Welcome to the very first Birthday Bash Blog Hop.

If you have arrived here from Sheri's blog you’re on the right track. If not, and just lucked up on this blog, you can go back to the beginning HERE and hop along with us.

We're so excited to being doing this hop, and we have a fabulous line up with some very talented folks. There will be lots of fun projects, along with some great blog candy, and an AMAZING grand prize for this hop.

This hop runs all day on May 23, so you have plenty of time to make it all the way through the hop. Check out each blog and see what BLOG CANDY you could possibly WIN!!

Here is the complete line up

Lisa - http://handmadewithlove-lisa.blogspot.com/

Lisa - http://honeybearzdesigns2011.blogspot.com/

Shawnee - http://quiverofangels.blogspot.com/

Creativek Kuts - http://www.creativekuts.blogspot.com/

Deb - http://www.scrappingmamma.net/

Corrine - http://celebratingordinarymoments.blogspot.com/

Tristan - http://tristans-time-4-craftin.blogspot.com/

Mickie - http://littlescrapcorner.blogspot.com/

Rachelle – http://rachelle-rachellesplace.blogspot.com/

Sheri - http://highland-eyes.blogspot.com/

Melanie - http://melaniespapercraft.blogspot.com/- YOU ARE HERE

Christine - http://crabbycakescrafts.blogspot.com/

Bobbi – http://rockgirlcustomdesigns.blogspot.com/

Debbie - http://craftydeb-ddscrafts.blogspot.com/

Leila - http://mypapergrowsontrees.blogspot.com/

Emily - http://www.createserendipity.net/

Jennifer - www.craftycardgallery.blogspot.

April - http://www.curlsngrins.blogspot.com/

Jennifer - http://scrapaholicjen.blogspot.com/

Ashley - http://scrappinpinkpiglet.blogspot.com/

Donna - http://comopark1886.blogspot.com/

Elsa - http://www.justafewdesigns.blogspot.com/

Shannon - http://www.purplelionpaper.com/blog

Ashley - http://www.theglamoroussideofscrapping.blogspot.com/

Monica - http://scraps2treasure.blogspot.com/

Lisa - http://handmadewithlove-lisa.blogspot.com/

Scrapping With Lisa on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Scrapping-with-Lisa/130882060268842

There is also going to be an overall grand prize, which is being sponsored by Lisa from Scrapping with Lisa and she will be the first and last blog on the hop. In order to be eligible for the grand prize you must leave a comment on every blog in the hop, as well as become a fan of Lisa's and of Scrapping with Lisa on Facebook. If you don’t do facebook, this won’t count against you for the grand prize, just let me know that in a comment. You must do all this, it is mandatory in order to be eligible for the overall grand prize.

I wasn't sure what to do for this hop, as it was a case of "anything goes" as long as it's birthday. hmmm... do I do a card with a digi, or paper piecing (which I'm really enjoying), so I decided to do a birthday themed scrapbooking layout. I popped off a mail to Heather from PaperyAnne to see if she had any birthday themed paper piecing patterns. She didn't but she rustled up something in no time at all for me... and this was the result.

This is the full double page layout

Page 1 - I love stitching at the moment, so I just HAD to add some stitching to the banner. I found some buttons that went perfectly with the page and colours, so had to add them too (and I stitched them into place)

Page 2 - I've used a border punch for the heart border and then just matched up some plain and patterned paper. The hearts that were punched out were used on the cupcakes (and I just punched some extra from other scraps). I used one of my stencils for the circular pearl pattern.

Close-up of the banner and buttons

Close-up of the pearls

And finally another close-up of the banner.

One lucky winner will be entitled to this gift voucher:

Just leave a comment below and I'll select a random winner once the hop is over.

PaperyAnne is looking for some new DT members to join our team. If you enjoy working with paper piecing patterns or Digi Stamps, then email Susanne with your application (include a little about yourself, what you do, and your blog address)

Thank you for hopping by, and I hope you've gained some inspiration from my blog.

Your next blog is Christine - http://crabbycakescrafts.blogspot.com/

Have a GREAT day!!

NO NO NO Cards!!

This week's challenge at Patties is to create anything but a card.

You can see my life has been rather busy - I haven't blogged for the last 2 weeks!! Yikes...

My idea with these little tags, was to actually use them on a scrapbook layout... I didn't quite manage that, but at least they're now ready for when I do decide to do it.

I coloured each baby (I love this image) in a different colour, but kept them in the yellow/orange/brown range - I'd like to create a vintage look page.

These tags were really easy to put together - I just cut some rectangles from textured cardstock, then cut 2 rectangles from patterned paper and tore them across (giving me 4 pieces). I used a rounded corner punch on just the one edge. Then just a little ric-rac ribbon down the side, a brown flower with a flower brad in the centre and finally an eyelet with some raffia tied through.

Hope to be back with some more... oh yes I will on Monday...


but maybe I'll share a little more with you before that (I have a few projects to share)

x Mel x

The theme for this week's challenge at Patties Creations Design Challenge is Mother's Day.

I chose Pattie's new image "Mother and Baby 2". Isn't it adorable.

I went with deep colours and naturals, and I really love how it came out.

My embellishments used: 2 flowers, 2 flower pearl headed pins, a green feather, 2 punched out leaves and a few pearls

Pop over to take advantage of Pattie's 20% sale- be quick... sale ends on the 23rd April

x Mel x

More sales.... More discount....

Patties Creations has decided to extend the 20% off sale until the 23rd of April - there are some really lovely digi's in her store...
Some samples of the digi's you could get...
And then a whopping 60% off all purchases at Paperyanne... Heather has some wonderful new digistamps and paper piecing files
There's some cute digi's available...

And some sweet paper piecing files.... here's the new Bronto Family...
And the tooth fairy....
And here's a project I made with the tooth fairy... This was my DT project for Paperyanne's second challenge - the theme was "BLING"... I think I did a good job... :)

Take advantage while you can....

x Mel x

Sale at Patties

Go check out Pattie's 20% sale APRIL 15TH TO THE 18TH (USE COUPON CODE ALLIE).

And once you've taken advantage of the sale, head over to her blog and join the challenge - the theme this week is Easter / Spring.

x Mel x

What have I been doing....

.... or should it be, "what haven't I been doing?"... (warning ... long post)

It's been a while since I've actually posted anything, but with good reason... life has been hectic and I haven't really had a chance to do much crafting...

But let me catch you up on a few recent happenings...

Firstly, about 2 weeks ago, I "by the way" applied for a DT position at a new paper piecings company... The Saturday morning I woke up to new news that I had the position, and I was already added as an admin on the Facebook group... I was so excited that I put 2 sugars in my coffee instead of 1 (ugh, that woke me up!!)

Please go and have a look at their website. They have also just added digistamps to their range...

Our first project for the DT was "anything"... so I chose Skye's shoes from the store and started on my project.

As it was also my mom's birthday coming up, I decided to combine my DT project with the layout I was already in the process of making for my mom (and her twin sister)... I was making them each a Scrapbook layout. I'd already ordered a custom digi stamp from A Day For Daisies. I sent Tammy a photo of my mom and her twin as babies, and she made a custom image - it's adorable!

I then printed some photo's from copies we had made from my Gran's box of photo's of all the "Smith" kids.

I presented my mom with her page at her 60th Birthday Party, and she was so happy with it. She was showing it to everyone who walked in.
When my aunt arrived I handed her her page (in an album) and I don't think any of us expected her reaction. She burst into tears, which triggered my mom and my sister! It was so nice to see her reaction. My mom is always appreciative of everything I make her, but my aunt has never received anything like it. The layouts are almost exactly the same... as my aunt said to my mom while opening their gift: "you would think we're twins"...

Their younger sister commissioned my to make them each a very special birthday card. In my usual manner, I thought about it, but left it to do a few days before the event... Not expecting the world to turn upside down...
Last week Tuesday, I got a phone call that my uncle had passed away. It was such terrible news, but at the same time, I almost breathed a sigh of relief... He's been battling cancer for quite a few months and had spread throughout his body and he was in a lot of agony. We'll miss him dearly - our hippie uncle - but knowing he is no longer in pain, does give me sense of comfort. We said our final goodbyes on friday, April 1st - and I'm sure he was looking down from Heaven having a good chuckle about it - always had a sense of humour...

So back to the cards... cutting it fine (again) I finished the cards on the Saturday morning - the party was on Saturday afternoon. But I'm glad I spent the hours on the cards that I did, because everyone - the giver and the receivers were ecstatic (and so was I).

The front views of the cards:
I made this one with my mom in mind, and it's the one she got...


This one screamed my aunt's name and it's the one that went to her... Funny how things turn out (I had no say in it - it was up to their sister who got what)...
Tri fold cards always get such a great reaction from everyone, and I love making them.

Well, now that I've kept you busy for the last while, I let you get on with your own things... I hope you can leave here with some inspiration, and thanks for stopping by...

x Mel x

Spring has Sprung?

Not in South Africa, it hasn't - winter is well and truly on it's way here... but on the other side of the world, everyone is getting ready for Spring... and by the sounds of the winter they've been having (snow... snow... snow...) they well and truly deserve it...

At Patties Challenge this week, the theme is Easter or Spring... I chose to go with something along the Spring line... and I used Phoebe the Fairy Pig...


I went with pink as my accent colour, and I like how it turned out... I found a really cute spring poem, which was originally supposed to go on the card, but I didn't have space for it, so turned it into a book mark.

Hope you can join us for some digi stamping fun and show us your Easter or Spring projects...
Have fun :)

x Mel x