friend

It's time to post another DT inspiration project for the Love To Scrap! Challenge Blog, this one for Challenge #6 - Color My World! We want to see your projects created with either pastels or primary colors, not both! We're being sponsored by the awesome Fred Said, She Said! Tracey-Lynn is giving the winner a $10 gift certificate to her store! Woo-hoo! She's got some fabulous digital images and now carries cutting files! Come play with us! You could be the lucky winner!

I am really excited to share this project with you! I did the shadow stamping technique using Martha Stewart pastel inks (lavender, peach, green, blue and pink) and a flower stamp from the Gina K Designs Natures Greetings stamp set. I masked each color flower as I stamped the next. I spritzed a handmade Perfect Pearls mist (white Perfect Pearl powder and water in a mini mister) over the stamped flowers which created a beautiful white shimmer when it dried. The really cool thing about using these inks is the watercolor-like effect achieved when the flowers were misted and the ink ran a bit. I hit the misted piece with the heat tool to speed up the drying process, and then off-stamped each flower a second time (while masking) with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I paper pieced the whole flower with baby blue and white polka dot paper, then tore the upper and lower edges of the image and matted it on some baby blue textured cardstock. I tore the upper and lower edges of the blue cardstock and adhered the panel to the card base. I stamped the sentiments on the front and inside, and finished it with three large blue gemstones in the lower left corner. Despite it's looks, it really was easy to create and looks so yummy! I wish my photos would better show the shimmer and watercolor effect!

I'd love to enter this pastel friend card into the following challenges:

• 365 Cards: Day 138 - Back To Nature
• 365 Cards: Day 134 - Overlapped
• Addicted To Stamps and More: Challenge #46 - Anything Goes
• Challenges 4 Everybody: Challenge #20 - Anything Goes
• Eclectic Ellapu: Week of the Pink Team - Anything Goes
• Whoopsidaisy Challenge: May Flowers

Recipe:

• GKD Pure Luxury white cardstock; blue textured cardstock from stash; blue and white polka dot paper from stash
• Flower and sentiment stamps from the GKD Natures Greetings stamp set
• Martha Stewart inks 
• JudiKins Eclipse Mask Tape
• Handmade Perfect Pearls mist
• Memento Tuxedo Black ink
• Large blue gemstones

Thanks so much for stopping by today - we'll see you next time! ;)
Hugs,
Leslie

Vintage Note Cards

Our Blockheads Paper Arts DT is showcasing vintage/shabby chic projects during the month of May, and I was busy in the scrap room this weekend creating this very cool set of 4 vintage note cards and a couple other projects that you'll see later on! I absolutely LOVE distressing my projects! It takes so little effort to get such a profound result!

For these 4" square note cards, my supply list is really minimal. I used one stamp from the awesome Blockheads Up In The Attic Full Sheet and a sentiment stamp from the Blockheads Verses-Feel Better stamp set, some Antique Linen and Brown Bag cardstock, Ranger Antique Linen and Walnut Stain distress inks, Versamark and Ranger Liquid Platinum embossing powder. That's it!

I cut four card bases from the Antique Linen cardstock and inked the edges, first with the Antique Linen distress ink (inward about 3/4" from each edge) and then with the Walnut Stain distress ink. I cut eight 4" squares of the Brown Bag cardstock and stamped the book and pen image in Versamark in the center of four of them, along with the "Just a note" sentiment in the lower left corner, which I embossed with Ranger Liquid Platinum embossing powder. I tore and distressed the edges of all eight pieces and inked them all over with the Antique Linen distress ink, and then inked the edges of each with the Walnut Stain distress ink.

I attached the embossed pieces to the front and the plain pieces to the inside. I finished each one by stamping  the post card stamp (also from the Blockheads Up In The Attic Full Sheet) on the inside in the Antique Linen distress ink so it would create a very light watermark type image. I just love how these turned out and can't wait for an occasion to give them to somebody! Hahaha! ;)  AND I created something totally cool with only one layer and no embellishments! Woo-hoo! It CAN be done!! ;)

Recipe:

• Marco's Antique Linen cardstock; The Paper Cut Brown Bag cardstock
• Ranger Antique Linen distress ink
• Ranger Walnut Stain distress ink
• Blockheads Up In The Attic Full Sheet
• Blockheads Verses-Feel Better stamp set
• Versamark
• Ranger Liquid Platinum embossing powder

A peek at the inside... look very closely - there's a post card watermark in the center!

Thanks so much for stopping by today - we'll see you next time! ;)
Hugs,
Leslie

feel better soon

Can you believe we're almost two weeks into the month of May already?! Wow! It's funny how the mind works... I've been thinking a lot, over the last couple weeks, about a childhood pet we had - a cockateil named Melvin. Melvin was very friendly and had quite a personality. He was very creative with his speech... he routinely called the dog (and whistled for him), he cussed up a blue streak (thanks, Daddy, for those colorful words), and he constantly looked at himself in his mirror, saying he was a pretty boy and doing the wolf-whistle thing! These childhood memories of Melvin inspired me to create a card. The Blockheads Paper Arts DT is showcasing vintage/shabby chic projects during the month of May. I did the shadow stamping technique using the absolutely gorgeous Blockheads Flourished Bird Cage stamp which is one of my favs. It's just so beautiful and elegant! The sentiment is from the Blockheads Verses-Special Delivery stamp set. I definitely had some inky fingers this weekend, but I'm not complaining! ;)

This card is the standard 5.5" x 4.25" size. I stamped the bird cage first in Ranger Antique Linen distress ink, then the second time in Memento Rich Cocoa ink. I used one Copic marker (G12) to color the leaves in the flourish. I distressed the edges of the image with Ranger Walnut Stain distress ink and matted it on dark green cardstock with distressed edges. I inked three white WOC paper roses with Tsukineko Eucalyptus walnut ink and distressed the tips of petals with the Ranger Walnut Stain distress ink. I adhered some GKD jute ribbon diagonally across the top left corner and adhered the panel to the card base which I also distressed around the edges. I stamped the sentiment diagonally under the ribbon in Memento Rich Cocoa ink, attached the roses and adhered two brown flat-back pearls to finish it off! Love it! :) Here's to you, Melvin!

I'd love to enter this vintage feel better card into the following challenges

• Divas By Design: Anything Goes
• Five Simple Things: Inspire Me Fridays 102 - Anything Goes
• Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge: Challenge 88 - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp & Show: Challenge - Inspired By
• Simply Create Too: Challenge #37 - Anything Goes
• Whimsy Stamps Inspirations Challenges: New Monthly Challenge #59 - Anything Goes

Recipe:

• GKD Pure Luxury Ivory cardstock; dark green cardstock from stash
• Blockheads Flourished Bird Cage stamp
• Ranger Antique Linen distress ink
• Memento Rich Cocoa ink
• Blockheads Verses-Special Delivery stamp set
• G12 Copic marker
• Ranger Walnut Stain distress ink
• Wild Orchid Crafts white paper roses
• Tsukineko Eucalyptus walnut ink
• GKG jute ribbon
• Brown flat-back pearls

Thanks so much for stopping by today - we'll see you next time! ;)
Hugs,
Leslie

Precious newborn

We're just rockin' right along with our Love To Scrap! Challenge Blog challenges! We're already beginning Challenge #5 this week, which is an Anything Goes challenge! We know these are a crowd pleaser, so we plan to indulge you periodically! We're sponsored this week by the awesome JellyPark! OMG - cuteness is all I need to say! Jellypark graciously provided our design team with two images to play with, but I already had their "Baby Shoes" digi in my stash that I was just itching to use, so that began my baby girl card! Just too cute!

I used a couple new favorite dies on this project - one Spellbinders and one Cheery Lynn! I bought several of the dies in the decorative Spellbinders series several months ago and have used all three of them. They are really gorgeous and I just love this oval one! And I really lucked out with the striped paper I found in my stash, because it had all three of the shades of pink cardstock I used! Woo-hoo! Plus, I've had it forever, so it was a good opportunity to use some of it up. I've also had both of the sentiments (one paper, one clear sticker) in my stash for years, so I was happy to find a use for them as well. And, I bought several summer gauze shirts a few weeks ago and they all had button-up flaps to secure a rolled-up sleeve. I don't like that kind of sleeve, so I cut the flaps out of all of them, and used one of the white ones on this card, along with a button brad. And I've had those button brads in my stash for quite a while also! So I feel pretty good about using up several oldies (but goodies) from my stash and a repurposed item for this card. Go Green!

I'd love to enter this sweet baby girl card into the following challenges:

• 365 Cards: Day 122 - You used what??  Use something in a unique way (I repurposed a button-up sleeve flap!)
• Five Simple Things: Inspire Me Fridays 101 - Anything Goes
• Jellypark Friends Friday Challenges: Girly Girl
• Simply Create Too: Challenge #36 - All About Babies
• Sister Act Card Challenge: Challenge #5 - Anything Goes
• In The Pink: Challenge #20 - Maybe Baby (baby girl... of course!)
• As You Like It Challenges: Challenge #1 - Favorite Die/Punch (Spellbinders Floral Ovals)
• Stampin' for the Weekend: Die cuts and/or punches

Recipe:

• GKD Pure Luxury white cardstock; dark, medium and light pink cardstock from stash
• The Paper Cut black crinkle paper; multi-color striped paper from stash
• Jellypark "Baby Shoes" digital image
• Copics: R00/20/22
• Spellbinders Floral Ovals die
• Cheery Lynn English Tea Party doily die
• Repurposed button-up flap from gauze shirt; gray button brad
• Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher
• Wild Orchid Crafts paper roses
• MeiFlower bow
• Sentiments from stash
• Melissa Francis pink and white flat-back pearls

Thanks so much for stopping by today - we'll see you next time! ;)
Hugs,
Leslie

Beaded Grungeboard Earrings!

Well, it's hard to believe this month is almost over, and I'm posting my final Grungeboard project for the month, as Blockheads Paper Arts DT has been showcasing Grungeboard projects during the month of April. I keep saying that Christmas will be here before we know it, and it really will be! I'm thinking ahead a little bit and this pair of earrings will make a nice Christmas gift! I had so much fun creating the Floral Ornament Earrings using EcoArtBoard back in mid-February, that I decided to try my hand at it again, this time with Grungeboard! ;)

I have to blame my sister, Syd, for turning me into a beading freak! The beads used on these earrings are left-overs from a bracelet I made a month or so ago. So... if I decide to keep them for myself (hehehe), they'd go real well with the bracelet! Or, I could include the bracelet with the earrings in the Christmas gift! I have a little time to decide!

I used two rectangular pieces of Grungeboard and cut the center out of each with a craft knife. I stamped the fronts of the Grungeboard pieces with the spotted background stamp from Blockheads 123 Backgrounds-Butterflies stamp set in Memento Tuxedo Black ink. Using DTP method, I inked front and back sides of both squares with Aspen Mist, Night Sky and then Oasis Green VersaMagic dew drop inks. I dabbed Adirondack Gold alcohol ink lightly onto the fronts and back, and then sealed them with a coat of Glossy Accents. I adhered the beads and earring wires, and voila! I think they turned out pretty well for my second attempt at funky dangly earrings! ;)

Recipe:

• Grungeboard rectangular shapes
• Blockheads 123 Backgrounds-Butterflies stamp set
• Memento Tuxedo Black ink
• Aspen Mist VersaMagic dew drop ink
• Night Sky VersaMagic dew drop ink
• Oasis Green VersaMagic dew drop ink
• Adirondack Gold alcohol ink
• Glossy Accents
• Earring wires
• Assorted beads and findings from stash

And here's the bracelet... the earrings go well with it, don't you think?! ;)

Thanks so much for stopping by today - we'll see you next time! ;)
Hugs,
Leslie

Monogrammed Note Card

Hello again - hope you had a great week! The weekend sure did get here quick... not that I'm complaining! It just seems like this month is flying by! Our Blockheads Paper Arts DT is showcasing Grungeboard projects during the month of April and I'd like to share a glittery colorful monogrammed note card that I created. Another fairly simple project with just a few supplies! I love those kind!

This is a standard 4.25" x 5.5" size card. I stamped the floral corner stamp from the Blockheads Grunge It Up stamp set in white ink on 35-lb vellum, then mounted it on black crinkle cardstock with metal corners. The Grungeboard monogram is simply the letter 't' mounted on round and square Grungeboard shapes, inked with purple, blue and green VersaMagic inks, then embossed with sticky embossing powder and glitter, and embellished with flat-back pearls! Love it!

Ingredients:

• GKD Pure Luxury white cardstock
• The Paper Cut black crinkle cardstock
• Sweet Stamps 35-lb vellum
• Blockheads Grunge It Up stamp set
• Brilliance Moonlight White pigment ink
• Grungeboard letter 't', round and square shapes
• VersaMagic Eggplant
• VersaMagic Night Sky 
• VersaMagic Oasis Green
• Ranger Sticky Embossing Powder
• Reggae Art Glitter
• White flat-back pearls
• Black metal corners

I'd love to enter my monogrammed note card into the following challenges:

• 365 Cards: Day 108 - Glitz Blitz
• Pattie's Creations Design Challenge: Challenge 65 - Make It Sparkle
• Left Of Center Creative Challenges: LOC Challenge 4 - Bling It Up/Sparkle
• Simply Create Too: Challenge #35 - Use Your Stash (White cardstock, inks, glitter, flat-back pearls)
• Addicted To Stamps and More: Challenge 41 - Anything Goes
• Crafty Creations Challenges: Challenge 218 - No Patterned Paper
• Nutcrafters: Challenge 41 - Anything Goes
• Delightful Challenges: Weekly Challenge - Color My World
• Art Impressions: Challenge 108 - Layer It Up

Thanks so much for stopping by today - we'll see you next time! ;)
Hugs,
Leslie

Summer Lovin'

Can't believe we're already into Challenge #4 with Love To Scrap! Challenge Blog! Our theme this time is Cut It Out! We want to see your creations with die cuts and/or punches! Come play with us! We're sponsored by the awesome Sassy Studio Designs and the prize up for grabs is 4 SSD digis! Woo-hoo!

I chose the sassy Polka Dot Bikini digi for my Summer Lovin' card. I finally got the chance to use some of my Sugar Sand - some really cool stuff! There had to be some beach sand! ;) This was such a fun image to work with and was a total blast!

Recipe:

• GKD Pure Luxury white cardstock; blue and yellow cardstock from stash
• GKD Hello Sunshine 6x6 patterned papers
• Sassy Studio Designs Polka Dot Bikini digital image
• Copics: E000/35, Y17/21, R24, YR15, BG000
• Sakura Stardust pen
• Sakura Pen-Touch White paint marker
• Spellbinders Adorning Squares
• Sweet Stamps Sugar Sand
• Kool-Tak clear foam squares
• Studios Blackbird ribbon
• Summer Lovin' charm from stash
• White flat-back parls; blue, red and clear gemstones

A close-up view of the sand...

Thanks so much for stopping by today - we'll see you next time!

Hugs,

Leslie

Yes! Congrats Card

I played with the Grungeboard again this past weekend and had a blast! As mentioned in my last post, the Blockheads Paper Arts DT is showcasing projects made with Grungeboard during the month of April. This is really fun stuff - it's pliable and very easy to work with. It looks like leather even smells like leather! LOL! I was blog stalking over the weekend and spotted Laura's Creative Collage which really inspired me. I spent a few minutes looking around her blog and all of her projects are just amazing!

I created this patchwork card using scraps from my small cardstock scraps bin. Some of them were scraps from backgrounds I had created for other projects and a few of them were scraps I stamped on specifically for this project. But the most fun part was inking and embossing (with UTEE) the Grungeboard letters! I definitely had some inky fingers! I cleaned off my desk and countertop (yes, even dusted!) in my scrap room Saturday morning and put all stray items away, and by noon, you wouldn't have even known that it had been cleaned! Hahaha!

Despite it's looks, this card really was very simple! I selected various sized scraps of coral, light blue, ivory, purple, green, black, brown and white cardstock and laid them out. As mentioned above, several of them were already-stamped or spritzed left-overs from previous projects using Rose Bud Fireworks! Craft Ink Spray, Blockheads Backgrounds For All Occasions stamp set with the Gelli Plate, Blockheads Dot Stippler with Memento Bamboo Leaves and Memento Pear Tart ink, Blockheads Backgrounds Borders Full Sheet and Lost Coast Designs Cheesecloth background stamp.

I stamped several other scraps specifically for this project with stamps from Blockheads Backgrounds For All Occasions, Botanical Silhouettes and Honey Bees ATC Set, and the inside sentiment is from Verses Full Sheet. I used some fine detail Pearl embossing powder, as well as VersaCraft White and Maize ink, Memento Tuxedo Black, Paris Dusk and Rich Cocoa ink, and Versamark Dazzle ink. I inked all of pieces with Ranger Walnut Stain distress ink before assembling them to adhere to the 4.25" x 5.5" card base.

To create those gorgeous letters, I painted the Grungeboard with Gesso, and when dry, I inked the letters (DTP) with VersaMagic Jumbo Java dew drop ink and then tapped some Adirondack Gold Mixative ink onto each of them. I colored all the raised circles with Blue Smooch ink, and then either dotted or streaked Purple, Pink, Green and Aqua Smooch inks onto them before embossing them with Versamark and UTEE.

I adhered the letters to the front, then added a strip of white flat-back pearls and a gorgeous WOC metal flower embellishment adorned with a yellow flat-back pearl in the center. I stamped Congratulations in Memento Tuxedo Black ink on the inside and adhered a tiny clear gemstone over the C. I think this is stunning! Thank you, Laura, for the inspiration!

Thanks so much for stopping by today - we'll see you next time!
Hugs,
Leslie

Love U

This month the Blockheads Paper Arts DT is showcasing projects made with Grungeboard! What FUN stuff! I've heard people talk about it but had never actually seen it or worked with it, and Blockheads graciously supplied our DT with some to play with! You've gotta check it out! :) My granddaughter, Gigi, will turn 10 years old in October and this mixed media card is for her, done in pink and purple with some silver pizzaz! This is SO her!

Of course, I had to play with the Grungeboard letters first, so I painted them with white Gesso. Using the DTP method, I inked the L, O, V and E with VersaMagic Pink Petunia dew drop ink, and the U with VersaMagic Purple Hydrangea dew drop ink. I put a couple drops each of Cranberry, Purple Twighlight, Eggplant and Silver Mixative Adirondack Alcohol Ink onto a felt square attached to the alcohol ink applicator tool, and tapped it onto each of the letters, turning it with each tap. I outlined each letter and colored the polka dots with a Tsukineko Fantastix brush tip applicator dipped in the Silver Mixative Alcohol Ink. I gave them a few minutes to dry, then pressed each of the letters onto the Versamark ink pad and embossed them with UTEE. OMG - I think I'm in love! ;) These turned out so awesome!

I cut a 4.25" x 5.5" ivory card base and stamped Happy Birthday (from Blockheads Verses Full Sheet) on the inside with the VersaMagic Pink Petunia dew drop ink. I cut a background piece of Studio sticky-back canvas (natural) and applied a very thin coat of Studio Painterly Pink paint. I used the heat tool to speed up the drying and then splattered some of the Silver Mixative Adirondack Alcohol Ink onto the canvas. I hit it with the heat tool again for a few seconds, and then tapped Memento Rhubarb Stalk ink onto the Blockheads Dot Stippler to create the mottled background. I hit it with the heat tool once again for a few seconds, then stamped text (from the Blockheads Backgrounds For All Occasions stamp set) in Ranger Dusty Concord distress ink several times down the length of the background.

I matted the canvas background on a piece of purple cardstock from my stash, then adhered it to the card base. I adhered the letters to the canvas along with some pink flat-back pearls. Even though the background was "busy", I still felt like the card was missing something so I got out the package of Petaloo Color Me Crazy flowers. I stamped the square ornamental stamp (from the Blockheads Grunge It Up stamp set) in Memento Rhubarb Stalk ink on one of the flowers and then inked the edges of the petals with the VersaMagic Purple Hydrangea dew drop ink. I spritzed the inked flower with a handmade Perfect Pearls Mist made with water and Perfect Pearl (white) powder in a Mini Mister, then hit it with the heat tool to dry it. I attached a fuzzy purple brad from my stash to the center of the flower, and adhered it to the card front. I  like how it turned out... kind of funky and hippie! Gigi will love it!

I'd love to enter this card into the following challenges:

• Card Makin Mamas: No Patterned Paper
• Challenges 4 Everybody: Challenge #17 - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin': Oh So Girly
• Simon Says Stamp! Challenge Blog: Happy Birthday

A close-up of these super cool UTEE-embossed letters!

Thanks so much for stopping by today - we'll see you next time! ;)
Hugs,
Leslie

Bird Song

This is my second DT inspiration project for our Love To Scrap! Challenge Blog Challenge #3 - Recipe! The recipe is 3 (or more) layers, 2 patterned papers and 1 image. We're being sponsored by the awesome A Day For Daisies! They are offering the winner of this challenge a $12 gift certificate to the ADFD Shop! Come play with us! I so love their images and could not decide on just one image to play with, so I created a card with the Asianesque "Waiting" digi and the "Braid In My Hair" digi which I posted separately.

I got the Graphic 45 Bird Song Collection a couple months ago and these papers are amazingly beautiful! I was really itching to use some of them, so when I saw this image I knew I had to have it! I colored her up with several Copics - E000/00/35, R00/20/27, G12/20/24, C3/5, YG17, Y00/21 - and mounted the image on a Spellbinders Marvelous Squares black cardstock die cut. I'm loving the SB dies in this series - I bought three and have used two of them so far. They are yummy! The Graphic 45 papers are mounted on black crinkle paper from The Paper Cut. The ribbon is from Studios Blackbird. The metal corner is from Flonzcraft (painted with white Gesso and dabbed with Ranger Antiqued Bronze Distress Stain). I created the six small flowers with the McGill Petite Petals punch and adhered tiny white flat-back pearls (from my stash) in the centers. I used a Tim Holtz Idea-ology charm clip to hold the Bird Song stamp. This is my first Asian project and I think it turned out pretty nice! ;)

Thanks so much for stopping by today - we'll see you next time! ;)
Hugs,
Leslie

It's Your Day

Time is just flying by! Hope you all had a wonderful Easter! We're already into Challenge #3 with Love To Scrap! Challenge Blog and it's a Recipe challenge! They are so much fun! Come play with us! The Recipe is 3 (or more) layers, 2 patterned papers and 1 image. We're being sponsored by the awesome A Day For Daisies and they're offering the winner a $12 gift certificate to their ADFD Shop! Woo-hoo!

I couldn't decide on just one image for this challenge, so I created two DT inspiration projects - one with the absolutely gorgeous "Braid In My Hair" digi and the other with the Asianesque "Waiting" digi which I'll post separately.

ADFD generously provided images for each DT member to work with. Needless to say, I fell madly in love with the Braid In My Hair image as soon as I laid eyes on it! I guess I do it backwards, but I always color my images first (depending on the mood I'm in) and then pick my papers. I colored her up with just a few Copics - E000/33/35, R20/22, Y21, B00/02 - and then cut her with a Spellbinders Floral Ovals die. I'm in love with these SB dies! The salmon and blue cardstock are from my stash, the plaid paper is from the DCWV Mango Frost matstack and the blue/white polka dot is from Doodlebug Design Hello Spring 6x6 paper pack (cut with Magnolia Doohickey Tilda Lace die). The ribbon is from Studios Blackbird. The Forget Me Not Stem die, MeiFlower bow and Melissa Frances baby blue flat-back pearls are all new goodies I just got from My Crafty Heart. The round It's Your Day stamp is from Lili of the Valley, stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black ink. The white flat-back pearls and tiny clear gemstones are from my stash. I just love how this turned out! I amazed myself with my coloring! Hehehe!

I'd love to enter this card into the following challenges:

• Challenges 4 Everybody: Challenge #17 - Anything Goes
• Totally Gorjuss: Challenge 177 - Something Blue
• Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenges: Challenge 85 - Spring Days
• Divas By Design: Spring Colors

Thanks so much for stopping by today - we'll see you next time! Stay tuned for my post on my other ADFD creation - my Bird Song card!

Hugs,
Leslie

1st Class Boston Note Cards

As promised, I'm back with the third Blockheads Paper Arts DT inspiration project I created this weekend! Our DT is showcasing travel themed projects during the month of March, and this little set of 4" square note cards was created with the Blockheads Vintage Railway stamp set, Backgrounds For All Occasions stamp set and Grunge It Up stamp set, along with the Gelli plate! It's been a little while since I played with the Gelli plate so it was definitely time! This was so much fun! I don't know of anybody who has one of these cool little things that doesn't just absolutely love it!

I cut four 4" square card bases from ivory cardstock and set them aside. I cut four smaller square pieces of ivory cardstock to use as background pieces and laid them out on the desk. I put the Blockheads Dot Stippler on the Gelli Plate and inked the Gelli Plate with Memento Bamboo Leaves and Pear Tart ink. I pressed one of the small background pieces down onto the Gelli plate to pull off the ink. I repeated this three more times with the other background pieces.

I cleaned off the Gelli plate and then laid down some VersaMagic Hint of Pesto dew drop ink onto the Gelli plate and pressed the diamonds background stamp into the ink. I lifted the stamp and pressed one of the background pieces down onto the Gelli plate to pull off that ink. I repeated this three more times with the other background pieces. I cleaned off the Gelli plate again and set it aside to dry thoroughly before putting it away. I stamped the text background onto the bottom portion of a background piece with Memento Bamboo Leaves and then stamped the large floral from the Grunge It Up stamp set across the top with Memento Bamboo Leaves ink. I repeated this three more times with the other background pieces. I spritzed each piece with Kiwi Perfect Pearls Mist and let them dry. I dropped several drops of Adirondack Alcohol Ink Gold Mixative onto each piece and then dropped some Alcohol Blending Solution onto the gold splatters to thin them out and set them aside to dry.

I stamped the 1st Class Boston stamp on ivory cardstock with Versamark and embossed it with Ranger Liquid Platinum embossing powder. I repeated this three more times, and using the DTP method, I inked all four embossed pieces with Memento Pear Tart ink and wiped the ink off the embossing with a paper towel. I matted each background piece and each embossed piece on brown shimmer cardstock, and then adhered the background pieces to the card bases. I adhered a strip of soft olive green embossed paper horizontally across each of the background pieces, then affixed the embossed pieces to the card fronts with dimensional foam pads. I finished the cards with two brown flat-back pearls on the horizontal paper strip. I left the inside of each card blank to use as note cards. I think they turned out kind of neat!

Thanks so much for stopping by - we'll see you next time! ;)
Hugs,
Leslie

All Aboard (Railway Lantern)

The Blockheads Paper Arts DT is showcasing travel themed cards during the month of March, and this is the second DT inspiration project I created this weekend - another masculine card using the Blockheads Vintage Railway stamp set and the Blockheads Backgrounds For All Occasions stamp set. I love both of these sets! This card also worked up quickly, taking approximately 30 minutes, and requiring only a few items on the supply list - ivory and kraft cardstock, background stamp, Studio Charcoal Black paint, railway lantern and sentiment stamps, Memento Tuxedo Black ink and three black gemstones. I played with the Gelli plate for this project and the next one I'll show you! Sure got some inky fingers! ;)

I cut a 5.5" x 4.25" card base from ivory cardstock. I stamped the peeling paint background on kraft cardstock with Studio Charcoal Black paint brayered onto the Gelli plate. I matted it on some black crinkle paper and adhered it to the card base. I stamped the railway lantern and the sentiment in Memento Tuxedo Black ink which I trimmed and matted on some of the same black paper. I affixed the lantern image to the card front with dimensional foam pads, and finished the card with three black gemstones centered at the bottom. Another example of simple elegance! I love how this turned out!

Thanks so much for stopping by - we'll see you next time! ;)
Hugs,
Leslie

All Aboard (Train)

I was a busy bee this weekend despite it being the weekend from hell! First the router took a dump yesterday afternoon and then my new laptop from Santa that I've had a just mere 90 days ago crashed last evening! Yes, c-r-a-s-h-e-d! OMG! Bad luck supposedly comes in threes, so I kept wondering all day today what was going to be next! But I made three Blockheads DT inspiration projects that all turned out pretty well, so I'm going to count that as some good luck! :)

The Blockheads DT is showcasing travel themed cards during the month of March and all three projects I made this weekend were created with the same stamp set. I'll post each project separately. The first is a masculine card with only five items on the supply list! Yep - ivory and black cardstock, train stamp from the Blockheads Vintage Railway stamp set, Versamark Dazzle, Ranger clear super fine detail embossing powder and some flat-back pearls from my stash. I know... pearls on a guy's card. It's not a bad thing, really! The Versamark Dazzle is some awesome stuff! It gave the clear embossing powder just enough shimmer to be seen against the black cardstock.

I cut a 5.5" x 4.25" card base from ivory cardstock and matted a slightly smaller piece of black cardstock to it. I stamped "All aboard" in the lower right corner with Versamark Dazzle and embossed it with clear embossing powder. I then stamped the train on another piece of black cardstock with Versamark Dazzle and embossed it with clear embossing powder. I trimmed the train image and matted it on a piece of ivory cardstock, then affixed it to the card front. I finished the card with three ivory flat-back pearls in the upper right and lower left corners. That's it - this card literally took 30 minutes to make! This definitely falls in the CAS category - simple elegance for sure!

Thanks so much for stopping by today - we'll see you next time! ;)
Hugs,
Leslie

Girlfriends Note Card

This is my super fun DT inspiration project for the Paper Crafting Journey "Ribbon or Lace" Challenge, sponsored by the wonderful Sassy Studio Designs! Come play with us! I just love their images! I chose the cool "Steampunk Lingerie Couple" digi for my card. I don't normally do steampunk but this looked like fun! And I just couldn't resist pairing it with this sentiment! ;)

The red background is actually part of a UFO (UnFinished Object) that's been on my desk in my scrap room for several months now that I was so glad I had, as it was perfect for this project! It's embossed with a Cuttlebug Heart Blocks embossing folder and adorned with some Wild Orchid Crafts crocheted lace and a piece of Studios Blackbird ribbon. I colored up the girlfriends with these Copics - E000/33, C1/3/5, B91, Y21, RV25, R24/27 - and then adhered them to a Spellbinders Beaded Squares die cut. I added an assortment of Wild Orchid Crafts flowers and a red satin bow down the left side and some red gemstones on the right side. I stamped the girlfriends sentiment from the Hero Arts "Girls Night Out" stamp set in StazOn Jet Black ink on some Heartfelt Creations clear cardstock, closely trimmed it and affixed it to the bottom right. I left the inside blank. I just love it! ;)

I'd love to enter this card into the following challenges:

• Bearly Mine Challenges: Challenge 78 - Anything Goes
• 4 Crafty Chicks: Break Out The Circles
• Anything Goes Challenge Blog: Challenge 88 - Seeing Double (two girlfriends, two red roses, two red/white roses, two rosebuds)
• Challenges 4 Everybody: Challenge #16 - Anything Goes
• Tuesday Alchemy: Challenge #52: Anything Goes

Thanks so much for stopping by - we'll see you next time! ;)
Hugs,
Leslie

Caffeine

Here's my DT inspiration project for the Aud Sentiments "Any Sentiment For A Girl" challenge. Can't believe it's already time for another mid-challenge post! You still have another week to get your craft on, so come play with us! And remember to use a sentiment - this time it's any sentiment for a girl! :)

Here's the scoop on our wonderful sponsor and the prize up for grabs...

Sponsor: The Paper Shelter

Prize: $20 gift certificate to The Paper Shelter

About Paper Shelter:

If you are looking for fun, cute and lovely digi stamps for your papercrafting or web design projects, The Paper Shelter is your one-stop boutique! This growqing catalog of high-quality digi stamps with many different kind of options offers a multitude of these such as everyday items, holidays, special occasions, children, adorable characters and creatures. Stamps are available in standard black and white line art, as well as pre-colored format. Images are wonderful for coloring and make perfect additions to greeting cards and scrapbook albums. In The Paper Shelter you'll also find great other resources for all crafts (or digital) projects, like paper packs, printables, accessory sheets, etc.

We were given several images to play with and the adorable Coffee Break digi was my first choice for a *Girl Power* card! Remember those college days of cramming for tests and living on coffee?! Well, that was my inspiration for this card. :) I still have to jump-start my day with several cups every morning! 

I had fun with this! The newsprint paper is from Echo Park For The Record 6x6 paper pack, and the floral and dotted papers are from My Mind's Eye Fiddlesticks 6x6 paper pack. I colored up this image with these Copics - YG11/13, RV21/23/25, E000/35, B91/93/97, Y00/15/17, C5. I used a Spellbinders Postage Stamps die which I matted on Paper and More slate gray cardstock, along with all the other paper elements. The front and inside sentiments are from the Blockheads Coffee Tea Full Sheet, stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I just love the black rose organza trim from Wild Orchid Crafts! I finished the card with a gorgeous pink repurposed bow and some honey flat-back pearls. I just love the way this turned out! Can't wait to give it to one of my "coffee fiend" friends! ;)

I'd love to enter this card into the following challenges:

• Bearly Mine Challenges: Challenge 78 - Anything Goes
• Anything Goes Challenge Blog: Challenge 88 - Seeing Double (two sets of three flat-back pearls, double loops on bow)
• Challenges 4 Everybody: Challenge #16 - Anything Goes
• Tuesday Alchemy: Challenge #52: Anything Goes

Here's a peek at the inside sentiment... Love it! ;)

Thanks so much for stopping by - we'll see you next time! ;)
Hugs,
Leslie

Branching Out

It's time to post my DT inspiration project for Love To Scrap! Challenge #2 - Emboss It! Come play with us! Our wonderful sponsor is The Crafting Boutique! Stacy has just moved her store to Zibbet.com, so go check it out! She's offering the winner of this challenge a $10 shopping spree at The Crafting Boutique!

I used the beautiful "Cockatoo" digi for my card. I have a little bit of 'spring fever' going on and wanted some color! I colored up this adorable little feathered friend with these Copics - YG13/17, E33/39, Y15/17, G24, R27 and YR18. I used Spellbinders Classic Circles and Labels Eighteen dies and embossed both die cuts. I also embossed the white background with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder. The green striped paper is some I've had in my stash for several years. The sentiment is from GKD Falling For You stamp set, stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black ink. The ribbon is from Studios Blackbird that I got last month at the Heirloom Paper Arts Festival in Georgia. It's primarily yellow but has some shimmery green fibers in it - it's really gorgeous ribbon! I finished up the card with an assortment of Wild Orchid Crafts flowers (my absolute fav), and some white flat-back pearls and a few tiny red gemstones from my stash.

I love the way this turned out and it will be so perfect for someone who is embarking on a new adventure in life, whether it be a new job or a move to a new city or state! :)

I'd love to enter my card into the following challenges:

• 2 Sisters Challenge Blog: Challenge #135 - Flowers For Spring
• Tuesday Alchemy: Challenge #52 - Anything Goes
• Card Makin Mamas: It's Springtime!
• Fab 'n' Funky Challenges: Challenge #162 - Add A Sentiment
• Totally Gorjuss: Challenge 175 - Something Old (green striped paper)
• Fussy & Fancy Friday Challenge": Challenge 84 - Flowers

Thank so much for stopping by today - we'll see you next time! ;)
Hugs,
Leslie

Bon Voyage

The Blockheads Paper Arts DT is showcasing "travel" themed projects this month. For my DT inspiration project, I created a Bon Voyage card using several products available at Blockheads - stamps from the Blockheads Vintage Travel and Vintage Railway stamp sets, Memento Rich Cocoa ink, Tim Holtz Tarnished Brass Distress Stain, Red Liner Tape Sheet, Gesso and yellow flocking. I have a different brand of flocking in my stash, but Blockhead's flocking is awesome, so I linked their product. This was great fun and very easy - I created it this afternoon after I got home from spending the weekend at St. George Island with my hubby!

I created a 5.5" x 4.25" ivory card base. I cut a piece of brown cardstock approximately 3/4 of length of the card base and cut a border across the bottom using Spellbinders Classic Petals Edgeabilities dies. I set the leftover piece from the very bottom aside to use later. I painted a Flonzcraft metal corner with Gesso and set it aside to dry. I stamped the large suitcase background from the Vintage Travel stamp set in Memento Rich Cocoa ink on ivory cardstock and cut it out. I also stamped the visitor's ticket from the Vintage Railway stamp set in Memento Rich Cocoa ink on ivory cardstock and cut it out.

I had a very small piece of Red Liner Tape Sheet left in my stash and was able to cut a 1/2" strip from it which I affixed to the lower portion of the brown cardstock just above the border. I adhered the yellow flocking to the tape and then attached a thin piece of Studios Blackbird yellow ribbon. I also fashioned a small bow from the yellow ribbon and set it aside. I went back to the Gesso-painted metal corner and dabbed the Tarnished Brass Distress Stain on it and set it aside for that to dry. I adhered the brown cardstock with border to the cardbase. I then matted the stamped suitcase background on some of the brown cardstock and again on another piece of ivory cardstock. I affixed the stamped visitor's ticket diagonally across the suitcase background with foam pads. I went back to the metal corner again and dabbed a second coat of the Tarnished Brass Distress Stain on it and set it aside to dry.

I adhered the small piece of leftover border to the bottom of the card base, then stamped Bon Voyage from the Vintage Travel stamp set Memento Rich Cocoa ink in the lower right corner. I attached the metal corner to the upper left corner of the suitcase background, then adhered the entire unit in a diagonal fashion with foam pads to the front of the card. I attached the tiny yellow bow and some brown flat-back pearls (lower left and upper right) to finish the card. I think it turned out kind of neat, and I really like the fact that the visitor's ticket stamp is an exact match to the suitcase background, even though they are from different stamp sets! Cool, huh?!

Thanks so much for stopping by today - see you next time! ;)
Hugs,
Leslie

Rock Star CD Case

This is my DT inspiration project for Paper Crafting Journey's "Anything But A Card" Challenge! We're sponsored this time by The Paper Shelter! OMG - what adorable images they have! I chose the super cute Rock Star digi for my CD case. It's been a while since I altered a tin and I have to say that I really wasn't 'feeling' this project until I started laying all the elements down to figure out placement, then it just kind of came together. :) I also used pink and red together, which I almost never do, and I think that contributed to some of the initial awkwardness! But it's all good - I love the way it turned out!

The light pink cardstock and medium pink marbled paper are some oldies from my stash, as well as the Scrabble letters and the round letter 'U' and the bright pink rick-rack. I used Copics to color the image - RV 21/23/25, R00/20/22/24/27, E000/00/07, C5 and Y08. The gorgeous white crochet lace and flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts, one of my favorite online stores. The ticket is from a package of ephemera that I got at the Heirloom Paper Arts Festival in GA last month. I just got the baker's twine a couple weeks ago. The finishing touch was the pink flat-back pearls. I believe I'll earmark this little treasure for my granddaughter! ;)

I'd love to enter my Rock Star CD case into the following challenges:

• Joanna Sheen Challenge Blog: Layer It Up
• Challenges 4 Everybody: Challenge #15 - Anything Goes
• Dutch Dare Card Challenges: DDCC #207 - Girls Rule
• My Heart Pieces Digital Stamp Challenges: Use Your Favorite 3 Things (Copics, WOC flowers, pearls)
• Craft Us Crazy: Challenge 38 - Anything Goes
• That Craft Place Challenge Blog: Anything Goes
• Created With Love Challenges: CWLC 31 - Anything Goes
• Catch The Bug Challenge Blog: Anything Goes Saturday Challenge
• Totally Gorjuss: Challenge 173 - Anything Goes With Pink!

Thanks so much for stopping by today - we'll see you next time! ;)
Hugs,
Leslie

Happy Easter

** 3/10/13 Top Pick at Robyn's Fetish! **

It's time to post another Aud Sentiments DT inspiration project for the Easter/Spring Sentiment mid-challenge post! The sponsor is wonderful Prairie Fairie Designs! OMG - what adorable digis they have! I chose the super cute "Just Ducky" for this Happy Easter card. This little girl is just too stinkin' cute! And she's just loving those little ducks!

This is a 5" x 5" card with two corners rounded. The very colorful Doodlebug Design papers from the Hello Spring 6x6 paper pack are some of my favs. I used a large handful of Copics - E000, E01, E07, E33, E35, R00, R20, R22, R27, BG15, BG45, B91, B93, B95, YR15, Y08 and Y17 - to color the image. And of course I can't live without my Spellbinders dies - used Classic Circles and Scalloped Circles on this card. The Happy Easter sentiment is from Stamp Camp, stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black ink (a staple in my scrap room). I got the gorgeous ribbon at the Heirloom Paper Arts Festival in GA last month from the Studios Blackbird booth. The silver heart charm and turquoise flat-back pearls from my stash finished it off. I love how it turned out!

I'd love to enter this card into the following challenges:

• Challenges 4 Everybody: Challenge #15 - Anything Goes
• Joanna Sheen Challenge Blog: Layer It Up
• Whoopsidaisy Challenge: 2 Patterned Papers Challenge
• That Craft Place: Anything Goes
• Robyn's Fetish Challenge Blog: Challenge #149 - Easter

Thanks so much for stopping by today - we'll see you next time! ;)
Hugs,
Leslie