Friday, July 29, 2011

Open House Make-n-Take

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     This card using the Simply Soft and Swirls & Curls Verses Hostess sets was the final make-n-take card at my Open House.  It was built off of this design, Simply Soft, but I added a layer of Basic Black behind the Whisper White panel.  I couldn’t wait to show off this lovely Lucky Limeade Ruffled Ribbon and the new Designer Printed Brads.  :)  They make me smile!  I love the cute little sentiment with that cute little bird!  I’ll be using more of that stamp!

     I hope you enjoyed this card and have been inspired by it.  Thanks for stopping by today!

Hugs,

Leslee

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

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Simply Soft

     The part about designing that I love the most is getting to ‘play’ with stamp sets to see 100_3356just what I can do with them.  These two lovely cards didn’t make the cut as a make-n-take at my Open House.  Although I really like them, I really wanted to use some of the new ruffled ribbon on the make-n-take.  My order with the ribbon hadn’t arrived at my door yet.  I’ll post the end result in a few days. :) 

     On both of these cards, I ran a layer of Lucky Limeade through the Big Shot using the 100_3352Square Lattice Embossing folder.  On a Whisper White layer, I randomly stamped the outline of the flower images from the Two-Step stamping Hostess set, Simply Soft, in Jet Black StazOn.  Then, I went back over the random stampings with the ‘filler’ image (one using Calypso Coral and the other Daffodil Delight).  The sentiments are from the Swirls & Curls Verses set (another lovely Hostess set – which I think I will use quite often).   I finished by sponging some Lucky Limeade ink in a circular motion over top of the image.  It just gives it a nice background for the image to ‘sit’ on.  

     These Two-step stamp sets are so easy to use.  I have something in mind for another time already.  Gotta love it!  I hope you found some inspiration today.  Give a two-step stamp a second look :)  Thanks for stopping by today.

Hugs,

Leslee

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

Monday, July 25, 2011

Thanks So Much…

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…for this super simple card.  I shamelessly CASE’d this one from Donna Ross that I had run across on SplitcoastStampers.  I took only a few liberties as I so loved Donna’s card just as it was.  I LOVE that it showcases all the new 2011-13 In-Colors that we find in the new catalog.  Yes, I had my customers make this lovely card at my New Catalog Open House.

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     I had been sitting on the Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer punch…wondering just why I bought this punch.  I can’t seem to find just how to use the punched flowers.  This is the perfect layout to show these punched flowers.  I used the Lace Ribbon Border for the bottom edge of the panel.  I wanted my customers to get hands on with that punch as well.  The sentiment is from the Swirls & Curls Verses Hostess set.  I placed a Jewel Basic Rhinestone in the flower center.  That small touch makes it a very elegant card.

     Thanks so much, Donna, for sharing your card and thank you for stopping by today.  Check out Donna’s blog, Stamped Sophisticates.  She inspired me.  I’m sure you’ll find some inspiration there too.  :)

Hugs,

Leslee

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

Friday, July 22, 2011

Hello!

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     With my New Catalog Open House only days away, I had to kick the creativity into high gear.  I started by coming across this lovely layout over on the Clean & Simple Stamping site.  Layout #146 was the perfect start to a full day of creating.  

     This card showcases the beautiful new set, My Friend.  Butterflies are die cut in Wisteria Wonder using the Big Shot and the Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die.  The Whisper White sentiment panel is layered onto the gorgeous new Pool Party.  The sentiment was stamped in Basic Black after I adhered the panel to a Crumb Cake card base.  Some simple paper piercing was added above and below the panel.  A rhinestone was placed in the center of the large butterfly to finish it all off.

     It took a lot to get to this point.  The mojo just hasn’t been cooperating lately.  However, I took one look at this layout and knew just exactly what I wanted to do with it.  Whew! 

     Thanks for stopping in today!  I hope your mojo hasn’t taken a vacation like mine has.  If so, hop on over to the Clean & Simple Stamping site for a little sketch of inspiration.

Hugs,

Leslee

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

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Oh Mojo…

…where did you go?

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     It’s not that I don’t like this card, it’s just not exactly what I was envisioning.  I’ve been trying to find some creative mojo all week.  I guess that my head just isn’t into it.  There is just too much happening this summer.  Hopefully, just having the chance to “play” will spark something.  I have my New Catalog Open House and my first Stamp Club to design for :)

     Anyhoo, simple card…whisper white card base with the edge scalloped.  I ran the Pear Pizzazz Patterns DSP through the Big Shot using the Flower Garden Textured Impressions folder.  I then lightly sanded the raised embossed image to make it pop a little better.  The Poppy Parade strip along the inside edge is layered on a Pear Pizzazz strip.  The card really needed the red flower button (Designer Buttons – Brights collection) to pull it all together.  A simple card perfect for any occasion.

     Thanks for stopping by today.  Finding lost mojo can be a difficult task but you have to start somewhere :)

Hugs,

Leslee

Supplies are Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased here.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

More Teacher Gift Sets

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     This is the set that I did for Jesse’s teachers.  He had six teachers to thank this year.  Five of them received an altered gift bag with the Dry Erase markers.  The last one received a popcorn package and altered bottle of water.  She didn’t use the markers (must have been the PE teacher).  Anyway, I used Night of Navy and Poppy Parade.  These are a perfect match to his school colors.  Cool idea!  Even one of the teachers commented on the colors and said that she will “keep the gift bag for herself”.  Of course, she asked Jess if he stamped it himself.  Ha!  I think she needs a catalog if she knew it was hand stamped…don’t you?  Again, the teachers all liked their thank you gifts.  BTW, dry erase markers are a great gift for teachers.  It something they will use often during the school year and it is usually something they must purchase out of their own pocket. 

     Thanks for stopping in today.  I’ve been busy designing for my New Catalog Open House.  The mojo has peeked here and there.  I should have more to show in the coming week.  I hope you’ve been inspired to wrap up a thank you for someone you are thankful for in your life :)

Hugs,

Leslee

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

Monday, July 11, 2011

Teacher’s Gift Set

      Of course I did end of the year gifts for the boys’ teachers.  School’s been out for almost a month now.  I’m sorry it has taken me this long to get to posting these for you.  This summer has just been non-stop so far.  What happened to the “slower pace of summer”?  I’m certainly ready for it :)  I digress…

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     Adam said that his teacher likes pink.  Well, I’ve been itchin’ to use up more of this retired Razzleberry Lemonade DSP and it goes perfect with Melon Mambo!  Add a little Basic Black as an accent and I’m happy!  And that’s what counts!  ‘Cause when mama ain’t happy, nobody’s happy!  The little white gift bag was purchased in the clearance rack at the supercenter.  They hold a 4-pack of Dry Erase markers perfectly.  I 100_3304just decorated the front.  Wouldn’t that make a cute card front as well?  The butterfly is simply the flower punched out of the new Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch.  I love thinking outside of the box and getting extra use out of my purchases.  I snipped the top and bottom ‘petals’, wrapped and tied some Whisper White Baker’s Twine for antenna and added the black bling from the retired Designer Jewels Black Flourish (I wish Stampin’ Up! would carry more of it). 100_3291 I even wrapped up a few more of the popcorn packages

     The teachers enjoyed their goodies.  I think that Adam enjoyed having them throughout the year.  We’ve been blessed to have the teachers we have had.  Thanks for stopping in today.  I hope you’ve been inspired to show someone that they are an inspiration to you. 

Hugs,

Leslee

All supplies are Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased here unless noted as being retired or purchased elsewhere :)

 

Thursday, July 7, 2011

It’s been crazy!

     Sorry, no cards or projects today.  Just some life matters :)  I will post some teacher’s gifts tomorrow :)

     I know…I’ve been MIA for a week.  Things have just been crazy here in the Holston household.  2011-06-23 15.34.12My youngest son had his hand operated on two Thursday’s ago.  Not one but two cysts were removed and sent for review.  The pathology report said that the cysts were “vascular malformations”.  What does THAT mean?  Even the surgeon is baffled.  We figure they don’t know and placed a big fancy name on it.  Adam’s cast was removed last week.  Well, his hand is developing yet another “knot”.  It is very large and painful for him.  I’m a wreck…that’s my baby!  So back to the lab for blood test we went this morning.  Tests came back normal – no infections (good).  But then what is it?  Our appt. with the doctor is Monday.  Of course, the surgeon is on vacation for two weeks, so we see another one in the same office.  For now, prayers are much welcome!

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     On a lighter note, we attended a family reunion in West Virginia.  It was the 100th gathering of the Mann family.  Isn’t that amazing?!  That’s my husband’s grandmother’s family.  She was the 9th child of 13.  It’s a  2011-07-01 11.33.26HUGH gathering!  We camped in a tent for the weekend, visited with family, met new cousins, ate good food, played games, had fireworks, roasted marshmallows, hiked the mountain and returned home absolutely exhausted!  Now, I’m ready for a vacation! :)  Isn’t that how it usually goes?  The mountains are beautiful and the fact that it is the site 2011-07-02 22.11.49of the original homestead makes it all the more special.  We will return again next year.

      Thanks for letting me ramble today.  I needed to.  The mojo just hasn’t been flowing lately and now you know why.  I’ll post a couple of recent end-of-the-year teacher’s gifts then, hopefully, mojo will make an appearance  and I’ll have something new to share :)

2011-07-02 21.15.36Hugs,

Leslee