We have a new home and a new look! Come check us out, and don't forget to bookmark our new place. We will shutting down this site soon, so don't forget that new bookmark. http://www.melissasamuels.com/blog/ Continue reading

From our family to yours Happy New Year! Continue reading

Happy Friday!! To wrap up the week of favorite posts, I thought I would feature Bob's Christmas Cottage. This is definitely an all-time favorite. The attention to detail is amazing. If you think it looks impressive wait until you hear how he made it. He started with ordinary 12x12 chipboard , cut out a design, hot glued it together, and painted it with white acrylic paint. Next, he hot glued the shingles, which are Rips candy, to the roof. He whipped up royal icing to use as mortar for the peppermints that he used as stones for the foundation and... Continue reading

Hey Guys! Today I wanted to share with you one of our super popular Christmas posts from last year. I made these little folded ornaments for my tree, and had no idea how much everyone would enjoy them. I even did a how-to video. Here ya go! *****THIS IS A 2011 VIDEO, SO THE GIVEAWAY MENTIONED IS OVER, SORRY***** This video was originally recorded & can also be found on Ustream _____________________________________ Here is a new ornament that's been rattling around in my head since I first saw Pink Paislee's City Sidewalks collection. I was very excited to make them.... Continue reading

Hi Everyone! Welcome back to day 2 of our week of favorite Christmas posts, and tutorials. Today I have 2 of my favorite posts, and a new little ornament tutorial that the whole family will enjoy! It's super easy, inexpensive, and loads of fun! Let's start with our favorite posts... Favorite Christmas Post - Glass Dome Ornament Supplies Used: Melissa Frances Glass Dome Ornament, Prima Sparrow Cradle, Father Christmas rub-ons, chandelier drops, seambinding, hot glue gun, Maya Road satin pleat ribbon green, silver foil cardstock, and tinsel. I started by adding rub-ons to the glass dome. I used the Santa... Continue reading

Hello Everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful weekend! I know many of you have been finishing up your Christmas shopping and preparing for Saint Nick! I cannot believe that he'll be coming down the chimney in a little over 2 weeks! We finally got our Christmas tree up, and are slowly decorating it. I thought this week might be a great time to share some of my favorite Christmas posts, and ornament tutorials. Before I share my first favorite Christmas post of a little Melissa Frances Farmhouse ornament, I thought I would share some pics of our family tree... Continue reading

Hi Guys! Today is the last day of our week of Graphic 45 projects with Nikki, and the last day to enter our $50 gift certificate giveaway. First, I want to give a big thank you to Nikki Brown, our guest artist this week, for all of her projects she shared here on the blog. It's been great fun, and I know she appreciates all of the wonderful comments. I didn't want the fun to end, so next week I am doing a week of my favorite Christmas projects, and ornament tutorials. Some of the tutorials are by Bob, so... Continue reading

Nikki has done it again!! Isn't this canvas just exquisite? I love all of the details. It was created from Graphic 45's A Ladies Diary collection, which happens to be 30% off in our store this week. Check out our newsletter (click here) for this and other great deals!!! Ends 12/10. Don't forget that we are doing our $50 gift certificate giveaway this week. Each time you make a comment on this week's daily posts, you will be entered into our giveaway (limit 1 comment per day per post). A winner will be announced Friday evening! Be sure to come... Continue reading

Hey Guys! Nikki Brown from over at Cardstock-a-holic has another beautiful project for us today! She made this gorgeous tray that would be the perfect holiday decoration or gift using Graphic 45's Nutcracker Sweet collection. She stamped, embossed, and inked the images onto white cardstock to create this wonderful work of art. Don't forget that we are doing our $50 gift certificate giveaway this week. Each time you make a comment on this week's daily posts, you will be entered into our giveaway (limit 1 comment per day per post). A winner will be announced Friday evening! Nikki used Nutcracker... Continue reading

Hi Everyone! This week I have a wonderful treat for you! I have guest artist Nikki Brown from over at Cardstock-a-holic in the house!! She has several projects featuring Graphic 45 to share with you guys! And, if that wasn't treat enough, I'm also going to be doing a giveaway! All you have to do is come back each day and comment on the day's post to be entered. Every time you comment (limit 1 per day) you'll be entered, it's that easy! On Friday a winner will be picked! The prize is a $50 gift cerfticate to www.melissasamuels.net. That... Continue reading

Hi Everyone! I can't believe it's Wednesday/Hump Day already! Where did the week go?! With work and school pick-up and drop-offs it all seems like a blur. I'm sure you can relate. I thought I'd keep things going this week with another flower embellishment tutorial. I have to admit, and you guys probably already know this about me, I'm completely addicted to flowers...fabric, paper, ribbon, you name it!! I can't make enough! I think part of the appeal is how versatile they are. You can use them on a card, layout, mini, gift wrap, and the list goes on. Here's... Continue reading

Hey Guys!! I had some leftover Graphic 45 A Ladies Diary paper scraps on my desk from Friday's chipboard binder album. If you missed Friday's blog post check it out here. I couldn't bear to throw the scraps away, so I thought I'd make a card out of it. I ran across a scrap piece of my favorite Webster's Pages lace ribbon, so the wheels started turning. I had to use it, but didn't want to simply glue it onto my card. Then it occurred to me that it would make the most awesome ribbon flower like the fabric ones... Continue reading

Happy Friday Everyone!!! Hope you're winding up a wonderful week, and enjoy a relaxing weekend ahead. It has been a great week here. Bob and I started our ballroom dancing lessons. So far, so good! No one has any broken toes or bruised shins...YET! The first class was a lot of fun, and we are both looking forward to doing something just for us every week. Of course, doing ballroom dance has inspired a little mini book. It will be nice to document our progress over the next 6 months. So here it is... I used Graphic 45 A Ladies... Continue reading

I don't know about you guys, but I ALWAYS have about a 1/2 dozen projects going at once in the studio. I'll start something, and then another great idea will occur to me, then off I go to the next project. Or, when a new collection comes in that I'm completely swooning over, I drop everything to make something out of it. I thought it might be fun to give you a glimpse at what's in progress on my desktop at the moment. This was one of those stress relieving breaks. I started it as a card, but now I'm... Continue reading

First off, I'd like to say thank you, thank you, thank you so much to everyone who responded so positively to my blog post last week. I appreciate all of the emails, comments, and Facebook messages of encouragement. As promised last week, I have more to share with you about my life change, as I like to call it. This is quite embarrassing, so I'm going to treat it like pulling off a bandaid. I'm going to close my eyes, and do it quickly in hopes that it hurts less. Let me start by saying I've ALWAYS been very thin,... Continue reading

Hi Everyone! This summer has been a very "interesting" time in my life. Early in the spring I had some health issues that prompted me to take a step back and make some big changes in my life. I wanted to improve my overall health, so I made some very serious lifestyle changes. I know that sounds very cliche, but it's very true. I don't want to use the word diet, because diet, in my mind, suggests temporary change in order to acheive a set goal, but rather I've changed what I eat, my attitude toward food, and started exercising.... Continue reading

Hi Everyone! Summer is in full swing, which means lots of you guys are doing lots of traveling. While you're living it up on the road, don't forget to send a little note to friends and family who would love to hear about your adventures. Here's a great card tutorial that you could make up ahead of your trip and pop into the mail while on the road. Beats the heck out of a postcard, right?! Here are the supplies I used: Graphic 45 Tropical Travelogue 8x8 paper pad, Ranger Dylusions Ink Spray Vibrant Turquoise, Prima Miss Godivas Mermaid Flowers,... Continue reading

I have a little card tutorial to share with you guys today! It was featured in our newsletter a few weeks ago, but if you missed the newsletter here it is. I thought it was relavant with the 4th of July quickly approaching. The collection used is We R Memory Keepers Red, White, and Blue. Hope you enjoy! Supplies Used: Red White & Blue Solid Textured Cardstock-Dark Blue Red White & Blue 6x6 Paper Pad Red White & Blue Mini Pinwheels Paper Trimmer & Scissors Tape Runner & Glossy Accents Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher or Stapler Prima Distressing Tool (Optional)... Continue reading

Happy Friday Everyone!! Today I want to show you a journal book I made a couple of months ago. My intention was to finish the inside before I posted it, but I settled for just completing the cover as it is turning out to be an ongoing project. When I started the book I wanted to use it as a journal of the awesome birthday I had this year. However, I liked it so much, I think I'm going to continue to add pages of other significant events in my life, as well as day to day photos. I'm extremely... Continue reading

Hi Everyone!! I know it's been quite some time since I last posted here on the blog. I took a little needed break to focus on the day-to-day operations of my business, and to attend to some health issues. I'm feeling great, and after some much needed extra time with my family, I'm rejuvenated and ready to blog!! In today's economy, almost everyone is more cost-conscious than ever. So, today I thought I'd share a little quick and easy project that I made using scrap paper and leftover embellishments from other projects. To get the most from my embellishments, I... Continue reading

VS Hey Guys! I know, I'm a bad girl! I didn't announce the winner of the blog giveaway on Friday. Well, here I am...better late than never. I have to say, I LOVED reading the comments. You all had some very thoughtful ideas on which collection I should use. It seems like the majority of you chose Spring Jubilee. A big thank you to everyone that played along. Unfortunately, I have to pick one winner (not my favorite part). Okay here goes....drum roll...the winner is: so torn between both of the choices, if it was me I would use both... Continue reading

I have lived in Virginia my entire life, but I have never been to the Cherry Blossom Festival or visited the monuments in Washington DC. I have heard a lot of people say the same about where they live. There's something about feeling like you can't be a tourist in your own backyard. Every single year since I can remember, my hubby and I say we're going to see the cherry blossoms, but we never have. When Chris was little, we took her to the Smithsonian several times, but we never made the cherry blossoms or walked the extra distance... Continue reading

Hey Everyone! If you are a friend on Facebook, you already know March is my birthday month. I have to say, having so many wonderful friends and a marvelous family has made getting a year older not quite so bad. I appreciated each and every friend on Facebook who took a moment to wish me a happy birthday...so very sweet and touching!! I visited my family a couple of weeks ago for a birthday celebration (a little early). It was great to see my Mom, Dad, brothers, sisters-in-law, and niece. My hubby took me on a romantic getaway the weekend... Continue reading

Hey Guys! Here are the ATC's I made for the March swap with the group I get together with. I thought you might enjoy seeing them. Supplies Used: KaiserCraft 6.5" Pad Vintage Timeless, Prima Gillian Coffee Flowers, Webster's Pages Designer Trim Western Romance, Maya Road Trinket Pin Heart, and Ranger ATC Manila. Continue reading

Hey Everyone! Just wanted to do a quick blog post about the new Dylusions Ink Sprays and Stencils that just arrived from Ranger. They are perfect for art journaling, canvas, cardmaking, tags, scrapbooking, you name it. The inks come in 12 vibrant colors, and the stencils come in 6 designs. They're flying off the shelf, so get yours today! Here's a super cool video to boot! They're in stock now at www.melissasamuels.net so go check it out! ____________________________________________ Winner Announcement of the Webster's Pages Sparkly Challenge Wow Melissa just love your pretty design and your pictures are so adorable.....you cluster... Continue reading