Baseball Tag

Happy Friday My Crafty Friends!

Just wanted to share these baseball tags with you! 

Made these for a friend's kid's baseball team.  So fun & easy to make.  I didn't think I'd ever "draw." lol.  Good thing baseball stitches aren't perfect.

Anyway, I hope to see you tomorrow at the MBHS Seaside Farmer's Market.  I'll be there from 10am - 2pm.

Happy scrappin'!

MBHS's Seaside Farmer's Market

You're a Star!

Hi there my crafty & creative friends!

I'm jumping the wagon and joining Mission Bay High School Seaside Farmer's Market every other Saturday in June to share Close to My Heart products, handmade cards, and gifts all made by me.

Please come visit me and the other awesome vendors. I hear there are a lot of good smelling soaps, shaved ice, fresh produce, yummy cookies, handmade jewelry, lots of food, and so much more.


Location: Mission Bay High School 
Address: 2475 Grand Avenue San Diego CA 92109
When: Saturday July 6, 13, & 27
Time: 10am-2pm

*Free
*Family Friendly
*Ample Parking

Hope to see you Saturday June 29 between 10am-2pm.

Happy scrappin'!
Melika

Dream Pop Projects

Happy Hump Day My Crafty Friends!

Have you seen the Geico "Hump Day" commercial?  It's freakin' hilarious!  (must be said like Hula in Adam Sandler's movie, "50 First Dates).





 My motto is: "No matter what you do (for a living), HUMP day is HUMP day." I currently yoga, blog, craft, and babysit my sister's kids, and OMG, they know when it's HUMP day. =)  I love them so much though.  HOWEVER, today's hump day began with dropping off all of my ohana to the airport for travel to HI, first Maui for a wedding and then Oahu for pleasure.  The hubs and I decided not to go for many reasons: He has a solo art show next week, financials, and we have another Maui wedding in November, in which it's one of my best friends so we had my ohana represent us the first time around. :)

Okay enough of  me blabbing, just wanted to remind everyone that it's getting down to the last days of the CTMH May 2013 National Scrapbooking: Dream Pop Paper Packet Special...Anyone still wanna order? Spend only $35 and you can get this diverse packet for only $10. =) I love it!  Usually when I buy the constant campaigns and SOMs until AFTER the fact.  So I am impressed with myself that I actually used them during the month of.

Here's what I created so far (I really took advantage of it!):

You Make My World Go 'Round

Aileen's Guest Bridal Party Card

Birthday Card

Aileen's Wedding Scrapbook Page

Harriet Tubman

Dream Catcher

Friendship Card

Owl Scrapbook Page

Aileen's Bridal Entourage Card

6 x 6 Handmade Scrapbook

Happy scrappin'!

Dream Pop Scrapbook

Hi there my crafty & creative friends!

Here's a handmade 6x6 Scrapbook that I made using the Dream Pop paper Packet.  The idea was shared by my upline, K Pekin.

It's so fun and easy to make.  I often make these scrapbooks as gifts and so can you! Would love to share with you how to make this beautiful, fun, and easy handmade scrapbook.  Please contact me so we can plan a play date!

Happy scrappin'!

Happy Papa's Day Card

Hi there my Crafty & Creative Friends!

Hope you had a wonderful weekend!  I FINALLY took a day off from the daily obligations of life and took Saturday to rest.  I almost slept all day, but I managed to watch a Korean Horror movie on Netflix and make two Father's Day Cards. YEE!

The first card I created I wanted to use the mustache image from the Acrylix Stamp Set: Perfect Fit-Dad because mustaches are really in. =)  I attached the the mustache to a 2 x 3 1/2 inch Acrylix Block and used black pigment ink to stamp the mustache, used Clear Embossing Powder and a Craft Heater to give it a matte look.  The image was cut using the Cricut Artiste Collection cartridge.

I also wanted to make like a young elementary school kid made the card using letters cut from a magazine.  To make this happen I used Acrylix Stamp Set:Trinity Alphabet and the 1 x 1 inch Acrlyix Block to individually stamp each letter using Saddle Ink, Slate Ink, Dessert Sand Ink, and Olive Ink.  I then individually cut each letter and distressed each letter with the coordinating color.

Then I adhered everything to Indian Corn Blue Cardstock.

As, Pumba would say from Disney's movie The Lion King, "Simple, yet satisfying." 

The second card I made, I wanted to use the "Tie" Image from the Acrylix Stamp Set: Perfect Fit-Dad.  I didn't want to just paste the tie onto the base of the card, I wanted it to be on a shirt.  Then I remembered that the Cricut Artiste Collection had an image.  Originally I was going to keep the card "As Is" (shaped like a shirt), but the card was too small for a standard A2 envelope and I didn't want to make my own envelopes this time around so I dry embossed Goldrush Cardstock using a houndstooth embossing folder and a Big Shot Machine for the base of the card.

The shirt was too white for me so I lightly distressed all the edges of the shirt with a dauber and Buttercup Ink.  After cutting shirt with the Cricut Artiste Collection cartridge, I cut the "tie" image. Then I attached the "tie" stamp image to a 1 x 3 1/2 inch Acrylix Block  and inked it with Outdoor Denim Ink. To give the shirt a "Seal of Approval," I attached the "World's Greatest" image to a 2 x 2 inch Acrylix Block and stamped  in Goldrush Ink  and cut it out by hand. I know my sister said I was ridiculous, but once I got going it was easy peasy.  I'm sure I'll regret it in the future. I then wet embossed the "Dad" image in black (same as in the first card) using a 1 x 1 inch Acrlyix Block.

And, I was once again satisfied.  YEE! Two card designs done!

Are you getting ready for Father's Day too?  I would love to hear what you are creating.  Or if you need some help, please let me know and I would be happy to assist you.

Happy scrappin'!

Aileen's Card

Hello Crafty Friends!

I am sorry for not posting yesterday, but our internet was pooped and I don't know how to fix it. AND the person that fixes it for us was working an all nighter.  (He is an assistant to a wedding photographer and videographer).  You can check out his awesome work on his website.

Well, this late post is going to be about the Mojo Monday Sketch.

If you follow me on Facebook you would had noticed that I originally wanted to make a baby card with this sketch, but my friend Aileen honored me by asking me to make thank you cards for her bridal entourage using mint, coral, light pink, and gray.

This is what I created using the May 2013 National Scrapbooking Paper Packet: Dream Pop Special.

Card Word Puzzle and In the Background stamp sets.

I have been wanting to play with water coloring (ink & water brush) so I tried it out with the flowers in hopes to get the colors she asked for.  I used Juniper, Blush, Sorbet and Olive Ink I was really surprised that the Sorbet Ink worked out as an okay coral color because to me it's really orangy, but I am not a color expert and I was just really happy it worked out. 

I had a lot of fun playing with the water brush, it was definitely a learning experience I had to learn how much water was needed to create the color I wanted. It does take time, but once I had my flow I was done in no time.

Hope you join the Monday Mojo fun!

Aileen had previously asked me to make her guest bridal party thank you cards, in which I was honored at that time, too, so I was surprised when she asked me to make a new set.

For the first design I made for her she requested for mint blue, gray, and lace.  I knew I wanted to use the Love Doily Acrylix stamp, Colonial White Rosette Ribbon, and that I had gray ink and paper.  But, I was a little worried about the mint blue.  It’s the new color of the year, technically emerald green, but for spring and weddings, mint blue is the "It Color".  I browsed through my ink.  I grabbed Lagoon at first, but I knew it was too bright and too deep (it was my wedding color).  I kept browsing and found Juniper.  I was super stoked, EXCEPT I didn’t have any Juniper Cardstock.  (Sigh), then my light bulb went on->Look through the Paper Packects because, they not only have the printed cardstock, but also have coordinating cardstock.  Sadly, I found nothing and none of the printed cardstock was too my liking.  I knew I had to think outside the box.  I almost forgot about the National Scrapbooking Special Paper Packet.  I looked at the zip strip description and on it read: “mint.”  BIG SMILE!  Then, I thought to myself, “awe, we don’t carry that ink color.  I wonder if this will be a new color in the new catalog.”  (I don’t know if it is, but Juniper is a good match).

It took me about 45 minutes, maybe an hour to put this card together.  I knew I wanted to place the Love Doily Acrylix stamp in the middle because I just placed it there and BAM I loved the placement.  I was thinking I would have used it as a background or off to the side, but I liked it just as you see it.  I chose to use the National Scrapbooking Special Paper Packet’s mint as the base of the card because I wanted to show the texture and it was the only paper I had close enough to mint blue.

I knew it would be difficult and tedious to cut out the doily, but this card needed depth.  I stamped the doily twice, first with gray ink, cut that out and then with juniper to cut out the center of the doily.  I popped up the flower to show more depth.  Because I used the Colonial White Rosette Ribbon under the base of the doily, I had also popped up it up with dimensional tape.  The “Thank You” stamp I used is discontinued (D1361). I stamped it with black and cut it out.  And distressed it with gray ink and juniper using daubers.  I also distressed the doily with the same colors. 

Placing the doily on the top of the mint B&T was BLAH aka plain, so I put white cardstock behind it.  Still BORING!  Ugh.  Then I remembered I had an embossing folder named, Lacy Brocade.  I dug it up and embossed the white paper.  YULK!  Still not satisfied, so I started to lightly distress it with juniper; not enough,  added the gray; not enough, added more juniper.  It just looked so plain.  So I decided to distress the sides with gray ink and that did the trick.

I put the card together and then added the pearl opaques.

Finally I was satisfied and so was Aileen.

I also made her this scrapbook page using paper from the May 2013 National Scrapbooking Paper Packet: Dream Pop Special  and putting it in a shadow box.

Thanks for reading and Happy scrappin’!

4 My Friend Dotty For You Modified

Hello My Creative and Crafty Friends!

Here's my second instructagram!  Enjoy!





PS:  Here's the original 4 My Friend Dotty For You Card Set

Embossing

Happy Monday my Crafty & Creative Friends!

Did you have a great weekend!? I sure hope so.  It was another busy one for me from hanging out with friends, making cards, Relay for Life, a 4-miler, and shopping with great people!  I really cannot complain, but sometimes I wish I wouldn't over book myself and take time to relax.  Sure, I practice yoga four times a week, but that's just not enough.  Anyway, enough about my jumbo bumbo.  Let's talk crafty.

So I recently started using CTMH pigment ink because I wanted to start embossing stamped images.  Although, embossing has been around for quite some time, in my stamping career I never liked it.  To me it's messy and a lot of work.  But, it definitely makes a difference on a simple card and I now like wet embossing.

I wish I remembered where I put my mom's wedding save-the-date cards because we embossed all of them!  Boy, that was a fun, messy, late night bonding experience!  That was about 8 years ago and that is when I said to myself, NO to EMBOSSING. lol.  It would have been a great example to share why it's a love/hate thing with embossing (wet).

In any case, I embossed my last Mojo Monday card entry and I used the embossing technique on the card I gave my friend for the loss of his mom to cervical cancer.

Rest in Peace Mrs. FM

On the morning of her services I learned that her favorite color was purple so decided to stamp lavender flowers and emboss them with clear embossing powder. Clear embossing flower can be used with any pigment colored ink.  Remember, I originally did not like wet embossing so I don't have all the color embossing powders.  I told myself I would only buy clear because it's universal.  If you want your embossed image to have more depth, it's best to use the same color.  I then added a turquoise ribbon because it is the color for cervical cancer.

The lavender flower image I used is from a retired CTMH stamp set, Treasure Life.  It’s an oldie, but goodie.  As a CTMH Consultant for only two years, but a customer for at least ten, it’s always tempting to get rid of retired stamps, but it’s also difficult to because it’s never known when it’s going to be needed.  (My husband would call me a hoarder after making this statement).  So I apologize for yet again sharing a retired stamp image.  On a happier note, the sentiment stamp set is current, it’s CardChatter-Sympathy and stamped with Lagoon Ink.

I also want to share a CTMH You Tube Video on the new Stamp Scrubber.  

I haven't bought this yet, but I do kinda want it.  I know it's a lot smaller than the last scrubber, but I  believe in the bristles.  

Oh, this is the luminaria I drew in honor of my friend's mom at my team's ACS Relay for Life this weekend. (and this is why I stamp because I cannot draw).

Don't forget to join in the Mojo Monday fun!  I'll be hopefully working on it this week.

Happy scrappin'!

 

You Make My World Go 'Round

Happy Wednesday my Creative & Crafty Friends!

Today I will be sharing with you Mojo Monday's Sketch!   Have you joined the fun yet? It's FUN & FREE and for ME it gets me thinking outside my BOX!  Give it a try!  I'd love to see what you create.

Mojo Monday Sketch

I made this card with my friend in mind because she has recently showed interest in pinwheels so I thought I'd use the May Stamp Of the Month and Dream Pop Paper Packet (Yes, I am STILL using the packet! I just LOVE it! It's so versatile!)  Her birthday is coming up this Thursday,  actually tomorrow. =)  Time is sure flying this week!  Although, I didn't use a "birthday" sentiment, I thought using the "You make my World go 'round"is perfect for her because she makes a difference not only in my world, but in many others-she is very kind-hearted and always there for everyone.

You probably can't tell in this photo, but I inked the pinwheels with hollyhock and sunset pigment ink and used the embossing prisma glitter to give the pinwheels have a little...sparkle.

Well, I hope you'll join the Mojo Monday fun with me!

Happy scrappin'!

Rest in Peace Mrs. FM

Events happen in mysterious ways. I was at my American Cancer Society Relay for Life Team Fundraiser and I was deciding on if I was going to purchase another luminaria. Within the past year, I hear of someone being diagnosed with cancer and they don't have much time to live. To date I know of at least 5 people who were diagnosed with cancer: Ovarian, Colon, Bone, laryngeal, Cervical. Of this list, there are only two living, one was just lost today. She was a loving wife, mother of three, and grandmother of three. She will be greatly missed and always loved. Rest in peace Mrs. FM.

source

If you would like to help raise funds for my ACS RFL Team Buck Cancer, you may donate under my sister: Maile Villanueva.  


In honor of Mrs. FM I will be decorating and lighting up a luminaria on May 18.

Luminarias I decorated in honor of my late Grandmother Millie,  a 17 year Breast Cancer Survivor, and my mother-in-law, a 13 year Breast Cancer Survivor.

I'm sorry to greet you all with this type of post, but I felt necessary to share here as an outlet for me.  Life and death happens in mysterious ways and I cannot imagine what Mrs. FM's family is going through.  My prayers and condolences to them.

May you all have a blessed weekend and remember to hug and kiss your mother, mom, mommy, mama...everyone dear to you.

Big Hugs,
Melika 

Hi from Arlynn

Just wanted to share this card with you all!  My friend, Arlynn, was so kind to visit me and my friend's booth at The Salvation Army Craft Fair a couple of weeks ago, she took a picture of my friend and I AND she was too sweet to send us this personal card.  I love it!

Now this is an awesome way to begin the weekend! Have a blessed one everyone and Happy Mother's Day!

Happy scrappin'!

Dream Pop Owl Page

Happy Friday My Creative & Crafty Friends!

Today I am going to share with you an Owl Scrapbook Page. Since it is National Scrapbooking Month, I figured I should celebrate by sharing at least ONE scrapbook page using a page from the Dream Pop Special. =)

I have veered away from scrapbooking about nine years ago 1.) because I decided to go back to school so I had to push scrapbooking aside; 2.) my friends coerced me into a card maker (my friends are gonna LOVE that I put them on the spot! lol.)  Actually, I also learned that card making and for the most part, small scrapbooks are instantly satisfying because they are done in a shorter amount of time.

Most of my older scrapbooks are over 50 pages, are bigger than four encyclopedias stacked, can barely open and close, and are bonded with over ten extenders.  I might be exaggerating just a bit, but I wanted to give you a visual.  I still have scrapbook pages NOT in books AND I have a huge box of pictures that are organized, but have not been touched in over 10 years.

I am really tempted to ditch the old school way scrapbooking and jump on the digital bandwagon.  It's just a click away....

Here's what is new with CTMH's Studio J, which allows you to embed old scrapbooking with the new digital way AND allows you more freedom to position, place, and size your photos digitally.


Anyway, we all know I love owls....

My Scrapbook Page

My husband suggested that I put it on the wall.  I think I will as soon as I find a photo to put in it and maybe a shadow box.

These are the products I used:
Paper: Dream Pop Special
Stamp sets: Poet, Women
Accessories: Paradise Twine, Paradise Flowers, Pink Buttons, Green Buttons
Ink: Buttercup, Lagoon, Sunset, Honey

This year my theme is Womanhood and relearning to be grounded.  When the 2013 Spring/Summer Idea Book had the Poet and Women stamp sets; I HAD to get them.  And while drafting this page; I couldn't help but use these stamp sets for this page-to me they fit perfectly.


Happy scrappin'!

Dream Pop's Bohemian Inspiration

Happy Wednesday My Crafty Friends!

I am just loving the Dream Pop Paper Packet! (Available until May 31, 2013).   I had a very successful creative Monday thanks to my cup of tea and of course, the day off.

Here are a few of the cards I made.  I'm really feeling the elephant paper.

Acrylix Stamp used: Scrapbook Statements-Poets

Acrylix Stamp Set used: Beautiful Friendship

Check out the birthday card I made here.

Happy scrappin'!

Birthday Card

Happy Monday My Creative and Crafty Friends!

Here's Mojo Monday's design for this week:

Be sure to join the fun!  Visit the Mojo Monday Blog Here.

Not only is Mother's Day coming up, but so are many birthdays! So I decided to make a birthday card for a friend with this weeks sketch.  She's lucky too, my other friends received a store cards for their birthdays.  I'm a card maker, but I rarely make birthday cards....

I used the National Scrapbooking Paper Packet, Dream Pop! for this card.  My friend loves bright colors and fun prints so I thought this paper combo would be perfect for her.  I also rarely stamp anything in the inside of cards, but Card Chatter-Birthday Acrylix Stamp Set has perfect sentiments for both, outside of a card and inside with matching fonts and makes sense. In the inside of the card it reads: "and many, many more.

Here are the delicious ingredients I used for the making of the card:

Honey Cardstock 

Corner Rounder

Hollyhock Ink

Slate Marker

Baker’s Twine Paradise Assortment

Pink Assortment Buttons

Sparkles Red, Pink & Purple Assortment

Dream Pop Paper Packet

Card Chatter-Birthday Acrylix Stamp Set

Happy scrappin'!

 

Marker Magic

Hello my crafty friends! 

Do you own any CTMH alcohol based markers and are unsure how to use them? Well, watch this video to learn how.


Happy scrappin'!

Mickey Mouse

Hello my crafty friends!

Here's one of the projects I have been working on:

A friend that almost has a party a month asked me to make Mickey Mouse tags for the treats and cupcake toppers she is going to have at her son's 1st birthday party.  (In fact last night she just asked me to make baseball tags...will share soon!)

The day I was supposed to deliver to her, she asked me to make a "banner"  just like the cake toppers.  I happily accepted!

The Mickey Mouse Pants were inspired my Unique Sense Design.   You may want to check out the Minnie Mouse project I made for my friend last month. :)

Have a blessed weekend!

Happy scrappin'!

Close to My Heart May Card Contest

Whoa!  Just found out that Close to My Heart is having a May Card Contest!  Watch this video and make a shout out!


Good luck!

Dream Pop!

Hello My Crafty Friends! Close to My Heart is celebrating National Scrapbooking Month with a bright, fun, yummy, earthy paper packet!  Some of the paper is glossy! What fun! Below is the video with more details.   Enjoy! Happy scrappin'! Contact Me