Birthday Sketch

I've made this card for a young man's birthday. Adam has been invited to the party and his only request was that I NOT use flowers. Hmmm.... When I asked, Adam said that cupcakes are fine. I immediately pulled out the cupcake from 'Wagon Full of Fun' found in the Occasions Mini catalog. Also, I knew that I wanted to use circles. I recently received my new toy from Stampin' Up! - the new Circle Scissor Plus! I had to play, of course! Then, I checked out Jen's Sketch For You To Try. There sat a sketch full of circles! Perfect!! This card went together very quickly for me (and I needed that today).

Here's a look at the inside...

And a close up... I textured the background using the Big Shot Backgrounds #1 Texturz plate - sm. dots. The circles were all cut using the Circle Scissor Plus. I dry embossed the white circle by placing a smaller cut circle behind it and rubbing my stylus around it (I don't own Nesties...yet). The cupcake paper cup was paper pieced and the frosting top was colored using markers and a blender pen and I applied Crystal Effects to the 'folds'. I then cut it out and placed it on a Stampin' Dimensional. I should have stamped and colored it twice but I took a short cut today. The white brads were put through the Artichoke button holes (an Adam pick). It adds nice visual dimension to the card.

Adam likes the card and I'm sure his friend will too (I know his mom will appreciate it).

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you've been inspired to stop by Jen's and give her sketches a try! They are awesome! Thanks for the inspiration you've given me Jen!

Come back soon!

~Leslee~

Supplies (all SU!)

Stamps: Wagon Full of Fun, Birthday Wishes

Paper: Whisper White, Old Olive, Ruby Red, Choc. Chip, Buckaroo Blue (ret.), Holiday Treasures DSP (ret.)

Ink: Basic Black, Choc. Chip

Accessories: Circle Scissor Plus, Stylus, Big Shot & Texturz plate, Fresh Favorites 2 buttons, 5/16" brads, Crystal Effects, Dimensionals

Top Note Mini Scrapbook

This project is a great combination for National Scrapbooking Month and Stampin' Up!'s awesome special on Designer Series papers! The special is a buy three, get one free deal! Check out more details on my website!

Here's the project...

Using the Sizzix Big Shot Top Note Die makes this project super easy and quick to complete. I ran some thick paper through the Big Shot. To be honest, I used an old cereal box. You could use the thick sheets that come in the Designer Series paper package, chipboard or whatever you'd like. I then ran my designer paper through and adhered it to the thick paper board using Stampin' Up! Anywhere Glue Stick. The glue stick works great and it's not as messy as Mod Podge and it dries quicker too! The faux filmstrip was created using the SU! Spiral punch. I just cut the width to fit the Top Note and punched the edges. You can make this as long or short as you want, as long as you fold it to fit inside the Top Note. You may need to attach more than one sheet of card stock to get your desired length. Add your photos (or not), wrap a coordinating ribbon around it to hold it closed, embellish as desired (or not). You're done!

Here's another use of the Top Note and DSP...

I embellished each Top Note as I went with ribbon and brads and hardware. Punched a hole using the Crop-A-Dile in the corner. The Crop-A-Dile will punch a hole through chipboard like it's butter! I then slipped the Top Notes on a jump ring and embellished the ring with coordinating ribbon. Who wouldn't love to receive this as a gift?

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you've been inspired to try this simple mini scrapbook. Come back soon for more projects and ideas.

~Leslee~

Supplies:

Project 1-Big Shot, Top Note die, Baja Breeze Patterns DSP, Whisper White & Basic Black card stock, Baja Breeze Satin ribbon (Valet Originals)

Project 2-Big Shot, Top Note die, Holiday Treasure DSP (retired), coordinating card stocks, coordinating ribbon, assorted hardware, jump ring from Wal-mart

Happy Mother’s Day…

…to all you wonderful mom's out there! May you have a relaxing day with your family (or without). Enjoy yourself! Personally, I'm spending the day with my boys. They all let me sleep in (something I rarely get to do). They woke me up around 10AM. Breakfast was ready and they were "starving"! Coffee was excellent and so was the meal! The boys actually thought that dad makes it "better than mom". Hmmm…I think that Don will have to cook more often (haha)! The weather is perfect today and I think we will head outside for some fun in the sun! Now, on with a card…

A good friend of mine was sweet enough to let me borrow her Simple Friendship set. I really wanted to use the large butterfly on this card. This is a lovely set to use and there are numerous ways to use it. I featured this card at my Mother's Day Stamp-A-Stack yesterday. The layout was from an early morning, blurred vision that had popped into my head. Once I got to actually putting the card together (I had to have my coffee first and get the boys off to school), the colors I had pictured didn't work at all. So, I pulled out the tried and true Baja Breeze and Basic Black. This is a color combo that works every time! The flowers are stamped and masked directly onto the Whisper White card base with only a couple flowers cut and popped up on dimensionals for visual interest. The butterfly is on dimensionals too.

Before I handed the set back to its rightful owner, I had to create a second card☺. The layout is the same as the first only I turned it 90°. I left off the Mother's Day sentiment and added the line of 'true friend' above the black strip.

Thanks for stopping in today! I hope you've been inspired to give the blurred visions you have in your head a try! You might just like how they turn out!

Enjoy your day,
~Leslee~
Supplies: Stamps-Simple Friendship, All Holidays Ink-Basic Black, Baja Breeze Paper-Whisper White, Basic Black, Baja Breeze Accessories-Wide Oval &Scallop Oval punches, paper snips, Dimensionals

National Teacher Appreciation

This week, May 3rd - 9th, 2009 is National Teacher Appreciation Week. Today, May 5th is Teacher Appreciation Day. Teacher's everywhere need to be recognized for the hard work and dedication they put forth for our children. I, for one, certainly appreciate what they do and have done for my boys throughout the year! It takes a special person to do what they do everyday. God has blessed them with a gift and, now, it is our turn.

Here's a very simple gift that any teacher, staff member or just about anybody would love! This note card set is quick and easy to make and the recipient will LOVE it!

Here's the how-to...Score an 8-1/2" x 11" sheet of card stock at 5-1/2" on the long edge. Score at 2-1/2" on the short edge and fold that up to create a pocket. Adhere outside edges of pockets so that the note cards won't fall out. Fold in center. Wrap a length of ribbon around the folder to hold closed. I've used Bella Rose Designer Series paper and Baroque Motifs to coordinate both the folder and the note cards. Of course, you can use whatever you'd like and you can embellish as much or as little as you'd like too.

Teachers are always in need of thank you notes. It is something they really will appreciate receiving and will truly enjoy using. Let your child give you a hand in designing the note cards to make it even more special for their teacher.

Please don't forget our fabulous teachers and para educators. Even if it is just a simple card of thanks. I hope you've been inspired to thank those that inspire the mind of a child.

Thanks for stopping by,

~Leslee~

Supplies:

Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Echoes of Kindness, Much Appreciated

Ink: Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip

Paper: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Bella Rose DSP, Baja Breeze Patterns DSP

Accessories: Whisper White Taffeta ribbon, scallop edge punch

May is...

National Scrapbooking Month! I thought I'd show you some of my scrapbook projects this month.

Here, I've done a 6" x 6", two page layout for one of my son's pre-school teachers. She was having a baby and the class threw her a baby shower. Everyone signed the page on the left and there was plenty of space to place a photo of "Baby Paige" on the right. I used one of Stampin' Up!'s now retired Simply Scrappin' Kits - Just Delightful. These kits come with coordinating papers and die-cut adhesives and they coordinate with many of SU!'s stamp sets. It makes scrappin' so easy!

Most of my pages are 6 x 6. I like the size of them. They are easy to complete without too much fussin' over it. If I wanted to make it larger, I could then use the original 6x6 and do what is called a "progressive scrap page". That is where you start with a 6x6, mat it onto an 8-1/2 x 11 and then onto a 12 x 12. It's a fun technique and you can do the same starting with a card front. And why not? Our cards are scrapbook worthy to begin with...aren't they? I'd love to hear what you think.

Here's a treat just for you! To help you celebrate National Scrapbooking Month, Stampin' Up! has three great offers!

1. Designer Series paper packs and 12" x 12" textured card stock: Buy 3, get 1 FREE!


2. Become a demonstrator with the limited-time, Scrapbooking Starter Kit for only $75!


3. Purchase the new Jumble Alphabet stamp set (a sneak peek from the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog) at 20% off the reg. price!

All great deals just for you! You can check out more on my demonstrator website here!

Thanks for stopping by today! Come back soon for more cards and projects. I hope you've been inspired to scrap a special moment in your life or for someone else!

~Leslee~

Supplies: Brushstroke Alphabet set, Delight in Life set, Simply Scrappin' Kit - just Delightful, Pretty in Pink card stock, Certainly Celery classic ink, pink organdy ribbon