Monday, August 27, 2012

Watercolor Dry Embossing

     I bet you thought I fell off the face of the earth, didn’t you?  Well, I’m fine.  I took a week off and spent it with the boys :)  (much needed).  Then, it took me a week to catch up on paperwork between one company or another.  I have been very crafty and have a ton to show you too.  Now, if I can just find the time to photograph and upload…hmmm.  PTA has started once again.  Back 2 School Staff Luncheon, Meet-N-Greet with the teachers, Open House…it’s going to be a busy last week of summer break.  The boys return to school on September 4th.  On one hand, I’m ready for it…on the other hand, it will be very quiet around the house :(  However, fall soccer and fall baseball starts that week too.  No time to relax!  So, on with a card!!

100_5331      I had seen this technique on the SplitCoastStampers website recently, Distress Watercolor Dry Embossing, and I had to give it a try.  While the technique is fairly simple, I’m not real happy with the way it turned out.  I used the Flower Garden Embossing Folder and I think that’s where the problem is.  I think that there should be larger area within the raised embossing in which to watercolor.  This image is just too close, too small, too busy.  I don’t have an image that would be better…yet. 

     Anyway, like I said, the technique is fairly simple.  Using Watercolor Paper, dry emboss with folder of your choice.  Heat emboss the raised embossing with clear embossing powder.  Wet paper with water and watercolor as desired.  I used an Aqua Painter and re-inkers to do this.  I also gave the background a light watercolor wash of Bashful Blue

     It’s not a bad looking card.  I prefer a different folder and my watercoloring skills could be brushed up…a lot!  All in all, the card is pretty cute.  A Bashful Blue base, layer of Primrose Petals and a strip of scalloped Certainly Celery.  The sentiment has long since been retired and is stamped and layered on Early Espresso.  I like the color combo.  What do you think?

     By the way, although this didn’t turn out quite how I’d liked it to, it did inspire another card.  I will show that soon :)  Thanks for stopping in today.  I’m so glad you did!

Hugs,

Leslee

Stampin’ Up! supplies can be purchased here.

Friday, August 10, 2012

Triple Birthday Wishes

100_5163     A friend of mine recently celebrated her birthday :)  While Facebook is a great way to keep in touch, there is still nothing like opening your mailbox to find something other than bills with your name on it :) 

    I’ve seen this technique all over the internet as of late.  It is known as Triple Time Stamping or Seamless Tiers.  I had to give it a try!  Keeping in mind that this card would be mailed, I left off any additional embellishments.  I kept the stamping simple and elegant…only adding visual appeal with splashes of color to the flowers on the flourishes.  I inked up the Flowering Flourishes with Gumball Green and Melon Mambo markers.  I stamped this onto the DSP (Floral District) and layered that onto Gumball Green card stock.  Super simple!

     I love the look!  I will be showing my stamp club members this technique and I’ll be using it myself a lot more in the near future.  Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you’ve been inspired to give this a try yourself.

Hugs,

Leslee

Supplies can be purchased here

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Statement of the Heart

100_5115        Happy Anniversary to the gals in my downline!!  They have just celebrated their one year anniversary of signing their agreement with Stampin’ Up!  I am so happy for them and so thankful that they are a part of my creative crew.  I wanted to mark the occasion with a lovely card. 

100_5110     I ran Daffodil Delight card stock through the Big Shot using the Framed Tulips folder.  Placed a piece of Floral District DSP in the center.  I really love this DSP!  I heat embossed the beautiful Stampin’ Up! Statement of the Heart in Basic Black Craft Ink and Black Embossing Powder on Whisper White.  I die cut this using the large die in the Apothecary Accents Framelits.  I used the same framelits die to cut a Midnight Muse layer.  To make this layer slightly larger than the Whisper White, I cut the Muse layer in half lengthwise.  The retired Old Olive ribbon is hiding the space that was created when I separated the layer.  The butterflies are die cut in Calypso Coral using Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die.  Additionally beautified with the addition of some Jewel Basic - Rhinestone bling :)

100_5112     I would love to mass produce more of these beautiful cards.  There is plenty of room for you in my downline :)  If you are interested in joining the Stampin’ Up! family, now is a perfect time.  Stampin’ Up! is having a Spooktacular Offer!  This is no trick…only treats! Get a FREE Howl-O-Ween project kit and countless other goodies when you sign to be a demonstrator during the month of August! For just $99, you can completely customize your Starter Kit with up to $125 worth of current Stampin’ Up! products…just the way you like it! That by itself is a real treat! Don’t be afraid. Learn more by contacting me today or visit “Join the Fun” on my website. I’d love to have you join my creative crew and you, too, could receive a special something made just for you!

     Thanks for stopping in today.  I love to share with you.

Hugs,

Leslee

Monday, August 6, 2012

A Little Something

100_5142

     I always try to do a “little something” for my Stamp Club ladies.  Just to show them my appreciation of their support of my business.  This month, I made these cute little bookmarks to stick in with their orders.  It came about because my oldest has a summer reading project that he must do.  Well, he was using the project information packet as a bookmarker.  Couldn’t he find something better???  Anyway, it inspired me to create these cuties. 

100_5149     I used the single flower from Flowering Flourishes and punched a small blossom in Primrose Petals from the Boho Blossoms punch.  I placed a Daffodil Delight 1/4” circle in the center.  The Gumball Green tag is die cut using the Big Shot and the Apothecary Accents Framelits die.  I am really loving the Gumball Green color!!  This sentiment from Loving Thoughts seemed appropriate for the project.

     Now, Jess has a real bookmark for his summer reading book :)  My sis has one, I have one and so do my stamp club ladies!  I love how easy they were to complete.  You could do up a bunch of these for all the kids in your child’s class in no time at all.  Thanks for stopping in today.  I hope you’ve been inspired to dream up a “little something” for yourself :)

Hugs,

Leslee

Stampin’ Up! supplies can be purchased here.

Friday, August 3, 2012

Virginia State Sales Tax Holiday

adhesives

     This weekend, August 3-5, the state of Virginia is having a sales tax holiday on school supplies (up to $20.00 per item).  Stampin’ Up! has a list of items that fall under the category of “school supplies”.  Therefore, these items will be state tax exempt.  Things like adhesives, markers, pens, scissors…all things we need to stock up on for our holiday projects.  Now is the time to stock up!  Go to the “Shop Now” button on my website or feel free to call me.  I will be placing my order on Sunday :)  This really is the best time to stock up on your adhesives (something I go through a lot of during the holidays).  There is nothing worse than trying to finish up your holiday cards only to run out of Snail :(  Call me today to place your order.

     Here is a list of items that are included:

Number

Description

Price

100425

2-Way Glue Pen

$4.50

104332

Snail® Adhesive

$6.95

104331

Snail Refill

$4.50

104294

Sticky Strip

$6.95

104430

Stampin' Dimensionals®

$3.95

103683

Mini Glue Dots

$4.95

103579

Paper Snips

$9.95

103179

Craft & Rubber Scissors

$19.95

101879

Watercolor Pencils

$19.95

105021

uni-ball Signo® Gel Pen

$3.95

102845

Blender Pens

$9.95

various

Stampin' Write® Markers

$3.50

119802

Subtles (10)

$16.95

119803

Regals (10)

$16.95

119804

Brights (10)

$16.95

119805

Neutrals (10)

$16.95

110755

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

$3.95

104045

Anywhere Glue Sticks

$3.95

123002

2011-2013 In Color Stampin' Write Markers

$14.95

128978

Silver Stampin' Dazzle Marker

$3.50

128979

Gold Stampin' Dazzle Marker

$3.50

Have a great weekend.

Hugs,

Leslee

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

‘Flip Flops’ in July

100_5099      I thought that flip flops were a great project for July’s stamp club.  Flip Flop cards that is :)  This type of card is also known as a swing card.  While it isn’t difficult to do…you just need to know how to use/read your paper cutter.  And once you’ve done one, you know what you are doing (or you should). 

100_5096     For this card, we used Summer Starfruit as our card base.  Gumball Green layer and a Primrose Petals Elegant Butterfly punch.  The image is from Flowering Flourishes.  We used the marker direct to rubber for this.  The sentiment is from Fabulous Phrases.  It difficult to see but we wheeled on Betsy’s Blooms in VersaMark.

     While the ladies moaned and groaned a little (some more than others – you know who you are), we achieved some beautiful flip flop cards!  I really enjoy introducing my clubs to styles, techniques and tools.  I believe that they learn something new each and every month.  I love my job!

     If you’d like to do what I do, there’s never been a better time!  Check out the Spooktacular Offer from Stampin’ Up! for the month of August. 

     The Holiday Catalog goes live today as well!  Yea!  Less than 5 months until Christmas.  Let’s get started now!  You can place your order through my website or call me.

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

Hugs,

Leslee