Friday, June 29, 2012

Pinwheel Thank You for Teacher

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        Adam’s teacher this past year was a fantastic lady!  Adam really enjoyed the year with her and I couldn’t have been happier to meet such a wonderful person.  Turns out that she is being transferred to another school due to county budget cuts.  We will all miss her and I know she will miss being at GBES as well. 

     To show our appreciation, using the lovely Floral District DSP, I made her a cute little pinwheel ...to remind her to go with the flow.  Some sweets in the long 1” x 8” cellophane bag…to sweeten her day.  And a Starbucks ® gift card…because, no matter where the wind may blow her, I’m sure there will be a Starbucks ® nearby :) 

100_5015     I’m sure our paths will cross again…she has older kids that will go to the same high school as my older son.  And, honestly, I don’t want to let our friendship end just because she isn’t teaching my son any longer :)  She has touched both our lives…forever!

     Thanks for everything, Kathy! 

100_5012Hugs,

Leslee

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

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Graduation Gift Card Holder

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     I pulled this idea straight from the June 2012 issue of our demonstrator’s Stampin’ Success magazine.  This clever little card holder came in handy this month.  Not only did I use this as a June Stamp Club project but I was in need of a gift card holder for a young lady who graduated from high school. 

100_5028     For this project, I used our local high school colors…Night of Navy, Real Red and Whisper White.  The sentiment, from Loving Thoughts, just seems so perfect for any graduate :)  A length of Cherry Cobbler Baker’s Twine makes a cute tassel.  The cap is “hinged” to the base with a brad.  While the base is doubled to make a pocket to hold the gift card or money.  If you would like a template, the demonstrator website has one there.  I made mine just a little bigger than what they provided.  If you’d like that, let me know and I will be happy to email it to you. 

     Thanks for dropping in today.  I’m so glad you did.  I hope you’ve been inspired!

Hugs,

Leslee

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

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Teen Thank You Cards

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     As you know, my son recently celebrated his thirteenth birthday with some of his friends.  They all had a fun, fabulous time together…swimming, playing video games and up ALL night.  It was just what a teen’s party should be :)  It was a really great group of guys too. 

100_4984     Jess decided to do thank you cards for his friends.  I was showing the shaving cream technique at my June Stamp Clubs.  He joined us the one evening and made these for his thank you cards.  He chose Tempting Turquoise for the base and the new Midnight Muse for the mat and reinker color for his swirls.  The Extreme Surfboard set (retired) was stamped in Basic Black Craft ink.  Super simple and a really fun technique!

     I will show you my stamp club shaving cream project soon.  I have to admit, I like Jesse’s project better.  I really like the card with the “wave” that curls over the surfer.  That really turned out cool!  Great job Jess!  

     Thanks for drifting in today.  I hope you’ve been inspired to try this shaving cream technique.  I can show you how it’s done when you host your own workshop.  Imagine the fun we will have!  :)  Schedule yours today! 

Hugs,

Leslee

Monday, June 25, 2012

Square Thanks

 100_4966      Wanting to use some new catalog items and always in need of a little something to add to stamp club orders, these cute little scalloped square thank you note cards were the perfect answer. 

100_4971     I used the Summer Smooches DSP on the card and the envelope flap.  The image is from the new hostess set, Happy You.  It is colored in using Blender Pens and Classic inks.  The image is stamped onto the layered Apothecary Accents Framelits die cuts (I am really going to love these dies).  The card is cranked out with the Big Shot and the Scallop Square Bigz Clear Die…making sure not to cut the fold.  Add a little bling with the Jewels Basic Rhinestones and it’s done! 

     I like that I was able to use up some of the scraps I had strewn about my desk.  That is always a plus when designing :)  Thanks for stopping in today.  I know I’ve been absent for too long.  Nothing but life in general to blame.  But, that’s okay…life has required lots of crafting…just no time to post.  I’ll have plenty to show…stay tuned :)

Hugs,

Leslee

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

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Faux Mother of Pearl

100_4959     This was the last of the projects we did at May Stamp Club meeting.  The Faux Mother of Pearl technique was a huge hit with the ladies.  It really is an easy technique with a lot of WOW factor!  I did the best I could to capture the gorgeous detail in the image but the pictures really don’t do it justice.  It is such a beautiful project! 

     Here is a quick how-to…

   Using Glossy White card stock, blot on Frost White Shimmer Paint with a crumpled piece of plastic wrap.  Let dry and sponge on Classic Ink of choice.  We used Sahara Sand and a bit of Blushing Bride (now retired) to give a some what vintage look to the project.  Wipe off any excess ink with paper towel in a swirl motion.  The reason for this is that the classic ink will not set on top of the shimmer paint…kind of like emboss resist.  Stamp your image in Jet Black StazOn100_4963It is the only ink that will stamp on top of the paint.  We used the floral image from Elements of Style.  Color in image (or not) with Stampin’ Write Markers.  Again, wipe off excess ink with paper towel to reveal the shimmer and give it that Mother of Pearl look. 

     Love it?  We do!  And we want to try it in all colors now :)

     Thanks for stopping in today.  I’ve been swamped with life happenings lately and posting has had to take a backseat.  I’m hoping that once school is out (Thursday is the boys’ last day), I will get back on a regular schedule :)  Thanks for sticking with me. 

Hugs,

Leslee

Supplies can be purchased here.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Shadowed Motifs

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     I think that techniques and products tend to go hand-in-hand.  Without proper products or the proper use of a product, the technique wouldn’t be right. 

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     For May’s Stamp Clubs, we focused on Stampin’ Up!’s Stamp-A-Ma-Jig and the Clear-Mount Perfectly Placed Guides.  I explained how each works and then put that new knowledge to use with the Shadow Stamping technique.  I’ve also heard this technique called Faux Embossing or 3D Stamping.  I like the term “shadow stamping” because that’s exactly what it looks like…as if your image has cast a shadow.  By using the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, you can place your shadow image right where you want it.100_4949

   One of my club members had recently gotten engaged and is planning her wedding.  I thought it would be fun to give the project a wedding theme.  I used the recently retired Blushing Bride card stock (it wasn’t retired when I showed it – call it the last hurrah).  Same with the Baroque Motifs set :)  It has been one of my favorites and I will miss it much (however, I think that Elements of Style will quickly replace it).  The flourish image was stamped in Whisper White Craft ink.  The shadow in Blushing Bride Classic ink.  I fancied the edge with the Adorning Accents Edgelits die and a strip of Twitterpated DSP.  The Beautiful Wings butterflies actually are helping to conceal a blemish.  That’s right.  I oopsied :(  But, I turned it into a lesson for my clubs…make sure to let your craft ink dry completely.  Yep!  I know this for a fact!  We set the heat tool to all of our projects during club :)

100_4953     Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you have been inspired to try this technique (new or old to you).  It is a WOW with the customers too.

Hugs,

Leslee 

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Party Invites – Entering the Teen Years :)

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     I guess I’ve been putting off the inevitable…my baby will be a teenager this weekend.  I’ve waited until the last minute to make his party invitations…like that will stop the day from coming.  Oh, who I am kidding…it is usually a last minute thing anyway :)  So, here it is.  Quick and easy, postcard style. 

100_4942     The base color is Pool Party (seems fitting as the guys will be in the pool).  Once again, I used Clear Block D to block on Pool Party Classic ink on the Whisper White.  The retired Extreme Surfboard was stamped in Basic Black Craft ink.  It is the perfect stamp for teens and tweens alike :)  The party information was printed from the computer. 

     I told you…quick and easy!  I like needed that and Jess liked them too.  So, it looks as if I’ll have a house full of teenage boys this weekend.  I best go stock up on the groceries before they get here.  Love it!  And I love the super young man my boy has grown to be!  I’m so proud of him…for so many reasons :) 

     Thanks for stopping in today.  I know I’ve been MIA for too long.  Been super busy with life…in a good way.  I’ve been crafting just no time to post it up.  I’ve been playing catch up this week so you’ll get to see it all soon :)

Hugs,

Leslee