Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Real Black Olives...

What??? Real Black Olives is the Color Challenge on SCS today. Here's my card...



Adam had a birthday party to attend. I needed a quick card that was appropriate for a six year old. I knew I wanted to use an image from Stampin' Up!'s retired "Toy Box" set. This was one of the first sets I bought and a favorite go to for kids' cards. Mostly boy's cards. Go figure...me choose a set for boys. You'd think I had boys....hmmm. Anyway, I checked out SCS' Color Challenge. Today's colors are Real Red, Basic Black and Old Olive . I immediately knew it was a perfect combo for the dino image. Here's a close up...


The dino was colored using Old Olive classic ink and a blender pen. I love the washed out color the blender pen gives vs. using just the marker. I make a 'puddle' of ink on the ink pad lid by pressing the lid into the pad (while closed, of course). I then picked up the ink with the blender pen. I used the tip of the blender pen to make dots on the dino to create a 'scaled' effect. I like to create depth to the image by adding a light color wash around the outside of the image. Here, I used Going Grey and a blender pen.
The card was a hit at the party. Everyone loves dinos! What I think is special is knowing that this card will end up in a scrapbook for this young man. I love it when the time spent doesn't go un-noticed. Little do they know that this card uses all scraps and took no time at all...shhhh! It's our secret!
I hope you'll give the color challenges a try. They just might spark your creativity. Thanks for stopping by.
~Leslee~
Supplies (all SU!)
Stamps: Toy Box, All Holidays
Ink: Jet Black StazOn, Old Olive, Basic Black marker, Barely Banana marker, Going Grey, Real Red
Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Basic Black, Old Olive
Accessories: Real Red brads, Red/White gingham ribbon snips, scallop edge punch, stamp-a-ma-jig, 1/16" circle punch

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Mother's Day...

...is fast approaching. I'd best get started on a few projects. I'm holding a Mother's Day Stamp-A-Stack class on the 9th of May (Mother's Day is the 10th). If you are local, you are welcome to come by and make a card or two.

This is one of the cards we made at last year's class. I can't take credit for the design, it was CASED from this card on SCS by Nancy Riley. She has an awesome blog as well, iSTAMP.

I won't bore you with all the details. I will tell you how these adorable purses were made though. The handles were made by punching a small oval in solid card stock and then punching around that with the large oval punch. The closure is the word window punch 'secured' with a silver brad. The 'designer' purse uses the round tab punch and SU!'s retired prints designer papers. So, what do you think?

Really simple and a really big hit at last year's class. Look for some new purse designs at this year's class!

On a 'purse-onal' note...Adam's party was fantastic! He has some really great friends and so do I! I spent Saturday at MedExpress. I thought I had broken my foot. Thank heavens I didn't but it is sprained and I'm limping along in a boot. I was running - no - limping very behind on Sunday and as everyone arrived, they jumped right in and helped me get it all done. How behind was I? Put it this way, a HUGE thank you goes out to my good friend, Kristen! She frosted the cake for me. My mother-in-law will never call to ask if I need anything again. Little did she know that I'd give her a grocery list! Like I said, I have some great friends. Thanks to each of you. You ROCK!

Until next time, try out a designer purse or two. Better yet, one for every day of the week!
~Leslee~

Supplies (all SU!):

Stamps: Fancy Flexible Phrases

Ink: Basic Black

Paper: Basic Black, Certainly Celery, Whisper White, Sweetie Pie DSP, Prints DSP

Accessories: Round tab, large oval, small oval, word window, 1/16" circle, 1-3/8" square punches, silver brads, black/white gingham ribbon (my fav)

Friday, April 24, 2009

All the Best of White

This is the first time I've played along with the Ways to Use It Challenge on SCS. This week's challenge was all about white. White card stock, ink, embellishments...and different ways to use it. Well, I knew just what I wanted to do and it didn't turn out at all like I had planned but I do like the way it turned out. I had started out to do an ALL white card but it was missing something. I couldn't put my finger on it so this is how it turned out.
All embellishments started out white and I altered them by adding a sponge of Summer Sun pastel in the center of the flower and a Summer Sun marker down the edge of the white organza ribbon. The button is clear. I strung linen thread around the ribbon, through the flower and the button and tied it off on top. I love the effect. Here's a close up.
The sentiment was punched with the scallop oval and I markered around the edge with Summer Sun. The white card stock is textured using the Big Shot Texturz plate, Background #1, and layered onto a piece of Summer Sun. It's a sweet, simple card. Change the accent color and the sentiment for a quick, new look. I think I'll keep working on that all white card too.

Thanks for stopping in today. May you be inspired to find new 'ways to use it'!

~Leslee~

Supplies (all SU!)
Stamps: Elegant Cheer
Paper: Whisper White, Summer Sun
Ink: Summer Sun
Accessories: Pretties Kit - lrg. flower, clear button, linen thread, Whisper White Organza ribbon, scallop oval punch, cutter kit - distressing tool, Stampin' Pastels

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Fun & Fast...

Clean & Simple!


This card is super simple to make! The image is simply colored using SU! markers and matted onto coordinating card stock. I punched the outside edge using SU!'s Eyelet Border punch. I, also, punched a strip of card stock and distressed the straight edge. Added the coordinating ribbon and adhered it all to the card base. For added interest, I used Crystal Effects to give some dimension to the teacup and saucer and a few flower centers. Like I said, super simple!

Here is the same layout turned 90 degrees.

Each of these images are from the Fun & Fast Notes set. This set contains eight different images and occasions. A set that has lots of bang for the buck (gotta love that kind of set)! If you are interested in purchasing or checking out more of what Stampin' Up! has to offer, click here to check out my Stampin' Up! Website. You can shop from there.

Thanks for stopping in today. I hope you've been inspired to make a Fun & Fast Card!

~Leslee~

Supplies (all SU!)

Stamps: Fun & Fast Notes

Paper: Whisper White, Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Bashful Blue

Ink: Basic Black & many marvelous markers

Accessories: Crystal Effects, Bashful Blue & Eggplant 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Eyelet Border Punch

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Happy Birthday....

To my lovely Mom! Her special day was a couple of days ago but I couldn't very well share the card with you until I was sure she received it in the mail. Couldn't take the chance of her seeing it on my blog first. Mom loves giraffes so I knew I couldn't go wrong with this one. And, considering the time constraints I've been under lately, I really needed an easy card to do. However, the design just wasn't coming to me. Being my mom and the best friend a girl could ask for, it just had to be perfect! But I continued to hit that creative wall. So, I turned to Jen del Muro's Sketch For You To Try (SFYTT)...you can't go wrong there either! You must check her blog out i{heart}2stamp. I flipped the sketch simply because of the direction the giraffe was facing. It just looked wrong the other way. I have a thing about the flow of a card. I really love the way the card turned out...just perfect...like Mom! That's what counts! I hope your day was special Mom! We love you!

Funny story though (sorry Mom...I have to tell it!)... Jesse (my oldest) was asking just how old grandma will be. I told him to do the math...she was born in 19** ;-) and it is now 2009. After a minute of figurin', he says "Wow! That's old!" We busted out in laughter. Then, last night at the dinner table, we were again talking about age (with all the birthdays we are faced with the next three months - everyone is getting older). My age came up - of course I'm only 29! Which the boys didn't believe me. I told them again...29! Jess looks me square in the face and says "Well you'd better get that Hollywood Wrinkle stuff they advertise on Facebook!" All my guys busted out in laughter! (Yes, not even Don stood up for me!) Hmpft! See if they get dinner tonight!!

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you're inspired to try one of Jen's SFYTT - she posts them on Saturday.

~Leslee~

Supplies (All SU!)
Stamps: Animal Crackers, Darling Dots, Fun & Fast Notes (sentiment)
Paper: Whisper White, Garden Green, So Saffron, Close to Cocoa, Sweet Slumber DSP
Ink: Barely Banana, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Summer Sun markers, So Saffron classic
Accessories: Dimensionals, 1" & 1-1/4" circle punches, lrg & sm oval punches, cutter kit (distressing tool), Dress Up Saffron ribbon

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

The Race Is On!!!

Wow! I'm so sorry that it has been five days since my last post. There's been so much going on here at the Holston household. It usually gets crazy around here mid-April. There's lots of deadlines to meet. One of the biggest (and highly important) is Adam's birthday party! My baby is turning six! Of course, we always throw him a party and I always make his invitations. This year was no different...other than I had only two days to make them. That's right....the race is on! Of course, he wants a 'race car' party. My one and only set containing a race car is Stampin' Up!'s retired "To The Finish". The thought of coloring a dozen of those cars in less than two days didn't thrill me at all. So, this is what I came up with.
Adam's favorite driver is Jimmie Johnson. And, although this isn't quite Lowe's blue, it certainly made one little boy very happy! Believe it or not, this was a pretty easy card to mass produce. It is a postcard type invite. The punches made it easy! I did the production line deal and "boogity-boogity-boogity" (sorry D.W.) the race was won! Started the cards on Friday and in the mail on Saturday! Now, to come up with a thank you...hmmm...

I hope you've been inspired. Don't let the race to the finish overwhelm you. It's usually the journey between the start/finish that's the most fun!

Thanks for stopping by today!
~Leslee~

Supplies:
Stamps: To the Finish, Fancy Flexible Phrases (both SU! retired)
Paper: Pacific Point, Summer Sun, Real Red, Brushed Silver, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black, Summer Sun
Accessories: 3/4", 1" & 1-1/4" circle punches, spiral punch, 1-3/8" square punch, cutter kit (to free hand the wavy strips - way cool!), dimensionals


Wednesday, April 15, 2009

As promised.......

....something new for you today! Yes....I finally got the chance to stamp today! The Sketch Challenge (SC224) over at SCS was the inspiration for the layout. Although, somehow, I missed putting two panels behind the large focal image. But that's okay. I don't think the sketch police will be knocking on my door. I flipped the sketch on its side and I love the way this card turned out!
This card uses the large flower from the Echoes of Kindness set (SU! Level 2 Hostess). I stamped it three times in basic black and colored it in with Cameo Coral and Pretty In Pink markers. I highlighted the stems with Old Olive. The ribbon is black corduroy found in the Valet Ribbon Originals. A very simple card with striking elegance!
This will be just one of the cards we will make at my Stamp-A-Stack Stash Card Class on Saturday. We are focusing on sympathy and get well cards. I never seem to have one when I need it and they aren't the type of card that really want to make. So, if you are local, come join us and we'll have some fun while we add to our 'stash' of cards!
Thanks so much for stopping in today. I hope you'll be inspired to give the sketch challenges a try. Come back again soon.
~Leslee~


Supplies (all SU!):
Stamps: Echoes of Kindness, Warmest Regards (retired)
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Old Olive, Raspberry Tart DSP
Inks: Basic Black Classic, Old Olive, Cameo Coral & Pretty in Pink markers
Accessories: Black Corduroy ribbon, Wide oval & Scallop oval punches

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

It's over!

Spring break that is! It's over and the boys went back to school today! Yay! The house would have been so nice and quiet and perfect for stamping BUT, Don was home due to the rainy weather. Grrrr! He had other ideas that didn't include me stamping. So, since I didn't get much stamping done last week, I will have to share an older creation with you.



This gorgeous card was rather easy to make. I embossed the background stamp from the set, Fresh Cuts, in black. Then, I colored in the main images in the background using SU! markers. Because it was embossed, the markering was really quite simple (much easier to stay in the lines). The image was then cut into three equal parts and layered onto complimentary card stock to create the panels. The base layer was stamped with the floral from the same set. A friend of mine talked me into using these rich colors. I don't normally reach for them but I really love how this card came together. It is always good to stretch yourself outside of your comfort zone. I find that it broadens you and you just might take a liking to it. Oh, the ribbon is one of my easy peasy hide-the-fact-that-I'm-bow-challenged bows. It's not really a bow at all. I've tied a longer length of ribbon around two shorter ones. Yes, I cheated! Well, it lays nice in an envelope anyway :)

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you've been inspired and I promise to have something new to post real soon!
~Leslee~

Supplies all Stampin' Up!:
Stamps: Fresh Cuts
Paper: Naturals White, Rose Red, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Elegant Eggplant
Ink: Basic Black Craft, Old Olive & Rose Red markers, VersaMark
Accessories: Very Vanilla grosgrain ribbon, sm. & lrg. oval punch, black embossing powder, heat tool, embossing buddy, powder pals

Friday, April 10, 2009

Clean & Simple

Sometimes, the challenge is to refrain from all the layers and embellishments and keep it clean and simple (CAS)! SplitcoastStampers features a CAS Challenge on Monday. I will often refer to the weekly CAS when I am limited on time. This week, the challenge was to add distressing to your clean and simple card.
Here is what I came up with....


I love to distress! Often, distressing adds that missing touch or will hide the slight (or, sometimes, not-so-slight) imperfections. I learned this when the boys were younger and sticky fingers would grab the cards off my desk. Many times, I would sponge on some ink to cover up the smudges. It certainly beats having to toss a nice looking card into the circular file. Today, I do a lot less 'covering up' but still love the look that distressing a project adds.


I used three forms of distressing on this card.
1) I sponged some ink onto the edges (no, I had no smudges to cover).
2) I used my distressing tool (SU! Cutter Kit), to 'rough it up' .
3) I wet the card stock, crumpled it up, smoothed it back out and let it dry. This is great to use when corners get bent or your paper gets creased. Don't toss that paper...use it to your advantage.

Remember what I always say...."There are no mistakes. Only creative opportunities!"

Thanks for stopping in. I hope you've been inspired.

~Leslee~
Supplies (all SU!):
Stamps: Dear Friends hostess Level 1
Paper: Whisper White, Barely Banana, Watercolor paper
Ink: Sahara Sand, Barely Banana, Summer Sun, Old Olive, Certainly Celery, Jet Black StazOn
Accessories: Aqua Painter, Cutter kit, water mister (non-SU!), Stampin' Dimensionals, Linen Thread

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Featured Flowers

I enjoy playing along with Splitcoast Stampers' Featured Stamper Challenge (every Sunday). You get to browse the galleries of some fabulous stampers and C.A.S.E. (copy and share everything) your favorite card (or two, or three). You are challenged to make a few changes and then share with the rest of the SCS community.

This week's Featured Stamper is Julie (JustWriteDesigns). You must check out her Gallery. This is the card I chose to case: Plain Vanilla and this is what I came up with.....
Mine pales in comparison to Julie's but I don't have the supplies that Julie uses on her card. I've simply made due with what I have. I do LOVE the way it turned out though. The color of the card is what drew my attention to it so I kept the colors and the layout. I just flipped it 90 degrees. I left off the ribbon, added brads, changed the sentiment and embossed the flourish behind my punched flowers using black embossing powder. The sentiment panel is mounted on dimensionals. It's hard to see in the photo, but the large white panel is textured with the Big Shot large dots Texturz plate.
Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you've been inspired to give the Featured Stamper Challenge a try.
~Leslee~
Supplies (all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):
Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Fun & Fast Notes
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Very Vanilla
Ink: Basic Black craft
Accessories: black brads, dimensionals, 5-petal flower punch, Boho flowers punch, 1/16" circle punch, black ep, Big Shot & Backgrounds #1 Texturz plate (lrg. dots)

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

A Quick Post

This is going to be a really quick post. My boys are home this week (Spring Break - Yay!) and we are headed out to play!

This was a really quick card....


It just goes to show that a quick card can be a very elegant card. This used the Floral background stamp, card stock, a length of coordinating ribbon and a couple of punches. Done!

Enjoy your day! I'm going to!

Thanks for looking and I'll have another card for you tomorrow.

~Leslee~

Supplies (all SU!): Floral background stamp, Regal Rose ink and ribbon, Whisper White & Regal Rose card stock, Paper piercing tool & mat pack, Scallop oval and Large oval punches.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

An Egg Challenge

Let me start by saying that I enjoyed a great weekend with the family! As usual, it went by way too fast. We took the boat out on Sunday. Adam was the only one to catch any fish. So, he has braggin' rights for awhile (and rightly so)! He's such a good little fisherman...I taught him everything I know ;-)

I'm sure you are wondering what the "Egg Challenge" is? Well, Sharon Johnson over at No Time To Stamp? hosts a challenge every Friday. You can check out her latest Stamp Simply challenge here...The Incredible Edible Egg! I don't always get a chance to play along but no one is keeping score either. It's just a lot of fun to see what everyone comes up with. Sharon's challenges (along with many, many others) are a great source of inspiration to me!
So, here's my card......

Seem like an odd card?? It makes perfect sense to me. You see, my brother-in-law's birthday is this Sunday...that's right, Easter! So, when I read Sharon's challenge, it all came together. "Hoppy Birthday" and the inside reads, "May your day be Egg-ceptional!" The cupcake and the egg images are from the Wagon Full of Fun set in the Occasions Mini Catalog. Their uncle is going to love this card! Jesse and Adam colored the Easter eggs. Adam even called him to ask his favorite colors! I paper pieced the paper cupcake cup. Watercolored the frosting and added some glitter. The bunny is made of punches. It's a busy, bright card for me but the more I look at it, the more it grows on me.

Thanks for another great challenge Sharon!

And thanks for stopping by. Enjoy your day!

~Leslee~

Supplies (all Stampin' Up! (r) unless otherwise noted):

Stamps: Wagon Full of Fun

Paper: Naturals White, So Saffron, Pink Pirouette, Basic Black

Ink: Basic Black, So Saffron, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Bordering Blue, many markers

Accessories: Wide Oval, Small Oval, Heart to Heart, 1/4" circle, Scallop Oval & Lrg. Oval punches, White gel pen, white pom (Walmart)

Friday, April 3, 2009

Fast Friday

Anyone who knows me, knows that I'm a NASCAR fan. Friday kicks off the weekend races and it's pretty much the same in my household. The boys are home and they are fast, loud and 'off to the races'! The entire weekend just zooms by way too fast! Yet, Friday is the day that I play 'catch up' in the office, as well as the house. If my desk and house are clean on Friday, I feel like I can enjoy whatever the weekend may bring. So, that brings me to Fast Friday. If I have any time to stamp at all, it will have to be fast. I need to keep it quick and simple. This card is right on track.......


This was made for the Clean & Simple Challenge on Splitcoast Stampers (posted on Monday). You can check the challenge out here. As a matter of fact, anyone can play along and this challenge is a lot of fun. I was inspired by this adorable pair of shoes. Again (this is becoming habit), my flowers are 'double punched'. I, also, used rub-ons that I've been hoarding for awhile now. The card is pretty self explainatory. Of course, I used my fav. black & white gingham ribbon!
Thanks for slowing down long enough to cruise my blog. Come back for a pit stop anytime! They say that slow and steady wins the race!!
~Leslee~
Supplies (all SU! unless otherwise noted):
Stamps - Friendship Blooms (retired)
Paper - Whisper White, Basic Black
Ink - Basic Black Craft ink
Accessories - Black & White gingham ribbon, Love & Happiness Rub-ons, 5-petal flower & 1-3/8" & 1-1/2" circle punches, dimensionals

Thursday, April 2, 2009

A tisket, a tasket....

A green and yellow basket! Okay, okay! I won't sing anymore....today!




This adorable basket is so easy to make! I made this one for a make-n-take project at a recent workshop. They are easy enough to mass produce for an entire classroom of kids too.

The basket is a triangle. It is made by adhering three Big Shot Scallop Envelopes together. Simply cut your scallop envelope dies with your Big Shot, trim a wedge off of each side of the bottom flap (otherwise it won't come together in a triangle) and adhere using sticky strip or SNAIL. I adhered a piece of 3" x 2" designer paper onto each side. This was mainly to hide the envelope flaps that hold the basket together. Embellish as you desire. I made more of my Rock-n-Roll punched flowers. You can see that post here. And, I wrapped it all up with some ribbon. Really fun to create and even more fun to give! Of course, I had to fill mine with a yummy Reese's peanut butter egg!!

Try making one for yourself and thanks for stopping by.

~Leslee~

Supplies (All SU! unless otherwise noted):
Stamps - Fancy Flexible Phrases, Best Wishes & More (flowers)
Paper - Certainly Celery, Delicate Dots DSP, So Saffron (flowers)
Ink - Basic Black, Tangerine Tango, So Saffron classic, Choc. Chip marker
Accessories - Big Shot, Scallop Envelope die, 5/8" So Saffron grosgrain ribbon, 5-petal flower punch, 1-1/2" circle punch, mini glue dots, sticky strip

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

A Quick Post



I just wanted to share a quick and easy card with you today.
This card is one of several cards to be featured at my Stash Card Stamp-A-Stack class held on April 18th. The theme will be Get Well and Sympathy cards. I never seem to have one in my stash and, let's face it, they really aren't all that joyful to make either. So, I thought it would be loads of fun to stamp a bunch with all my friends! Sound like fun? Join me!
This card uses a direct-to-stamp marker technique. Another really quick and easy way to add additional color to your image. The frame around the sentiment was markered and I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to get perfect placement of my sentiment. I love using tools that make creating cards so much easier.
Les' More Tip: Note the simple use of the ribbon placed behind the sentiment? I used some of my ribbon scraps for it. Less can be more...perfect!
Enjoy your day and thanks for stopping by!
~Leslee~
Supplies (all SU! unless otherwise noted):
Stamps - Thoughts & Prayers, Yummy (SAB 2009)
Paper - Very Vanilla, Riding Hood Red, Candy Lane DSP
Ink - Old Olive, Bravo Burgandy, Regal Rose markers, Basic Black classic
Accessories - Riding Hood Red (Dress Up Ribbon Originals), 1/2 pearls (Pretties Kit), mini glue dots