Friday, October 29, 2010

He’s Alive!!!

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     As I had mentioned a couple of days ago, I’ve been dutifully creating these adorable friendly Frankenstein treat boxes.  I’ve made enough for Adam’s classroom and all the super ladies that help me collect, count, cut and sort labels and box tops each week.  There are a few more for PTA gals that I see on a weekly basis and a few staff members as well.  Yes, you can say that I’ve mass produced! :)

100_2187     I cannot take credit for these cuties.  I first saw him on SCS in this post.  Of course, I had to change mine up slightly and turn them horizontally.  This allowed me to add the hardware (retired silver eyelets) to the sides.  The eyelets serve no purpose and are merely just for looks.  They don’t hold the box closed.  The boxes stay closed on there own.  I used the Pillow Box Die and my Big Shot to crank these cuties out.  The eyes and nose are 3/4” circle punch in the retired Green Galore (retired) and Whisper White.  The Basic Black eye spot is 1/2” circle punch with a ‘gleam’ of White Gel Pen.  The scars and smiles were hand drawn using the Basic Black Marker.  The hair is a strip of Basic Black that I trimmed using a pair of decorative scissors that haven’t seen the light of day until now.  I’ve added a little bit of Green Galore sponged onto the cheeks, nose and eyelids.  He is stuffed with five yummy Jolly Rancher ® hard candies.

I’m sure the kids will love them.  I’m certain the adults will too!  Who wouldn’t?  Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you’ve been inspired to put a smile on someone’s face!

Haunting Hugs,

~Leslee~

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

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Pretty Poppy Parade!

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     Out of the three sets of Thank You’s that I’ve made recently, I really am loving this color combination the best!  You can see the other two sets in these previous posts, DSP Thank You’s & Concord Crush Thank You Set

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      For these, I’ve used the Poppy Parade DSP from the Designer Series Paper Pack – In Color (level 1 Hostess item), Pear Pizzazz and Whisper White.  I have accented with Daffodil Delight – Brights Brads and paper piercing.  The stamp set is again, Watercolor Trio.  I’ve inked the stamp up using Pear Pizzazz and Poppy Parade markers and then added the butterfly in Daffodil Delight classic ink

     I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the look of this set!  What do you think?  Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you’ve been inspired.

Hugs,

~Leslee~

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

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Concord Crush Thank You Set

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): I’m not at all happy with the quality of these pictures  :(

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     This is the next set of Thank You’s I’ve made using Concord Crush DSP found in the Designer Series Paper Pack – In Color (a level I Free Hostess item).  Just like these adorable cards in this previous post, DSP Thank You’s, these cards were so quick and easy to create.  Again, I used the Watercolor Trio set for the image and sentiment.  Silver brads and paper piercing on most cards.  I should have included the Pear Pizzazz with these…simply to break up the Whisper White and Concord Crush.  It would look great and I will more than likely make another set using both the Concord Crush and Pear Pizzazz.

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     That’s all for today.  I’m up to my elbows in Pillow Box Frankensteins :)  I must get him “created” in time for the class party on Friday.  Of course, I’ve included several for my peeps on the Labels crew and PTA!  Be inspired!

Hugs,

~Leslee~

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

Friday, October 22, 2010

Short, Sweet with tons of Style

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     Necessity is the inspiration behind the creation.  At least it was in this case.  I love doing these 3” x 3” cards.  Stampin’ Up! used to carry them as Love Notes.  I’ve always called them Gift Enclosure cards.  I like to add these sweet little cards to my customers’ orders.  They are quick and easy to mass produce and you can use plenty of leftover scraps.  They allow just enough room for a short and sweet handwritten message.

     For these, I’ve used a Whisper White card base.  The image is the floral stamp from Elements of Style, stamped in Jet Black StazOn onto Crumb Cake leftovers.  These are colored in with markers (Marina Mist, Rose Red, Pear Pizzazz).  The Whisper White Craft ink was applied with a Blender Pen.  The sentiment is found in Watercolor Trio.  I like the Rose Red layer and should have layered the Marina Mist card.  However, the Whisper White card is my fav…just the way it is!

     Thanks for looking.  I hope you have a very creative day…whether out of necessity or just for the fun of it!

Hugs,

~Leslee~

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

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

DSP Thank You’s

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      I have been in desperate need of lots and lots of thank you cards.  I’ve finally been able to sit down and work on some.  For me, the fun is in the creating.  I’m not one to mass produce but I knew that time is at a minimum and I must come up with something quickly.   I’m not one to reach for Designer Paper either.  Let me just start by saying, these were SO fun to create that I didn’t stop with just this set.  I’ll show you the others over the course of the next few posts.  They are so quick and easy!  This “technique” will be perfect for Christmas cards, craft shows, customer orders, etc.  Each card is unique enough that it isn’t quite mass producing and I still had fun in the designing.

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        I started with three sheets of Whisper White card stock, two cut and used for card bases (4 cards) and the third was cut into two quarters and four eighths.  The eighths were stamped with the mum type flower from Watercolor Trio.  I used Peach Parfait and Pear Pizzazz markers to color directly onto the stamp and I used the stamping off technique.  A half sheet of Pear Pizzazz was run through the Big Shot using the Square Lattice – Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  One 6” x 6” sheet of the Level 1 Designer Series Paper Patterns Pack – In Colors was cut first into a 5-1/2” x 4-1/4” piece, then cut as desired.  I’ve used the Peach Parfait DSP for these.  Pretty much all of the sheet of DSP was used.  A few Basic Jewel Rhinestones and coordinating Brights Collection brads were used along with some paper piercing.  The sentiments are from the Watercolor Trio set too.  I really love this stamp set!  As if I need to tell you that.  Did you notice the one birthday I threw in the mix?  Always need those on hand too.  :)

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     What’s your favorite layout?  Mine has to be the last one…with the double row of piercing.  It’s just a clean layout.  Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you’ve been inspired to give these ‘scrappy DSP’ cards a try.  They really are quite fun to create!

Hugs,

~Leslee~

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

Monday, October 18, 2010

A Fall Thank You

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      I love the fall season!  This time of year is super busy and I like that.  However, sometimes I feel like I’ve bit off more than I can chew.  The past couple of weeks have been…chaotic, to say the least!  Unfortunately, creative me time and blog posting is the first thing I must give up.  I always find my way back though (smile).  Creating makes me happy and it’s a good form of relaxation as well. 

     I wanted to play some more with my new French Foliage set.  I’m still in need of a ton of thank you cards.  So that is what I set out to make.  I started by stamping the various leaves and water drops? (I guess that’s what they are) onto Whisper White card stock.  I used Cherry Cobbler, Peach Parfait, Daffodil Delight, Crumb Cake and Soft Suede, each stamped off onto scrap paper first.  Stamping off or Generation Stamping will progressively make the next stamping lighter until all the ink is used up.  I just didn’t want the leaves to be quite so bold.  The leaf that was cut and on the Dimensional was “rock-n-rolled” in Pumpkin Pie.  The Whisper White panel was layered with a strip of Daffodil Delight onto a Crumb Cake card base.  The sentiment is from the Just Believe set.

     A super simple and quick card.  Perfect for this busy time of year!  Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you find your creative time relaxing and it makes you happy!

Hugs,

~Leslee~

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

Friday, October 15, 2010

Anniversary Elements of Style

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     My sister (my best friend) and her hubby have just celebrated their anniversary.  I had to make an elegant card…just for them :)  So, naturally, I reached for Elements of Style.  This was such and easy card to make.  Don’t tell her that…as far as she knows, I slaved over it for days.  Shhh!  I stamped the flowers in Jet Black StazOn.  I then used a blender pen dipped in Blushing Bride Classic ink to color the flowers.  I used the Blushing Bride marker to add some darker dimension to the flowers.  The leaves are colored in the same way using Pear Pizzazz.  The sentiment is from the Well Scripted set.  I 100_1847used my bone folder and my paper cutter to emboss the “frame”, being careful not to emboss over the sentiment or image. 

     I love the look and elegance of this card.  It’s a great one layer card.  Although, I did add some layers on the inside.  I just can’t stay away from those layers!  I’m sure they will love it!  Not as much as they love one another…as it should be ;)  I love you both, Shash & Manuel!  Congratulations!  May you share many more!

Hugs,

~Leslee~

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

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Fall Inspired Birthday Wishes

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     October is an extremely busy month for birthdays in my family, including my own birthday (smile).  The cooler weather always inspires me to break out the warmer colors of fall.  Sponging and watercoloring seem to be the fall technique of choice.  It all just makes me happy!

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     This card I made for my brother-in-law.  The card base is Early Espresso.  I’m really loving this color!  It pairs well with so many of Stampin’ Up!’s beautiful colors.  For this card, I’ve paired it with a piece of Cherry Cobbler that has been run through the Big Shot using the Square Lattice Texturz Impressions Embossing Folder.  The main focal panel is a piece of Whisper White in which I sponged on Daffodil Delight, Peach Parfait and some Pear Pizzazz.  The leaves from French Foliage have been stamped on top of that in Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzazz and Cherry Cobbler.  The sentiment is from Occasional Quotes.  The panel is layered onto Cherry Cobbler and then Crumb Cake.  Some linen thread and an Old Olive – Bright Designer Button adds some visual interest.  The panel is mounted on Dimensionals.

     I love the way this card turned out!  Masculine with a touch of elegance.  It makes me happy and that’s what it’s all about!  Thanks for stopping in today.  I hope you’ve been inspired to try a seasonal inspired card.  Whatever your season may currently be. :)

Hugs,

~Leslee~

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

Monday, October 4, 2010

Sponged Vacation

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I broke out the sponges and set off for a little vacation.  Can you tell where I went?  That’s right…the beach!  It was rough that day.  A hurricane named Earl was brewing just off the coast but it was gorgeous none the less.  The many blues and greens of the ocean are simply awesome.  God is certainly the most inspiring artist!

I started with a piece of Naturals White card stock.  I masked off my horizon and sponged on my sky in Bashful Blue.  I then masked over my sky and sponged on some Night of Navy working my way down the card stock with Pacific Point, Marina Mist and Baja Breeze.  This simply gives a variation in ocean colors.  I used the Pacific Point marker to draw the horizon line along the masking line.  This gives a very definite horizon.  I tore my card stock edge and rolled the edge back with my fingernail.  I used my White Gel Pen to create the crests on the waves.  The sponging kind of dictated where my waves should be.  Tip:  When using the gel pen, allow your sponging to dry completely first or your pen won’t want to work causing you to yell at your pen, beat it on the desk and, OH! Sorry, I got carried away there.  Yes, that pen was driving me crazy!  The card base is Crumb Cake that was spritzed with Log Cabin Smooch Spritz.  I love warm sand around my feet (just hate it anywhere else).  The sentiment is found in the Occasional Quotes set, punched with the Word Window punch and placed on a 1” Circle punch in Soft Suede, all on Dimensionals100_16241The Linen Thread lends a natural look to the card.

Here’s my inspiration photo that I took while on our summer vacation in Nags Head, NC.  Like I said before, God is a most inspiring artist!  Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you’ve been inspired to sponge yourself a vacation! :)

Hugs,

~Leslee~

All Stampin’ Up! supplies can be purchased HERE!

Friday, October 1, 2010

Quick Thank You’s

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I’m in need of a slew of thank you cards.  These are the first couple that I’ve managed to find time to create.  Life has been extremely busy here around the Holston house and creative time has been at a minimum.  So, quick is a necessity.  These fit the bill.  A Very Vanilla card base with the fold at the top.  The bottom edge has been punched using the Eyelet Border.  A 1-1/2” strip of colored card stock placed behind the punched edge.  I used Rich Razzleberry and Marina Mist.  The stamp set is Watercolor Trio.  It has quickly become my100_1800 favorite go-to set for the quick cards.  For the Rich Razzleberry vase, I used the Ornament punch and then cut the pointed tip off.  I ran it through the Big Shot with a swirl folder and then markered the swirl with my VersaMarker.  I love the look of the vase and love when I can use my punches in an outside-of-the-box manner.  It a little difficult to tell in the photo but I blinged the flowers up with a few Jewels Basic Rhinestones

Thanks for stopping by today and taking a quick look.  I hope you’ve been inspired to make a quick card.  Have a blessed day.

Hugs,

~Leslee~

All Stampin’ Up! supplies can be purchased HERE!