Monday, January 30, 2012

Just for Me!!

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100_4269    Stampin’ Up! recently held a Book-a-thon.  Demonstrators were challenged to book workshops on a certain day in hopes of meeting a world-wide booking goal (which we did!).  On top of the incentive that Stampin’ Up! gave us demonstrators (free stamps!), my upline, the uber talented Susan Elise Morton, said that she would give all in her downline, who book a workshop, a special project just from her.  Naturally, I participated and this is the project she sent to me.  Of course, it was in pieces and I needed only to watercolor the floral image (from Bordering on Romance) and adhere the card together.  It’s a lovely design and I wanted to share it with you :)    100_4267 I watercolored the image with my Aqua Painter and the Classic inksIsland Indigo, Pear Pizzazz and So Saffron.  The center flower is cut out and popped up on a Dimensional

     Workshops are so much fun!  If you’d like to host one of your own, let me know and I’ll help you get it scheduled.  Sale-A-Bration is a great time to host your own workshop!  With all the FREE goodies to choose from, how can you go wrong?

     Thanks for stopping in.  I hope you’ve been inspired :)

Hugs,

Leslee

Friday, January 27, 2012

FTL#165 Season’s Kindness

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     I am always in need of thank you cards or a simple thinking of you.  This clean and simple card is perfect for any occasion.  The layout is from the Clean & Simple Stamping Fall-To Layout #165.  The stamped snowflakes are from the Snow Swirled set and the sentiment is from the lovely Kindness Matters (which you can choose for FREE during Sale-A-Bration with a $50 purchase).  The Jewel Basic Rhinestone has been colored with a blue Sharpie ® marker.  Lovely card!  Clean and simple and a great card to mass produce.

     Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you’ve been inspired to give this layout a try :)

Hugs,

Leslee

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Extreme-ly Quick

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     With all the many cards I have in my stash, do you think I had one for a young man’s birthday?  Ha!  Once again, I grabbed for my go-to Extreme Elements set.  You can’t go wrong with this set for a young man’s birthday.  All the super cool elements…just throw them on in whatever colors you choose.  I have found that spending lots of time on a young man’s card just isn’t worth the effort.  The mom appreciates it but, let’s face it, the young man doesn’t really care :)  I know this because I have two young men of my own.  However, you CAN get an awesome card in 100_4156a very short amount of time.  (My guys would be cringing if they read this…me using words like “cool” and “awesome”!  I can hear them now, “So not cool, mom!”  lol  I digress…sigh.)

     For this card, my base is Crumb Cake, a layer of Soft Suede and Whisper White.  Lots of sponge distressing and the Cutter Kit distressing tool along the Whisper White edges.  Inks are Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Cherry Cobbler and Basic Black.  The die cut star is on a Dimensional.  I made the inside just as “cool” with more stamped elements.  The die cut stars hold a gift card securely in place.  How “cool” is that?!  You can find the inside sentiment in Word Play and the outside in Bring On The Cake.

     Thanks for stopping in.  I hope you’ve been inspired to add elements to your next project.  I hope they are “cool”, “awesome” and “pretty” too :)

Hugs,

Leslee

   

 

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

It’s SALE-A-BRATION time!

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The time is NOW to Sale-A-Brate! 

Customers:  Choose a FREE item from the exclusive Sale-A-Bration brochure with every $50 purchase (before Shipping and Sales Tax).

Hostesses:  Host during Sale-A-Bration to earn even more FREE products!  Plus, have fun with your friends and family while learning new techniques and the hottest trends in paper crafting.

Join my Team:  During Sale-A-Bration, you can purchase your Starter Kit for only $125!  That’s a $50 savings!  Plus, as a bonus, you can choose either a FREE Designer Series Paper package or FREE Digital Downloads each month for the rest of the year. 

Check out the Promotions for more details.  Click here to see the Sale-A-Bration brochure!

Monday, January 23, 2012

Smooching Technique to Die For

     No, it has nothing to do with kissing :)

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     This is a really super simple card.  Using the new Hearts Collection Framelits Dies, I cranked out several heart shapes with the Big Shot.  I placed the die cuts on top my Naturals White card base and placed it in my Color Catcher.  If you aren’t familiar with the Color Catcher, it’s a simple three sided cardboard box designed to contain Smooch Spritz or other sprayed mediums.  I thought I could just spray with a piece of paper behind my project to catch over-spray.  Well, my keyboard is now permanently spritzed with Silver Foil Smooch :)  Just sayin’…  Anyway, I sprayed the gorgeous new Blushing Bride Smooch Spritz on top the card, let it dry a few seconds and then removed the die cuts…exposing the white base beneath.  I then adhered my die cuts with Dimensionals to the base…off set from the exposed hearts.  It’s basically a masking technique.  Really cool effect.  And the shimmer is so pretty!  The ladies at my Stamp Clubs seemed to enjoy this quick project and it has that big WOW factor to it! :)  I left the sentiment for the inside but if you wanted to add one, I suggest using Jet Black StazOn or stamping it before spritzing.  The shimmery Smooch Spritz doesn’t let the other inks dry correctly.  How do I know?  Hmmm…

     I hope you’ve been inspired to “smooch” a little this Valentine season.  Thanks for stopping by today.

Hugs,

Leslee

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

Friday, January 20, 2012

Bordering On Romance

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     This is such an elegant one layer card that we did at this month’s Stamp Clubs.  The floral image is from the new Bordering On Romance set.  I stamped it in Jet Black StazOn ink and used my Aqua Painter to color it in with Classic Marina Mist, Baja Breeze, Pear Pizzazz and Craft Whisper White.  The sentiment is from Bring On The Cake, stamped in Soft Suede.  I wished I used Early Espresso instead…it would have showed up better, in my opinion.  The butterflies simply are a folded piece of Blushing Bride that I punched with the Small Heart punch.  I love being able to think outside of the box and get double the use with my supplies :)  The card base is Baja Breeze.  I used the new Adorning Accents Edgelits Die and the new coordinating Adorning Accents Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (now that’s a mouthful).  I, 100_4231also, ran the inside edge through the Big Shot with the hearts folder in the Adorning Accents TIEF set.  I then sponged the edges of all with Soft Suede to give it an aged look.  Love it!!

     Quick tip --  When using the Edgelits Dies, secure the wafer-thin die to the card stock using a sticky note.  Stampin’ Up! suggests using Dotto but, since I don’t have any, I had to come up with something else to temporarily hold the die in place.  Without it, the dies would have a tendency to slip when I ran it through the Big Shot. :(  I tried SNAIL, Tombow Multipurpose glue and the 2-Way Glue pen…all to no avail.  The sticky notes work great, are thin enough to not effect the cut in anyway and will lift off without messing up the card stock.

     Thanks for popping in today.  I hope you’ve been inspired to give these new dies and folders a try.

Hugs,

Leslee

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

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Extreme Smooched Baroque

100_4220     Perfect for an anniversary, wedding or the upcoming Valentine’s Day, this quick card couldn’t be easier.  The background flourish stamped in Crumb Cake and the sentiment in Early Espresso is from the Baroque Motifs set…an all-time favorite :)  A few elements from Extreme Elements are stamped in VersaMark ink.  I spritzed the Crumb Cake layer with the new Blushing Bride Smooch Spritz found in the Occasions Mini catalog.  I sprayed some Vanilla Shimmer Smooch on there too.  The Naturals White card base was sprayed with the Silver Foil Smooch.  The hearts are die cuts from the new Hearts Collection Framelits Dies.  They have been sponge distressed and smooched too.  You can say that I was in the mood for smoochin’!  :)  You may not see it well in the photo but the Smooch Spritz really makes the card shimmer and sparkle. 

     Thanks for stopping in today.  Consider yourself “smooched” :)

Hugs,

Leslee

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

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Everyday Enchantment Yummies!

     I cannot wait for January 24th!  That’s the start of Sale-A-Bration!!!  Yay! 

100_4237     For these yummy treat bags, I used the beautiful new Everyday Enchantment Designer Series paper (which you can choose FREE with a $50 purchase)!  I love this paper.  It coordinates with five of the In-Color papers…Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, Peach Parfait, Calypso Coral and Poppy Parade.  I haven’t gotten into using the In-Colors but I certainly will now!  This DSP is absolutely gorgeous with its bright colors and light sponge distressed edges.  It’s so…ME!

     The Everyday Enchantment Ribbon & Brad Pack is another choice you have with a $50 purchase.  I love these 1/8” Organdy ribbons in Lucky Limeade and Calypso Coral.  So easy to use (and you all know me…I’m so ribbon/bow challenged).  The brads are Printed Designer style making a perfect little accent! 

     So, you know you’re going to spend $100 bucks…just so you can get both of these Sale-A-Bration choices.  Just thought I’d give you a heads up now and you can save up :)  You are welcome!  I can’t wait!!!

     By the way, you can schedule your workshop for Sale-A-Bration.  As hostess, you get even more freebies!  What is more fun than stamping and crafting with your friends and family AND getting free stuff?  Not much!  Call me to schedule your workshop today!

Hugs,

Leslee

Supplies are Stampin’ Up!  Call me to schedule a workshop today :) 

Monday, January 16, 2012

Twitterpated Dream

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     In need of some quick note cards to include in customer orders, I whipped up a bunch of these cute postcard style cards.

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     This was the first time I got to “play” with my new Twitterpated goodies from the Occasions Mini catalog.  I love this color combination which I pulled straight from the floral paper…Island Indigo, Pear Pizzazz and Blushing Bride.  The sentiment is from the new Loving Thoughts set (a must have for me).  I used the flowers from the new Bordering on Romance set.  The scalloped edge is one of the Adorning Accents Edgelits Die.  These are so nice to use as you can see where you’re placing the design before you cut.  The heart is from the Hearts Collection Framelits Dies.  I’ll be using these Edgelits and Framelits often!  A Twitterpated Designer Button in Baja Breeze and 3/8” Pleated Satin Ribbon in Blushing Bride (yummy).  Everything coordinates so nicely! :)

     I’m sure you’re going to love the Twitterpated collection as much as I do :)  Thanks for stopping in today. 

Hugs,

Leslee

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

 

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Snowflake Gift Card Holder

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100_4171      I give a lot of gift cards and love making gift card holders.  I am always looking for something a little more than a simple envelope.  I want the recipient to be able to “open” a gift as well :)  I found this design awhile back (see this post).  Of course, you can always change out the papers/theme to suit any occasion.  That’s the beauty of paper crafting and stamping. 

     This was made for a friend and customer of mine.  Her husband called and asked me if I do gift certificates.  Of course I do…and I’ll even package it up real pretty.  Wasn’t that sweet of him?  100_4173It certainly surprised me but I knew immediately what I’d create.  I know she loves snowflakes and this was pretty easy to put together :)  Naturally, she loved it and can’t wait to spend her gift card :)  And with Sale-A-Bration right around the corner…she can pick one FREE goodie too :)  Now that’s what I call an awesome gift!!

Hugs,

Leslee

Supplies are Stampin’ Up!   -   DSP, silver cord and Soft Sky card stock are retired :(

Friday, January 6, 2012

Fun with the Snowmen

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     I actually designed these cards as part of a One Sheet Wonder card class but I’m just now getting around to posting them.  I thought that they would be great cards to use even after the holidays.  We still have birthday and thank you cards to send (and make) and the snowmen are perfect for these cold winter months that are upon us.

     Super clean and simple.  A card base, piece of DSP, perhaps an embossed coordinating layer and the main image…with or without a sentiment.  Just plain ol’ fun cards!

     Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you’ve been inspired to create a winter themed card.  For those of you southern hemisphere friends…how about a summer theme?  Can’t wait to see them :)

Hugs,

Leslee

Supplies are Stampin’ Up!

Whisper White & Marina Mist card stock; Frostwood Lodge DSP (retired); Snow Much Fun stamp set; Blender Pen and various Classic inks.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Occasions Mini! Hooray!

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     I love this time of year!  Out with the old and in with the new!  The Occasions Mini Catalog is just the thing to break me out of the after holiday blues!  I’ve finally had the opportunity to play with some of the new goodies found in this beautiful mini.  I’ll begin sharing those with you soon. 

     I still have some much needed “catching up” to do here around the house.  All the busy preparation for Christmas and going out-of-town has left the house a mess.  I have concrete company and end-of-the-year taxes staring at me.  I’m in the process of forming two Stamp Clubs (the first to begin Jan. 9th).  And the Christmas decor needs taken down and packed away. 

     I really enjoyed the winter break with the boys home and family close by me.  The blogging break was much needed too.  This year, I’m starting out with a refreshed body and mind, a renewed sense of purpose and focus and tons of big plans and personal goals!  Time to get busy!  I hope you have enjoyed your holidays, family and friends.  May God bless you throughout the coming year.  I look forward to creating with you :)

Hugs,

Leslee