Wednesday, April 27, 2011

A Fish Party…

2011-04-24 10.24.37

     My baby just celebrated his 8th birthday!  Hard to believe that I’ve let him live this long, I mean, that the past 8 years have gone so quickly.  He is the child that in one minute your pulling your hair out and the next you are laughing so hard that you are in tears!  God does have a sense of humor! :)  I wouldn’t trade him for anything in the world!! 

     Anyway, I asked what he wanted me to do for his birthday invites.  His reply was “fish!”  Hey!  I can do that!  I grabbed for the long retired Silly Sealife set. 

  100_2901100_2928

     I made these invites postcard style.  The card base is the beautiful Pacific Point.  The image uses the Emboss Resist technique.  I’ve not done this for quite some time now.  It is so much fun!  I first stamped 100_2927and embossed the fish images using Basic Black Craft Ink and Black Embossing powder.  I then colored the images in using a Blender Pen and various Classic inks.  I covered over all of the image with a VersaMark marker and added dots for bubbles.  I then embossed using Clear 100_2929Embossing powder.  Finally, I brayered on Bashful Blue over the entire card, Baja Breeze (for a greener hue) halfway up the card from the bottom and Pacific Point along the bottom 1/4 of the panel.  I wiped away any excess ink off the embossed images between each color.  The “seaweed” is stamped in Garden Green with the grass from the Inspired By Nature set. 

100_1647     After this inky incident, I had been keeping the inks and stamps out of his hands!!  But for these invites, Adam helped me every step of100_2923 the way.  He even made his very own card.  ALL BY HIMSELF!  I told him what to do next and he did it.  He’s a natural with the brayer!  I think he gets his crafty side  from me (hehe)!  What do you think? :) 

     I think I’ll keep him…awhile longer anyway! :)  Of course, it’s the next eight years that have me worried…and the eight after that…lol.

     Until next time, keep them inky and enjoy them while they are young!!!

Hugs,

Leslee

All supplies are Stampin’ Up!  and can be purchased here, except for those retired items.

100_2908

Monday, April 25, 2011

Beautiful Wings at Sunrise

100_2954

     In the morning, just before the sun begins to make an appearance over the tree line out back, the horizon turns either a beautiful orange or pink.  This morning, it was pink and then the palest of blue that graduated darker and darker.  It was simply one of those “ahhh…life is good!” moments.  Try as I may, my camera just doesn’t capture the beautiful colors of the moment.  So today, I decided to capture the moment using my brayer.  Personally, I believe it turned out fabulous!!

     Colors used for the sky is Pretty In Pink, Bashful Blue, Marina Mist and Pacific Point.  The foreground is Old Olive, Always Artichoke and Basic Black.  I sponged that on after I changed the masking.  The silhouetted flowers are from Just Believe…I can’t seem to put this set away.  And, if it gets there, it doesn’t stay there long! :)  The butterflies are from the Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die.  They had been flitting from one side of my desk to the other for too long.  I did good and gave them a home :)  The image is layered on Night of Navy on a Whisper White card base.  The sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes is punched with the Word Window punch and tucked under the layers.  

     Thanks for stopping in today.  I hope you can draw inspiration from your next “life is good” moment!

Hugs,

Leslee

All supplies are Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased here

Friday, April 22, 2011

Carrot Treat Holders

100_2986

     Isn’t this just the most adorable Carrot Treat Holder?  I think so.  There have been so many out there on blogs and in galleries as of late.  None really packed that “WOW” for me.  That is until I saw this one on my dear friend Paula’s blog, Stampinantics.

     Super simple to make!  Which was just what I needed!  I completed 15 of these in about 1 hour.  I gave one to several staff members and one to each of the gals that help me out each week with PTA labels.  Everyone loved them!!  And who wouldn’t?  They are just too cute!

     Thanks for sharing Paula!  I appreciate the inspiration.  And thank you for stopping by today!  I hope you’ve been inspired to make someone smile today!

Hugs,

Leslee

Card stock used is retired Stampin’ Up!  Scallop Circle Die, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder & the Big Shot, Hemp Twine, Scallop Oval & Word Window punch and the Teeny Tiny Wishes set (sentiment) can be purchased HERE.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Fall To Layout 136 – Paisley Petals

100_2980      I really wanted to use the new Paisley Petals DSP and the Four Frames set together at a recent workshop.  After all, we will only be able to get them through the end of April and won’t see them again until the release of the 2011 – 2012 Idea Book & Catalog in July.  Me time has been at a minimum as of late and the mojo just isn’t making an appearance on its own.  So, once again, I have used this week’s Fall To Layout #136.  It’s amazing how different the same layout can be with the use of different papers.  This is the first card I used this layout on, FTL 136 - Springtime Vintage.  I may have taken a few liberties on this as well.  But I really like how the card turned out…and that’s what counts.  I went with the natural look of the Linen Thread.  It lends nice interest and hides the seam between the DSP, Baja Breeze with the Scallop Trim Border edge and the Not Quite Navy card stock.  The butterflies (Beautiful Wings Embosslit Die) are in Early Espresso with chocolate colored Jewels Basic Rhinestones.  You can read about how I did that in my last post, FTL 136 – Springtime Vintage.  The frame is colored in with a Blender Pen and Old Olive, Peach Parfait and Cajun Craze classic inks.  The sentiment is from the Afterthoughts Hostess Level 1 set, stamped using an Early Espresso marker and the omitting technique.  

     Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you’ve been inspired to try a favorite layout with some different colors, papers and embellishments.  :)

Hugs,

Leslee

Stampin’ Up! supplies can be purchased HERE!  

Monday, April 18, 2011

Fall To Layout 136 – Springtime Vintage

      I know I’m not the only crafter that falls into that creative rut.  I sat for way to long and stared at the papers I wanted to use.  I even knew what stamp set I wanted to use.  Just nothing came together for me.  That is until I came across the Fall To Layout (FTL) #136 over on the Clean & Simple Stamping blog.  With the card layout in front of me, the rest of it went together pretty easily.  Honestly, sometimes I just need something simple to kick the creativity into motion.  There was plenty of room in this layout for plenty of creative liberties.  I’m sure I took a few but the integrity of the layout is still the same. 

 100_2961

     I used the lovely Springtime Vintage DSP, coordinating Not Quite Navy and added the Early Espresso with the edges punched with the Scallop Trim Border.  I’m loving this color combination!  The Victoria Crocheted ribbon was “scrunched” onto a length of Sticky Strip

100_2963     The Designer Label punch coordinates with the sneak peek Four Frames set.  After this month, it won’t be available again until July and the release of the new 2011 – 2012 Idea Book & Catalog.  The image was colored in using the Blender Pen and Baja Breeze & Old Olive classic inks.  The ‘for you’ is found in the Hostess Level 1 set – Afterthoughts.  I used the Early Espresso marker to ink up only the section of the stamp that I wanted to use.  This technique is called 100_2965omitting

     Don’t you just adore the butterfly?  He is from the Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die, double layered in Very Vanilla on Early Espresso.  I’ve blinged him up with three of the Jewels Basic Rhinestones.  That’s right!  I wanted the bling in chocolate so I grabbed my permanent marker and colored me some bling.  Such a fun and 100_2973economical way to have bling in every color of the rainbow!  A little Baja Breeze sponged on the wings and he perches on top a Dimensional in the corner of the card :) 

     I’m so glad you stopped in today.  Please leave a comment and let me know what inspires you when you find yourself in the creative rut.  I hope you’ve been inspired by something you’ve seen today.  You can always stop by the Clean & Simple Stamping blog.  They have some great CAS layouts for you to try.

Hugs,

Leslee

All supplies are Stampin’ Up! except for the permanent marker used on the Rhinestone Jewels.  Stampin’ Up! items can be purchased here

Friday, April 15, 2011

Mini Milk Carton Peeps & Bunnies

     100_2734

         When I was a little girl, my sister and I had Easter basket bunnies that, I believe, my grandmother had made for us.  They were made using a half gallon milk carton laid on its side and covered in white cotton balls.  I don’t quite remember ears, eyes or nose but I’m sure they had them.  We couldn’t find a picture of them anywhere either :(  Well, while making baby shower favors with the Mini Milk Carton Die, those cute little bunnies hopped in my head and I just had to give a few mini ones a try!  

100_2717     I love how they turned out!  Then, I just had to try a chick.  He’s so cute!  So I decided to run a bunch more through the Big Shot.  You see, I borrowed the die from a good friend (thanks Jenny!) and before I gave it back, I made sure I had enough bunnies and chicks to hand out all spring long :)  And that makes me very happy!  I have bunnies or chicks to give my hostesses during the months of March and April as a hostess gift.  The kids in my son’s class will get chicks for their spring class party and all 100_2721my ‘peeps’ that help me at PTA will receive one as well!  Of course, I gave Jenny one as a thank you when I reluctantly returned her die.  Guess I’d better get the die for myself!       These are super simple to make.  I’ve taken pictures of each of the steps…simply because, as I wrote them out, it confused even myself :)  I hope these help.  If I have you totally confused, just contact me and I’ll be happy to clarify :) 

  1. 100_2885     Fold up the carton as you normally would but secure the top and leave the bottom open.  Lay the carton on its side with the carton top, closed and secured, on the horizontal, making sure the adhered seam along the side is on the bottom. 
  2. 100_2888     Cut up the center of what is now the top panel. 
  3. 100_2889     Cut across the score line, thus creating flaps. 
  4. 100_2892     Go ahead and cut the bottom flap off.   
  5. 100_2895     Fold the flaps in and secure with adhesive.  I always use Sticky Strip.  Now, fold the bottom flaps as normal and secure.  100_2719

     There you have it!  Now get out your punches, get punch happy and create a face and, don’t forget, a tail!  I used circle punches, Lrg. & Sm. oval punches, the Word Window punch, Boho Blossoms punch, Scallop Circle punch, Heart to Heart punch and the 1-1/4 in. square punch for the chicks beak!  I used grosgrain ribbon for a handle and simply secured it to the inside of the carton with Sticky Strip.  The bunnies are in Naturals White and chicks in Daffodil Delight card stock.    

      Trust me…you will get a smile from anyone you hand this to!  It’s not about how big, elaborate or expensive the gift is…just the mere fact that you were kind enough to think of them :)  And THAT makes me happy too!

     I wish I could find an old photo of our Easter basket bunnies.  This project really brought back some childhood memories!  I really am missing my grandmother.  She’s been gone for almost a year now.  But the memories are so sweet!  What fun it has been!  Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you’ve been inspired to hop to it and get a jump on your Easter crafting projects.

Hugs,

Leslee

All supplies are current Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased here

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Re-Create #2…Ustamp with Dawn & Friends – Big Shot Brilliance!!

100_2831     This is another re-creation of a card that I came across on UStamp with Dawn & Friends – Big Shot Brilliance!!  You really MUST head over there and join in the fun!  This card is just a part of the project that the creative Jessica Luther designed.  I kept everything the same except for the DSP.  Isn’t it lovely?   

     On my card, the flower is in Poppy Parade and Wild Wasabi.  The edges were sponged in the same color ink just to give some dimension.  Wondering how I made the leaves?  Freehand with my Cutter Kit and the rotary cutting tool.  The card base is Peach Parfait with the DSP from the recent Sale-A-Bration Ice Cream Parlor Designer Series paper pack.  It’s hard to tell in the photo but I ran the left side of the card front through the Big Shot with the Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plate (the swirly one).  The scalloped edging is Very Vanilla.  The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  The sentiment tag is anchored with a brad and a Dimensional gives it some lift in the center.  Easy peasy!

     I just love tulips.  They remind me that my mom’s birthday is very near :)Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you’ve been inspired to head over to UStamp with Dawn & Friends and get inspired!

Hugs,

Leslee

All supplies are Stampin’ Up!

Monday, April 11, 2011

Sunrise

     I really love how this card turned out…even with the BIG mistake!  Can you see it?  As I’ve said time and again, “there are no mistakes, only creative opportunity!”  This card certainly provided the opportunity.

100_2698     I started out with a piece of Whisper White card stock.  I masked off the sun using a sticky note punched out with the 1.25” circle punch.  To mask the hills, I simply tore a sticky note length wise, saving the other half for later.  I brayered on Daffodil Delight starting from the bottom up the complete length of the card stock.  Then, I brayered on So Saffron halfway up and finished off with Pumpkin Pie only 1/4 of the way into the Saffron.  I removed the all the masking off the bottom.  Using that length of sticky note that I tore the hills from, I placed the mask over the sky portion of the card stock.  I simply sponged on Soft Suede and applied a bit of Early Espresso right along the masking.  Remove the masking and sponge in Daffodil Delight to the sun and a bit of Pumpkin Pie in the center of the sun.  Using Basic Black, I stamped the silhouetted flowers from the Just Believe set.  (Here comes the bad part…) As I lifted off the stamp, the stamp fell off the clear acrylic mount.  Needless to say, I screamed, said a few choice words and100_2699 then criedRuined! 

     I think not!  I am now faced with creative opportunity.  I grab my Basic Black marker and add birds!  That’s right!  Geese to be exact…flying west!  See it!  What mistake?  The other mistake is nicely hidden under that beautiful Concord Crush butterfly.  He was run through the Big Shot using the Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die.  I wrapped and knotted a piece of Linen Thread to create his body, leaving the tails of the thread as antenna.  The main thing is that he is covering the mistake!  I used the creative opportunity to embellish in this case :) 

     I layered the image panel on Pear Pizzazz and Basic Black and sponged on some Soft Suede ink along the edges of all.  The DSP is from Springtime Vintage pack and all is mounted on a Very Vanilla card base.  

     See…what mistake?  Would you have even known if I hadn’t told you?  Most people who may receive this card would never know that there was a mistake of any kind.  So, don’t count your ‘mistake’ as ruined…only as ‘creative opportunity’!  Thanks for stopping in today.  I hope you’ve been inspired to turn a ‘mistake’ into something beautiful!  You can do it!

Hugs,

Leslee

All supplies are Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased here.  

Friday, April 8, 2011

Re-Create…UStamp with Dawn & Friends – Big Shot Brilliance!!

100_2805

 

100_2810

     This is the lovely Lattice Tote and Wallet set that my lovely friend Paula Dobson (Stampinantics) designed for UStamp with Dawn & Friends – Big Shot Brilliance!  This IS truly BRILLIANT!  I really love this project and just had to re-create it for myself.  Although, I wasn’t alone in the recreation.  The complete tutorial is up at UStamp with Dawn & Friends.  You can join and get this and many more tutorials, all using the Big Shot, for yourself!  It really is fun to see all the BRILLIANT creations from such a talented group of100_2812 people from all over the world. 

     I, for the most part, cased this project exactly from Paula’s fabulous tutorial.  I changed only the colors (Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz & Crumb Cake), stamp sets used(Afterthoughts, Teeny Tiny Wishes) and punch size (simply because I don’t own the size that was originally used). 

      Isn’t this bag divine?  I think so!  I used one of Stampin’ Up!’s no longer available Mini Lunch Sacks.  It works perfectly!  I so hope they bring those back in an upcoming catalog.  I think some Sweet Pea hand lotion for the boys’ teachers will fit nicely ;)

100_2824     I, obviously, have a difficult time following directions.  That or I was so excited to be re-creating this project…yea…that’s what it was!  I went off and made my OWN wallet…lol!  I really like Paula’s better though!  I did the same with the flowers…didn’t follow directions.  They ended up on another project.  Check out my Oops card :)  Anyway, my wallet is smaller but it is the perfect size for a lip balm! :)  Remember:  No mistakes, only creative opportunity! 

     This really was a great project to re-create!  I think I will re-create another in yet another color combo…or two.  There is still time for you to join in the fun over at UStamp with Dawn & Friends.  You won’t be disappointed :) 

     Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you’ve been inspired to re-create too!

100_2817Hugs,

Leslee

All supplies are Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased here unless noted as no longer available. 

 

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Oops…really? :)

100_2855 

     Sometimes, an “oops” isn’t really an “oops” at all.  I always tell my workshop guests, “There are no mistakes…only creative opportunities!”

100_2849     The story is…I was demonstrating for the Girl Scout troop awhile back.  The troop leader (and dear friend of mine) ran the Very Vanilla card base through the Big Shot.  I don’t exactly know what happened or why it happened but the Framed Tulips failed to emboss along the outer edge of the card.  Instead of re-aligning the card stock in the Textured Impressions folder and running it back through the Big Shot, I had her get a fresh card base and try it again.  I told her that I would find a use for it somewhere along the line.  I finally did. 

     I was playing around with the Quick Accents from the recent Sale-A-Bration Ice Cream Parlor DSP & Quick Accents pack.  I adhered a couple of the Old Olive strips along the edge that didn’t100_2851 emboss and added a Certainly Celery 1/4” grosgrain ribbon around the base.  Yes, that is a ‘cheater’ bow :)  You know I’m bow challenged!  Those gorgeous flowers are in Daffodil Delight.  I found how-to do them on UStamp with Dawn & Friends – Big Shot Brilliance!!  Paula Dobson was the designer.  It’s not too late to join and find how-to for yourself :)  Believe it or not, I “oopsed” on the flowers.  Obviously, I can’t read good directions because I failed to texture them as Paula had said to do.  Well, I had set them aside and they found a home on my Oops card!  The sentiment is in the Hostess set Afterthoughts.  I did up the inside of this card as well.  I enjoy doing a little something on the inside of my cards…especially to the Whisper White and Very Vanilla card bases. 

     So what do you think?  Doesn’t look much like an “oops” to me!  I ended up sending this card to the Girl Scout troop leader…since it was her ‘oopsed up’ card to begin with.  Just seemed fitting! :)

     By the way, you can see more of Paula’s work on her blog, Stampinantics.  She is such a creative lady and I’m thrilled to call her “friend” :)  I have re-created her project that she designed for UStamp with Dawn & Friends – Big Shot Brilliance!!  I’ll post it up soon. 

     Thanks for stopping in today!  I hope you’ll join the fun over at UStamp with Dawn & Friends.

Hugs,

Leslee

Supplies are Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased here unless otherwise discontinued (SAB items)! 

Monday, April 4, 2011

Brayer on the Sunshine

100_2708     This was such a bright and cheery card to create!  My hostess wanted to see something ‘springy’.  I wanted to show the brayer technique.  This card fit the bill perfectly! 

     The Daffodil Delight card base was run through the Big Shot using the Framed Tulips – Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  Are you getting tired of seeing it yet?  I sure hope not because I’m far from done using it! :)  The image panel is Whisper White, brayered on an angle, layered onto Whisper White.  I don’t normally layer onto Whisper White but, in this case, it really allows the image to ‘pop’.  I brayered on the angle using Daffodil Delight, then Peach Parfait halfway on top of that and finished with Cajun Craze just in the corner.  Tip:  Always start your brayer off of your cardstock first.  This helps to blend your ink and not place stark lines onto your cs.  I sponged on Old Olive along the bottom, not quite touching the Daffodil Delight, and then sponged on Basic Black about halfway into the Old Olive.  The image was stamped using Old Olive and the flowers were colored over using Melon Mambo marker.  I added highlights with a White Gel Pen and lowlights with an Always Artichoke marker.  Highlights, lowlights…sounding more like my hair stylist…lol.  I, also, sponged on some Basic Black along the outer edge of the image panel.  I left any sentiment off of this card.  I’m not sure what to put on it just yet.  I like having ‘generic’ cards available that I can quickly add an appropriate sentiment as I need one.  This card would be suitable for so many different occasions.

     The hostess and her guests enjoyed seeing the technique.  It is so simple to show and provides such a ‘WOW’ to your workshop demonstration!   Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you’ve been inspired to create a bright and cheery card today!

Hugs,

Leslee

All supplies are Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased HERE!

Friday, April 1, 2011

Simple Easter Wishes

100_2742

     Such a simple card.  Whisper White card base that was run through the Big Shot with the fabulous Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  I ink distressed the raised frame with Baja Breeze and the flat stamp in the Distressing Essentials Kit.  The image panel is Whisper White layered onto Baja Breeze.  The image is the floral stamp in the beautiful Just Believe set.  It was stamped onto the panel in Old Olive and then I used the Baja Breeze marker to color over just the flowers.  Highlights were added with a White Gel Pen.  The Easter Wishes sentiment is in the All Holidays set.  The Pretty In Pink butterflies were cranked through the Big Shot using the Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die.  A large Jewels Basic Pearl adorns the center of the large butterfly.

     I used this card as a make-n-take project for a recent workshop.  The guests loved it!  The butterflies were a big hit!  Everyone seems to love getting their hands on the Big Shot.  It takes a lot of the intimidation away from such a large item.  This card leaves lots of room for creativity too.  I love to see how the guests will put their own twist on things!  I love sharing with them and watching them grow!

     Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you’ve been inspired to create a simple card to share with your friends.

Hugs,

Leslee

All supplies Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased HERE!