Textured Snowflake

 

     I did not immediately fall in love with this particular card.  I ran the Cherry Cobbler card base, three strips of Frostwood DSP and the large die cut Snowflake #2, all adhered together, through the Big Shot using the Snow Burst Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  It came out all textured and stuck together…duh!  What was I thinking?  I hated it!  I tried to lift the snowflake off to no avail.  I only managed to pull up the edges…it was stuck good!  Oh well.  I tossed it aside, still in sight, move on (I was designing for my One Sheet Wonder Card Class).  I stared at that card, all stuck together, for four days…what to do?  Well, it grew on me and I began to actually like the look.  Then it hit me…add a punched snowflake, un-embossed (is that a word?), set on a Dimensional.  Tie a bit of Linen Thread and some mini jingle bells to the center and wah-lah!  I don’t just like the look…I love it!  This card REALLY grew on me!  I guess I’m trying to say that, even though it isn’t what you had pictured originally, don’t give up.  It will either grow on you or you’ll figure out just what it is missing…or both!

     Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you’ve been inspired to give your “what-was-I-thinking” pile of card parts a second look.  You never know what beauty may be lurking in the shadows.

Hugs,

Leslee

Stampin’ Up! supplies can be purchased here.

Frosty Thank You’s

     I enjoy throwing a little something in with customer orders.  Just a small “thank you”.  These cuties have found their way into several Stampin’ Up! bags in the past month.  So easy to make…and easy is exactly what I need with the busy season that is upon us ;) 

     Made with the Big Shot and Top Note die (head and hat).  A 1” x 5” strip of Basic Black with the corners rounded (Corner Rounder punch) for the hat brim.  Real Red grosgrain ribbon for the hat band.  The holly leaves are from the new Stocking Accents die.  I used my stylus to add some veining.  The Red Glimmer Paper berries and the eyes are a 1/2” circle punch.  His nose if a petal cute from the 5-Petal Flower punch.  The mouth is a handheld hole punch.  I simply wrote my note of thanks on the back…postcard style.  However, you could easily cut your Whisper White to have a fold in it and create a card or even a gift card holder :)  However you make him, have some frosty fun!!

Hugs,

Leslee

Stampin’ Up! supplies can be purchased here.

Cannot Resist the Flakes :)

 

     I love snowflakes!  It doesn’t snow too much here in southeast Virginia.  We might get one, maybe two good snowfalls a year.  I’m from up north though and snowfalls, snowflakes and snowmen will always hold a special place in my heart :)  So, if I can’t get the real thing, I’ll just have to create me some snowy crafts!  This card is perfect and makes me very happy! 

     I used the emboss resist technique for this.  On Naturals White card stock, I stamped the snowflakes from the Serene Snowflakes set in various blues (Marina Mist, Bashful Blue, Pacific Point) and utilized the generation stamping technique as well.  I stamped the large Medallion in VersaMark and heat embossed with Clear Embossing Powder.  I then started sponging on Bashful Blue, starting in the center of the medallion and working my way outwards changing blue inks, getting darker as I go.  I sponged some Marina Mist onto the punched snowflake to make it stand out on top of the medallion.  I love the mini jingle bells hanging from the White Baker’s Twine :)  A leftover strip of punched Lace Ribbon Border is tucked behind the image panel and layered onto a layer of Naturals White.  A gathered piece of White Taffeta Ribbon hides the seam of the punched border.  I think that the Pacific Point base really makes the image pop!  I love this card!  Easy to do, fun and gorgeous to look at :)

     Thanks for stopping in today.  I hope you’ve been inspired to create a little snow in your neck of the woods or, at very least, give the emboss technique a try.

Hugs,

Leslee

Stampin’ Up! supplies can be purchased here.

Center Step Card CASE

      This is one of the projects that we completed at my monthly Stamp Club.  It looks intimidating but it really is quite simple.  You can find easy-to-follow directions at SplitCoast at this link, Center Step Card.  I actually cased this card right out of our monthly demonstrator’s magazine, Stampin’ Success (November 2011 issue).  Created by the fabulous Becky Roberts (Inking Idaho), I just had to give it a try for myself.  I changed up the DSP and the stamp sets as I don’t have exactly what Becky used.  I used the lovely Frostwood Lodge DSP and the Snow Swirled stamp set for the tree.  The Jewel Basic – Pearls were colored using various permanent markers.  The oval frame from the Designer Frames Textured Impressions folders set is the perfect backdrop for the tree.  The wide oval punch fits right inside the frame :)  Gotta love coordination!!  Of course, I had to make the inside of this gorgeous card as lovely as the outside! :) 

     Thanks for stopping in today.  If you’ve never tried a center step card, I highly recommend you do so.  The end result is stunning!  I hope you’ve been inspired.

Hugs,

Leslee

Stampin’ Up! supplies can be purchased here.

Stamps: Snow Swirled, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Paper: Frostwood Lodge DSP, Whisper White, Garden Green, Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake

Ink:  Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green

Accessories:  Jewel Basic – Pearls, Designer Frames Textured Impressions folders set, Modern Label punch, Wide Oval punch, Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon

Simple Stocking

     I realize this project isn’t anything new or out of the ordinary but it’s just too darn cute not to post it up.  I’ve used this for Make-N-Takes and Stamp Club projects.  Everyone loves it.  We added a little sponging to the heel, toe and cuff (looks dirty just like my son’s socks) :-)  It has a back on it that was adhered with sticky strip to create the pocket to hold goodies or even a gift card.  Sweet, quick project to mass produce for classroom parties too :)

     Thanks for taking a peek today.  I hope you’ve found some inspiration and encouragement.

Hugs,

Leslee

Stamp Sets:  Christmas Greetings

Paper:  Real Red, Garden Green, Naturals White, Red Glimmer Paper

Ink:  Basic Black, Sahara Sand

Accessories:  Big Shot, Holiday Stocking Bigz L Die, Stocking Accents Originals Die, 1/2” circle punch, sponge, sticky strip

Supplies can be purchased here.

Quick Quartet

     This is a quick quartet of cards I created for a recent presentation.  It uses only two sheets of 8.5 x 11 Whisper White and one sheet of Cherry Cobbler and one 6 x 6 piece of Designer Series Paper.  The point of the presentation was to show just how quickly you can create a complete set of cards using minimal supplies.  The ladies seemed to enjoy the presentation.  They were amazed at the different looks that can be achieved with all the same elements.  Kind of like mass production without the duplication!  The embellishments are different on each…ribbon on one, brads on the next and bling on another.  Fun presentation!

 

      Thanks for stopping in today.  I hope you’ve been inspired mass production with no duplication a try :)

Hugs,

Leslee

Paper: Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Paisley Petals DSP

Inks: Old Olive, Basic Black Classic, Rich Razzleberry Marker, White Gel Pen

Accessories: Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon, Regals Designer Buttons, Linen Thread, Regals Brads, Rhinestone Jewels, Modern Label punch, Big Shot, Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, sponge, Dimensionals

Stampin’ Up! supplies can be purchased here.

Sympathy Resist

     Unfortunately, I was in need of a sympathy card.  This went together very easily.  It uses the emboss resist technique.  I started by stamping the lone tree from the Lovely As A Tree set in Early Espresso on Whisper White card stock.  I then stamped the large Medallion stamp in VersaMark and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  I love the way the tree image pops from behind the embossed image.  I finished by sponging on some Marina Mist and Soft Suede…just until I achieved the look I wanted.  I added a layer of Early Espresso and mounted it onto a Marina Mist card base.  I used the Decorative Label punch and punched it down to a smaller width.

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

Hugs,

Leslee

Stampin’ Up! supplies can be purchased here.

Peekaboo Frames Advent

      As soon as I saw the project on page 36 of the Holiday Mini catalog, I knew I had to make one…uh…four!  You see, Jesse (my oldest) and his grandmother (my mom) started this tradition years ago.  I think Jess was about 4 when it began.  Each has his/her own advent calendar and, starting on December 1st, each will begin the count down to Christmas by lifting one window each day.  The boys will call their grandmother and each will tell what picture is revealed.  It has become a ‘game’ to see if they get the same picture.  My parents live hundreds of miles away and we don’t get to see each other often enough.  It’s been a great way for the boys to keep in touch and they ALL look forward to the morning reveal and phone call!  Especially my mom! 

 

     The advents turned out even more beautiful than I had imagined!  They went together quite easily too.  It was just as easy to do four at once as it would have been to do just one.  I pretty much cased the project in the mini catalog.  However, I don’t have all the supplies they used and I wanted ALL my windows to lift.  The Peekaboo Frames die is awesome for this!  I used the new 25 & Counting stamp set on the outside of the windows and the Jolly Bingo Bits are on the inside waiting to be revealed.  I used several other punches and lots of little embellishments for details.  I used some of the Frostwood Lodge DSP and coordinating card stocks.  My Big Shot got tons of use with this project!  I found the 12” x 12” frames at my local craft store and put the glass behind the advent.  Love, love, love it!  And lots of love went into the making of each one of these advents! 

 

     The boys each wanted their calendar arranged so that they would have to search for the next number.  Turns out, I could do that! :)  Such a great feeling to be able to make it yourself…and the end result is heart-warming satisfaction!!  Love that I can contribute to this fun family tradition!

     This year, we included my sister who lives in yet another state.  However, the boys will have to call her after school as she is two hours behind us.  I don’t think she will want a daily 5AM phone call…I know I wouldn’t :)

     Grandma loved her advent!  We surprised her with it and she received it a couple of days ago.  Auntie hasn’t received hers yet.  It is due to arrive later today.  I’m sure she will love it too! 

     Thanks for stopping in today.  I hope you’ve been inspired to start new family traditions…or simply keep the old ones alive :)  I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas season!

Hugs,

Leslee

All Stampin’ Up! supplies can be purchased here.