Meljens Design Team and Challenge Blog

Using "XOXO Stitches"

Katja

Using "Loving Ewe"

Kindra
Using "Strings of Hearts"

Using "Little Cupid"

Rae Ann
Using "I Heart You Badge"

Using "Tutu Sweet" and "Thinking of You" ($1 Digi!)

And now YOU get to show off your work!

Have Fun!
Dee

Tantalizing Toooooosday 1/24/12

noreply@blogger.com (Sprytebyrd) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

I've got a couple of cuties to share with you today, the Design Team really has so much fun Rockin' these amazing digis!

Audrey

Using "Birthday Cake Mouse"

Cheryl

Using "Retro Cherries"

Jessica

Using "Firefly Fairy"

Lisa

Using "Fuzzy Little Hamster"

And now for some Tantalizing creations from you as well!

From Linda

Using "Sweet Lips" ($1 Digi!)

From Natalie

Using "Stuffed Elephant"

From Heidi

Using "Lovey Pup"

Here's your Oh-So-Special Inspiration badge!

Thanks for playing along with us!

Hugs,

Dee

New Rubber Stamps at Whimsy!

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa 'meljen' Jenkins) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Three new rubber stamps released in the Whimsy Stamps shop, featuring three of my favorite winter-themed digi designs! See if you recognize these…

Cozy Winter Raccoon

Snow Bunny

Yeti Cocoa

Enjoy and happy crafting!

Year of the Dragon – One Day Mini Sale!

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa 'meljen' Jenkins) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Today marks the Chinese New Year – the year of the Dragon!

SURPRISE! I am offering the digis below on sale for today only, to help celebrate!

10% OFF TODAY ONLY…
CODE: MD10sale

** This coupon & sale works on the digis below ONLY. **
(sale ends at midnight PST time)

First, here’s a little Panda.

And of course here are my dragons!

I hope to make even more of them in the future. :-)

Enjoy, and happy Chinese New Year!

WINNERS from #92 - Anything Goes

noreply@blogger.com (Sprytebyrd) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Here's our Lucky Random Winners for this week!

Thanks to everyone who faced the Anything Goes challenge last week!!

Please remember that we now require the use of any Meljen's Designs image for participation in our challenge! Entries that do not use a Meljen's Designs image will be deleted before the random draw.

Please visit the shop HERE to view ALL images including Freebies, $1 Digis and Pre-Colored Digis!

Here are our 3 Random Winners:

#1 receives three FREEBIES...
#27 - Carol
Using "Frosty Face" ($1 DIGI!)

#2 receives two FREEBIES...
#34 - Marsha D
Using "Missing You Heart" ($1 DIGI!)

#3 receives one FREEBIE...
#11 - Karen
Using "Kitty Cat Love"

Congratulations!!

Here's your badge!

Be sure to display it proudly on your blog!

THEN, email DEE

with your DIGI-PICKS from our

Meljen's Designs line HERE at the store!

Check out the next challenge HERE!

You have 3 chances to win some freebie images from Melissa!

(To see complete guidelines for the challenges, click HERE!)

Love is in the air!

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 21:17:00 +0000

A lovely creation by Ceal!

Ceal Pritchett is reminding us to start NOW on our Valentine cards!! I don't know about you, but I always wait till the last minute and then never have enough time to make cards for everyone I should! So, here's your warning sign, Valentine's Day is just three weeks away! EEK!

Using some heart paper and the Meljen's Designs LOVE BIRDS digi, Ceal made this gorgeous Valentine card for us today! Being a ribbon ~~hoarder~~, er, COLLECTOR (haha!) I LOVE her ribbon! And, not all Valentine cards have to be PINK and RED, you know! Love this blue color, it's just perfect for anyone! To see more creations by Ceal, pop on over to her Simply Beautiful Creations BLOG HERE!

Don't forget that we are on facebook! Pop on over to our facebook page HERE and see what Melissa and the Meljen's Designers are up to! Can't wait to see you!

See more of Melissa's digis at her website HERE ! And if you didn't already know, Melissa has rubber stamps, too! Check out her corner of Whimsy Stamps to see those! And don't forget to participate in our weekly challenge, you could just win some freebie digis!

Happy Saturday!

Challenge #93 - Color

noreply@blogger.com (Sprytebyrd) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Welcome to another fun challenge week! We are so glad you are here!

You can find all of the images we used today in the Meljen's Designs Shop!!

*************************

Our challenge for you this week is:

Red and/or Pink AND Kraft

And here are some examples from our Design Team!

PLEASE REMEMBER TO USE A MELJEN'S DESIGNS IMAGE
(View our new Challenge Guidelines HERE)

Audrey
Using "Eskimo Kisses"

Cheryl

Using "Stripes and Baby"

Dianna

Using "A Girl and Her Kitty"

Jessica

Using "Lovey Pup" (Pre-Colored Image!)

Lisa

Using "Cuddle Bug"

Robbie

Using "Cherry Mouse" and "Cheery Cherries"

And now YOU get to show off your work!

Have Fun!
Dee

Tantalizing Tooooooosday 1/17/12

noreply@blogger.com (Sprytebyrd) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

It's Inspiration Time!! Here are some beautiful creations from our wonderful Design Team!

Candace
Using "Lovey Pup"

Using "Baby Stork"

Katja

Using "Caroling Snowmen" (Precolored Digi!)

Lisa
Using "Lil Love Devil"

Using "Eskimo Kisses"

Using "Party Time Cat" and "Happy Birthday" ($1 Digi!)

And now for some Tantalizing creations from you as well!

From Elsa

Using "Birthday Cup Mouse"

From Vicki S

Using "Billy the Cowboy Bear"

From Gina R

Using "A Girl and Her Kitty"

Here's your Oh-So-Special Inspiration badge!

Thanks for playing along with us!

Hugs,

Dee

WINNERS! Challenge #91

noreply@blogger.com (Sprytebyrd) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Time for our Lucky Random Winners for this week!

Thanks to everyone who faced the challenge this week to USE STARS!!

Here are our 3 Random Winners:

Three FREE images for:
#4 - Nancy P

Two FREE images for:
#17 - Christine G

One FREE image for:
#2 - Heather P

Congratulations!!

Here's your badge!

Be sure to display it proudly on your blog!

THEN, email DEE

with your DIGI-PICKS from our

Meljen's Designs line HERE at the store!

Check out the next challenge HERE!

You have 3 chances to win some freebie images from Melissa!

(To see complete guidelines for the challenges, click HERE!)

Ceal's showing off a Snowman again!!

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 20:37:00 +0000

Another Guest Designer Day!!!!!

Ceal Pritchett is shooting us another wintery creation today! Snowmen aren't just for Christmas, you know! They are great to create with from Christmas to Easter!!! And with the cool blue and plaid papers, you can see what I mean!

Ceal made Frosty Face the focal point for her creation this week!! SO CUTE! The simplicity of her design made Frosty just POP to life, didn't it? And the sweet touch of snowflake ribbon is perfect for this card! I love the color-coordinated snowman hat with the mossy green sash, love it! Thanks, Ceal, for this cutie-of-a-card this week! I look forward to next Saturday already!

Be sure to check out ALL of Ceal's talent at her Simply Beautiful Creations BLOG HERE! She will surely inspire you to create today! Did you know that Meljen's Designs is on facebook? Pop on over to our facebook page HERE and see what Melissa and the Meljen's Designers are up to! We'd love to see you there!

Don't forget to do a little shopping, check out Melissa's website HERE to see which digis tickle your fancy today!

Hope your weekend is fabulous!

Holidays - Dress Up Your Pet & Hat Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa 'meljen' Jenkins) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0000

Today may be Friday the 13th, but let’s look to the weekend with some fun in mind!

Did you know that January 14th is Dress Up Your Pet day?
How about January 15th? That’s National Hat day!

Now here are a few of my favorite digital stamp designs to get your creative juices flowing for these unique days! Make every day a holiday! :-)

Here are a few cute dressed-up pets…
(found in a search for ‘hats’ to match hat day!)

…here’s a few picks for National Hat Day!
(found in the ‘For Guys’ section of the shop)

I hope you all have a lovely & crafty weekend!

(hugs)

Challenge #92 - Anything Goes!

noreply@blogger.com (Sprytebyrd) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Welcome to another fun challenge week! We are so glad you are here!

Our challenge for you this week is:

ANYTHING GOES!
Come on, show us what you've got!

Remember to use a Meljen's Designs image on your projects
(See New Challenge Guidelines HERE)

And here are some examples from our Design Team!
You can find all the images shown below in the Meljen's Designs Shop!!

Candace
Using "Daisy Pitcher"

Using "Nativity Donkey"

Dee

Using "Earth Day" ($1 Digi!)

Katja

Using "Princess Mouse"

Kindra
Using "Froggy's Pad"

Using "Honey Bears"

Rae Ann
Using "Gruffy Little Gnome"

http://nataliehearn.blogspot.com/2012/01/delight-in-digis.html

Using "Soda For Two" and "Sweet Sentiment"

And now YOU get to show off your work!

Have Fun!
Dee

Change in Freebies & Giveaways

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa 'meljen' Jenkins) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 01:00:00 +0000

Hello again everyone! :-)

Some of you have asked if I am not doing freebies anymore. It’s true that I am no longer doing weekly freebies. I have been doing them for 2 years, and I have a handful of freebies that will always be available, and I also have more than 100 ‘dollar digis’ that cost only $1. That should be a great way to help you start a small Meljen’s collection. :-)

--> See my small, permanent freebie collection (HERE)
--> Visit the Dollar Digi section of my shop (HERE)

There’s good news! Keep reading…

Am I stopping freebies? No way! But instead of having new weekly freebies, I am going to do random giveaways at Facebook. Every so often I will pick a digi from the shop and give it away for a limited time there. So keep your eyes peeled!

--> Visit Facebook & join, I’d love to get to know you!

In the mean time, feel free to continue to hop in the challenges here on our blog, and hop over to Facebook and share your creations with Meljen’s! You’re welcome to share as many and as OFTEN as you’d like.

Enjoy, and have a lovely Monday evening!

Meljen’s Designs in a Magazine!

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa 'meljen' Jenkins) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Hello everyone! I hope your Monday is turning out well.

I was directed to this LOVELY post by Natalie in Australia. She shared some amazing cards that she’s crafted recently, along with a collection of cute 10 ‘quick cards’ that were featured in the Australian Cardmaking, Stamping & Papercraft magazine!

Be sure to visit Natalie’s blog and leave her some love! :-)

I hope this has inspired you in your card-making!
Have a lovely, crafty week…

Challenge #90 WINNERS!

noreply@blogger.com (Sprytebyrd) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 04:02:00 +0000

Here's our TOP FIVE FAVES

and our

Lucky Random Winner for this week!

Thanks to everyone who faced the challenge this week to USE BLUE!!

This is our last single random winner and Top 5 post!
Starting next week, we will have 3 random winners for each challenge!
#1 will receive 3 free images
#2 will receive 2 free images
#3 will receive 1 free image!

We hope that you all enjoy the increased chances to win free images every week!

It was a hard decision to pick just five, but we finally came to a conclusion on the following.......

Here's our Random Winner of

the three FREEBIES...

#29 - Mary J

Here's your badge!

Be sure to display it proudly on your blog!

THEN, email DEE

with your three DIGI-PICKS from our

Meljen's Designs line HERE at the store!

AND NOW OUR TOP FIVE...

(hand-picked by the Meljen's Design Team!)

Laney

Sugarlips

Marianne MW

Lorry

Celine

Don't forget to grab your badge above!

Congratulations, Ladies!

Check out the next challenge HERE!

You could win some freebie images from Melissa,

(To see complete NEW guidelines for the challenges, click HERE!)

Guest Designer Time!!

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 15:40:00 +0000

It's Saturday

and you know that means...

it is Guest Designer Day!!!!!

This month we have a fabulous designer who caught our eye during our design team call last fall! And although she just barely missed it, we couldn't let her go without seeing her again! So, for each Saturday in January we will enjoy creations by Ceal Pritchett! She's on many design teams, so you may have heard of her before! Her blog is: Simply Beautiful Creations, so be sure to pop on over there and greet her after you take in her creation for this week!

But first, let's meet Miss Pritchett!

This is what she had to say about herself!

I am a born again Christian and cancer survivor who loves life and all things paper, I started paper crafting with scrap booking about 15 years ago but soon found my love to be card making. I am originally a Carolina beach girl. but currently reside in beautiful Colorado with my husband (and our Shih Tzu, Willis) who is very supportive. We have three children and became grandparents this past August to sweet Addilyn, so now I am scrapbooking again!
We are super happy to have you join us this month, Ceal! We can't wait to see what you share with us each Saturday!!!! So, without further ado.....

Using our Christmas Star Snowman, Ceal managed to make this one less Christmassy with her bright color choice! It gives it a more wintery feel! Still, with the green it could be used for a Christmas card, I guess, but with the neon green, I feel it really gives it a cold and brisk look! SO CUTE!!

Be sure to check out ALL of Ceal's talent at her BLOG HERE! She does some beautiful work, let me tell you! THEN if you like, you can pop on over to our facebook page HERE and see what Melissa and the Meljen's Designers are up to! It's a great way to get more involved with Meljen's Designs!! AND if you feel like doing a little shopping, check out Melissa's website HERE and see what strikes your fancy! Everything is nicely categorized for easy searching!!!!!!! YAY!!

ENJOY YOUR DAY!

It’s National Bird Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa 'meljen' Jenkins) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:00:00 +0000

To all of you bird-lovers (and animal-lovers alike!) today is an unusual holiday… National Bird Day!

You can learn more about it and find some fun info here:
http://www.holidayinsights.com/other/birdday.htm

To celebrate our feathered friends, I’ve highlighted some of my favorite bird designs that I’ve made over the years. (You can see ALL of them, including ones not shown here, at the shop. Clicking any of the images below will take you to my birds page.)

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE BIRD?
Share your ideas and I might add them to upcoming designs!

(My favorite thing about this ‘Autumn Crow’ is that you can color it to look like any bird,
including a Red Robin or a Bluebird! Here’s a few more favorites…)

Have a tweetin’ sweet day!

Challenge #91 - Stars

noreply@blogger.com (Sprytebyrd) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Welcome to another fun challenge week! We are so glad you are here!

We'd like to announce a small change in our Digi Release dates.
Now that the Meljen's Designs independent shop is up and running and fully stocked with over 700 images to cover almost every occasion throughout the year, Meljen's Designs will reduce our releases to once a month. Our challenges will remain a weekly event using favorites from previous releases! Once a month, we will release new images, which may include colored images as well!

As always, we thank you for your support and hope that you enjoy this chance to "catch up" on your wish list items between image releases! :)

If you have any questions at all, please email Melissa, Nicole or Dee.

Be sure to visit the Meljen's Designs Shop for a wide assortment of images for all seasons, $1 digis, freebies and pre-colored digis!!

*************************

Our challenge for you this week is:

STARS!

{Please remember to use a Meljen's Designs image}
New Challenge Rules HERE

And here are some examples from our Design Team!

Audrey

Using "Cozy Winter Wolf Pup"

Cheryl

Using "Billy the Cowboy Bear"

Jessica

Using "Book Girl"

Lisa

Using "Little Cupid"

Lorie
Using "We're #1" ($1 Digi!)

Rae Ann
Using "Festive Firecrackers"

Robbie

Using "Starfish Buddies and Turtle's Little Star"

And now YOU get to show off your work!

Have Fun!
Dee

Tantalizing Toooooosday 1/3/12

noreply@blogger.com (Sprytebyrd) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Whoo Hoo!! Our first inspiration post of 2012! YAY! We're SO glad you're here!

Candace
Using "Lovin' Turtle"

Using "Groundhog Day" ($1 Digi!)

Lorie
Using "Teddy Angel" (Pre-Colored Digi)

Rae Ann
Using "Snow Bunny"

http://meljensdesignsdt.blogspot.com/p/challenge-rules.html

Using "Sympathy Flowers"

And now for some Tantalizing creations from you as well!

From Cliodana

Using "Cozy Winter Owl"

From Craftygirl

Using "Candy Land Dreams"

Also From Craftygirl

Using "Winter Sprig"

Here's your Oh-So-Special Inspiration badge!

Thanks for playing along with us!

Hugs,

Dee

IMPORTANT – Changes to Challenges

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa 'meljen' Jenkins) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 23:42:00 +0000

It’s a new year! I look forward to sharing more digis with you all, and having our team continue to post new challenges for you to participate in.

After two years of challenges, I feel it is a time for a few important changes to help encourage the use of Meljen’s Designs digital stamps, and to further inspire creativity. :-)

Please (CLICK HERE) or visit the page below to re-read the challenge rules & details!

I look forward to seeing your entries in the upcoming challenges!

Winners from Challenge #89!

noreply@blogger.com (Sprytebyrd) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

*****Happy New Year!!!*****

Here's our TOP FIVE FAVES

and our

Lucky Random Winner for this week!

Thanks to everyone who faced the challenge this week to USE NO RECTANGLES!!! It was a hard decision to pick just five, but we finally came to a conclusion on the following.......

Here's our Random Winner of

the three FREEBIES...

#15 - Hazel!

Here's your badge!

Be sure to display it proudly on your blog!

THEN, email DEE

with your three DIGI-PICKS from our

Meljen's Designs line HERE at the store!

AND NOW OUR TOP FIVE...

(hand-picked by the Meljen's Design Team!)

#36 - Celine

Using "Candy Lane Dreams"

#38 - Dragonllew

Using "Bundled Little Snowboy"

#60 - Kimberly C

Using "Yeti Cocoa"

#63 - Nela

Using "Bundled Little Snowboy"

#68 - Gina R

Using "Lovey Pup"

Don't forget to grab your badge above!

Congratulations, Ladies!

Check out the BLUE challenge HERE!

You could win some freebie images from Melissa,

or even get the honor of being in our TOP FIVE!!

(To see complete guidelines for the challenges, click HERE!)

HAPPY NEW YEAR's EVE!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Nicole) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 18:44:00 +0000

A sad good-bye to our December guest designer, Mariska! She is leaving us but not without sharing another inspiring creation, this time using PATRIOTIC BEAR! Isn't it just grand!? Perfect for bringing AND RINGING in the New Year tonight!!

Mariska, thank you so much for sharing your lovely talents with us! Your paper-creations are always so beautiful and just full of detailed artistry! We hope you visit us often and participate in our challenges each week so we can see more of your lovely talent!

You can see more of Mariska on her blog, Sending You A Little Smile.

Everyone, here at Meljen's Designs, wishes you a FABULOUS New Year and we hope that this year brings you your heart's EVERY hope and desire! We appreciate your friendship and support of Meljen's Designs and look forward to continuing to know each of you better in 2012! God Bless You ALL!

Year in Review & SURPRISE – 25% Sale!

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa 'meljen' Jenkins) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 22:02:00 +0000

This year has been an amazing one as always. So many new followers and so many lovely gals on our design team. I always love seeing everyone’s crafts – you are all so talented!

As a thank you to all of my wonderful followers, I wanted to share a special SURPRISE sale at my shop. This will run today through Monday Jan. 2nd. It is NOT posted in the shop – this is a sale for my blog followers and friends at facebook… but feel free to spread the word!

** Scroll down to see some of my favorite crafts from my design team (old & new) this year! **

code: MDnew25
(…remember, this code is only good through Jan. 2nd!)

And to everyone visiting from the Year in Review hop, welcome!

Feel free to stop by Karin’s post to see all of the other lovely blogs participating in the New Year fun. :-)

Enjoy, and have a LOVELY New Year in 2012!

NOW for some of my favorite Design Team crafts in 2011!
(It was hard for me to pick at all, since there are SO MANY! Be sure to browse our blog’s inspiration posts, there are lots of amazing crafts. :-)

HAPPY NEW YEAR, and happy crafting!

Challenge #90

noreply@blogger.com (Sprytebyrd) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Welcome to another amazing new challenge week! We are so glad you are here!

Due to our "vacation" last week, there are no images to release today, so this is a wonderful chance for the Design Team to show off some of their old favorites!

Our challenge for you this week is:

BLUE

And here are some examples from our Design Team!

Candace
Using "Caroling Snowmen"

Darsie

Using "Caroling Snowmen"

Dee

Using "Moose Lights"

Kindra
Using "Happy Little Whale"

Katja

Using "Bundled Little Snowboy"

Using "Yeti Cocoa"

Robbie
Using "Cozy Winter Wolf Pup"

Robin

Using "Cozy Winter Wolf Pup"

And now YOU get to show off your work!

Have Fun!
Dee

Tantalizing Toooosday 12/27/11

noreply@blogger.com (Sprytebyrd) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0000

We hope that you all had an amazing Christmas! We are all blessed to have you as part of our online "family" and we love spending time and sharing crafts with you!

Here are a few inspiration pieces from our team - we are still enjoying our family time, so you may have seen a few of these beauties before, but we thought that they were worth sharing again!

We are looking forward to a new challenge this week and can't wait to see you again on Thursday!

Using "Cozy Little Chickadees"
The beautiful snowflake border along the bottom edge of this card really is striking!

Dee

Using "Ornament Mouse"
This is one of my favorite cards that I made this season, I hope you like it too!

Di
Using "Eskimo Kisses"
This simple layout and bold paper pairs up for a gorgeous card!

Jessica
Using "Stocking Kitty and Stocking Puppy"
I love how Jess has combined the images to create such a joyful card!