Series Paper and a touch of linen thread! Plus some embossing...

If you want to make this card the supply list is below... but up next is a cute treat bag! I found these in the Dollar Spot at Target-- seriously, who doesn't love that section? And they have tons of cute craft stuff now!

I thought the dots would make cute balloons and the pattern seemed groovy enough for our love bug! 

Look at the details in the tag-- I love using Crystal Effects to make things 3D-- almost like an epoxy heart sticker!!

Wait! There's more! Do you love craft supplies? If so, comment on these blog posts and you will be entered into a drawing for each comment you leave! The winner will  receive a sweet present in the mail from every BLOGGER! The deadline to comment is midnight Sunday!

Don't forget to click the next button and make your way all around the blog hop! Thanks for stopping by!

Happy crafting,
​Melissa

If you happen to get lost in this blog hop, here is a link to all the bloggers:

1. Elizabeth Jeanne 
2. Steph Jandrow 
3. Leanne Johnson 
4. Mandy Reedyk 
5. Carolina Evans 
6. Deana Benson
7. Melissa Thomas (You are here!)
8. Kirsteen Gill 
9. Kathie Rotti 
10. Lynn Streifert 
11. Siara Acdal 
12. Andrea Tracy-Tucker 
13. Sarah Devendorf 
14. Andrea Pancrazio
    
15. Kim Smith 

The supply list for my card:

The supply list for the bag:

I'm excited for my "Valentine Ready!" Class today! I made some cute berry baskets with our new Berry Basket die (#137366) to hold all the projects when they are done!

First up We have a cute card in a gift envelope using the wrapping paper from Christmas that's still on the Clearance Rack and the Mini Treat Bag Die! The hearts punched out are done with the die too! I'm planning on using this to mount a gift card on and send to someone special!

This card is my favorite because it is fast and gorgeous! You emboss the Calypso Coral cardstock with our new Happy Hearts embossing folder (#137364) and then take a small piece of our new Chalkboard paper (#137786) and stamp with the new Rose Coral Chalk ink pad (#138091)! The stamp set is Big on You (#137151) and these images make fast and beautiful cards!

This card is a pretty one that uses the new bundle You Plus Me stamp set and Stacked with Love DSP stack (#138880) which is only $21.95 for both! Plus some vellum paper which you all know I love!

And finally the adorable Hey, Valentine stamp set (#138570) that is great for young and old alike! Stay tuned for a cute invention from Marianne from this stamp set but for now-- this cute topper that could be for single candies like sixlets or jellybeans or pixie sticks or a pencil!!! This was colored in using Belndability markers-- Melon Mambo and Bermuda Bay!

There is plenty of time to order supplies and make stuff for Valentine's Day-- we average right at a week from order to delivery!!!

http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/default.aspx

Happy crafting,

Melissa

This group is giving away 15 prizes of $675 worth of card making supplies from various vendors, including Stampin' Up! Fair warning though-- not everything used in these cards are Stampin' Up! product but that's ok for this contest...

They have five categories to enter in-- my first one is in the "hello" category:

This thank you card uses the Dahlia from Regarding Dahlia stamp set!

Gumball Green embossed "love" card made with Envelope Punch Board!

Happy Birthday card made with Bloom with Hope stamp set!

And finally, Christmas card made with Seasonally Scattered and Lost Lagoon-- my favorite color!!

Hope these inspire you!!

Happy crafting,

Melissa

P.S. For details on the contest check here: http://www.worldcardmakingday.com/index.html