Friday, May 21, 2010

Game On!

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This very sporty soccer card was made for a young man’s birthday.  His party was held on the soccer field and the kids did soccer related activities.  I thought this card would be very fitting.  I used three different sets, Sporting, Elements of Style and Just Soccer.  I love how the sets seem to go together.  To my eye, it’s a little busy but my son said it looks “cool!”  I’ll take that!  On the other hand, the young man receiving the card is seven.  Let’s face it, a seven year old doesn’t really care what is on the card…just what comes with it.  Yet, I do pride myself on my cards…especially when the mom is a crafter or scrapbooker herself (smile).  I won’t bore you with all the details.  Just let me say… any color could go on this card.  The ball and shoe are on Dimensionals.  And make sure you don’t trap your white space.  Trapped white space tends to draw the eyes right to it and glue them there.  It would look like something was missing.  That’s what happened below the “All Star”.  I simply added another cluster of stars below it and it filled the space in nicely.

Thanks for looking.  What’s your opinion on this card?

Hugs,

~Leslee~

All supplies are Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased HERE.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Just Soccer Star

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Soccer season is quickly coming to an end here in the county.  I’m so proud of Jess for getting out from behind the PS3 controller and playing an outdoor sport.  Soccer was very new to us both.  I have to say, he has grown SO much as a player over the last couple of seasons and I’ve slipped right into the soccer mom roll.  Yes, I’m a yeller.  I really enjoy watching the games.  Call it my competitive side.  I know the kids need a much deserved break, but I can’t wait for next season!

Here are a couple of thank you cards I made up for the coaches and the “team mom”.  They certainly deserve our appreciation!  Besides, it gives me yet another reason to create.  (Like I need one, right?)

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These were really simple to create and would be a good one to mass produce.  Each card base is Very Vanilla with a layer of Kraft.  The stars are die cut in Brilliant Blue using the Big Shot and the Stars #2 Originals DieBlack vintage brads on the first card and some White Gel Pen for detail.  The ball is masked and stamped repetitively to give the impression of motion.  The second card uses Stampin’ Up!’s long retired Magic Mesh.  The soccer ball perfectly fits the 1-1/4” circle punch.  This is the first time I’ve ever used it…it’s pretty cool!  The sentiment (also retired) is from Much Appreciated.

Thanks for stopping in today.  I hope you’ve been inspired.  Let me know what you think.  I love to read your comments.

Hugs,

~Leslee~

All supplies are Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased HERE unless noted as being retired.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

For Mom with Much Love

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I so hope you all remembered to wish your mother a Happy Mother’s Day?  I did…and she received it BEFORE Mother’s Day!   Snail mail was on time!! (smile)  This is what my mom received…

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Such a simple and elegant card!  A Whisper White card base, a layer of Basic Black topped with a layer of Whisper White that I embossed using the Big Shot and Pattern 2 of the Perfect Details Texturz Plate (looks like lattice to me).  More Little Leaves Sizzlits die cuts (in Garden Green) and the new Beautiful Wings Embosslits butterflies (in YoYo Yellow).  First time I’ve used these adorable butterflies!  100_0467I stuck some mini half pearls (found at the local craft store) in the butterfly’s center.  Of course, black gingham ribbon and the sentiment from All Holidays stamp set. 

I fancied up the inside using scraps that were strewn about my desk.  The inside sentiment is from Well Scripted. 

Mom really loved her card.  I think it pales in comparison to the amount of love I feel for her.  I only hope she knows…in her heart…just how much I really love and appreciate her.

Until next time, keep your eyes open.  You can find inspiration everywhere!

Hugs,

~Leslee~

Supplies are Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased HERE unless otherwise noted or retired.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

All-Star Birthday

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It’s hard to believe that my baby is now seven!  He is growing up so quickly…right before my eyes.  I’m trying not to blink! 

Oh well, I do enjoy celebrating the occasion.  The birthday boy chose 7Adama baseball theme.  Isn’t he handsome in his uniform?  I think so!!  The invite is postcard style on retired Buckaroo Blue card stock.  I cut out the baseball in Naturals White with the Circle Scissor Plus, drew on the seams with Basic Grey and stitching with Real Red marker.  The background star clusters are found in the Extreme Elements set.  “All-Star” and “Champ” are from the Sporting set.  “Please Come” on the Crushed Curry Large Star punch is from the long retired Fancy Flexible Phrases. 

The baseball cupcakes were very easy to make.  I used cookie 100_0459decorator icing to pipe on the stitches.  The bat is a 13 x 9 cake, cut in half lengthwise.  I trimmed a small wedge from either side to create the butt end of the bat. 

His party was so much fun!  The kids all got along terrific while us parents talked and laughed the afternoon away!  I think that birthday parties should be as much for me as it is for the birthday boy.  It gives me one more reason to create…like I need a reason! (smile)

Thanks for stopping in today!  I hope you’ve been inspired.  If so, leave a comment and let me know.

Hugs,

~Leslee~

All supplies Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased HERE unless otherwise noted as retired.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Teacher Appreciation

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My boys’ teachers are awesome! I know that the Lord has placed my boys with the teacher(s) that is best for them.  I think that it is extremely important to let the teachers and staff know just how much they are appreciated.  I try to do that all year long working at the school and with PTA.  National Teacher Appreciation Week just gives me one more reason to show my appreciation.  Besides, it gives me a reason to sit down and craft (like I need a reason). 

I thought that I’d make up some thank you note cards for my younger son’s teacher.  I had a design in my head but do you think I had a single apple in my stamp closet?  Not a one!  Called my friend…she didn’t have an apple stamp either.  So, I went with plan A+…

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I used a piece of writing paper, cut it to size and punched the Spiral punch up the side.  I used Stampin’ Up!’s pre-cut and scored 5” x 3.5” Whisper White Note Cards.  The Kraft cs is cut 1/8” smaller.  A length of the retired red gingham ribbon is wrapped around with a simple knot.  The “A+” is hand written in Real Red marker.  The sentiment is from the retired Much Appreciated set.  I made six of these.  They are very easy to mass 100_0504produce.  Two were given to Jesse’s teachers and the other four were placed in a Medium Cellophane Bag, which I topped off with a Top Note resembling a chalkboard (Basic Black cs on Kraft).  I made my apple using the Round Tab punch, a couple of Certainly Celery Little Leaves and hand cut Chocolate Chip seeds and stem.  Again, a wrapped a length of Red gingham ribbon to hold it all together.  We, also, gave each of the teachers a bundle of #2 pencils.  I wrapped them up using the retired Night & Day Specialty DSP.   

We are so blessed to have the teachers and staff that we do at GBES!  Personally, I think they are the BEST!

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I hope you’ve been inspired today!

Hugs,

~Leslee~

Supplies are Stampin’ Up! and available for purchase HERE unless otherwise stated as being retired.

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Birthday Stars

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April through June is a very busy birthday time for my family.  So, I try to keep in mind that it is just as easy to make two cards from one sheet of card stock as it is to make just one.  I already have the supplies out, and as you can see, the two cards can still be very different from one another.  I don’t do too many duplicate cards.  That just gets too boring for me.  I like getting creative! 

 

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This first card was made with my brother-in-law in mind.  Yes, I had to think masculine.  I know that many of us have a difficult time with masculine cards and the stars really seem to work well for the men.  This next one I made for my hair stylist.  He is super!  And makes me feel like a ‘star’ each and every time I go in!

 

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I had just purchased these tiny little sticky-backed rhinestones at the local craft store and I really wanted to use them.  Keeping in mind that to much bling is not so masculine.  I only used four very tiny rhinestones on each of the cards.  It was just enough to highlight100_0406 the star clusters.  The clusters are found in the Extreme Elements set and stamped in Whisper White Craft.  The card base is the retired Buckaroo Blue (the name is just so masculine).  The Kraft stars are die cut using the Stars #2 Die and the Big Shot.   Of course, the Black Gingham Ribbon gives the large star a shooting effect.  It also helps to tie in the sentiment that was stamped in Basic Black Craft and Heat Embossed with Clear Embossing Powder.  Using the Cutter Kit, I cut the Whisper White with a graceful flow (to give the cards that “Milky Way” effect).  The sentiments are from Well Scripted and Teeny Tiny Wishes respectively.

Thanks for stopping in today.  My B-I-L loved the card and I’m sure my hair dresser will love his too!  I hope you’ve been inspired to create a masculine card or two.

Hugs,

~Leslee~

All supplies are Stampin’ Up! and can be purchased HERE unless otherwise noted as retired or purchased elsewhere.