Birgit & Marcia's Mini Challenge #2 - Melissa Phillips Style

Hello friends.  Birgit and I are challenging ourselves again, this time with cards that reflect one of our favorite card designers from Papertrey Ink - Melissa Phillips.  I simply love how Melissa can put layers and layers of stamped images and patterned paper together and make it all look like it was meant to go together!  Along with all the ribbons, buttons, and any kind of embellie you can think of too!  I love to buy all the embellishments and patterned papers, and then they sit there because I'm not sure what to do with them!  Creating a Melissa card is all about the details...lots and LOTS of details!! I'm getting better, but still have miles and miles to go before I even get close to Melissa.  But anyway, I have 3 cards to share with you today, and I'll share them in the order I made them, which is also the same order in which I like them...meaning I like my first card, I really like my 2nd card, and I love my 3rd card! 

First off, I made all 3 of my cards in the size that Melissa makes most of her cards - 3 1/2 x 5 1/2.  My background papers are from Gina K and Lily of the Valley.  My wreath is from PTI's Wreath For All Seasons.  Ink colors are Plum Pudding, Lavender Moon, & Classic Kraft.  I used PTI's Tag Sale #4 to stamp my wreath on and then added a Melissa "junk bow" with odds and ends and a tiny tag from Tiny Tags.  I used the Filigree Border Die at the top of the card, and did a few more die cuts with Songbirds and Button Stacks.  I also stamped the bottom right corner with a stamp from Autumn Adornments.

My 2nd card uses paper from Pebbles Garden Party pad, and the stamped tree is PTI's Polka Dot Parade #6.  My inks for the tree are Early Espresso, Strawberry Slush, Pretty in Pink, Calypso Coral (stamped off), Soft Sky, and Old Olive.  The big tag is from PTI's Tag Sale #3, and the small flower shaped tag is from Tiny Tags.  I used the Bitty Button Stacks dies for the little buttons on the corner of the tag along with some light blue embroidery floss (Thank You Julie Didion!!) to tie the buttons together, and also around the white satin ribbon.  I wish I could tell you where the sentiment came from, but I never wrote on the set, and I've had it for SO long that I just don't remember...I LOVE that sentiment though, and it just sounds like something Melissa would say and use. :0)  Tiny white pearls finished off this card.

My 3rd and final card is my favorite, and uses scrap DSP and a sheet of KaiserCraft - Secret Garden Collection.  I stamped a little bit of the background in the middle that is a Heidi Swapp background stamp in Fine Linen ink, and then the rest of the background is all strips of DSP that I sponged with Tea Dye Distress Ink to give it that vintage look.  I used a Tag Sale #5 die (PTI) and vellum and a polka dot piece of scrap DSP to layer on my Vintage Linen flowers (PTI) that I stamped in Scarlet Jewel, Autumn Rose, Sweet Blush, Blueberry Sky, Spring Rain, and Old Olive inks.  The sentiment is from Floral Foliage (PTI).  Some rainstones, a button, twine, and ribbon finished off this card.

So I hope you enjoyed my 3 cards, and would love to hear what one you liked best and whether or not you think I captured Melissa's style.  Don't forget to check out BIRGIT'S blog too, as I know she is going to have beautiful creations for you to look at too.

Thanks so much for stopping by today...I love it when you do! :0)