Monday, September 27, 2010

Best Fishes and Fish Kisses!

I know…it sounds crazy, right?  Hubby and I attended a wedding over the weekend.  The groom is a long time friend of Don’s.  He and his lovely bride both enjoy fishing.  It was an informal wedding with a word-of-mouth invite.  I just had to make them this wedding card.

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      The fish are punch art using the Ornament punch for the bodies, the 5-petal flower punch for the fins and tails, 100_1772Scallop Edge punch for the fish scales and punched hearts (of course).  The bowtie is a snip of Waffle Paper tied in the center with thread.  The fish bride’s veil is a gathered snip of tulle with the edges blinged with Jewels Basic – Rhinestones.  The card base is Clear Window Sheet that I ran through the Big Shot with a non-Stampin’ Up! swirl folder.  I did the same with the piece of Whisper White.  The Marina Mist used the Backgrounds 1 – flourish Textures Plate.  I misted both of these with Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz.  Love the effect!  100_1785The inside of the card uses the ‘Congratulations’ sentiment from the Well Scripted set and the ‘Best fishes!’ from the retired Very Punny set. 

     This card was just plain fun to make.  I’m sure they will get a kick out of it.  And I’m positive they won’t receive another like it! :)  Thanks for stopping by for a peek today.  I hope you’ve been inspired to get a little punchy yourself!

Hugs,

~Leslee~

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

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Requested Cards

     As many of you know, this past summer my dad under went quadruple by-pass surgery.  Five weeks later, he was back on the same fourth floor for some unexplained reason (extreme high fever, nausea, jaundice).  Anyway, both he and my mom formed friendships with most all of the nurses on the floor.  They took very good care of my dad (and mom) and for that, dad has requested that I make a special card for the fourth floor nursing station.  This is what I came up with…

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     I used the same principle as this scrapbook page, Elements of Style.  I love the look of the Whisper 100_1743White flowers.  I applied the craft ink with a Blender Pen.  I found that with the Whisper White craft ink, using short lined strokes works best and looks the nicest.  Otherwise, the ink covers the lines of the image and it looses the definition.  I added a length of Old Olive grosgrain ribbon and an Old Olive free hanging heart.

     Mom loved the card so much, she requested that I make one just like it for a close friend of hers.  I had experimented with the Pretty In Pink flowers before I settled on the Whisper White.  Mom said the pink flowers would be fine.  So here is her card…

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     I’m sure the cards will be much appreciated.  I loved making them via special request.  Thanks for looking.  I hope you’ve been inspired to show your appreciation to someone special.

Hugs,

~Leslee~

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

Monday, September 20, 2010

How-To - Faux Suede

     I first saw this Faux Suede technique, here, on a fellow blogger’s site, Stampinantics.  I loved Paula’s faux suede flower SO MUCH that I had to try one for myself.  I had never seen this technique before so I went looking for it.  I found some how-to directions on Stampin’ Up!’s demonstrator website.  Now, I realize that some of you can’t view these directions so I am going to give you a quick how-to.

  1. Punch yourself some shapes out of card stock.  I’ve used the Scallop Circle, 1-3/8” Circle and the 1-1/2” Circle punches and Cherry Cobbler cs for mine.
  2. Use the edge of your Bone Folder to pull from the center to the edge of your card stock shape.  Much like you would when you curl up curling ribbon.  This will loosen the fibers in the card stock causing the card stock to split and the layers to come apart.
  3. Carefully pull these layers apart, revealing the fibrous textured center of the card stock.  It looks just like suede!

     From there, you can squish, pinch and wrinkle these as you see fit to layer them and create your flower.  My flower is centered with a Gold Glimmer Brad.  The card base is Early Espresso (I’m loving this color).  I distressed the Newsprint Designer Series Paper by crumpling it and flattening it back out.  I then sanded and distress inked it with the sanding block and Tea Stain ink found in the Distressing Essentials Kit.

     Personally, I like Paula’s flower much better than my own.  I’ll have to play a bit more with shapes and pinching and wrinkling.  Thanks Paula for the inspiration!  And thank you for stopping by.  I hope you have been inspired.  Check out Paula’s blog, Stampinantics

Hugs,

~Leslee~

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

Friday, September 17, 2010

Sanded Flurry

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     I LOVE the new Textured Impressions Embossing Folder – Northern Flurry!  I just had to try sanding the raised snowflakes on the lovely Deck the Halls Designer Series Paper.  This paper has such a vintage feel to it.  It pairs perfectly with the Crumb Cake and Cherry Cobbler card stock.  I simple tore the edge and roughed it up with my fingernail.  The sentiment is from the Christmas Greetings set.  The Linen Thread is wrapped and secured in the center with a Cherry Cobbler brad (in the Regals collection).100_1667

     Super quick card!  Super quick post!  I hope you’ve been inspired.  Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs,

~Leslee~

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

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Spooky Spider Webs

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     I love fall!  There’s a crispness in the air, the hoot owls are heard high in the treetops and the spiders cast their webs outside the kitchen window each night.  Perfect spot for catching the little bugs that are attracted to the light.  The boys have enjoyed watching one ‘resident’ spider each evening.  It really is amazing how he goes about his work.  Now you have the inspiration behind this cute set.  That and the fact that this Spider Web Textured Impressions Embossing Folder is offered in the Holiday Mini Catalog.  I couldn’t resist! 100_1672

     I began with a Basic Black card base.  The gorgeous striped paper is found in Wicked Fun Specialty Designer Series paper.  I ran it through the Big Shot using the Spider Web folder.  Then I used the sanding block in the Distressing Essentials kit to sand the raised, embossed image (the web).  I love using this technique on DSP!  Because the DSP has a white core, it highlights your image.  A “WOW” at every workshop!  I placed a row of jewels from the Black Flourish Designer Jewels set (also in the Holiday Mini Catalog) between the DSP and card base.  The ‘bow’ is simply a 3” piece of Black Waffle Paper 100_1675secured together in the middle with a Rich Razzleberry Designer Button and some Linen Thread.  I stuck a few more black jewels in the button center as well…just for fun.  The sentiment is found in the House of Haunts set.

     The Mini Lunch Sack is done in much the same way.  Run it through the Big Shot with the Spider Web 100_1679folder.  I recommend not shimming it so much as the folder embossed the image clear through the bad in some spots.  A left over piece of the Wicked Fun DSP was placed across the bottom of the bag and the ‘bow’ features an Old Olive Designer Button.

     Thanks so much for stopping in today.  I hope you’ve gotten stuck in a web of inspiration!  Have a blessed day!

Hugs,

~Leslee~

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

Monday, September 13, 2010

Embossed & Shimmered Northern Flurry

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     I’m a northern girl.  Yep!  I grew up in Ohio but I’ve made my home a bit further south in lovely southern Virginia.  I’ve been here 21 years now.  We do occasionally get snow.  At least once a year I get to see a good flurry.  I do love to watch it snow!  And, around here, it’s a sure bet that schools will be closed and the boys get to stay home and enjoy the snow with me.  Anyway, what I’m getting at is that I’m a sucker for snowflakes!!   As soon as I saw the new Northern Flurry Textured Impressions Embossing Folder in the Holiday Mini catalog, I knew I had to have it!  Yes, I love it!

     This is my first use of the folder.  I showed this at a recent workshop and the ladies seemed to love the technique.  I first ran the folder with Night of Navy card stock through the Big Shot.  Then, I used the flat stamp in the Distressing Essentials kit to rub the raised image with Frost White Shimmer Paint.  I simply daubed the paint onto the stamp rubber with a sponge.  I love using the flat stamp for this technique.  If you were to use a sponge, the sponge would press down in between the raised areas leaving ink where it isn’t wanted.  The quote is found in Occasional Quotes, a Hostess Level 3 set.  Most would think this quote to be an “inside” stamp.  You know, the saying on the inside of the card?  Well, I think it works very nicely as an “outside” sentiment.  A length of 1/8” Real Red Taffeta ribbon with the 3 silver Metallic Brads completes the card.  It is all mounted on a Whisper White card base.  Extremely easy to show at your workshop yet it has a WOW factor to the raised image.

     I know I’ll be using this folder again and again.  I’ll admit, I miss the snow.  At least I can stamp the flakes, flurries and snowmen as much as I want to see them!  I’m glad you stopped by today.  I hope you’ve been struck by a flurry of inspiration!

Hugs,

~Leslee~

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

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Young Man’s Extreme Card

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100_1636     With a young man myself (he’s 7), naturally, I’m going to need a card that will suite a young man’s birthday.  The Extreme Elements set is my favorite “go to” set!  It’s fun, fast and extremely masculine!  Perfect for my crew and their friends.   Adam didn’t know what to get his friend so he settled on a gift card (fine with me…I can pick that up without him.)  Instead of just throwing the gift card in the card, I like to secure it on the inside.  For this card, I simply punched a slot in the Crumb Cake card stock using the Word Window punch.  Most gift cards will require a punch and a half to accommodate the card.  The Crumb Cake was then adhered to the inside of the Early Espresso card base with its bottom edge torn to reveal the 100_1640stamped edge of the Crumb Cake.  Inks used on the card are Early Espresso, VersaMark, Very Vanilla Craft and Basic Black Craft.  I heat embossed the biker, Extreme Dirt Bike, with Black Embossing Powder.  It really brings out the main focal image.  The two gorgeous brads are the new Glimmer Basics brads.  Very cool! 

     The card received the approval of both my boys.  That’s very cool!  My only question is, when did the bugs, aliens, cowboys and trains become “too childish”???

     Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you’ve been extremely inspired.  :)

Hugs,

~Leslee~

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

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Blog Award

beautiful blogs

     I am honored to receive the “Cherry On Top” blog award from one of my favorite crafters, Stampinantics.  Paula always has inspiring projects that kick my mojo into gear.  I encourage you to browse her blog and be inspired too! 

     Part of this award is to share it with five (5) other blogs that inspire me.  The difficult part is limiting my picks to just five.  There are so many wonderful blogs out there that inspire the creativity.  The sad thing is, I very rarely take the time to comment like I should.  I know I should.  Commenting is inspiring in itself.  Call me a blog stalker…but trust me, I love the inspiration I gain from each and every blog I visit. 

     Without further ado, here are five of my favs in no particular order...

Bits & Pieces

Sleepy in Seattle

Inking Idaho

iSTAMP

Stamps, Paper, Scissors

Thanks for bestowing this great honor on me Paula!  And thank you for your inspiration.

Hugs,

~Leslee~

Back to School!

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    Have you missed me?  I’ve been spending the last few days of summer vacation with the family.  We actually took a vacation this year.  It was much needed by us all.  We had a lovely time at the beach…just before Hurricane Earl blew in. 

     I love this time of year!  The boys heading back to school and PTA (my social time) gets back into full swing!  The PTA kicks off the school year with a Back-to-School Teacher Luncheon.  I made up 75 of these pencil/pen bundles to hand out to each of the teachers and staff as they join and pay their PTA membership dues.  The project itself was super simple.  It’s just so very repetitious.  Not my favorite style of stamping or crafting.  But they did turn out really cute.  I don’t think that handmade gifts HAVE to be ‘over-the-top’.  Of course, there are always those who are SO worth the trouble but, let’s face it, the teachers are just going to rip off the belly band and use the pencils.  So, I kept it very simple.  My ds stamped and punched the sentiment while I scallop edge punched the one end of the band and secured the bundles. 

 

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     My boys start back to school today!  Yes, I’m very happy (although I will miss them).  I’m looking forward to some quiet stamping time.  I have a workshop this Friday and MUST design something to show the ladies.  I’m sure I’ll come up with something nice.  Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you’ve been simply inspired.

Hugs,

~Leslee~

All supplies are Stampin’ Up! excluding the curly ribbon.  All but the Modern Label & Scallop Edge Punch has been retired.