Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Z-Chalkboard

100_5883       The chalkboard technique is presently one of the hottest trends in the market.  It is such an easy look to achieve and it certainly packs that “WOW” factor! 

100_5879     For this card, I paired the technique with the use of the Delicate Details Lace Tape as a stencil, as well as using the Simply Scored Borders Scoring Plate as a stencil for the accent around the sentiment.  I, also, designed this as a Z-fold card.  The butterflies are layered with the Creped Filter Paper and punched using the Elegant Butterfly punch.  Add the bling (Basic Jewel – Rhinestones) and pack a little more “WOW” onto the card. 

*Tip:  When punching the Creped Filter Paper, layer it onto scrap paper or cardstock and punch them together.  The filter paper is simply too fibrous and tends to pull and tear in the punch.  By layering onto other paper, it punches through cleanly.100_5881

     I know…I packed a ton of “WOW” into this one little card.  Sometimes, you have to.  There are only so many hours in a day.  Seriously though, we did this at stamp club and it was the perfect card to show this many different techniques :)  Thanks for stopping in.  I hope you have been inspired to give at least one of these techniques a try.

Hugs,

Leslee

All supplies can be purchased by clicking the “Shop Now” link above.

Monday, February 25, 2013

Twisted Dream

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     I wanted something a little different for my stamp clubs this month.  I had never made a Twisted Easel card so that’s the something different that I chose to do :)  I found a great tutorial on the Twisted Easel on SplitCoastStampers.com.

     Admittedly, I’m not a big fan of Summer Starfruit but, paired with the Gumball Green and Midnight Muse, it is beautiful!  The colors were picked from the designer series paper, Print Poetry DSP stack.  I’m telling you, you can’t go wrong with this DSP.  The flower was created by spritzing Summer Starfruit onto Creped Filter Paper and layering two punched 1-3/4” Scallop Circles and one 1-1/4” Scallop Circle.  Crumple the filter paper around a brad and fluff to shape your flower.  The card base was run through the Big Shot with the Scallop Circle Bigz die.  The sentiments are from the Loving Thoughts set.  The flourish is from Flowering Flourishes.

100_5892     Thanks for stopping by.  I’m so glad you did.  I hope you’ve been inspired to try something different today. 

Hugs,

Leslee

All supplies can be purchased here.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Love You Much

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     A perfect little anniversary card (or any little love note)…quick, simple and to the point!

     I used the Full Heart punch, one in Pool Party and the other with the More Amore DSP.  The hearts are “tied” together with a button from the SAB Sycamore Street Ribbon & Button pack.  The sentiment is found in the Best of Love set (February’s Best of 25 Years!).  You can take a look at all stamps in this set by clicking here.  The edge was scalloped with the Scallop Edge Border punch.

     Like I said, quick, simple and to the point!  Gotta love it!  Thanks for stopping in.  I hope you’ve been inspired to show some love today :)

Hugs,

Leslee

All supplies can be purchased by clicking the “Shop Now” tab above. 

Monday, February 18, 2013

So Glad

100_5874     This is one of the projects we did in February’s Stamp Club meeting.  A simple and very elegant card that can be used for lots of different occasions. 

     This project uses the lovely Floral District DSP which coordinates with the Baja Breeze card base and Daffodil Delight strip.  I bannered the bottom of the strip with the corner of the 1” square punch.  A half of a Tea Lace Paper Doily makes a very elegant appearance.  The Whisper White circle is from the 2-1/2” circle punch.  The flower and sentiment are from the SAB Bloomin’ Marvelous set.  The flower was built using the masking technique.  A Blender Pen was used to lift the Rich Razzleberry ink from the middle of the flower and then added Daffodil Delight with the marker.

     I love this card!  It’s not all about layers and embellishing.  I think that it is important to show even the most simple of techniques.  It may be simple to us veteran crafters but it can be all new to those just starting out.  We all were there once and someone showed us :)  Thanks for stopping by today.  I’m so glad you did!  I hope you’ve been inspired to get back to basics.

Hugs,

Leslee

Click the “Shop Now” tab above to purchase any of these Stampin’ Up! products.  

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Late for the ball…

…but I’m gonna show you anyway.

100_5901     I know…Valentine’s Day was several days ago.  I still wanted to show you this simple layout.  These non-traditional Valentine’s colors would make this a perfect card for an anniversary or simply an “I love you” card…any time of the year.

     Using the Hearts Framelits Dies, you can place your cutout heart anywhere on your card front.  I placed a piece of More Amore DSP behind my cutout.  My hubby is a no-frills-kinda-guy so I kept it very simple with the button treatment.  The button is from the SAB Sycamore Street Ribbon & Button pack.  This is a Pool Party front on a Very Vanilla card base.  This sentiment is found in the Hostess set, Wacky Wishes.  Change the sentiment for any occasion.

     Thanks for looking.  I hope you’ve been inspired to give hearts all throughout the year :)  They’re not just for Valentine’s Day.

Hugs,

Leslee

Friday, February 15, 2013

Sunshine

100_5841      This was a card that we made at my recent SAB workshop.  It features several items found in the lovely Spring 2013 catalog.  The sunny sentiment is found in the Feel Goods stamp set and the smiling sun in the Spring Sampler set. 

     Here’s how we did it…  100_5843

     We created a background using the direct-to-paper technique by swiping the Daffodil Delight ink pad onto Whisper White card stock.  We added a little bit of visual interest on the lower corner with the single flower from Flowering Flourishes in Certainly Celery.  We stamped the sentiment in Jet Black StazOn onto the Creped Filter Paper.  The sun was inked with Daffodil Delight and then rolled in Pumpkin Pie (the Rock-n-Roll technique).  Then, we crumpled our filter paper, uncrumpled and adhered it on top of the background using an Anywhere Glue Stick.  This is known as the Faux Silk technique.  The only difference is that the original technique uses tissue paper.  The filter paper gives it a slightly different look and feel.  I like it!  That lovely Tangerine Tango button and ribbon is from the SAB Sycamore Street Ribbon & Button Pack.  You can get it for FREE with a $50 Stampin’ Up! purchase.  Go “Shop Now” to learn more.

     We finished this lovely project by layering it all on another piece of Whisper White and Tangerine Tango card stock.  The card base was cut using the Scallop Square die and the Big Shot.  The coordinating envelope and DSP strip on the card are from the fun and bright Polka Dot Parade DSP.  The envelope was quickly created using the Simply Scored and the Diagonal Plate

     We’ve had several days with a major lack of sunshine here in southern Virginia lately.  This bright, sunny card was just the thing to chase the dreary doldrums.  Thanks for stopping by today.  Let me know what you think.  Did this brighten your day?  I hope you’ve been inspired to brighten someone else’s :)

Hugs,

Leslee

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Lace Tape Treatment

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     This is a simple and elegant card that features a couple of Spring 2013 Catalog items and a Sale-A-Bration item too. 

     I used a piece of the lovely Delicate Details Lace Tape as a stencil on a strip of Whisper White card stock.  I sponged over some Island Indigo and then pulled the tape off.  Be sure to save the tape for another day as it is still usable.  I just love when we can get “extra mileage” out of our products :)    I then fixed the stenciled strip over a half piece of a Paper Tea Lace Doily.  Add the lovely Island Indigo ribbon from the Sycamore Street ribbon & button pack found in the SAB catalog and a Pool Party punched Elegant Butterfly with some pretty Jewel Basic Pearls and adhere it all to a Pool Party base…done!  The sentiment (from Fabulous Phrases) says it all…beautiful!  In my opinion anyway :)

     Remember, now through March 22nd, with every $50 you spend you can select an item from the Sale-A-Bration catalog for FREE! 

     Thanks for taking a peek!  I’m so glad you did.  I hope you’ve been inspired to try stenciling with your lace.

Hugs,

Leslee

All supplies can be purchased here.

Monday, February 11, 2013

Little Treat Boxes

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     I wanted just a little something sweet to grace my customer orders.  I had come across a post awhile ago that used these little candy treats but, for the life of me, I couldn’t find the post :(  The packaging was what I was looking for so I ended up creating something of my own to use.  It is a basic simple box with a top, bottom and a base for the treat to sit down in.  Hold it all together with sticky strip and coordinating ribbon.  Add a coordinated tag and done!  I used Clear Window Sheets for the sides and the Festival of Prints paper stack that was in the recent Holiday catalog for the lid.  The base is Island Indigo card stock and ribbon is Very Vanilla 1/8” taffeta.  Score it all up with the Simply Scored Tool which makes such quick work mass producing this type of project.  Such a lovely little treat to give.  And they were well received too :)

     Thanks for dropping by today.  I’m so glad you did.  I hope you’ve been inspired to make something special for someone you appreciate this week.  Remember, it is Valentine’s Day on Thursday :)

Hugs,

Leslee

Friday, February 8, 2013

Wedding Cake Wishes

100_5640100_5637    The family recently had a wedding to attend.  She’s a beautiful girl and certainly she deserves a beautiful card :)  There’s no better time for tone-on-tone and lots of texture than on a wedding card. 

     The card is Very Vanilla with some lightly sponged Blushing Bride (retired) to add just a little bit of pop and interest on the heart and flowers.  The sentiment is found in the  Loving Thoughts set.  The heart, from the Hearts Collection Framelits, was run through the Big Shot with the two smaller hearts turned over…non-cutting side up.  It left just the outline of the hearts inside the large cut heart.  The small flower is from the Boho Blossoms punch, each with a Jewel Basic – Pearl.  The Swirl Embossing folder is (gasp) non-Stampin’ Up!.  Of course, the envelope was done up to coordinate.  Such an easy way to take your project up to the next level. 100_5623

     The inside had to be just as “wow” as the outside.  I did the pop-up packages technique to make a lovely three-tiered cake…complete with lots of texture and more pearls.  I found the tutorial for the pop-up packages on Lisa Young’s blog, Add Ink and Stamp.  Thanks Lisa…great tutorial! 

     I really love how this card came out!  I’d been waiting for the right time to do an elegant tone-on-tone card.  This one exceeded my dreams :)  I wish the very best for the newlyweds.

     Thanks for popping.  I’m so glad you did.  I hope you’ve been inspired to give lots of texture to your card or project today.

Hugs,

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Leslee

 

Supplies can be purchased by clicking the “Shop Now” link above.

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Masculine Poetry

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   I really like the Print Poetry Designer Series Paper Stack that is in the Spring 2013 Catalog.  If you flip through it the one direction, the colors are pinks and yellows and girlie :)  If you flip through the other direction, colors are blues and greens with a more masculine feel to them (yet some are still very girlie).  This really is MY kind of paper stack! 

     That said…I had a young man’s birthday card to make for a party my young man was invited to.  You guessed it!  I grab my Print Poetry DSP stack and found this polka dotted dsp.  Coordinating with the Crumb Cake card base and the Midnight Muse strip was a no-brainer.  The fun sentiment is found in Sassy Salutations (love this set) and stamped in Very Vanilla Craft ink (retired).  The inside sentiment is from Bring On The Cake stamped in Midnight Muse Classic ink. 100_5792 The linen thread around the Midnight strip simply ties it all together (so to speak).  Coordinate the envelope and there you have a quick easy card with plenty of masculine feel to it!

     Thanks for stopping in today.  I’m so glad you did.  I hope you’ve been inspired to create something masculine. 

Hugs,

Leslee

All supplies can be purchased by clicking on the Shop Now link above.

Monday, February 4, 2013

Lace Doilies, Print Poetry & Creped Filter Paper

       How’s that for a title?  That about covers it all :)

100_5781     My aunt recently celebrated a birthday.  I wanted a card that was elegant with a vintage feel to it.  The new White Tea Lace Paper Doilies seemed to be a perfect fit.  I had one sitting on my desk from a previous project, already sponged with Primrose Petals, and decided to use it.  

     I’ve been playing with several of my new Spring 2013 Catalog goodies and was kind of stumped as to how to used the White Creped Filter Paper (besides dyeing it and creating flowers).  I decided to try using it with the Faux Silk Technique.  Normally, the Faux Silk technique is done using tissue paper which is thinner than the filter paper.  However, the filter paper does work with this technique and gives a slightly coarser look to the project…not in a bad way either. 

     Here is what I did with this project…

     I stamped the image from Bordering On Romance in Jet Black StazOn Ink.  I colored the image in with a Blender Pen and Classic Inks (Primrose Petals, So Saffron and Gumball Green).  I then lightly misted the filter paper with a Stampin’ Spritzer, water and several drops of Primrose Petals re-inker.  Crumple up the filter paper and adhere to Whisper White cardstock using an Anywhere Glue Stick.  I added some Print Poetry DSP to the bottom and ran it through the Big Shot with the largest frame in the Apothecary Accents Framelits die set.   The ribbon is from SAB 2012.  100_5784The Whisper White card base was run through the Big Shot with a retired embossing plate. 

     Although this is a crisp white card, it still has that elegant vintage feel.  I like how it turned out.  What do you think?  I’d love to hear from you.  Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you’ve been inspired to crumple and adhere a project or two today :)

Hugs,

Leslee

Supplies can be purchased here.